Washougal High School ASB students organized a huge school and community food drive and collected 35,560 lbs. of canned food and toys. This record donation will go to Children's Home Society's East County Family Resource Center, to help local families in need.

Students were pulling dollar bills of their own money out of their pockets to donate during an assembly in an effort to beat rival, Camas High School, which resulted in hundreds of extra dollars to contribute to the cause. In addition, they sold raffle tickets, sang Christmas carols at Safeway, held signs asking for contributions on many Washougal street corners, and more. Good job guys.... you make us proud!

 

 

Home for the holidays and the rest of the year too! Absolutely move-in ready and can close quickly-no short sale or bank to wait for on this one! Sprawling remodeled ranch on large corner lot in convenient location just minutes to freeway. 4 bedrooms plus a bonus room that could be a 2nd master bedroom, 2.5 baths. New flooring, counters, cabinets, paint, roof, gas furnace and more! Need more parking or a workshop? Heated and finished double garage, plus a one car detached garage / SHOP with 220. Covered carport too! Just hooked up to public sewer. Click here for listing details and virtual tour!

 

 

 

Don't miss the "Holiday Market", presented by the Vancouver Farmers Market! Join them as they celebrate the 20th season on Sunday December 13th and 20th from noon to 6pm. The Hilton Hotel will be hosting and they are located just west of Esther Short Park, at 8th and Esther in downtown Vancouver. Santa and his elves will be there, and live music will be playing. Admission is free!

Reports for individual neighborhoods available free of charge! Call, text, or email me for further information!

See and buy the latest fabrics , notions, patterns, and tools. Classes, workshops and demos featuring quilting/sewing superstars! Pacific NW Quilt, Craft & Sew Show at the Clark County Fairgrounds - November 19th-21st from 10am to 5pm.

Mark your calendars to visit a variety of local holiday bazaars. Support your community by buying holiday gifts locally!

 •11/21/2009 from 9am to 4pm - Sunset Elementary Holiday Bazaar at 9001 NE 95th Street - Vancouver, WA.

•11/28/2009 from 10am to 4pm - Outlaw Craft Show at Hazel Dell Grange. 7509 NE Hazel Dell Avenue in Vancouver, WA.

•12/5/2009 from 9am to 4pm - Hockinson High School Holiday Bazaar at 16819 NE 159th Street in Brush Prairie, WA.

 

 Head to Camas Theater (at Camas High School) on 12/6/2009 for a 90 minute holiday performance presented by the Camas Performing Arts Series. Seating is still available for the December 6th show. Groups of 10 or more qualify for a group rate discount!

• Adults - $20.00
• Children - $10.00
• Seniors - $18.00

For more information or tickets call 360-834-7807, or visit CPAS (Camas Performing Art Series) at www.eccgas.org. Individual concert tickets also available at these businesses:

*Runyan's Jewelers, 327 NE 4th Street, Camas
*Beacock Music, 1420 SE 163rd Ave., Vancouver
*HomeStreet Bank, 2100 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver

When we met a few years ago at a baseball game,

I found out that you had been renting for 8 years and used your down payment on a house to open a salon. No worries, I told you, you could still buy with little to nothing down.... its a great time  to buy! I will drop some info by your new business.

"As a matter of fact, I really need a cut and color... can I make an appointment?"

My first appointment we chatted about our kids and families.... eventually about my business. You've always wanted to be a homeowner... you could choose the paint color on your walls,  adopt a dog for your boys, live how youwant to live. Home ownership is freedom (and a great tax write off). But your fiance didn't think you were credit worthy. I expressed the importance of not taking the word of a lender you randomly found via search engine.

"Here are the numbers for a few good lenders, some of which you can apply online. I will let them know to look for your name, and if you do not want to be contacted, I will let them know that too. Also, here is some information on the benefits of home ownership that I would love to leave with you. By the way, my hair looks great... thanks!"

The next few months I send a few new clients your way, pop in periodically to tell you about a new listing in Washougal.... carefully evaluating your feedback, your likes and dislikes. You want a ranch so your elderly parents don't have stairs to climb when they visit. You like an open floor plan for entertaining. You love big backyards, tree-lined streets, and hardwood floors. At baseball games, appointments, and chance meetings at the grocery store, we talk more and you warm up to the idea of taking the plunge. You begin to trust that I have your best interests at heart.

When the tax credit is set to expire you are the first person I think of. Your parents said they would loan you a down payment,  but you don't like borrowing money.... with the tax credit you can pay them back quickly! But you will have to hurry.... only 6 months left! I print some material up and drop by the salon. Now you are excited, and are really going to put some pressure on your fiance. You ask who to call for a mortgage.

 

A few months several visits later (roughly 2 years from when we first met), my phone rings. You are pre-qualified for a FHA loan, have a down payment, and ask that I please email anything within your school boundaries....ready to buy! After weeding out short sales (because you don't want to wait) and homes in poor condition, there are just three.... two that are so-so, and one at the top of your budget that is EXACTLY what you are looking for. Just to make sure you don't feel as though I am not giving you enough choices, I send them all, plus a few more. Not surprising to me, you want to see "the one" immediately. You make an offer that evening, it is accepted, and passes inspections with flying colors.

You are moving in this weekend.

"Who buys the first house they look at? Is everyone this easy?"....they say innocently to me as I drop a gift off and do a final walk through of the house. "You do, because you knew exactly what you wanted. You were a pleasure to work with and all transactions should go this smoothly" ...I tell them.

On the way home I couldn't help but think... Easy? I patiently educated for two years....at least a couple hours a week spent printing articles and information to hand deliver, many hair cuts and weaves and baseball games attempting to gain trust... not to mention,seeing the transaction through to closing with a listing agent that was out of town 90% of the time.

The reason that you bought the first house you looked at?

Because I put in the time, I cared that you made a good decision, I gained your trust, and most importantly.....

I listened.