Holiday Toy Drive to benefit CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
November 2 - December 4

Join me and the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors
as we collect unwrapped toys and gift cards for Kootenai County
children and teenagers this holiday season.

Make a difference in a child's life!

There are over 600,000 abused, neglected children in the U.S. Over 260 of these children are in Kootenai County. CASA volunteers represent these children in court, focusing exclusively on the child's best interest. They research their background & serve as fact finders for the judge. Volunteers continue to monitor during the life of the case, helping to ensure that the child makes it to a safe, permanent home as soon as possible.

Click on the link to the CASA website to find out more information about the organization and volunteer opportunities you can become involved in.

If you would like to join me in making a difference, please consider a donation of toys for children to age 12 or gift cards for teenagers, with a $15 value. Gifts should be unwrapped, gift bags are appreciated. Call me if you have questions or need more information. You can drop off toys and donations to me at my office. I'd love a chance to shake your hand and thank you personally!

Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene
1044 Northwest Blvd. Suite F
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
208-651-9700

Thank you for whatever you can do to
bring a smile to a child's face this holiday season!

My dad, Ron Rankin, had a vision to build a veterans memorial plaza between the old courthouse and the new administrative building in Coeur d'Alene. Dad was elected Kootenai County Commissioner in 1996, and served two terms from January 1997 through January 2003.

Dad began to raise money from private individuals for the three flagpoles and dedicatory stone. In 1998 the 8-ton black marble "Killed In Action" monument was placed in the plaza. Over the next few years the 13 wall panels of battle scenes from history, and the Hall of Heroes/Medal of Valor recipients and Purple Heart Honor Roll were added. Dad considered this memorial to veterans as his legacy. To this day, no public money has been used for the memorials, including the 14th marble wall panel honoring those who have and continue to serve in Iraq which was added in 2005.

After Dad's passing in 2004, the county unanimously decreed that the plaza be dedicated in his name. On Memorial Day 2005, the Rankin family donated the eagle statue to the citizens and veterans of Kootenai County during a ceremony to dedicate the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza.

My dad enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946, shipped out to the Philippines, and was stationed at Subic Bay U.S. Naval Base. He was discharged in 1948. In 1950, dad enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves, just before he was activated on July 29, 1950, and shipped out August 18 for Korea, leaving behind my mom and my 7-month-old sister Lynne. Dad saw combat at the Inchon Landing and continued on to the liberation of Seoul, heading north to the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. After surviving 100,000 Red Chinese, he was discharged as a corporal on July 12, 1951.

A life member and founding Judge Advocate of the Pappy Boyington Detachment #966 of the Marine Corps League, Dad was also a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9831; a member of American Legion Post 14; and a member of the "Chosin Few," a last-man organization of those who survived the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in North Korea, November-December 1950.

My sister, Kerri Rankin Thoreson, continues today as the curator of the Kootenai County Ronald D Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza and oversees the memorials and ceremonies which take place there. She is also the wonderful photographer credited with these photographs.

I hope you'll join me today in prayer for our veterans, past and present, that our Heavenly Father will hold them in His loving hands as they stand between us and tyranny. Semper Fi, daddy.

Mortgages rates currently under 5%. What a great opportunity to buy a home at some of the lowest interest rates we have seen in many years!

Current Mortgage Rates

Please contact me to find your North Idaho Dream Home. Be sure to ask me about your free customized MLS home search "Portal." Your North Idaho Real Estate Pro:

Pam Jank, Realtor, ABR, GRI, CRS, RSPS, PPS
Previews Property Specialist
Web: Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes for Sale
email to:pamjank@hotmail.com
Phone: 208-661-2282
Fax: 208-772-628 Toll Free: 800-829-2555 EXT.1275
COLDWELL BANKER SCHNEIDMILLER REALTY
435 W. Hanley Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID 838315

Energy & Cost Saving HEATING TIPS:

• Set your thermostat as low as you can find comfortable.

• Make sure that warm air registers, baseboard heaters, or radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.

• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.

• Turn off kitchen, bath, and ventilating fans as soon as they have done their job (so they don't remove any more heated or cooled air than is necessary).

• Keep draperies and shades open on south-facing windows during the heating season to allow sunlight in. Close them at night to reduce heat losses.

• Close off unoccupied rooms, and turn down the heating for these rooms.

• Add insulation to heating system ductwork that is in cold basements or attic spaces.

• Use duct tape to seal ductwork that leaks hot air at joints, etc. (use UL approved tape that will last longer).

• Add insulation above the ceiling, inside walls, and beneath floors.

• Add caulking and weather-stripping.

• Install storm windows, insulating shutters, or drapes.

• Install storm or insulating doors.

• If you use electricity for heating, consider installing a heat pump.

• Install an air-tight wood stove.

• Convert to an energy-efficient oil or gas furnace.

• Consider a solar heating system.

Please contact me to find your North Idaho Dream Home. Be sure to ask me about your free customized MLS home search "Portal." Your North Idaho Real Estate Pro:

Pam Jank, Realtor, ABR, GRI, CRS, RSPS, PPS
Previews Property Specialist
Web: Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes for Sale
email to:pamjank@hotmail.com
Phone: 208-661-2282
Fax: 208-772-628 Toll Free: 800-829-2555 EXT.1275
COLDWELL BANKER SCHNEIDMILLER REALTY
435 W. Hanley Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID 838315

Another North Idaho Loan Modification Company, HomeModifier, Gets Busted!

It wasn't long ago that Apply 2 Save went down in legal flames after ripping off scads of vulnerable homeowners trying to make the best of a bad situation. In the news this week is the tale of another loan modification company that didn't deliver what people paid big money for them to do. APS Northwest LLC, operating under the name HomeModifier in Spokane Valley and Post Falls, is being charged with a scam by the Idaho attorney general.

The AG filed legal action in the First District Court this week with an order to hand over tens of thousands in civil penalties for false representation, false advertising, and failing to perform services.

The complaint states, "Defendants accepted thousands of dollars from dozens of consumers for mortgage modification services that defendants never provided, that they were not qualified to provide, and that defendants were not authorized to provide."

BEWARE of LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANIES! I have written several articles about loan modifications and how these companies charge HUGE fees to do something that you can do yourself. In many cases,as with HomeModifier, they take your money and leave you hanging. For some important loan modification information please read:

Loan Modification Scams, Operation Loan Lies and a Ding on Your Credit Report

Loan modifications are FRUSTRATING to attempt to accomplish, and increasingly I am hearing of horror stories from good folks who should qualify but can't make it happen in spite of their best efforts. The facts are that in most cases it is NOT in the lenders best financial interest to modify a loan.

Is the FDIC Killing Short Sales and Loan Modifications in Coeur d'Alene Idaho?

It seems as if they are intentionally trying to make it as difficult as they can. It can seem tempting to someone who is emotionally stressed and financially overwhelmed to pay a fee for not having to personally deal with a lender. But proceed with EXTREME CAUTION!

BEWARE OF LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANIES! Do it yourself and save thousands!

As for HomeModifier, the Attorney General is ordering LLC managers Randy Paul Allen, Travis Wayne Smith and Clint Ty Paulson to pay restitution to everyone who suffered economic damages from their conduct. They have also been ordered to pay attorney's fees and investigation costs, and they can't engage in business in the state of Idaho again. Good!