ashland: The Road To Homeownership – 5k, 10k, Marathon, Triathlon…
- 11/13/09 07:19 AM
The road to homeownership is different for each buyer. For some, it may be a walk in the park filled with wonder and beautiful sights along the way – a quick, uneventful, on-time closing. An experience, learning about the various species found, or re-visiting a favored path– learning about loan programs, different types of inspections involved, insurance policies, etc. for the first time home buyer; re-familiarizing themselves with the process and up-to-date changes for the move-up buyer and investors.
Some home buyers, they may find their road to homeownership is like a 5k run. A bit of effort involved to … (4 comments)
ashland: Beware of Hidden Costs in Your Home Purchase Transaction
- 11/10/09 02:22 AM
After a series of winter-like storms rolling through our corner of the world, the latest in a stream of “hidden costs” associated with the purchase of bank owned foreclosure sale transactions came to my attention. Working with a lot of first time buyers who often work very hard to come up with their required cash contributions to purchase their first home, I’ve learned to be diligent in watching their costs so they know going in to their first home purchase exactly what to expect. In the past couple of years, as bank owned foreclosure sales became more prevalent in our area, … (10 comments)
ashland: "How To Get Rich In This Market"
- 11/06/09 10:05 AM
I’m thanking God it is Friday. This week has so drained my energy. I’m looking forward to it being revitalized by family, friends and church this weekend. I will not be taking any business related calls this weekend, because I desperately need to recharge. Have you ever felt like that?
A “funny” thing happened this week, though. In the heat of trying to prod government and major bank employees along to get a first time home buyer’s transaction closed before their extended closing date passed us by, I inadvertently addressed a fiery e-mail to the previous CEO of Carteret Mortgage, … (5 comments)
ashland: Out With The New/Old, In With The Old/New…Oh Whatever!
- 11/03/09 10:31 AM
2008 and 2009 have been phenomenal funding times for FHA loan financing for buyers purchasing real estate. This is because FHA guidelines are broader, making this financing tool more suited to today’s homebuyers’ needs. FHA guidelines allow the buyer to receive gift funds for their down payment/closing costs, which is what many first time home buyers are doing these days.
Prior to FHA financing’s comeback, conventional loans were the tool of choice for first time home buyers because they could choose “piggyback financing” – two loans, holding the amount borrowed on the 1st mortgage to 80% or less, financing the … (2 comments)
ashland: That Was Then…This Is Now 2007-2009
- 11/02/09 03:48 AM
Having been in the mortgage industry for so long, having seen a great many changes since 1983, recent changes seem different from earlier changes in one big way. The period between 2007 and 2009 doesn’t really seem like a long period of time in the big picture, but these changes are making for some long days in my mortgage industry world. Where many of the changes in the past were market driven, today’s changes are “putting fires out” driven. And it seems to me, those changes are being made without the necessary foresight and investigation required to have these changes be … (4 comments)
ashland: A Sunday Drive in Southern Oregon (3 of 3)
- 11/01/09 03:09 PM
After we have finished exploring Sunny Valley and the ghost town of Golden Oregon with the hydraulic mining sights across the road, we head to Historic Wolf Creek Inn to have dinner. In spite of the Rogue Valley population being well over 200,000 people now, we manage to bump in to two people we know having dinner with their families at the Wolf Creek Inn. After a delicious dinner of "Steak for 2" and Crab and Avocado Louie, we meet up with one group of friends and tag along for a tour of the Wolf Creek Inn, learning about the days … (10 comments)
ashland: A Sunday Drive in Southern Oregon (2 of 3)
- 11/01/09 02:40 PM
On this first day of November 2009, we continue our Sunday drive on this glorious day, leaving Sunny Valley, and heading north to go to Golden, Oregon. This historic town was settled by early Gold Miners, most of whom moved on to other areas for their treasure hunt. The State of Oregon is in the process of restoring/renovation this historic area, and we'll look forward to seeing it again one day. In the meantime, here you go!
There is such beautiful scenery in this area, and so many great places to sightsee and hike, or as we … (8 comments)
ashland: A Sunday Drive in Southern Oregon (1 of 3)
- 11/01/09 02:27 PM
There are so many wonderful places to visit here in Southern Oregon. Today, my family and I piled in to the car and headed North from Medford Oregon to spend some time discovering places and some ground we've passed through many times along the I-5 corridor. First stop, was the Grave Creek Covered Bridge in Sunny Valley, Oregon. This is along the Applegate Trail, and there is a small interpretive center located here that tells the tail of Sunny Valley and these scenic landmarks that can be spotted when one is driving north or south on the Interstate 5 Freeway.
ashland: Home Comfort Hearth of Grants Pass & Phoenix Oregon Is Great!
- 10/25/09 12:40 PM
We’ve been investigating replacing our fireplace insert since before the City of Medford Oregon where we live passed an ordinance making it a requirement that fireplace inserts like the one that came with the house we bought in the East Medford Hills in 2004 need to be removed upon sale if they don’t meet the new criteria. Of course, being in compliance with the particulates being released in to the air is important to us. Important, too, is the overall cost of using the wood fireplace insert for our heat source, since our home also has a central heating/AC system. … (4 comments)
ashland: HOPE Arriving For Struggling Southern Oregon Homeowners
- 10/16/09 01:03 AM
Are you, or is anyone you know, struggling to find a way to stay in your/their home here in Southern Oregon? HOPE is arriving for struggling Southern Oregon homeowners who may have been attempting to refinance under the Home Affordable Refinance Program only to find out they needed to be under the Home Affordable Modification Program because they did not qualify.
Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase will all be here in Medford Oregon to talk to homeowners who have existing loans with these three banks and may have been caught in phone system hell trying to work their … (6 comments)
ashland: Need A Wonderful Flooring Installer In Jackson County Oregon?
- 10/08/09 07:28 AM
Meet Ray Feckner of Ashland Oregon. Ray is the gentleman that came highly recommended to my husband and I when we called Peter McBennett, one of our favorite general contractors who installs the windows & doors for our store, to see about replacing the vinyl flooring that was damaged in a rental we have in Old East Medford. Ray met us when we were having the final walk through with our outgoing tenants, and gave us a great quote for his services to replace the kitchen/laundry/bath area vinyl flooring. It’s no wonder he has had this family owned and operated residential … (2 comments)
ashland: What Has Happened To Our World?
- 10/06/09 03:44 AM
Here it is, Autumn in Southern Oregon. It seems that overnight the flip was switched and Summer was gone. With frost advisories again, a run to the vegetable garden was in order to harvest what may be the season’s final harvest. The call has been made for this Winter’s wood to be delivered. Thankfully, our temperatures are easing upward again, and we’ll have another chance to get out on the boat on our favorite mountain lake, and say our farewells for this season before the boat is hauled down and put in storage until next Spring.
Lately, this same “cooling” … (7 comments)
ashland: Ashland Rotary Run Saturday October 3, 2009 – Come Out and Support Eradication of Polio!
- 10/02/09 03:31 AM
Did you know that Rotary International, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have set a goal to eradicate Polio worldwide? Each Rotary Club is finding a way to do their part to support this lofty goal. The Rotary Club of Ashland Oregon is having a 5k & 10k run on Saturday October 3, 2009. Come on out and show your support of this great event and worthy cause!
Lithia Park - Ashland, OR 5k and 10k Run/Walk These 10K and 5K runs offer a beautiful tour of Ashland, Oregon. 10K Runners start at the band shell … (0 comments)
ashland: Comment to the Federal Reserve Board on R 1366
- 09/30/09 04:34 AM
Below is my Comment to Federal Reserve Board on R-1366. Fellow Active Rainers, both mortgage industry members and related real estate industry members, this is ALL of our battle that needs to be fought here. Right now 99% of my business consists of purchase transactions, and a large percentage of those are first time home buyers. How many of YOUR transactions will be affected if your buyers must either agree to pay points to get their loan OR get in line at the national bank for their loan? Many buyers do not fully grasp what the removal of yield spread premium … (4 comments)
ashland: Southern Oregon Realtors Working With USDA Buyers – Your Transaction CAN Close On Time!
- 09/29/09 07:51 AM
The end of the fiscal year is September 30th for the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Program. More often than not, Congress does not have the next year’s program funding allocated before this date rolls around. Many banks and mortgage companies will pull the plug on funding their USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing loans until Congress allocates the funding. BUT NOT ALL OF THEM!!!!!
We've been down this road before. For us, it’s business as usual on the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Program loans. If you are a Southern Oregon Realtor working with an eligible USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan program buyer … (0 comments)
ashland: Here We Go Again! – USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Program Funding for 2010 Needs To Be Allocated By Congress
- 09/25/09 05:45 AM
It’s that time of year again, the end of the fiscal year and time for reallocation of program funding for the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Program. Each year during this time of year, several banks and mortgage companies throw the switch on their USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Program, pulling all fundings on this program until Congress allocates the funding for the next year.
Not all banks do this, though! If you are in the midst of a transaction using USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing program funds, you need to contact your lender and make sure the conditional commitment has been … (0 comments)
ashland: Oregon Vet Home Loans Lowering Rates This Week!
- 09/24/09 12:07 PM
I’m excited to be working with another first time home buyer who will be taking advantage of what I believe is a great home loan program for veterans, the Oregon Vet home loan. AND he’s going to be getting a lower interest rate than he expected if his offer goes through this week. For the eligible veterans this loan program works for, it’s a wonderful tool! The folks in Salem who work with the Oregon Veteran Home Loan program are fabulous to work with, so fingers crossed this Vet's offer is accepted today! If he chooses the 4.625% rate (4.853% a.p.r.), … (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!
The road to homeownership is different for each buyer. For some, it may be a walk in the park filled with wonder and beautiful sights along the way – a quick, uneventful, on-time closing. An experience, learning about the various species found, or re-visiting a favored path– learning about loan programs, different types of inspections involved, insurance policies, etc. for the first time home buyer; re-familiarizing themselves with the process and up-to-date changes for the move-up buyer and investors.
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