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Displaying blog entries 1481-1490 of 1876

Morning Coffee

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Only the educated are free."
~ Epictetus


READY TO BEGIN AGAIN?

Have a child or grandchild who graduated this last year? Whether it's high school or college, commencement exercises mark the end of a full curriculum of education - or do they? In fact, why not ask the graduate?

After four or more years of study, homework, reports, science projects, and exams, many graduates would quickly answer that commencement marks the end of their education. In fact, you can often hear students reinforce that line of thinking in their lament, "I'll never pick up another book as long as I live!"

The definition of "commencement" leads, however, in another direction. It is the beginning, not the end, of a bright future. It is the beginning of a life-long quest for knowledge, not the slamming shut of the books that opened so many new doors.

If it's been a few years since you graduated, perhaps you might also benefit from a renewed commencement - by opening some new doors to your own life-long learning curve. When's the last time you attended a workshop, bought a recorded educational series, or thought about taking college courses or embarking on a new degree track?

No longer are books the only on-ramp to education. Distance learning over the Internet, tapes, videos, workshops, seminars, and many other educational resources are yours for the taking. Why not let your graduating family member be the inspiration for your own commencement?

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A quiet event that will have a BIG impact on real estate

Monday, January 4, 2010
by Liz Warren

Here is a quiet little tidbit of information that happened over the holidays that will have a huge impact on real estate for the next couple of years. The Treasury Department will now give unlimited funds to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae over the next three years. Previously their commitment was only 200 billion each but the Obama Administration made the change over the holidays.

What does this mean for real estate?

These two companies fund at least 50% of all home sales in the United States. This will keep the money flowing for sellers to sell their homes and buyers to have funding for purchases. By being backed by the Treasury this should keep interest rates lower because Freddie and Fannie can get better lending rates.

Here is the biggie-both companies will offer loan principal forgiveness to delinquent and underwater home owners. This will help many people in foreclosures and prevent the “walkaway” syndrome where some owners are turning in their keys leaving the home for Freddie and Fannie to take losses.

Hopefully this new policy will have a greater impact than the Home Affordable Modification Program which has had minimal effect up to this point.

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Morning Coffee for Inspiration

Monday, January 4, 2010
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"It's important to let people know what you stand for.
It's equally important to let them know what you won't stand for.
- B. Bader


ARE YOU POLITICALLY CORRECT?

How careful we must be today - to avoid the slightest slight to others. If we continue, we will become totally homogenized - each looking, acting, talking, and walking like each other. The unique identity into which we were born will mellow, fade, and eventually become transparent. The gifts and talents we have to offer will be so diluted as to go unnoticed.

What ever happened to our right to speak out against wrong? Why do we allow ourselves to be hushed and shushed when we verbalize our expectation of respect from the very young? Why are we so sensitive to what "they" think of our actions when we attempt to do good?

Each of us is uniquely individual. We are one of a kind, not just an ingredient in the soup of humanity. Each of us is born with the ability to make a difference, to contribute our talent, to expect the best. We have the ability to set standards for ourselves, to choose the principles upon which we live and serve.

We also have the responsibility to teach our children "what we stand for" as well as "what we won't stand for." By unashamedly living those principles, and expecting the same from our children, we help set the course for others who have not the strength to do so. We are the example.

Political correctness, as it applies to granting full respect for others is perfectly acceptable. Political correctness, as it is often applied as a choke-chain to restrain the desire to uphold what is right, is a gross misuse of the desire for simple courtesy and politeness.

Let's just drop "political" and be correct!

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Mt. Hood Distressed Homeowners!

Saturday, January 2, 2010
by Liz Warren

Do you need help with a distressed mortgage in Government Camp, Welches, Brightwood or Rhododendron? If you are looking for help with a federal mortgage modification plan here is a great place to start. This two part video is made by PMI- the mortgage insurance company. These videos expain HAMP, Home Affordable Modification Program. 

 

Scroll down to see part 2 of this video in the NOW PLAYING section above.

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Morning Coffee

Monday, December 28, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Things themselves don't hurt or hinder us.
Things simply are what they are.
How we view these things is another matter.
People think what they will think; it is of no concern to us."
~ Epictetus


DON'T LISTEN!

Someone once said, "When I was in my twenties, I worried about what others thought of me. When I was in my forties, I didn't care what they thought of me, and when I was in my sixties, I realized they weren't thinking about me at all." Who hasn't had a parent or friend tell us "What will people think?"

How easy it is to let the influence of others govern our actions. By listening to others, then carrying out our lives to the tune they wish us to play, we are but puppets. One of "Aesop's Fables" addressed the same issue.

It told of an old man, a boy, and a donkey making their way down a hill. As the boy rode, while the old man led the donkey, they overheard a neighbor comment about the shame of making the old man walk. The next turn in the road saw both man and boy astride the donkey, and the next passer-by shook his head at the shame of putting such a load on the poor donkey. By the time the two reached the final turn in the road, they were seen carrying the donkey on a pole.

The message, of course, was that we should not live our lives to satisfy the expectations of others. It is up to us to set a clear direction for our own lives, and then follow that path to the exclusion of others.

It's really about choices, isn't it? We get to make our own choices in life. When we fail to do so, we have still made a choice - that being to let others make our choices for us. As the final days of the year approach, it's an excellent time to let your vision take hold, to set a bold new direction for your life in the coming year. Make some choices - no matter what "they" think!

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Just Listed Mt. Hood Condo!

Saturday, December 26, 2009
by Liz Warren

ONLY $115,000

This is not a misprint. Just listed. An affordable getaway on Mt. Hood in great condition and turn key ready to go. Completely furnished Condo at the Resort at the Mountain. Enjoy the easy care of NO maintenance or yard. Just lock your door and head back to the big city.

It's the perfect base for your recreational pursuits from skiing, boarding, golf, hiking or fishing, they are all close! Walk to restaurants and shopping. It's a one bedroom with plenty of room for more. 

Only one hour from Portland.

 

Play VisualTour
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Zig Zag Riverfront $15,000 PRICE REDUCTION!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
by Liz Warren

No missprint! The seller said drop it $15,000 so we did! Take a tour of this sturdy waterfront cabin above the Zig Zag River near Mt. Hood. Incredible setting above the river among tall douglas fir trees and only minutes to premium ski areas. You'll love this wooded getaway only ONE HOUR from Portland. Get away from the BIG CITY and sit in front of your fireplace with a great book.

Take a tour here:

 

Play VisualTour
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Morning Coffee

Monday, December 21, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Too many of us are hung up on what we don't have, can't have, or won't ever have. We spend too much energy being down, when we could use that same energy - if not less of it - doing, or at least trying to do, some of the things we really want to do."
- Terry McMillan (Cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES)


SPREAD THE TABLE!

Here we are in the midst of the holiday rush - buying gifts, attending parties, decorating, sending cards, and preparing for the feast of the season. We're doing all this for whom?

We tell ourselves it's for the ones we love. We want to make them happy, fill them with joy, and make their world bright. We want to make everything perfect for them at this special time of year.

In a way, that's like preparing the holiday feast for those who matter most to us, then eating it for them and commenting on how tasty it was. Truth is - we can't "make them" do anything, we can only spread the table before them.

Whether they choose to consume the feast, or be happy doing it, is their choice - not ours. We can give the presents, offer our own good holiday spirit, or bake the cookies, but we cannot "make" anything happen.

Epictetus once said, "Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. If you think that you have free rein over things that are naturally beyond your control, or if you attempt to adopt the affairs of others as your own, your pursuits will be thwarted and you will become a frustrated, anxious, and fault-finding person."

Why not take a little of the pressure off yourself this holiday season? Feel free to give whatever gifts, energy, creativity, or love you have to offer, but let go of the desire to control the outcome. The gifts that will make the most difference are those that arise from the heart with no expectation of reward. My wish for you is the joy and freedom that results from giving. Happy holidays and best wishes to you and yours!

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Government Camp Sales Fall 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009
by Liz Warren

Traditionally the fall brings many buyers out who are looking for a great place to spend the winter weekends in Government Camp. Sales finally broke loose in the area with six over the past three months. There are an abundance of single family homes and Condo units still available.

Here are the sales:

 

Although two condo units sold in the last couple of months with one at Golden Poles and the other at Collins Lake, it is a buyer's paradise with twenty five full ownership condos currently for sale.

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Mt. Hood Land Swap Update

Sunday, December 20, 2009
by Liz Warren

The time frame for the land swap in Government Camp could take at least two to five years to complete according to the USFS. This was swap was passed in the Wilderness Bill by the Obama administration this year but the 64 steps of paperwork could take a long time.

Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Rep. Greg Walden are trying to get the head of the Forest Service to speed up the process. A "speedy" process at the Forest Service is two to three years. It will take around $2,000,000 to complete the process and the issue is money to do the work and fulfill the 64 steps the agency needs to complete.

For anyone who does not know what the land swap is, this is a trade between Mt. Hood Meadows LLC who own 770 acres near Cooper Spur, for 120 acres adjacent to the existing Government Camp boundaries to environmentally protect sensitive areas near Cooper Spur. This debate had been going on for over 20 years.

For details on the process visit this article in the Oregonian.

This link will take you to the 27 page GAO report by the Government on the land swap and their investigation of the process back in 2006.

Eventually, there will be more land for building either single family or multifamily units in the Government Camp area as Mt. Hood Meadows acquires this land for development. The question is, how long will this process take and how quickly will Mt. Hood Meadows start the process for development.

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Displaying blog entries 1481-1490 of 1876

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