LiveInBendOregon.com

4.6 acre mini Ranch

2012-02-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

3508 SW Hillcrest Dr. Redmond, OR 97756

2012-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

16935 Glendale Road

2012-01-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

3.2 Acres in SE Bends Sundance

2012-01-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

23.6 Acres with Mt. Views $240,000

2012-01-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

HouseLogic Poll Finds Voters Driven by Jobs, Housing in 2012 Election

2012-01-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

A recent survey by Houselogic.com, the consumer website from the National Association of Realtors®, finds that jobs and the housing market will be two of the most important issues for voters in the 2012 election. Nearly one-third of respondents said housing will be the top issue on their mind when they head to the polls next November.
“We need to keep housing first on the nation’s public policy agenda, because housing and home ownership issues affect all Americans,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “The results of this survey show that many Americans understand that.”
Respondents were asked “What issue area will have the greatest impact on your vote in 2012?” National security, healthcare, and energy/environment trailed housing and unemployment by wide margins:

Jobs/unemployment – 54 percent
Housing – 27 percent
National security – 8 percent
Healthcare – 4 percent
Energy/Environment – 2 percent
Other – 4 percent

Preparing for Homeownership

2011-05-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Homebuying Guides

Even before you begin looking for a home, the homebuying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. To help you on the path to homeownership, NeighborWorks® offers* step-by-step guides, developed by the Fannie Mae Foundation, that can help you get closer to achieving your dream:

Knowing and Understanding Your Credit
Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own
Choosing the Mortgage that's Right for You
Borrowing Basics: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

These authoritative homebuying guides are available in nine languages, including English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

*These brochures are free for non-profit organizations, and available for sale to other businesses.

Thank you Realtor.org

Best of Bend

2011-03-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

Welcome to BestOfBend.com. An Introduction from Best of Bend on Vimeo.

61765 Tomahawk St. Bend, OR 97701

2010-10-14T15:59:00.000-07:00

3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2225 sqft home, on 1.16 acres, built in 1995
Asking $325,000

61661 SW Cherrywood Lane, Bend, OR 97702

2010-06-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Map: Where americans are moving!

2010-06-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

More than 10 million Americans moved from one county to another during 2008. The map below visualizes those moves. Click on any county to see comings and goings: black lines indicate net inward movement, red lines net outward movement.

Click on Deschutes County to see where people are moving too and from in Central Oregon.

LINK TO INTERACTIVE MAP

Home Buyers and Sellers Anticipate Prices to Rebound Next Year, Survey Says

2010-05-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

A survey of first-time home buyers and sellers released by Century 21 Real Estate LLC last month contains good news for beleaguered home sellers.

Over 80% of those polled feel the current housing market is more affordable today than this time last year, despite the fact that 40% are more worried about the economy.

In addition, the first-time buyers surveyed anticipate that housing prices will soon begin to rise and in fact, expect an increase by this time next year, thereby re-establishing the balance between buyers and sellers in the market.

That means more buyers may be motivated by current market conditions to get off the sidelines and purchase a home. In fact, over 80% of buyers polled believe now is a good time to buy a home.

Current housing prices are also encouraging sellers to act. Fifty percent of sellers have upgraded their homes, and 37% have changed neighborhoods.

“This is a generational opportunity for a first-time homebuyer or seller looking to take advantage of this market,” said Rick Davidson, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “If you are considering buying or selling real estate, now is the time to consult with a real estate professional.”

Given the complexity of today’s real estate market, 85% of buyers and sellers feel real estate professionals serve an important role in the home buying and selling process, and about 70% either used or expect to use one.

“Buying a home is the largest, single financial decision most people will make in their lifetime,” said Davidson. “This is where a real estate professional can help.”

Interested in selling your home, or want to learn more about current prices in your area? Give our CENTURY 21 office a call today.

To learn more about the CENTURY 21® First-Time Home Buyer and Seller Survey, Click Here.

USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Update

2010-04-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rural Housing Preservation and Stabilization Act of 2010 (H.R. 5017). Through this legislation, the guarantee fee in the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) Program may be raised (4% vs. 2%) to offset any need for Congressional appropriations. Additionally, H.R. 5017 would authorize USDA Rural Development to guarantee up to $30 billion in loans in Fiscal Year 2010. This would represent an additional $18 billion in loan making authority for the remainder of this fiscal year.

Before these changes can be implemented, similar legislative action will need to occur in the U.S. Senate.

Following this action in the House, the USDA Rural Development National Office sent an announcement that stated: “Depending upon Congressional activity with the proposed legislation it is possible that the Agency may consider issuing Conditional Commitments.”

"Thank you Dana Bruce from Sunset Mortgage for this information"

River view in private NW Bend neighborhood

2010-04-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

2487 NW 1st St, Bend, OR 97701 Offered at $543,500.

4 Bed, 4 Bath, 3000 square foot home on 0.25 acre lot.

Nestled in the highly desirable Tumalo Heights neighborhood in NW Bend. This home is situated on a large quarter acre lot with fabulous views of the Deschutes River & Pilot Butte. Private neighborhood access to the River Trail just down the street. Soaring vaulted ceilings in main living area, SS Appliances & Granite tile counters in kitchen, spacious home office, media room & oversized double garage. Cape Cod influenced design with modern touches throughout this stunning home. NOT a distressed sale.

16476 Riley Dr. Lapine, OR 97739

2010-04-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

$115,000

Nice 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with attached double car garage. Located on a .11 acre lot near the end of a neighborhood street and close to town and all the amentities of LaPine. Built in 2006 and is in good condition. You will appreciate the deep closets and abundant storage. Open floor plan, natural landscaping in backyard, sprinkler system in the front yard and private patio setting.

1850 SE Moorwood Ct, Bend, OR 97702

2010-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1750 sqft, on a 8276 sqft lot, offered at $160,000.

Nicely updated home on a large corner lot centrally located close to schools, shopping, parks & medical facilities. Extra parking on side of home for RV or additional vehicles. Fenced-in back yard, large grassy side yard, oversized attic for storage, new interior/exterior paint, new light fixtures, 2 ceiling fans, 2 new decks & finished garage w/new paint. Neighborhood has large Ponderosa trees!

CNN.Moneys biggest price gains rates Bend, OR as #10 for 2010

2010-03-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Home price forecast 2010 (1 year):* 3.3%

Poised where the Cascades meet the Great Basin desert, Bend is a sportsman's paradise, drawing tourists from all over the Northwest. Other economic engines include health care, tech services and wood products manufacturing. But unemployment is high, with 14.9% out of work as of December.

During the bubble, Bend was one of the strongest residential markets in the nation. Prices rose 130% from 2000 to early 2007 before dropping 34% since. A modest gain is projected for 2010, banking on the area's attractions to lure in enough new buyers, especially retirees, for prices to stabilize.

2980 NW Chianti Lane. Bend, OR 97701

2010-03-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2491 sqft, 6534 sqft lot, built in 2005 offer at $369,000

Live in the city on the edge of the forest! This home sits on a nice corner lot in Bend's northwest neighborhood of Shevlin Crest. Hiking & biking trails right out your doorstep. Close to Shevlin Park, the Deschutes River & Tumalo Creek, & yet just minutes from the historic Old Mill District & Downtown. Schools are just around the corner as well as the road to Mt Bachelor. Too many features to list here, call to schedule an appointment today. This is NOT a distressed sale so no banks to deal with!

IRS clarifies documentation needed for tax credits

2010-03-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

The Internal Revenue Service issued new guidance in Febuary on the two tax-credit programs that are powering the country's real estate markets -- the $6,500 credit for repeat buyers and the $8,000 first-time-buyer credit.

The new policy clarifies what documentation taxpayers need to submit to obtain either credit. When Congress revised the programs in November, it ordered the IRS to tighten its rules and monitoring to curtail widespread fraud that had emerged last year.

This included fictitious home purchases in which people received $8,000 checks from the government for transactions that had never occurred. In some cases, federal auditors found that fraud ringleaders were submitting multiple claims for credits and splitting the government payouts with people who had no financial ability to buy a house.

To avoid such abuses in the revised credit program -- which is scheduled to be available for qualified purchases closed through June 30 -- Congress directed the IRS to spell out documentation standards in detail and to install monitoring systems to spot fraud upfront. Among the keys to the monitoring system is that all documentation accompanying credit claims must comply with the IRS's detailed rules. Here's what the agency wants from anyone seeking a credit:

A fully executed IRS Form 5405 (available at http://irs.gov) on which taxpayers provide basic information supporting their claim of eligibility, including income and home purchase date.

A copy of the settlement statement proving that the sale and purchase transactions actually took place. In instructions to taxpayers issued last month, the IRS said the settlement statement should show "all parties' names and signatures, property address, sales price, and date of purchase. Normally this is the properly executed Form HUD-1."

Testing

2010-03-11T11:30:00.001-08:00

Testing

This weeks blog.

2009-06-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

I was on holiday for a few day's last week so no blog. I think it is very healthy to take a break and recharge I saw one of the most amazing places I have seen to date and I thought I would just share that this week.

Click link to see pictures.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=576819850&ref=profile#/photo.php?pid=1873269&id=576819850&ref=mf

Why rates are on the rise

2009-05-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The government is going deeper into hock and that's starting to make people nervous.
Investors have been dumping long-term Treasurys as of late on concerns about a glut of bonds flooding the market this week. And that's pushed rates, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices, to their highest level since November.
The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note has shot up to about 3.7% this week following auctions of $40 billion auction in 2-year notes Tuesday, $35 billion in 5-year notes Wednesday and $26 billion in 7-year notes Thursday.
Simply put, it's growing increasingly difficult to imagine that there will be enough demand for all these Treasurys.
"The market is having a tough time absorbing all this debt. There's so much supply," said Stephen Mahoney, a portfolio manager with Glenmede Investment Management, an investment firm in Philadelphia with about $4 billion in fixed income assets.
The bond auctions are setting off alarm bells for people who believe the government is spending too much money to finance the myriad programs aimed at getting the economy back on solid footing.
The stimulus package passed by Congress and the alphabet soup list of rescue plans launched by the Treasury and Federal Reserve for the nation's financial system could cost more than $10 trillion.
The fear is that all this liquidity will lead to inflation down the road. To that end, some point to the recent deterioration in the dollar versus other currencies and the rise in oil prices as evidence that inflation is already starting to creep back into the economic picture.

2009 Pole Pedal Paddle

2009-05-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

The U. S. Bank PPP drew racers of every type as teams, pairs and individual participants, alpine ski, cross-country ski, bike, run, canoe/kayak and sprint to the finish, in this competition from Mt. Bachelor to the finish line at Les Schwab Amphitheater in the Old Mill District near downtown Bend. With a record number of competitors nearly 3,000 pretty good compaired to last years 2400 racers. They start out with a quick run to jump on a pair of ski's get down the hill as quick as they can. The Elite Division started the alpine ski leg at 9:15am. Spectator festivities started at 11am at the Les Schwab Amphitheater area of the Old Mill District and include food & beverage booths, sponsor booths with everything from apparel to raffles, and music in the Beer Garden. There was close to 10,000 people visiting Bend for the race weekend.

10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD WAIT TO BUY

2009-05-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

This is mostly for fun but true non the less

10- Rent is fun to pay. I mean it's not at all like having to pay your own mortgage, why do that when you can pay a mortgage for someone else. If you went out and bought a home, there would be one less investor out there getting a free house with your money.

9- The amount of homes for sale on the market. There is no need to running out there when you have a ton of homes for sale at your disposal. You should certainly wait for the numbers to dwindle so you will have less of a choice you decide to buy. This will keep you from having to be so picky.

8- The great deals will be the first to go. This will be your indicator that you are getting close to time to start looking. All the good homes will be taken and then you can go sift through the left overs for what you can salvage.

7- Low Interest rates. Low interest rates will cause your mortgage payments to be lower, and this may make you feel like you are not doing your fair share. You should definitely wait around for those rates to rise so you can make a higher monthly payment. Then you won't have to deal with the guilt of saving money.

6- The price of homes for sale. Currently many homes for sale are on the market at very competitive lower prices. If you can manage to hang in there a little longer without buying a home, then you can catch market during or after a recovery. This means that you will get to pay more for the home than you would today.

5- With today's rates and prices, mortgages on many homes for sale are actually cheaper than rent on the same homes. Again this would possibly save you money, and that's not what you want to do. You need to wait for the prices to rise so you're not getting as good of a deal.

4- A 10% of the sales price tax credit up to $8,000. If you were to buy a home now,and you are a first time home buyer, then you would receive this tax credit. If you can hold out until next year, then you will be able to avoid this tax credit all together. This will save you the aggravation of trying to decide what to do with the extra money on next year's tax return.

3-Builder incentives. At present, in addition to the competitive prices, many builders are offering other incentives on new homes. Incentives like a percentage of of the home for sale depending on your employment and reduced pricing on upgrades. Some are even offering free upgrades and tossing in little extras that they normally do not offer in order to sweeten the pot. This would mean that you could get a great deal on a brand new home in your area, and that's the last thing you want. Wait for these deals to be snatched up other buyers before you even consider looking for your new home.

2- Lack of competition for you. Right now with many would be buyers sitting on the fence trying to make a decision, you would have your pick of the litter as far as the homes currently available are concerned. You need to wait until many more buyers are on the search, that way you can possibly end up in multiple offer situations and have to fight another buyer over the home you really want.

1- The pride of home ownership. There is no reason to come home to a home that actually belongs to you. Why not constantly come home to a house that you are buying for someone else.

Mortgage Rates Little Changes

2009-04-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

Mortgage Rates Little Changed
Despite a second straight week of large Fed purchases of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and weaker than expected economic data, mortgage rates were unable to move any lower, ending nearly unchanged from last Friday. With mortgage rates at historically low levels and with the industry facing capacity constraints, significant further improvement may be difficult to achieve. In addition, while current economic conditions remain weak, some investors now believe that the economy and the stock market have already bottomed, which could lead to higher inflation and higher rates down the road.

While forecasts vary for the second half of the year, there is no disagreement that the job market is currently performing poorly. Friday's Employment report revealed that the economy lost slightly more jobs than expected in March, and the Unemployment Rate jumped from 8.1% to 8.5%. The labor market is typically a lagging indicator of the strength of the economy, meaning that it may take longer to turn around than other sectors of economic activity.
Following last week's rise in New and Existing Home Sales, this week's news from the housing sector was also positive. February Pending Home Sales, a leading indicator for the housing market, rose 2% from January, suggesting that future New and Existing Home Sales reports may show gains as well. Also, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home affordability reached a new record high. With low mortgage rates, affordable homes, and a first-time homebuyer tax credit, conditions in the housing market are favorable for an increase in activity.

Submitted to me by Dave Winfrey from Countrywide Home Loans.
any further question e-mail Dave at david_winfrey@countrywide.com

Dow jumps 216 on turnaround hopes

2009-04-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Dow jumps 216 on turnaround hopes
Stocks enjoy their third straight day of gains on expectations that the recession will end later this year. But late selling keeps the Dow from its first close above 8,000 since February. Investors
cheer changes to accounting rules and see much to like at the G-20 summit in London.

By Charley Blaine and Elizabeth Strott

Stocks rallied strongly for a third straight day, but late selling deprived bulls of the ability to cheer the Dow Jones Industrial Average's ($INDU) first close above 8,000 since Feb. 9.
The Dow closed up 216 points, or 2.8%, to 7,978. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index ($INX) was up 23 points, or 2.8%, to 834, and the Nasdaq Composite Index ($COMPX) was up 51 points, or 3.3%, to 1,603.
As solid as the close was, the market clearly ran into resistance at the end of the session. The Dow had been up as much as 314 points in the early afternoon and was still up 300 points as late as 2:45 p.m. ET.
But late buying propelled the major indexes to their best closes since March 26, a signal of possible investor confidence going forward. The Nasdaq closed above 1,600 for the first time since Jan. 8.

$8,000 for first time home buyer

2009-03-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

1. Credit amount is $8,000
2. All principal residencial purchases
3. Purchaser will continue to receive refund for unused amount when tax return is filed
4. Avialable for first time purchases only, must own for 3 years
5. Purchasers who utilize revenue bond financing can use credit
6. No repayment if you buy by Dec. 1st 2009
7. If you sell inside the 3 year mark amount will be recaptured at close
8. January 1, 2009 - December 1, 2009

If you know anyone who could be a first time home buyer please have them call me..

20531 Rolen Ave | Bend | OR | 97702 MLS#2902313

2009-03-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Come view this home, located minutes from the Old Mill District, the Deschutes River and the beautiful Farewell Bend Park. This home features 1710 square feet of living space, custom paint & light fixtures throughout. A Great floor plan with a gas fireplace, large walk-in closet in the Master, large Master bath, fully fenced backyard great for barbeques and entertaining. Short Sale!

Mortgage Modification Plan To Help Hardship Cases

2009-03-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Mortgage Modification Plan To Help Hardship Cases
The Obama administration Wednesday gave lenders a green light to begin modifying home mortgages under a new $75 billion program aimed primarily at people facing imminent financial hardship.
Unveiling eligibility guidelines for a foreclosure prevention plan first announced on Feb. 18, the U.S. Treasury said borrowers would be required to demonstrate hardship to their loan servicers, such as a job loss, reduction in income or a looming payment increase that cannot be met.
They must also fully document income and prove occupancy.
The program, which provides cash incentives to loan servicers to reduce monthly payments, will only modify single-dwelling mortgages up to $729,750 originated before Jan. 1, 2009.
Loans on owner-occupied two-unit dwellings can be modified up to $934,200, and 4-unit dwellings up to $1.403 million.
The Federal Reserve Board and other U.S. banking regulators on Wednesday voiced support for the modification program, saying that they would strongly encourage lenders to participate.
"By providing servicers and holders of eligible residential mortgages with incentives to modify loans at risk of foreclosure, the program will promote sustainable alternatives to foreclosures on owner-occupied residential properties," the regulators said in a joint statement.
"These incentives should help make affordable loan modifications more attractive than foreclosure." The Treasury also announced that lenders on Wednesday could begin refinancing current mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on homes whose values have dropped.
This plan would allow homeowners to refinance at market rates with a loan-to-value ratio of up to 105 percent, rather than the normal Fannie/Freddie 80 percent limit.
The new program is designed to help up to 9 million borrowers stay in their homes through refinanced mortgages or loans that are modified to lower monthly payments.
AP
The Home Affordable Refinance program will be available to 4 to 5 million homeowners who have a solid payment history on an existing mortgage owned by Fannie Mae
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or Freddie Mac.
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Normally, these borrowers would be unable to refinance because their homes have lost value, pushing their current loan-to-value ratios above 80%.
Under the Home Affordable Refinance program, many of them will now be eligible to refinance their loan to take advantage of today's lower mortgage rates or to refinance an adjustable-rate mortgage into a more stable mortgage, such as a 30-year fixed rate loan.
Below are the announced guidelines.
Eligibility and Verification:
—Loans originated on or before January 1, 2009.
—First-lien loans on owner-occupied properties with unpaid principal balance up to $729,750. Higher limits allowed for owner-occupied properties with 2-4 units.
—All borrowers must fully document income, including signed IRS 4506-T, two most recent pay stubs, and most recent tax return, and must sign an affidavit of financial hardship.
—Property owner occupancy status will be verified through borrower credit report and other documentation; no investor-owned, vacant, or condemned properties.
—Incentives to lenders and servicers to modify at risk borrowers who have not yet missed payments when the servicer determines that the borrower is at imminent risk of default.
—Modifications can start from now until December 31, 2012; loans can be modified only once under the program.
Loan Modification Terms and Procedures:
—Participating servicers are required to service all eligible loans under the rules of the program unless explicitly prohibited by contract; servicers are required to use reasonable efforts to obtain waivers of limits on participation.
—Participating loan servicers will be required to use a net present value (NPV) test on each loan that is at risk of imminent default or at least 60 days delinquent. The NPV test will compare the net present value of cash flows with modification and without modification. If the test is positive - meaning that the net present value of expected cash flow is greater in the modification scenario - the servicer must modify absent fraud or a contract prohibition.

—Parameters of the NPV test are spelled out in the guidelines, including acceptable discount rates, property valuation methodologies, home price appreciation assumptions, foreclosure costs and timelines, and borrower cure and redefault rate assumptions.
—Servicers will follow a specified sequence of steps in order to reduce the monthly payment to no more than 31% of gross monthly income (DTI).
—The modification sequence requires first reducing the interest rate (subject to a rate floor of 2%), then if necessary extending the term or amortization of the loan up to a maximum of 40 years, and then if necessary forbearing principal. Principal forgiveness or a Hope for Homeowners refinancing are acceptable alternatives.
—The monthly payment includes principal, interest, taxes, insurance, flood insurance, homeowner's association and/or condominium fees. Monthly income includes wages, salary, overtime, fees, commissions, tips, social security, pensions, and all other income.
—Servicers must enter into the program agreements with Treasury's financial agent on or before December 31, 2009.
Payments to Servicers, Lenders, and Responsible Borrowers:
—The program will share with the lender/investor the cost of reductions in monthly payments from 38% DTI to 31% DTI.
—Servicers that modify loans according to the guidelines will receive an up-front fee of $1,000 for each modification, plus "pay for success" fees on still-performing loans of $1,000 per year.
—Homeowners who make their payments on time are eligible for up to $1,000 of principal reduction payments each year for up to five years.
—The program will provide one-time bonus incentive payments of $1,500 to lender/investors and $500 to servicers for modifications made while a borrower is still current on mortgage payments.
—The program will include incentives for extinguishing second liens on loans modified under this program.
—No payments will be made under the program to the lender/investor, servicer, or borrower unless and until the servicer has first entered into the program agreements with Treasury's financial agent.
—Similar incentives will be paid for Hope for Homeowner refinances.
Transparency and Accountability:
—Measures to prevent and detect fraud, such as documentation and audit requirements, will be central to the program.
—Servicers will be required to collect, maintain and transmit records for verification and compliance review, including borrower eligibility, underwriting, incentive payments, property verification, and other documentation. Current DateTime: 06:55:16 04 Mar 2009LinksList Documentid: 29508292
—Freddie Mac will audit compliance. GSE lenders and servicers already have much of the borrower's information on file, so documentation requirements are not likely to be burdensome. In addition, in some cases an appraisal will not be necessary. This flexibility will make the refinance quicker and less costly for both borrowers and lenders. The Home Affordable Refinance program ends in June 2010.

$15,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit

2009-02-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

The National Association of Home Builders has been instrumental over the last few days in ensuring that a $15,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit is included in the stimulus plan working its way through Congress. This $15,000 tax credit would be for all home purchases, and unlike the $7500 tax credit passed last year which was only available to first time home buyers, would NOT have to be repaid unless the buyer moved within two years of purchase. Such a tax credit could significantly increase home sales, and as a result, significantly boost new home construction and help get the home building industry back to work.

However, this $15,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit is now at risk. The Senate, as it tries to wrap up consideration of its version of the economic stimulus bill, will take the first of several votes this evening. A bipartisan compromise was crafted after intense negotiations to ensure that the Senate stimulus plan has enough votes to pass. At this point, the Senate compromise contains the $15,000 home buyer tax credit adopted last week. However, there has been talk that the credit could be scaled back before the Senate casts its final vote on Tuesday.

We cannot let this happen. As you may know, the House-passed stimulus bill only eliminated the repayment requirement on the current $7,500 first time home buyer tax credit. It is critically important that the entire $15,000 home buyer tax credit be included in the Senate-passed bill so we are in the strongest position as the House and Senate begin conference negotiations to hammer out a final stimulus bill.

Please call Senators Wyden & Merkley at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242) and tell them to preserve the entire $15,000 home buyer tax credit in the Senate version of the economic stimulus bill.
1-866-924-NAHB (6242) Hotline Instructions

After listening to a brief message about the tax credit, you will be asked to enter your zip code so that you can be connected to your House and Senate legislators. The tax credit message should only go to your Senators. So, after the prompt, please press "2" to skip Representative Schrader and be connected to Senator Wyden or Merkley. After you speak to your first Senator, simply stay on the line to automatically be connected to your second Senator. This is a very easy and painless process, as each call will likely take less than 15 seconds or so. Upon being connected to Senator Wyden's and Merkley's offices, simply request that the entire $15,000 home buyer tax credit be preserved in the Senate version of the economic stimulus bill.

Thank you for your support with this effort!

New President, tough road ahead

2009-01-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

Part of a Speech from Barack Obama

"We start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime – a crisis that has only deepened over the last few weeks. Nearly two million jobs have now been lost, and on Friday we are likely to learn that we lost more jobs last year than at any time since World War II. Just in the past year, another 2.8 million Americans who want and need full-time work have had to settle for part-time jobs. Manufacturing has hit a twenty-eight year low. Many businesses cannot borrow or make payroll. Many families cannot pay their bills or their mortgage. Many workers are watching their life savings disappear. And many, many Americans are both anxious and uncertain of what the future will hold. "

We all have a unique opportunity to be a part of history, and do our part to help are country come out off this recession. My goal is do everything in my power to take advantage of all the opportunities that are available to me, and to help my clients to understand all the opportunities available to them to the best of my ability.

In The New Office

2009-01-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

We have made it into our new Office Space very exciting!!
I hope all of you can come by and say hello I would love to show you around our new space.

550 NW Franklin Ave. Bend, OR 97701

541-228-4767
541-382-3333

5 key to speed up your sale

2009-01-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

1) Trust your agent to set the right price. A correctly priced home will always draw attention from buyers.

2) Get your house market-ready before you begin showing it so your family can get used to keeping your home clean and beautiful.

3) The more frequently your home is shown, the faster you will find a seller. Keep your home clean and staged so you can be ready to show your home on short notice.

4) Decide in advance what price and conditions you will find satisfactory.

5) Don't refuse to lower your asking price. Consult with your agent to keep you home priced realistically.

Mt. Bachelor is Open

2008-12-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

Love it or hate it the snow is here.

Hope everyone had a good turkey day.

2008-12-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

Borrowed some articles from some magazines!

- Sunset Magazine, February 2008

“Maybe it’s something in the water, or maybe there’s a superathlete molecule in the air; more than likely, it’s some magical property in the beer. Whatever the reason, Bend has become the porch of preference for some of mountain biking’s big dogs. Straddling the banks of the Deschutes River with the Cascade Mountains to the west and Oregon’s high-desert plateau to the east, Bend is a year-round playground for all species of adventure-sports athlete. While terrain, talent and climate easily make it one of the premier adventure-lifestyle communities in the country, it’s the beer that really sets Bend apart.”

- Mountain Bike, June 2007

“Every place has its season – when living there makes you feel blessed. In Bend, one of the country’s fastest-growing cities, the showcase season happens to be, well, all of them. Take a midsummer night. It’s light until nearly 9:30pm, plenty of time to lob Wolly Buggers into crisp holes on the Deschutes River after work or hop on a bike to catch Beck at the amphitheater. You can ski through May and mountain bike all year and 10,000-foot volcanoes dominate the skyline. And there’s a lot of good beer: five breweries for 67,000 people, plus swanky restaurants, art

They say if you can't come up with the words you are

looking for respectably borrow from someone else.

Rates Are Low!!

2008-11-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

When I get good news I like to push it forward to you guy's.

Rates are LOW!

It’s a huge day for mortgage backed securities (MBS) markets! The Fed and the Treasury announced this morning a new program to purchase up to $500 billion in MBS. MBS prices soared after the news. This was the original proposal for the $700 billion TARP rescue plan, but the uses for the TARP shifted before any MBS were purchased. Now the government will do both. The goal of the new program is to lower mortgage rates, and initial reaction has been awesome!

TARP stands for Taxpayer funded Rescue Plan. Sadly, it’s already your money so take advantage of it.

Here is the news! Financing is now available at the same rates we were seeing back in January. Rates are now sitting firmly in the low 5%’s. If anyone is on the fence as far as a purchase scenario and has documentable income, now is the time to act! Throw this news out to everyone you know, this is the what we’ve been waiting for to stir up some movement in our industry.

Also, with rates this low, it allows me to do a no cost refinance in many scenarios. The conforming full documentation loan that is at 6.25% or above likely falls into this category.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Tyler J. Blackwell ~ Loan Officer
tyler@arbormg.com Arbor Mortgage

Time for first time homebuyers

2008-11-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

Now May Be the Best Time for First Time Homebuyers

"If you've been watching for the fleeting, best time to buy a home,

this fall & winter may be it, especially if you're a first-timer.

There are signs that things are starting to stabilize. Pair that with

limited-time-only offers from the government, and this fall's

market looks awfully tempting for buyers.

The Federal Housing Administration recently boosted its loan

limits in expensive areas such as Washington, but it's going to

take some of that back come Jan. 1, when the loan limit will

shrink back down. If you're going to need a FHA mortgage

start touringhomes now, and make sure to close

by the end of the year.

Keep an eye on the expiration date for the new

close on the home no later than June 30, 2009.

That may seem like a long way off, but it will loom larger

come spring, traditionally

the busiest time for real estate sales."

10 ways to cut energy bills this winter!

2008-11-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls.

2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family's energy bill. Make sure the furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programming the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day while no one is home, or everyone is tucked in bed, will help cut the heating bill.

4. Seal and insulate heating ducts. A system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register.

5. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on home energy bills. Focus on the attic heat rises. Learn more at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.

6. Close fireplace dampers when not in use. When in use, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window about an inch.

7. Let the sun shine in. Open curtains on south facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

8. Stay out of hot water. Water heating accounts for 15 percent of household energy use. Reduce water heating costs by lowering the water heater’s thermostat setting. Also insulate the hot water heater and hot water pipes.

9. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with Energy Star qualified windows. Can’t afford new windows just now? Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.

10. When replacing appliances, light bulbs, electronics, or heating and cooling systems, cut energy bills by up to 30 percent with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find retailers at http://www.energystar.gov/.

Real Estate Search Engine

2008-11-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

If you know how to use Google and like searching for real estate the same way you like searching for everything else, with a search engine, then there is a good chance you will come back and use this site over the course of your market research. We wanted to build a site that focuses squarely on your search the task 95% of Real Estate Web site visitors are trying to accomplish.

Eliminating the visual clutter that is endemic on Real Estate web sites. A simple user interface lets the power of the search engine shine through.

Encourages site users and agents to talk to each other through a progressive series of Web 2.0 interactions.

Try it out at the top of the page!

Century 21 Gold Country

2008-10-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

At Century 21 Gold Country we are as strong as ever.

There's no way to paint a pretty picture in this Real Estate Market because a lot of hard working, bill paying people are losing everything. I find it easy to focus on the negative just as much as the next person. I have found if you look for a positive situation out there in the sea of bad news its not hard to do. I think all the people who have found themselves in a tough situation need to get out of it. The people who were not in a position to get into the real estate market two years ago for the first time probably can. No matter what anyone's personal situation the oppurtunities are many and those oppurtunities are not going away anytime soon. So why not due what you have to and put yourself in a position to take advantage of the market!

Why Bend Oregon?

2008-10-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

With 300 days of sunshine a year (as many as Arizona!) and oodles of fresh powder come winter, the high desert country of Central Oregon is an idyllic playground for sports lovers. Rekindle your spirit with a gamut of possibilities such as world famous golf at more than 25 unique courses, coveted fly-fishing at over 150 rivers and lakes, and outdoor adventures including hiking, rock climbing at Smith Rock and an abundance of snow sports atop Mt. Bachelor. And what’s more, the region boasts an equally impressive selection of restaurants and breweries, a vibrant nightlife, unique lodging and a growing arts & music scene.