Washington States Layoff-avoidance program saves jobs - 01/26/10 11:27 AM
Audio link:   http://www.esd.wa.gov/newsandinformation/releases/audio/index.php
 
Layoff-avoidance program saves jobs
 
OLYMPIA – More than 20,000 Washington workers got paychecks instead of pink slips in 2009 by participating in the state Employment Security Department’s Shared-Work Program.
The program allows employers to cut their payroll costs by reducing the hours of their full-time employees, and the workers collect partial unemployment benefits to make up for some of the lost wages.  The estimate of jobs saved last year through Shared Work comes from information on the employers’ original applications combined with their actual use of the program.
“Shared Work can make the difference … (3 comments)

Don't spend your income tax refund - you're going to need every penny of it to purchase a home with the new FHA guidelines in force. - 01/26/10 09:29 AM
Kris Wales gives sound advice!
Via Kris Wales - Macomb County MI real estate blog & homes for sale search site (Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center):
Just as we suspected would happen, FHA has now had some major changes and it is now going to cost you more out-of-pocket money to purchase a home.             New - Sellers concessions are limited to 3% of the purchase price.             New - Upfront mortgage insurance premium is increased to 2.25%. Here is an example of what the lower sellers concessions to the buyers will look like for you: If you are purchasing … (0 comments)

The Unintended Consequences Of The HOA in Short Sales! - 01/25/10 10:26 AM
Thank you Nestor and Katerina for this post.  Condominium closings are getting tougher to close by the day, as I point out in my earlier post regarding the new Mortgagee Letter 2009.
Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):
The Unintended Consequences Of The HOA in Short Sales! We have a notice of expectations that all our Florida short sale sellers must sign when we agree to negotiate a short sale for them and list their property. One of the biggest deal busters there is- Past Due HOA fees. We explain the consequences of a … (2 comments)

Fabulous Friday's song while you blog & get ready for your weekend - 01/22/10 12:03 PM
Fabulous Friday's song while you blog and get ready for your weekend is by Blind Melon and is called "Change". 
This song applies as much today as it did when in came out in the early 90's.  I had not seen this version of it before today - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Have a great weekend!
Julie
… (0 comments)

Washington State publishes its Tax Reference Manual on its Website - 01/22/10 10:31 AM
OLYMPIA – Jan. 21, 2010 – The Department of Revenue has published Tax Reference Manual 2010 on its web site.
Last revised in 2007, the 225-page report provides an overview of Washington’s tax system and summarizes state and local taxes.  It cites their purpose, history, rate changes, and revenue produced from each tax over the past decade.
Revenue has published the report periodically since 1975 as a service to state policy makers, academic community, media, and citizens to help them understand and evaluate the merits of existing tax sources.  It provides a broad look at how the tax system evolved from … (0 comments)

Ben Comilang with Golf Savings Bank speaks to the escrow assoc. - 01/21/10 06:40 PM
The South Sound Regional Escrow Association hosted an LPO clock hour last night at the LaQuinta Inn in Tacoma with Ben Comilang from Golf Savings Bank being our speaker. Ben covered different issues that the real estate market has been faced with including foreclosures and short sales and also talked about a number of different programs currently available in the South Sound area:Here are a few of the programs that we learned about: Washington State Housing Finance Commission - House Key Federal Way House Key Plus, 2nd mortgage loan - 5% interest with a 10 year term up to $10k statewide … (0 comments)

Federal Way's new Safety Camera's have "caught" me - 01/21/10 06:05 PM
The new Safety Cameras have "caught" me making a right turn on a red light!Imagine my surprise when I opened up an envelope from the Federal Way Police Department to find a "COURTESY WARNING NOTICE" complete with photographs of my "infraction".   I thought they were going to ask for a donation, but they did not.  This is a warning only but the letter lets me know that this "infraction" carries a penalty up to $250.00.  The photo's in the notice clarify to me that I did stop first, but perhaps it wasn't long enough (have you ever heard of a California … (4 comments)

Thank you so much for your prayers - 01/20/10 06:02 PM
On December 16th, I blogged about my girlfriend, Fayes granddaughter, Macey who is battling cancer for the third time and she is only 19.  Macey was standing by for her bonemarrow transplant when she got a virus that shut down her kidneys, then her liver went and then most of her intestines.
Macey is doing much better this week and can even brush her own teeth.  She has a long road to go, but I sincerely believe that because of the power of prayer, true, heartfelt prayer that this girl did not die. So thank you, Active Rainers and Rain Makers … (0 comments)

Rick Davidson, President and COO of Coldwell Banker Commercial was the Keynote Speaker today - 01/20/10 05:25 PM
Rick Davidson, President and COO of Coldwell Banker Commercial was our keynote speaker at todays Federal Way Chamber of Commerce breakfast at The Commons.

He proved to be a good speaker with all of the statistics that led us down the road that we find ourselves on right now.  Here are some highlights of his talk:
Residential real estate takes up 20% of the GDP Our recovery will be in a jobless market Bankers new philosophy is "Extend, Amend and Pretend" AND "A Rolling Loan Gathers No Loss" (I rather liked that one) The National Association of Realtors says that … (0 comments)

Fabulous Friday's song while you blog & get ready for your weekend - 01/15/10 07:27 PM
Fabulous Friday's song while you blog and get ready for your weekend.  Today's song is by Jonathan Edwards and it's called "The Shanty".  I wonder how many of you know this song?  Just curious.  This song is played on my radio station every Friday at 5 and I had no idea that Jonathan Edward wrote this song 30-40 years ago until tonight.
Enjoy!
Julie
… (0 comments)

The 2009 Unemployment figures are in for Washington State - 01/14/10 01:35 PM

2009: A record-setting year for unemployment claims, job-seekers
 
OLYMPIA – The economic recession was one of the most prominent news stories of 2009, with good reason:  more Washingtonians were unemployed, more received unemployment benefits, and more sought job-search assistance than ever before.
Here are some figures regarding the recession’s effects in Washington this year and the Employment Security Department’s efforts to respond.
A record-setting year
·       By Dec. 31, about 475,000 Washingtonians will have received unemployment benefits in 2009, compared to 290,000 in 2008.
 
·       The Employment Security Department will pay out nearly $4 billion in … (0 comments)

Google Gives GoGo Juice while Flying to New York City - 01/13/10 09:59 AM
Free WiFi on Virgin American Air?  Blog while flying?  That's awesome!!
Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain):
Google Gives Great GoGo Juice as a gift, and they're doing it on Virgin American Airlines
This will be my first post ever from a plane flying at an altitude of over 37,225 feet.  I just couldn't resist.  My options were to either sleep on the 5 hour flight to New York, finish reading "Crush It" by Gary V, or write a blog post. Well, here I am. lol~  I'm actually hoping that in the next five hours, I can accomplish a little bit of … (5 comments)

Elvis is in the house!! - 01/08/10 07:38 PM
Ohhhh, yes he is thanks to U-Tube.  Today marks his 75th birthday as I keep hearing on the radio (and my station doesn't play Elvis!), so I thought that my Friday song would be all Elvis.   Here is Jailhouse Rock performed live - good God, this so makes me smile!!
I hope you love it too!
Julie
… (4 comments)

Final (Hopefully!) Revised FHA Condominium Lending Guidelines Issued - 01/06/10 07:50 PM
Thank you Richard, as I re-blog your very succinct post on this very important issue.
Via Richard Vetstein (Vetstein Law Group, P.C.):
by Richard D. Vetstein, Esq. on November 21, 2009 on the Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog Tags: Condominium Law, FHA, Fannie Mae, HUD, Massachusetts Real Estate Law, Mortgages

After several revisions and delays, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has finally issued major changes to its revised guidelines on mortgage insurance requirements for condominium projects. FHA first proposed the revisions back in June (under Mortgagee Letter 2009-19). The new guidelines are effective December 7, 2009; however, some of the requirements are phased in … (0 comments)