These are some of the best pictures in my photo album. Last night the Dobsons signed the paperwork for their new Vancouver Washington home. The plan is for us to close today and I will be delivering the keys by this afternoon! CONGRATULATIONS guys! I hope you enjoy your new home!

Portland's Shamrock Run is this weekend, Sunday March 18th. It promises to be the usual early usual morning party with 32,000 people taking part in various courses throughout downtown Portland.

I remember my first Shamrock Run quite well. Who wouldn't remember running among thousands of costumed participants, with bag pipe music and a beer station near the finish line? Exactly.

The 34th Anniversary of the Shamrock Rock will be a well attended with more than 32,000 participants. Registration for the popular event generally sells out quickly.

However, this Thursday, March 15th, an additional 5oo tickets will be released at 8AM. 100% of all proceeds will go to the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation.

Last year, I actually placed in the top three finishers for my age group, and that earned me a Shamrock Run - Adidas backpack. As the field narrows with age, the odds of winning increase!

1. All races begin at Naito Parkway and Pine, right next to Waterfront Park. Events range from a short .06 distance for children, to a challenging 15K through Portland hills.

The Shamrock Run is a USATF-sanctioned event, and rules will be followed in determining the top 5 finishers for the 5K, 8K and 15K races. USATF recognizes gun time, not chip times.

Here's a photo taken after running the 15K course with my daughter in 2010. All 15 K finishers get a commemorative beer opener - no surprise there, after all, it is a St. Patrick's celebration too.

Don't count on luck in your search for a new home. Give me a call, we'll spend less time running around and more time finding you the perfect match.

Real Estate and Homes Sales in Clark County Show Vigor Early in 2012

This snap-shot report is showing that Clark County WA real estate results for early 2012 is showing break-out transaction volume. The table below shows the approximate number of listings Active, Pending and Sold at the end of February. The columns then break out the elements by Categories: Total Homes; Short Sales and PreForeclosures; Foreclosures (Bank Owned).

The more in-depth report is due out next week (stay tuned!) however, we see that the total Inventory is still way down from prior years; with Closed Sales for February showing improvement; and the Pending Sales took a Big jump up from January's strong showing!

The Distressed Property segment, still the most challenging element in the housing recovery for the Clark County real estate market, shows consistent volume trend. However, this segment hit another high for the Percentage of the Total Market Closed Sales in February. The welcome news in February is that we see a significant increase in "Normal Sales" that went pending combined with the 510 total Pending Sales.

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This report was prepared by John Slocum, Realtor & Broker with REMAX Vancouver WA. The data provided by the RMLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

In the "Good 'ol Days of Real Estate" it was said the business was all about "Location, Location, Location!" Today in the year 2012, as we recover from the Great Recession we know a more correct and contemporary rendering of that phrase is "Location, Condition and Price" will determine a proper Value for any particular person or purpose.

With Much of the For Sale inventory, being Short Sale Homes or, Bank Owned Homes we find with varying levels of problems in the "Condition" department. Common items requiring correction seen are: Carpets that are shot; Exterior-Siding decay; Roof is worn out with bad gutters; Kitchen is very dated, appliances are old and counter-tops are worn out. All items are easy enough to correct but, the seller of a short sale has no funds to take on the item(s).

How do these deficiencies affect the home's value? -- Answer: Big Time! For example: a home that needs a roof repair for $10,000 may see the price drop $15,000 to $20,000. Why? Most conventional home loans will require such an item to be repaired prior to closing, and tends to cause many buyers move on to another property to purchase.

When you undertake a home repair, it is important to use the Right Tool. Likewise, when purchasing a Fixer Home, it is important to use the Right Loan. For over 20 years there has been a U.S. Government sponsored home loan program called the FHA 203k Loan that can help with the purchase of these homes that are in need of repair. This is an excellent program and timely for today's conditions but, not very well known. In a nutshell, with a 203k loan you can both Purchase the home (owner occupied buyer); and borrow the funds to make renovations and repairs -- All In One Loan!

Recently both John and Kathryn took the opportunity take certification training in the FHA 203k home loan offered by ReBuildUSA. With support from the home improvement company Lowes, ReBuildUSA put together a Real Estate Broker Program, and a Home Lender program, to better help us in the industry have a deeper understanding of the wide range of options the 203k loan provides, and truly amazing benefits offered to today's home-buyer and our community. From the brief video below you will learn as we did, that the FHA 203k Renovation loan is so much more than the simple explanation we've provided above.

For another voice on this, here's a recent television interview:

Not long ago, one of our home buyers purchased a Short Sale home with the 203k loan. For a purchase price of $95,000; and repairs of about $12,000; the FHA Appraisal for their home loan came in at $145,000. Or, another way to do the math: for a 3.5% down payment = $3,745; Loan = $103,255; and the Instant Equity was approximately $38,000!!!

This is truly a great time to purchase a home, and the FHA 203k loan may be the very best loan going right now!

Please call us to find out more!

Don't forget to Spring forward this Sunday, March 11th. You'll need to set your clocks forward from 2AM standard time to 3AM daylight savings time or DST.

The idea of Daylight Savings time originated over a century ago. It was first implemented in Germany and Britain to conserve energy during World War 1.

The United States tried it in 1918, but abandoned it after it was proved unpopular. During World War 11, the US observed DST year round from 1942 to 1945.

Finally, in 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act. It mandates that all states observing DST move their clocks forward ( and back) at the same time.

For 20 years, we observed DST from early April to late October. However, in 2007, we started to Spring forward in March and fall back to standard time in November.

DST is not without controversy. Proponents say the extra daylight in the evening saves energy, extends outdoor activities, and boosts tourism and the economy.

Opponents say DST puts school children at risk in regions where they have to contend with dark mornings. They claim it also disrupts sleep schedules and health.

Regardless, of which side of the debate you fall, you're going to need to Spring forward this Sunday, March 11th.

Be sure to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring by getting dirty, well, muddy to be exact. It's time for March Muddy Madness!

So, what do you think? Are you gaining an hour of fun? Or, are you losing an hour of sleep?