Erin Oertli

Ok men, here is your chance~ you finally have a cutting edge men's shoe boutique, here in Seattle WA--located in Pioneer Square. At GEMS Sneaker Shop in Seattle, WA, you can mix in a little East Coast flavor with your swagger and finally know how it feels when women smell a brand new, black leather, peep-toe, sling back Christian Dior pump for the first time. A lot of companies are embracing the casual days at work, and this means you can save your Nike's for the gym, and grab a fresh pair of GEMS sneakers to go with your jeans, as well as your creased up khakis or dress pants.

John Mooney is the owner of this innovative work of art and has been in the lavish show industry for over 15 years. John realizes the importance of a shoe that is not only cutting edge, but also a shoe that lasts and fits like a Christian Dior and not like a Steve Madden (okay, sorry for the girlie reference, but that's what I can relate to!!!).

Aside from having the style of the century here, GEMS Sneaker Shop has made a conscious effort to give back to the community, through Art Walks, running and catering events for Soles4Souls, donating their time to local HelpLines, and being a strong member in the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

You can also follow GEMS Sneaker Shop in Seattle, WA on Facebook so YOU know what's hot and whats not!

I know that wine is a great love for many of us living here in Seattle, but making it AND getting a degree for it? South Seattle Community College, located in the West Seattle area, is now offering a program that awards Certificates and AA degrees for South Seattle Community College wine making (through the Northwest Wine Academy), which pairs well with their award winning Culinary Arts Program.

South Seattle Community College can help jump start your career in wine making, as well as help you with current trends, wine marketing and advertising, wine sales, & food and pairing. Right now, with the economy becoming increasingly difficult, this is a great time to refine your skills to stay marketable or to learn something new that will deepen your knowledge in one of the industries that will remain for years to come!! As most of you may have full-time jobs already, this is the perfect class for you since most of them are in the evenings so no excuses for dipping your feet into the wine and hospitality industry!

To enroll in classes at South Seattle Community College and learn more about this fabulous program, click on the bottle---

If you are a Ballard native like myself, you have probably noticed quite a few changes over the last handful of years and found yourself asking 'Is that you, Ballard'? We now have every little boutique you could think of, a very charming Farmer's Market, quite a few darling restaurants that come highly recommended and condos and townhouses galore! The bar scene has definitely changed over the years as well....on one hand, I don't think we would have linked Ballard with fancy bar scene before now, so that is quite an improvement! Real estate has taken flight and Ballard, Queen Anne and Magnolia are very sought-after neighborhoods to live.

The area has definitely grown over the last few years, and it has become a much marketable place to live. A lot of the neighborhoods around Ballard still have pretty high price tags on them, however, the condos in downtown Ballard are pretty decently priced if you take a look....Ballard, in Seattle WA is definitely somewhere I would be honored to raise my children, my dog, my shopping habit, and my great taste for coffee and restaurants (including my favorite bakery, Larsen's Bakery on 80th and 24th). If you try ANYTHING in Ballard, please try the Kringle here at Larsen's. It is the best pastry you will ever have. It's a crowd pleaser!!!

To see properties for sale in Seattle between 250k to 400k OR search for homes choosing your own criteria!

How Mortgage Rates Work

blog by: Erin Oertli, Member Services at Active Rain, Seattle WA

How Mortgage Rates Work is a question that every consumer is faced with when purchasing a home, refinancing, or just plain inquiring. How many times have you asked yourself ‘Where do banks and mortgage companies get these rates? Out of the sky, depending on their mood or time of day?!?’ Every time someone sees that the Fed cut rates, they call their mortgage representative and ask what rate they could get, assuming that Mortgages Rates Work that way. Trying to explain to a consumer that mortgage rates are higher than the Fed, especially when the Fed is practically 0% can be a disheartening task.

That brings me to my next point--does a Fed rate cut really mean that mortgage rates will follow? The answer is bound to shock the majority of consumers. The Fed only controls the Discount Rate and the Fed Funds Rate. These rates are very different than the mortgage rates and how they work. Keep in mind that a mortgage rate can be in effect for 30 years and the rate set by the Fed changes from one day to another.

Another common mistake is thinking that the 30 year Treasury bonds or 10-year Treasury notes directly correlate with mortgage rates. Ok, so now we went over the most common myths, let’s get to the bottom of how mortgages work.

So what are they based on, you’re screaming?! Mortgage rates are based upon Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS). These bonds are issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the trading potential they have will determine the direction the mortgage rates go.

What does that mean for me, you may be asking--this means that inflation will always affect any long-term bond negatively because of the future returns. They will end up paying a less valuable set amount over time because of the inevitability of inflation rising. The only thing that may offset this would be the more broader stock market such as Nasdaq.

Try to think of it like a balancing act; if bond prices rise, mortgage rates fall and as bond prices fall, mortgage rates rise. In summary, it would appear that mortgage rates will improve if the Nasdaq sells off and will ultimately worsen if the Nasdaq does well. So, it’s not necessarily what the Fed does that directly affects mortgage rates, it has more to do with the broader stock market which interprets the Fed’s action that will then influence the direction of mortgage rates.

Ok, now you can call up your mortgage representative and tell them what you know; you will blow their minds!