ashland: Winter Fun on Table Mountain at Hyatt Lake, Oregon
- 01/13/08 01:42 PM
It was a beautiful day to go sledding, and we weren't the only Southern Oregon residents to think so! We headed off to our favorite sledding hill at Table Mountain Winter Play Area just across from Hyatt Lake. This is one of our favorite family time day trips for many reasons. Only 20 miles from Ashland, Oregon, off Hwy 66 to Dead Indian Memorial Road to the turnoff to Howard Prairie/Hyatt Lake, its location cannot be beat.
The roads are well maintained, although sometimes a little icy with the gorgeous pines in this forest shading the roads. Once you turn … (8 comments)
ashland: Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity Dedicates 2 Homes January 12, 2008
- 01/11/08 02:48 PM
In this day and age when affordable housing is such a challenge to come by, it is wonderful that Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity will dedicate two homes in Medford, Oregon on Saturday at 2PM. What a rewarding day this will be! Not only for the 14 lives about to change with the fulfillment of the American Dream of Homeownership for these two families. There are hundreds of others who were involved in this process, from the hammer swinging or brush wielding volunteers, to the skilled laborers who donated their gifts of framing/ concrete/ asphault/ tree removal/ roofing/ HVAC and more, to … (10 comments)
ashland: First Time Buyer Resources - (Part 5 - Homebuyer Education)
- 01/08/08 02:12 AM
Homebuyer education courses can be an invaluable tool for the First Time Homebuyer. They provide details on the many facets of homeownership, from preparing for the process, through the house hunt, all the way through to responsibilities of maintaining homeownership. Not all homebuyer education classes are the same. Many real estate brokers and lenders provide these courses, but most are not approved by HUD. HUD has two homebuyer's education course curriculum and has approved Housing Resource Centers throughout the country who facilitate these programs. Going through these programs will get first time homebuyers in to courses designed to provide information only - without any … (6 comments)
ashland: First Time Home Buyer Resources (Part 4– Temporary Subsidy Buydown)
- 01/07/08 06:12 AM
Temporary subsidy buydown plans are a way to help homebuyers qualify with the mortgage payment lowered initially, by the interest being "bought down" or prepaid by the homebuyer or the seller. When a homebuyer opts for a buydown plan, they will get lower, more affordable mortgage payments with the stability of predictable payment increases over time. Most homebuyers choose one of two temporary buydown plans, a Limited or an Extended buydown plan. The Extended plan allows the borrower to qualify at the initial (bought down) interest rate that can be up to 1.5 percentage points lower than the note rate. This rate is then … (0 comments)
ashland: First Time Home Buyer Resources (Part 3– Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance)
- 01/07/08 06:00 AM
Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance programs are being eliminated as allowable sources of down payment. As of December, 2007, FHA programs will still allow AmeriDream and Nehemiah Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance programs as acceptable down payment sources, but only until February 28, 2008 for AmeriDream. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not accept Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance as acceptable down payment sources on their programs. Down payment assistance providers Nehemiah Corp. of America, of Sacramento, Calif., and AmeriDream Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., sued the government Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, respectively. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman granted a preliminary injunction barring … (5 comments)
ashland: First Time Home Buyer Resources (Part 2– Purchase Assistance Loan - PAL)
- 01/07/08 05:34 AM
Many States, Cities and Counties offer Down Payment Assistance Loan programsto first time homebuyers whose income is low-to-moderate. Each program participant establishes the criteria for their local area. Usually, these loans are for homebuyers earning up to 80% of the HUD median income for their County and family size. Many of these loans bear zero interest, are "silent seconds", meaning they require no monthly payments, with the entire balance due when the home is transferred, sold, refinanced, or the primary mortgage is defaulted on. These PAL programs are for first time homebuyers- those who have never owned a home, or have … (6 comments)
ashland: First Time Home Buyer Resources (Part 1 – the MCC)
- 01/07/08 05:09 AM
A Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) is a federal dollar for dollar tax credit that program participants may take advantage of. This program was authorized in the 1984 Tax Reform Act, and is a tool to help homebuyers that usually fall in the category of needing "workforce housing". Several Cities and Counties offer the Mortgage Credit Certificate program to first time homebuyers - those who have never owned a home, or have not owned a home for the previous three years - who either meet the income criteria set for their local program, or are purchasing their home in a Federal designated … (3 comments)
ashland: Winter Time in Northern California and Southern Oregon is Beautiful
- 01/03/08 10:54 AM
Yesterday was a beautiful January day. We took advantage of a window in the snow to put in a day of skiing at Mount Shasta Ski Resort. We couldn't have asked for better conditions, both on the roads to and from the resort and on the slopes. With a straight route from Interstate 5 up Highway 89 then to the resort, even our Honda Civic Hybrid made the journey without challenge.
Mount Shasta offers a "Guaranteed to Ski" program for first time skiers/boarders that our youngest took advantage of. There is a 90 minute lesson in the morning where the … (9 comments)
ashland: Where Do We Go From Here Jackson County Oregon?
- 01/01/08 04:45 PM
Like Alecia Barnes, a real estate broker in Albany, Oregon, I believe that 2008 is going to be great. Well, here in Jackson County, Southern Oregon, the residents of Ashland - Talent - Phoenix - Jacksonville - Ruch - Medford - Central Point - White City - Eagle Point - Shady Cove - Gold Hill - Rogue River are doing okay. The market slow down has driven many property owners to reconsider their "profit taking sales". Those property owners that must sell, with proper preparation and pricing, are doing so.
(Go to http://www.jacstats.com/ for additional information) Yes, sales of residential housing will likely remain slower … (2 comments)
ashland: Mount Ashland Oregon 2007-2008 Season Opening Thursday December 20th
- 12/18/07 09:14 AM
"Well the weather outside is frightful...", and as perspective often times goes, that weather is considered delightful for Mount Ashland Ski Resort. Like Mount Bachelor near Bend Oregon, Mount Ashland near Ashland Oregon has received over 26" of snow, and with incoming storms bringing us cold temperatures and more snow, will open up the season before Winter Break. If enough snow falls with the incoming storm, they may be able to open all the chair lifts and trails.
Just North of the California Border, 22 miles South of Medford, Oregon, it couldn't be easier to get to Mount Ashland, located … (2 comments)
ashland: Is It Time To Refinance That Re-Setting Adjustable?
- 12/14/07 08:06 AM
So, Jackson County Oregon Homeowners, is it time to refinance? Are you an Ashland - Talent - Phoenix - Medford - Jacksonville - Central Point - Eagle Point - Ruch, Oregon homeowner who took out an Option ARM? Have you called your CPA for the 3rd time to confirm you made the right decision after the constant barrage of media attention on these loan products? Because, you did consider all the alternatives available to you when you took out your home loan, and there were good reasons for the choice you made - but, you just want to make sure. Okay...you took … (0 comments)
http://www.flickr.com/ "Are we there yet?" Apparently not, since the Fed has deemed it necessary to participate in not only a domestic, but a Global, Bail Out due to our illiquid credit markets. "How long will it take us to get there?" It might be a while yet - like with our road trips, it may depend on how many times it is necessary for us to stop to relieve ourselves, with the dropping of the fed funds/discount rates and the sale of short term funds to protect the identity of banks suffering liquidity crisis's. "How much longer?" … (13 comments)
The City of Ashlandhas approved a proposed development on the Ashland Greenhouses land owned by Greg and Valri Williams and their family for more than 100 years. There are 68 units proposed for this project, Verde Village, that will not only be South facing to gain the maximum sun exposure for the solar hot water heaters and photo voltaic systems on the roof of these homes, but these units as proposed will be fully utility independent with cisterns to catch rainwater off roofs, heavy insulation and bioswales and wetlands to … (7 comments)
ashland: Medford Ranked Safest City in Oregon
- 11/30/07 03:27 PM
Well, she's done it again! The Mail Tribune reported that Medford has hit the FBI's list as the safest city of more than 75,000 residents. She ranked 35th in the Nation. High community involvement from volunteerism to activism play a part in this City's success. Whether you want to visit or relocate to Medford, you should come check the area out. Winter is a great time to visit the Rogue Valley. The Festival of Trees event is this weekend with some stunning displays, and the out door Ice Skating Rink in Lithia Park is open. Mount Ashland will hopefully open for the ski/snowboard season … (2 comments)
ashland: Holiday Giving In the Spirit of the Season
- 11/28/07 10:43 AM
Several years ago, our family decided to stop gifting to adults for Christmas and Hanukkah. We have been truly blessed with our needs being met. Our family is large and the holiday shopping was becoming a source of stress for some of us, with some family members exceeding their budgets, going in to debt to provide gifts. I am not a supporter of living beyond one's means, and proposed we only gift to the children - and ONLY if we could afford it! It was a tough transition for the first couple of years, and some family members broke the agreement, but now we're all … (0 comments)
#1 Transaction closed September 2007: A young couple decided the time was right for them to buy their first home. They were married a year and a half ago, have been very diligent about limiting their debt load, only having a few small student loan balances, and socking every extra dollar away in to savings, planning to buy when values came down a bit from where they were in 2006. They managed to save up 10% for a down payment, but … (2 comments)
ashland: Medford Oregon Makes the List - Again!
- 11/15/07 04:16 AM
So, you are a Baby Boomer looking to slow down the pace in your life. The kids are grown and on their own, or maybe you didn't choose to HAVE kids, having focused your attention on your career, hobbies and travels. In your mid-forties on up to 70+ years old, is it time to stop? Maybe it is dusk, not twilight for you.
So, you don't want the long days, high-stress that may have come with your career. You've traveled a great deal, and still have many places you want to see yet. You are starting to think about … (9 comments)
ashland: Top Ten Things to Show to Our Visitors in or near the Rogue Valley
- 10/13/07 06:07 PM
I don't know about you, but we get a lot of visitors since we moved to the Rogue Valley! We're glad we spent some time getting acclimated to our new surroundings when we moved here from Southern California in 2004. Here are some of our favorite places to share with the family and friends who come to visit us:
Crater Lake National Park- 77 miles up Hwy 62 from Medford this is the only National Park in the State of Oregon, and what a park it is! We've done a fair amount of traveling in our time, and the pristine clarity and … (8 comments)
ashland: Help for Jackson County Homeowners Facing Large Payment Increase
- 10/13/07 10:33 AM
Are You, Or Is Someone You Know, Facing a Large Payment Increase on Your Mortgage Soon? You are not alone! The real estate market has been a favorable one for several years, but the market has slowed. If you are facing the prospect of defaulting on your mortgage, unable to make your scheduled mortgage payments, here are some steps for you to consider: First and foremost, you need to contact your current mortgage holder. Often times, they are able to help you and will work with you to come up with a work-out arrangement to help keep you in your home. Stay … (0 comments)
Loving the challenge of a career in mortgage|real estate since 1983, keeping up with the progression of changes in this industry keeps one on their toes. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? Here's to a few more decades of strength building!
It was a beautiful day to go sledding, and we weren't the only Southern Oregon residents to think so! We headed off to our favorite sledding hill at Table Mountain Winter Play Area just across from Hyatt Lake. This is one of our favorite family time day trips for many reasons. Only 20 miles from Ashland, Oregon, off Hwy 66 to Dead Indian Memorial Road to the turnoff to Howard Prairie/Hyatt Lake, its location cannot be beat.
;)
;)
;)
