About Spokane County, WA

Home buyers and Americans receiving unemployment benefits both got the word that a bit more money and time is coming their way. On Friday, President Obama signed into law a bill that extends unemployment benefits and the First Time Home Buyers tax credit, which is also being expanded to include benefits for home buyers who aren't on the first time around buying a home.

If purchasing a home is in the future for you or anyone you know, you can get all the details of the home buyer's tax credit in the upcoming week's Blog series. But first, here are a few additional details from last week...including important job market news. The official Jobs Report from last week showed that there were 190,000 jobs lost last month, higher than the 175,000 job losses that were predicted. It is really heartbreaking to imagine what 15,000 families now without at least one source of income looks like. That is overwhelming on a human level. i think it is easier to talk numbers rather than lives. Talking about lives puts a qhole new dynamic. (sniff) I guess that is why I prefer residential real estate over commercial. Real people, real lives.

The Log and Timber Frame Home Show, Nov. 13-15, 2009 at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center, showcases fully erected log homes on display and the eye-popping, energy-efficient designs and fine craftsmanship that make log and timber frame homes a favorite in building styles.

The Spokane Log and Timber Frame Home Show features
hundreds of floor plans under one roof, educational seminars, live demonstrations, exhibitors of many home styles and accessories.

Each of its three days includes seminars on log and timber frame construction as well as exhibits covering residential/recreational investment properties, log home communities, one-of-a-kind handcrafted log furniture, furnishings and light fixtures, decorating and remodeling, kitchen and bath ideas, financing, alternative energy, landscaping with ponds and waterfalls and much more. Attendees can also enter to win a rustic handcrafted log bed from Wild West Log Furniture, and other great prizes.

FACILITY

Spokane Expo Center

404 N Havana Street, Suite 1

Spokane, WA 99202

PH: 509.477.2785 FX: 509.477.8826

SHOW HOURS

Friday: 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

COST

$12 per person

Children 18 & under Free

All tickets are valid for all three days of the Show

$2 off admission coupon is available on-line at

www.theloghomeshows.com and in the Local newspapers.

Also Misty Mountain Furniture in Sandpoint Idaho bought out Dry Creek Studios Western Cedar Screen Doors. A perfect accent to dress up your front door. Please see them at

http://www.screendoorfactory.com

Affordable Loan Modification, Washington

President Obama’s home loan modification program, created to help you save your home and avoid foreclosure, is a government program that was designed to allow every American home owner to access an affordable loan modification, and the current low mortgage interest rates. With mortgage interest rates now below 5%, it could make a huge difference in thousands of Washington homeowners' monthly mortgage payment.

By lowering your interest rate just one percent, distressed homeowners could save hundreds of dollars on your monthly mortgage payment. For this reason, many Washington homeowners are now hoping to take advantage of President Obama’s “Making Home Affordable Plan” and get a mortgage refinance or Loan Modification into a lowered fixed rate and monthly payments.

Nearly all Washington homeowners now qualify for an affordable home loan modification under the Obama Plan, which now demands that your payments cannot be higher than 31% of your gross income. Most borrowers now find themselves above this number and now qualify for mortgage assistance.

For those who now owe more on their home than it is worth, eligible loans include those where the first lien mortgage does not exceed 125 percent of the current market value of the property. According to the Making Home Affordable website, if your property is worth $200,000 but you owe $250,000 or less on your first lien mortgage you may qualify. The current market value of your property will be determined after you apply to refinance.

If you are at risk of foreclosure, participating servicers may not proceed with a foreclosure sale until you have been evaluated for a modification under HAMP, and, if eligible, offer you a trial modification. Every troubled Washington homeowner should immediately see if you qualify for an affordable loan modification under Obama's HAMP Program.

If your servicer is not participating in the HAMP Program, you should ask your servicer or a housing counselor about other workout options that may be available. Borrowers whose loans have been scheduled for foreclosure and all borrowers who have missed one or more mortgage payments should contact a mortgage mitigation service immediately.

Homeowners should never pay for information on or an evaluation for the Making Home Affordable Program. Beware of any person or organization that asks you to pay an upfront fee in exchange for mortgage mitigation information or a loan modification evaluation.

Ahhhhhhh...Hawaii! I have lived where winter hits hard, my whole life. This makes vacations to the Tropics especially incredible. Let me share a few pictures I took while in Paradise.

A Maui Sunset taken 10/17/09

Look closely...that is me in the corner of the infinity pool at the condo overlooking Wailea. ahhhhhh

The perfect end to a great time: Dining at Mama's Fish House...incredible!

I cannot wait to return to the Islands...sometime soon!

I recently hire a dynamic duo- Spokane Wa. first "HOME DETAILERS!"

The do just that. You know- when you get your car detailed, and you get it back and wonder whose it is?!

WOW I mean this is the real deal.

PSK Renovations is the name of their company, and they are worth their weight in GOLD!

They recently perfected one of my listings, and made it look amazing. They walk through the home with the seller and Realtor, room by room, and give a bid per room. This way the seller can decide which rooms they want done, keeping their budget in mind. They will paint, remove wallpaper, clean, minimize, tweek, STAGE, and turn any home into it's best presentation.

With the overage of inventory, and 2 out of 3 homes NOT SELLING- Home Detailing is a very wise investment for the serious seller.

PSK RENOVATIONS: 509-869-1378 or 509-850-2610

amazing work girls, and THANK YOU!