Says who?

We Honor Veterans

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:02:27 -0600

This is a very important holiday for all of America because the veteran is the reason for our freedoms. All around me I have friends and colleagues that have served our country with distinction. Some did not come home.

If you appreciate your freedom shake a veterans hand.

I wish us all well.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Meanwhile the lobbyist plays on...

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:03:22 -0500

I recommend you to read the New York Times op/ed piece and then forward it to your Representative. We all need to be pro-active and engage our representation. The days of standing up for your party should be over .... you should be standing up for your family, your schools, your infrastructure your country.

The tiring rhetoric from both fringes leave out the most important group....most of us...the two hundred million plus. Do yourself a favor...quit carrying the water for those that do not care and speak for yourself.

See below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/opinion/14wed1.html?_r=3

I wish us all well.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Rates are at bottom.....

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:35:24 -0500

You can't wait any longer if you wish to buy or refinance and take advantage of the low rates. The government intervention into the mortgage backed security market is almost over and that means rates will start to rise. There is no talk about further intervention as we sit here today that's why I am making this declaration.

Next year this time we may be in the mid six percent range so if you can buy now....BUY. If you can refinance now REFINANCE NOW.

Don't get greedy or cute because you will get burned or as they say....pigs get slaughtered.

I wish us all well.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Private Sector beating out Neighborhood Stabilization Act....Surprised?

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:08:53 -0500

In another impotent attempt to do something (driving blind folded) our government rolled out the 3.9 billion dollar Neighborhood Stabilization Act (NSA) designed to purchase properties going into foreclosure in hopes of stabilizing a real estate market that is declining according to our government.

This is another example of spending money instead of setting the table allowing the consumer to recover on their own. Every single program implemented from the Bush Administration and by our current Administration have failed miserably and has cost all of us billions.

Eighteen months of hearings by Frank & Dodd interviewing CEO's of banks and no meaningful system holding banks accountable forcing them to make meaningful note modifications for those homeowners still employed exists.

The government took away the down payment assistance program. They wish to increase the down payment for FHA loans. They are "thinking' about extending the tax credit for first time home buyers. What on earth is there to think about? ALL COST NEUTRAL. All are tools to help our real estate market turn around. Thinking and a politician mentioned in the same sentence now days is an oxymoron. No leadership on either side of the political spectrum.

Private investors are out bidding the government NSA program so it looks like another in a long line of ‘stupid' will fail and maybe the unintended consequence will be we as tax payers will save most of the 3.9 billion.....probably not....what was I thinking.

Please write your representative.

I wish us all well.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

NO...Real Estate Market is NOT improving just limping along...

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:29:22 -0500

On the usual network or cable network shows the Wall Street pundits continue to push the idea that things are getting better regurgitating numbers meanwhile the day traders continue on making money. On Main Street the middle class continues to get beat up and fleeced. One year later after the bail out of AIG we learn that 93 of the 180 billion was passed on to Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank (and others) with no possibility of seeing any of it again let alone on how it was spent other than some bonuses.

Meanwhile on the real estate front while home sales are occurring the big story continues to be the lack of acknowledgement by our government that big banks, the secondary market, wall street and others continue to hold the real estate market hostage.

Many foreclosed homes are listed in "unfinanceable" condition marketed 'as is' even though those same banks will not finance the buyer of the 'as is' home because of its condition. The solution to this of course is the FHA 203k loan however you may not be able to get the appraised value needed to meet HUD guidelines. This is not uncommon because banks refuse to sell the homes at a price to accommodate that solution.

Many foreclosed homes are either managed by ill equipped servicing companies or banks. Realtors that list these properties on behalf of these entities are often held hostage because when an offer comes in they send the offer into the banking abyss and it could be months before a response to the offer comes back....if it comes back at all.

We need a floor in the real estate market and the above activity prevents us from getting a floor on prices in fact it facilitates the spiral effect we see today.

Reform was needed in the lending world however the new re-disclosure act is laughable for the most part and frankly more cumbersome and in fact can hurt the consumer.

The appraisal reform is ridiculous on so many levels. We are the only industry that cannot talk to our vendor (the appraiser in advance) while performing the loan request on behalf of our client. That conversation could save the consumer money and time because we would be able to pick a competent appraiser that understands the market they live in vs. the appraiser (we know nothing about) we get driving 60 miles to do the appraisal.

Lenders underwrite the appraisal to confirm proper standards are used plus the appraisal is run through some BS system to make sure the value is really really there so why we are prevented from having conversations and picking a competent appraiser vs. the amateurs we have been subjected to in this new world is baffling to me.

The same banks make money off the consumer on this set up. In fact it is a new fee in addition to the other fees already charged so remember any time any regulation comes down it usually means more money out of the pocket of the consumer right into the pocket of the banks. The bank lobby lives on and strong! So of course the banks had no problem with this.

Another aspect of this appraisal issue is that appraisers traditionally compare home sales within a reasonable distance from the home they are appraising. In the past a foreclosed home would be considered a hardship case and not used as a comparable because it would not reflect the market. How does that apply today? Ask an appraiser or ask a Realtor about the challenges of valuation. My point is we need experienced appraisers and we are expected to navigate blindly and that is wrong and makes no sense.

NO the real estate market is not improving it is just limping along.Bernanke announced yesterday that ‘technically' we are in a recovery. Well I'm here to tell you technically the government is inept and the real estate market is still in shambles with more foreclosures coming however there are simple COST NEUTRAL tools to bring it back.

Bring back the down payment assistance program for FHA HUD loans.
(I would bet those that put down 20 or 30% down three years ago and since lost their job wish they still had the money in the bank. My point is from the beginning of time the person with the gold measures the ability of their applicant to repay the loan. Down payment is part of that only when someone is buying more than they could normally afford.) The down payment is used to keep the payment affordable and has nothing to do with the applicant's ability to repay the loan. Job loss and a declining market make the down payment irrelevant in most instances.

Force banks/servicers/investors to respond to offers and negotiate in good faith realistically so purchases can conclude within 60 days from time of offer.

If there are deficiencies in the collateral (House) preventing financing the bank/servicer should be required to fix prior to close at their expense.

Force banks/servicers/investors that hold 1^st & 2^nd lien position notes to negotiate and come up with a formula so that someone leaves the table with something and the current owner can move on with their lives relatively unscathed. The purchase should conclude within sixty days from time of offer.

Eliminate the HVCC appraisal process and give us back our ability to pick our own appraisers. The appraisers are licensed bonded and held to standard and practices. Lender underwriting community is there to make sure the appraiser is held to that plus the lender has another system to review the work after underwriting so the notion an appraiser is pressured to create a value is just nonsense and certainly not the force behind the calamity we face to day. I didn't hear a peep about appraisers but I heard plenty about the rating companies!

Eliminate CREDIT SCORING ..... Banks (and insurance companies) are making a bundle using this as a method to increase rates and costs. It is discriminatory by its very nature and its only purpose is for lenders and insurance companies to jack rates regardless of the circumstance behind the score. It eliminates our ability to use the tried and true tool and that is real risk analysis (the ability to determine a borrowers ability to pay back the loan).

Life happens on life terms or you may pay your bills on time but the magic box says we don't like the way you manage yourself even though you have never had problems in the past. You are not good enough so your score goes down and the cost for you goes up. If the credit scoring system is so good why are we in this financial calamity today? You can't blame sub-prime. Prime loans are defaulting too and the main reason is loss of job.

Good old-fashioned underwriting or risk analysis is better than any regulation. That's how we did it many years ago and many people (even with distressed credit) obtained loans because it made sense and they carried on successfully.

Write your representatives if you want to get out of this mess.

I wish us all well.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Home Ownership is a long term investment

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:53:01 -0600

Taking the step into home ownership is one of the most important financial decisions a person will make in their lifetime. There are many factors to consider when embarking on this venture. Literally hundreds of loan programs are available, and it is important to find the one that best fits your personal long-term goals.

First and foremost, you must have a mortgage consultant in your corner that is willing to take the time to know what your long-term goals are. Communication is the key factor here.

Curious prospective home buyers sometimes turn to Internet-based services just to see what current interest rates are. But a faceless web site will not take the prospect's future financial planning into consideration or guide the potential borrower through the many nuances of the loan process. When shopping for a home loan, be wary of web-based services that offer programs to reel prospects in with attractive rates that are based upon unrealistic time frames.

If a lender is offering a terrific rate based on a 10-day lock-in period, it is unlikely that the potential home owner would actually be able to find their dream home, get through the negotiation process and win approval from a lender within such a short period of time. This is called short-pricing, and when it comes time to close the transaction, the rate that was originally offered is simply no longer available. As a result, the unfortunate prospect is bulldozed into a loan program with a higher interest rate.

It is highly unlikely that a qualified loan originator whose business is based upon referrals will use unscrupulous tactics such as this to get new customers in the door!

Once you have found a mortgage consultant that you feel comfortable working with, lay your goals out on the table because it will have a tremendous impact on choosing a loan program that meets your specific needs. One of the most important factors to consider is how long you wish to borrow the money for. For example, if you know you will only be in the home for five years, it wouldn't make sense to opt for a 30-year loan program or pay points up front to secure a lower interest rate. You would not be in the home long enough to benefit from such action.

Your mortgage consultant should be able to narrow down a selection of programs based on the information that you have provided, and present you with an easy-to-read spreadsheet that clearly defines viable options for your interest rate and amortization schedule, monthly payment and any potential savings you may realize by paying points up front.

Moreover, a reputable loan originator will not hesitate to share this information with your tax consultant or financial planner so they may offer additional feedback on your behalf.

Home ownership imparts a rewarding vehicle for building wealth and a strong financial future. The mortgage consultant that you choose should be there not only when your loan closes, but should also provide you with ongoing service to assist you in managing that debt over time.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Credit Scoring and Credit Repair

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:36:16 -0600

Credit remediation is a subject consumers often face with fear and trepidation, and for good reason. With the exception of recognizing that the best score wins, the average home shopper knows very little about the whole credit scoring process. Sub-prime borrowers who are eager to move into A-Paper territory often find themselves at a loss when trying to find ways to upgrade their credit history. The good news is there are ways to improve less-than-perfect credit scores and obtain a loan for the home you really want.

The first step in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that consumers may now receive one free credit report annually. There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. Since entries can vary across bureaus, you'll want to request a free report from each of the three companies. (Go to www.annualcreditreport.com)

It's also important to know just what a good credit score is. Most A-Paper scores generally begin around 680, although this number may differ slightly among lenders. Don't despair if you come up shy, there is always room for improvement. Increasing your score just 5 points can save a significant amount of money. For example, if your score is 698 and you increase it to 703, then you could save yourself thousands of dollars over time as a result of a slight improvement to your loan's interest rate.

While credit repair is necessary for some, it's not the only way to increase your credit score. Even if you have stellar credit, you can enhance your score through these steps:

· Evenly distribute your credit card debt to change the ratio of debt to available credit. Let's say you have a credit score of 665. If you have debt on only one card, and four additional credit cards with zero balances, evenly distributing the debt of the first card could move you closer, and possibly into, that ideal bracket.

* Keep your existing accounts open and active. The average consumer is usually anxious to close credit card accounts that have zero balances, but doing this can cause them to lose the benefits of a long-term credit history and increase their ratio of debt-to-available credit. The bottom line is don't close those old accounts!

· Keep credit inquiries to a minimum. Each inquiry into your credit history can impact your score anywhere from 2-50 points. When it comes to mortgage and auto loans, even though you're only looking for one loan, multiple lenders may request your credit report. To compensate for this, the score counts multiple auto or mortgage inquiries in any 14-day period as just one inquiry, so try and stay within that time frame.

Remember, credit scores don't change overnight. Improving them requires time and diligent effort on your part, so it's a good idea to get the ball rolling at least three to six months prior to submitting your application for home financing.

If credit repair is what you need, you can either begin the process yourself or seek out a repair service. If you decide to make your own improvements, visit as many websites as possible to get information regarding credit laws and consumer rights. Diligently search through them and educate yourself to ensure that you don't sustain any self-inflicted wounds. A good place to start would be the Federal Trade Commission's website, which contains a wealth of helpful literature.

If you're facing severe or complicated credit issues, then you'll probably want to enlist the assistance of a professional credit repair company. Before you do, be sure to familiarize yourself with the FTC's regulations on credit repair. With over 1100 credit repair companies to choose from, it's important to be certain you are dealing with a reputable firm. Examine the FTC's information on fraudulent practices to avoid falling prey to credit repair scams.

Addressing credit issues can be uncomfortable to say the least. But by taking these steps now, you'll be that much closer to obtaining the home of your dreams.

Additional Resources:

To order your free credit report, go to:

www.annualcreditreport.com

To read the Fair Credit Reporting Act, go to:

www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/frca.htm

For the Federal Trade Commission's information on consumer credit, go to:

www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Maybe you already live in your retirement home - The Reverse Mortgage

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:29:24 -0600

Until recently, seniors 62 years of age and older have not had the best choices when it came to getting cash from their homes. Traditional home loans only offered the option of either selling one's house or borrowing against its equity.

With reverse mortgages coming on the scene, seniors now have some additional cash-flow alternatives. This type of loan allows mature borrowers to convert their home equity into tax-free income without leaving their current home or making mortgage payments - and they do not need an existing income to qualify.

How a Reverse Mortgage Works
Reverse mortgages are probably best understood when compared side-by-side with traditional home mortgages, otherwise known as "forward" mortgages. The following table shows the differences between the two:

FORWARD MORTGAGE	REVERSE MORTGAGE
Uses income to pay debt	Uses home equity to get cash or credit
Monthly mortgage payments	No payments; debt is due when the borrower(s) pass away or relocate.
Falling debt, rising equity	Rising debt, falling equity

Both loans incur debt against your home, and both affect equity, but they do so in different ways. Traditional home mortgages require making monthly payments to a lender. With a Reverse Mortgage, payments are made to you.

What a Reverse Mortgage Involves

Here are some important points to know when considering a reverse mortgage:

Eligibility: To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 years of age. All owners who are on the title deed must meet this age requirement. You must also have paid off all, or most, of your home mortgage. Lastly, the home you reside in must remain your principal place of residence.

Mandatory Counsel: In order to ensure that homeowners are fully aware of the financial ramifications of obtaining a reverse mortgage, you must undergo counseling with an unbiased third party before completing a loan. HUD and AARP oversee a network of counselors who can provide this service, and it should be offered for either a nominal fee or at no charge.

Tax-Free Income: One of the advantages of a reverse mortgage is that the money you receive will not be taxed. The amount you'll obtain depends on several factors including the plan you select, the type of cash advances you choose, your age, and the value of your home. Typically, the older you are the larger the loan, as you will have more equity in the house.

Cost: The cost of a reverse mortgage varies considerably from one type to the next. However, you can typically use the money you receive to offset the loan fees. The costs will be added to the loan balance and must be repaid with interest once the loan terminates.

Repayment: Reverse mortgages do not require any payment as long as the borrower(s) remain in the home. Should the borrower(s) pass away, sell the home, or permanently relocate, then the loan would be due in full, along with interest and additional costs. If two borrowers are on the loan and one dies, the loan would not be due since one of them still occupies the home.

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage - The Federally Insured Loan

The most common type of reverse mortgage is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, otherwise known as a HECM mortgage. This is the only reverse mortgage program that's federally insured and backed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This type of reverse mortgage is popular for a few reasons:

Ability to choose your own interest rate.
You can select one that changes annually or one that changes every month.
You have several payment options.
You may receive monthly loan advances for a fixed term or for as long as you live in the home. You may also choose to receive a line of credit or combine monthly loan advances with a line of credit.
The loan can be used for any purpose.
With a HECM, you don't have to designate the loan to a specific use; you can apply the funds to anything you choose.
Protection.
This is one of the most attractive features of a HECM. This plan protects you by guaranteeing continued loan advances even if your lender defaults.

Sell or Stay?

The main reason people choose a reverse mortgage is to gain financial independence and maintain an adequate standard of living without leaving their current home. The best way to decide if a reverse mortgage is right for you is to compare it to the other option of selling your house. To do this, ask yourself these three questions:

How much cash can I get by selling my home?
How much will it cost to buy or rent a new place?
Is it worth my moving now, or do I prefer to do something else with the money?

Perhaps you'll confirm what you knew all along, where you now live is the best place to be.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

The Snohomish Times

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:03:02 -0600

For local information and timely articles visit the Snohomish Times. As one of the contributors I have recently published an article about bankruptcy. I will provide information on timely topics throughout this year. Do not hesitate to comment or contact me.

The link below will take you there. Thanks for visiting.

http://snohomishtimes.com/snohomishNEWS.cfm?inc=story&newsID=277

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Can I shake it up a little? - Down Payment Assistance

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:54:13 -0600

As the "stupid" continues to fall out of the "politicals" mouths on Capitol Hill talking down to the masses pretending to have special enlightenment on the problems they helped create the rest of us on the front lines for over two decades actually understand the problem and saw first hand what happened, why it happened, what needs to be done and alas we are never asked.

The "food for thought" fed to our mis-guided lazy representation (on both sides of the isle) comes from the status quo lobby that got us here. I hope you do not think this "stimulus" package is the real deal - it's not.

A simple cost neutral and until its demise effective tool to help stabilize home sales is the down payment assistance program.

I realize there are folks out there that seem to think the reason for this calamity is driven by the fact that people didn't invest by putting a substantial down payment and that's the reason they are struggling. Or there was some conspiracy with the Appraisers and so forth (like the AG of NY seems to think). As I have pointed out in the past in my responses to those with that opinion and in other blogs the evidence to support such thinking is anecdotal at best and in fact the bottom line in prudent lending determines the borrowers ability to repay the loan and frankly down payment does not necessarily reduce the risk of loan default.

Don't get me wrong I think saving your money and having a nest egg, or money put aside for a down payment is a good thing but if you were to ask the folks that put 20%, 30% or more down three years ago on their purchase wish they had kept it in their bank account (compounding modestly) particularly those who are now out of job and could use the cash!

Cash compounds and equity doesn't and in a calamitous market like this the equity or what I refer to as a lazy asset has disappeared.

If you look at the month of October 2008 you will see the down payment assistance program played an important role and since its demise courtesy of the idiots at HUD and friends in DC a once revenue neutral invaluable tool and opportunity for folks to take advantage of the lower home prices is gone. The spiral of foreclosures continue and try making an offer on a foreclosed home - plan on waiting six months for a response on your offer! There are folks that have good jobs and can make the payments no problem but don't have the cash.

Have you ever written to your representation in DC? I have over and over and I get the postage stamped non-response response. What a world we live in. In order for you or me to be heard is to form a group and lobby if we have the resources to fly back there to do so.

My call to action is to everyone out there - Buyer, Seller, Realtor, Title Company, Appraiser, Escrow, Lender, Bill Gates - all of you. It is important you contact the folks in DC and tell them to bring back the down payment assistance. If you think this is a minor little point I ask you to visit this link:

http://www.dpagroundswell.org/news/DrRobertFountainReport122208.pdf

Get your head out of the sand. You are employed for now but for how long? 2009 will be worse than 2008 in many ways and the evidence has already shown itself with more to be revealed. It's time America. Sitting on your hands only makes them fall asleep and you need to be beating your representatives over the head by phone call or email but you need to do something.

Despite the non-response response I keep going at them and I will continue to do so until they start moving the right direction. This isn't just about me it is all of us. I too in the past had "sleepy hands" but the writing is on the wall so I choose to act. How about you?

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Free Subscription to "YOU Magazine", a monthly online publication

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:54:19 -0600

Financial experts in the media are constantly at odds, making it difficult to determine the impact that important news and events could have on your finances. Despite this challenge, it's best to be proactive and to try to stay as informed as you possibly can.

I appreciate the trust my clients have in me and their financial goals and needs are extremely important to me. I sift through all of the hype and uncover the facts that they need to know.

What I offer my clients and what I can extend to you is a free subscription to YOU Magazine, a monthly on-line publication I think you'll really enjoy. This electronic magazine offers timely stories and streaming videos from contributing authors including some of the brightest, most successful, and nationally-recognized individuals in their respective fields.

All I need is your email address, which I promise never to share, to help me quickly communicate with you in the future. You may contact me by email at kirkwilliams@primeres.com.

I look forward to providing to you this helpful information and hope we may have an opportunity to do business. Remember we can lend money in 47 states.

Don't hesitate to visit my website www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com for information about me and my business.

I wish you all well.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

The unintended consequence.....TAX REFORM?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:32:08 -0500

The well documented incompetence exhibited by both parties over the last twenty to thirty years over issues of energy and the equally important modernization and oversight of our financial markets could cause something that is yet to be on the media radar screen and that would be the total or at least partial (because they are inept after all) reform of our tax code.

The reason is very simple. We as a country are broke. Yes we can print money but that can have toxic consequences and we really don't want to go there. As the need to spend spreads like a rash with our so-called leadership they will need to find money someplace else.

That means they will have to raise more money. Nobody in their right mind will raise taxes (but we are talking about congress) so the only other way for congress to navigate through this will be to find ways to revamp the tax code having a neutral impact (or close to it) on the taxpayer. One example could be the national sales tax or the flat tax in one form or another.

The cost to collect a national sales tax would be substantially cheaper than to run the IRS. Ask your local state, county or town how easy it is to collect sales tax. Saving collection costs and raising more revenue at the same time sounds good to me plus the anxiety of tax time would go away and I don't know about you but I wouldn't miss it.

Listen to your candidates local and national. The national candidates will promise health care and this and that but the truth is whoever gets into office will then tell us it is worse than they anticipated (our finances) and we have to get our house in financial order first before we take on anything. So my advice to you is lower your expectations otherwise you will be disappointed. Pick the candidate you feel can navigate us through this in a professional manner with competence.

Remember to VOTE. Do not pick a candidate because they have R or a D next to their name vote for the candidate because you believe they are qualified. No party has high ground on the issues we face today. We need our representation to work together.

As we trudge through the muck of lack of oversight, bad behavior and calamity we still have low housing prices, low rates and money to lend despite what you hear in the media. Add a friendly tax code things could be looking and "feeling" better over the next twenty-four months or hopefully sooner.

This is my little silver lining for the day. I may change my mind tomorrow but we will see.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

The Good, Bad AND THE POTENTIAL.

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:40:19 -0500

The Good:

Commodities tick down featuring Oil under One hundred dollars. Mortgage rates continue to drop. The Fed is drawing the line on "saving" or socializing our economy. Another road block from finding bottom and moving forward is being removed. Transparency is the topic and much needed reform in the wind for Wall Street. News of another one biting the dust occurs and there is no panic on Wall Street.

The Bad:

The 158 year firm called Lehman Brothers is going away and confidence (the lack of), perceptions or better yet the self fulfilling prophecy that has been going on since August last year continues. We will see other "adjustments" or fall out occur manifesting itself in many ways some very subtle.

The Potential:

Oil prices down freeing up money for the consumer and if sustained the potential to having a positive impact (although modest) down the road. It is an important building block toward the road to prosperity again.

Interest rates are dropping and perhaps the side liners will jump and purchase in what I view as a market everyone has been waiting for. Low prices, low down payments required (or zero via USDA) and low rates. Now this is my kind of perfect storm.

So while many choose to wallow on the side line others see the opportunity and those who seize this opportunity now will be better than those who wait.

Why? There will be a turning point and the best of the experts don't know when. RATES WILL BE HIGHER and we don't know how or when that pendulum will swing. Property values will go up history proves that. You can't buy a house at the prices offered 20 years ago but 20 years ago you would have been offered an interest rate of 10% or more for the 30 year fixed rate mortgage.

My advice is to look at real estate as a long term "investment". STOP watching the churn and burn television programs that say you can make a profit over night. Real estate is a long term proposition (five years or more). Today you are witnessing the pit falls to those who swung for the fences only to strike out.

If you have a secure job and need a home for your family then you should buy a home. If you are an investor with cash looking for opportunity real estate should be on your radar screen.

How do you buy a home or investment property? With an experienced Real Estate Agent.....a professional...not uncle Bob that works part time for the extra money.

How do you find the right financing? You find a mortgage professional....I REPEAT...a mortgage professional that has been in the business several years that understands this market. Experience counts and is important now more than ever.

Good luck to all and have a great 4th quarter!

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

My wife and I remember 9/11

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:35:13 -0500

In the midst of a heated political season here we are again revisiting the most horrific act that has hit our land honoring the dead, honoring the heroes that saved lives or risk their lives and comforting those who lost their loved ones.

Today is an important day. For me and my wife it changed our lives forever not because we lost someone we knew. We lost souls we are familiar with. Moms, Dads, Brothers Sisters, Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, wife, husband and sadly children too. Most of us are lucky to have our family intact or if they passed they did so on life's terms and not by such a senseless cowardly act that happened in Americas City, Americas Capital and one of many American heartlands.

We lost some freedom we took for granted. We now have to behave differently because of our enemies. We can not assume that we live "snug as a bug in a rug" as my parents use to say.

I know people who are cynical and boldly state it didn't change their lives and think that we deserved it because of our policies and of course the tired old argument of oil. They say we should take time to listen to them (the terrorist). The terrorists are a mis-understood people they say. So be it.

We can only speak for ourselves and will not try to convince anyone of anything because we all have to come to our own conclusions hopefully in an informed way instead of being led to a cliff like the lemming.

Regardless of what you think of the current administration or how the war on terrorism is being waged we believe this. Our enemy celebrates death and Bin Laden has stated as much. We in America celebrate life. How do you talk to a person with a bomb strapped around their waist, dirty bomb in their brief case or poison to put in our food and water resources?

When will the next act of cowardice happen? Who knows. Will it happen? Of course after we have slipped back into the comfort zone of intellectual blather forwarded by the "smart set". History repeats itself over and over and the rest of the world continues to prove it (Russia). "Our friends" in the world have very limited resolve and in the end we will be alone. It is always up to us isn't it?

So who is the enemy? The enemy is from within and if we choose to forget 9/11 or put it in the category of "come-upins" then we as a country will be subjected once again to the horror our pursuers wish to perpetrate.

God Bless the victims of 9/11 and our troops all over the world protecting all of us.

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The Down Payment Assistance Program .....MAY BE SAVED !!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:53:44 -0500

The lack of oversight by congress over wall street(the authors of the exotic loan) turning a 560 credit score into the SIV or sophisticated investment vehicle (rated AAA of course) and after making millions turned the spigot off creating the calamity we're now in or the thinly regulated FNMA & FHLMC now bailed out FNMA FHLMC we see and hear the clamor of the little political feet running toward the nearest camera to fight for the little people to protect and fix whatever it is they are fixing after being asleep at the wheel for over 16 plus years. I think you hear the pitter patter of political feet because like the cockroach they are looking for cover.

It reminds me of the Blair Witch Project and just like the movie congress wanders around in the wilderness without any clue or idea just winging this pretending they have everything under control. It is positively amazing. If you watched any of the hearings over the past year you would realize how much "stupid" there really is in DC and it is SCARY!

Our Congress spewed out comments about stablizing our neighborhoods. Putting heavy emphasis on the FHA Secure Program and how it was to save the day. A program that plays an insignificant role and does not come close to cure the calamity we face.

Hearing after hearing members grandstanding pointing fingers lecturing Countrywide Wells Fargo Wachovia Washington Mutual and others telling them to work with distressed borrowers. Ask any distressed borrower how it went. You can't they moved after their foreclosure.

Lifting the FNMA & FHLMC limits proclaiming it was going to loosen the grip for the jumbo borrower what a joke it didn't it's worse and cost the jumbo borrower more! Total death to that part of the market except for the very top end.

The one thing that was and is working until it sunsets is the Down Payment Assistance Program or the DPA. But Congress killed it.

Take a look below click the link and read. HUD has been part of the problem here too. HUD often forgets why they were created in the first place and that was to assist the lower mid and higher income folks to finance the purchase their home or what is referred to as a part of the American Dream.

"According to an Inman News article published today, Chairman Frank is quoted as saying "The FHA loved the ban on down-payment assistance (but) hated the ban on risk-based pricing," Frank said at Saturday's hearing. "That seemed to me to offer an opportunity. So (HR 6694) will replace both bans with middle ground -- and it will pass the House, I can guarantee you. What you want to do now obviously is talk to your senators. We think it will go through there -- it has the approval now of the Secretary of HUD."

Email your representative. This is the one idea that is working and is the primary reason houses are selling and preventing other homes from getting on the foreclosed list.

Have a great rest of the year and thank you for listening.

FHA, FHA 203k Rehab loans, VA & Conventional in 47 states visit www.kirkwilliamsgroup.com

Mike Hope running for office in 44th District

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:08:16 -0500

How is your commute? Our district along with the entire eastern part of Snohomish County has been ignored, deemed irrelevant, an economic after thought -Snohomish-Lake Stevens-(Monroe not in 44th but impacted also) to name a few communities. All you have to do is look around you and see after two gas taxes from 2003 and 2005 we still have two lane roads (SR 9 - Hwy 2) and throughout the Snohomish valley after 2010 and after the existing projects are completed we will continue to drive on TWO LANES. The transportation department reports we cannot add transit if we have two lanes.

Did you know the new High School in Snohomish will be adding 45 NEW BUS ROUTES? Where are the safety concerns? Our existing 44th District representation has not been focused and based upon no resolution to problems that were identified a decade or so ago why would anyone believe they would be focused now? TALK IS CHEAP. They talk about transportation every election cycle but do NOTHING but blame the taxpayer for not passing a proposition? How about fiscal responsibility and make it a budget priority instead of throwing a 47 billion dollar proposition that would not have cured our existing congestion?

http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/Centers/transportation/index.html

That's why I am supporting Mike Hope. He is going to bring true representation to our district. Please visit his website to learn more about Mike and why he will be our true representative.

Visit:

http://mikehope2008.com/content/

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Snohomish School Levy Passing demonstrates community commitment to education

Thu, 29 May 2008 01:06:47 -0500

I grew up in Snohomish and graduated in 1976 at Snohomish High School. My Brother graduated in 1968, my sister in 1965 and my mother graduated here too but I am not allowed to say when!

The bond that just passed was significant and thankfully the community had the wisdom to see the bang for our buck we are getting.

Much needed improvements will be injected into the Snohomish High School infrastructure including an important upgrade in technology.

I do not like paying more in property taxes but I cannot ignore the return in value. We as a community are investing in our "human infrastructure" and that will pay dividends over and over again.

This is a new era for Snohomish. For the first time we will have two high schools. As more families move into our area the reality and need was really there and this community stepped up.

If you are looking to live someplace that is kid friendly you have arrived.

Welcome to Snohomish!

Snohomish Chamber of Commerce

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Memorial Day is a very important day for all of us.

Mon, 26 May 2008 12:35:00 -0500

Seattle PI

Do you know who this is? I didn't until I heard of his passing. I went to the community memorial service at Snohomish High School where he attended (where I attended many years earlier) and we all shared the grief. I will never forget the emotion I felt and the community pride I felt looking around as we gathered to honor one of the special people that came from our community.

My mother introduced me to his mother. The community gathered together with donations to build a climbing wall that now is located at the Snohomish Boys and Girls Club in Honor of this fine young man.

My wife Carol and I purchased 100 bulbs at the auction to raise money for the wall and they just finished flowering. That's one way we remember this young man and his family along with the other fallen and their families.

Today is Memorial Day. Is your flag up? Take a moment to remember our hero and the others before and after him.

Marine Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr

22, of Snohomish, Washington.
Starr died from small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. During Operation Iraqi Freedom his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). Died on May 30, 2005.

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Remember the "Farm Home Loan"? Now called the Guarenteed Rural Housing Program

Sun, 18 May 2008 11:46:57 -0500

I wish to shine a light on to a little known or understood agency called the USDA. We have a "local" area office in Mt Vernon WA. There is another one located down near Olympia WA. This agency is one of the few that actually have a constructive outreach to people in need.

They provide an opportunity for those who are unable to obtain a loan through the normal channels because of their low-income status. There are programs where you build equity by assisting in the construction of your home or you can be put on a waiting list for a loan program designed for the low income family allowing them a piece of the american dream.

Another great program the USDA offers is for the senior citizen on a low fixed income with a home that may be free and clear but it is not practical for them to obtain a loan because of the payment. Instead the USDA offers GRANT MONEY to help the senior fix the deferred maintenance on their home. Like with all USDA programs there are income limits and criteria but this is yet another example of why the USDA is the taxpayers friend. The money goes where it is suppose to go AND IT HELPS OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS IN NEED!

I have met with the representatives of the USDA and I can be a great resource to help direct you to where you will be best served.

Let's talk about the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program. There are location restrictions and income restrictions and perfect credit is not required. It is 100% financing with unlimited seller contribution or you may obtain 100% in gift money from a family relative. PLUS THERE IS NO MONTHLY MORTGAGE INSURANCE PREMIUM. The benefit of course is this helps keep the payment a little lower.

So while listening to the idiots, talking heads the pundits if you will tell you that you should bury your head in the sand and don't buy a home because you can't get a loan and house prices are dropping then think about this.....

You live in the Pacific Northwest. Property values hold up very nicely thank you very much and yes we are experiencing adjustments in our market too but (having lived here all my life) in the long run, LONG TERM, people here in the pacific northwest do not loose value in their real estate investment but don't take my word for it look at the statistics over the past fifty years! In the long run your real estate investment will be profitable.

20 years ago mortgage rates were at 10% so do you wait for the magical bottom everyone talks about (you mean the one we are nearing?) or do you wait to follow the herd and get the left overs after the smart set has already picked up the good deals? And will rates be this low when you finally decide to make your purchase. These and other questions you must seriously consider as you contemplate your future.

It is good to be cautious but don't be foolish. Snohomish County is on the verge of explosion in terms of growth. This is the calm before the storm so are you ready to go?

GUARANTEED RURAL HOUSING PROGRAM - 100% FINANCE (USDA LOAN)

The above program I can provide to you or your clients. The other programs I can refer you to the agency that can best serve the need you seek.

So you see the sky isn't really falling after all. Look around you the truth is out there.

I wish you all well.

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It is very important to PAY ATTENTION.

Sat, 17 May 2008 21:28:30 -0500

I am not a shill for any political party. I vote for the person that will best represent my interest. I will be 50 years old in July. State Route 9 and Highway 2 are STILL TWO LANE RDS. And the gas taxes levied upon all of us from years 2003 and 2005 are building lanes leading up to our valley but then stop. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THIS FIFTY YEAR OLD?

It means that we will continue to live dangerously in congestion for the next ten years. We are building a new high school next to the new elementary school just built and add to the 7000 plus trucks that frequent SR 9 each day will be 45 NEW bus routes NOT counting the buses from the other elementary school on the other side of SR 9 and of course not counting the buses from our other schools.

Add Snohomish Station with the new big box stores featuring 15,000 autos per day in and out of there then I guess you could say things just may get a little more congested.

Because we have no representation this will go on for at least another ten years. Another report will be issued at the end of 2008 regarding the situation here in east Snohomish County. All you have to do is take a little airplane ride and take pictures since that is worth a million words!

For you transit fans out there until we get additional lanes we will not get any transit and that comes directly from the transit authority.

Olympia has come up with brilliant ways to tax us. The modern politician in this state cannot take a stand and budget. Instead they create a proposition. If it fails they blame the tax payer for things not getting done or penalize the tax payers district if they see you didn't vote for it by cutting funds off. Funds that would build new bridges. The district next to us is getting FIVE NEW BRIDGES.....FIVE NEW BRIDGES...THAT'S RIGHT FIVE NEW BRIDGES. So what did our representation get us? NOTHING.

I am tired of it are you or will you vote for the same old people because they have a particular party affiliation? I hope you look carefully at your surroundings. See what we have accomplished. You will be disappointed. The gas tax is bringing in less revenue as prices go up (and gas prices continue to go up) plus better fuel efficiency will further reduce tax revenue. In otherwords the days of the gas tax is numbered. So you know the usual suspects will be looking to find other ways to tax instead of taking what they have and prioritize.

My point is the state is never out of money they just don't know how to spend it. The same old leadership has delivered nothing.

I wish everyone well and hope you take a careful look at your candidate and make sure you are voting for the right reason.

Learn more about traffic and government waste here in the State of Washington. http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/

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THINK GREEN SAYS "PRESIDENT BUSH"

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:33:27 -0500

And now for something completely different....GLOBAL WARMING

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