About Yakima County, WA

Loan Modification Moses Lake, Yakima, Cle Elum, Washington

Moses Lake, Yakima, and Cle Elum, Washington homeowners are now able to save millions with a home loan modification or mortgage refinance under Obama’s “Making Home Affordable” plan. Backed by $75 billion in funding, the Obama administration’s loan modification program is intended to help 7-9 million homeowners modify their mortgage loan.

The Obama administration’s home loan modification program was created to help you avoid foreclosure by allowing every American homeowner access to the current low mortgage interest rates. As a result, a mortgage loan modification is something more and more Washington homeowners are considering in order to save their homes from foreclosure.

Nearly all Moses Lake, Yakima, and Cle Elum, Washington homeowners now qualify for a loan modification under the Obama administration’s “Making Home Affordable” plan. Thanks to the HAMP program, a homeowner’s mortgage payment cannot exceed 31% of their gross income, and because most home loans exceed 31%, the majority of borrowers are eligible for hundreds of dollars in monthly savings.

Loan Modification:

• Lowers the homeowner's monthly payments;
• Lowers the loan's interest rate;
• Swaps a rising adjustable rate for an affordable fixed rate;
• Reduces the principle balance of the property;
• Corrects payment delinquencies and defaults;
• Adjusts the length of the loan terms
• Or any combination of the above!

Homeowners can immediately determine what your current mortgage debt-to-income is and how much your monthly payment may be reduced if you qualify for Obama's Loan Modification Program.

Eligible Moses Lake, Yakima, and Cle Elum, WA homeowners now suffering through financial hardships such as credit card debts, loss in income, unemployment, a bad mortgage, or other financial circumstances, can get approved for a 4% mortgage refinancing and modification plan under President Obama’s “Making Home Affordable” plan.

A loan modification can get homeowners lowered interest rates which can prevent you from being foreclosed on, help those in the foreclosure process, and prevent mortgage defaults by saving hundreds of dollars per month on your home loan payments.

With a loan modification, affordable payments are still possible for eligible Moses Lake, Yakima, and Cle Elum, Washington homeowners. Right now we are seeing mortgage rates at historical lows, and mortgage lenders have more incentives than ever before to modify your loan. The Obama administration has been working hard to assist you with the mortgage loan modification process, and it would be beneficial to take advantage of this time.

1.Historical Park Have a picnic, play games, and tour history at Fort Simcoe State Park. Located at the end of SR220, 45 minutes South of Yakima, the park is open daily 6:30AM to dusk through October 2^nd. An Interpretative Center and the Historical Buildings are open 9:30- 4:30PM Wed-Sun through Oct. 1^st. Call (509) 874-2372 or visit  http://www.parks.wa.gov/ for more information.

2.Art Show  Enjoy art from three very different perspectives, now through June 4^th, at Oak Hollow Gallery, Chalet Place, 5631 Summitview Ave., Yakima. (509) 965-3846 "Generational Views: Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter." Works by Ardith Kaiser, Holly Mahre and Lindsey Gaskill. (A Mother's Day outing, maybe?)

3.Kids/Teens Night Out "Saturday Night Live", every Saturday night 7-9:30 at the YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. Free fun for ages 7-15. Activities include swimming, basketball, volleyball, foosball, and pool. (509) 248-1202.

4.Dance Not just any dancing, but Los Bailadores Del Sol. This dance group is so energetic and great fun to watch, and the public can participate as they practice, too. 6:30-8:30 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Castlevale EPIC, 2902 Castlevale Rd., Yakima.

5.Music  This month you can listen to Ryan Schultz on the Tuba at Englewood Christian Church. The Second Sunday Series falls this month on May 11^th and starts at 2PM. The church is located at 511 N. 44^th Ave., Yakima. Donations are accepted if you'd like to contribute.

6.Book Club  On the second Wednesday of each month you'll find the Passionate Readers Book Club in deep discussion at Borders Books. Meetings begin at 7PM. Borders is in the Union Gap Mall at 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. (509) 248-4018.

7.Car Show The American Reflections Car Club is hosting their 8^th Annual "Open" Show Sunday, May 18^th at Moxee Park. There is a registration fee to enter, but looking and enjoying is free! Features custom cars, classics, streetrods, stock vehicles, trucks, vehicles under construction, foreign vehicles, tuners, lowriders, SUVs, motorcycles and even bicycles! Music and food vendors, too!

8.Storytelling "Tales of the Rails" is songs and storytelling by Nancy Stewart and MaryLee Sunseri. Fun the whole family will enjoy! Show is May 23^rd at 7PM in the Yakima Valley Museum at Franklin Park, 2015 Tieton Dr., Yakima. (509) 248-0747. Have a picnic in the park and then enjoy the show!

9.More Music An electric-folk/rock presentation by Raining Jane, May 27^th at 7PM at the CWU Student Union and Rec. Center Pit off Chestnut Street in Ellensburg. (Okay, this isn't Yakima, but it's close, and it sounds like a lot of fun...)

10.Campfire Talks Every summer the Yakima Sportsman State Park hosts what they call the Summer Campfire Program. Each event has a different topic and host. Bring a lawn chair and stick around to roast marshmallows (provided) after the talk. The park is located at 904 Keys Rd., Yakima. (509) 575-2774

• May 24^th, "Vineyards of Yakima Valley"
• May 31st, Bob Tuck, "Local Yakima Birds & Animals"                                                                                                                                                                           

This includes all residential sales, including condos, townhouses, single-family site built homes, manufactured homes on leased land, and manufactured homes on land. The data was pulled from the MLS and compiled by me.

Total volume and total units sold are lower this year than last year, but the average price has increased and the average days on market has declined. So, while we are seeing some slowing, homes are selling faster and for more money.

I've been reporting that Yakima is a strong market despite the slight declines in volume, but thought it would be more believable if I brought out some real numbers.

"Housing market continues to fall", read the headline yesterday on the money page of the local newspaper. It was an AP article discussing the situation nationwide. Quoting statistics from the National Association of Realtors and economic experts, the article suggests that the real estate market is in for a really bad year.

National statistics may interest some, but I hear from most people that they'd like to know what is happening here...where they live and work. I would love to see the Yakima Herald Republic print more articles about our local economy because this national doom and gloom reporting is scaring people. I answer panicked calls from sellers and buyers daily.

So, today, I'm writing to people in my community and sharing some GOOD news, some SO-SO news, and some LOCAL market information....

GOOD NEWS: Local non-agricultural job growth is at the second highest level in Yakima County since 1990. The new Osteopathic college will open it's doors to the first class this fall. The HOP market has gone crazy and all those farmers planting extra acres are going to bring loads of money into the local economy. Downtown Yakima has been born-again as a hip, fun, artsy place to be and be seen. New construction homes are selling here...more and more homes are being built and most are purchased in advance. (Have you driven around West Valley lately!) I hosted an open house in Yakima last Sunday and was bombarded by buyers...I haven't done an open house that busy since last spring!

SO-SO NEWS: Lending standards have changed. You now need to have some money and good credit, in addition to a pulse, to get a home loan. Sub-prime loans have gone bye-bye. This just means that young first-time buyers will need to plan and save before becoming homeowners. Gas prices are up, just like everywhere else, and this is affecting local businesses. Those who rely on shipping products in or out, folks in the trucking or repair industries, or real estate agents driving to showings have seen it first-hand in their wallets. This is forcing us to be more conscious of our driving habits, and also urging the faster exploration of alternative fuels. We all need to buy as much locally as possible. The Farmer's Market will be back soon and even bigger this season!

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET NEWS: That headline about the falling market was all about the number of pending home sales. In Yakima, the pending sales are down, too. For the last thirty day period compared to 2007 for the same 30 days, we are down 4 pending sales. FOUR. That could just be four folks that couldn't get a loan this year, or four that were too afraid to try because of all the negative media. We have 10% more houses on the market this year-to-date compared to the same period last year (114 more residential listings, which is less than one month's inventory). But average sale price is up 4% (GOOD). Average Days On Market from list date to closing date is longer, though. Four days longer. FOUR. Four days longer to sell, Four pending sales worse than 2007. Prices up 4%. This isn't the same real estate market the AP reporter was writing about. We are affected by some of the same things happening nationally, but not nearly at the same level.

If you are waiting to buy or sell in the Yakima area because of the bad news reports...STOP IT! Now is a fine time to shop for a house. The extra inventory is a treat if you're buying, lots to choose from...and sellers that price right for the market and present their homes well are still getting them sold. Call a local Realtor if you have questions. We have ready access to the facts and are willing to share the information.