Nov. 26, 2007 - The Greatest Generations revisits their battlefield campaigns!

I just thought this was wonderful. My Dad is a World War II veteran. He was in the Army from 1941 to 1945. He drove a supply truck to the front lines. He started in England and then went to France, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg and Germany. My parents were blessed to be able to go back several years ago and visit the places that my Dad helped liberate. My parents enjoyed following in his war time foot steps but not everyone would be fortunate enough to be able to do that so I just thought it was great that there is a foundation to help our War Veterans visit these battlefields.

My Dad and all of his brothers were in World War II. Two were in the Air Force, one was in the Navy and my Dad and one other brother were in the Army. They all made it back but one of his brothers stayed in the Army and was killed in the Korean War. My Dad is the only one of his siblings still alive but at 90 years of age he is still in excellent health. My parents spend 6 months in Colorado and 6 months in Arizona.

I am proud that my Dad served his country for our freedom. I am equally proud to now have a son serving as an Intelligence Analyst in the Army. Our son finished his first tour of Iraq this last January and will be returning for a second tour this coming March.

We are so blessed to live in this great country and to have the proud history of men and women serving in our armed forces to protect our way of life. I hope you all enjoy visiting the Greatest Generations website and if you would be interested in becoming a member it gives you the information to help these veterans re-visit their battlefield campaigns.

Oct. 11, 2007 - The foreclosure you are buying may not close on time!

There are a lot of foreclosures out there right now and there are some good deals. If you are buying a foreclosure just keep in mind that you might need to be flexible; especially when it comes to getting it closed. I have had several buyers lately that have not closed on time. When you are buying a foreclosure you are dealing with a bank; this is a lot different than when you are buying directly from a seller. In this case you are dealing with bank bureaucracy. Depending on how many foreclosures are getting closed at the time will depend on how fast your paperwork makes it through the system. The paperwork has to be approved and if there are a lot of foreclosures your paperwork can get buried in the mound.

There can be other problems also; I recently had one that didn't close on time because of a typo that the attorney's office made on the title policy. The bank won't let you close until everything is correct; even if it is their problem. You just need to realize this going in to the process. You probably want to have some flexibility on your move in date. If you are moving in to the property yourself you might want to schedule the moving truck after you know it has closed.

So long story short even if you get your part done on time that doesn't necessariy mean that you will close on time.

Oct. 1, 2007 - Location! Why I think it is so important!!

I just read a post that Robert Monk wrote about Location, Location, Location. His premise was that we need to remind our clients of three little things location, location, location. I could not agree more.

We learned this lesson the hard way over the years. Our first home was at a lake in Kansas 30 minutes from Wichita. We were using an FmHA loan as we had little or no money at the time so it had to be in a rural area. We bought next to a bar at the lake; young and dumb is all I can tell you. At the time we were told there was a permanent injunction against the bar and it would never be opened again. Two months after moving in the Dry Dock Inn opened for business. That was 30 year ago so I don't know they would get by with telling us something that was not true like that today. That was not an easy home to sell but we moved to Colorado and left my Mother in charge of selling it (again I can say young and dumb).

Our next home purchase was in Colorado. We bought a factory built home. They would build these homes in factories and then plop them on a slab. This home backed up to a pasture with a great view of the Colorado front range. The problem here was the land that was behind us was zoned light commercial. The entire time we lived there we were wondering what it would become. Years later it did become a church; which would not have been so bad. I was envisioning all kinds of things. My husband loved that view and to this day would tell you that was the best home we ever had. My reply to that is, "we did not have our own master bathroom". I guess it is all a matter of perspective.

From there we moved to a larger home (with our own master bathroom). The problem with this home was that it backed up to a road and as it turned out a very busy road. We went from this incredible view of the Front Range to a nice big noisy back yard. We had a wonderful rock garden but I would tell the kids not to go clear to the back as I was always afraid that someone on the road would not pay attention and plow in to the fence. We have always been outside people and we got to where we never went in to our back yard because it was like living in Grand Central Station with all the noise.

We do learn by our mistakes. Our next home was in Greensboro North Carolina. This time we bought backing to a little lake, on ¾ acre and we owned part of the lake. This was a wise move as my husband's company only kept us there a little over 2 years and by having such a dynamite location I was able to sell the house myself. This was actually my first foray in to real estate. I knew we had a great location and with 15 years of sales experience behind my belt I made selling that home my career for a couple of months. This was one of those life changing moments as I found I loved real estate and when we moved to Texas I immediately became a Realtor. Being a FSBO was definitely more complicated than what I thought and I don't know if I could have done it myself without my dynamite location and the fact that I made it my full time job.

As I said we do learn by our mistakes and when we moved to Texas we were the first to build in our subdivision. We picked a lot at the end of a long cul-de-sac as we knew we wanted something quiet. We had the option of the two lots at the very end that backed up to a vacant field but been there done that; we picked the lot next to the one that backed to the vacant field. Oved the years I have heard those two neighbors who bought backing up to the vacant field wondering what it was going to be. Everytime I hear them I am glad we made that decision. The land is owned by the Woodlands and it appears from the maps we have been seeing that it is going to be homes going in behind them; so that is good. It however looks to be patio homes and we have big lots so they could have several back yard neighbors.

This is my history of why I think location, location, location is so important! If you are going to buy a house that backs up to something whether it be a road, strip center, vacant field or whatever you just need to keep in mind that you might be getting your home for a good deal now but when it comes times to sale you will probably have to sale for less than other homes that don't back up to whatever. Since we don't have zoning in the Houston area that even makes it more imperative to watch what you back up to!

Sep. 26, 2007 - Note to seller - keep your utilites on!

I am amazed at how many vacant houses that I show where the utilities have been turned off. I personally think this is a hindrance to selling the house, especially in Houston in the summer time. When I show a vacant house in the summer with the heat the way it is we breeze through; as it is too miserable to stay long. The other thing that seems to happen is the home gets an odor, it almost smells like mildew. I have spoke to home inspectors about this and they have said it can cause issues.

With the time getting ready to change it is going to start getting dark earlier and earlier. There are certain clients who can only see homes after work and if the utilities are not on that is almost impossible. I have tried to show with a flash light but I have not found it to work.

Keeping your utilities on is also going to make it easier once you get a contract. If your utilities are off you are going to have to get them all turned on for inspections. This can take up to a week for all the utilities to get turned back on. I have a situation happening right now where we have to wait for the gas to be turned on to finish our inspections. I'm not sure why the gas is the one that usually gets turned off but it is. Probably it is because our weather is so mild we don't use our gas furnaces that much.

You also want to make sure that the home has closed before turning off your utilities. Unfortunately things happen and occasionally a home does not close when it is supposed to. I had this happen with someone who had a swimming pool and it is amazing how quick a pool turns green with out electricity.

I realize that it is an extra expense leaving the utilities on when you are not living there but I think a "Sold" home will be the return on your investment.

For all your Northwest Houston Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

Sep. 13, 2007 - Key Market Factors

Key Market Factors

How long does it take to sell a home?
There is no easy answer some homes sell in a few days others may take several months. 
Recognizing the key factors influencing a sale can give you significant control over market time.

The proper balance of these factors will expedite your sale:

• LOCATION!
   Location is the single greatest factor affecting value.
   Neighborhood desirability is fundamental to a property - fair market value.
• COMPETITION!
   Buyers compare your property against competing properties.
   Buyers interpret value based on available properties.
• TIMING!
   The real estate market may reflect a sellers market or a buyers market. 
   Market conditions cannot be manipulated; an individually tailored marketing plan must be developed accordingly.
• CONDITION!
   Property condition affects price and speed of sale.
   Optimizing physical appearances and advance preparation for marketing maximizes value.
• TERMS!
   The more flexible the financing, the broader the market, the quicker the sale and the higher the price.
   Terms structured to meet your objectives are important to successful marketing.
• PRICE!
   If the property is not properly priced, a sale may be delayed or even prevented.
  

Aug. 30, 2007 - Sales Rebound in Houston

In spite of national reports of turbulence in the mortgage industry, the greater Houston real estate market held up remarkably well last month. Sales actually rebounded from the previous two months of declining sales.

While the inventory growth of available homes for sale slowed from its recent torrid pace, prices were mixed. The only price segment that continues to show signs of moderate weakness is the $80,000 to $150,000 range, the primary market to be affected by fallout in the sub-prime mortgage market.

Total property sales for the month registered 8,114, which was a 1.1 percent increase versus July 2006. Properties sold during the month reached a total of nearly $1.7 billion, a 5.3 percent increase compared to last year’s nearly $1.6 billion in July sales. Additionally, the median home price for a single-family home reached $155,100 for July, and the average single-family home price came in at $209,339, a decline of 0.5 percent and an increase of 1.8 percent, respectively.

“Everyone has heard the saying that real estate is local, but unfortunately, the mortgage industry is national. While the Houston housing market has held up much better than the rest of the nation, the mortgage finance problems that have been widely reported have resulted in some volatility in our market in the lower price ranges. In these more uncertain times in the housing market, it is even more important to make sure to seek the counsel of a real estate professional,” said Rob Cook, HAR Chairman. “The good news for Houston is that energy prices remain strong, job growth continues and the local economy shows resilience. If any market in the country can withstand the impact of the lending woes it will be this region.”

Source: Houston Association of Realtors

Aug. 15, 2007 - New Texas law requiring disclosure of fire dection & safety devices!

I was reading the Texas Realtor magazine and came across information about a bill that affects all of us that live in the state of Texas.  It has to do with fire safety requirements and affects owners, sellers, and landlords of residential property; I would say that is just about everyone.  The new law takes effect on September 1 and is enacted as Texas House Bill 2118.

As a seller the new law requires that seller’s disclose information regarding the presence of fire detection and safety devices.  You must disclose smoke detectors, hearing impaired smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and emergency escape ladders.  Seller’s may mark yes, no or unknown.  The Texas Association of Realtors has already changed their seller’s disclosure (TAR 1406).  Any homes that are not under contract before September 1st will be required to use the new form.  TAR is recommending that the forms start being used immediately to avoid having to update the notice.

There are also new fire safety requirements for sellers of one and two family dwellings.  Under the new law a purchaser may require the seller to install hearing impaired smoke detectors.  There are certain requirements that must be met and the law authorizes the seller and buyer to agree as to which party will pay for them to be installed.

The new law also requires all owners of one and two family dwellings to have working smoke detectors installed in accordance with the requirements of the building code in effect in the area where the dwelling is located. 

Along with the fire detection and safety devices that have been changed in the seller’s disclosure there is also an additional page that has been added with additional notices to buyers.  The notices include such things as the website where the buyer can check for sex offenders, the open beaches act, square footage measurements and each buyer is encouraged to have their own home inspection. One of the items that I like is a section for the seller to write out who currently provide service to the property such as electric, water, sewer, trash, cable, natural gas, local phone and propane.  I like this information being provided up front especially since we have so many different water districts in our area.

This makes for a very comprehensive seller’s disclosure.  It adds another page to the disclosure but I personally like the changes.

Jul. 5, 2007 - Fire Ants in Texas

Having moved to Texas from the North I have come to realize that we have some unusual pest in Texas and one of these are fire ants.  We moved here a little over 10 years ago and it did not take long for me to be introduced to the critters.  I was holding an open house and saw some soft dirt to put my open house sign in.  As I was putting the sign in the yard all of a sudden I noticed stings through my panty hose.  I was out in the street doing a little dance trying to get them off of me.  Needless to say I started watching where I walked and watching out for soft mounds of dirt. Thank goodness my days of pantyhose are over but unfortunatly it appears the fire ants are here to stay. Recently I was showing a home and as I stepped out my car stepped in to a mound of fire ants.  This got me to wondering about these creatures that I have learned to live with and where they came from. I did a Google search and found a great site that Texas a & M put together on Texas imported fire ants.

I had always heard of fire ants in Texas, even before we moved here but did not realize that they are an import.  They were accidentally imported from South America in to Mobile Alabama in the 1930's.  They have since infested 9 different states.  They are all southeastern states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.  According to the article that I read they have the potential of spreading west in to Arizona or even the Pacific coast north to Washington.

The fire ants reached Texas in the 1950's.  They came by mating flights, mass movement of colonies and flood waters.  They love to float to new locations by flood water.  They also get dispersed by shipments of soil or nursery items from an infested area.  At the present time they infest the eastern 2/3 of Texas and those that live in west Texas had better watch out because they are continuing to spread westward. 

In the 1960's and the 1970's there were large scale programs trying to eradicate them but long story short none of them worked.  The ants infest such a large area that a single treatment is just not economically feasible. 

According to Texas A & M the best way to get rid of fire ants in Texas is to do the Texas Two Step. 
  

1. Step one - Baits - Fire ant baits consist of pesticides corn grits coated with soybean oil. The worker    ants take this back to the queen; she then either dies or becomes infertile.
        They suggest using fresh bait.
        Apply when the ground & grass are dry and no rain is expected for the next 48 hours.
        Best to apply in the late afternoon or evening as this is when ants are actively looking for food. 
        Apply baits with hand held spreaders.
        Re-apply baits once or twice a year.
2. Step two - Individual Mound Treatments
        Chemical - With dust products, no water is needed and they act fast.
        Organic - Pouring 2 to 3 gallons of very hot boiling water on the mound will kill ants about 60% of the time. 

I found the site to be very infomative and I hope it helps you to control the fire ants in your neck of the woods.

Jun. 29, 2007 - Houston sales churning into summer

Single-family home sales in May declined compared to the same month last year, reversing April’s modest gain, but year-to-date sales are still in positive territory. Prices last month continued to show strength, as both the median and average sales price extended recent growth trends. The much-reported problems in the sub-prime lending market, as well as resultant differences in price classes of properties have been cited as possible contributors to the lower sales levels.

Sales of those homes in the $80,000 to $140,000 price range, which made up 31.9 percent of sales in May, were down 8.3 percent versus the same period last year. Conversely, sales of homes sold for more than $500,000 showed a 14.6 percent increase in activity.

Total property sales for the month registered 8,532, which was a 1.2 percent decrease versus May 2006. Properties sold during the month reached a total of more than $1.7 billion, a 4.6 percent increase compared to last year’s nearly $1.7 billion in May sales.

Additionally, the median home price for a single-family home reached a monthly record for May of $155,000, and the average single-family home price came in at $214,540, increases from last year of 2.0 and 5.5 percent, respectively. The average sales price figure is an all-time high for the greater Houston area.

Source: Houston Association of Realtors

Jun. 16, 2007 - Harris County Flood Maps Updated June 18

We attended a meeting about TSARP with Jacob Speen from the Harris County Flood control district last week.  He discussed with us how the flood maps were done and the effect it would have on the community.  TSARP stands for Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project.  TSARP was a joint effort by FEMA and the Harris County Flood Control district.  The end project of the study is the new Harris county flood maps that come out June 18th.

Flood rates will not change but requirements and zone determination can change.  If your home is changed to a different flood zone you could be placed in a higher flood rate.  The good news according to Jacob is that there will only be about 50,000 homes that are changing flood zoning.  He did say if these homes already have flood insurance they will be grandfathered in.  So if you already have flood insurance through FEMA and the zone of your home changes you will not be charged the higher premium.

Only those people living in the 1% or 100 year flood plan are required to purchase insurance.  That would be those people who have a zone of AE, AO or A.  If your home is zoned X you don't have to have flood insurance.  Jacob said that living in Harris County like we do it is a good idea for everyone to have flood insurance.  We can get such incredible amounts of rainfall in such short periods of time.  65% of the areas that flooded during the tropical storm Allison were outside the 100 year floodplain.  Harris County has always been prone to flooding so everyone should consider purchasing flood insurance. 

We asked about Montgomery County and he said their maps will be updated when FEMA updates maps.

For more additional information visit these sites:

• www.tsarp.org  - The interactive mapping Tool
• www.floodsmart.gov
• www.fema.gov
  

One little bit of trivia; all those ponds in Harris County subdivisions are really just retention ponds.  They make the subdivisions really look nice though.

Jun. 11, 2007 - Update on our Army son!

May. 27, 2007 - Houston market begins its busy season

Single-family home sales in April rose compared to April of last year, reversing the first sales decline in more than three years. Prices last month also continued to show strength, as both the average and median sales prices increased in line with trends seen during the last few years. Perhaps signaling statistical validation of experts’ suggestions that tighter subprime lending standards will have a negative impact on home sales, the primary price range of homes showing sales weakness has been those homes priced at $140,000 or less, according to statistics released mid-May by the Houston Association of Realtors. At the same time, homes in the $400,000-plus range have seen tremendous strength in sales.

Total property sales for the month registered 7,275, which was a 2.7 percent increase over April 2006. Properties sold during the month reached a total of more than $1.4 billion, an 8.5 percent increase compared to last year’s more than $1.3 billion in April sales. Additionally, the median home price for a single-family home reached a monthly record for April of $150,000, and the average single-family home price came in at $205,511, increases from last year of 2.0 and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The number of available homes (active listings) at the end of April was 49,946 properties, which was an increase of 17.6 percent versus last April and the tenth month with a year-over-year increase, after 10 consecutive previous declines. The figure was an increase of more than 2,000 properties from last month, which is not unusual for the spring as more homes are listed for sale. It is still a figure to watch though to see if inventory of available homes rises faster than sales, which could place downward pressure on prices as well.

Source: Houston Association of Realtors

May. 19, 2007 - 10 Steps to Beautiful landscaping

May. 9, 2007 - Experts describe homes of the future

New homes have changed dramatically over the past five decades. Small one-story bungalows with less than 1,000 square feet, two bedrooms and a single bathroom have given way to two-story homes topping 2,400 square feet with three or more bedrooms and two or more bathrooms. Along the way, new homes have evolved to levels of comfort and sophistication that were virtually unimaginable even a generation ago.

Given the rapid evolution of design, configuration and products in new homes, even a professional futurist might be hard-pressed to determine what the next five decades hold for housing. But a new study by the National Association of Home Builders provides a telling look at the homes buyers can expect to purchase in the nearer future – 2015.

“The Home of the Future” study, introduced at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, was conducted in 2006 by NAHB’s Economics Group. Based on polls of architects, designers, marketers and manufacturers, it provides a detailed view of what buyers can expect to find in an “average” home and an “upscale” home in 2015.

Here are some of the highlights of the NAHB’S predictions for the 2015 American home:

• Homes will be significantly “greener” and more resource efficient
• Increasing emphasis on universal design/handicap access
• Home size will not increase, but stay in the range of today’s 2,400 square feet
• Homes are increasingly likely to be two-story rather than one-story.
• Kitchens and bathrooms will continue to feature upgraded materials and appliances
• Focus on garages will increase, with more consumers preferring three-car garages, and door openings on garages will be larger to accommodate larger vehicles
• More homes will feature recessed lighting and wood floors
• Communities will feature open space and amenities such as walking and jogging trails and are also likely to be close to public transportation

The typical new single-family home in 2005 will feature:

• 2,330-square-feet, divided into a two-story home with 2½ to 3½ bathrooms and 4 bedrooms
• One-story entry foyer
• One-story family room (no loft or volume ceilings, etc.)
• Living room vanishing into parlor/retreat/library
• Nine-foot ceilings on first floor; eight- to nine-foot ceilings on second floor
• Exterior walls of vinyl or fiber cement siding or brick
• Staircase located in foyer
• Front porch
• Fiber optic network, programmable thermostat, structured wiring system, multi-line phone system
• Both shower stall and tub in master bathroom
• Toilet in master bath will have separate enclosure

The typical upscale single-family home in 2015 will feature:

• More than 4,000 square feet
• Two-story home with 3½ to 4½ bathrooms and 4 or more bedrooms
• Two-story entry foyer
• One- or two-story family room
• Likely to have formal living room, but living room may be replaced by parlor/retreat/library
• Nine-foot ceilings on first floor; nine- to ten-foot ceilings on upper floors
• Exterior of stone, brick, stucco or fiber cement siding
• Stairs in the back or side of the house
• Front porch, rear porch, patio and deck
• Two master bedroom suites
• Outdoor kitchen with grill, sinks, refrigerator, cooking island
• Outdoor fireplace, pool/spa, audio/tv equipment, lighting
• Programmable thermostat, structured wiring, multiline phone system, multi-zone HVAC, remote control fireplaces, instant hot water in bathrooms/kitchens, lighting control system, monitored burglar/fire/toxic gas alarm system

Source: National Association of Home Builders

Apr. 30, 2007 - Slight adjustment in Houston housing market

Apr. 20, 2007 - Tarren home after his year in Iraq

He is back in Germany now.  Before he left for Iraq he wasn’t that thrilled with Germany but it looks pretty darn good now. 

He will be coming back to the states May 28^th and will be stationed at Fort Hood starting June 7^th.  We will be thrilled to have him back in the states but it is a double edged sword.  He very well could get with a group heading straight back to Iraq.  We won’t know that until he actually gets to Fort Hood.  He told us he doesn’t think it will be if he goes back but when.  His attitude is good about it though. 

Our neighbor’s boy Shawn Green will be coming home for his 2 week leave from Iraq in May.  I will let you know when that happens.  The scary part for us Moms is the getting them in and out of Iraq.

Apr. 16, 2007 - Do's and Don't when planning on purchasing a home!!

Do's

• Do make all your payments on time. Your credit will be checked again right before you close.
• Do continue saving money. There are always additional expenses once you move and you will be glad for that savings.
• Do make deposits into your bank account on a regular basis.  If you have any unusual deposits for large sums of money document them as the lender may need to verify the source.

Don’ts

• Do not co-sign for any loans for friends or family. That debt would be held against you.
• Do not decide this is the time to change banks; you can do that after you move in.
• Do not open ANY new accounts. Even though the new account has a $0 balance it may still affect your debt to income ratio.
• Do not buy a new car!!! Wait until after you are in your new house then go car shopping otherwise the debt could affect your debt to income ratio.
• Do not lender shop over the internet. Each lender pulls a credit score and multiple hits on your credit report can cause your score to drop dramatically.
• Do not pull your own score and then decide you will check why accounts are still open or have balances. I did this myself and then had to write a note at closing to explain why I had all these hits on my credit.

Apr. 7, 2007 - Houston still safe from national downturns

The greater Houston area real estate market continued to outpace most of the nation and experience growth, although the rate of increase slowed from recent years, according to statistics released late March by the Houston Association of Realtors. Housing in the Houston region has withstood the more pronounced drops experienced by most other major US metropolitan markets.

Total property sales for the month registered 5,991, which was a 2.6 percent increase over February 2006. Properties sold during the month reached a total of more than $1.1 billion, a 5.7 percent increase compared to last year’s nearly $1.0 billion in February sales. Additionally, the median home price for a single-family home reached a monthly record for February of $146,000, and the average single-family home price came in at $195,561, increases from last year of 2.5 and 2.6 percent, respectively.

“With the reports across the country of rising foreclosures and concern about the impact of subprime lending, we in Houston must watch for any indication of a weakening market,” said Rob Cook, HAR Chairman. “Houston is still one of the most solid real estate markets in the country, and we do not anticipate any dramatic downturn locally.”

Source: Houston Association of Realtors

Apr. 4, 2007 - Property Taxes in Northwest Harris and Southwest Montgomery Counties

When people move to the Houston area from other states they are often surprised by our high taxes. Texas is one of five states without an individual or corporate income tax. Most states derive about 40% of their revenue from income taxes, a third from sales tax and the rest from taxes on items such as business licenses and gasoline. Because of this Texas has a fairly high sales tax and significantly higher property taxes.

In Northwest Harris and Southern Montgomery Counties there are typically three different taxing authorities. There is a county tax; which covers such things as county, hospital, emergency services, port authority, flood control, community college etc. The second tax is a school tax. The amount of this tax will depend on which school district you live in. I have found the different school districts have a similar tax rate; they usually only vary by pennies. It doesn’t matter where you live you are going to have these two taxing authorities.

The third taxing authority is the MUD or Municipal Utility District. Basically this is your water. This is the taxing authority that is going to vary subdivision by subdivision. There are a few older subdivisions in the area that have paid their bonds and don’t have this tax. The rate will vary from .25 to over $2.00 per 100 value of your house. If you live in a country subdivision and are on a septic you will not have this tax.  Typically the country subdivisons are on septic and have community water.

Fortunately, Texas also has lower prices for homes than most other states. Because our taxes are so high this is something you need to consider when you are looking for your home. To get information for Harris County you can go to the Harris County Appraisal District HCAD. For Montgomery County you can get information at the Montgomery County Appraisal Tax Office.

Even with the higher property tax Texas ranks 14th in the lowest overall taxes paid among all 50 states.  What a great place to live!!

Apr. 1, 2007 - Dump Cake

I know that we all lead hectic lives.  Below is the dessert I make when I need a dessert in a hurry.  It is so easy to make and so yummy.  It is my son's favorite dessert.  This was the dessert I had waiting for him when he got back from Iraq.

ENJOY!!

1 Package Yellow Cake Mix

1 can 20 oz. Crushed pineapple

21 oz. Cherry pie filling

1 cup chopped pecans

½ cup butter

Grease pan.  Drain pineapple and spread on bottom, dump pie filling, dump dry cake mix. Sprinkle with pecans dot butter all over the top.  Bake at 350 for 48 to 52 minutes.