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Karen Cooper

Where Have You Been, Karen Cooper| Mortgage Consultant| Ashland Medford Oregon?

01-23-10
Karen Cooper

Although I’ve been working in the mortgage and real estate industry since 1983, with most of that time in the mortgage industry, I’ve also volunteered – and now work for – our local Community Action Agency ACCESS Inc, as a Housing Counselor in the Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center for the past 5 years. I’ve dropped mortgage consulting back since the need for default and foreclosure prevention has become so great, although I’ll still work with my existing clients on their home purchase and refinance transactions and will take some of their referrals. With the resetting adjustable floodgates opening, HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agencies are going to be pretty busy places for a while, and the one here in Southern Oregon is one of the busiest in the State of Oregon.

ACCESS Inc.|Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center is the HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency for Jackson and Josephine Counties, in addition to the many other safety net services ACCESS, Inc. provides. You’ve heard me talking about the HUD Approved Homebuyer Education ACCESS, Inc.|Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center administers on campus at Rogue Community College, which is the course savvy first time homebuyers and those utilizing down payment assistance programs such as the City of Medford Oregon’s First Time Home Buyer down payment assistance that make Homebuyer Education mandatory to receive their funding. ACCESS Inc.|Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center has also done Reverse Mortgage counseling required for Seniors utilizing these home loan programs. A direction ACCESS Inc.|Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center is headed is toward teaching Financial Fitness.

The biggest focus for the housing department at ACCESS Inc.|Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center right now is default and foreclosure prevention. This is where I’ve been spending a LOT of my time and effort these days. The need is growing, and until our local economy stabilizes and employment picks up again, the need will likely continue to grow. Some of the things we focus on for default and foreclosure prevention are helping homeowners sort through a myriad of alternatives, such as the following, FOR FREE:

  • Modification - legitimate programs, like the Home Affordable Modification Program and other proprietary lender modification programs.
  • Forbearance – negotiating time to catch home loans up again when a temporary financial hardship such as a job loss is resolved.
  • Repayment – negotiating an affordable way to catch up when a homeowner has fallen behind on their mortgage payments, but has resolved their temporary financial hardship.
  • Short Sale – when a homeowner is not eligible for the above options, or decides the time has come to move on.
  • Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure – when a homeowner is not eligible for the above options, and must move on.
  • Foreclosure – helping homeowners with the transition to rental housing when all other options have been exhausted.

Did you get the “FOR FREE” part? Just making sure… You know, it is illegal for modification companies to charge you upfront fees, right? ACCESS Inc. is NOT a modification company!

If you or someone you know is in need of information about the alternatives available if you are struggling to keep your home, information from a non-profit entity who is looking at your specific circumstances not how we can best profit from you, call us at (541)774-4305 and come to our next informational meeting where we’ll schedule your one-on-one appointment with a housing counselor FOR FREE.

See you out there!

Have You Been To Tin-Tin Buffet in Medford Oregon?

01-23-10
Karen Cooper

Chinese Buffet, Tin Tin Buffet Medford Oregon Chinese Buffet 05 by Drunken Monkey photo courtesy of flickr.comWhen it comes to eating out with our family, our varied tastes lead us toward different choices in local restaurants. Buffet style dining is not usually my first choice, although I’ve experienced some amazing buffets in my time, like those on cruise ships, one on the American River in Sacramento and another in Granada Hills that had such a wonderful Sunday Brunch in a gorgeous setting, we chose that location for our wedding & reception many moons ago.

Tonight, we went to Tin-Tin Buffet in Medford for the first time. We had heard from family and friends that Tin-Tin Buffet in Medford Oregon is their favorite place to dine, but for one reason or another, we just hadn’t gone there yet. Tonight we did, and boy are we glad!

There was such an amazing variety of dishes to choose from. I tried a dozen different selections, and there are twice that many more that I couldn’t get to – many family favorites, like sweet & sour chicken, boneless spareribs, teriyaki chicken and spring rolls, but TONS of seafood choices, too. Sushi, salads, fresh fruits, soups, desserts...the list goes on and on.

From the gracious and welcoming staff, to the ambiance of the Koi pond to the good price, this was a great experience. Maybe next time I’ll actually have room for some of the fabulous looking desserts! If you are looking for a great family dining experience, check out Tin Tin Buffet at 2366 Poplar Drive Medford, OR 97504-5297 (541) 776-8833 (near Crater Lake Highway, across from Fred Meyer) – you’ll be glad you did!

See you out there!

Rogue Valley Homeowners! Next Default| Foreclosure Prevention Meeting January 18, 2010 at Olsrud Nutrition Center behind Costco

01-12-10
Karen Cooper

Rogue Valley homeowners that are struggling with making your mortgage payments, did you know you have a local Community Action Agency we all know and love that also is a HUD certified housing counseling agency?

ACCESS, Inc.'s Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center holds monthly group default|foreclosure prevention meetings to prepare you for a one-on-one appointment with one of the counselors working for this HUD certified housing counseling agency. These impartial folks will sit with you and go through the various paths available to you to assist you with keeping your home, or taking the next step if that is not the solution for you. Attend this group meeting and bring in the necessary documentation in order to learn about programs that may be a solution for you, such as:

  • Home Affordable Refinance Program
  • Home Affordable Modification Program
  • Proprietary Modification Programs offered by individual banks
  • Forbearance to ride through temporary income struggles
  • Other repayment options
  • Affordable rental assistance if you must move
  • Oregon SB628
  • Avoiding Modification scams
  • And, more...

Contact ACCESS Inc., Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center at 541-774-4305 to register for this group meeting and start on the road to finding a solution if you are facing losing your home. We're waiting for you! Come join the ranks of homeowners who have successfully reached the goal of staying in their home.

See you out there!

Next ABCs of Home Buying Course for Rogue Valley Home Buyers January 23,2010

01-08-10
Karen Cooper

It's that time again! First time home buyers interested in a detailed course on the ins and outs of home buying in today's tricky real estate market can sign up for the HUD approved ABC's of Homebuying course put on by ACCESS Inc.'s Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center at Rogue Community College's Table Rock Campus Saturday January 23, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are a Southern Oregon home buyer interested in getting some great information and/or are utilizing a down payment assistance program such as the City of Medford's First Time Home Buyer program which requires you attend a course like the ABC's of Homebuying, get registered and come on down!

Table Rock Campus Map
7800 Pacific Avenue, White City

From Grants Pass to Table Rock Campus

  • Go south on I-5 toward Medford
  • Take Exit 35 and go left over the freeway
  • This will put you on Blackwell Road
  • Turn right on Kirtland Road
  • Turn right on W. Antelope Road
  • At light signal, continue forward (W. Antelope will turn into Antelope Road)
  • Turn left on Pacific Avenue
  • Second building on right is Table Rock Campus

From Interstate 5

  • Exit 33 Central Point
  • Turn east onto E. Pine Street toward the Airport
  • E. Pine Street becomes Biddle Road
  • Turn left onto Table Rock Road
  • Turn right onto Antelope Road
  • Turn left onto Pacific Avenue

From Medford to Table Rock Campus - Using Crater Lake Hwy.

  • Take Crater Lake Highway (OR-62) - going toward Costco
  • Travel 4-5 miles further to White City, turn left on Antelope Road
  • Turn right on Pacific Avenue
  • Second building on right is Table Rock Campus

From RVC-G Bldg. (8th and Central) - Using Table Rock Road

  • From 8th Street go 2 blocks to Riverside Avenue - turn left
  • Continue on Riverside Avenue until the intersection of Riverside and Crater Lake Hwy (you'll see the Rogue Valley Mall on the right)
  • Stay in "turn only lane" for Table Rock Road, and continue on Table Rock Road for approx. 5.5 miles
  • Turn Right on Antelope Road
  • First Left turn onto Pacific Avenue
  • Second building on right is Table Rock Campus

From Table Rock Campus to I-5

  • Turn left out of front parking lot onto Pacific Avenue
  • Turn right on to Antelope Road
  • At light signal, continue forward (Antelope Road will change to W. Antelope Road)
  • Turn left on Kirtland Road
  • Turn left on Blackwell Road which will eventually lead you to the I-5 entrance

The Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center staff and quality local profressional volunteer Instructors from the various areas of the real estate profession will be giving ABCs of Homebuying students great information and answering their questions.

See you out there!

Can I Refinance Even If My Home Value Has Dropped?

11-24-09
Karen Cooper

Many people hear about the extraordinarily low interest rates available on home loans today. At the same time, they hear about the backlog of bank owned foreclosure homes depressing home values. Not a good combination if you want to refinance your home, but there ARE alternatives available even if you have lost some equity with the decline in home values in your area. Are they available to everyone? Unfortunately, no - but they WILL work for many homeowners looking to refinance to today’s low interest rates.

There are still many homeowners out there who took “interim fixed”, “interest only”, “option ARM” loan programs, and have been enjoying the nice low home loan rate they already have. Some homeowners have fixed rate mortgages in the high 5-6% range. Are you one of these homeowners?

Interest rates have been hovering in the 4’s. For example:

  • $295,000 30 yr conventional fixed 4.50% (4.662% a.p.r.) will recover the expense in 9 months
  • $205,000 30 year FHA fixed 4.625% (5.564% a.p.r.) gets out of their resetting interest only loan has their monthly payment increase $20 vs. $275
  • $405,000 15 yr conventional fixed 4.25% (4.496 a.p.r.) shaves 8 years off their remaining loan term while paying $108 less per month

What are you waiting for? It’s a great time to be Thankful about the money you can save

See you at the closing table!