Make a Good Life

 

Greene Realty had an opportunity to work at the Thurston County Food Bank last week.  We only divided crates of apples into individual bags to be given to needy families.  We are all familiar with the works of the foodbanks, especially during the holidays....I was less familiar than most.

I am always shocked when I discover yet another way in which my life has been sheltered.  Through my work with the Griffin Foundation I learned about  kids in the Griffin School District who needed help....food during school hours to stave off hunger.  I have to say that I was surprised that even in our little enclave of close-knit community there was such a need.

At the food bank my education was broadened after a conversation I had with Cheryl Falkenberg.  Cheryl is a board member on the Griffin Foundation and I know here through that and through the school.  What I DIDN"T know is that she also runs a program through the food bank  (and works there three days a week) that helps over 500 kids per month.  This program delivers food to Thurston County schools on Fridays so that the children will not be hungry over the weekend.

Mnay of these children are homeless...in that they are living in a travle trailer, a shelter or with another family in cramped conditions.  From the food bank they receive a bag containing simple foods in most of the food groups to hold them through a hungry weekend.  Macaroni, apples, boxed milk, cereal and canned chili are some of the staples.  Food is donated, or bought by the food bank, and delivered by volunteers.

So, I need to take my children downtown to have a turn at working in the food bank to help others.  Instead of complaining about not having the latest phone to come out, or about how they want to "re-do" their bedrooms, it may open their eyes to the good fortune life has dealt them so far.  I know it has opened my eyes.

Banks have money...Your loan will close

A lender stopped by today and said that she hears all day from clients (Buyers) that they are worried that even after their loans are approved the money will "go away".  She was stopping by to drop of a flyer showing the leverage each local lender has, in dollar values.  It was interesting:

Wells Fargo:  $20 mil plus

Bank of America: $11 mil plus

WSECU:  $11 mil plus

Countrywide: (these guys are stilll playing ball?!) $7.8 mil

Olympia Federal (they have almost no BAD moneyy out there by the way) $6.9 mil

ETC......Most of these lenders guarantee that they will close your loan on time, some will even pay a mortgage payment for you if they fail to close by the closing date because of financing or underwriting issues.

YES-There is money to lend, rates are good, election day is tomorrow, prices are low....get out there and BUY!!

 

This is Mandy....she touched my hair and groomed my arm.....I love her!

I have not mentioned my latest enterprise....trips to volunteer at the Oregon Primate Rescue.  I have always loved monkeys....but with no Biology background, I don't have the neccesary credentials to get involved in caretaking or scientific observation.  I was looking into getting into an internship program at a facility in Florida when I stumbled upon this rescue center in Oregon.

Turns out that it has moved to Washington....and only about 1.5 hours from my home.  My goal at this point is to get there weekly to volunteer and build a relationship with the monkeys and with Polly, the proprietor.

Check out the website at http://www.oregonprimaterescue.com/ to learn about the resident monkeys, the rehabilitation program, the amazing leader, Polly, or to donate money.  It is a not-for-profit situation on a gifted 40 acre parcel in Longview, WA.  More as I know it......

Business and Rates and a Change of Clientele!

October has more than made up for my slow summer.....weird if you consider that historically, October is one of my slower months.  May is usually top of the earnings for me....NOT this year.  But rates have been agreeable to investors, and I am currently representing three first-time homebuyers....a fun turn of events!

You become jaded pretty darn quick in this business....after some scathing transactions and questionable morality, you tend to lose some of the joy.  Lately, working with first time homebuyers again, for whatever reason they have cycled to me, I have been able to remember why I like this job.

Working with investors or even "move up" clients, as well as developers, is a hard path to hack.  After the last two years of working intensely with builder/developers, I am a little burned out.  So, after some good real estate time and knowledge under my belt, it is fun to share that with my first time homebuyers, and to guide them expertly through the trials of the real estate world.

And, I get to opportunity to share with them what I wish our first real estate agent had shared with us so many years ago:  Buy real estate as an investment, plan to hold it when you "move up", and build your portfolio from purchase #1.