Dave Gallagher is the business editor at The Bellingham Herald. He maintains a business blog for the Bellingham & Whatcom county business pulse.
Dave recently wrote an interesting article describing Zillow's new analysis report - called home values band.
This Zindex home value indicator provides details on national home trends. This tool analyzes fourth quarter 2007 home selling prices (in various bands of price range) compared to a year earlier. Great idea, but there are numerous people raving about the accuracy, versus another partisan crowd ranting about the gross inaccuracies of the pricing indicators!
Well I don't know if the ones ranting are in denial, just can't face up to the fact that real estate values have declined, or if Zillow's Web site is skewed with inappropriate bands of house width!
Well check it out and proceed with caution, who knows it might just be a very accurate tool for your neighborhood!
Seems as if a lot more people are endorsing the concept that the U.S. government ought to step in and resolve the mortgage and credit melt-down mess.
I don't know who coined the motto for our government 'If it ain't broke, fix it until it is!' but I certainly concur with many other people that our government is too slow to act, too encumbered with wasteful habits, and inefficient in dispencing funds to appropriate recipients.
It is unfortunate a lot more people will endure financial duress with the continued decline in home sales and prices; however, I had two friends last year that applied for mortgages with me. After reviewing their income, debts, assets, employment history, and probable moving expenses (think new drapes & furniture also) I recommended they obtain lower priced homes & mortgages.
Well, they didn't want to face realty reality, and took their business elsewhere until they finally found someone willing to loan them a higher amount.
So now with the real estate market declining, lending qualifications tightening, and foreclosures escalating, I hope they don't become disabled, lose a job, incur high medical expenses, etc. - - - because they have no savings to sustain them. If they can't make mortgage payments, it is going to be a close race to see who acquires their home, a buyer looking for a short sale, or the REO agent of the lending institution!
Not all borrowers are burdened with high-interest resetting loans, due to unethical mortgage lenders. For those who deliberately chose to ignore common sense and overextended themselves, or, who lied on a loan application, I don't see why the rest of us should be forced to pay higher taxes to bail out irresponsible decisions.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if the real estate market recovered swiftly and completely! I believe we will continue to have declined sales and property values until 2009, some areas being more painful than others.
Hopefully this will be a good learning lesson for everyone, and people will start saving more, and live within their means.
Do you have fond memories from a favorite vacation spot? Why not relive the ambiance and ecstasy of that special trip of rest, recreation, and relaxation.
The secret? by having Denmark-based Ferm Living turn your photo into custom designer wallpaper!
In a fairly simple, but not cheap, process you can now decorate your home with custom wall paper.
Upload your photo(s) to www.wallcollection.com and in a few weeks you'll receive your custom fit roll of wallpaper. What's really nice is that the image is printed on one large sheet, with no seams, and is ready to be glued to the wall.
Not a good photographer, fret no further, as you may choose from a gallery of existing photos and freehand sketches on the company's Web site.
Warm regards,
Michael Lozar Bellingham Loan Officer Commercial & Residential Loans
Kathy Wilson has an interesting Web site packed full of fun, creative, and low-cost home decorating ideas. check out her site Home Decorating On a Budget for a cornucopia of decorating, gardening, organizing, small space, and work-at-home solutions.
The site also contains links to books and other resources to enhance your quest for knowledge.
How about making a scarecrow to celebrate this Harvest Season! Here is the link for How to Make a Scarecrow Of course if you really want to scare the neighborhood kids, adorn your scarecrow with a Hillary Clinton mask!
Tom Valentine's soapbox racing creation, dubbed 'The Crapster' was wonderfully received at the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Fremont (Seattle suburb) last week.
This photo is credited to Tom Valentine, builder and racer of The Crapster. To see photos of all the soapbox racers from the Seattle races, check out the Red Bull Soapbox Race - Seattle page.
These wonderful creations and dance antics of the participants confirm that the good ole USA still has it's share of people who should remember to take their daily medications!
What is really funny about the race, is that someone stole the U-Haul truck that was transporting The Crapster to various race courses around the country.
Imagine the surprise on the thieves faces when they eagerly pried open the truck door to feast their eyes on the pilfered booty - - - only to turn out that the grand heist was a pile of %*$#!.
Want more details, than prepare for a hearty laugh while reading the Seattle Times article.
On October 4th, the US House of Representatives approved legislation that permanently eliminates taxes on people who have their mortgage debt canceled. Under current law, canceled mortgage debt on primary residences counts as taxable income. This will probably expedite sales for the number of homes facing foreclosure.
It also relieves distressed sellers from 'Short Sale' tax consequences.
The act was strongly supported by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. He stated "It is just not right or fair that families struggling through a foreclosure would then face a tax bill in addition to losing their homes when they have seen no increase in their net worth. This bill rights that wrong and provides tax relief to millions of American families."
I don't know about you, but I am greatly concerned that letting tens of thousands of homeowners off the hook will result in federal income taxes being increased, to offset this 'Get Out of Mortgage Free' act.
It will be interesting to see how the US Senate will modify the bill, and if President Bush will sign it into law. The White House has stated that a temporary solution is ok, but a permenate exclusion was not acceptable
A couple of weeks ago I posted Pimp My Pad - Cure Ugly Home Syndrome! a great site from a budget conscious blogger with a knack for finding the latest chic home accessories that won't break your little piggy bank.
Well now that you have acquired a few knickknacks, how do you go about composing all the elements of your room into a visual paradise, instead of a messy Peewees Playhouse abode?
More importantly, how do you redecorate without your spouse going into convulsions and freezing the bank accounts?
Check out the Web site www.designerathome.com to get professional assistance at $250/room. You pick a room to decorate, answer a short online questionnaire about the room's purpose, your preferences, room measurements, photos, and $250. Two weeks later, you receive a design scheme, similar to paint-by-number to modify your room.
Of course you are on your own from here. Contractors and furniture delivery options are two obstacles to overcome.
With interior decorators charging $100-$150 an hour, plus the usual 30% markup on furniture and fabric purchases, the online site is a fantastic alternative to roll up your sleeves and save substantially.
Thinking about starting a business in the Bellingham-Whatcom County region? A free seminar called "If Only I Knew . . ." will be held at the Washington Mutual Bank, 1336 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
Several agencies are teaming up to sponsor this free seminar, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, Wednesday, October 10th.
If you are a business owner, starting a business, or a manager, this should be on your agenda! After the presentation, there will be time for networking. Be sure and bring a notepad to jot down answers to those elusive questions that have been haunting you!
To register, or for more information, please contact Rosa Devoe at 360-676-8900; or e-mail rosa.devoe@wamu.net.
This budget conscious blogger has a knack for finding the latest chic home accessories that won't break your little piggy.
Pimp My Pad is a blog Web site directing home decorating treasure hunters to stylish geometric lamps for under $75, being able to upload photos and have them printed onto pillows, a 12-piece stemless wine glass package for $20, and a host of other unique 'home improvement' ideas to add some sparkle and ambiance to the old abode.
The blogger's handle is Pimp mama and she is on a crusade to eliminate ugly home syndrome. Her mission is to constantly find and post chic home frills with fantastic prices.
If you find a great, non-kitschy, decorating item, please consider notifying Pimp mama. She can be enlightened by sending her a message at pimpmypadplease@yahoo.com
The familiar green and black colors of the $5 bill have gone 'mod' with shades of purple and grey parading around the distinguished portrait of Honest Abe Lincoln.
Originally the $5 bill was not going to get a makeover from Bureau of Engraving & Printing; however, counterfeiters were bleaching $5 bills and printing $100 denominations onto the bleached bills. Apparently the counterfeiters were so successful that the US government has been forced to update the watermarks, thread location, and a purple haze.
Welcome to the Great Northwet (rains a lot). My soapbox for the home loan business and lifestyles in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Skagit County and Washington state.
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Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Tom Valentine's soapbox racing creation, dubbed 'The Crapster' was wonderfully received at the 
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