"Goin' Green!" with the Hayden Lake Library on St. Paddy's Day - 02/26/09 05:02 PM
"Goin' Green!" with the Hayden Lake Library on St. Paddy's Day
On Tuesday, March 17, 2009, the Hayden Lake Library will be conducting a FREE workshop on "Goin' Green!"
There will be a Master Gardener presenting and teaching about organic gardening and the importance of using sustainable materials.
The Kootenai County Solid Waste department will be present and able to answer any questions you might have about their recycling program.
Information will, also, be provided for kids and families on how going green can help save money!
There will be a short movie with popcorn and crafts for the little ones.
This program is … (2 comments)

Music Walk: Let the Beat Move You... - 02/20/09 07:10 PM
Music Walk: Let the Beat Move You...
Every fourth Friday from January - April, stroll through beautiful Downtown Coeur d'Alene and enjoy live music performances from some of our local favorites at Music Walk!
Visit supporting restaurants, shops, businesses and galleries with your friends and family!
A family-friendly, free event!  Come and join us! 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Upcoming dates:  February 27th, March 27th and April 24th, 2009. Times:  5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Location:  Sherman Avenue in Downtown Coeur d'Alene. Cost:  FREE, including parking! To read a review on most the supporting venues, CLICK HERE!

For more information:  Please visit the Coeur … (0 comments)

Keep Your Goals in Mind When Refinancing! Don't be taken advantage of by an "Eager Beaver" Loan Officer. - 02/19/09 07:29 PM
Keep Your Goals in Mind When Refinancing!Don't be taken advantage of by an "Eager Beaver" Loan Officer.
I attended a Wine, Women and Wealth meeting last Tuesday night and the topic was mortgages.  My friend and colleague, Erin Zasada (Financial Advisor at Wachovia/Wells Fargo) gave me the floor.  Yikes!
Normally I would be all over the topic and ready and willing to give pointers and help in any way I can, but with the current economic climate, people are filled with worry and doubt.  To my pleasant surprise, the ladies had a mountain of questions and it was a great time to … (3 comments)

"Idaho Business Review" Calls on Me for Opinion on New First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. - 02/18/09 03:55 PM
Idaho Business Review call on little 'ole me!
Yesterday I received a call from Dani Grigg, Staff Writer and Reporter for the Idaho Business Review.  She was asking my opinion on the $8000 tax credit that is now available to first-time home buyers with the recent passage of the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."
   



 
I was happy to oblige.  But, first, some background:
In 2008, the Bush Administration passed the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008" which included, among other things, a $7500 tax credit for first-time home buyers.  However, the $7500 was not a tax credit in … (7 comments)

Valentine's Choco-Celebration in Downtown Coeur d'Alene: Friday, Feb 13th - 02/13/09 04:46 PM
Valentine's Choco-Celebration in Downtown Coeur d'Alene: Friday, Feb 13th
For all you love birds out there, take your Valentine to this year's Chocolate Walk offered by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association.
Who can pass up FREE CHOCOLATE?!
That's right, FREE Chocolate.  All you need to do is stroll beautiful Downtown Coeur d'Alene and visit the participating retailers.
There will be everything from chocolate foundations to chocolate flavored wines, home made delicacies, imported chocolates and much, much more!
What a perfect time to shop the great businesses in Downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Date: Friday, February 13th, 2009 Time:  5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Location: Sherman Avenue … (5 comments)

Avoiding Frustration - How to Read a Good Faith Estimate: It's more than just a list of fees! ... part 3 - 02/11/09 05:42 PM
How to Read a Good Faith Estimate:It's more than just a list of fees!
If you haven't read the first two installments on this topic, I encourage you to do so.  They are quick reads and should help you understand the Good Faith Estimate (aka: G.F.E.) up to this point.  Both links below open a different window.
How to Read a Good Faith Estimate ... Part 1
and
How to Read a Good Faith Estimate ... Part 2
In this installment we will discuss the following sections:
Section 900:  ITEMS REQUIRED BY LENDER TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE Section 1000:  RESERVES … (4 comments)

When EXACTLY is enough, enough? - 02/10/09 05:05 PM
Imagine, if you will, if our government were to use this money to payoff 90% of the mortgages in our nation.  Ahh, feels good doesn't it?  You can use that money for what ever you wanted - and it wouldn't be going into the deep pockets of CEO's who pay for $68,000 trash cans in their office.  Ridiculous!
Please read the following post from our friends up North in Alaska...
Via Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton 907-699-6024 (Jesse & Kathy Clifton, REALTORS):
The news de jour today is that the US Senate is voting on yet another proposed economic stimulus package.  … (2 comments)

Avoiding Frustration - How to Read a Good Faith Estimate: It's more than just a list of fees! ... part 2 - 02/09/09 11:54 PM
How to Read a Good Faith Estimate:It's more than just a list of fees!
Welcome to "Part 2" in this series.  If you have not had the chance to read the first installment, I would encourage you to do so - CLICK HERE (opens new window).  It is a short entry and shouldn't take you long at all, but may add to your knowledge and help you tremendously.
As I have stated numerous times, the Good Faith Estimate (or G.F.E., for short) is an important document that comes at the beginning of the loan application process.  By law, once you make loan application, … (3 comments)

Saying "Goodbye" to an old friend - I will miss you! - 02/08/09 04:34 PM
Saying "Goodbye" to an old friend - I will miss you!
I wrote this entry a few days ago without any intent on publishing it.  When sharing this story with a dear friend of mine, she encouraged me to publish it.  Several days have passed and I am, still, typing this through tears.  Here I go...
* * * * * * *
Last night I got the worst sleep I can remember - and that includes all the nights I woke up to nurse our daughter when she was first born.  Last night, at 11:23 p.m. I had to put my … (5 comments)

Avoiding Frustration - How to Read a Good Faith Estimate: It's more than just a list of fees! ... part 1 - 02/03/09 05:41 PM
How to Read a Good Faith Estimate:It's more than just a list of fees!
You would think that, with such an important document, that there would be better instructions on how to read (and understand) a Good Faith Estimate.  And, though it seems rather up-front and self-explanatory, you can get yourself into a lot of hot water if you are shopping lenders and don't know what you're looking at.
Not understanding it fully could cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
But, before we begin, it is worth mentioning that interest rates change daily - sometimes several times in one … (12 comments)

 
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Kevin & Maryellen Garasky (KMG Mortgage Group - ID & WA)

Coeur d'Alene, ID

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KMG Mortgage Group - Kevin & Maryellen, Idaho & Washington

Office Phone: (208) 664-3600

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