LOOK BACK TO THE FUTURE!

Life has been described as a path, a direction in which we travel over time - rather than a single event. Each of us gets to choose the direction our path will take us. By making those choices, we also clear the way to achieving the objectives we've set for ourselves.

When we fail to choose the path we will travel, that is also a choice. In that case, the path we travel becomes less distinct with more twists and turns than we would have liked. Each side path we encounter tempts us to change direction. Lacking any roadmap of objectives we might have chosen, we often end up somewhere - else.

Regardless of the quality of our choices, we can get a clear understanding of where we are likely to end up - just by turning around. By simply looking back at the path we have been following, much can be learned. For example, is the path behind us straight, or filled with curves and detours taken? Is it paved with solid, masterfully laid stepping-stones, or filled with muddy ruts that zig-zag around every obstacle?

Chances are that, as teenagers, most of our paths seemed to have had many twists and turns. As we matured and learned from our mistakes, however, it is also likely that we began improving the direction and quality of the path we traveled. The more attention we paid to the path, the more enjoyable the journey became.

Want life to be a most pleasant journey? Build your own roadmap - then start paving!

THROW AWAY THE BAND-AIDS!

What do Scotch Tape, Post-It Notes, and paper clips have in common? Each apparently has a different function, is made of a different material, and serves its own purpose. Oh sure, you can say they're all office supplies - and you'd be right - but look a little deeper for their common purpose.

Scotch Tape pieces are placed along the edges and on the ends of holiday gifts - for a short period of time. Post-It Notes are stuck to documents suggesting that a signature is needed, or some action be taken. Once the action is complete, the note is discarded. Paper clips hold two or more things together for a few hours or days, and are then returned to the desk drawer.

Figured it out yet? They are all just a temporary "fix" - a momentary solution to a temporary need. They are used in "reaction" to a short-term need. They are also similar to our daily personal lives. When feelings are hurt and the tears come, we automatically reach for a Kleenex. We might, on the other hand, have taken time to determine the source of those feelings and concentrated on resolving a difference before tears were necessary.

When our children misbehave, we react with a 15-minute (or 3-day) "time-out." We might have avoided that temporary fix by listening to their concerns and teaching appropriate behavior before the fact. Then, there are all the excuses we make, used like Band-Aids, to temporarily cover the flaws in our own behavior. Wouldn't a more permanent solution like performing to expectations, learning from past experience, or practicing excellence be more appropriate?

Yes, we live in a very fast-paced world. Quick solutions are the order of the day, yet we must eventually realize that we continually seem to need a fresh supply of Scotch Tape, Kleenex, or paper clips. By taking more time to look ahead, it is possible to eliminate many of the situations that require those one-minute Band-Aids. Avoid future "boo-boos." Search for, learn, and practice a more permanent and proactive life. That's right - "No more tears!"

The Mt. Hood Forest Homeowner's Assocation is hosting the Oregon Forest Homeowner's Assocation meeting this year. Details below:

The IRS has created form 5405. Check the rules and requirements to get this tax credit on the First-Time Homebuyer Credit page above to be sure you qualify.

Did you know that if you sell your house within three years of purchase you may have to pay that tax credit back?

If you have not made your first time home buyer purchase, you have until April 30th to have a binding contract in place and you MUST close by June 30th, 2010!

You can also visit the Sandy High School Web site.

For a snapshot of what the Oregon Trail School District is all about and what is going on with student achievement and the new high school, check out this resource: The 2009 Performance Report. It is excellent in explaining what is going on within the Oregon Trail School District.

Now ONLY $100,000!

$15,000 PRICE REDUCTION on Resort at the Mountain Condo (Fairway Estates Unit). Enjoy the recently renovated Resort at the Mountain upgrades! Steps to golf course and minutes to skiing. Only ONE HOUR from Portland. Quit driving all weekend to the slopes and stay at your mountain condo.

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  (New!)

  Tax Tips for Homeowners Preparing 2009 Returns

  Follow these tax tips for homeowners to ensure that you receive all of the tax deductions and tax credits to which you're entitled. Read

ENJOY PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP!

Remember the day you made the decision to go to college? What about the day you decided to buy that sporty red car? Surely you remember the day you decided you would get married. What about your present career path? Did you purposely decide it's what you want to do? Do you remember making a conscious decision to have three children?

Some decisions are relatively simple. You decide to buy a TV, go to the store, write a check - and it's yours. You own it! Other decisions are also easy to make, i.e. the red sports car, but carry a higher price. The decision comes quickly, but entails both a down payment and a commitment to make payments on time for several years. Again, you make the decision to buy and the car is yours - you own it!

At some point in life come decisions that shouldn't have been made, but were, as well as those you should have withheld. In high school, a day of classes skipped may have resulted in grades lower than acceptable to your choice of colleges. Later, a poor choice of friends may have resulted in a blemish on your "permanent" record. As an adult, poor decision-making not only may reduce the quality of your life, but of those you love.

Regardless, each decision made is yours to keep - you own it! You also own the responsibilities created by the decision, i.e. following a healthy lifestyle to stay trim, working two jobs to keep your commitment to the mortgage company, giving up poorly chosen friends and activities to provide your children with a happy, nurturing home life.

Every decision made can turn positive or negative, depending on the actions taken once the decision has been made. Either way - making the decision is followed by ownership of the results. Does "pride of ownership" appeal to you? Buy it, own it, love it!

We've got the highs to the lows in this bunch. One beautiful custom built home in Windtree, one of the mountain subdivisions, was purchased. The higher end market, which in checking numbers from Gresham to Government Camp over $700,000, typically sell 15% to 20% below asking price.

Two of the properties were foreclosures. The home selling at $244,250 was a foreclosure at the Resort at the Mountain. It had originally been priced above $300,000 but had some dry rot issues to repair.

Pricing homes in this market is difficult and if an owner was for sale prior to the market crash, their properties took a substantial amount of readjustment to get sold.

Current pending sales for February show several foreclosures but most on the lower end of the pricing scale.

There are weekend getaways, local artist's works, lift tickets, many local services and much more. February 20th

It's free with an optionsl $10 dinner-southern style menu by the New Blackberry Cafe. Featuring BBQ Ribs and Jambalays

Silent Auction 5-7 pm

Dinner 6-8 pm

Live Auction 7 pm

 Here is the flyer with all details!

Listing inventory is increasing. Pending sales are up compared to Jan 2009 when buyers were reeling from the stock market plunge and shock. Market time, for the six sales that happened in January totalled 222 days. To sell in today's market, with the increase in number of foreclosures to choose from, takes aggressive pricing. Oregon is currently ninth in the nation in foreclosures according to RealtyTrac.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

Walk into a totally dark room. What do you see? "Absolutely nothing," you say. Now, turn on the light. Where did the darkness go? Really - where is it now? Hopefully you will agree that darkness cannot exist in the face of light.

During a lifetime, we experience many types of "darkness." It may appear in the form of discouragement, fear, hopelessness, grief, ignorance, or poverty. Yet, in every case, there is a "light" in which such darkness cannot exist.

Fear, for example, cannot exist in the face of courage. Education denies ignorance any chance of survival. Grief disappears in the presence of peace-of-mind. Discouragement ceases when hope prevails. Wealth denies poverty its chance.

No matter what form darkness takes, it cannot exist when faced with its opposite. That also means we have the ability to send darkness on its way at any point in time. No matter how overwhelming the darkness appears, it is our thoughts and our minds that ultimately control the outcome. How powerful is that?

In the words of several favorite authors: "Think you can, think you can't, either way you're right." "Your life is what your thoughts make of it." "We are what we think about all day long." Finally, in the words of Tom Bodett, from one of his Motel 6 commercials: "We'll leave the light on for you!"

Take a look at this map of Oregon to see the foreclosure meter.

What areas have the highest foreclosures according to RealtyTrac for January 2010? Here is a chart showing where they are:

For information on foreclosures in our Mt. Hood area of Government Camp, Welches, Brightwood and Rhododendron, check available properties here.

REPLACEMENT THERAPY!

Ever received one of those emails that contains a touching message, then suggests that if you forward it to ten more people you'll receive a "special blessing" or "ten million dollars in three days"? It usually also warns that the last person who didn't forward it met some terrible fate at the hands of unknown evil-doers. Remember how that last part - the veiled threat - made you feel? You didn't think something awful would really happen, but you resented being put in the position of wondering.

We've been told many times that our worst fears are of the "unknown." An unidentified fear sends our imagination into high gear, conjuring up vivid mental pictures of dastardly plots against us. We ruminate endlessly over the possibilities. Such fear is disruptive to our well-being, and leaves us tired and wrung-out.

So, how do you handle fear? One method is to identify the fear, so that once you do, it is no longer "unknown." That also means it is measurable, and can be logically quantified. Once you know what it is, your imagination can no longer dream up worse things that it is not. Once identified, it is possible to determine possible outcomes.

Most fears will never come to fruition. Those that do are divided into two categories: those we can control, and those we can't. If we have control, we also have the ability to survive our fears, and change their outcomes. Most fall into that category.

One mother's lifelong advice to her daughter who worried too much was to replace the worry thought with another more pleasant thought. The opposite of fear is hope, which also gives us courage. The next time you experience fear of the unknown, try replacement therapy. Think positive, hopeful thoughts when fear knocks at the door. Then, when you open the door - no one is there!

Where to start? Get in touch with a lender to see if you can qualify to purchase a home! Do it now! Most buyers with a credit score of 620 and above will have no problem in qualifying. There are many loans for our area that may work for you. There's the USDA loan with zero down payment-yes our area from Brightwood, Welches, and Rhododendron qualify for this program! There's also FHA which will require a 3.5% downpayment.

Here are some homes that may work for the first time homebuyer. Click on the home for additional details on that property and you can visit this page for details on the program.

Most of the homes are occupied with full time residents and some second home owners scattered throughout the subdivision.

Naturally, some of the benefits of living in this area are its close proximity to the Mt. Hood National Forest with zillions of miles of hiking trails, 15 minutes to ski areas, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, golf, and a multitude of waterways to enjoy from the Sandy River to Salmon and Zig Zag Rivers threaded throughout our area.

Some of the best buys available in Timberline Rim are the foreclosures currently on the market. Today there are three available and here are the details:

It's a great time to buy and take advantage of today's incredible interest rates before they go up!

If you're looking for a great starter home on nearly an acre, WITH A SHOP, look no further! 30 X 36 shop with the house! Easy access property with charming one bedroom home, wood laminate floors, and a toe warming propane stove that heats the entire house. Open floor plan with log beamed ceilings, open kitchen and dining area. The property is all level so it's all usable. Two lots included. Community water with two hook-ups (one for the shop!) Take advantage of the first time home buyer credit or USDA loan!

How about that shop? 30 X 36 stick built and ready for your toys and hobbies. Lots of yard for spreading out.

This is a great oppornunity for a first time home buyer to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit!  Only $220,000!