As the market changes, so do negotiations..

Attached is a great article about the current and near future in the Real Estate Market in many areas of the Country now...I know that we are noticing this trend in SW Washington/Vancouver, especially in the $150,000 to $200,000 range.

Interest rates are still at a historical low, so it is the time to make a purchase.  We are at the upward swing of the Pendulum...so, waiting can be a double mistake...

Agents Prepare Home Buyers to Compete

Christmas Luminaries - Lowe's Creative Ideas

What a great way to light up your Neighborhood on a cold December evening...get you neighbors together and set out luminaries for an evening, then take a walk through your neighborhood and visit with your neighbors...it is a great way to bring cheer and holiday joy to your community.

Christmas Luminaries - Lowe's Creative Ideas

Realty Times - Holiday Home Safety

As we move closer to the Holidays, here are some tips on how to have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season...Happy Holidays to Your Family from Mine!!

Realty Times - Holiday Home Safety

Home Inventory - the lowest in 3 years

In Clark County/Vancouver, Washington we are experiencing the lowest inventory in homes in the past 3 years.  If these trends continue, prices will rise due to a lack of homes.  Of course there is always the problem of the appraisal should the prices begin to rise. 

I would love to see more inventory, so we can keep a good steady Real Estate Market here and not get into the multiple offer scenario of 2004 and 2005.  We now have a 4.7 month supply of homes on the market..

3.8% Tax Update

There is a lot going on around the additional 3.8% tax on your investments.  Here is a quick link for your files...I hope that if you have any additional questions you inquire with your Tax Consultant or Accountant. 

Foreclosed Home Owners Rebound Faster With FHA Loans

Attached is a good article showing a small light at the end of a very long tunnel.  If you lost your home due to Foreclosure and it was an FHA Loan, you may have some relief earlier than anticipated.


Foreclosed Home Owners Rebound Faster With FHA Loans

Real Estate Statistics for SW Washington

I know that it can be confusing with all of the numbers and statistics that we see on the national level regarding your Real Estate.  I am posting the 3rd Quarter Statistics for Clark Co./SW Washington for your information and review.  While, yes, we do have some Short Sales , Forclosures/Bank Owned, most of our inventory and sales come from the original Buyers...

The market has been very steady here in our region and we have had a slight uptick in pricing...I do mean slight, and this is good...Interest rates have given a lot of assistance to our market, making it easier to afford a loan, not necessarilly easier to obtain a loan.

Closet organization

What to do with all of the shoes...your shoes, my shoes, our shoes, his shoes, her shoes...oh, my...so I thought that I would share this great shoe organizer...possible the answer for all shoes.

We like to leave our shoes at the door, the most common recepticle has been a basket.  They get tossed and retossed into and on eachother.  This would be a great solution to having a drawer for each of us...also toss the keys etc into the top drawer..

Your next new home!!

Of course we love our kids and want the very best for them....however, is it really necessary to provide them their own home at 2 or 3...some may think that it is...take a look at the new homes for your little ones.  Yes that is the Mansion playhouse through the Portico...

New home for your Preschooler

 

 

Appraisals...how have the affected your Purchase/Sale

As we move into the new market with Real Estate, we are finding the prices are inching up a little.  While this is great for the Seller and the Real Estate Market as a whole, it does bring it's own set of problems.
                               

The real estate market is recovering with prices in most regions of the country showing assorted levels of appreciation. In a market where prices are escalating, the appraiser may find it difficult to find appropriate ‘comps’ for your listing. That can cause challenges during your real estate transactions as appraised values may not reflect market conditions such as rising prices, multiple bids, and low inventory.

In a recent survey conducted  by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), it was revealed that:

• 11% of Realtors said a contract was cancelled because an appraised value came in below the price negotiated between the buyer and seller
• 9% reported a contract was delayed
• 15% said a contract was renegotiated to a lower sales price as a result of a low valuation

Ask your Brokers to run a Market Analysis for you on the Home that you are making an offer on to ascertain the probability of this resulting in your experience.  You may loose your original offer, however, you may be in an great position for your backup offer..

I recently prepaired a back up offer for a Client in just this situation and within a couple of weeks they were in first position, as the original offer could not make it happen...So, don't be afraid to be in 2nd position. 

Nationwide Open House Weekend, April 28th - 29th

It's Nationwide Open House Weekend this Weekend...

April 28 - 29th..

Find a House, Call, Text or EMail  and I can assist you with your move...

Thinking of a new home in 2012....here is your check list

When looking forward to a new home in the New Year, here is a great check list for your review...then call your favorite Realtor...me...Your Realtor from First Nest to Empty Nest...you can always find me in the "Cloud"

www.kathyamorin.com

Your 2012 house search check list...

Great tips for your smaller space...

Making your new smaller space feel wonderful!!  Things you can only do if you own your own home...

Here are more design trends taking hold in 2011:

• Outdoor amenities such as grills, sinks, showers, and entertainment areas.
• Freestanding tubs with a separate stand-up shower in the bathroom.
• Color schemes – Earth tones, blues and blue greens, chocolate browns.
• International design influence, especially Asian design in both décor and functional products.
• Ceiling details accenting rooms within open floor plans.
• Media space for flat screen TVs and gaming systems, and living areas wired for technology.
• Organizational features, built-ins, and smart storage areas throughout the home.
• Universal design features incorporated in subtle ways.
• Artistic tile in kitchens and baths, often emulating organic patterns found in nature.
• Energy efficient products – washing machines, dish washers, toilets, and showerheads.
• LED lighting incorporated into sinks, showers, and medicine cabinets.

Call today, we can turn your house into a home...

Tags: bath, color trends, design, International Builders

Free Admission to the Portland Chinese Gardens

The Portland Chinese Gardens as a welcome to the New Year has been offering Free Admission, and this is the last weekend for that offer...Go and Visit if you are just visiting Portland or if you live in or around the area.  http://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/

Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays..

My family has enjoyed this cranberry sauce recipe over the years..

Title: Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Orange Sauce

Ingredients:

1 Cup Water/with Fresh Orange juice
1 Cup Sugar
1 12 Oz., package Cranberries, rinsed and drained
orange peel-grated from one orange/cut in half and
juice and add to water.
Chopped nuts..I like pecan



Directions:

Grate Orange and extract Juice into measuring cup.
Combine water, orange juice, sugar in a medium
sauce pan. Bring to a boil, add cranberries, return
to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes
stirring occasionally. Stir in grated orange peel and nuts.

Cover and cool..

you could also use this as a project and place in

jars for gifts..

Number Of Servings:dinner
Preparation Time:10 min...

Cleaning your fireplace with Used Coffee Grounds

Got a fireplace that actually burns things up? If there's a significant amount of ashes to clean out, you can cut down on the mouth-covering and coughing with used coffee grounds, which mix with the ashes into an easy-to-clean whole.

The tip comes from Networx, which claims that the weight and slight dampness of coffee grounds, when sprinkled around a fireplace bottom, makes ashes less likely to fly and easier to clean out. We found the coffee grounds/ash connection in a few other places online, too—along with a number of suggestions on making your own long-burning logs out of coffee grounds, so it seems worth at least a try.

A House is First a Home..

These new numbers came out of the National Association of Realtors Convention this AM.  These latest figures show that it will take over 10 years to get back to the 2005 - 2007 price, if ever.  It may be time to just move forward...it continues to be a great time to buy.  Interest rates are expected to jump into the 5% range going into the Spring market of 2011.  Mortgage Rates rising to 5.0% in 2011 and 5.9% in 2012


Economists Expect Price Increases in Upcoming Years

Macromarkets, a firm associated with Professor Robert Shiller, surveys about 100 economists about home price outlook.

The consensus forecast as of August 2010 (which can be found from Macromarkets or from news media stories such as Wall Street Journal) are for

0.78% price increase in 2011

2.43% price increase in 2012

3.20% price increase in 2013

3.69% price increase in 2014

No forecast for 2015 and beyond

Why Buy a Home?

You're a Homeowner, what now...

Homeownership provides a sense of stability and security. Instead of wondering when the landlord might decide to sell the home, you are in control of that decision. Additionally, homeownership provides immeasurable values of belonging to a social community. Also, as a homeowner, you'll have a greater influence on community affairs. Renters, being usually more transient, have less influence on policymakers.




What it comes down to is how long you plan on staying in a particular home and area and what you can afford. Owning your home weds you to a property which some people feel limits them. However, many others see a home as their life and the legacy they'll leave behind... a place where they raise children, enjoy company, experience life's ups and downs, and eventually pass on their home to loved ones.

Vancouver Washington Libraries..

If you are living or working around the Vancouver, Washington area, you have just got to visit your FVRL..November is full of great events for all of the Family...Laura Bush is coming to town for a fundraiser for the Library...It's not all about Green Eggs and Ham...

FVRL

Homebuyers Credit 2008,2009,2010

Do you have to repay your Home Buyers Credit...the rules changed a couple of different times during the offering.  When did you buy and what was your credit?  This article may be helpful in looking back and seeing what your Home Buyers Credit was all about...

HomeBuyers Credit