Washington Home Loans - HOPE Lending LLC

Money Management Skills for a Happy Life

HOPE Lending LLC — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:01:25 -0500

The stronger your money management skills are, the more likely you will live the happy life you want. It doesn't matter if you're Middle Class or a Millionaire, you will probably feel a few dollars short of comfort as some time. You need to have a plan if you are going to win - which are simply having discipline, goals, and desire. Being prepared will help you get where you want to be. Just follow these Seven Savings Strategies:

1. Set Goals - This will help override the impulse to buy something not that important. Write down your plan for short, medium, and long-term goals then share them with your family and friends. Support each other as you can.

2. Track Spending - Write each deposit or withdrawal activity down in your check register and reconcile each month to your bank statement. Save your debit charge receipts and file as you would all others.

3. Automate Savings - A good goal to have is 10% of your income each pay period. This may be into your employer provided 401k, savings, IRA or another bank account.

4. Prepare a Budget - Plan and write down the allocation of money for specific purposes. Use separate categories for Savings, Rent, Utilities, Insurance, Food, and Other Payments.

5. Change Behavior - In order to reach your goals, make different choices. Some things to consider are:

Ask for a promotion
Get a different or second job
Get a roommate
Have a garage sale
Quit smoking/drinking
Save the enjoyment of a Latte for Sunday instead of every day
Leave credit cards at home and use for planned purchases only.

6. Borrow Wisely - Build and maintain a credit score above 700 to qualify for the lowest interest rates possible. Don't create payment plans that outlive the object purchased. Keep credit card balances at or below 30% of the credit limit.

7. Prioritize Bills - Send payments 7 days below the due date to avoid any late fees. Using an automated bill pay or writing checks out ahead of time with the date to mail in the corner before stamping might help you stay on time. If money becomes to stretch, always pay necessities before your creditors. It is more important to keep your water on than worry about a department store calling for payment.

For Additional Mortgage Planning in Washington State please contact Melissa Olson by emailing melissa@hopelendingllc.com or http://www.hopelendingllc.com WA License #510-LO-32549.

P. S. Do you have a friend that I can be helping also? Please don't keep me a secret. My business is referral based, and I appreciate your help!

Wine Tasting at the MANETTE SIDEBAR - Bremerton

HOPE Lending LLC — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:33:55 -0500

Come join me for wine tasting at the Manette Sidebar in Bremerton! The 2nd Tuesday of every month, the Sidebar will be hosting a wine tasting party. $10 buys you 7 tastes of the beautiful nectar of the vines! also...all very tasty appetizers will be 1/2 off!

ADDRESS:
2113 E. 11th Street; Bremerton, Wash.
PHONE:
360-792-0801
HOURS:
Monday-Friday
3 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Saturday
4 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Closed Sunday

Manette is a great neighborhood for an afternoon walk along the waterfront and sunset views at the park.

To REX or not to REX? It's your home Equity

HOPE Lending LLC — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:17:22 -0500

Recently Komo 4 published a story called A new way to get equity out of your home. Yeah...someone is trying to help us in this bear market (probably not). A REX Agreement (sounds like wrecks) is an equity investment company in San Francisco. They provide immediate cash with no loan, no interest and no monthly payments.

To qualify for the REX AGREEMENT, you must have a stand-alone home that you live in. Second homes, condos and vacation property are not eligible. You must also have a decent credit score and be financially responsible. Other things to consider are:

The equity you take out determines the percentage of future equity you'll give up.

You can ask for a percentage of your equity or for a specific dollar amount, and there can be room for negotiation.

You can do an early buy-back, in which value change is determined by the appraised value of your home at the time you want to pay back the equity.

The goal is for a long-term contract and there could be an exit fee if you get out before five years ranging from 5% to 25%!

You may also face extra fees if you do not deal directly with REX and Co. However, financial advisers, mortgage brokers, and real estate agents licensed by Rex to sell the product can charge fees up to $2,000.

Maybe this product would be useful if you are bearish on housing and disciplined with investing and represents a sort of hedge against falling home values. However, the REX Agreement is only offered in selected markets where real estate values are stable. The company analyzes the markets and does a lot of homework before deciding which states are likely to have the best investment potential and consumers should do the same thing. Of course, they are in the business to make money and not likely to enter an agreement if a LOSS is possible.

Why would anyone want to tap into their equity this way if they could qualify for a more traditional, less risky, bank loan with a net lower return of payment? Let's consider this by looking at the numbers.

DOWNLOAD REX LOAN TEST NOW (fill in yellow boxes - the rest will automatically compute)

This product does not seem to benefit anyone except the investor lending to you. For alternative options with your best interest first, please contact Melissa Olson at HOPE Lending LLC.

I love Ben!

HOPE Lending LLC — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:34:27 -0500

Benjamin Franklin that is! Do you know how Daylight Savings Time Originated? In 1784 Benjamin Franklin is thought to have come up with the idea for daylight-saving time. In a whimsical letter to a French journal, he said that Parisians could save thousands of francs a years by waking up earlier during the summer because it would prevent them from having to buy so many candles to light the evening hours.

Years later in 1905 the prominent English builder and outdoorsman William Willett invented DSTduring one of his pre-breakfast horseback rides, when he observed with dismay how many Londoners slept through the best part of a summer day. An avid golfer, he also disliked cutting short his round at dusk. His solution was to advance the clock during the summer months, a proposal he published two years later. In the US standard time in time zones was instituted by the railroads in 1883, but DST was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. These great minds were definitely thinking alike. I too enjoy my long summer days with extended daylight.

Wikipedia reminds us of all his great accomplishments. The most memorable perhaps during the American Revolution in 1776, he was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence and made several small changes to Thomas Jefferson's draft. He is also mentioned for social innovations, such as paying forward. I particularly am fond of this idea and get a kick out of buying the customer's coffee in line behind me. I personally love collecting his picture on the $100 bills that I refer to as "Benny's"!

Remember that Ben can't really take the credit for Daylight Savings Time as like ancient Rome, 18th-century Europe did not keep accurate schedules. Rather, he is the author of the proverb, "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise".

And being an election year you might find interesting that like the other advocates of republicanism, Franklin emphasized that the new republic could survive only if the people were virtuous in the sense of attention to civic duty and rejection of corruption. All his life he had been exploring the role of civic and personal virtue, as expressed in Poor Richard's aphorisms.

Let me introduce Imants Holmquist - WA Real Estate Attorney

HOPE Lending LLC — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:17:03 -0600

Imants contacted me earlier this week after reading my blog Favoring change for Downtown Kirkland - The McLeod Project. He was kind enough to invite me to lunch so we could get to know each other better. I really enjoyed learning more about his specialty.

He helped me understand that he works in a firm with about 5 other attorney's that also do estate planning. Imants does "most things real property related including transactions, litigation, and entity formation. In terms of fees, we try to flat fee as much as possible. Condominiums we flat fee at considerably less than other firms."

He also does LLC's and S Corps, Commercial lease review and purchase and sale agreement review is another competitive area. Please welcome Imants Holmquist and feel free to contact him for your attorney needs.

BEWARE - Mortgage Lenders STOP BUSINESS with no warning

HOPE Lending LLC — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:01:37 -0600

Has this happened to you?

~ You're working with a borrower and have an approval, maybe even have completed their signing and then the loan doesn't fund.

~ Or you have a file submitted and the account rep falls off the face of the earth.

~ I just recently had an approval on a VA Loan to find out now the product no longer is offered!

In this business time is of the essence. We also have a responsibility to conduct our due dilligence when choosing a lender for our borrowers.

A very helpful website that I use to check on lenders and their ability to stay in business is The Mortgage Lender Implode Meter.

As of March 3, 2008 they report 232 major U.S. lending operations have "imploded" since late 2006. They include current News and a Discussion Forum.

The most useful tool of this website is the Ailing/Watch List Lenders(tm):

17. American Equity Mortgage, Inc.
16. CTX Mortgage Company (Retail)
15. Chase Home Equity (Wholesale)
14. First Horizon Home Loans
13. Gateway Funding
12. BankUnited (Wholesale)
11. Casa Blanca Mortgage/Shearson
10. Bear Stearns Mortgage
9. Chevy Chase Bank - Wholesale
8. Washington Mutual
7. IndyMac Bancorp
6. MortgageIT
5. Sallie Mae
4. Meridias Capital
3. Doral Financial Corp.
2. Evergreen Investment+Carnation Bank
1. Residential Capital, LLC*

I would suggest this site for anyone interested in direct Mortgage News relating to the risk of the lender either not being in business to fund your loan or dropping the product available.

Market News regarding Interest Rates - Stay Alive Another 5

HOPE Lending LLC — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:12:36 -0600

In the fourth quarter we saw home prices continuing to decline thereby compounding two of the biggest threats facing the nation's economy: faltering consumer spending and tight credit markets. The S&P/Case-Shiller national home-price index for the fourth quarter fell 8.9% from a year earlier, the largest drop in its 20 years of data. And the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's index -- which tracks only homes purchased with mortgages guaranteed by home-loan giants Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac -- was down 0.3%, the first year-to-year decline in the measure's 16 years. When home values decline, owners feel less wealthy and less likely to spend. Reduced values also lessen the owner's ability to borrow against the home to finance significant purchases or refinance credit debts. In addition, lower housing prices erode the value of banks' collateral, prompting them to tighten their lending standards, which further damps economic growth.

A top Federal Reserve official indicated the housing slump and its broadening impact on the economy probably will probably keep the central bank biased in favor of more interest-rate cuts. Since September, the Fed has reduced its target for short-term interest rates by 2.25 percentage points to 3%.

But some mortgage rates are actually rising, and those that are falling haven't fallen that much. The average interest rate on a standard 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.38% yesterday, little changed from September but up from 5.61% in late January. Interest rates on jumbo mortgages -- those larger than $417,000 -- were at 7.35%, also close to their September levels.

Rates on adjustable mortgages have come down, but not by as much as the Fed has cut the rates it influences. A three-year ARM, for instance, carried a 5.43% interest rate yesterday, down from 6.29% in mid-September. Still, lower short-term rates should help millions of homeowners who took out ARMs with low teaser rates that are set to jump higher.

There are two reasons mortgage rates haven't responded more to the Fed's rate cuts.

Long-term Treasury yields, which are the benchmark for most mortgage rates, have risen recently, perhaps because of increased concern about inflation as the prices of oil and other commodities soar.
The spread between mortgage rates and Treasury rates has widened as investors and banks become increasingly reluctant to make home loans.

The good news is that the Seattle and surrounding areas have been holding their values. While we see some over priced homes hit the market then take price cuts, the overall appreciation is still happening. Our economy is strong with several new commercial construction projects and new jobs emerging. In deed this may be a blessing in disguise for the market to have helped slow our growth and save us from massive foreclosures. RealtyTrac reports several of the hardest hit states, notably Nevada, California, and Florida, were models of boom and bust economics, having gone through explosive growth and spiraling prices over the last few years.

Although we are seeing our share of foreclosures happening, I strongly suggest considering to help your neighbor out. If you have good credit and can document your income you are a prime candidate to invest with someone who is in risk of loosing their home. If you can purchase the home for a lower rate and payment and provide an opportunity for someone to keep their home by paying you rent, we could all pull together to help each other get through the rough times. Realistically, people will do anything to keep from loosing their home and are willing to give up some equity to you for helping. I am seeing more of these win-win agreements happening and am happy to help put this together for you. Donald Trump once said "stay alive till '95" in 1990. Let me now say let's stay alive another 5 - don't give up!

If you would like more information on investing with someone in danger of loosing their home, please contact Melissa Olson with HOPE Lending LLC at 877-515-HOPE.

Negotiation without Friction?

HOPE Lending LLC — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:55:25 -0600

THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IS THAT OF LEARNING HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH OTHERS WITHOUT FRICTION.

Experts in negotiation handle the process so smoothly that discussions hardly seem like negotiations at all. While the word negotiation itself conjures up visions of cigar-chomping adversaries pounding the table to emphasize their demands, the best results are achieved when all the parties involved are able to put themselves in the others' shoes and arrive at an agreement that is beneficial to everyone involved. Whether you are negotiating a higher salary, a new job, or the acquisition of a company, your chances of success are far greater when you approach the situation positively and with a clear objective in mind. It also helps to understand the motives of others involved and to have in-depth knowledge of the subject under discussion. Finally, approach every topic with an open mind-don't simply try to bully others into accepting your proposal or point of view.

Written by the Napolean Hill Foundation

Favoring change for Downtown Kirkland - The McLeod Project

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:58:02 -0600

I realize the initial reaction for most when they hear about change coming is to resist and oppose. But let's consider all the facts and benefits The McLeod Project will bring downtown Kirkland. Stuart McLeod owns the property that is to be redeveloped which includes Hector's south to Mixtura (Tully's to Ben & Jerry's would remain) and the parking and businesses behind there (Calabria, Sasi's Cafe). The plan is for a 4 story mixed use building to include: retail/restaurants, office space, and an underground 500 car parking deck. The architectural design is according to current zoning, in line with other downtown construction projects, and for the benefit of the community.

Having underground parking serving 500 vehicles that the city doesn't have to pay for or manage is a great idea. Additionally, The McLeod Project is an appealing design that also promotes a mixed use that our city needs.This will encourage a balanced growth by including the office space and attracting more retail spending. It iszoned appropriately and in line with the recent Heathman Hotel addition and senior building under construction.

Jon Regala is the City Planner on the McLeod project. Please email him at jregala@ci.kirkland.wa.us with your support in favor of this development.

What have you done for your neighbor?

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:27:12 -0600

Did you know that everytime you influence another person to do a better job, you benefit that person and increase your value? Clearly I'm speaking about a positive influence. Someone once said that no one can really motivate anyone else; all we can do is motivate ourselves and hope it catches on. You will probably never know how much you influence others with your behavior.

When you always go the extra mile, you will influence those in your circle of friends and acquaintances, your family, your co-workers, and ever your bosses to do more and better than they have done before. Your value to yourself and others is greatly enhanced by your ability to influence others to be happier, more productive people. There are no salary caps or career limits for those who lead others to great heights of success. Such people are simply too valuable!

Sometimes this is as simple as just telling someone thank you and how much you really appreciate them. For me, I like starting my day out this way. It gets my blood pumping and energy flowing. Team work!

69 Flights of Stairs for Leukemia

HOPE Lending LLC — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:05:24 -0600

What was I thinking? Now I must go through with it. Training hard and putting a team together for the annual Columbia Tower Stair Climb in an effort to fundraise for Leukemia. I think this may be the tallest building in Seattle. What I do know is that each time I go there it is up a couple elevators to a club for wine.

I will be participating in 22nd Annual Big Climb for Leukemia. The event is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's most challenging event - and a complete quad burner! Last March, over 4,200 people climbed the stairs at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle, the state's tallest skyscraper, and raised over $700,000. The 69-flight course includes 1,311 steps, 19 steps per flight and 788 feet of vertical elevation. I had the choice of either running the stairs and being timed or climbing the stairs at my own pace. I chose to a timed race.

In addition to a challenging workout, the Big Climb gives me the opportunity to fight leukemia. Leukemia, a cancer of the body's blood-forming organs, is the leading disease killer of children; yet for every child diagnosed, ten adults face this disease. Thanks to research supported by contributions to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, survival rates in both adult and childhood leukemia have dramatically improved.

Please support me as I climb all those 69 FLIGHTS of stairs in an effort to fight blood cancers. Thank you!

10 Lies Desperate Home Sellers Tell

HOPE Lending LLC — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:29:44 -0600

Barbara Corcoran recently shared these tips on the today show. This definately makes sense in this market where sellers may be under pressure financially to dump the house. It is a buyer's market so take your time and exercise due dilligence.

"My neighbors are wonderful!"
Really? Why not check it out for yourself? Knock on the wonderful neighbor's door. Tell them you are thinking of buying the house next door and ask them what they think of the neighborhood. If you get the door slammed in your face, you can assume by "wonderful" the seller meant, "It will be wonderful to get away from those creeps." In addition, check out schools sites, sex offender registry, and home values sites such as Zillow.
"The roof leaked once, but we fixed it."
You "fixed" it, eh? What exactly does that mean? Did you have the roof replaced? Patch the leaky area? Or did you just stick a bucket under it? The seller may not even think they are lying here, but if the repairs have been done in some half-baked way, you need to know. Get a professional home inspection.
"I've only seen one termite on the deck."
Termites, bats, rats and carpenter ants are not conducive to a happy home. And they're not included in a typical home inspection. If there's any hint that there might be problems with pests, you should get an insect inspection. These creatures are not wandering hobos dropping in on a house for a look around then moving on their merry way. They come in groups.
"There's no radon - ever."
Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Bearing this in mind, it is sensible to request a radon test whatever the seller tells you. If you know the area is subject to radon gas, you should definitely do it. To find out about radon gas levels in your area, contact your local Environmental Protection Agency office.
"I didn't know I should have told you about the foreclosure."
Get title insurance. Judgments, tax and mechanical liens are covered by title insurance.
"The planes from the airport don't fly over this house."
You can find this out for sure by contacting the FAA. Alternatively, you can stick around for a while. If one flies over, watch as the seller's face turns beet red.
"Of course we had a permit to build the new addition."
One-family house owners can do all the work themselves, even the plumbing and electrical wiring. But 90 percent of homeowners don't bother to get the needed permits. If you are worried that something might be amiss, check with the building department.
"There's never been any flooding."
Most older homes do have some flooding in the basement when there is excessive rain, so it is quite possible a seller could lie to you about this. One thing you can do to find out if the area is susceptible to flooding is to check the water tables at the town hall.
"Our schools are great!"
"Greatness" is in the eye of the beholder. (Or something like that.) For an objective view, get a free school report from HomeFair.com or GreatSchools.net.
"They can't build on that lot across the street."
Why can't they? If the lot is too small, they might get a variance. Talk to the planning board to find out. My mother bought a house in Florida and now all of a sudden someone's building high school across the street!

Here's a concise list of important things you should do:

Get a professional home inspection.
Qualified home inspectors routinely uncover problems with houses that you can't see. The most common problems involve plumbing, cooling and heating systems, leaky roofs, kitchen appliances and cracked foundations.

Spring for extra inspections.
These include insects, radon, leaky underground tanks and bad well-water.

Get title insurance.
If you're financing, you can't close without it. It protects you from forgery, fraud, encumbrances, judgments and permit violations. You pay for insurance once only when you buy and the policy is good forever.

Visit the property during rush hour and on Friday or Saturday night.
It's the only way to see what the next-door kids are like, how traffic is on the weekends, and how noisy it really gets around the neighbor's pool.

Get a signed disclosure form from the seller or the broker representing the seller.
If they don't disclose the defect, they're subject to suit.

Do a final walk-through inspection.
Revisiting the property before closing ensures that it's in the condition you required in your offer and that any stipulated repairs have been completed. Make the final walk-through no sooner than five days before you intend to close, and make sure the right to do so is included in your offer to purchase.

As always, work closely with your Real Estate Agent. They are the expert and may have great information about several areas.

Sellers Tips and Buyers Hits in this Soft Market

HOPE Lending LLC — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:13:23 -0600

Home values will "stabilize again," but it will be a rocky ride with some time until they do -- especially for home sellers. If you can, stay put and ride this out. For sellers whose circumstances demand that they sell in today's soft market:

Realize that your house is worth only "what someone is willing to pay" and price accordingly. Throw in incentives like a free flat-screen TV, or offer financial assistance like helping the buyer secure financing or covering closing costs.

Spruce up your house -- don't try to sell "as-is" unless you're willing to sell for a bargain-basement price.

Look for a seasoned real-estate agent with a high percentage of sold homes.

Know your local market well.

Get your listing online.

Try renting out your house instead of selling or offering a lease-to-own option to renters.

For buyers, do not waiting to pounce on good deals, as the housing market may be "at or near bottom," and using the inventory of homes on the market and sellers' anxiousness to sell to bargain more effectively. Make your purchase contract contingent on the home passing inspection, and obtaining buyer financing, etc. Do your research on the local market, noting asking and selling prices, and don't overlook "diamonds in the rough" -- residences that aren't cosmetically attractive, but have good bones. HOPE Lending has a referral team of professionals to help you with what ever your needs might be. We welcome your questions and look forward to serving you.

Happy New Year ~ My Gift to You

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:13:02 -0600

I have been so moved by the Secret in 2007 that I want to share with You. Believe this......it works! Here is a short recap I wrote:

"THE SECRET IS THE ANSWER TO ALL THAT HAS BEEN, ALL THAT IS, AND ALL THAT WILL EVER BE."
                                                                   ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
                                                                                 (1803-1882)

the Secret.....Life is about the Law of Attraction. Some of the greatest people in history have already known this: Plato, Shakespeare, Newton, Hugo, Beethoven, Lincoln, Emerson, Edison, and Einstein. You can have, do, or be anything you want - no matter how big it is - happiness, health, and wealth. Everything that is coming into Your life is attracted to you by virtue of the images you're holding in your mind.

One way to master your mind is to learn to quiet your mind. Meditation helps control thoughts and revitalize the body. Just three to ten minutes a day can be incredibly powerful for gaining control over thoughts. Remind yourself "I am the master of my thoughts".

We live in a universe of laws, just as there is the law of gravity. The law of attraction is a law of nature. It is impartial and impersonal. It is precise and exact. You have a choice, and whatever you choose to think will become your life experience. This is more powerful than living by default, with thoughts and feelings on autopilot.

We have nearly sixty thousand thoughts a day, which is impossible for us to monitor. Our feelings/emotions let us know what we're thinking.
GOOD consists of:
                                         Love
                                         Gratitude
                                         Joy
                                         Passion
                                         Happiness/Excitement
                                         Joyful Expectation
                                         Hope
                                         Satisfaction

BAD consists of:
                                         Annoyance
                                         Worry
                                         Criticism/Blame
                                         Anger
                                         Revenge
                                         Hate
                                         Resentment
                                         Guilt
                                         Depression
                                         Fears

Our emotions are an incredible gift that if celebrated, will draw to us more good feelings of empowerment. Make a list of Secret Shifters to change from feeling bad in an instant. It might be beautiful memories, future events, funny moments, nature, a person you love, or favorite music.

"YOU CREATE YOUR OWN UNIVERSE AS YOU GO ALONG."
                                                                 ~Winston Churchill
                                                                    (1874-1965)

Love is the greatest emotion of which there is no greater power in the Universe. Understand and master your thoughts and feelings and you will create your own reality, freedom, and power. The truth is deep down inside of you waiting to be discovered. The Truth is this: You deserve all good things life has to offer.

Genie has always said "Your wish is my command". Tradition has also called this - your holy guardian angel, your higher self. Taken from the New Testament in the Bible is an easy guideline to create what you want in three simple steps call the Creative Process.

                                        Step 1: Ask
Make it a habit to ask for an experience, product, or person.

                                        Step 2: Believe
Have unwavering faith that it's already yours and believe in the unseen. Don't worry or think about lack of them. The Universe will rearrange to make it come about and you don't need to know how.

                                        Step 3: Receive
Feel it now. Turn that fantasy into fact and create a position to build bigger and better fantasies.

"WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE."
                                                                  ~Matthew 21:22
"WHAT THINGS SOVER YE DESIRE, WHEN YE PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YE RECEIVE THEM, AND YE SHALL HAVE THEM."
                                                                  ~Mark 11:24

Do whatever it takes to manifest those feelings of having it now: test drive the car, shop for the home, love a man. If you're really doing it in line with what the Universe is trying to bring you, it will feel joyous. You will feel so alive that time will stop and you could do it all day.

                                        BE INSPIRED AND IT IS EFFORTLESS.
Don't second guess or doubt. Take the opportunity, act on impulse, and trust your instincts.

"TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN FAITH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE THE WHOLE STAIRCASE. JUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP."
                                                                  ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
                                                                    (1929-1968)

"ALL THAT WE ARE IS THE RESULT OF WHAT WE HAVE THOUGHT."
                                                                  ~Buddha

What can you do right now to turn your life around?

                                        POWERFUL PROCESSES
Gratitude - make a list of everything you are thankful for. Tell people you appreciate what they've done for you. Do it every morning as you wake and it will attract more great things.
Visualize - Create pictures in your mind with what it is you want. The mind can't distinguish if you're really doing it or if it's just practice. So if you go there in the mind, you'll go there in the body. Feel it!
Action - Live in the magic of life with habitual ways of being. Make a habit of using the law of attraction and remember to use it all the time. Create a vision board and items in your room.

"WHAT THE POWER IS, I CANNOT SAY. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT EXISTS."
                                                                 ~Alexander Graham Bell
                                                                   (1847-1922)

THE SECRET OF MONEY

"IMAGINATION IS EVERYTHING. IT IS THE PREVIEW OF LIFE'S COMING ATTRACTIONS."
                                                                 ~Albert Einstein
                                                                   (1879-1955)

"Decide what you want. Believe you can have it. Believe you deserve it and believe it's possible for you. And then close your eyes every day for several minutes, and visualize having what you already want, feeling the feelings of already having it. Come out of that and focus on what you're grateful for already, and really enjoy it. Then go into your day and release it to the Universe and Trust that the Universe will figure out how to manifest it."
                                                                  ~Jack Canfield, Author of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul

"WHATEVER THE MIND OF MAN CAN CONCEIVE, IT CAN ACHIEVE."
                                                                 ~W. Clement Stone
                                                                    (1902-2002)

Stone told Canfield to set a Goal SO BIG, that when you achieved it, it would blow your mind. Then he would know what he's taught him is real. This is The Secret to Money.

When you have inspired thought, you have to trust it and you have to act on it. Don't set a goal to get out of debt. Focus on a repayment plan and what you want to make. Focus on Abundance. Focus on Prosperity! We all want success. Focus on inner happiness, then the surrounding things will appear.

"THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE MOMENT YOU DECIDE THAT WHAT YOU KNOW IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO BELIEVE, YOU WILL HAVE SHIFTED GEARS IN YOUR QUEST FOR ABUNDANCE. SUCCESS COMES FROM WITHIN, NOT FROM WITHOUT."
                                                                  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
                                                                    (1803-1882)

Give money to get money - the wealthiest people on the planet are the greatest philanthropists. Catherine Ponder wrote The Millionaires of the Bible Series to help us discover that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus were not only prosperity teachers, but also millionaires with more affluent lifestyles today than many present-day could conceive of. You are the heir to the kingdom and creator of your own legacy.

THE SECRET TO RELATIONSHIPS

The wish must be able to manifest through your outer self not contradicting. Design your home to reflect your desires and make room for your partner. Your Job Is You - Understand yourself first. See your beauty and fall in love with your body and spirit. Maintain a healthy respect for yourself. Even if you're having a really hard time in a relationship - you still can turn that relationship around. Every day for 30 days write down all the things you appreciate about that person. Think about all the reasons you love them. Nobody can create your happiness. Your Joy lies within You!

THE SECRET TO HEALTH

Our body is the product to our thoughts. The Universe is a masterpiece of abundance, good health, and wealth. Open yourself to experience the wonder, joy, bliss, and everything possible to you. Disease is the result of stress and discomfort can be healed by changing thoughts. See yourself living in a perfectly healthy body. Laughter attracts joy, releases negativity, and leads to miraculous cures.

THE SECRET TO THE WORLD

If you fight everything you don't want, you actually create more of a fight.

THINK TRULY, AND THY THOUGHTS SHALL THE WORLD'S FAMINE FEED."
                                                                  ~Horatio Bonar
                                                                    (1808-1889)

Dr. John Demartini says that when the voice and the vision on the inside become more profound, clear, and loud than the opinions on the outside, you've mastered your life.

Lisa Nichols inspires that it's not my job to change the world, or the people around me. It's my job to go with the flow inside of the Universe, and to celebrate it inside the world that exists. Energy Flows Where Attention Goes.

"There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind of humanity. There's not enough good to go around. That lie has people living in fear, greed, and stinginess that becomes their experience. The truth is that the Universe is Abundant. There is more than enough good, creative ideas, power love and joy. This all comes through a mind that is aware of it's own infinite nature."
                                                                  ~Michael Bernard Beckwith, founder of Agape International Spirit Center

Praise and bless everything in the world, and you will dissolve negativity and discord and align yourself with the highest frequency - love.

THE SECRET TO YOU

Empower and share with others. Our body is made of energy. The body holds the spirit, but the spirit is eternal life.

You are not your past. Focus on the positive and what you want for your future. The power in you is greater than the power in the world.

"WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR THINK YOU CAN'T, EITHER WAY YOU ARE RIGHT."
                                                                  ~Henry Ford
                                                                    (1863-1947)

Being aware of your thoughts is your power. Remember to remember.

THE SECRET TO LIFE

God has not written your purpose or mission in life. It is what you create and no one will ever judge you. Living is the state of joy, love, freedom, happiness, and laughter. Inner happiness is the fuel of success. Embrace Your Magnificiene.

"FOLLOW YOUR BLISS AND THE UNIVERSE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU WHERE THERE WERE ONLY WALLS."
                                                                  ~Joseph Campbell
                                                                    (1904-1987)

Do what you love. If you don't know then ask and as you commit you will attract an avalanche of joyful things. Now that You know the Secret, what you do with it is up to you. Whatever you choose is right. The power is all Yours.
                                                                  the Secret authored by Rhonda Byrne

Reverse Mortgages helping Older Home Owners

HOPE Lending LLC — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:44:37 -0600

Reverse mortgages used to be a way for homeowners to get extra cash during retirement. Now they're also being used for a more-pressing purpose: helping people who are struggling to meet payments on high-interest-rate loans to keep their homes. The strategy calls for persuading lenders to take the cash generated by a reverse mortgage in lieu of foreclosing on older homeowners.

With a reverse mortgage, the bank makes payments to the homeowner instead of the homeowner making payments to a bank. The loan is repaid, with interest, when the borrower sells the house, moves out permanently or dies. The products are complex and have high fees -- typically about 7% of the home's value -- and they make it difficult for homeowners to leave the property to their heirs. But they may be the best option for people who have built up equity in their home and would otherwise lose it.

In Washington, the National Council on Aging, an advocacy group, has launched a reverse-mortgage initiative to help older homeowners around the country learn how to use the product appropriately -- including ridding themselves of monthly mortgage payments.

An AARP study released earlier this month found that nearly one-third of 946 reverse-mortgage borrowers surveyed used the loans to pay off existing mortgage debt.

"For a small but crucial number of potential borrowers who are in financial distress, reverse mortgages can be essential in avoiding foreclosures -- sometimes on subprime or home-equity loans with very high interest rates," the AARP report says.

Circus Contraption and the Aerialistas perform Free tonight at Seattle Center

HOPE Lending LLC — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:13:41 -0600

Circus Contraption's Klezmer-fueled "dark cabaret" never fails to make us smile, and the Aerialistas have a way with the rope and trapeze that goes way over our heads in the best possible way. The troupes perform at Seattle Center as part of the Winterfest revels, and the shows are free.

Center House Theatre (Seattle Center)
305 Harrison St.
Seattle, WA 98109
Maps & directions

Sunday, December 30: 6:30 p.m.; performance

So go have some fun!

Another Sign of Strength in the King County Economy

HOPE Lending LLC — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:30:01 -0600

Boeing recently finalized a deal with British Airways creating a total for 790 orders of the Dreamliner plane. British Airways' order gives the plane one of the industry's most successful launches ever - even though the airliner has yet to take flight. Boeing expects to fly the first 787 around the end of the first quarter of 2008 and begin deliveries in late November or December. It expects to deliver 109 airplanes in 2009. The British Airways deal is worth $4.4 billion at list prices.

"This order is a vote of confidence from one of the world's leading global network carriers in the 787's unprecedented performance," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Brazil's GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes said it exercised firm orders for 34 Boeing 737-800 NGs, completing the purchase option for 121 aircraft negotiated in October 2006. The carrier said it signed a new contract for the acquisition of 40 additional aircraft for delivery in 2012-2014.

Boeing also said that it signed a $1 billion contract with Russia's OAO VSMPO-Avisma to provide titanium forging for production of the 787 jet from 2011 until 2015.

We have many more strong economic factors including Amazon, Microsoft, and extensive spending by Washington Department of Transportation just to name a few. This contributes to the continued growth and success of our real estate market. If you are having financial difficulties, you might consider moving here. Contact one of our professionals at HOPE Lending for further discussion.

Option ARM Borrowers not included in Bush's Plan

HOPE Lending LLC — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:11:57 -0600

There has been much talk of the Bush administration planning to help subprime borrowers whose loans are due to reset to higher interest rates next year. But hundreds of thousands of borrowers that obtained the Pay Option ARM with good credit will see sharp increases in their payments if unable to refinance. These homeowners could be the next wave of trouble in the mortgage crisis.

If they chose to make only the minimum payment on a regular basis, their loan balance has increased. Terms of the Option ARM allow for a maximum loan balance cap usually at 110% of the original loan balance, which then require the fully amortized payment over the remaining term. This will be a problem where home prices are falling and not enough equity remains to qualify for a refinance. Borrowers who get in too far over their heads may not be able to refinance their loans or even sell their houses for enough money to pay the loans back. This may contribute to more foreclosures.

Option ARMs generally carry a low introductory rate -- in some cases as low as 1% -- and often have high prepayment penalties that make it expensive to refinance. With lending standards getting tighter, refinancing may be impossible in any case. Here is an idea of the predicted Option ARM loans over the next year:

I highly encourage anyone who is currently using this product to inquire with their mortgage professional as to a safe plan. HOPE Lending is committed to providing practical mortgage solutions for each borrower that make sense to their individual situation.

Seattle Bus Tunnel Closed Until Further Notice

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:20:00 -0600

Metro closed the tunnel Dec. 17, reopened it Dec. 18, then closed it again Dec. 19. It has remained closed.

The computer system, installed this year, is designed to let operators control signals, ventilation, elevators, security cameras and lights from a control center near Safeco Field in an emergency.

Workers found suspected flaws in some of the circuit boards.

Sound Transit spokeswoman Linda Robson said Monday that the circuit boards have been replaced, and workers will monitor the tunnel and run simulations. She said there is a "high level of confidence" the problem has been fixed. There still has been no word of reopen. Learn more at http://www.seattletunnel.org/.

Fuel Efficient Vehicles

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:03:39 -0600

I was so excited when I heard that President Bush signed into law this month, legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming.

The legislation signed by Bush at a ceremony at the Energy Department requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also ramps up production of ethanol use to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022.

Bush said the new requirements will help "address our vulnerabilities and dependency" on foreign oil by reducing demand for gasoline and diversifying the nation's fuel supply.

Bush noted that earlier this year he had proposed a plan to cut gasoline use by 20 percent over the next 10 years. But the president has long opposed arbitrary numerical standards for vehicle fuel economy.

The legislation increases the federal standard automakers must meet to an industry wide 35 mpg for passengers cars, SUVs and small trucks. The standard for cars today is 27.5 mpg and for trucks and SUVs 22.2 mpg.

It requires refineries to increase the use of ethanol from about 6 billion gallons a year this year to 36 billion gallons by 2022 and mandates that by then at least 21 billion gallons are to come from feedstocks other than corn.

"I firmly believe this country needs to have a comprehensive energy strategy," said Bush before signing the bill. He referred to the need for more nuclear energy and domestic oil production - issues that the new energy bill ignores.

The bill also calls for improved energy efficiency of appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers, and a 70 percent increase in the efficiency of light bulbs. It also calls for energy efficiency improvements in federal buildings and construction of commercial buildings.

The new lighting standards alone are projected to lower consumers' annual electricity bills by $13 billion in 2020, remove the need for 60 mid-size power plants and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas, by 100 million tons a year, said the advocacy group Alliance to Save Energy.

HOPE Lending LLC announced our commitment earlier this year to Going Green. To learn more about how you can help follow Green is Good.

Washington Loan Officer License REQUIRED 1/01/08

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:51:45 -0600

I am one of the 1,900 Loan Originators that have renewed their license for 2008. If you haven't, then renew your Loan Originator license soon at http://dfi.wa.gov/cs/loan_originator_renewal.htm. Remember that all Loan Originator Licenses expire on 12/31/2007 and you cannot conduct business without a valid Loan Originator License.

REALTORS - DON'T GET CAUGHT IN A TRANSACTION THAT YOUR LOAN OFFICER CAN NO LONGER CLOSE FOR YOU! Ask them now if they have their license renewed for 2008. This is the first year that the exam and continuing education is required to be complete.

Frequently Asked Loan Originator License Renewal Questions

Question: What is the process for renewing my Loan Originator License?

Answer: DFI has created an online tutorial that explains each step of the Loan Originator License renewal process. You will find the tutorial at http://dfi.wa.gov/cs/loan_originator_renewal.htm. This webpage also contains lots of valuable information, including what items you will need to complete the renewal process.

Question: I passed the Promissor test today, when can I renew my Loan Originator license?

Answer: Please allow 3 business days before submitting your Loan Originator License renewal online. This permits Promissor and DFI the ability to update the records and grant you access to the online renewal.

Question: What if I do not renew my Loan Originator License until after 12/31/2007?

Answer: You will incur a late fee of $62.50 and will not be able to conduct business until you receive your new valid Loan Originator License.

Question: If I renew my Loan Originator License after 12/31/2007, are the continuing education and testing requirements different?

Answer: No. If you renew your Loan Originator License after it expires on 12/31/2007, you will still have to demonstrate satisfaction of the same continuing education and testing requirements.

Learn more about Loan Originator License renewal at http://dfi.wa.gov/cs/loan_originator_renewal.htm.

New Requirements for Loan Originator Applicants

The requirements for new Loan Originator Applicants have changed. Learn more at http://dfi.wa.gov/cs/loan_originator.htm. If you know someone who is considering becoming a Loan Originator, please forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for this ListServ at http://www.dfi.wa.gov/cs/mortgagelist.htm.

Fannie Mae Price Adjustments for Credit Scores

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:01:18 -0600

Fannie Mae has announced that in 2008 they will be implementing price overlays for all loan products with FICO's under 680 and LTVs > 70%, as well as loans with subordinate financing and 2 unit properties. These changes could literally pop up on the rate matrix anytime between now and then with no warning, so floating a rate, even if the bond market is down 20 basis points could prove to be very costly. Any borrower on the fence with a FICO < 680 needs to get off of it TODAY, because time is not on their side if they're looking for a better rate. The Fannie Mae price adjustments for credit scores are listed below.

All LTV's > 70%

FICO 680+ No adjustment

FICO 660 - 679 -0.750

FICO 640 - 659 -1.25

FICO 620 - 639 -1.75

FICO < 620 -2.00

Mortgage Bailout - is there HOPE?

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:56:08 -0600

Monday, Business Week wrote an article on Educating Clients & the Mortgage Bailout. This may or may not affect them and now is a great time to refinance!

What the Mortgage Bailout Means for You. (For the consumer)

On Dec. 6, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, with the support of President George W. Bush, unveiled a plan to aid certain homeowners who face the prospect of higher mortgage rates in the next few years. Paulson worked with banks and other mortgage companies to develop the initiative, and thanked them for their involvement. "We have worked through an evolving process to help minimize the impact of the housing downturn on homeowners, neighborhoods and the U.S. economy," he said. While the plan is ambitious and is designed to bring stability to the shaken economy, it will affect only a narrow slice of homeowners in the U.S. "This is not a silver bullet," said Paulson. Here are some answers to questions you may have.

Can you get your mortgage payments lowered because of the bailout?

It depends. If you've got an adjustable-rate mortgage, you may qualify under certain conditions. If you've got a standard mortgage with a fixed interest rate, you're not affected.

Which adjustable-rate mortgage holders are affected?

Only a small group. To qualify, you need to have received your loan sometime between Jan. 1, 2005 and July 31, 2007, and you need to be facing a reset of your interest rate sometime between Jan. 1, 2008 and July 31, 2010. If you're within this range, you may be eligible to have your interest rate frozen, so you can keep your current, lower rate for five years.

Who qualifies within that range?

The bailout is really designed for homeowners who could run into trouble if their mortgage payments are raised sharply and face the prospect of losing their homes. If you're well enough off that you can afford the higher mortgage payments after a reset, you won't qualify. And if you're in bad enough shape that you can't handle the current low interest rate, you won't qualify. For example, if you've already fallen behind on your mortgage payments, you're not eligible for the rate freeze. You must also live in your home to qualify.

Why is there going to be a bailout?

Bush, Paulson, and the Administration are concerned about the fallout from the housing slump. If many people fall behind on their mortgages and have to give up their houses, there will be a series of negative repercussions. First, tens of thousands of Americans could be forced to leave their homes. They would lose whatever equity they had. Consumer spending more broadly would likely slow, hurting the economy overall. In addition, home prices could fall even more quickly than they are now. That could hurt consumer confidence well beyond those people directly affected.

Is the bailout going to be enough?

It depends on your definition of enough. The deal will add some stability to the housing market, but it won't stop all the problems in the troubled sector. The same day Bush unveiled his plan, the Mortgage Bankers Assn. said that foreclosures had reached a record high in the third quarter. The share of mortgages that have entered foreclosure hit 0.78% in the quarter, up from the previous high of 0.65% set in the previous quarter. At the same time, delinquencies for all mortgages rose to 5.59%, from 5.12%, in the second quarter. None of the people who are delinquent or facing foreclosure will be helped by the plan.

The deal almost certainly won't stop the decline in housing prices. Investors are betting that there will be double-digit declines in home prices in nine of 10 major markets over the next year. The only exception is Chicago, and there the estimate is for a 5.6% drop in home prices.

So why not go further?

Some Democrats are criticizing the Bush Administration on that exact point. Senator Hillary Clinton (D.-N.Y.), among others, is arguing for a more ambitious approach, including at least a seven-year freeze on interest rates.

Who stands in the way of such an effort?

Investors in mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. If homeowners are going to pay less on their mortgages than originally planned, then somebody is going to lose money. These aren't just fat cats on Wall Streetalthough many such firms have invested in these securitiesthey're also pension funds for teachers, firemen, and police, as well as mutual funds whose clients include all sorts of individual investors. They probably even include homeowners who are facing the prospect of higher payments on their adjustable-rate mortgages.

Appraisal Reinspections required for selected areas in WA due to storms

HOPE Lending LLC — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:49:16 -0600

Due to the recent storms and subsequent flooding, a Disaster Waring policy was put into place affecting the following counties in Washington state:

King
Thurston
Whatcom
Lewis
Mason
Grays Habor
Kitsap

It also includes the following counties in Oregon:

Tillamook
Columbia

Any appraisal completed prior to 12/5 for properties located in these counties will need to be re-inspected for damage prior to docs. The re-inspections can be completed by the original appraiser or by a licensed home inspection company or a city or county authority. Properties that have suffered damage, will need a 442 verifying the completion of the necessary repairs prior to funding. Also, a Disaster Inspection Certificate will be sent out along with loan documents for the borrower to sign. That Certificate is a PTF condition as well.

Please note again that this policy affects only appraisals completed prior to 12/5 - located in the counties noted above. All appraisals completed 12/5 or later are not affected by this new policy.

Green is Good

HOPE Lending LLC — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:01:49 -0600

For years I've been listening while sitting on the back burner, not really seeing the importance of Global Warming and my contribution. I personally decided earlier this year to "Go Green". Recently, I was happy to see Al Gore awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to communicate this message and help people be aware and take action. He has committed 100% of the proceeds of the award to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan non-profit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion in the U.S. and around the world about the urgency of solving the climate crisis.

I urge you to visit this website to Explore Climate Solutions, read about Climate Heroes, take the 7 Point Pledge, Watch Videos, and Take Action. Listed below are simple steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and help solve the climate change crisis.

At Home

Turn off lights and appliances when they aren't being used.
Replace your lightbulbs with energy efficient ones (like compact fluorescents).
Sign up for green power.
Buy energy efficient appliances, especially your refrigerator.
Make sure your house is well-insulated.
Ensure your computer's power settings are enabled.
Sign the Pledge: Join the global movement and take action to solve the climate crisis
Choose cold water when using your washing machine
Be aware of product packaging.
Calculate your carbon footprint

At Work

Telecommute!
Ensure your computer's energy savings are enabled
Turn off lights and appliances when they aren't being used.
Replace your lightbulbs with energy efficient ones (like compact fluorescents).

At The Store

Transportation

In Your Community

Influencing Leaders

Click here to see the full-listing of actions available.

I've noticed more and more support lately including the MLS partnering with Built Green Homes, NBC programs, and even clothing stores such as REI. You can learn more by watching Al Gore's movie called An Inconvenient Truth or reading here.