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Displaying blog entries 1631-1640 of 1889

Morning Coffee

Monday, May 25, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness."
~ The Buddha

PLEASE RELEASE ME!

Remember the song "Please release me, let me go"? If you've ever felt that someone or something had a hold on you and wouldn't let go, perhaps you needed an "attitude adjustment."

Why? Unless you are literally chained to a wall, people and things don't have a "hold" on you. It is you who have taken hold of them, and refuse to let go. It's so easy to latch on to the situations, relationships, and baggage of others - believing it possible to have some control over their outcome.

The result is never-ending worry, sleeplessness, feelings of helplessness, and other symptoms of being "out-of-control." Anger is another matter - there seems to be so much of it today. TV shows are full of it. Anger is directed at family, the boss, the spouse, or anyone else in sight. Yet anger results from feeling that things or people are not doing what you think should be done. Anger is felt when you can't control the outcome.

The truth is we are only in control of our own lives and actions - nothing more. Buddha had it right when he said, "Learn to let go." Martin Luther said, "Let go and let God." Regardless of who said it, or how it was said, letting go will open many doors of happiness in your future.

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Morning Coffee

Monday, May 18, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"A single thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning."
~ Unknown

THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING!!

Remember one of the ancient sayings from your first-grade teacher? It went something like this: "We learn to do by doing."
So . . . from "Chicken Soup" comes this story by John Holt:

"Not many years ago I began playing the cello. Most people would say that what I am doing is 'learning to play' the cello. But these words carry into our minds the strange idea that there exist two very different processes: 1) learning to play the cello; and 2) playing the cello. They imply that I will do the first until I have completed it, at which point I will stop the first process and begin the second. In short, I will go on 'learning to play' until I have 'learned to play' and then I will begin to play. Of course, this is nonsense. There are not two processes, but one. We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way."

How do we learn to swim? Do we get the basics in a classroom, taught to us on a chalkboard, and then hit the pool like Mark Spitz or Esther Williams? How about riding a bike? Do we study the laws of physics, the effects of gravitational pull, or other Einstein-like theories, and then launch ourselves into the top spot in the "Tour de France?" No - we just fall down and scrape our knees a lot.

Want to add new direction to your life? Begin walking in that direction. Put one foot in front of the other. In other words, "Just do it!" It all begins with your imagination harnessing the power of your mind and the energy of your body. Once you choose a new role for your life, don't learn the part - act the part. One other thing - don't let that "single thorn of experience" deter you!

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Media Reports of Improving Markets

Thursday, May 14, 2009
by Liz Warren

According to recent news events, things are improving slightly in the home sales department in the US. Well, perhaps a little. But, what is really selling? If you take a look at the first quarter numbers, according to NAR, the National Association of Realtors, half of all home sales were to first time home buyers.

It's also known that half of all sales in the first quarter were foreclosures and short sales. So, we have investors picking up foreclosers and short sales and first time home buyers picking up the rest. These sales are homes at the bottom of the pricing scale causing the median price of homes to decrease at a rapid rate. The mid and high end price ranges are not moving causing these homes to continue to decline in pricing.

Sure sales have increased in California, Florida and Nevada. These are states that have the most inventory and depressed prices in the US. Investors and first time home buyers are starting to work this inventory over but when will the recovery hit the rest of the pricing ranges? Stay tuned.

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FHA 203K loans on Mt. Hood

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
by Liz Warren

Home renovations can be daunting, but financing them doesn’t need to be. Homebuyers considering a fixer-upper and homeowners thinking about doing major rehab work might want to consider an FHA 203K loan.

Often called rehab or renovation loans

, 203K loans differ from traditional mortgage loans. Buyers who want to purchase a home in need of repair usually have to secure a loan to buy the property, get additional financing to complete the renovation and then get a permanent mortgage to pay off the interim loans. 203K loans, however, are made based on the after-repair value and include an escrow account, in which the money is dispersed in draws as the necessary renovations are being completed.

Renovation loans can be used in three ways: to purchase an existing home (and the land attached to it) and renovate it; to pay off existing debt on a current residence and renovate it; or to purchase an existing property and move it to a new piece of land. The types of improvements allowed on 203K loans are extensive — painting, room additions, decks, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and even going green. Luxury items and improvements are generally not eligible.

 

Homebuyers need to work closely with their REALTOR®  as well as a contractor to get a detailed statement about the extent and general cost of the rehab work and the expected market value of the property after the completion of the work. After finding a HUD-approved lender — not all banks administer these loans — and inspections and appraisals, the work can begin. For more information, go to www.hud.gov .

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Mt. Hood Mud Rooms

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
by Liz Warren

The benefits of a Mt. Hood mud room are big! The word “mud” might not sound inviting, but a mudroom can actually be a welcoming — and useful — space, especially if you live in Government Camp or the Rhododendron and Welches area.  Mudrooms, which serve as a transition between the outdoors and the inside of a home, are traditionally found in cold, snowy climates as a place to change out of wet clothes and shoes. But, whether large or small, they’re ideal for houses in any climate. They can minimize cleaning (no tracking dirt through the house-especially those pesky pine needles), maximize storage and help with organization. Whether you already have a mudroom or are thinking about creating one, consider:

    Location. Off the kitchen or near the back door are the most popular locations for mudrooms, but garages and utility closets are also prime spots.

    Flooring. This is the one place in the house where the floors are supposed to get dirty. Choose a durable, non-slip material — tile, stone, vinyl, laminate, concrete — in a dark color. And be sure to include a few doormats: a fiber or rubber mat to clean off shoes and an absorbent, washable rug to keep dirt from getting tracked in.

    Walls. Surely they will get dinged and scratched and splashed, so choose coverings wisely. Vinyl wallpaper or an easy-to-clean, moisture-proof paint should do the trick.

    Seating. Although you likely won’t be spending too much time in your mudroom, a place to sit is key. A sturdy chair or bench is useful for removing wet shoes or boots.

    Storage. Choose organizing accessories based on the main purpose of the space and who uses it most. If it functions mainly as a staging area for adults, be sure to prominently feature coat and key hooks, as well as a place to sort mail. If kids are the main focus, include labeled storage bins and designated areas for backpacks and after-school activity gear, such as sporting goods. No matter how the room is used, it’s a good idea to include plenty of shelving and racks for shoes.

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Foreclosures and Short Sales Headline First Quarter Sales

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
by Liz Warren

The National Association of Realtor's recent reports for the first quarter of 2009 are not too thrilling.

The first quarter showed a national decline of around 10.7% but from a year ago we are down 29% in Oregon.

Here is the median sale price chart:

Median sale prices are down around 13% from first quarter 2008.

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Morning Coffee

Monday, May 11, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our
response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~ Stephen Covey

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS!

From the book "Wellsprings of Wisdom" comes this story:

A sturdy but diffident young man asked a farmer for a job as a farm hand. "What can you do?" inquired the farmer. "I can do whatever needs to be done, and I can sleep when the wind blows," replied the applicant. Although mystified by the phrase "sleep when the wind blows," the farmer did not press the question but hired the young man.

Some nights later a violent storm awoke the farmer. He got up and tried unsuccessfully to arouse the farm hand, then with considerable annoyance went out himself to see if all was well. He found the barn locked, the chicken coop properly closed up, a wagonload of hay covered with a tarpaulin that was securely battened down, and all else in a condition of safety from the elements. Then the farmer realized what his new farm hand meant when he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

Think how often the storms of life give us a wakeup call. How many times have those storms caught us with our guard down and our barn unlocked? The hired hand knew that simple precautions practiced on a daily basis could render impotent the howling winds of uncertainty in life.

Stephen Covey, in his "Seven Habits," talks about being proactive - heading off problems before they arise. While the hired hand never read the book, he understood the practice of closing up the chicken coop every evening. So, how are YOU sleeping when the wind blows?

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Mt. Hood Home Maintenance

Saturday, May 9, 2009
by Liz Warren

Here are five home maintenance issues you want to pay attention to in order to keep your home in great shape. These five items come direct from Consumer Reports.

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Eye Opener

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
by Liz Warren

Yahoo Finance had a reportfrom Zillow and it's a big eye opener. Unlike the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices that use 20 metro areas, Zillow takes a wider swipe and uses a much greater pool of data with 160 plus metro areas. Here are some of the highlights of the article.

Around 20% of homeowners in the US. owe more than the current market value of their homes. 

Over the past twelve months,  20.4% of home sales were foreclosures and nearly 12% were short sales.

Home values declined from 3rd quarter 08 to first quarter 09 by 3%.

From one year ago values have dropped 14% in the entire US.

Many areas have seen a 50% or more drop over the past five years such as areas of Florida, Phoenix, Stockton and Modesto.

Over the past five years 85 of 161 metro areas have seen no change or negative values from 2004.

About one third of potential sellers will place their homes on the market if they see any sign of an improved market for real estate.

If this one third place their homes on the market, naturally, that will extend the recovery and continue to supress prices.

To sell in today's market you must be agressive and realistic in pricing your property to sell.

If you need to sell today, give me a call for market knowledge and an agressive marketing plan.

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Will FHA loans be the next sub-prime?

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
by Liz Warren

Could it be that FHA and USDA loans will create the next sub-prime loan mess? Both of these loans are 100% government backed and guaranteed.

Currently, nearly one in three of all new mortgages are FHA and in Oregon, where 99% of homes qualify for the USDA loan, according to a seminar I went to with their representative, it looks a bit scary. Why does it look scary to me, well, FHA and USDA loans have very low downpayments and high risk borrowers.

One source, the Mortgage Bankers Association, tells us that 7.5% of new FHA loans are in serious delinquency. Serious Delinquency means the mortgage is at a minimum three months over due. One in eight FHA loans are delinquent-recently missed a payment. this is about three times the rate for conventional loans.

What does this mean? Hopefully, not another government bail out down the road. There's no doubt about it, buyers need loans to purchase homes but not at the expense of creating yet another problem!

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Displaying blog entries 1631-1640 of 1889

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Liz Warren
Merit Properties Group - Keller Williams Realty PDX Central
Box 131
Welches OR 97067
Direct: 503-705-3090
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