Vancouver-Clark County Parks Seasonal Closings

If you are out and about in Clark Co, Vancouver/SW Washington and running, walking or just a family outing check out this list for seasonal restroom closures...

Vancouver Parks and Recreation

An upswing in home Sales are expected...

All indicators show that the Sale homes are going to continue to grow over the next two years.  Don't give up, stay in the Market and you will be poised to take advantage of this activity.

Home sales predictions for 2011 and into 2012

Washington's Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program.

Looking for Tuition Money...here is a link to sign up for information seminar regarding this program in the State of Washington...The times and dates are for SW Washington...

 Washington'g Guaranteed Education Tuition Program Schedule 

Halloween Safety Tips

Follow this link to some great Halloween Safety Tips for home, family and friends..

Halloween Safety Tips.

Buying or Selling in the Fall....

Home Buying and Selling Tips for Fall

HGTV's real estate site Front Door says the weeks between now and the end-of-the year holidays are the best ones to find a bargain. Here are some of their tips for fall buyers and sellers:

Fall Sellers:
 Replace faded summer plants with fall-blooming flowers and add autumn decorations to the home.
 Expect low-ball offers and be prepared with higher counter offers.
 Freshen up listing photos by shooting pictures that make it less obvious that the seasons have changed.
 Price the home to sell. A price that is a little lower than the competition may be a winning move.
 Be willing to show the property and hold open houses whenever potential buyers are ready 

Fall Buyers:
 Look for motivated sellers who have a reason to move on by the end of the year.
 Explore new constructions. Builders are often interested in selling before the new tax year.
 Beware of fall maintenance issues. Consider overflowing gutters and leaf-covered lawns.    
 Shape offers carefully. Even in this market it is possible to turn sellers off with a too-low bid.Source: FrontDoor.com (09/16/2010)

Washington State...it's time to Roar!!

http://Ez.com/wvgb    It is all about your money...who do you want to share it with?  You, your family, charities, you decide...go to this link and read the issues coming up on our ballots in November...

Poll: Candy Tax Repeal Gains Ground, Four Initiatives Losing

By Erica C. Barnett, Monday, October 11, 2010 at 5:28 PM
18 Comments and 10 Reactions

A new Elway Poll shows Initiative 1107, which would repeal temporary sales taxes on candy, soda, and bottled water, has gained support over the last two months, going from 47 percent “definitely” or “probably” favoring the measure in September, to 54 percent “definitely” or “probably” supporting it.

In addition, support for the high-earners’ income tax, Initiative 1098, has slipped substantially, going from 46 percent support in June to 41 percent this month.

Support for privatizing liquor and workers’ compensation insurance has also fallen, as has support for Tim Eyman-backed I-1053, which would require a two-thirds majority of the state legislature, which has gone from 65 percent support in June to 49 percent in October.

Here’s the full breakdown, followed by some analysis from the report.

Initiative 1107, repealing sales tax on candy, soda, and bottled water:

Definitely for: 40 percent

Probably for: 14 percent

Probably against: 16 percent

Definitely against: 17 percent

Undecided: 13 percent

Men (59 percent), Republicans (65 percent) and Independents (62 percent) were more likely to support repealing the taxes than women (50 percent) and Democrats (41 percent).

Initiative 1053, requiring a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to raise taxes:

Definitely for: 28 percent

Probably for: 21 percent

Probably against: 19 percent

Definitely against: 15 percent

Undecided: 17 percent

The percentage of voters who said they were undecided declined substantially (from 25 percent in September). Most of those former undecideds went to the opposition camp, which grew from 27 percent in September to 34 percent this month.

Most Republicans (61 percent) supported 1053, as did half (50 percent) of Independents. Democrats were split, with 40 percent in support and 39 percent opposed.

Initiative 1098, establishing an income tax on individuals making more than $200,000 a year (and couples making more than $400,000)

Definitely for: 25 percent

Probably for: 16 percent

Probably against: 19 percent

Definitely against: 29 percent

Undecided: 11 percent

Support for I-1098 has slipped from a high of 46 percent in June. Meanwhile, people who said they were more likely to vote in November were also more likely to oppose 1098—39 percent of “perfect voters” supported the measure, compared to 67 percent of those who just registered for the first time.

Not surprisingly, 48 percent of voters who made less than $50,000 supported 1098, while 39 percent of voters making more than $75,000 did.

Initiative 1100, privatizing liquor sales, dismantling barriers between distributors and retailers, allowing volume discounts, and preserving the state tax on liquor:

Definitely for: 26 percent

Probably for: 16 percent

Probably against: 19 percent

Definitely against: 25 percent

Undecided: 14 percent

I-1100 still enjoys more support than the other liquor-privatization initiative, I-1100. However, formerly undecided voters are turning against the measure, which had a 34 percent “no” vote (and 21 percent undecided) back in September.

Private-sector employees are more likely to vote in favor of I-1100 (50 percent yes) than public employees (29 percent yes).

Initiative 1105, privatizing liquor sales, preserving the wall between distributors and retailers, and eliminating all state liquor taxes:

Definitely for: 21 percent

Probably for: 15 percent

Probably against: 19 percent

Definitely against: 26 percent

Undecided: 18 percent

Although independents were evenly split on I-1100, they opposed I-1105, with 47 percent saying they’d vote no, and just 35 percent saying they’d vote yes.

While the youngest voters (18-35) were more likely to favor 1105 over 1100 (44 vs. 38 percent), the oldest voters (over 65) were more likely to favor 1100 than 1105 (43 vs. 34 percent). And 33 percent of all voters said they planned to vote for both initiatives.

Initiative 1082, privatizing workers’ compensation insurance:

Definitely for: 14 percent

Probably for: 17 percent

Probably against: 19 percent

Definitely against: 21 percent

Undecided: 29 percent

People remain utterly perplexed by this complicated initiative, with 29 percent still undecided (down from 38 percent last month). Independents and Democrats both opposed the initiative (45 percent and 27 percent no, respectively), while Republicans supported it 37 to 32 percent.

School Days in Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver Public Schools just posted their Report for the Community...take a look at what we have to offer your little and big ones...





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Mortgage Rate Chart from 1971...

The Mortgage Rates have never been so Great!!!  attached is a chard that show the rates going back to 1971..Housing prices are down...what are we waiting for...If you went out and someone offered you 4% on your money, would this make you happy...Well the Banks are offering you their money for 4%...this is incredible...Time to Buy!!!




Mortgage Rates

Fort Vancouver Tours

The Tours at Ft. Vancouver are in full swing with the Lantern Tour beginning October 2nd...this is a great outing for the Holidays if you have not been before, put it on your must to do list...

Fort Vancouver Tours

Senior News for Vancouver, Clark County/SW Washington

This is a great resource for Senior news for Clark County/SW Washington...so, come out and play where you love to live.

Seniors, Vancouver, WA

Housing Equity

• 
  
• Housing equity rose 17 percent or nearly $1 trillion over the past 5 quarters (15 months).
• The increase was due to a modest rise in home values and a reduction in outstanding mortgage debt.
• The debt reduction resulted from ‘cash-in’ refinancings and a greater number of all-cash purchases. The Realtors® Confidence Index reports that 28 percent of August purchases were all-cash.
• The lower debt is also a result of foreclosures, which remove debt from the national household finance data, though bank balance sheets do take a hit.