Sarah Eubanks ~ Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public

I would like to congratulate Diana Redding of Studio One on her success in this month's Featured Business. Diana's motto for her studio is, "We love to dance...and it shows!" As a family who has been involved with this studio, I can attest that Diana and each of the staff members holds this as a core value.

This Saturday, October 17th, Studio One is hosting a Celebration of their 15 years as a community business. Between 1 and 4 PM, they are asking all dancers (past, present, and future) to stop by and visit. There will be special guest performances, refreshments, friends, and lots of fun.

This Studio boasts award winning performing teams, classes for adults, toddler combo classes, tumbling, ballroom dancing, and so much more. As a positive place to give confidence to youth and adults alike, I hope that you will take the time to check it out.

Studio One Dance Academy is located at 7915 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, OR 97267. We would love to see you there!

Sarah Eubanks is an optimistic and experienced Mortgage Specialist. For both your Residential and Commercial Mortgage needs, she is who you want to handle your purchase or refinance. Phone Sarah today at 503.442.1349.

Inspired by Inna Hardison's tribute to her son, I wanted to share with you about living the dream.

I am the blessed and (usually) fortunate mom of an almost ten year old competitive, testosterone prone, sports minded boy, Derek. He, along with my daughter, are a dream come true for me. While I have many dreams in my life, one of them was (and is) very basic. Having a family and being a mom.

Derek's dream, his #1 hope and aspiration, is to play baseball. He will play for the Oregon State Beavers while he earns his degree, and then for the New York Yankees (if you are not a Yankee fan...you will be when Derek joins their ranks). While this may seem far fetched given that tons of boys dream of playing in the major leagues, I can tell you this. If anyone is able to do this and achieve this dream...it is most assuredly my sweet little man. His dream has become my dream too.

While his Dad and I could tenderly point him in a different direction, telling him that it is just too hard. We do not. We want no part in killing a dream. Especially not our children's dreams. Beyond that, though, we believe that God gives us dreams for a reason. So, we look forward, fully expecting to be sitting there for his first Major League game. We have certainly given this little boy advice on how to make that dream a reality, and Derek has taken that and made it all his own. These characteristics are how we see the winner inside of him.

• His Faith ~ Derek believes that God has a good plan for his life and that it will include baseball. As a left handed pitcher, he has God given traits that automatically give him some sort of advantage when pitching. He also knows that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. When he is feeling frustrated or discouraged, Derek prays and asks God for strength.
• His Coaches ~ In the off season, Derek saw a private coach to get ready for the baseball draft in March. He wanted to be on the top level team with the best coaches so he could try to learn from them. His private coach has mentioned on many occasions that Derek will succeed because at nine years old, he listens to the instruction, retains, it, and uses it to make himself a better play. He did, by the way, make the federal team out of the 100+ who tried for it.)
• His Work Ethic ~ Even after a successful game, he asks those who he trusts what he could have done better to help his team. He is always striving to do better. Always holding the ball with different grips. Often swinging his bat to strengthen his arm. Even in his free time, he chooses baseball activities because he loves the game.
• His Support ~ Having friends and family around who love him, cheer him on, encourage him, and support him has been paramount to his successes so far. He always says how much he loves it when people come and watch him. He knows that he could not do this on his own. And as a result, he gives credit where credit is due.
• His Character ~ People want to be around Derek. His teammates and his coaches enjoy having him on the team. After every practice, after every game, he thanks his coaches for volunteering their time. He finds the successes in his teammates for that game and encourages them. Derek is just the kind of person whose character inspires others.

So how does this apply to living your dream in this business and industry? I would say go ahead and take the wisdom of a nine year old. Use his traits and live your dream. I will be using them in my life and in my business. It will not happen overnight. Go all nine innings and even more if you need to in order to win.

Speaking of business, if you need help with your residential or commercial mortgage, please phone me at 503.442.1349. Just realize that if I do not answer your call, I am likely at a ball park cheering on my favorite superstar who is living his dream. I will phone you back as soon as I can. While you are waiting..take some time...take the steps...and live your dream too.

Get out the Vote, Rock the Vote. I do not particularly care how you vote. Just vote. In this critical time of American history in the making, we need to hear the voice of Oregonians. We need to be a part of both the national and local landscape. Do you really want to be the one vote that looses a measure you care about? Do you want to be one of a few that do not elect the individual to office that you would prefer? Your vote does make a difference. Is it a cliche'? You had better believe that it is. But it makes does not make it any less true.

As a service to all who have been complacent in the past, I have compiled a few resources for you. Go and check them out and get yourself registered to vote. We are coming down to the last few days and you need to be proactive and register. I am making it very simple for you. To borrow a phrase from Phil Knight and Nike, "Just Do It".

In Oregon, our last day to register to vote is on this coming Tuesday, the 14th of October. So read on, visit the links should you need to (or want to), and then VOTE!!

• Clicking here will take you to an official Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division page. On this page you can input your information and find out if you are on target to receive an election ballot later this month. As of this evening when I checked my personal information, it had been updated through today.
• If you are not registered, visiting this Secretary of State site will allow you to register to vote online. It does not get much easier than that. If you can find your way to this post, I am quite certain that you can register withthis method. It will also provide you with information on Oregon's Vote By Mail, Election Guidelines, and other relevant information. It is a good resource to use.
• Finally, this page will get you the information on your particular county. Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can contact your local county official. It will provide you with the contact name as well as methods to get in touch with your local clerk.

Again, this is a crucial time in our history. Whether you are passionate about politics or "just" concerned about the economy. You need to participate. Encourage others to do the same.

As I vote, I will be watching, reading, and writing. :-)

In today's economic turmoil and heated political scene, we rarely hear news that is uplifting or encouraging. This morning - today - is not any different. I wanted to share with you a glimmer of hope which I found on the MSNBC website today.

While researching the emergency rate cut enacted by the fed this morning, I stumbled across this article claiming, "Breaking News" , but oddly I have not seen anything about it on the big three networks. So...are you ready for the good news...the hope?

August's Existing Home Sales had a very solid increase in the month of August. While the expectation was for another decline of 1.8%, the buyers started buying. Not only were the economists wrong in their expectation of a decrease, they were blown out of the water with an increase of 7.4%. The article, as brief as it is, goes on to tell you that the reading is the highest since June of 2007 and 8.8% higher than one year before.

While I am not espousing that the hard times are over, I do think that we need to spread the news. I believe that the media is largely responsible for the mess we are in now. Sure, government has played it's roll in the demise. But the media are the ones who fuel the fear of the masses. If we can get out and encourage buyers, sellers, and borrowers that now is a great time to buy, we can help to stimulate the economy. We can make ourselves part of the media. We have voices too. And Active Rain has established itself as a major influence in the world of Real Estate both nationally and locally.

Go spread the good news. The hope. As I do what I can to join the fight, I will be watching, reading, and writing (finally).

While we all know that life is no fairytale, we often proceed through our decisions with the proverbial rose colored glasses. With each less than the best decision that we make, there needs to be one who comes in and handles the messes left behind. Sometimes it is our spouse, sometimes, it is a parent. Other times, it can be a trusted friend.

In the financial world, it has so often been a Mortgage Professional. Whether a loan originator, a mortgage banker, a loan officer, or a mortgage broker, we have all seen our share of disasters. We have all come in to clean up messes, both financial and personal. We also have success stories which surpass all of the disappointments we read about in the paper today. Read on; discover your inner Dwarf!

So I begin my story...as Snow White with my own set of Seven Dwarfs: Sleepy. Dopey, Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Happy. They each have their own issues and things we go through to clean their mortgage up. It is my hope that you can learn from their "mistakes" rather than make them on your own. Experience is a tough way to learn a lesson. Learn what you can here...and drop me a line when you are ready to discover what type of Dwarf you are!

Sleepy~ While purchasing or refinancing a home, it is always a good idea to stay awake and alert. Unfortunately, I have seen too many buyers (borrowers) who feel comfortable with their choice of lenders. On occasion, though, once they are comfortable, something happens that turns the sweetest of homeownership dreams into a nightmare. It can be the loan consultant not locking in that great interest rate. It can be that when they get to the closing table their loan all of a sudden has a pre-payment penalty. The borrower has never heard of this before. Nor do they know what to do. There are many things that can be done to stay on track with this transaction. First, pay attention to each signature you provide. Only sign papers which you understand completely and agree with. Many borrowers make the mistake of valuing only the closing documents. Your initial documents, though, are equally important. They can save you money in the end. I would also recommend that you ask your loan consultant to put their services in writing. I recently began providing my clients a "Bill of Rights" which I go over with them and sign. These items are my guarantees to them. Guarantees that I will deliver what I promise in writing. If you would like to see my Bill of Rights, I will gladly provide them to you prior to your making any commitment.

Dopey ~ This borrower is uneducated in the current market. They are also the type of Dwarf who is most commonly taken advantage of. This borrower has decided that mortgages are boring and too hard to understand. So, they take the commercials they have seen, the news they hear at the local village coffee shop, and what their "friends" tell them, as gold. What they should be doing is conducting some sort of research. While it is true that the market is always changing, it is also true that there is a wealth of knowledge out there to understand mortgages in more layman terms. If you yourself have been this type before, do not fear. The simple cure to this is to educate yourself. Go to websites which are not trying to sell you anything. Read books, articles, whatever you can get your hands on. Talk with friends and family who have had "luck" in Real Estate. The truth of the matter is that luck is only as good as your education is. I would recommend the simple, Mortgages for Dummies. You can find some preliminary information here. Go get lucky, read on, and then find a qualified Mortgage Professional (I know one, by the way, should you be in the market for one.)

Doc ~ I am one who loves that my borrowers have done research on the loan process. I adore it when the client has all of their paperwork together and ready to go. I currently have two clients in purchase situations with documentation already in my hand. These clients do not know for sure yet which home they are going to purchase. I will tell you what, though, this client who is already in the lenders system will get locked in with the best interest rate. They bring their "A-game" every time I ask for anything. The only caution which I would have to this type of borrower is to let the Mortgage Professional do their job ~ Occasionally this type of borrower believes they know everything. Remember that the mortgage industry is constantly changing and that a good Mortgage Professional will have more current information and knowledge than you can. For those of you who are this type of borrower...let me know when you are ready for a refinance or purchase...I'd love to have the opportunity to serve you!

Grumpy ~ It's true...most loan consultants do not enjoy this type of borrower. If you do fall under this category, do not fear! Getting the most out of your Mortgage Professional and your home loan is attainable. Some of us love the grumpy borrower. I, for example, realize that what many perceive to e grumpy or negative are actually just cautious individuals. These borrowers are not quick to grant trust to any person with ease. They are "grumpy" because they want their Mortgage Professionals to be honest, hard working, and on their toes. Remember, too, that in the Disney classic, Grumpy was among the most loyal to the Princess. You "grumpy" borrowers are very loyal once you have been served the way that you would like. I would recommend to you that you get referrals for a great Mortgage Professional (let me know...I can get you a few live people to talk with)!

Bashful ~ No need to by shy. Again, a simple solution exists for this type of borrower...for you. I know that the process can be intimidating. I know that it proves overwhelming at times. But, let me encourage you to come out of your corner where you fear what is happening in our national and global economy. Let me tell you with sincerity that what is going on is fixable. You can still get a great mortgage and a great home. You can have a positive experience. In fact, now can be the best time of your life for a home purchase or refinance. Interest rates are lower. Home prices are lower. You will never know what your best move is if you are too fearful -- too bashful to stand up and ask the question. There are homeowners all over the place who are too ashamed of their present situation to call out for help. We can help you -- I can help you. I may not even refinance you. I may help talk with your lender to help you get back on track with your mortgage payments. Do not allow your past to determine your future out of fear. By the way, I will not be bashful in asking you to allow me the chance to help you out with your home loan. :-)

Sneezy ~ Every one of us has a little sneezy in us. While more abstract in this comparison, it is very important to remind you that during the stress associated with this financial decision, you need to take care of your health. Time is of the essence in obtaining financing. You need to be healthy. You need to take your vitamins -- to get your rest. This type of borrower does not intend to slow down the process. However, we Mortgage Professionals rely a lot on you -- the borrower -- to get information to us in a timely fashion. Be prompt and punctual and your loan closing will be smooth!

Happy ~ While it can be great fun to work with this type of Dwarf, it can be a challenge. I tend to be a happy person by nature, so I can speak with experience as to my "weakness". As a "Happy" borrower we tend to be easily distracted and lose focus on tasks which are so large and not easily understandable. My advice to you -- is that if you break the whole process down into smaller pieces, you can maintain your focus throughout. Also, we happy types are very trusting. As much as it goes against my nature to do so, do not trust everyone you meet to advise you on your home loan. Get referrals. Check references. Do your homework. And don't forget, I would be happy to help you out!

I hope that yu found this to be fun, creative, and educational. There are programs out there for each of you. A Mortgage Professional turns out to be a very intimate relationship. Knowing who you are in the process can be very helpful in determining what you will need the most from your Mortgage Professional. If I do not meet your needs, I would happily refer you to someone who will.

May I wish you the Best of Luck in Chasing Your Happily Ever After!