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55 Plus Communitiy!

by Liz Warren

Very Affordable over 55 plus community in Welches Oregon. This home is immaculate and better than the models! Not only is it fully landscaped but includes and upgraded heat efficient heat pump! There's a two car garage and a completely fenced backyard. There's a nice deck for your outdoor barbeques too. Three bedrooms, two baths and a spacious master bedroom with built in vanity and two separate closets. You'll love the soak tub in the master bathroom too.

$194,950.

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Zig Zag Riverfront Cabin

by Liz Warren

This is a classic! You'll love the knotty pine throughout and the location can't be beat. Many owners couldn't get to their cabins for months this winter but this one is just off a paved plowed road! Nestled on the banks of the Zig Zag river with a nice sandy beach to place your lawn chairs and watch the fish fly by!

The cabin has a roomy living area with vaulted ceilings, a sleeping nook and a loft over the living room. I love the riverrock stone hearth with a woodstove insert! There's also a free standing propane stove too. Original paned windows througout! A nice privated bedroom with built ins and a remodeled bathroom too. Store your wood or vehicle in the huge garage.

The best part, this is only 15 minutes to skiing and ONE hour from Portland. This cabin sits in the Mt. Hood National Forest on leased land. You can even walk right over to the grocery store in Rhododendron on the walking bridge.

$234,950

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Sandy Riverfront Acre with Well Built Contemporary Home!

by Liz Warren

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Hit the brakes! You will love this location right on the Sandy River with an entire acre to spread out and enjoy!  The well built home features a spacious great room with vaulted ceilings, skylights and a wall of windows to watch the water go by. Open design from an original Lindal Cedar home. Steps to river. Gazebo and a hobby outbuilding are a bonus. There's even a shop in the garage area for work projects. Throw the kids downstairs in the family room while the adults rule the upstairs.

Located only one hour from Portland, this is a fabulous full time or vacation home in a stunning setting.  Skiers will love the 15 minute drive to premium ski areas and the huge bonus of the Mt. Hood National Forest five minutes away!  Located near Mt. Hood in Brightwood. Only five minutes to the golf course in Welches at the Resort at the Mountain.

$459,950!

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Monday Morning Inspiration on Tuesday Morning!

by Liz Warren

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."
 

~ Epictetus

GIVE YOURSELF A LIFT!

Have you ever aspired to be deeply depressed? On your list of major life's achievements, have you included becoming an itinerant ne'er-do-well? Does your daily task list include hanging out at the local pub, gossiping over the back fence with nosy neighbors, or spending time with a loser who does nothing but grouse about how the world has dealt him a lousy hand?

Did that first paragraph seem to pull you down? Did you say, "Ridiculous! Who would want to do those things?" If so, congratulations, you've already received this week's message.

Now, let's give this message a lift. Have you ever met someone with a bright inspiring spirit about them, and thought to yourself, "Wow, I'd like to know them better!" Have you noticed that when you attend a community education course, you leave with many fresh new ideas and a powerful boost in your attitude?

A well-known quote says, "You are what you think about all day long." If you hang out with the losers, your thoughts are likely to be dark and depressing. Spend time with those who possess magic in their attitude and enthusiastic vitality in their work ethic, and your thoughts are likely to soar.

Take a close look at your list of goals for this year. Have you included the addition of positive new personal relationships in your work and play environment? Remember that "to have a friend, you must first be a friend." Consider expanding your sphere of contacts to include those who would inspire you to greatness!

Monday Morning Coffe- Inspiration to start your day.

by Liz Warren

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"You were born an original.
Don't die a copy."
 

~ John Mason

DUPLICATE YOURSELF!

Watch young children on the playground and you will notice them trying to duplicate each other. One hangs upside down on the monkey bars, and soon everyone is doing the same. Check out a pre-teen with a punky new hair-do, or a new style of "radical" footwear, and soon their friends are following suit.

It continues in high school too, with "tricked out" hot cars and cell phones. So . . . is it any wonder that we attempt to duplicate each other as adults as well? We look at our desk mate's approach to getting new business, then we do the same - regardless of the fact that said desk mate is getting no results.

Is there an alternative to this senseless copy-cat approach to life? Yes - but making the change may not be so easy. You begin by looking inside rather than outside. With all the distractions competing for your attention, this may be the most difficult step. Nevertheless, take a look inside to determine your best talents and skills. Ask yourself, "What do I do well? What are my strengths? What do I enjoy doing most?"

Next, write yourself a plan that incorporates your answers into a personal action plan. Remember, you were born an original, so put that originality to work. To help the plan work, avoid distractions from those who question your new direction, and learn to "duplicate yourself".

To avoid distractions, consider moving your desk, working from a home office, or avoiding the social scene at your office. Focus your time and attention on achieving your new-found objectives. To duplicate yourself, hire assistants to prepare direct mail or update your website. Avoid all tasks that you can hire someone else to do.

In short, live and act the part of the original you really are!

 

What about those JUMBO loans?

by Liz Warren

I read a recent article about Jumbo loans in California.  The temporary raised loan amount rate in the California market is $730,000 vs. $417,000 for our area. Lenders are reporting that it hasn't exactly helped the situation because rates on these loans are at least a point higher than stated rates on a 30 year fixed. In other words, if the rate quote is 6% for a 30 year fixed, a JUMBO loan, one over $417,000 locally would be around 7% and possibly more. Jumbo loans have had stricter qualifying conditions and good credit is a must.

These loans are sold to pensions funds and other secondary markets who are spooked from the sub-prime disaster. Therefore they are requiring tougher standards for the buyer qualification AND a higher interest rate. Well, the Californians are not rushing in to get these loans for new home purchases nor refinancing as the feds thought they would who raised the temporary limits to help things "move along".

We have seen the impact here in our local market from Government Camp to Welches and Rhododendron. The market above $500,000 has slowed substantially.  There have been three sales in the past seven months in the over 500K range for single family homes.

The Grand Lodges Condos in Government Camp are now closing and should produce several sales substantially over the barrier.

Agents in California feel it will take a year or so for Jumbo rates to come down. We'll see more movement, and sales when they do but until then, buyers will need great credit to even qualify for these Jumbo loans and count on at least 1% higher interest rates than the sub 417K conventional loans.

 

2007-Second Home and Investor Numbers Will Surprise You

by Liz Warren

This is a real eye opener considering 2007 reports on the market! Second home and investment buyers purchased about one third of properties sold in 2007 according to the National Association of Realtors. Vacation home sales only declined two percent from 2006 to 2007. (12% of total sales in 2007).

Despite the fact that we are in a credit crunch and in tough economic times, second homes are elective purchases. Locally we know that at least a third of homeowners in Portland have no mortgage. We also know that Oregon ranks 47th in the subprime problem-which means there is extra money available for purchasing second homes.

Actually, it’s a bonanza of an opportunity for buyers with super low interest rates, softening prices and increased inventory. Yes, primary home sales have softened the most but second home sales have not seen the declines locally that many media outlets have declared.

Believe it or not 28% of second home buyers paid cash for their purchase. Many second home  buyers are looking to purchase now knowing their investment will appreciate greatly in the next five to ten years. Portland metro has a particularly great opportunity with a recreational area so close to the city, many weekenders take advantage of the quick one hour drive making the Mt. Hood area a premium destination for a rec home that can be used year round.

Displaying blog entries 1-7 of 7

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Liz Warren
Merit Properties Group - Keller Williams Realty PDX Central
Box 131
Welches OR 97067
Direct: 503-705-3090