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Mt. Hood Real Estate Blog

Liz Warren

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Displaying blog entries 1641-1650 of 1876

Mt. Hood Real Estate Sales in March

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
by Liz Warren

The numbers were just released today in the multiple listing market stats for the month of March. There were a total of four closed sales for March. Heres how the numbers in the report look:

Days on market are hitting an average of 138 days but more importantly, pending sales, year to date, are down around 55%. As inventory increases with more motivated sellers who need to sell we may see even more prices softening than we've seen.

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Morning Coffee

Monday, April 13, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures,
but in the use made of them."
- Napoleon

SEPARATE TRASH FROM TREASURE!

Written by Dr. Fred Craddock, the following story was passed along to me:

One of my schoolmates spent many years ministering in China. He was under house arrest and the soldiers came one day and told him that he could return to America. The family was celebrating. The soldiers said, 'You can take 200 pounds with you.'

They had been there for years! Two hundred pounds. They got the scales and they started the family arguments - two children, wife, and husband. Must have this vase . . . Well, this is a new typewriter . . . What about my books? . . . What about our toys? They weighed everything and took it off, until at last they had it right on the dot: two hundred pounds.

The soldiers asked if they were ready to go and they said, "Yes!" "Did you weigh everything?" They said, "Yes!" "Did you weigh the kids?" "No, we did not." "You will have to weigh the kids." In the blink of an eye, the typewriter, vase, books, all became trash. Trash. It happens.

***************************************************

Talk about a paradigm shift. How often have we all weighed our goods without considering our "kids"? Think of the times we placed value on our "stuff," only to be swiftly reminded of the value of a loved one.

This concept is confirmed with the story of a man who showed up at the pearly gates with a wheelbarrow full of gold bars. St. Peter explained that he could not "take it with him." Nevertheless, St. Peter consulted with God about the man being allowed to bring the gold bars. God answered with a simple question: "Why does he want to bring in paving materials?"

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Mt. Hood Historian Visiting April 19th

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
by Liz Warren

One of the best books around on Mt. Hood area history is Mount Hood: A Complete History. Author Jack Grauer will be in the area and visiting the Wy'East Book Shoppe on April 19th at 2:00 PM. 

Stop in to discuss local history and if you have questions or information to share, bring that along too. 

The Wy'East Book Shoppe and Art Gallery is located at the Rendevous Center in Welches.

 

 

 

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Camp Creek Log Cabin

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
by Liz Warren

 

$150,000!

Charming 1935 Rustic log cabin on the banks of Camp Creek in the Mt. Hood National Forest. This cabin has all the basics! High vaulted ceilings with beams, skylights, old fashioned paned windows, a bedroom down and a loft up with two beds, a toe warming wood stove and country kitchen.

You will love the deck on creekside for outdoor living. Only a couple of steps to the creek. It only takes ten minutes to get to skiing. The pristine Mt. Hood National Forest is a paradise that is only one hour from Portland. leased land

Take a tour here

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Morning Coffee

Monday, April 6, 2009
by Liz Warren
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"I always wanted to be somebody.
Now I realize I should have been more specific."

- Lily Tomlin (from her "One Woman Show")

AGE DOESN"T MATTER!

Whether you're 23, 43 or 73, ask yourself this wonderfully refreshing question: "What do I want to be when I grow up?" Regardless of our age, it's so easy to lose sight of the specific "somebody" we always wanted to be. What's more, the "somebody" we had in mind in our 20's may be someone different in our 50's.

Worse yet, maybe we grew up to be the "somebody" someone else had in mind - like our mother or father. The influence of those around us often prevents us from even asking the question "What do I want to be . . . ?" We try so hard to be their somebody that we don't allow ourselves to grow up at all.

So . . . going back to the matter of age, it doesn't matter WHEN we decide who we want to be so much as that we DO decide. It is at that moment that a catharsis takes place, and we rid ourselves of everyone else's determination of our identity. We are free . . . free to become the person of our dreams.

Is it easy to develop and maintain our new identity? No. Our day-to-day activities will still attempt to distract us from our new persona. Nevertheless, as artist D. Morgan points out in one of her paintings, "The impossible dream - isn't!" Take a quiet moment today, just for yourself, and ask, "Am I the somebody I wanted to be?"

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Wood Floors Are Popular on Mt. Hood

Thursday, April 2, 2009
by Liz Warren

 Wood Floors!

Hardwood floors remain a very popular choice among many homeowners and vacationers who own homes on Mt Hood, and with all the stains and finishes available, cleaning them is easier than ever. Wood floors are easy to maintain — they usually require little more than sweeping with a soft-bristle broom and periodically cleaning with a reputable wood floor cleaner. The National Wood Flooring Association offers the following tips for protecting and maintaining hardwood floors.

·         Use a cleaner that is specially made for wood floors. Avoid using sheet vinyl and tile floor care products. Self-polishing acrylic waxes can cause the wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly.

·         Use throw rugs both inside and outside of doorways to prevent scratches and keep dirt and grit from being tracked onto the floor.

·         When cleaning, do not use a wet mop. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.

·         Wipe up spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.

·         Avoid walking on wood floors with cleats, high heels and sport shoes, which can dent the floors.

·         When moving heavy furniture, pick it up instead of sliding it. Place guides under furniture legs to prevent

scuffing and scratching.

 

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Mt. Hood Landscaping Tips

Thursday, April 2, 2009
by Liz Warren

Low-Cost Landscaping Tips

A beautifully-landscaped property can work wonders when it comes to selling your home. The Free Landscaping Ideas Blog offers these suggestions on how to save money without sacrificing quality or beauty.

·         Make a plan that includes a schedule of tasks and rough sketches of your design to help you determine what items you need. For assistance, consult with an expert at a local gardening store or home improvement retailer.

·         Plan the project in phases and purchase products as money is available. The phased-in plan also helps you avoid the interest and fees associated with home-improvement loans or credit card purchases.

·         Don’t sacrifice quality. Ask the staff at local specialty shops for recommendations about the best products available. If you are inexperienced with landscaping, consider spending a little extra for professional assistance.

·         Carefully inspect plants for diseases and insect problems, especially if you didn’t purchase them from a nursery. Diseases and pests can spread to other plants. Also ask the gardening retailer if they offer warranties on their plants.

·         If you plan ahead, you can take advantage of off-season prices. For example, buy lumber in the winter when it is cheaper and store it until you are ready to use it. Shop for trees, shrubs, perennials, mulch and soil late in the season when prices go down.

·         Purchase products online or from catalogs, or join a gardening club, which may offer discount prices as well as helpful advice.

·         Your municipality may have mulch and compost available. Also, try asking people in charge of construction or demolition sites if they have used stones or bricks they might give away.

·         Ask neighbors if they’ll share some of the costs. By pooling all your resources, you may get some good deals on items bought in bulk, and you can split the cost of renting machinery for landscaping work.


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First Time Home Buyers On Mt Hood Tax Breaks

Thursday, April 2, 2009
by Liz Warren

Catch a [Tax] Break On Mt Hood as a First Time Homebuyer!

There’s good news for first-time homebuyers who plan to purchase a home in 2009. Thanks to some of the provisions in the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying first-time homebuyers can earn a tax credit of up to $8,000 if they purchase a home before Dec. 1. They can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The best news is that the credit does not need to be repaid provided the home remains their main residence for 36 months after the purchase date. Buyers can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.

 

For purposes of this credit, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you (and your spouse if you are married) did not own any other primary residence during the three-year period ending on the date of the purchase.

 

The new law does not affect individuals who purchased a home between April 8, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2008. For these homeowners, the maximum credit remains 10 percent of the purchase price up to $7,500 for individuals, or $3,750 for married individuals filing separately. In addition, the credit for these purchases must be repaid in 15 equal installments over 15 years, beginning in 2010.

 

For more information about the tax credit or to find out how the new legislation affects homeowners, visit www.irs.gov or consult your tax accountant.



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Spectacular Value for this Square Footage

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
by Liz Warren

Tons of room in this home!!!!If you are looking for lots of room at an incredible price, look no more! This spacious home with nearly 2500 sq. ft. has it all. Open floor plan with living room, formal dining area, huge family room with eating area and kitchen. New laminate flooring in the family and living room. There's a slider off to a huge deck on the back for summer barbeques. Four bedrooms upstairs and a very large bonus room with storage areas under the eves. This is a perfect media, pool room, or hobby room for the family. The master bedroom has its own balcony deck and master bath (recently remodeled) plus walk in closet. The entire interior of the home has been painted!

$250,000  Take a tour here!

There's also an attached double car garage and laundry room too. The amenities of the area include a summer swimming pool, tennis courts, lodge and management, picnic areas and trails along the Sandy River too.

Located near the Mt. Hood National Forest and three premium ski areas! Thousands of miles of hiking trails too!

Only one hour from Portland! Perfect for the 100% USDA loan!

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Monday Morning Coffee

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

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"If your riches are yours, why don't you take them to t'other world?"
~ Benjamin Franklin

LEAVE A LEGACY!

In one of William Bennett's books, he tells a story about Ben Franklin's death. It seems that old Ben made a special gift in his will. In it, he left 1,000 pounds to the cities of Philadelphia and Boston with specific instructions. They were to set up a program of loans to young men under the age of 25, married, and who had successfully completed an apprenticeship, needing startup money for a trade or business. The money was to be loaned at 5% interest. The loan program was to continue for 200 years.

At the end of 100 years, the two cities were to withdraw $100,000 each for public projects, and continue lending the balance as stated above. At the end of 200 years, the fund was to be split between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Boston, and Massachusetts. In the year 1990 there was $6,500,000 in the fund. For 200 years, Ben Franklin helped young men get started in business by making those funds available, and had $6.5 million left over.

Just think of the many ways you and I could benefit our families, the community, or the lives of total strangers if we just took the initiative exhibited by Ben Franklin. By setting up a similar fund that earns just 5%, it would contain $17,292,581 at the end of 200 years. The purpose could be educational loans for family members.

Set aside $1,000 now and add just $100 per month to it for ten years, earning 5% on loans made from the account, and the fund would have $17,157. After the ten-year period of adding $100 per month, no more money is added and it continues to be loaned at 5% for the next 190 years. At the end of 200 years, the fund would contain $181,141,192. At that point, it could be converted to an outright "grant" program to which family members could apply for education funds.

Instead of focusing on just your immediate family, think about the legacy you could leave by planning much further into the future. Thanks to the "future value of money" concept, you could provide valuable support to many future generations. It's just a thought, but why couldn't we give it a try?

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