Laura Gwyn

Salem has something new and fun going on! This year Creekside Golf Course Residents are enjoying a wild turkey they have named "Tom."

Tom the Turkey walks up and down the sidewalks completely clueless it is Thanksgiving. He is a nice addition to this community and I hope enjoyed by many during the next couple weeks.

Family Traditions are huge this time of year. Some families simply eat and drink too much and declare it a holiday. Some have a certain dish they eat that they secretly hate in the name of tradition. I would like to encourage you to mix up your routine and try something different.

Here are 10 easy family traditions for you to try:

1. Go for a quick bike ride, walk or run as a family.

2. Attend a Thanksgiving Eve Church Service. If you want to come with us, let me know. It is from 7:00 - 8:00 PM Wednesday.

3. Donate $70 for a Salem family in need. This covers a hot Thanksgiving Day meal and Christmas Tree. Partial donations are also being accepted.

4. Cook the above meal if you have the gift of cooking. Email Emily Fitz or call her at 510-316-8470. Meals will be cooked in shifts at Richmond Elementary on Wednesday Noon to 10:00 PM.

5. Serve meals at your local homeless shelter.

6. Buy presents/school supplies for foster children. I pick up and deliver during the month of December!

7. Gather your family around a computer and surf the Plymouth Plantation website. You can pretend you are a Historian investigating the 1^st Thanksgiving or even learn to talk like a pilgrim.

8. Pass out small pieces of paper at the dinner table. Ask everyone to write down 3 things they are grateful for and then take turns sharing them aloud.

9. Turn off the television and break out everyone's favorite board games.

10. Play Nerf or Wii football as a family.

Most importantly, do something different that brings joy to your family. If there is something that you have been doing that seems to be too much work, stop doing it! Families are meant to be together and happy so don't do anything that causes you stress or makes you cranky.

From my family to yours, "Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!"

Anyone who needs a community service idea or to buy or sell real estate can contact me at 503-945-0164 or my website.

It's all over the news that our recession is over. Let's be real here folks.

They determined this because our economy grew 3 consistent quarters. It grew because of stimulus driven gains in consumer spending and home building which are now over. Household purchases may have climbed 3.4 percent nationally but we are a long way from where we should be. Here locally, according to the Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Statistics, 2009 is down 14% from 2008, 2008 was down 34% from 2007 and on down from there. So it isn't hard to climb a little after hitting rock bottom.

Can this be sustained in 2010 and generate the much needed jobs for those still unemployed? Will they give us what we need in revising the tax credit that was only given to 1^st time home buyers? We are still waiting for information that will help us tremendously in 2010 so it is a little soon to believe we are out of the recession. I understand what they are saying so don't send me a bunch of hate comments. I just want to make sure everyone knows where we really are. I also don't think my definition of recession is the same as theirs.

Consumer spending accounts for 70% of the economy. Don't hunker down and not spend. I am reminding you to spend wisely. Spend with cash from your need vs. want list.

Grasp this cartoon for a minute. "Official" word on this recession report can't be confirmed yet. Robert Hall, head of the committee that makes this call out of the National Bureau of Economic Research said in August it may take more than a year for their group to reach this conclusion. Let's use this next couple of months wisely. Continue to get your finances in order. If you didn't get help or have someone review your financial picture because you were in shell shock, do it now. I have resources available for you if you feel like you are still trying to stop the bleeding.

This is the perfect time to pay down debt and get organized. I think we have all learned a lot of great lessons in this economy. It has been fantastic for my family. I'll have to tell you about that sometime. Get your numbers organized and let me help you.

Trudy Martin, Resident Lending Group will share how to figure your debt to income ratio Monday on my blog. You need to know where you stand currently and what your goals are. If they open up this tax credit to existing home owners you want to take advantage of it. You probably have already been long overdue down sizing and getting debt cleaned up and out of your life. To get a tax credit on top of it would be a double serving of icing on the cake!

Feel free to contact me directly anytime!

Tuesday October 27, 2009 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Outward Church, 775 Front St NE Salem, OR.

Come join Esterlyn and Pastor Bob Caldwell for an evening of passionate worship and fresh vision for reaching others with the love of Christ! They are visiting Salem, Tuesday, on their Open Your Heart Tour. They do a fabulous job of showing people how to get involved to help their communities. If you have never been to something like this you don't want to miss it! I promise you will leave forever changed, so bring your family and friends.

There will be a required donation of 3 cans of food or non-perishable food items to get in, but bring all you have! Proceeds go to Hope Station, a local food bank in Salem. They are a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to working individuals and families in need.

For more information check out their Open Your Heart Tour, or the Esterlyn website.

Haven't heard of them? Listen to their music on myspace and check out their videos on utube! Watch the video to see the inspiration behind the name of their band. She is adorable!

Come have fun, learn, worship and support those in our community!!

Thank you Outward for hosting this great event!

Dear Salem and Keizer Residents;

In July 2008, President Bush signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA). This legislation includes $4 billion of grant funds for the Emergency Assistance for the Redevelopment of Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes program. Under the HERA, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated $19.6 million in grant funds to the State of Oregon. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) have allocated $845,564 to the City of Salem and Keizer to provide down payment assistance and potential rehabilitation for families with 120% or less median family income for Salem and Keizer. This figure is up from what they allowed previously!

These funds can only be used for bank owned properties and properties within designated census tract areas. (There are plenty to choose from!) Additional information can be found on the city of Salem website at www.CityOfSalem.net/NSP so read everything on their website before calling them. If you need help let me know. I am learning this information quickly and there are approved lenders to help you.

It is critical that you not get discouraged or disqualify yourself by not taking action. If you do nothing right now, you will still not own a home. If you call me or an approved lender who is educated with these stimulus funds you may get to own a home when you didn't think you could. We are here to help you!

My basic rule of thumb is that if you have a job and feel you can afford the monthly payment but do not have the down payment and closing costs, you are most likely a candidate. There are many programs out there right now to help people get into homes. I will post a separate blog for each program so they are easier to read and refer your friends to.

The first step is to read the websites I posted under "links" on my blog page. Second, email me and let me know that you are interested in the information so I know who you are. Third, schedule a free no obligation pre-qualifying appointment with one of the lenders listed.

There are links to each program you may be qualified for under my links tab on my blog page. So, grab a cup of tea, slip into your pajamas and start reading! This is well worth 15 minutes of your time. If it takes longer than that, schedule an appointment with one of my lenders. They can move you thru it quickly...

Enjoy!