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Displaying blog entries 1521-1530 of 1904

Mt. Hood Market Statistics 11/09

Sunday, December 20, 2009
by Liz Warren

The good news is that the numbers are still strong for sales through Novemeber this year for Government Camp, Welches, Rhododendron and Brightwood. Since June things have picked up since a major lull starting in the fall of 2008.

Fourteen sales happened in November with a surprising large group of forest service cabins on leased land leading the pack. Five forest service cabins sold this month! One Government Camp chalet sold in November. This is a bit surprising since fall is often the most active time of the year for buyers picking up their winter landing spot for winter activities.

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Mt. Hood Home Values

Friday, December 18, 2009
by Liz Warren

How do you decide what to do when you are underwater on your mortgage payment? Do you go for a short sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure, Just walk away, what do you do? Probably the number one thing to do is talk to an attorney! Find out the implications and financial obligations any choice will give you in these turbulent times.

Here is a web site that was recently put up which may help you figure out what to do prior to visiting your attorney for advise. Visit www.payorgo.comto plug in the numbers. This is not a site with legal advise but if you want to play around with numbers and different senarios of future value, it might help.

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Morning Coffee

Monday, December 14, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"To have a friend, you must first be a friend."
- Unknown


ARE YOU RELATED?

In the long distant past, all generations of a family lived in the same town, if not just across the road or down the lane. Each member of the family knew all the good - and the bad - about every other member (as well as all the neighbors). They worked together, played, and prayed together.

Today, families are scattered throughout the country. What we call relationships now are often only acquaintances introduced through business situations or chance meetings. They may be casual and based only on a single shared interest, i.e. golf, fitness, children's school activities, etc. These relationships may lack depth and rarely go beyond that single shared interest.

Even with family relations more scattered and unavailable to us on a day-to-day basis, our human side still has a need and desire for deeper relationships. The good news is that they are not only possible but also available to us with just a little effort.

A single common interest through school-aged children may result in having lunch together. The lunch may reveal that both individuals appreciate the arts, with one being an amateur photographer and the other a proficient watercolor artist. Further conversation may find that both are caring for aging parents, have endured similar life challenges, or witnessed brilliant successes.

In short, deep relationships, akin to those shared by families in the past, are still possible. Yes, they must be cultivated. They don't just passively occur as in the daily activities of a family. The result is the same, however, as these relationships can provide a richness to life that is missing in their absence. Try to find some missing relations today!

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Mt. Hood FHA Loans to Tighten!

Monday, December 7, 2009
by Liz Warren

If you are contemplating using an FHA loan for your purchase in Welches, Government Camp, Rhododendron or Brightwood, take note! HUD secretary Donovan is promising in 2010 qualifying for an FHA loan will tighten up with credit qualifications and higher fees.

Changes may include the following:

1. A higher downpayment requirement from 3.5 to 5%.

2. Seller paid closing costs reduced from 6% down to 3% of the loan amount.

3. Higher mortgage insurance premiums! Currently 1.75%

4. Higher credit standards.

Bottom line, look for 2010 to cost a buyer even more to get a loan with stricter guidelines.

If considering purchasing a home now, get your application in before things tighten up even further.

 

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Monday Morning Coffee

Monday, December 7, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame."
~ Erica Jong


BAN THE BLAME!

"The dog ate my homework." Teachers hear that one every week. "Jimmy made me do it!" Parents hear that one often, too. Fast-forward a few years to the college student with bad grades, and you hear, "The professor doesn't like me." Then, before we know it, we're all grown up. Now we hear, "My manager didn't give me enough time to complete the project," and, "She doesn't understand me," or, "The customer wasn't honest with me, so I couldn't close the sale."

Where do these fabrications of blame originate? They probably begin in our childhood imagination - and that's also where they should stop. Blaming comes easy since we tend to do it when the person blamed isn't around. Who's going to dispute our blame claim?

Take a moment to re-read the first part of today's quote: "Take your life in your own hands . . ." What a breath of fresh air emerges from that phrase. By accepting responsibility for our life and all its actions, we no longer need to alienate those around us by blaming. We can live a no-excuses life.

We either accept the low classroom grade without complaint - after all, we earned it - or we change our approach to homework the next time. We simply allot enough time to complete our manager's special project on deadline, or be willing to be employed at a lower level on the food chain. We invest ourselves more deeply in our personal relationships, or accept a less-than-fulfilling bond with those we love.

As quoted before, "All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts." If you're tired of perpetually being on the defensive, ban blame from your life - forever. It's a wonderful way to live stress-free!

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Mt. Hood Winterization Tips

Tuesday, December 1, 2009
by Liz Warren

Old man winter is heading to Mt. Hood from Government Camp to Welches, Brightwood and Rhododendron. Here are a few tips on keeping those pipes from freezing in your cabin or vacation home. You might want to download these tips and post them in your property for future use.

 

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Monday Morning Coffee

Monday, November 30, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"There's nothing as constant as change."
~ Unknown


FEELING WIRED?

Feel on edge? Not sure what to expect next? Nerves frayed? Feeling overwhelmed by today's complex world situation? How is it that some people are calm, fearless, and content, while others are frightful, worried, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future?

In the 1950's there were only three models of Chevrolet, about four dry cereals, two or three types of soap, etc. Mom went grocery shopping weekly. There were no shopping malls, computers, cell phones, portable CD players (or CD's), 401(k)s, Internet, or co-ed dorms. Life was simple and calm - and revolved around the family. Technology didn't dominate daily life.

Today, our choices have expanded exponentially. There are hundreds of vehicle models, 50 different cereals on the shelf, software for every occasion, hundreds of cable channels, and millions of pages on the World Wide Web. Think that might clog your thinking just a little? Want to get back to simplicity, peace, and security?

Try a few of the following suggestions. Begin limiting your choices. Spend less than you earn. Limit trips to the store. Spend the evening at home - with your family - with the television OFF. Go directly home after work. Identify your principles - and live them. Count your blessings daily by entering them in a journal. Read. Treat yourself to a hot bath.

Think of your life as an extension cord with too many appliances plugged-in. Each vies for the limited energy you have available until a short-circuit or fire occurs. Start unplugging all those peripherals now, and you'll notice your life-light begin to shine.

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Mt. Hood Christmas Tree Cutting

Sunday, November 29, 2009
by Liz Warren

It's that time of year again and a great family outing that many enjoy is the yearly trek to the Mt. Hood National Forest to cut your own Christmas Tree. Snow levels are fairly high this year so access will be good for a while to find that perfect tree. Permits are for up to a 12 foot tree! A permit can be found for $5.00 at the following locations:

On the Mountain:

Zigzag Ranger District, 70220 E. HWY 26, Zig Zag, OR. 503-622-3191.
Monday thru Friday 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM (closed from Noon to 1:00 for lunch).
Saturdays, November 28, December 5, 12 and 19 from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM (closed from Noon to 1:00 for lunch)
Sundays, December 6, 14 and 20 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

In Sandy:

Mt Hood National Forest Headquarters, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy, OR (SE 362 and HWY 26) 503-668-1700 Monday thru Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 11:30 to 12:30 for lunch)

Instrutions will be given at the time the permit is obtained. Enjoy your mountain time!

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Foreclosure Facts From Mortgage Bankers Association

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
by Liz Warren

Here are some recent numbers from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

1 in 7 loans are delinquent right now.

1 in 22 families in the US. are in the process of loosing their homes right now. (last year 1 in 34)

There will be 2.9 million foreclosure starts this year based upon these numbers.

This info comes from the Center for Responsible Lending. This is a great website that has information on credit cards, fees, lending and money matters.

 

 

 

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Mt. Hood Area Short Sales

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
by Liz Warren

If you are currently living on the mountain in Rhododendron, Welches, Government Camp or Brightwoodand are considering a short sale, what should you do first as a seller? If it were me I'd pick up the phone and call either my tax preparer/cpa or a good attorney.

First you need to know your credit will be dinged for several years with a short sale. Beyond that, there are the two things you need to be aware of:

1. A seller can be pursued by the lender, after the sale of the home, for the repayment of debt, that is unless your paperwork from the lender specifically says the debt is forgiven. Many lenders will have you sign a promissory note to repay the debt or some other paper saying they can pursue that debt after the sale.

2. The lender then sends a document to the Feds triggering the IRS. They may require you to pay tax on the unpaid debt. The tax bill cometh. You will need to keep your paperwork from the lender showing that you signed a promissory note or other paperwork saying the debt can be pursued to avoid paying those taxes on the debt.

TALK to your accountant or advisor to be sure you are doing the right thing!

Be sure to take these two items into consideration when considering a short sale. You don't want any surprises!

 

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Displaying blog entries 1521-1530 of 1904

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