Didn't most of us fantasize about becoming farmers at some point when we were little kids? The image of the classic farm danced in our little heads: red barn, chickens running around, baby animals, riding tractors... But who really grows up and becomes a farmer? As adults we know it's long, arduous work for little reward.
Well, a good friend of my husband's started a little one acre farm, Fresh Earth Gardens, about a year ago. He's part of a small revolution in the farming industry, a revolution that is growing stronger. The vegetables on David Knaus' farm in La Center, Washington are not just tasty and natural, they are grown with the kind of care and love for the land that large, corporate farms just can't compete with. He also offers classes, a CSA (community supported agriculture - sort of a farm version of a "jam-of-the-month club"), and farm and garden consulting. His delicious produce is available at farmer's markets throughout the Portland/ Vancouver area, through the CSA program, and at many local restaurants. Learn more on his website at: http://freshearthgardens.com/
More kudos for David: The Columbian newspaper featured him in a front page story on January 25, 2009! You can read the complete story here: http://columbian.com/article/20090125/NEWS02/701259949
When buying or selling real estate, you can put your trust in the JMC Group. Give us a call at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!
Negotiating a short sale is quite a bit different than negotiating a typical home sale. And to make it even more *fun* every bank handles them differently! However, there is a basic process that each sale goes through:
1. Determine what stage of foreclosure the seller is in: when the last mortgage payment was made, if a foreclosure date has laready been scheduled, who the lender is, whether there are other liens against the property.
2. Gather information for a comparative market analysis (the price similar homes have sold for recently.)
3. Have the seller sign a letter of authorization allowing the Realtor to negotiate with the bank on their behalf.
4. Contact the bank to learn their specific guidelines regarding short sale negotiation.
5. List the home and implement marketing strategies.
6. Schedule price drops at regular intervals until an offer is received.
7. Present the seller with an offer.
8. Submit the offer to the bank. Include the bank's required short sale packet, documentation of the seller's financial status, and the buyer's qualifications.
9. Contact the bank in 48-72 hours to ensure they received all necessary documents. Clarify the procedure and time frame you can expect from the bank.
10. Bank will order a BPO (broker's proce opinion), which is similar to the initial comparative market analysis but is completed by Realtor(s) of the bank's choosing.
11. Call the bank weekly to monitor their progress. Be patient - it can take 30-60 days for a decision to be made!
12. Once a decision is made the bank will send a demand letter.
13. At this point the closing can be scheduled, which can typically take 30-45 days.
The whole process, from start to finish, can take months. In return for a LOT of patience, both the buyer and seller get what they need: the seller avoids foreclosure and the buyer can get a great deal! If you have questions about buying or selling property, please call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775. Or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!
Did you know that only about half of all practicing real estate agents in North America are members of the National Association of Realtors? Did you care? Probably not... that is, until you learn what that actually means to YOU!
Realtors have access to tremendous ongoing education so they can stay on top of the market and on top of their game. In addition, we agree to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. This Code of Ethics defines what can and cannot, will and will not, do in each and every transaction. It is our guarantee to you, our customers and clients, that we will ALWAYS work with your best interests in mind. Just like a doctor takes the Hippocratic Oath, we take an ethics pledge.
In total, there are seventeen articles in the Realtor's Code of Ethics. Here are four points that really sum up what you can expect from your Realtor:
1. Complete honesty throughout the transaction, and with all involved parties.
2. Make every effort to understand your needs, do pertinent research, and provide you with relevant information so you can make the most informed decision possible.
3. Full disclosure (to both buyer and seller) of known, pertinent facts relating to the property and the transaction.
4. Be truthful in all advertising and other communications with the public, allowing consumers to make informed decisions when hiring a Realtor.
To read all seventeen articles of the Code of Ethics follow this link: http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/files/R_COE-Pledge-of-Performance.pdf/$FILE/R_COE-Pledge-of-Performance.pdf
If you have questions about how a Realtor can help you buy or sell a home, please call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775. You can also visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!
Last week I shared my opinion on bringing lightrail into Vancouver. I make no secret about the fact that I LOVE the idea and welcome it with open arms! However, we are a democratic nation and I respect everyone's right to an opinion and the right to share it. Here are the next two opportunities to learn about how lightrail will affect commuting, commerce, and livability in downtown Vancouver and the surrounding area and voice your opinion:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Clark County Elections building, Room 226, 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver, WA 98660
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Kaiser Town Hall, Conference rooms A & B, 3704 N. Interstate Ave., Portland , OR 97227
Learn more about the project at www.ColumbiaRiverCrossing.org.
Curious about how lightrail could affect the value of your property? Call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!
You probably know by now that the Columbia River Crossing project has been working hard on plans to replace the I-5 bridge and bring lightrail into the downtown Vancouver area. In terms of negihborhood quality, this affects downtown/ uptown residents most. However, it affects everyone in Clark county and beyond in terms of taxes and commute times.
I will be perfectly honest here and share my opinion... I LOVE LIGHTRAIL!!! If I could reach in my wallet and pay for a new bridge and bringing lightrail downtown, I would do it today. While I recognize the fact that a terrible commute will be made worse while it's being built, this is a case where I believe a little sacrifice is justified in the end. We're north-westerners, we can be resourceful: ride Amtrak, carpool or take C-Tran when going into Portland. Once that snazzy new multi-lane bridge is in place you can go back to driving alone in your car if you really want to. Or maybe you'll find that public transportation is better than you thought and you can take the new MAX line!
Most people here would not immediately see the correlation between Vancouver, Washington and Hoboken, New Jersey. We pride ourselves on being lush and green - and they're all about concrete, right? Well, the reason I'm bringing up Hoboken is that it is to New York City what Vancouver is to Portland. A town that has it's own personality and culture but, let's face it, is filled with people who commute to the bigger city nearby for work. Hoboken residents used to commute solely by car and bus, through tunnels and over bridges, to get into NYC. The bridge and tunnel system is old and was designed with far fewer commuters in mind - a lot like our beloved old I-5 bridge. Then the Path train came in. Now Hoboken residents have a public transportation option that connects them to the NYC subway system (think Portland's MAX system.) Rather than strip away Hoboken's identity as a separate city (which is a Vancouver argument I hear a lot) it actually lifted the neighborhoods up! Property values, especially those close to the Path station, soared and new condo and apartment building brought jobs to the area. People who previously would "only" live in the city moved in and brought a new sense of vibrancy with them. Hoboken had a renaissance that wouldn't have happened to such a degree if it hadn't been for the Path train coming in. I firmly believe Vancouver would reap similar benefits, starting downtown and spreading out to the suburbs. So, I'll say it again, I LOVE LIGHTRAIL!!! And I can't wait to be on the inaugural ride of Vancouver's own MAX line!
Whether you agree with me or not, you are invited to public meetings to share your opinion about the Columbia River Crossing. The next opportunities will be:
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 6 - 9 p.m., Discovery Middle School (Enter through main doors) 800 E. 40th Street, Vancouver , WA 98663
Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Clark County Elections building, Room 226, 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver, WA 98660
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Kaiser Town Hall, Conference rooms A & B, 3704 N. Interstate Ave., Portland , OR 97227
Learn more about the project at www.ColumbiaRiverCrossing.org.
Curious about how lightrail could affect the value of your property? Call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!
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