As we begin to focus on family for a few days, we send our thanks to all of you that have worked with us in the last year. We have truly been blessed. As you begin to make your plans for 2007, remember that interest rates are low and inventories are high - it's a great time to buy homes! Happy Thanksgiving!

GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS RARELY MAKES HEADLINES...so in addition to reminding you that new home sales across the US were up in September, I also wanted to copy the AP story about worker productivity and wage expectations. The U. S. is still going strong economically and is still the best place to pursue your dreams in the world. On a more local note, through October 2007, in my Flower Mound RE/MAX office, 25% of closings are showing the internet as their business source, which is an astonishing jump from one year ago at only 7%. The Anne Lakusta Team is working with a search engine optimization firm, subscribes to all of the enhanced features on realtor.com, creates single property websites where warranted and utilizes every feature of remax.com in order to assure that our listings are getting full and complete internet exposure. We're always looking for ways to reach the home shopping public!

Remember, interest rates are low, inventory is high, economy is strong - it's a great time to buy a home!


AP Wire Story from 11/07/07: "Worker productivity surged in the summer at the fastest pace in four years while wage pressures eased.

The Labor Department reported that productivity - the amount of output per hour of work - jumped at an annual rate of 4.9 percent in the July-September quarter. That was double the 2.2 percent rise in the second quarter and represented the fastest surge in worker efficiency since 2003.

At the same time, wage pressures eased with unit labor costs dropping at an annual rate of 0.2 percent, the best showing in more than a year.

Both outcomes were far better than had been expected and should relieve some of the concerns that a remarkable surge in productivity that began in the mid-1990s was in danger of being reversed."

Just a quick note to encourage everyone to vote either before the end of this week because Friday ends early voting or to remember to vote on November 6th! In Collin County there is a county bond election on the ballot; in Southlake there is is a revised city charter on the ballot; in Flower Mound and Coppell there are sales tax increases on the ballot. Several local intiatives that influence all of us as residents and homeowners! When you decide to sell your home and purchase another, tax rates, crime statistics, parks, etc. do influence your ability to sell, so do weigh your choices carefully. You can get detailed information on the web page of each city.