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Springfield, IL Real Estate News

By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
It literally cannot be defended against.           It cannot be countered by even the most advanced martial arts blocks and evasions.          And it cannot technically even "fail."           This is no joke.          With Close Combat Training, you can literally paralyze a man twice your size and weight even if you miss what you are trying to hit!           Which is why it's perfect for guys like you who don't want to screw around taking formal self defense classes... don't want to practice dozens of moves and techniques... or who simply want to learn how to fight as fast as humanly possible.
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
If you've ever bought a home and found it remarkable that the property appraised for just the amount it was listed for, there may have been more than coincidence behind the matching numbers. Loan officers learn quickly which appraisers are generous in the valuations and which appraisers are vulnerable to pressure from a lender.Now, the government has stepped in with a new set of regulations designed to end collusion of any sort between lenders and appraisers.Some people believe a big part of the mortgage mess we're in was caused by inflated home appraisals. Mortgage brokers and banks have been accused of pressuring appraisers to assign valuations to fit the loan so that home purchases and refinancing applications would go through, rather than allowing appraisers to determine a property...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
CAAR preliminary home sale statistics for Jun of ‘09 reveal a 7.4% increase inresidential transactions with 390 sold and closed as compared to 363 in ‘08. The average sale price of an existing single family home in Jun of ‘09 was $135,800 reflecting a 5.1% decrease from the Jun ‘08 price of $143,100. The median sale price in Jun ‘09 of $120,000 reflects an increase of 5.9% from the $113,300 median sale price in Jun ‘08. Sale pendings in Jun ‘09 were 433 reflecting a 1.9 increase over the 425 sale pendings in Jun ‘08. Listings were down 20.4% with 502 new listings in Jun ‘09 as compared to 589 in Jun ‘08. Total dollar volume of homes sold in Jun ‘09 of $53.0 million yielded a 2.1% increase over Jun ‘08 dollar volume of $51.9 million. YTD THROUGH JUNE ‘09: There were 1,647 home sales YTD ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colours by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles. St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass. GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
All Americans should be given this lesson. Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation's history. Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our 'GOD GIVEN' rights and freedoms. I hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers. Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776? Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meti...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
(Listed by Rank in the Arbitron Results)Mark's Levin Radio Show is in the markets where you see the check mark. RankCityState  1 New York NY 2 Los Angeles CA 3 Chicago IL 4 San Francisco CA 5 Dallas-Ft. Worth TX 6 Philadelphia PA 7 Houston-Galveston TX 8 Washington DC 9 Detroit MI 10 Atlanta GA 11 Boston MA   12 Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood FL 13 Puerto Rico     14 Seattle-Tacoma WA 15 Phoenix AZ 16 Minneapolis-St. Paul MN 17 San Diego CA 18 Nassau-Suffolk NY 19 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL 20 St. Louis MO 21 Baltimore MD 22 Denver-Boulder CO 23 Pittsburgh PA   24 Portland OR 25 Cleveland OH   Share and Enjoy:
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
  News Release Capital Area Association of REALTORS® The Voice for Real EstateTM in the Capital Area May Home Sales and Prices Up from April   SPRINGFIELD (June 23, 2009).  Both the median single-family home sale price and home sales increased in May 2009 compared to the prior month, according to figures from the Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Multiple Information Service.                                                  For the month of May 2009, the median home sale price (for all single-family homes and condominiums) was $107,000, revealing an increase of 1.9 percent from the $105,000 median price during the previous month of April.  The year-to-date median home sale price through May of 2009 was $105,500, up 1.4 percent from the same period in 2008.  The May 2009 media...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
The Bicentennial event combines three successful Springfield summer events, Taste of Downtown, Springfield Jaycees Capital City Celebration, and the Secretary of State's Ice Cream Social as the anchors for this two-day festival encompassing several blocks of downtown. Partners, including the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, the Illinois State Museum, Lincoln Land Community College, the Old State Capitol and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum have joined forces with these three events to combine traditional Springfield 21st century celebrations with authentic period entertainment and activities representative of a Lincoln-era festival. The Bicentennial Celebration opens Friday, July 3rd at 5:00pm with a procession from Linc...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
We are about to enter the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity . When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:  Routine...  (1)  The woman buys the food.  (2)  The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes dessert.  (3)  The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - beer in hand.  (4)  The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.  Here comes the important part:  (5) THE MAN PLA...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
Dear Fellow American, Have you ever heard of a "depressflation"? No surprise if you haven't. It's a term I coined myself, to describe the imminent -- and inevitable -- result of the Democrats' plans for "rescuing" the economy. Think 1970s-style "stagflation" but much, much worse: massive inflation, even hyperinflation, together with Depression-like economic stagnation. A depressflation. Why is this inevitable? Because with a bi-partisan consensus that deficits are vital in fighting the crisis (or easing the pain) there is no constraint on Obama and his party. The sky is the limit on spending, to the tune of a trillion-plus dollars over the next two years alone. And there are only two ways to pay for it: (1) printing more money, which causes inflation, and (2) hiking taxes, which kills ...
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  FAMILY AREA OPENS AT 4:30, GENERAL ADMISSION AT 5:30 This year's festival includes fantastic new features! FAMILY ACTIVITIES:  Purchase Festival tickets for the whole family, then come on down a little early for free family activities.  Gates open at 4:30 just for families.   The SpringfieldMoms.org will be on site with music-related crafts.  The Springfield Area Youth Jazz Band will take the stage at 4:45 for a mini-concert to kick off the music. NEW FOOD OPTIONS: In the spirit of being family-friendly, our long-time caterer, Turasky's, Inc., has added hot dogs to his great menu! You'll also see items like grilled shrimp kabobs, BBQ pork chops, cheeseburgers and ribeye steak sandwiches. For the adults, you'll find chocolate martinis available for the first time, along with Turasky's ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
The Arts Council provides opportunities for everyone at a wide variety of events and programs. There is truly something for everyone, and nearly all of our events provide revenue to fund our other programs and services including grants to organizations and placing artists in schools.  Uptown Friday Night: Join us every Friday night at Robbie's Restaurant for great music and fabulous food. Our partnership with Robbie's owner Arch Bailey provides one of the hippest activities to wind down the workweek. A variety of favorite local bands hits the stage at 5:30 and plays a great two hour set. A 50/50 raffle is held each week to support the programs and services of the Arts Council. Artist On The Plaza: Bring a lunch to the South Plaza of the Old State Capitol and enjoy free entertainment eve...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
 Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is - one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up.. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the description of both pilots many years later.) Then realize that there is a German ME-109 fighter flying next to it. Now read the story below. I think you'll be surprised..... Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at  Kimbolton ,  England . His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.  After flying the B-17 over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take o...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
Subject: Mosquitoes! Interesting!           I can't wait to try this in the summer! Mosquito Spray...Worth a try I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as wel l. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it......Pass it on. OUR FRIEND'S COMMENTS: I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1....
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
 It is theVETERAN  not the preacher,who has given us freedom of religion.It is theVETERANnot the reporter,who has given us freedom of the press.It is theVETERANnot the poet,who has given us freedom of speech.It is theVETERAN  not the campus organizer,who has given us freedom to assemble.It is theVETERANnot the lawyer,who has given us the right to a fair trial.It is  theVETERANnot the politician, Who has given us the right to vote. It is theVETERANwhosalutes the Flag,It istheveteran who servesunder the Flag,
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
  Sandy Ranson of Sandy's Sewing Center works on neck coolers with other volunteers at her shop Wednesday, May 20, 2009, to be given to the troops over seas. The group can produce 100-200 neck coolers a day. Jason Johnson/The State Journal-Register More related photosBy AMANDA REAVY (amanda.reavy@sj-r.com) THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER A small assembly line came together in Sandy's Sewing Center on Wednesday morning as owner Sandy Ranson and eight volunteers set out to make at least 100 neck coolers. Neck coolers are filled with absorbent crystals that are wetted and then put on soldiers' necks to keep them cool in high temperatures. The task is part of the center's "Sew in for Soldiers," which takes place at least once a month at the store at 1750 Wabash Ave. Participants also make neck ...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
By JOHN REYNOLDS (john.reynolds@sj-r.com) THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER  The Sangamon County state's attorney's office is investigating whether county board members can legally cut their own salaries.Last week, the county board announced that as part of an overall spending-reduction plan, board members' salaries would be reduced by 10 percent.The decrease has not been formally approved yet, but questions have arisen as to whether a sitting board can legally cut its own pay.Assistant Sangamon County state's attorney Jim Grohne said Tuesday state law forbids the county board, or any elected officials, from reducing or increasing salaries during their terms of office. One of the reasons is so that board members would not be able to punish another elected official by lowering his or her salar...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
Enos Park Neighborhood TIFTax Increment Financing District The Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) Rehabilitation Program provides assistance to individuals or groups wanting to rehabilitate residential property located within the Enos Park Tax Increment Financing.  Assistance is in the form of a rehabilitation grant and will be paid from the Enos Park TIF fund. Interior and Exterior renovations are encouraged for properties located within the Enos Park TIF.  To be eligible, pre-approval from the Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development ("OPED"), a signed legal agreement and City Council approval are necessary before any work may be started. Contingencies All projects must be located within the Enos Park TIF Redevelopment boundaries to be eligible for any TIF...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
Join NewsRadio WTAX for the Highland Games and Celtic Festival on May 16th at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.The Games feature competitions for Highland dancers, individual pipers and drummers, bagpipe bands, and athletes. Over the years, the competition has grown from just five bagpipe bands to as many as 18; from just 30 dancers to 90; and from only 10 athletes to almost 100. Competitors come from across the country and from all corners of the globe.In addition to competitive events, the festival features many demonstrations throughout the day. Rugby matches, storytelling, music, animal exhibits, a large children's area, and much, much more. There are also several merchandise and food vendors, many of which will be showcasing Scottish and Irish goods.Ticket Info: Adults $10 * Seniors...
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By Roy T Robinette
(the Real Estate Firm)
Capital Area Association of REALTORS® The Voice for Real EstateTM in the Capital Area CAAR 1Q Home Sale Price Sets Record        SPRINGFIELD (May 8, 2009)  The median sale price of existing-home sales - including single-family, townhomes and condominiums for the first quarter of 2009 reflected an all-time high of $105,500, according to the Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR).  Total home sales equaled 648 units during the first quarter of 2009, reflecting a 3.3 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2008.         According to CAAR president, Nancy Long, ABR, CRS, GRI, the first quarter median home sale price comes off the heels of consecutive price increases in February and March.  "Any time you have a statistical increase in the median home price that is a good thing, howe...
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