New Years Eve On Mt. Hood
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Real Estate Information
Mt. Hood Real Estate Blog
Liz Warren
Blog
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Displaying blog entries 1491-1500 of 1876
Mt. Hood RMLS Summary for 11/09
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Multiple Listing service has published their numbers for the Mt. Hood area November statistics. The good news is that compared to this time in 2008, sales are up 55%. The devastation of the stock market crash took its toll on real estate sales as shock set in and credit tightened.
Many sellers "tried" to sell this year with 312 properties for sale but only 91 have been successful so far. Marketing times are longer with an average for the November sales at 131 days.
Mt. Hood has plenty of great inventory for sale with the best interest rates for purchase. Predictions are that they will remain low through the beginning of 2010. The first time home buyer market will drive the majority of sales for the first half of 2010. If you wish to talk about the current market and where it's going, give me a call or shoot me an email.
Mt. Hood Market Statistics 11/09
Sunday, December 20, 2009
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.
Mt. Hood Home Values
Friday, December 18, 2009
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.
Morning Coffee
Monday, December 14, 2009
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!
Mt. Hood FHA Loans to Tighten!
Monday, December 7, 2009
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.
Monday Morning Coffee
Monday, December 7, 2009
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!
Mt. Hood Winterization Tips
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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.
Monday Morning Coffee
Monday, November 30, 2009
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.
Mt. Hood Christmas Tree Cutting
Sunday, November 29, 2009
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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