Happy New Year!!

It is hard for me to believe that 2008 is really here!! The year 2007 is now a wonderful blur of memories and moments that I will treasure forever. It was a busy year with many experiences both profession and personal!!

Regardless of what the press has to say, no market is a bad market. Home values may be down for sellers, but it is predicted that home values will start to recover in 2008. For buyers there are more choices, and the interest rates are favoriable, the lowest they have been in 26 months. In most areas of the country the econnomic indicators remain good, with gains in employment, controlled inflation, and growth in the gross domestic product.

The bad press in the news about forclosures, is mainly related with subprime loans, which are held by less then 10 percent of home owners. Most subprime loans will never go into foreclosure, and not all of those that do will be foreclosed. The traditional prime loans that are in foreclosure is only 0.6 percent. Products in the traditional prime loan market are readily available for folks that qualify. If you need help with mortgage information, please contact your mortgage broker, or contact me, I can recommend a mortgage broker to help you.

You need to remember that real estate is not a high yield, short-term investment. That was a misconception that the recent real estate boom created. Real Estate is also a local business. The national market does not neccessarily reflect what is happening in the Pacific Northwest or the Central Oregon area.

Happy New year to you all. I pray that 2008 will bring you all good health and wonderful prosperity in all that you do.

Sincerely,

Tracy

How can a real estate agent help you?

Whether you’re in the market for a primary residence, an investment property or a second home, purchasing real estate involves many important considerations and decisions. A real estate agent can provide the focus, due diligence and expertise needed to help you find the home of your dreams.

• A real estate professional will: Assist in determining how much house you can afford and help you get prequalified or preapproved for a loan.
• Simplify your search by helping you define home and neighborhood criteria.
• Screen new listings daily and alert you of homes that match your criteria.
• Keep you abreast of local market conditions, so you can make informed decisions.
• Gather in-depth detail on each home, schedule tours and point out the advantages and possible drawbacks of each property.
• Work with you in drafting an appropriate offer and serve as your representative when presenting it to the seller.
• Negotiate a contract that considers your goals and leads to a successful closing.
• Personally refer you to proven service providers, such as inspectors, appraisers, title companies, warranty providers, insurance agencies, attorneys, carpenters, movers and more.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Real estate professionals can represent the buyer, the seller or both. When agents represent both parties, it is called dual agency. In some states, dual agency affects the real estate professional’s fiduciary responsibilities to the seller. Keep in mind that real estate laws differ from state to state and even from locale to locale. For more in-depth answers, talk with a knowledgeable real estate professional and ask about local practices.

http://www.kw.com/kw/How-can-a-real-estate-agent-help-me.html

To View a copy of the Oregon Initial Agency Disclosure click here. pdf file.

Information deamed reliable but not guaranteed.

The Benefits of Healthy Coffee

By: John Hilaire

A debate that has been raging for the last few years boils down to one basic thought: is healthy coffee a myth or a reality? Many researchers believe that the health benefits of drinking a cup of coffee greatly outweigh the supposed ill effects of the drink. There is so much information available on the pros and cons of drinking coffee that many consumers are becoming confused. Is coffee a healthy drink or is it harmful to the body and best avoided? Let's try to answer that question.

What Is Healthy Coffee?

First, let's define what healthy coffee is. it is an eight ounce cup of regular black coffee with no added whitening agents, flavorings, or sugar. When consumed as a basic product with no additives, coffee is a low fat, low sugar, low calorie beverage. It is when the consumer starts to add items like cream, milk, flavored syrups, and chocolate that the drink starts becoming unhealthy. Some of the coffee drinks sold in coffee shops can have as many calories as a ?pound cheeseburger from a leading fast food restaurant.

What Benefits Does Healthy Caffeine Provide?

Recent studies have suggested that healthy coffee can provide a variety of health benefits to consumers. The antioxidant properties of coffee are highly prized and can help reduce the risk of cancer in some individuals. These antioxidant properties also act as anti-inflammatory agents, protecting the body from minor injury. Healthy Caffeine has also been found to ease and speed the passage of waste in the bowels, reducing the risk of constipation and hemorrhoids.

It is also believed that the consumption of healthy caffeine may reduce an individual's risk of developing diabetes. Studies have found that individuals that drink more than three cups of coffee daily reduced their risk of developing diabetes by about 20%. If those cups were filled with decaf coffee, the percentage jumped to between 30 to 40 percent. Studies are still trying to determine why this link between healthy coffee and diabetes exists and researchers are trying to find a way to apply these findings to daily life.

Although healthy caffeine does not belong in the same category as fruit juice and water for healthiest drinks, it certainly is better for you than first believed. Coffee will never replace the fruits, vegetables, and grains that are so important to our daily diet, but it may prove to be a welcome addition to them. The antioxidant properties of healthy caffeine may prove to keep us healthy as well.

Article Source: http://www.fresh-article-directory.com For more information and articles on Keurig Coffee Maker Reviews and Gevalia Coffee please take the time to visit our website at www.keurigcoffeemakerreviews.com.

Why Take Out Pet Insurance?

By: Nicholas Hunt

As a nation of pet lovers, many of us spend considerable amounts of both time and money providing our companions with the necessities of life and in most cases, lots of luxuries too. From gourmet pet food to comfortable sleeping quarters, stimulating toys to the best in flea protection and grooming, we lavish care and cash on our pets. One thing that not all pet owners are willing to pay out for though is a decent pet insurance policy.

Maybe it's because of a distrust of the insurance industry in general - after all, it doesn't always have the best of reputations - or maybe it's through a lack of knowledge, but pet health cover often comes bottom of the list if it's even considered at all.

This is perhaps not surprising in some respects. While your pet is young and healthy, it's not pleasant to think about all the bad things that might happen in the future, whether that be illness or accident, going missing or even in the worst scenario, loss.

This attitude is entirely understandable, but in the long term it is perhaps not one that gives your pet the level of care and consideration that is deserved. The costs of standard treatments such as immunization are high enough (and insurance doesn't cover this), but the costs of an accident or major illness can be astounding, especially if surgery is required.

An encounter with a vehicle or even a wild animal can leave your pet needing treatment costing thousands upon thousands, which is unwelcome enough even if you can afford to pay it. If you can't afford it, and have no way of raising it, then that leaves your pet in a dire situation, and you'd have to consider the distressing option of having it put to sleep.

A good, comprehensive pet health care policy will avoid this upsetting situation, giving your pets the treatment they need when they need it, and the costs are lower than you might think with policies starting at only a few dollars or pounds a month.

There's also the rather important matter of public liability. Should your pet damage someone's property, or even worse cause a personal injury, then in today's litigious society you'll be wide open to crippling legal bills, whether or not you were at fault or negligent. Most policies will cover legal bills and compensation claims up to the tune of millions.

Finally, you never know when your own health might become an issue. Should you need to be hospitalized for treatment, do you have arrangements in place for looking after your pets? Insurance will pay the kennel or cattery costs involved in a hospital stay, meaning you have one less thing to worry about during your recovery.

All in all, even though insurance isn't a thrilling subject, and many of us don't see why we should pay for it when things are going well, there are plenty of convincing reasons to take out a policy, and if the time comes when you need to call on it then you'll definitely be glad you had one in place.

Nicholas writes for a pet health insurance information site, which covers areas including horse insurance and other general pet cover topics. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Our Belief System

• Win-Win - Or no deal
• Integrity - Do the right thing
• Customers - Always come first
• Commitment - In all things
• Communication - Seek first to understand
• Creativity - Ideas before results
• Teamwork - Together Everyone Achieves More
• Trust - Starts with honesty
• Success - Results through people

Our Vision

To be the real estate company of choice for a new generation of sales associates and real estate owners.

Our Values

God, Family, then Business

Our Mission

To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.

If you know of anyone who is interested in selling or purchasing real estate in the next three month, please let me know. Even if they are not in my area, I can help refer them to a terrific agent.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

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