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Posted via web from brule's posterous

What a Week!

As HiBeam finishes up our first week of installs in the Peoria area, I
am proud of how much we truly have accomplished in such a short time.

It was only a few short months ago when we were looking at where we
would start with coverage and talking about how to effectively find
those potential customers that didn't have a good option for high
speed Internet or affordable phone service. That is our goal at
HiBeam... To provide those homes and businesses that are off the
beaten path a little bit with a fast and affordable option.

This week those ideas became reality. Our first customers were
installed with service this week and the response to our service has
been outstanding. Our biggest challenge is to make sure we don't
promise more than what we can deliver on. So far we have done really
well, and for those that we may haven't delivered on we are doing
everything possible to make it right, even if it means not installing
service because their experience won't be to the quality that we feel
it should be.

So I want to thank our first customers! We really appreciate your
business and hope to provide you with Internet and phone service for a
very long time!

... And next week we will be setting up even more customers!

And we really haven't even had a lot of time to spread the word that
HiBeam Internet and Voice is officially up-and-running and offering
service in the Dunlap, Chillicothe, Germantown Hills and Metamora
areas...

Thanks,

Brian Rule
HiBeam Internet & Voice
General Manager
(309) 863-5665
www.MyHiBeam.com

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from brule's posterous

HiBeam Proud to ServeSuburban Peoria

Press Release

HiBeam Proud to Serve Suburban Peoria

New Company Brings Easy and Affordable Voice and Internet
to Peoria, Chillicothe, Metamora, Germantown Hills, and Dunlap

Peoria, IL, December 1, 2009. HiBeam Internet &Voice (www.MyHiBeam.com), today announced it is offering high speed Internet and voice services in Chillicothe, Germantown Hills, Metamora, Dunlap, and other towns northwest and northeast of Peoria. The company's office and retail store will be located at 10001 North Knoxville Road, Suite E, in Dunlap. 
 
"HiBeam understands that technology matters, but that's not what we're about. We want to make communications simple. Our goal is to help the people of Peoria and surrounding areas enjoy the benefits of high speed Internet and voice services," said Christopher J. Benyo, Chief of Customer Operations for HiBeam. "We're excited to bring a new, customer friendly, choice in Internet and voice to this area."
 
Brian Rule serves as General Manager for HiBeam in Peoria. The company is currently recruiting local talent to provide its services to area homes and businesses.
 
Advantages of doing business with HiBeam:
 
Local. We're right here in town. You'll buy your service from a local representative, and a local technician will assist you if there is a problem with your service. No complicated phone menus, no long hold times. We treat you like family.
Industry-standard Technology. HiBeam works on a world-wide standard "4G" technology called WiMAX. It helps the company deliver high quality voice and fast Internet over the air to your home or business. It's not cellular, but a new type of wireless that bypasses the traditional phone and cable companies. For most homes and businesses, the specifics of the technology don't matter. Our service and responsiveness set us apart with our customers. 
A fair price. HiBeam believes that you shouldn't have to live in a large metropolitan area to enjoy the benefits of reasonably priced high speed Internet and voice services. At HiBeam, our vision is to bring you the latest technology and excellent customer service, at a fair price.
Easy. At HiBeam, we'll have you up and running in two days or less. We make sure it's both easy and efficient to do business with HiBeam. 

HiBeam will expand its footprint in Peoria over the coming months. Eventually the company will offer its services to the majority of the population throughout suburban Peoria and beyond. HiBeam serves customers in O'Fallon and Dardenne Prairie, MO. Next year HiBeam will provide services in Mt. Vernon, IL; Marion, IL; Joplin, MO; Texarkana, AR; Topeka, KS; and Texarkana, TX.

Photos available to media upon request.

About HiBeam
HiBeam Internet & Voice is a rapidly growing privately owned Broadband and Voice provider. Its mission is to be the leader in providing broadband services to residential, small and medium business, and local government in selected, regionally concentrated tier two through tier five markets.  The company is headquartered in Chesterfield, MO, and was formerly known as N-1 Communications and Buzz Broadband. Info: (636) 764-0343 orwww.myhibeam.com.

Brian Rule
General Manager
HiBeam
brule@myhibeam.com

via Ping.fm

Posted via web from brule's posterous

HiBeam Proud to Serve Suburban Peoria

Press Release

HiBeam Proud to Serve Suburban Peoria

New Company Brings Easy and Affordable Voice and Internet
to Peoria, Chillicothe, Metamora, Germantown Hills, and Dunlap


Peoria, IL, December 1, 2009. HiBeam Internet &Voice (www.MyHiBeam.com), today announced it is offering high speed Internet and voice services in Chillicothe, Germantown Hills, Metamora, Dunlap, and other towns northwest and northeast of Peoria. The company's office and retail store will be located at 10001 North Knoxville Road, Suite E, in Dunlap. 
 
"HiBeam understands that technology matters, but that's not what we're about. We want to make communications simple. Our goal is to help the people of Peoria and surrounding areas enjoy the benefits of high speed Internet and voice services," said Christopher J. Benyo, Chief of Customer Operations for HiBeam. "We're excited to bring a new, customer friendly, choice in Internet and voice to this area."
 
Brian Rule serves as General Manager for HiBeam in Peoria. The company is currently recruiting local talent to provide its services to area homes and businesses.
 
Advantages of doing business with HiBeam:
 
Local. We're right here in town. You'll buy your service from a local representative, and a local technician will assist you if there is a problem with your service. No complicated phone menus, no long hold times. We treat you like family.
Industry-standard Technology. HiBeam works on a world-wide standard "4G" technology called WiMAX. It helps the company deliver high quality voice and fast Internet over the air to your home or business. It's not cellular, but a new type of wireless that bypasses the traditional phone and cable companies. For most homes and businesses, the specifics of the technology don't matter. Our service and responsiveness set us apart with our customers. 
A fair price. HiBeam believes that you shouldn't have to live in a large metropolitan area to enjoy the benefits of reasonably priced high speed Internet and voice services. At HiBeam, our vision is to bring you the latest technology and excellent customer service, at a fair price.
Easy. At HiBeam, we'll have you up and running in two days or less. We make sure it's both easy and efficient to do business with HiBeam. 

HiBeam will expand its footprint in Peoria over the coming months. Eventually the company will offer its services to the majority of the population throughout suburban Peoria and beyond. HiBeam serves customers in O'Fallon and Dardenne Prairie, MO. Next year HiBeam will provide services in Mt. Vernon, IL; Marion, IL; Joplin, MO; Texarkana, AR; Topeka, KS; and Texarkana, TX.

Photos available to media upon request.

About HiBeam
HiBeam Internet & Voice is a rapidly growing privately owned Broadband and Voice provider. Its mission is to be the leader in providing broadband services to residential, small and medium business, and local government in selected, regionally concentrated tier two through tier five markets.  The company is headquartered in Chesterfield, MO, and was formerly known as N-1 Communications and Buzz Broadband. Info: (636) 764-0343 orwww.myhibeam.com.

Brian Rule
General Manager
HiBeam
brule@myhibeam.com

November 18, 2009 01:27 PM Eastern Time  

HiBeam Internet & Voice Hires Rule to Lead Team in Suburban Peoria

HiBeam Brings High Speed Internet and Voice to Homes and Businesses in Chillicothe, Dunlap, Germantown Hills, and other towns

PEORIA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HiBeam Internet & Voice (www.MyHiBeam.com), today announced that Brian Rule will lead the HiBeam team in suburban Peoria, IL. The company will begin providing high-speed Internet and voice services to homes and businesses initially in the towns of Chillicothe, Dunlap, and Germantown Hills and even more areas over the coming months.

As General Manager, Rule is directly responsible for fulfilling HiBeam's vision of providing locally focused yet industry-leading broadband and other voice services to homes and businesses in the suburban Peoria area.

"Our community, especially the more rural and underserved areas outside the city limits, needs a voice and data provider like HiBeam," Rule said. "I'm absolutely thrilled to join the HiBeam team here in greater Peoria. We want to make wireless communications simple for homes and businesses in the area."

Rule has lived in Peoria over 12 years and has deep ties to the community. He has 10 years of telecom experience and six years of sales management experience. He worked for Nextel for seven years, with four of those as the general manager for Peoria and Springfield. Rule lives in Peoria with his wife Lindsay and their three daughters.

"HiBeam's primary vision is to deliver a business class network with 99.999% up time to homes and businesses in the markets we serve," said G. Michael Cassity, CEO of HiBeam. "We are excited to have Brian on our team to work hand-in-hand with the community to help grow and develop the Peoria market."

HiBeam's office in Dunlap is currently under construction.

In addition to 250 square miles of suburban Peoria, HiBeam currently provides services in O'Fallon and Dardenne Prairie, MO, and other suburban areas of St. Louis, MO.

About HiBeam

HiBeam Internet & Voice is a rapidly growing privately owned Broadband and Voice provider. Its mission is to be the leader in providing broadband services to residential, small and medium business, and local government in selected, regionally concentrated tier two through tier five markets. The company is headquartered in Chesterfield, MO, and was formerly known as N-1 Communications and Buzz Broadband. For more information, call (636) 764-0343 or visit www.MyHiBeam.com.

Thanks,
Brian Rule
(309) 863-5665
brule@MyHiBeam.com

More info on HiBeam Internet & Voice

HiBeam Internet & Voice is positioned to become a leader in providing broadband
access to residential customers and small and medium size businesses in
selected, regionally concentrated suburban and rural markets across the United
States. HiBeam is deploying licensed spectrum wireless platforms interconnected
through a leased or managed terrestrial network.
Wireless is the most efficient infrastructure to effectively serve rural markets. The
potential for growth is strong for this market approach. HiBeam intends to take full
advantage of an enormous opportunity to meet the demand for broadband access
in under-served communities across the United States.
Using a combination of WiMAX and multiple back haul technologies in a variety of
spectrum, the company plans to offer not only internet access, but a wide range of
communications services for both residential and business customers.
HiBeam has assembled a seasoned management team with vast experience in
the telecommunications space. This team's expertise is in developing and building
organizations capable of rapid growth: deploying network, bringing advanced
products to market, attracting a loyal customer base and providing superior
customer service.

via Ping.fm

Posted via web from brule's posterous

Pending Home Sales Up for Three Months in a Row

RISMEDIA, June 2, 2009-Record low mortgage interest rates boosted pending home sales for the third consecutive month, with some benefit now from the first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.7% to 90.3 from a reading of 84.6 in March, and is 3.2% above April 2008 when it was 87.5.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said buyers are responding to very favorable market conditions. “Housing affordability conditions have been at historic highs, but now the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit is beginning to impact the market,” he said. “Since first-time buyers must finalize their purchase by November 30 to get the credit, we expect greater activity in the months ahead, and that should spark more sales by repeat buyers.”
The Pending Home Sales Index in the Northeast shot up 32.6% to 78.9 in April and is 0.8% above a year ago. In the Midwest the index rose 9.8% to 90.4 and is 11.1% above April 2008. The index in the South slipped 0.2% to 93.0 in April but is 3.5% higher than a year ago. In the West the index rose 1.8% to 94.8 but is 2.9% below April 2008.
NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said there are numerous buyer assistance programs around the country. “Some states are offering bridge loans that allow first-time buyers to use the tax credit for downpayment and closing costs, but there are many other local government and nonprofit programs available to buyers, depending on location,” he said.
“Just last week, HUD announced that qualifying buyers can use the tax credit for closing costs on FHA loans, to buy down the interest rate or make a larger downpayment. Buyers who are wondering about their options should contact a Realtor®, who can advise consumers on the housing assistance programs and resources available in a given area.”
NAR’s Housing Affordability Index is in record territory. The affordability index rose to 174.8 in April from an upwardly revised 171.9 in March, and was the second highest monthly reading on record after peaking at 176.9 in January of this year. The HAI is a broad measure of housing affordability using consistent values and assumptions over time, which examines the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income; tracking began in 1970.
A median-income family, earning $60,900, could afford a home costing $296,800 in April with a 20% downpayment, assuming 25% of gross income is devoted to mortgage principal and interest. Affordability conditions for first-time buyers with the same income and small downpayments are roughly 80% of that amount. The affordable price was well above the median existing single-family home price in April, which was $169,800.
Yun cautions that the reporting sample for pending home sales is smaller than that of existing-home sales, so it is subject to greater variability. “In addition, the relationship between contracts on pending home sales and closings on existing-home sales is taking longer than in the past for several reasons,” he said. “Mortgage processing time has increased, it is taking many months to close on those homes requiring short sales with lender approval, and some sales are falling through at the last moment.”
The total number of existing-home sales is expected to improve but with dramatic local market variation in the timing of recovery. “The market has already bottomed in some areas, but this is an unusual housing cycle with some areas improving rapidly while others languish or decline,” Yun said.
For more information, visit http://www.realtor.org.Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-06-02/pending-home-sales-up-for-three-months-in-a-row/#ixzz0HNu9ZLKE&B

Thanks,

Brian Rule
Realtor - The Rule Team
Keller Williams Premier Realty
309-303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
www.TheRuleTeam.com
http://DigitalCompass.acnrep.com

Update for First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for Closing Will Move Market
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2009
Consumers across the country can now take advantage of a Federal Housing Administration program to allow qualified home buyers to apply the $8,000 tax credit when purchasing a home. FHA will now permit its lenders to provide a short-term bridge loan that will let qualified home buyers use the tax credit to either make a larger downpayment above the FHA required 3.5 percent, cover closing costs, or buy down their interest rate.

“A true housing recovery depends on buyers returning to the market and reducing inventory,” said National Association of Realtors® President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Since many of the homes available are lower priced starter homes, the ability for individuals to use the tax credit at closing should have a meaningful impact on home sales and values and will allow thousands of families to achieve the dream of homeownership.”

Shaun Donovan, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced the change today. In an address to several thousand Realtors® gathered two weeks ago at NAR’s Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy, Donovan announced HUD’s plan to offer the tax credit as downpayment assistance. Donovan detailed the modifications to that original proposal and announcement.

“We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans,” Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans allowing eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.

NAR has supported monetization of the tax credit, which was part of an Obama administration housing stimulus plan enacted earlier in the year. NAR petitioned HUD to allow home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit to help them cover downpayment or closing costs to bring new home buyers to the market and stimulate home sales.

“We think this is a good program; our members have been getting many inquiries from potential buyers about it,” McMillan said. “NAR is pleased that this enhancement has been made to the administration’s housing recovery program. As we have heard before, there can be no economic recovery without a housing recovery. With an abundance of inventory, reduced home prices, historically low interest rates and now the availability of the tax credit at closing, we expect to see the housing market further stabilize and improve.”

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,
Brian Rule
Realtor - The Rule Team
Keller Williams Premier Realty
309-303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
www.TheRuleTeam.com
http://DigitalCompass.acnrep.com

This Month In Real Estate: 2009 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Special Edition

Good information about the Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers! Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Thanks,
Brian Rule
Realtor - The Rule Team
Keller Williams Premier Realty
309-303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
http://www.theruleteam.com/
http://digitalcompass.acnrep.com/

Peoria Area Market Update - April 2009

I just finished going through April's market numbers (I know... it's a little late since we are almost done with May, but better late than never!) and it looks like there is still a lot of opportunities in the market! Here is a recap:

For market activity in April, here are the numbers. The stats are YTD, compared to the YTD numbers for April of last year:

Number of New Listings are down over 20%
Number of Pending Sales are down over 30%
Number of Closed Sales are down over 27%

Average Days on Market have increased almost 10% to 89 days

The Median Home Price has decreased 6% = $108,000, which is still above the Median Home price for 2007 = $106,250

The List Price to Sale Price Percentage has dropped to 91.2%, which is the lowest it has been in over 6 years!

The Housing Affordability Index is 215, which is up over 12%, and it is a great indicator of just how affordable it is to live in the Peoria area! The baseline is 100...

Here is the supply of single famile, pre-owned homes, in terms of months of inventory, in the market:

Overall - 6.2 months
Up to $75,000 - 4.5 months -- A seller's market!!
$75,001 to $125,000 - 5.7 months
$125,001 to $225,000 - 6.0 months
$225,001 to $500,000 - 10 months
$500,001 and Up - 20.4 months

So depending on what price range you are looking at, the market is in a different level of activity. And it will mean something different for a buyer or a seller as well. If you have any questions about any of this information or would like to know more about this market please let me know. It would be my pleasure to help in any way that I can!

Thanks,

Brian Rule
Realtor - The Rule Team
Keller Williams Premier Realty
309-303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
www.TheRuleTeam.com
http://DigitalCompass.acnrep.com

More Home Buyers Lured to Foreclosed Properties

"More Home Buyers Lured to Foreclosed Properties"
Many households say that foreclosures are a bargain and are increasingly eager to buy them, according to a Harris Interactive survey conducted for Trulia.com and RealtyTrac.

The survey found that 55 percent of U.S. adults are at least somewhat likely to consider purchasing a foreclosed home, up from 47 percent who answered the same question in November 2008.

But buyers aren’t naïve about the hassles involved with purchasing foreclosed property. About 85 percent said that they could identify negative aspects, up from 80 percent who felt the same way last November.

71 percent were concerned about hidden costs;
46 percent believe the process is risky;
31 percent fear the property will lose value.

Buyers of foreclosures also expect hefty discounts – at least 25 percent.

Source: RealtyTrac.com and Trulia.com (05/20/2009)"

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Brian Rule
Realtor - The Rule Team
Keller Williams Premier Realty
309-303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
www.TheRuleTeam.com
http://DigitalCompass.acnrep.com

Just made some updates to my Facebook Real Estate Fan Page. Looking to ramp up the info here. Check it out: http://ping.fm/jBRay

Just looked at the housing stats for Peoria IL, and what a market of opportunity we have right now!!

New grant funded through "The Recovery Act" to increase jobs & boost local housing

RISMedia Real Estate News Industry Trends Marketing - Residential & Commercial: "Grant Funded Through ‘The Recovery Act’ to Increase Jobs and Provide Boost to Local Housing Economies"

Take a look at the full story - http://tinyurl.com/pu7zo8

Thanks,
Brian Rule
Realtor
Keller Williams Premier Realty
(309) 303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
www.TheRuleTeam.com

This Month In Real Estate (US): May 2009

This is really good real estate information!!

Thanks,

Brian
Realtor
Keller Williams Premier Realty
(309) 303-0557
brian@TheRuleTeam.com
http://www.theruleteam.com/

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