Meredith Laws - Windermere Real Estate/ Anacortes Properties - 360-770-1997

Well, it's not exactly skinny-dipping, but it sure is fun to watch! The Thunderbirds will be going with whoever else is brave enough to jump in Clearlake for a quick swim on New Years Day, 2009. I haven't actually swam in the lake, but I was so cold last year just standing on the shore that I was pretty convinced I had frostbite! I was never so happy to see a cup of hot cocoa!

If you count yourself among the brave of heart, contact me and I'll put you in touch with the powers that be to get you registered for the event and hook you up with a really cool T-Shirt that says... Penguin Dip!

Congratulations are in order to the Anacortes swimmers from the Thunderbird Aquatic Club that made it into the Pacific NW Swimming Short Course Champs meet! We are sending 9 - count them - NINE swimmers this December to the meet in Federal Way over the weekend of the 13th and 14th.

The Thunderbirds are a USA swimming club with age group swimmers from the very very young to the very very... well, you know what I mean! If you'd like more info about the Thunderbirds, see the website at www.thunderbirdswim.org.

Please support our local Anacortes pool. Not only is it the home of the Thunderbirds, it is an invaluable community asset. The next time a pool levy is on the ballot, remember that we are so lucky to have such a great faciility!

Broadniak hall is decked out for the holidays! First, it's the Nutcracker, performed by Fidalgo DanceWorks. A holiday tradition, especially in Anacortes. Only two shows, so get there early - they will both sell out as usual! Saturday, December 13 at 7pm and Sunday, December 14 at 3pm.

Anacortes High School Holiday Choir Concert is Monday at 7pm. Our choir is excellent - if you haven't seen them yet- please go to this concert. From contemporary to traditional holiday selections, our choir director likes to mix it up and she really inspires these kids. They are great!

Next up it's the Holiday High School Band concert. Go Band! This is a lot of fun and will get you in the holiday mood with great symphonic band selections and some really cool drumline performances. 'Cause nothing says Christmas like a good drumline! Tuesday at 7pm.

By the way - in case you haven't had the pleasure of attending anything at Brodniak Hall, it's at the North end of the High School. Go East on 17th to the end to enter the parking lot. Brodniak is just South of the Gymnasium.

Washington State has several downpayment assistance programs for targeted areas and people groups in our state- see if you qualify for one. Couple these with the low interest rates and lower prices and you have unprecedented opportunities for home-ownership!

Follow the link below to find out what you might be eligible for!

http://www.wshfc.org/buyers/downpayment.htm

I just went to an FHA class sponsored by Wells Fargo. For many years, the housing prices in Anacortes and the FHA loan limits did not even come close to matching up - so we didn't see a lot of FHA loans processed here.

Now, thanks to new FHA limits in our county and some great prices in Anacortes, there are lots of properties that qualify. In some cases, the house price can go as high as $305K with the minimum amount down.

FHA can be a great option not just for first-time buyers, but for any buyers looking for low down-payment options. There is no income limit, just loan cap amounts. It can also work really well for people looking to get their kids into something (co-sign) for very little money down. This is a great alternative to conventional financing for investment property that can require big downpayments. As long as one of the co-signers is going to live in the house for a year (in most cases) the FHA low down payment requirements can be applicable. The FHA buyer can end up with a very attractive, very low-interest, fully assumable loan - something that could be a real value-added feature of a property when it is sold in the future.

Down payments on FHA loans can be gifts from a family member or close friend.

For sellers, FHA offers lots of great options. Seller contributions to buyer closing costs are allowed, as are loan buy-downs, points, etc. that can be offered as buyer incentives.

FHA property inspections have loosened up a lot since the old days, as well, and the appraisal process is really no more rigorous than a conventional appraisal.

FHA also has some great options for rehab loans and reverse mortgages.

It is definitely a new day for FHA - especially in Anacortes! Check it out!