Displaying blog entries 1-10 of 18
This is an awesome cabin with all the upgrades completed! Just reduced by $15,000! Located right on the creek with a huge sunny deck and tall vaulted ceilings!!!! Now only $240,000!
When is the perfect time to purchase on Mt. Hood? Well opportunity is knocking on your door RIGHT NOW! Check out today's market cycle. Many people purchased in 2005 and 2006 at the top of the cycle but now we are in the low risk segment. We have plenty of properties to choose from, interest rates that are the lowest in decades, and anxious sellers. The combinations couldn't be better to make that investment now!
There are a lot of black bears in our local area. Humans are coming into more contact with them especiallyl in our summer months. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is having a presentation on black bears and how to avoid problems and what to do if you have a problem bear.
We have to live with them so lets find out the best way to do it
Thursday...........May 28th
7:00 pm
Located at the Hoodland fire station in Welches.
Here we go, the April numbers for sales in our Mt. Hood area are in. Total sales are down around 48% from last year's numbers. The next post will show what has sold over the past
PLEASE RELEASE ME!
Remember the song "Please release me, let me go"? If you've ever felt that someone or something had a hold on you and wouldn't let go, perhaps you needed an "attitude adjustment."
Why? Unless you are literally chained to a wall, people and things don't have a "hold" on you. It is you who have taken hold of them, and refuse to let go. It's so easy to latch on to the situations, relationships, and baggage of others - believing it possible to have some control over their outcome.
The result is never-ending worry, sleeplessness, feelings of helplessness, and other symptoms of being "out-of-control." Anger is another matter - there seems to be so much of it today. TV shows are full of it. Anger is directed at family, the boss, the spouse, or anyone else in sight. Yet anger results from feeling that things or people are not doing what you think should be done. Anger is felt when you can't control the outcome.
The truth is we are only in control of our own lives and actions - nothing more. Buddha had it right when he said, "Learn to let go." Martin Luther said, "Let go and let God." Regardless of who said it, or how it was said, letting go will open many doors of happiness in your future.
THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING!!
Remember one of the ancient sayings from your first-grade teacher? It went something like this: "We learn to do by doing."
So . . . from "Chicken Soup" comes this story by John Holt:
"Not many years ago I began playing the cello. Most people would say that what I am doing is 'learning to play' the cello. But these words carry into our minds the strange idea that there exist two very different processes: 1) learning to play the cello; and 2) playing the cello. They imply that I will do the first until I have completed it, at which point I will stop the first process and begin the second. In short, I will go on 'learning to play' until I have 'learned to play' and then I will begin to play. Of course, this is nonsense. There are not two processes, but one. We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way."
How do we learn to swim? Do we get the basics in a classroom, taught to us on a chalkboard, and then hit the pool like Mark Spitz or Esther Williams? How about riding a bike? Do we study the laws of physics, the effects of gravitational pull, or other Einstein-like theories, and then launch ourselves into the top spot in the "Tour de France?" No - we just fall down and scrape our knees a lot.
Want to add new direction to your life? Begin walking in that direction. Put one foot in front of the other. In other words, "Just do it!" It all begins with your imagination harnessing the power of your mind and the energy of your body. Once you choose a new role for your life, don't learn the part - act the part. One other thing - don't let that "single thorn of experience" deter you!
According to recent news events, things are improving slightly in the home sales department in the US. Well, perhaps a little. But, what is really selling? If you take a look at the first quarter numbers, according to NAR, the National Association of Realtors, half of all home sales were to first time home buyers.
It's also known that half of all sales in the first quarter were foreclosures and short sales. So, we have investors picking up foreclosers and short sales and first time home buyers picking up the rest. These sales are homes at the bottom of the pricing scale causing the median price of homes to decrease at a rapid rate. The mid and high end price ranges are not moving causing these homes to continue to decline in pricing.
Sure sales have increased in California, Florida and Nevada. These are states that have the most inventory and depressed prices in the US. Investors and first time home buyers are starting to work this inventory over but when will the recovery hit the rest of the pricing ranges? Stay tuned.
Home renovations can be daunting, but financing them doesn’t need to be. Homebuyers considering a fixer-upper and homeowners thinking about doing major rehab work might want to consider an FHA 203K loan.
Often called rehab or renovation loans
Renovation loans can be used in three ways: to purchase an existing home (and the land attached to it) and renovate it; to pay off existing debt on a current residence and renovate it; or to purchase an existing property and move it to a new piece of land. The types of improvements allowed on 203K loans are extensive — painting, room additions, decks, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and even going green. Luxury items and improvements are generally not eligible.
Homebuyers need to work closely with their REALTOR® as well as a contractor to get a detailed statement about the extent and general cost of the rehab work and the expected market value of the property after the completion of the work. After finding a HUD-approved lender — not all banks administer these loans — and inspections and appraisals, the work can begin. For more information, go to www.hud.gov .
The benefits of a Mt. Hood mud room are big! The word “mud” might not sound inviting, but a mudroom can actually be a welcoming — and useful — space, especially if you live in Government Camp or the Rhododendron and Welches area. Mudrooms, which serve as a transition between the outdoors and the inside of a home, are traditionally found in cold, snowy climates as a place to change out of wet clothes and shoes. But, whether large or small, they’re ideal for houses in any climate. They can minimize cleaning (no tracking dirt through the house-especially those pesky pine needles), maximize storage and help with organization. Whether you already have a mudroom or are thinking about creating one, consider:
Location. Off the kitchen or near the back door are the most popular locations for mudrooms, but garages and utility closets are also prime spots.
Flooring. This is the one place in the house where the floors are supposed to get dirty. Choose a durable, non-slip material — tile, stone, vinyl, laminate, concrete — in a dark color. And be sure to include a few doormats: a fiber or rubber mat to clean off shoes and an absorbent, washable rug to keep dirt from getting tracked in.
Walls. Surely they will get dinged and scratched and splashed, so choose coverings wisely. Vinyl wallpaper or an easy-to-clean, moisture-proof paint should do the trick.
Seating. Although you likely won’t be spending too much time in your mudroom, a place to sit is key. A sturdy chair or bench is useful for removing wet shoes or boots.
Storage. Choose organizing accessories based on the main purpose of the space and who uses it most. If it functions mainly as a staging area for adults, be sure to prominently feature coat and key hooks, as well as a place to sort mail. If kids are the main focus, include labeled storage bins and designated areas for backpacks and after-school activity gear, such as sporting goods. No matter how the room is used, it’s a good idea to include plenty of shelving and racks for shoes.
Displaying blog entries 1-10 of 18
