Mike Bryant, Realtor, CRS, CDPE, SFR, HAFA

My family and I went to visit "Grandma" for Christmas, and I had a chance to take some really beautiful pictures on a clear day. These are all taken at a place called Fort Worden which is now a state park in Port Townsend. It was great to have such a clear day and be able to share the beauty looking out towards the straights of Juan de Fuca with beautiful Mt. Baker in the distance. Please enjoy!

Feeling there is no other option but foreclosure can be an overwhelming experience. Homeowners need to know that they are not alone. Thousands of homeowners in the United States are facing these challenges every single day. Now more than ever before there are solutions.

Go to www.avoidforeclosureinsonomacounty.com to learn more today!

Since earning my certification as a CDPE (Certified Distressed property Expert), I have had pretty good success helping people get through the short sale process. It's hard to see someone lose their home, but most of the time it's much better than a foreclosure.

When meeting with clients, the first thing that I try to do is to contact the lenders on the client's behalf, and see if there's any hope for a loan modification. It requires the same amount of paperwork that a short sale does, and sadly, in most cases it just doesn't work. Usually, when the loan is converted to a conventional fixed rate from a previous interest only loan, the payment amount is very close to what they can't pay now. I am so happy to report that there are exceptions, and today was a wonderful day for one of my clients!

These folks had purchased their home back in 2004, paid top dollar, and also took advantage of one of the "creative" finance programs just becoming popular. Things were good; they paid their mortgage and even made some substantial improvements to their home. Their small business, a local restaurant, was doing great, and all was well.

Then the loan started to reset, the rate started going up, the economy went upside down, and now the restaurant was only doing 1/4 the business it had done in 2004-2005. All of a sudden they found themselves in trouble and didn't know what to do. They contacted several people and were told they were probably going to lose their home. Out of fear, they quit communicating with their lender and started to ignore the collection letters. When I met with them a little over a month ago, the situation looked pretty bleak.

They agreed to gather all the information I asked them to and even though they were in pre-foreclosure, the lender had not set a date for the sale of their home. I submitted their packet along with a very honest letter outlining their hardship, and today, Wachovia agreed to modify their mortgage! They are going to REDUCE the principal by 18%, and convert their adjustable loan to a 40 year fixed. The initial rate for the first year is only 3.5%, and it will increase in small amounts for the next four years, ending up at a fixed 5.5%. The payments will be affordable, and my clients get to keep their home! This is truly a win-win for everyone involved, and makes me feel incredible to be able to have helped them. They have tried to pay me over and over for my assistance, but like I told them, just send me all your friends and I'll be paid in full!!!

If I could offer any advice to homeowners that are having trouble, it would be to get some help right away, don't wait, and don't just ignore the situation and hope it will go away. There are definite alternatives to foreclosure, and most of them are a better choice!

I have just finished reading one of the most incredible and inspirational books that I have ever encountered, and I had to share it with all of you!

The books title is 3 Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time.It tells the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who was trying to scale K2 in 1993. After a failed attempt, he became lost on the return trip down the mountain, and was taken into a remote village in the mountains of Pakistan and nursed back to health. Here's a quote from Tom Brokaw after he heard about Greg and read his story;

Three Cups of Teais one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson's dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it's proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world .' -Tom Brokaw

Do yourself a favor, and read this book. Here's a link to a Website that will give you much more information. http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ Needless to say I am a huge fan now and have put his Central Asia Institute http://www.threecupsoftea.com/how-to-help/intro-to-central-asia-institute/ on my list of giving for the next years to come. Please enjoy.