Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Round and Round and Round We Go

By Jove! We've got a 2nd Round About. I think. Saw it the other day driving down Valley Road near the YMCA. There in the distance it was. A Round About. We've seen the one near Speedway and Mobil, you know the one, but this one, we hadn't seen. Have you seen it, off in the distance south of the Y. Was it a mirage? It is ready for the traffic for the lifestyle mall. Is there traffic? Is there a mall? Is a mall good? We have a Round About. No, we have two.

Driving through Mount Horeb recently we noticed there are a lot of Round Abouts. Have you seen those? Maybe you don't get to Mount Horeb. But if you do buy some mustard. That's where the museum is-the mustard museum. Barry is the Dean there...at Poupon University. I'm not making this up. He gave me the tour. We have a lot of mustard now.

Car Repair

Where do you go for car repair? Everyone wants an honest mechanic. Do you know a good place? We've discovered Gary Naylor, from Naylor's Auto, on Lapham Street, next to Retzlaff Marine, where the street used to go through before the bypass was built. Remember the wooden railroad bridge...I digress. Anyway, where do you go? Who do you like? We've heard Ralph's is good on the west side of town but we've heard you need patience to get in there. He does such a good job, he can't see you this week...or next. We've tried a lot of spots. Of course we drive a lot. Three cars we own have more than 550,000 miles. We don't like to spend money on car repairs or even new cars. Finding an honest car repair person is like finding an honest mortgage broker...you know what I mean? Let's say your part costs $100, they sell it to you for $200. It takes 2 hours for the job, they charge three. Sound familiar? Let us know where you go. We all like to save money, don't we? We all want a good deal.

15 Year Mortgage Rate Below 5%

The 15 year fixed rate mortgage is now below 5%. A 15 year is a great solution to building equity. Isn't your goal after all to retire your mortgage. Just think what it would be like to only pay property taxes annually and never make a monthly mortgage payment again!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Spring Storm

A spring storm dumped several inches of snow Saturday and Sunday on the Oconomowoc area. Strong north winds caused blowing and drifting of the wet snow. Don't put your shovels away. It is still March.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Signs Of Spring

Two sure signs that Spring has sprung in Oconomowoc are the Muskies running up the Oconomowoc River toward the dam at Hwy. 16 and the opening of the Kiltie Drive In.
You can tell when the muskies are running when you drive by and at first you wonder why people are bent over the bridge and then you see lots of parked cars nearby.
How soon will the Kiltie open?

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Lake News You Can Use

We stopped at Porticello last night and watched the Silver Lake waves lap against the shore with a south wind screaming and rain clouds looming. You can't get much closer to a lake and be inside a building, 17 feet I think. A few days ago there was ice not waves. The DNR made two fish cribs which, according to the bartender, recently dropped through the ice in 30 feet of water which should make for some good fishing at that spot.

Speaking of lakes there is talk of demolishing the old Boelter shoe building which would open the main downtown corner to a Fowler Lake view. Additional plans are to have a larger boat dock, more parking and more green space and outdoor seating areas. There is also a plan to move the boat launch to a different location. What do you think?

$8000 Cash Give Away

First we had the $7500 first time home buyer tax credit. It was really a loan and had to be paid back on your taxes over 10 years. What a nighmare. Now we have the $8000 tax credit. This is not a loan. This is unbelievable. It sounds too good to be true. But wait! It's not. It's legal and ethical and you will support your country by using the program. Heres how it works: Buy a house and receive $8000 cash back. It's that simple. Oh yeah there is a one page tax form you must file. One page! If you or your spouse have not purchased a home as a primaary residence in the last three years and your adjusted gross income is less than $150,000 you probably qualify. Even if you own investment property or a 2nd home you can claim the credit. You must close soon however to claim the credit. You must buy now before the program expires. Call us, call your accountant, find a Realtor. The time is now. There has never been a program that rewarded you so handsomely for purchasing a home. What are you waiting for? By the way, interest rates are as low as they have been since 1971.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Oconomowoc Mortgage Rates Drop

Mortgage rates dropped Wednesday and Thursday and the line to refinance is getting longer so you may want to get in line while the opportunity exists.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Oconomowoc Restaurants

Where to eat in downtown Oconomowoc? Try Fongs for Chinese, The Pub for Irish food, Golosi's for Italian, Spinnakers, Todd's Grill, Amelia's, Sweetie Pies, Whelan's, The Depot, Lakerz, That Coffee Place, JCs and many more. Shop Local. Eat local. There are many more restaurants on Wisconsin Avenue, Main street and elsewhere. Explore and find your favorite.

Recently there was a story in a local paper about Lemon Grass, a fine restaurant with healthy food choices, free Internet and micro-brews. Support them in this tough economy.

Rain, Rain Go Away

The rains came, not on little cat's feet, but more like a hose you could not turn off. Standing water was visible all over Oconomowoc. Calm winds accompanied the rains as did fog. Most of the snow was gone Sunday morning but that may change quickly as the mercury drops. Central and North Eastern Wisconsin should be shoveling soon according to the forecast. A Robin searched for worms yesterday in our yard, a sure sign of Spring.

Friday, March 6, 2009

FHA Loan Limits Higher Again

We now can originate FHA loans on 30 year fixed mortgages in Waukesha county on a single family owner occupied home up to $315,000. Higher loan limits are also available. A FHA mortgage can be used for a purchase or refinance.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Brennan's Market

Brennan's food market is coming to Oconomowoc. It is expected to open around Labor Day. Brennan's is known for their quality fruit, cheeses, wines and other items. Other Brennan's markets are in Madison, Brookfield and Monroe.