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Jake Planton

Wanna Save Some Gas

10-08-08
Jake Planton

Lots of the time when a client/referral partner and I talk about meeting somewhere, there is always the dilemma of where to go that is easy for both of us. I almost always try to make it easy by saying that I will go to them. This looks good to my client, and just makes it easier. I am also not good with directions, or where things are in the mid point.

Hopefully this can change now! I just found this great website that allows you to punch in two address's, and then a point of interest, coffee shop, and it finds the mid-point between the two, and the closest shop to that mid point. This will save me gas, and make it easy to find places to go! You should check it out: http://meetways.com/.

Portland~what a great city!

10-07-08
Jake Planton

Travel and Leisure magazine just came out with a new list of top cities through out the country. Portland was ranked very high on the list, as it usually is. The article is here.

This brings great pride to me, because people are seeing how wonderful Portland really is! I do not think I will ever move from P-town, and it gets me excited for my business future in this city.

There was an article in our local paper yesterday on how things through out the country are driving people towards a calm climate, good living, and very high level of quality of life. The article talked about how there is going to be a spike in population to 3.86M by 2060!

Now, it is up to the city to keep the quality of life going, even as we get an influx of people.

It is hitting home..

10-06-08
Jake Planton

I just had a friend call me freaking out saying that his dad had just been laid off. He had only been working at this new job for about 6 months or so. He was a powerful person in this little company, with a ton of experience, and enjoyed the job. His boss's boss came to him and said that they could not get credit to pay people, and had to lay off some people. So, he is now out.

He had been on unemployment for a while before he got this job, so now he has maybe a month of unemployment. His wife works, but does not make enough to pay the bills, and the mortgage. They may be hurting very soon.

This 'credit crunch' has always been there, something that was on peripheral, not something that was personally affecting me, maybe business wise but not personally. Now it has hit home. They may be on the street in a few months if things do not change.

This is serious...cross your fingers something happens soon.

WaMu contacts for short sales...

10-06-08
Jake Planton

I am always looking for great ways to improve a clients expierience with getting a home. I have a client right now that is looking to purchase a short sale home, from WaMu. I have been in close contact with the realtor, and she is very frustrated with how long the bank is taking. She is now asking me if I know where/how she can get information on WaMu, and how to push things along. I do not have a clue where to look. I would love to provide that info to her, so she can see my above and beyond service.

I searched Active Rain, and there are lots of blogs on how to do short sales, but none (that I could find) on how to get in contact with a specific bank. Does anyone have any idea where I can direct her to find this information?

Thanks!!

Feel's good when someone recognizes you...

10-05-08
Jake Planton

So, we are all feeling this market. As the credit tightens up, and loan programs go away, it is not hard to be discouraged. You may even be questioning your knowledge in the biz, when something that was true yesterday has changed today. It is hard to follow it all. But, it is important, because that is how you stay ahead of the game, ahead of the competition, and your head above water :)

I got this testimonial for my website from a former client. It truly is amazing how some good, encouraging words can make you feel better. I am sure we have all had these days.

Here is what she said:

Having just relocated back to Portland from overseas and started a consulting business and with recent changes in the mortgage industry, my mortgage was a challenge. When you throw in that the property I wanted to buy is in a mixed use development which causes a lot of difficulty for lenders, my loan was a difficult one. Two other lenders had assured me they had 'no doubt' that they could get me a suitable loan despite these issues and then, just days before my intended closing, not to mention the expected shipment of all my worldly possessions from overseas, failed to come through due to issues I'd brought up in our first meeting over a month earlier.

So when I got in touch with Jake, I was, to say the least, stressed. Unlike the other lenders, Jake admitted my loan might be challenging, but was happy to work with me anyway. This honesty was a huge relief - at any given point during the transaction, I knew what was going. Jake kept me up to date on how many lenders he had spoken with, when he expected to hear back from them, what they said when they did, any new information they required, and what that might mean. In addition, he provided all sorts of insight and information about the mortgage industry as a whole, including the latest changes and trends and how they were likely to impact me and my loan.

It was a tough loan. Lenders tended to be willing either to take the chance on my non-conformity, or on the non-conforming property, but not on both. But Jake, following trends, found a lender that was willing to cover both risks and got me a loan, which he then closed, so I could close on the condo, in a couple of days. I'm writing this while sitting in my spacious living room overlooking some very nice greenery amid the last few still packed boxes contemplating another trip off for a few bookcases. I would recommend working with Jake to any residential buyer - you couldn't ask for a more effective lending professional!

Keep up the good fight all! Those that are still in the industry must love it!!!