Oh yeah and Frankies here...

Well, October has been busy so far... Between working, and campaigning, we managed to squeak in a new addition to the ever growing Henderson family. Anthony and Jessica Belmonte introduced Francesca Anne Belmonte to her very proud Grandparents (Kelly & I) Saturday night. She was 8 lbs. and an ounce, and 20.5 inches long... she has the thickest head of dark hair I've ever seen on a baby related to the Hendersons. Pretty sure that comes from the Belmonte side of the family. She's adorable, and a nice balance to the group of grandkids... Bella needs the help with all these boys tearing it up around here.


Bella started kindergarten this year, where does the time go? She's all grown up, now if we could just get her brothers to be so mature :0)

I'm busy these days on the campaign trail, the election is just barely a month away... don't forget to vote, and tell your friends you know me...

The Ligers 2011 fall softball team finished their season with a 10-0 record, not too shabby from a group of guys managed by a 50 year old. Theres plenty of time to retire in the coming years, but for now... Ligers rule :0)

Dave junior came over last week to borrow a motorcycle for a quick trip. It took over a half hour to get them started between dead batteries and low tire pressure... I hope next summer we can get a little more ride time in. You know it's been a bad riding season when none of your stuff works and you don't even notice it...

Real Estate has been on an uptick the last few weeks as well. The most recent report indicates that values are up over last year by about 1.2%. Nothing to get too excited about, but in comparison to the 15% declines we've seen in the last few years... that's a huge improvement. I've had a couple short sales approved this summer... they still take a lot of time, but at least they're getting done. I'm currently working with 3 buyers that should be able to put sales together this fall.

Interest rates for a 30 year fixed are teetering around that 3.8% mark... but you still have to jump through hoops to get those rates. That said, even the rates you and I can get are still extremely favorable, and there is a good supply of decent homes on the market.

With values either at bottom or starting to inch up... the perfect storm of buyer power is right now. Call me, and we can start to look.

We appreciate your support and referrals as always, keep them coming.

Dave & Kelly

I never thought being 50 would ever get here...

But here it is. It seems like forever since I updated the blog. So much has been going on this summer, it's been tough to find time to keep in touch.

I'll keep it as short as possible, I know you all want to scoot out of here for a long weekend. I missed Kels birthday blog in July, sorry ... I'll make it up to you when you get old like me. My Ligers team ended in third place this season, but lost 26 -25 in the final game of playoffs for a second place showing. We're sweeping through fall league so far with a 5 - 0 record. Golf is practically over, we are playing for first place tonight, we'll see if we can hold on to a lead.

Kelly & I haven't even looked at the motorcycles in over a month, we've been to Chicago with Jessy & Anthony a couple times, Kellys been traveling for work just about every week, and the weather has been smokin' hot all summer, to warm to ride most days.

Jessy is due the end of this month bringing the grandbaby tally to 5. Can't wait for Frankenberry (Francesca) to arrive. Hopefully she comes in on my birthday (did I mention I'm 50 this month?), would be a great surprise.

Bella starts kindergarten this fall, she is so grown up, and very excited for school. Austin and the twins (they have names, but I really can't tell them apart, so they're the twins), are doing great. Austin loves Pee Paw... until Anthony comes to visit... then it's hello Tony, good bye pee paw.

Dave & Lauren are handling their huuge family pretty well. It takes them forever to get out of the house, and another forever to unpack the kids and get them in to wherever they're going, but pretty much taking it all in stride.

In case you haven't heard, I decided to run for Troy City Council. As if I needed anything else occupying an already full dance card. The election is November 8th, and I have been promised, the biggest time issue is running for office, it will be routine once elected. I appreciate you sending a good word to anyone you know that lives in Troy.

Kel has a big golf week planned this month for us to celebrate my big 5-0. We're heading to three very nice golf courses in Northern Michigan, and a little stop in Traverse City. Looking forward to getting away for a few days.

On the Real estate front... it has been a little quiet lately. I ended August with a closing, and I have three buyers I'm working with right now. The market is still a bit quirky, but a home priced right and in good condition flies off the market. The feds promised to keep rates low for the next two years, so buying a home right now is an excellent idea.

As always, I'm looking for referrals. It's the right time to buy and the right time to sell... an odd combination that hasn't been around for a few years... call me :0)

See you next month

Dave & Kelly Henderson

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Uno de Juno...

I remember sitting here last year writing my Uno de Juno blog... I invented it (or so I thought) because of a trip to Mexico I took a couple years ago on Cinco de Mayo. I was speaking with our cab driver (as best as I could being uni-lingual), and he told me essentially that the majority of Mexicans don't really celebrate the holiday. I figured if Americans can go so crazy for a Mexican holiday that really isn't... I can invent my own. But if you google Uno de Juno, there are only a few references to the "holiday" and even wikipedia deleted presumably a bogus page devoted to Uno de Juno. Oh well, so much for original thought, but I'm celebrating today by showing two different buyers homes :0).

Real estate, has been hopping. You may have noticed I skipped May altogether... or maybe not, consider it my gift of vacation to you. It has been extremely busy in these parts, best first half of a year i've had in the last 3. Prices are still down, but homes priced according to market and that are in good condition, move quickly. Rates are great still, it is still a great time to buy... just be ready to pull the trigger on an offer when we walk into the perfect home, or someone else will. We haven't seen that dynamic in a couple years either.

The ligers are off to a great start, we have won 3 of our first 4 games, still can't get past our nemesis team. Golf is in full swing and I'm actually starting to play respectably (knock on wood) this year. Rain must be my switch. Kellys playing in a league this year as well, but between rain and travel, she has only been out once this year. Maybe tonight. Haven't had the motorcycles out much, tough to ride when all you do is hydroplane.

Jessy and Anthony are working on getting their first home in preparation for baby number 1. Hopefully they'll close and be moved in by the end of June. Not sure if she wants me to broadcast this, but grandbaby number 5 is going to be a girl. Bella is sooo happy.

Dave, Lauren and the tribe are great. Still can't tell the twins apart, I had it down pat when they were new, but not at all for me these days... I just refer to them as the twins, I figure I'll just ask them who they are when they get old enough to tell me. Austin is a complete hoot right now. He stepped out of babyhood to all entertaining boy. Bella just takes it all in stride, there's a lot of dudes around her, she really seems to enjoy spending the night with G-diddy and MeMa for some reason.

Well that's all for now, need to get out there and celebrate this grand holiday. As always, I truly appreciate your referrals. Without them, a Realtor has nothing.

Dave

Whew got this done even before I mailed my taxes in...

Sorry about the delay, believe it or not, I've had a ton of requests to step on the gas and get the blog out this month already. I figure if I can find the time to scrape my tax return together, I sure as heck ought to be able to whip up a little blog material.

This has been one of the busiest March/April spring booms I've seen since I became a realtor. It's even dwarfing last years surge due to the Tax credit. We may be turning a corner.

Real Estate One reports last week that we are down to about a 4 - 7 month inventory of homes compared to about a 14 month inventory last year this time. That in itself doesn't equate to a sellers market or increased prices... there's a lot of time between now and then, but it's a positive step in the right drection.

One of the strangest phenomenons currently is that even though it is a "buyers" market, there aren't enough quality homes available to meet the buyers needs. Thats usually what happens in a sellers market. The explanation is simply the condition of foreclosed homes and short sale homes and the high percentage of those as a total of homes for sale. (making the assumption that homes owned by someone with equity and a desire to move are in better condition overall).

That said... I'd really love a referral from someone you know that wants to sell. Priced right, they fly off the shelves today... completely opposite of what was happening a year ago. And I'm out of inventory as of April 29th.

Interest rates continue to teeter around the 5% +/- mark... now is the time to buy a home. (call me).

As for Club Hendo:

We couldn't be any busier. Kelly has been traveling quite a bit for work, thankfully the weather has been too marginal to worry about getting the motorcycles out (yet). We're both getting ready for Golf leagues, they begin the first week in May, and of course the Ligers started spring training last Saturday with our first softball practice. League starts April 25, pray for sun.

Dave & Lauren are busy as heck with their tribe, Austin called me grandpa the other day for the first time. I may have my facts wrong, but I think it was his first actual word... if not, I'm claiming it anyway. Just delivered the wood for Bellas new swing set (some assembly required). Anyone know how heavy a 16 foot 4"x 6" is or how far it sticks out the back of a 7' bed pick up truck? I do... and it is really heavy and it sticks out roughly 9'. Thankfully no Troy police observed my trip home. The twins are starting to get chunky finally. I think Dave & Lauren finally discovered they had 2 more kids and started feeding them :0).

Jessy came home last week for spring break, we spent some time shopping at baby stores with her... getting pretty excited for her new addition, should be late September, hopefully just in time for G-diddys 50th birthday. Anthony and Jessys jobs are going well, Anthony picked up a winter coaching gig at his school to fill the gap between football seasons. Who knew a football coach could be a great girls badminton coach. He is currently full stride into the season, and has propelled the girls from a winless season last year into a team that has now won some games and understands what competition really is... not sure they love the tough physical training part, but so goes life with Coach Bels.

Thanks again for all your referrals, Kel & I truly appreciate the trust you place in us with your family and friends. Have a great tax month... see you in May (Go Red Wings)

Dave

Spring fever is here.

I can tell spring is in the air. I've had a noticeable uptick in inquiries about real estate the last couple weeks. Folks are getting a little anxious for the spring feeding frenzie we all hope is around the corner.

Just received some info from the local mortgage rep... rates have been teetering around the 5.25% mark for a bit. Also got the scoop on the real estate Federal Tax that was slipped in on the health care bill. It appears it's the real deal effective January 1, 2013. It's a 3.8% tax and as it relates to real estate, it appears to be a capital gains tax, but there are a lot of caviats.

First, it is not imposed on all real estate transactions, only on the gains less losses of a real estate transaction. It is only imposed on individuals with an adjusted gross income over $ 200,000, and couples with an adjusted gross income of over $ 250,000. I put this info out there since I've had a lot of questions recently about the rumored real estate tax in the bill... by all means, check with your accountant especially if you are planning on selling a rental property after January 1, 2013.

I wanted to give out a shameless plug for a doctor in the Troy Chamber of Commerce. He told me at our meeting this morning that he is looking for companies that would like to offer a free perk for an employee appreciation day. If you think your company would be willing to have Dr. Todd Camarata and his crew come in and give employees massages on their breaks... give him a call. He did this at my office in December and everyone loved it. Call Dr. Todd at 248-338-7477 and tell him I sent you. You won't regret it.

With Spring around the bend, my Ligers softball team is lined up to start playing around mid April. First break in the weather we'll start practicing. Kel & I are chomping at the bit to hop on the motorcycles. Uncle Jim has his annual trip down to the St Pattys parade in Detroit on the motorcycles. We've gotten pretty lucky a couple years, and we've been kind of unlucky a couple years weather wise. We're hoping for Sunny and 50.

The cold and flu season has hit the fam hard. I've been texting a lot the last couple weeks due to my failing voice... if you don't get a verbal reply from me, but a text... you know why. Sorry and thanks for the patience. The grandkids all had strep throat, and flus, but at last it seems like we're all breaking out of it.

Anthony and Jessy came home last week to meet the twins. We took advantage of the time to have Austins first birthday party a few days early. He loves cake, and doesn't mind feeding himself. Mema didn't even stress out about cleaning blue frosting off everything in his vicinity.

As always, thanks so much for your referrals. They are appreciated. I am really putting the push on for listings these days though. It seems like anything listed these days that isn't a short sale gets good traffic and sells (pricing is critical though). Not sure I'm ready to say the market has bottomed out or not, but there are good signs of activity the last few months.

If you know anyone considering selling their home, even if it's months out... I'd love to talk to them. I do a lot of consulting, and don't mind at all getting to know your friends and family... you never know when they might need a great Realtor.

Thanks and have a warm March

Dave

Only three months away from better weather...

Only a few more weeks away from the spring real estate rush. Historically spring brings all the shoppers out. When? Tough to nail down but it usually coincides with sunny days and people coming out of hibernation. If you're thinking of selling, the time is now to get your home on the market. If you're a buyer looking for the right window, the time is now to beat the rush. Why compete with all the procrastinators on offers?

Interest rates are still low, financing is tough right now, but I know people. Appraisals are still tough but sellers are becoming more understanding of the market after so many years of frustration. If the Realtors do their homework during negotiations of an offer, the actual deal is typically closer to what an appraiser will approve when the time comes. It pays to go with a professional, again I know people :0).

Enough of that ... big news on the home front again. So the twins were born last month, and like a week later I get a call from Jessy asking if I was ready for grandkid number 5. Before I could spit out "what did David and Lauren do?" She told me she and Anthony were going to have a baby around September/Octoberish... Big time fun these days. Sadly I'm afraid he/she will be a Bears fans, but who could really blame "it"... i'm sure we can secretly convert the youngster to a Wings fan though.

Stay tuned for more news as it develops.

Jaxon and Carson are doing well. I had Carsons i.d. dialed in by the shape of his right ear, but the last time we were over, even that changed a bit. not sure I'll ever get them sorted out. I told the kids they better not shuffle them, that could really mess them up later in life especially if one of them has to get finger printed for work or something. Austin and Bella are doing great, Bella seems to enjoy helping, Austin just keeps saying "whats that" and pointing... Austins first snow storm yielded him an awesome fort... "whats that?"

Kel & I are fine... just watching a lot of t.v. buying time for better weather to hit and the bikes to come out of storage.

Thanks again for all your referrals. Don't be afraid to send folks my way for consultation these days. It's such a tough market, there are lots of folks with lots of questions... I'm happy to help.

See you in March

Dave

The only thing constant is change...

Wow, that's a big logo. Not sure how to shrink it, so I'll only keep it here for the month.

Lots of news in Real estate this month, but I'm saving that til last... Lauren delivered the twins she's been hiding from us for the last several months on 1/10/11. Dave tried to talk the nurse into waiting til the cool birthday but none of the women would cooperate. Jaxon Paul came first at 6 lbs and some change and Carson Michael hit the streets at just under 5 lbs. both about 19 inches long. Good thing they came, it looks like Jaxon was hogging all the food from his brother in there.

Mom and babies are doing great (see pics lower right column). So 4 kids under 5, and 3 under 1 year old... glad I set the diaper standard for grandpa early (none ever). :0)

Jessy & Anthony came to visit over the holidays for a couple weeks... we had a great time, shopped ... a lot... and took Anthony out to teach him how to shoot clay pigeons. He's a quick study, and after his first confirmed hit, his football nature came out and it turned into a competition. I don't want to tell you who lost, but it wasn't the rookie.

Yours truly made an office change just before Christmas. Real Estate One in Troy is where I hang out these days. I mailed my 2011 calendars with the new business card. If you didn't get one, the post office goofed, or I don't have your current address. send me and e-mail, and I'll shoot one out a.s.a.p. All my contact info remains unchanged so please and thank-you... feel free to send me your referrals as always.

On to Real Estate news. Across the board Realtors are talking more and more optimistically about the state of our market for 2011. Interest rates are inching up, but remain under 5% (4 3/4 - 5%) lately depending on credit scores and type of mortgages and length of mortgage.

If you were one of the unfortunate group that fell on hard times 3 years ago and had to either short sell or were foreclosed on... depending on the type of mortgage you apply for, you might be in the clear to gain approval for a new mortgage. Bankruptcy requires a 2 year wait, FHA loans and victims of short sale a 3 year wait.

If you are anxious to jump back into the property ownership game, and want more information, give me a call... I'll turn you over to the right individual. Then lets start looking for that deal.

May 2011 bring you health wealth and happiness.

Dave & Kelly Henderson

Let the count down begin... 23 days til Christmas...

Where the heck did the year go? None of you probably even noticed that I skipped the November blog. Between closings, holidays, elections and any number of a thousand excuses, I just didn't do one.

I thought on such a cold snowy start to the holiday season, I better do some catching up. First off, Homes have been selling like hot cakes. 5 closings in November is even better than the bunch I was able to close the first of the year. It ain't over yet, but thankfully this has already been the best year in about 4 in my business... no records, but steady for a change.

A couple nuggets from the closings this month should shed some light on the market in general... My first one was a first time home buyer... the search process was quick and we found a home that wasn't bank owned or a short sale. His mortgage broker broke a record in getting the approval and it was a seamless transaction. The second one was a home that was priced well,in good shape, and in a marketable area. I mentioned priced well because that's key today. I listed it Friday, and we had an offer by Sunday. Might be a record for me. Number 3 took a little longer but was a nice family colonial on a great street. It was my listing and we got through the appraisal and inspection process with flying colors, but the mortgage for the buyer took forever it seemed. Underwriters are dragging people over the coals these days before they'll write a mortgage. Number 4 and 5 (o.k. I fudged a little but they should have closed in November) are slated to close tomorrow (fingers still crossed). I mentioned mortgage underwriters, both deals have great borrowers but the mortgage folks have delayed both closings for over 3 weeks now for a myriad of reasons. It's tough out there folks, no matter what you read about how easy it is to get a great rate on a mortgage, you still need bordering on excellent credit to get one.

All said, this is still a great time to be a Realtor and to buy a home. I spend a lot of time these days consulting on all kinds of Real Estate issues. Feel free to call if you have any of your own.

The fam is great. Bikes are put away for the winter, and we're settling in for hermit season. Big plans this month are a visit to Chicago with Bella to the American Girl store (don't ask me... I just go where Kel tells me to go). Anthony and I will have to find some male bonding experience in Chicago to avoid boredom. Jessy & Anthony are planning a trip here near Christmas, so we have that to look forward to. Dave & Lauren are well... Lauren looks like she could have the twins any second now... they need a little more time to make sure all their parts cook as long as they can, but you know how twins can be... Did I mention it's going to be 2 boys? Austin has gotten so big already... he's not walking yet, but he stands pretty good, and he talks... but it's some kind of language I've never heard before.

Gordy has been out hunting with me a few times and so far I haven't left him behind... Dave and Anthony went with me a couple weeks ago. We were able to help Anthony get his first taste of bird hunting... good times that day, and no Dick Cheney incidents.

I'm sure there's tons I haven't talked about but shame on me for skipping a month. See you in January... have a great holiday season

Dave & Kelly

p.s. a sincere thank you for all the referrals you've sent my way... Your family and friends are an important part of what I do.

Another month slipped by... 79 days until Christmas...

We should be hearing Christmas music at the stores any day now.

For now, Fall is definately here to stay, cool crisp evenings, hit or miss warm days, leaves turning colors... love this time of year. I've been reading much about economic improvements in the news. I'm hopeful that you all are feeling a little confidence in your personal economic situations. We may not be on a huge uptick, but I get the sense that we have at least stabilized in Michigan, and a slow methodic recovery is on it's way.

I think I mentioned earlier this year that I had one of the best first quarters in real estate that I have had in the 10 years I've been a Realtor. Most of my profession chalked it up to the free Obama bucks that were enticing first time buyers into homes. There was a marked stall in my personal business in May, but it has been steadily improving over the past several months. The last week in September ended with an accepted offer on one of my listings, and 2 accepted offers for buyers I'm working with. 3 in one week is a rarity these days. Q-4 always proves out to be strong in my business matrix, and with a strong supply of good homes, great low interest rates (teetering between 3.7% and 4.5% in some cases), and a little confidence restoration in our economic climate, I look forward to fall 2010 standing up to years past.

Thanks as always for your referrals... Always treated as my own family, and very much a vital part of my business.

On to the fam...

September was just a busy extension of the rest of our fun filled summer. I figured with the wedding behind us, we'd slow down a bit. Trying to balance an increasingly busy real estate market with family stuff is difficult at best.

We went with Dave & Lauren, Bella and Austin to Yates Cider Mill. Bella rode Snickers, and taught Austin how to climb a tree (pics below). Dave is busier than ever traveling for work, and Lauren is busier than ever working and chasing after two kids, the youngest just figuring out how to manipulte the stairs.

Jessy is full swing into her job in Chicago. We stopped out there last month for a visit, and saw her new office and school... very nice. We got to watch Anthony coach his high school football team and sadly saw a rare defeat. They are a ranked team in Illinois, and we naturally showed up for the game of the century against another ranked team where they fell 34-32... Awesome game though... see pic below for candid photo opp of coach Bels.

My Ligers Fall softball team logged in a 10 - 2 record and went undefeated in playoffs for the third trophy this year. Good times playing ball with Dave jr. This old man sat most of the season nursing my sprained ankle and then followed it with a pulled quad muscle. Better be a long winter so I can rest up for spring ball.

Went to San Diego with kelly last month while she was away on a biz trip. Lots of fun for a pseudo vaca. More so for me than her. I golfed a couple times and sat by the pool. Not a bad gig really. She continues to accel at QEK selling in a tough economic environment.

Haven't quite put the golf clubs or the motorcycles away yet, but I think it's just about time.

See you next month, Maybe a recipe for Thanksgiving coming your way... let me think about that.

Welcome to Fall, where did this summer zip off to?

I've never been much of Hallmark Holiday kind of guy, but I just noticed Grandparents day is September 12th this year... I never knew there was such a thing, but what the heck. I suppose it's not even a bad thing to have to share that with Keldo since they don't give us each our own day.

Interesting factoid about Labor Day... The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. It became a federal holiday in
1894, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshalls during the Pullman Strike (a wilcat railroad strike). President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. Now you know...

Rough real estate news the last couple weeks. Nationally it appears that the slow down everyone feared after the expiration of the first time home buyer credit is on us. The good news is that NOCBOR (my local real estate board) reports the 27 % decline in the number of sales from June to July doesn't represent the number of sales contracted in those two months. It represents the number of sales closed according to NOCBOR. There was a decline in the number of contracted sales in Oakland County from June to July, which at this point appears to have only been about 4%.

August’s Oakland County figures for sales contracted appear as though they will be slightly, better than July’s figures. Here is a list of contracted sales (expected to close) by month: March - 1,688; April - 1,844; May - 1,434; June - 1,559 and July - 1,495.

In short, making a one month assessment of the local real estate market is a little misleading given the wide range of dates between contract date and closing date due to the length of time it takes these days to close short sales (3 - 6 months is typical). Also using such numbers does not allow for seasonal differences in sales, a huge impact during vacation months.

So never fear... we are still seeing market improvement despite what you may have read online.

The Fam...

Things are great, although we haven't seen much of anyone this past month, catching up on life and work after the wedding. Almost zero miles on the motorcycles this summer. My fall softball team is off to a great start at 5 wins and one loss (which we will avenge next Wednesday night). Golf league is almost over, and Kelly & I head to San Diego this month for 5 days (she's working I'm going along for the free ride). Lauren & I have birthdays this month... as Dave jr. pointed out this is my last year to be considered the old young guy... I'm heading into young old guy status (49 this year).

Thanks again for all the referrals... I closed a couple sales this month that were referred to me by friends. I appreciate the vote of confidence.

See you in October.

Dave

So much to report, so little space...

Slow news month in August... I suppose Dave & Laurens anniversary and Woodward Dream Cruise 2010 is going to be the highlight. August 21 is the date (for both)... all the cool kids are going to be there. the photo above is a 1965 Dodge Dart I restored about 10 years ago (with a little help from friends). I miss hanging out on Woodward with it after I sold it, but the motorcycles allow us quicker access to parking near the Avenue.

Now lets talk about real estate, that way you'll get good information before I bore you to tears with the wedding and the surprise I promised you last month.

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel and Bankers home loan have teamed up and introduced an interesting new program for "sidelined buyers". What is a sidelined buyer? A sidelined buyer is one that for any number of reasons can't participate in the purchase of a new home right now... but specifically those that may have been forced into selling a home in a short sale. There is a required waiting period before a short sale buyer can get another mortgage... therefore they are sidelined and can't take advantage of the great home deals and interest rates that are out there right now. Give me a call if you are that buyer, and I'll put you in touch with the right people at Bankers Home Loan to see if you qualify.

Interest rates are still unbelievable, and prices are still great. Give me a call to get pre-qualified for a mortgage if you want to jump into the fun pit.

Now for the events of the last couple weeks...

I'm not even sure which of the kids to start with... either one is going to blame the other for being a thunder stealer.

Jessy & Anthony got married July 30th in Chicago... what a great wedding they had. The kids planned the whole thing themselves down to every detail with little input from us for sure. All I can say is they have pretty unbelievable taste. Anthony surprised Jessy with a ride to the church in a 1969 Rolls Royce... I got to tag along with her & Kelly. I told Jessy & Kelly that i am a lucky guy to have been able to walk down the aisle with 2 of the most beautiful brides ever. I tried breaking my ankle 4 days before the wedding playing softball... thankfully it was just a bad sprain and I was able to walk her down the aisle and do the daddy daughter dance without a cast. I posted a couple pictures here, but if you have a facebook account, friend me and you can see a bunch more random shots from attendees. The legit pics won't be ready for a few weeks.

Dave junior was a groomsman & Lauren was the matron of honor... both gave great toasts at the reception. Bella was the flower girl, and enjoyed spending the day with Aunt Jessy getting her hair did and make-up like the big girls...

We welcome Anthony into the family, and can't wait to see them again when they get back from their honeymoon in Cabo. I hope they wait to have kids though until we settle down a little from her brothers big news... (nice intro to this months surprise)

Dave & Lauren are expecting again... we were happy and a little concerned at first because the newest addition is due Early February. His/her arrival will be just before Austins first birthday... Irish twins anyone? O.K. now for the big news... Laurens having actual twins... that's right Irish triplets. Whoah what a houseful that's going to be. G-Diddy times 4. I posted a scan of the latest ultrasound, wierd I know, but I asked her for it so I could verify for myself that it was in fact twins. Second opinions always help. Something told me I should have looked for a 5 bedroom house when they bought in October, but who knew...

Finally... the Troy Ligers sponsored by Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel (me) took second place with a 10-3-1 record in our innaugural softball season. We are hot and heavy in the middle of playoffs currently. Possibly 3 games this coming Monday night. Stay tuned, I'll post our trophies next month when they don't get overshadowed by weddings and grandkids.

Thanks again for your referrals. I am experiencing a very good 2010 so far. Through mid July, I already have sold twice the volume sold in the same period 2009. That is only possible with the help of family and friends that refer clients to me... I appreciate the help.

Thanks, and see you next month

Dave

Happy Independence Day.

Sorry to be so late with the blog, I know how you all sit around waiting for it every month. Hopefully you all had as much fun as we did hanging around with family and friends celebrating the nations birthday. While we were watching the fireworks in Clawson the other night, the question about where the fireworks tradition began came up... well by now you know if I don't know the answer to something, and can't make up a reasonably believable fabrication, I'll research it here. Wikipedia says this:

On July 3rd, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations (fireworks), from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.

Now you know the rest of the story :0)

Well this month, Kelly celebrates her birthday, it's not the big one, or even a big one, but I'm still struggling with what to get her after celebrating almost 30 of them with her... maybe something for my motorcycle :0).

The next couple weeks is a full list of Jessy to-do's. She is moving into her new condo this weekend, the bachelor bash is sneaking up, then the wedding at the end of the month. Seems like this year has zipped by.

Austin and Bella continue to be the best gift kids can give their dad... not being greedy or anything, but I can't wait for more grand kids :0).

On the real estate front:

I continue to roll with buyers. The feds extended the drop dead date for the first time home buyer credit from June 30th to the end of summer. The extension only applies to purchase agreements already written before April 30th. The extension allows a little cushion for banks to get approvals completed, and short sales negotiated.

Still a good time to buy though, prices are low, and there's a bunch of inventory... just make sure you're patient with your realtor, there's tons of stuff he/she needs to navigate through to get a deal done.

Thanks again for the referrals. They are appreciated. See you next month with wedding pictures.

Uno de Juno... Can I make up my own holiday?

Not to minimalize Cinco de Mayo, but I like the sound of my new holiday better. I'm betting about 70% of those that read this aren't reading it today (Uno de Juno), but are more appropriately either recouping from, or extending one of the best Memorial Day weekends I can remember in about 15 years. That's no problem, you can wish me a belated happy holiday when you get back to the grind.

As for Memorial day... it is one of the few days the feds set aside to honor those that have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of this great nation. Not many days pass that I don't consider our armed forces, and their contribution to my freedoms. Keep memorial day alive 365 (another slogan... dang I'm full of 'em today)

As we expected, the April 30 deadline on the first time home buyer credit slowed the traffic a bit. The good news is that estimates show a pretty good clearing out of a lot of old inventory in the local housing market. Offers written by the deadline, have to close by June 30th, so we won't know until then the full impact the credit had on the market.

That said, I am working with several buyers, so traffic for me personally has been steady. I've submitted 3 offers in the last 2 weeks, and have 2 closings coming up in the next 2 weeks. Steady traffic for the first half of the year. Keep the referrals coming. I truly appreciate the trust you place in me with your friends and family...

Speaking of family :0)

We are rapidly approaching the wedding month. Lots of busy work getting ready. We had the Detroit bridal shower/golf outing last week, and the Chicago shower/golf outing this coming week. Too many pics to do justice posting them here... you can go to facebook for the full review if you want. If we're not friends already, send me an invite... I stay realtor neutral there.

Austin is growing like a weed... he is almost sitting up on his own. Kind of funny in a mean way watching him sit there until he face plants on the davenport (facebook friends will get that). Bella turned 4 last month, but I swear i think she's 14. She can touch the bottom of the pool this year... and keep her head out of the water... at the same time.

Kel & I are doing well. We've had the bikes out for a few rides, I've been golfing a bit, and my softball team is off to a great start with a 5-1 record... and only a couple minor injuries (if you don't count a broken arm by one of the players).

Thanks again for a great start to 2010... can't do it without a little help from my friends :0). See you in July.

Dave

Spring is here...

May has turned into a crazy month these days... May 2, 3 and 4 we have Anthony's Bellas and Dave jr's birthday. May 8th Kelly & I celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary, It's hard to believe I'm that old, but Kelly??? for sure. UPDATE - Kelly just noted it is 28 years not 29. I suppose now I am going to need the extra year to save up for the really nice trip I'm going to have to plan for our 30th to make up for my poor math skills :0)
May 9 is Moms day (in case you haven't bought your cards yet, and May 27th Jessy's birthday (not to mention Memorial day). All this activity is one of the reasons the blog is a couple days delinquent... sorry about that.

I was going to blather on about the history of Cinco de Mayo, but I missed my opportunity by a day. Besides I was informed by a cab driver in Puerto Vallarta a couple years ago that it's really not a national holiday in Mexico. From what I can gather on the internet, it is celebrated in one state in Mexico, and at numerous bars in the U.S. Any reason for happy hour and a buritto I suppose.

Gordy is still living with us. I haven't reached the end of my rope with raising a puppy quite yet. Although, if anyone has any suggestions for curbing his need to dig all the plants in the back yard up, I'd love to hear it.

The countdown to the wedding is well under way. A shower this month, another in chicago next month, then the big day For Anthony & Jessy in July. Jessy is feverishly applying for work in Chicago. She has had a few interviews already, and feels pretty confident with her prospects.

Dave, Lauren, Bella and Austin are great. Bella has really accepted her new brother into the fam with open arms. She's lightened up on G-diddy a bit. I can even walk in and say hi to Austin first without being shunned. Sorry no new pics this month, we had sort of a snafu on the computer... all my files mysteriously disappeared (pics and all). I was able to recoup the important ones, and I had backed up a bunch of stuff last month, but we have about a one month vortex.

Golf league started this week, and Dave jr and I have a softball team that has a record of 2 - 1 already. Just trying to keep up with the young guys, but it's getting harder each year.

As for Real Estate... The first time home buyer credit expired April 30th. There was a huge flurry of activity for about 3 weeks prior to that. Needless to say I am off to a pretty good start for 2010. It doesn't appear that there will be an extension of the credit, so the industry has a wait and see attitude right now about the affect the expiration will have locally.

The good news is, I think we saw a pretty good amount of homes flushed from the system. Now if we can just keep steadily improving, we should be in good shape moving forward. I picked up 3 new listings this week, and still have buyers in the pipeline... all is good with the world.

As always, I truly appreciate the referrals you graciously give me. Hopefully you know by now, your family and friends are my family and friends.

See you in June.

Happy Ostern everyone...

While I was with the family yesterday celebrating the defining day for Christians around the world, someone asked what the word Easter meant. In keeping with last months definition, I figured i better look into it. That's what old age does to you, you start to actually get concerned with things you've never given much thought to.

There are two relatively accepted potential origins of the word Easter... as with many holidays, it looks like there is a pagan root to the word as well as one not associated with the pagan term.

Eostre - was a pagan Anglo-Saxon Goddess. The mythical figure is said to have been the goddess of the sunrise and the spring. The direction of the sunrise, East, is named for her. In Norse mythology, the name is spelled Eostare. Another considered the Norse/Saxon goddess of spring is Ostara. Eastre is believed to be an ancient word for spring. -OR- Another idea involves the history of the Frankish church (Germans who settled in Rome during the fifth century). There the celebration of Christ's resurrection included the word alba, which means white (the color of the robes worn during the resurrection festival). Alba also meant sunrise. So when the name of the festival was translated into German, the sunrise meaning, ostern, was selected, likely in error. One theory is that Ostern is the origin of the word Easter.

So there you have it.

We also celebrate April Fools day in our house... It has become a little tough around here to fool anyone since they all live so darn far away. Phone gags just don't have the same flair. I am always a little nostalgic for a couple of the pranks I pulled on the kids this time of year. Like the one year I stopped at Little Caesars to pick up a couple empty pizza boxes on my way home from work. As I drove by the kids playing in a neighbors yard, I raised the empty boxes and slowed down so they could get a good look... they raced me home that night, and needless to say, Kelly & I had to pack the fam up and take them out for pizza that night. They still get a chuckle out of it though... memories.

Oh yeah... what about real estate? Well it has been very busy lately. Mortgages are getting tough to obtain, and the first time home buyer credit expires in just 25 days. If you want to take advantage of the credit, this is literally zero hour... call me today.

FYI, Senate Bill 395 was introduced in Michigan recently, it requires property tax assessment notices to be sent to property owners at least two weeks before the meeting by the local Board of Review. Last week, the Bill passed out of the Senate, and is now awaiting a hearing in the House Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs committee. This bill would allow us property owners sufficient time to gather the required information necessary to fight our assessments. I'll keep you updated on this one.

For the family... all are doing great, Jessy & Anthony are starting the countdown to the wedding (late July). Looks like everything is in order. Dave Lauren Bella & Austin are doing well, Austin is growing... what an eater. I had a three day stretch with him wrecking my shirts while I tried to burp him... I think I'm leaving that task for the professionals from now on.

Kel & I have had the motorcycles out a couple times... the recent string of great weather has been very encouraging. Golf and softball, look out, here we come.

Thanks again for all your referrals, I appreciate you passing my name on to your family and friends. See you in May.

The Ides of March...

Thankfully I only post to my blog once a month. Do you realize how tough it is coming up with interesting stuff to post that often? Notice I'm 3 days late on this one... mainly because i've been busy, and procrastinating.

I was thinking this morning about March sayings, and I've already posted about in like a lamb out like a lion stuff, and probably way too much St. Pattys info (as if there could be way too much St. Pattys info)... so the Ides of March came to mind... then I thought, what the heck are the ides of March... here's the research :0)

The term idūs (ides) originally referred to the day of the full moon. The Romans considered this an auspicious day in their calendar. The word ides comes from Latin, meaning "half division" (of a month).

The ides of March is the name of March 15 in the Roman calendar. The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C.

Whew, I got that off my chest :0)

I mentioned earlier that I have been busy this month. Thanks to you and your referrals, this has been the busiest first quarter I've had in the last 8 years in the real estate business. I'm sure part of the business uptick is due to the first time home buyer tax credit that expires soon, but I'm thankful for the head start into 2010.

Speaking of the credit... it is 10% of the purchase price up to $ 8,000 for first time buyers, and $ 6,500 for buy up buyers, and it expires April 30th. As of this writing you only have 58 days to write a Purchase Agreement, so call me today.

On to the family... This has been a pretty exciting month for Clan Hendo... in fact I am already prepared for the grief I'm going to get for headlining this months blog with the Ides of March.

Mema and G-Diddy are proud to announce the arrival of Austin James Henderson on February 23. He was 8 lbs 14 oz. and 20 inches long with a pretty good amount of dark hair. Lauren and Austin are doing great, and the family couldn't be any more proud... we now have 3 generations of Hendersons in Troy. David now has 2 options for the hockey/baseball/football player in the family.

Kelly was on a business trip to Florida and arrived at the hospital from Metro at about 5:30 pm... Austin arrived at 6:30. He's a good listener out of the gate... Kelly told him before she left to hold off until she got home. Bella is adapting very well to helping mom with baby chores, but I think she's going to follow my lead on only helping to change "certain" diapers. In fact if she's followed my example at all... she might just avoid all of that scene.

Anthony and Jessy came in for the weekend to hang out with the family to enjoy Baby Austin. I've posted a few pics to check out.

As always... thanks so much for indulging me on my blog... Thanks also for all your referrals. Your family and friends are my family and friends.

See you in April, maybe I'll be posting some motorcycle photos by then.

Not sure how the groundhog became the annointed one...

But I wish they'd pick a rodent with a better climate... a little more conducive to non shadow seeing.

For all you snow lovers, I apologize. It's my fault this year. I donated my old snowblower to Dave & Lauren, and bought a new one, figuring that if snowfalls this year were similar to last year, I could use a manly machine. As it stands now, I've started it once, and that was simply to make sure it worked. It's bad when you have to start a monthly maintenance program on your new snowblower that includes starting it once a month, (just because) and lubricating all the moving parts.

Gordy is now 8 weeks old. He's a really cute dog with an attitude to boot. If he and I remain friends through his house training, he'll make a pretty good hunting dog I'm sure. We've lost nothing of value (yet), but he really likes to exercise his choppers. Bella especially is not a big fan of that since she is just about the perfect size for him to nibble.

Bella is getting ready for her new brother to join the fam. I'm sure Lauren is past ready to have him here. I think we're expecting his arrival around the end of this month or early March.

Kel & I went to Chicago to check out the reception hall for Anthony and Jessys wedding this summer. They have an event the last Thursday of each month where wedding families can taste test all the food. It was all pretty good, so I wasn't much help trying to whittle down the choices. We took a road trip with the kids to Milwaukee and toured the Miller plant and made a stop off at a restaurant I used to think was pretty cool (the safehouse). Turns out after 25 years, it's not as cool as I thought it was :0)... sorry guys, but it was just an hour and a half each way.

Kel & I are well... nothing new to report, just working hard and trying to stay warm. Just a mere 3 months before golf and motorcycle season is on us... I guess I can last.

Just a reminder to all... the First time Home buyer tax credit expires April 30th this year. Anyone wishing to take advantage of a couple Obama bucks should call me today. Purchase agreements have to be accepted by April 30th, and the sale has to close by June 30th. O'B's are also available for anyone that would like to buy up from their existing home... give me a call for details. the same time lines fit both categories.

Sales have been steady the first part of the year so far... I'm optimistic. 2010 is going to be a break out year for us all.

As always... thanks so much for your referrals. Your family and friends are what make my business great. See you next month

Dave (& Kelly)

Happy New Year... Funny how fast a decade flys by.

Hey all

Is it me or does it seem like it was just last year we had a Y2K scare that sent everyone out to Lowes buying generators? 10 Years have flown by, and as I think back on the decade, life as we knew it in 2000 is vastly different than today.

In 2000 we had a flourishing economic picture, both of my adult kids were in high school, we just moved into our current home, and I was contemplating a career in Real Estate. There was no talk of terrorism, 9/11, weapons of mass destruction, or anything other than a normal fear of flying.

Fast forward to this past week... I have a grandchild with one on the way, my youngest will be married in July this year, both kids have settled into great careers, and Kelly has kept me around for another decade. Although we have been experiencing our share of economic uncertainty... we still live in a great country with more opportunities at our fingertips than most of the earths population.

Things have been a little sluggish in real estate around the holidays this year. I'm currently working with several buyers though, so the first quarter 2010 is shaping up to be a good one.

First time home buyer credit is still available until April 30th, and move up buyers can get $ 6,500 as well... if you're thinking about a move... give me a call.

Christmas was a blast, Dave & Lauren spent it in their own home, so it was a bit quiet around here. I also failed to bring the camera over for Christmas eve or morning, so this year the pics are pretty scarce. Anthony & Jessy came to town after Christmas, and we were able to spend some quality time with them all over the holidays.

Kelly decided to surprise me with a new "son" for Christmas. He's a chocolate Lab named Gordon Howard (no surprise as Gordie Howe is Kels favorite sports figure ever). Gordy apparently helps fill the void left when the kids moved out with Bella. No sense enjoying being empty nesters I suppose :0)

I hope you all have a happy New Year, full of family friendships and prosperity. See you in February.

Dave & Kelly

Is it me or was this the fastest year in history?

Hard to believe 2009 is practically behind us already. Last week we were able to reflect and express thanks for all the great things in our lives... families, friends, freedom and our good fortune to have been born in the greatest country on the planet.

This month we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It seems sometimes that fact is lost in the hussle and bussle of Black Fridays, Christmas parties, politicos that try to remove him from the holiday that it is. Just imagine showing up to a surprise brthday party for yourself, and although everyone is celebrating, no one there says happy birthday or even acknowledges that it is you... the reason for the get together... Awkward :0)

Just keep the reason for this great holiday in the front of your mind as you wind down the year. If I see you and say Merry Christmas, don't be offended or take it the wrong way... if your faith differs, wish me a Happy Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanza or Festivus. I respect your freedom to celebrate your religion the way you see fit.

The real estate world has been vibrant the last month. I reported great activity for November (5 closings in a 2 week span). That is the best 2 week snap shot of time I've had in my 9 years as a realtor. The good news is the feds extended the first time home buyer credit through April 2010, and added a $ 6,500 credit for current home owner/buyers (again through April 2010).

First time buyer by definition is anyone that hasn't owned a home in the past 3 years. Current home owner/buyers must have lived in the home they are selling for at least 5 of the last 8 years they have owned it. Income limits for these credits are $ 125,000/year single and $ 225,000/year for married couples. Max price of home for eligibility is $ 800,000.

So give me a call... there are tons of homes on the market under $ 800K, I'll find the perfect one for you.

I just mailed out the new calendars for 2010... if you don't receive one this week, it means I probably don't have your current home mailing address. If you'd like one for your fridge, e-mail me with the details, I'll get it out this week.

Fam news...

One of the 5 closings I had this month was for David Lauren & Bella. They found a great home in Troy, not too far from either grandparent. We've spent a significant amount of "bonding time" removing wallpaper, carpet, bathroom fixtures and painting. They moved in completely the day before Thanksgiving. Still a little work to be completed, but don't all homeowners have a never ending list of stuff to do? We were able to off load most of the pantry and fridge, and surprisingly, I have managed to lose 5 lbs. since Thanksgiving. A testiment to their ability to cook for sure. Bella wasn't too sure about why we moved all her belongings out of her room and into her new strange house... it looks like she has warmed up to her new hot pink room with princess castles all over the wall though.

Anthony & Jessy came home over the holiday and were here almost an entire week. They're going to kill me after reading this, because I didn't take one picture to post. Not even a record of our second annual (and potentially final) Fryball Friday. We stoked up the turkey frier at 11:30 and started frying Anthonys Ponzeratis (sp), corn dogs, a huuuuge assortment of dessert pies, chicken wings pickles... enough frying to make the average healthy adult run screaming for a bottle of lipitor.

Last week was a prime example of why I enjoy Thanksgiving above all other holidays. Relaxing with the whole fam...

Kelly & I got the bikes out for the last couple fair weather rides in November... not sure if we are anxious enough to keep our streak alive. I have ridden my motorcycle once a month for 52 months... if we get some nice breaks this winter I'll keep it going, but No way am I doing a repeat performance of last January. It was 28 degrees when we finally found our window of opportunity to ride.

Thanks again for all your real estate referrals. We sincerely appreciate every new client/friend we meet. Have a great Christmas Holiday, and we'll talk again in 2010.

Happy early Thanksgiving...

Any of you that have kept reading the blog each year know how much I love Thanksgiving. It is the one time of year set aside to reflect on all you are thankful for without the added stress of Santa Clause, or the Easter Bunny... if they ever turn the turkey into a Thanksgiving icon... watch out.

I changed up the look of the blog a little this month... hope you like it. Make sure you scroll down past all of the blog entries and check out all of my listings, and for sure check out the business partner section. Lots of great people to do business with there. I've worked with them all at one time or another, they'll treat you like family.

This month is a busy one in real estate. The home buyer credit expires Nov. 30th and as a result I am jammed up with closings. Unless you're a cash buyer, you've missed the window at this point. The feds are contemplating extending the credit, but have postponed voting on it a couple times. Rumor has it they are thinking about an extension through June 2010... time will tell.

I stumbled onto something the other day from my Coldwell Banker office. There is a little known tax credit available to sellers that have sold a home worth less than their SEV. Apparently this has been on the books for several years, but until the last couple years... has not been that important. In a declining market however... you may be entitled to a little tax money back if you've sold a home in the last few years.

A seller does not have to pay the State of Michigan portion ($ 7.50 of the $ 8.60 per thousand) charged at a closing. The property must have been a homestead (not a second or income property), the SEV at the time of sale is equal to or less than it was when you purchased the home, The current sale price does/did not exceed the true cash value (2 times SEV) at the time of sale.

You must file for this exemption within 4 years of the sale of the home in question. I have a form I can e-mail you. All you need to do is complete the form, check with the city your home was in to make sure the SEV to sale price meets the criteria, and if you are due a refund... wait for the process to take place. Let me know if you think you are entitled to a refund. On a $ 200,000 home, the refund could be as much as $ 1,500.00

So for the family...

Last month I was reminded that I failed to put any details about the engagement party for Jessy & Anthony. I mentioned we were going in the September Blog... but must have blacked out prior to writing the October blog. Oops, sorry Belmonte fam. We did attend the party in early September in Chicago. It was a great opportunity to meet new family members, and renew acquaintences with those we've already known for a while. Sort of a pre-cursor to the wedding next year, this is gonna be a fun one. Only thing missing was the shotski... whoever is in charge of that better make sure its at the reception.

Anthony finished his high school football coaching debut season with a 6 -4 winning record... up from last year. They plan on heading home this coming weekend for a couple days to hang out at Club Hendo... where there are no wave offs :0)

Dave & Lauren are past the biggest hurdle on their new home... the appraisal. All is set for closing we think around Nov. 12th ish. They are balking at having Thanksgiving at the new place though... maybe next year. Of course Fri-ball Friday is happening the day after with the turkey frier... anyone have any ideas for interesting things to deep fry, feel free to send them my way. We fried just about everything in the pantry last year...looking for fresh ideas.

If you noticed the pics to the right, Bella was a hoot carving pumpkins last week. She was all about cleaning the guts out of the pumpkin... until she actually saw them, then pretty much turned on G-diddy and his slimey pumpkins. Oh yeah, she's all of a sudden decided to call me grandpa, sounds pretty grown up... stupid pre-school.

Kelly & I went on a color ride on the motorcycles last week. Weather was brisk, but no rain. Probably time to put them away for the seaon, just wish we'd have been able to put a few more miles on them... maybe next season.

Hate to sound like a broken record, but thank you so much for all your referrals. Without your family and friends, Real estate transactions are tough to come by. Everybody knows someone in real estate... hopefully I'm your go to guy.

Happy Thanksgiving... see you in December.

This months recipe... Ginger snap pumpkin cheesecake. I made this last week for a dinner party and it was great. If you don't have a spring form pan, go out and get one. You won't regret it.

INGREDIENTS
• 3/4 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
• ¾ cup graham crackers crushed
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 TBS flour
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed gingersnap cookies, graham crackers pecans, and butter. Press into the bottom, and about 1 inch up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake crust 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Set aside to cool.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla just until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Blend pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the remaining mixture.
3. Spread the pumpkin flavored batter into the crust.
4. Bake 55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until filling is set. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Allow to cool before removing pan rim. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.