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Displaying blog entries 1711-1720 of 1889

What about the Jumbos?

Friday, January 30, 2009
by Liz Warren

Jumbo loans are for properties which have loans greater than $417,000 in Clackamas County. Over the last several years many homeowners have purchased homes in Government Camp, Welches and Rhododendron with these types of loans. Jumbo loans are huge in California and Washington where home values are substantially higher near metro areas and can go over $700,000.

According to Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication, between 2002 and 2006 banks originated $557 billion dollars a year in jumbo loans.  A mortgage data firm reports that 6.9% of prime jumbo loans were 90 days delinquent in December 2008. As we see continuing job losses across the board, savings continuing to get depleated, and continued softening of the real estate market, I suspect the tax payer will get stuck with these properties as they get foreclosed on. This in turn will push prices down further as the higher end price range dwindles lower.

Homes that may qualify for jumbo loans on the mountain (Homes priced over $450,000) are at 27% of the current inventory. In Sandy the homes for sale over $450,000 make up 18% of their inventory.

We will have to see how this story unfolds and if the Feds take any action to help these jumbo loan holders. Many who are trying to refinance are finding that their homes do not meet appraisal values or they do not qualify any longer with revised lending practices!

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Months of Inventory

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
by Liz Warren

I keep bringing up what a super opportunity the mountain is offering in choice of inventory and interest rates and believe it or not, the entire market has a 52 month supply of homes for sale as of the end of December. If no other homes came on the market as of Januray 1st it would take 52 months to sell every home listed for sale! That is over a four year supply of homes.

I have never seen such a supply of homes  to choose from in Welches, Rhododendron or Government Camp! This is the perfect tsunami to purchase a primary, secondary or investment property that I have ever seen in 25 years.

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Clear Hills Condo at the Resort at the Mountain

Monday, January 26, 2009
by Liz Warren

Rarely available, this Clear Hills Condo unit in Welches has a million dollar view of Welches Valley with surrounding hills and the golf course! The condo features a huge living room fireplace, two bedrooms and two baths. Spacious with over 1300 square feet of living space too. The living room, dining room, kitchen and master bedroom all have spectacular views.

$225,000

 

The unit comes mostly furnished and includes an exterior storage area and carport. There's plenty of parking for your friends. It's an easy walk to the proshop for 27 holes of golf. Enjoy the top rated restaurants at the Resort at the Mountain!

If you are a skier or hiker, you'll enjoy the Mt. Hood National Forest out your back door nearly. Only 15 minutes to premium ski areas and year round skiing at Timberline.

Take a tour here

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Monday Morning Coffee

Monday, January 26, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Strength of numbers is the delight of the timid.
The Valiant in spirit glory in fighting alone."

~ Ghandi

COMMITTEE COMFORT!

It has been said that "a camel is a horse created by a committee." You've probably witnessed the process yourself. You put any twelve decision-makers in a room together, and they can't seem to make a decision at all. Worse yet, they create something that is comfortable to all members - a camel of their own making.

Ghandi says numbers are the "delight of the timid." At some time or another, we all want the comfort of being surrounded by others with interests common to us. Maybe it's on sales meeting day when the discussion turns into a gripe session. Maybe it's in the break room, around the proverbial "water cooler," or in a training class we've just taken. Wherever the group meets, the results are often the same - a lack of action backed up by all the reasons that justify the inaction.

Ghandi also says the glory is "in fighting alone." Look around. Do you see one or two individuals who spend little of their time with the group? Sometimes called "loners," these are usually also the over-achievers, the top producers in life and business. They know where they're going and they don't need your approval to do it. The committee says they aren't "team players."

Being human, it is certainly normal to seek the comfort of others. In the case of those few individuals described as "the Valiant in spirit," however, their strength comes from their accomplishments. In each of us, there is also that "Valiant" spirit - the part of us that wants to strike out on our own. You can do that by resigning from the committees of your life. Elect yourself President and Chairman of the Board of your own future - and make it unanimous!

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Government Camp Alpenglade Home

Monday, January 26, 2009
by Liz Warren

Opportunity knocks in this ski mecca of Government Camp. An Alpenglade home just hit the market! Located in one of the most sought after subdivisions in Government Camp, this is a rare opportunity to purchase in the heart of ski country ony 75 minutes from Portland!

This is a great home with a super floor plan for a vacation home. There's three bedrooms, two baths, and a huge family room downstairs. High vaulted ceilings are in the main living room area with an open living room, dining room and kitchen. A huge woodstove sits in a tiled hearth to warm the toes after a big day skiing.

A laundry room sits off the kitchen and the master is on the main floor! Walk upstairs for two additional bedrooms and a bath. The slider off the main living area takes you to a massive deck for summertime barbeques. What a location! The back side of the property borders Mt. Hood National Forest and the South side of the lot has common area with a creek. Across the street is more common area too.

Fully plowed in the winter time, the roads are easy to navigate and there are parking areas for your guests. The home has an attached oversized single car garage too.

There are three major ski areas close to Government Camp. Forget that weekend drive back and forth from Portland. This is the perfect landing spot for year round recreation!

$460,000

Take a tour here

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Morning Coffee

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Infinite patience produces immediate results."

~ Unknown

TIRED OF WAITING?

Have you ever wanted something special to happen in your life or desired to attract a person or outcome into your life? Maybe you laid specific plans that should have produced the desired results. Maybe you prayed that the results would occur. Perhaps you focused on the desired outcome with great intensity over an extended period of time.

What was your response when nothing happened, when there occurred not the slightest apparent movement towards your desired objective? If you became impatient, chances are good that you were too attached to the outcome. Perhaps, while you were waiting, you were also skeptical or allowed friends and associates to dampen your belief that the desired outcome would occur.

Today's quotation at first glance appears to be at odds with itself. After all, there's a great chasm between "infinite" and "immediate." Yet, when you exercise infinite patience, the desired results often appear immediately, or so it seems. Patience means not being so attached to the outcome that you sit waiting minute-by-minute for the results. When you take action to achieve or strongly believe in your objective, it cannot NOT occur.

When you are detached from the outcome, you do not sit idly by waiting for the result. You continue doing other things, moving towards other outcomes. As you do, the results you sought earlier come to you of their own accord and at the appropriate time. You cannot rush them, and they often come disguised as other outcomes.

The next time you desire a specific objective, keep it to yourself. Avoid putting it out on the line for all to see and criticize. Exercise infinite patience, and know that what you desire is already on its way to you. Then, recognize its arrival with gratitude!

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Hackett Creek Cabin

Sunday, January 18, 2009
by Liz Warren

Here is a little gem in the woods on Hackett Creek! Originally built in 1928 it has been refurbished and now is a nightly vacation rental. Warm wood walls and floors with vaulted ceilings make this a big favorite because of it's mountain charm and its wonderful location on Hackett Creek.

Sit on your private deck and watch the fish swim by or enjoy the tall firs and cedars from your windows. The fireplace has a toe warming propane insert. Pull up your chair and bring out your favorite weekend book!

Two bedrooms are upstairs plus a mini kids loft off of one bedroom. A full equiped kitchen complete with a built in bench for eating is a great bonus.

I love the french doors that open up to the deck! The bathroom is large for a cabin of this age. It even has a washer and dryer. The cabin sits on a third of an acre and has a shared well with the neighbor and is on septic.

Take a tour of the cabin here.

The location is in Rhododendron. It's only one hour from Portland and 20 minutes to the nearest ski areas. If you love to hike, you have the entire Mt. Hood National Forest near by.

 

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2008 Numbers

Saturday, January 17, 2009
by Liz Warren

The chart below tells the story of the 2008 sales numbers compared to 2007. These numbers tell the story of sales from Government Camp, Rhododendron, Welches and Brightwood.

Pending sales for the year were down 21% from the year before and total sales declined 10.5% from 2007. Total residential sales closed hit 117 and land sales totaled 8 for the year. There were 358 new listings last year. Doing the rough math a seller had a 33% chance of selling their property last year in general but there were definate segments of the market that did better than others. The median sales price was $234,000.

As job losses mount and prices keep declining, approximately 20% in major metro markets, 2009 will be an interesting year.

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Monday Morning Coffee for Inspiration

Monday, January 12, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite
capacity to not know what can't be done."

~ Henry Ford

EVER BEEN CRITICIZED?

If you've ever had a dream - you've also had critics. It seems they show up right on cue every time that special new dream begins to form. Critics come in the form of family members, employers, friends, and associates.

Interestingly, the only opinion worth listening to is your own. The opinions of others simply reflect their own limitations - and have nothing to do with the achievement of your dreams. Just imagine how shallow the world would be today if the following individuals had listened to their critics:

Arnold Schwarzenegger's family said, "How long will you go on training all day in a gymnasium and living in a dream world?"

Mary Kay Ash's attorney advised two weeks before her first store opening, "Liquidate the business right now and recoup whatever cash you can. If you don't, you'll end up penniless."

His teachers to Ray Charles: "You can't play the piano, and God knows you can't sing. You'd better learn how to weave chairs so you can support yourself."

What Diana Ross heard her teacher say when auditioning for a high school play: "You have a nice voice, but it's nothing special."

Have a dream? Live it, pursue it, and achieve it - with a passion!

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Timberline Rim Home Sales

Monday, January 12, 2009
by Liz Warren

There are currently sixteen homes for sale in the Timberline Rim subdivision near Brighwood and Rhododendron. The lower end starts at $183,000 and the high end sits at $322,000.

The past six months has seen a total of nine sales. All are $240,000 and under. Several were foreclosures. Here are the sales over the past six months:

Timberline Rim is one of the most populated and popular subdivisions on the mountain. It's a great place to live with low association fees and many amenities. It's located right along the Sandy River with access to trails, picnic areas, a swimming pool, tennis courts plus a recently updated lodge and business office.

Originally developed in the late 60's it is nearly completely built to full capacity. Paved roads with sewer and water make this a low maintenance living location. Homes range anywhere between $180,000 to over $500,000.

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Displaying blog entries 1711-1720 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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