tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251557812011-04-21T15:50:58.726-07:00<b><center>Tidbits and tips about rural homes, lifestyles and other homeowner whatnots in NW Oregon</b><p> <b>Need to know more about Portland Metro rural areas? Or who I am?<br>Visit my <a href="http://www.rural-homes.com">INFO PACKED WEBSITE!</b></a></center>Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-18734609794181567172008-04-17T11:22:00.000-07:002008-12-10T12:57:57.487-08:00

Just a smile to help you thru the rougher times.... take heart. There is light at the end of the tunnel! See more of Luckovich's 'toons at AJC.

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-5844010072969530152008-04-02T17:48:00.000-07:002008-04-02T18:44:20.175-07:00

As housing boom corrects itself, and property values slowly depreciate to a number where they'd be had the "boom" never happened, I've been watching to see if there was a notable gap between the urban/suburban homes vs country/rural acreage homes in foreclosure rates. As is usual with rural news, and rural residents, we're often left out of the statistic equation. Then again, that "under the

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-59365377194287649352008-03-17T17:30:00.000-07:002008-03-17T17:35:03.946-07:00

With the tighter criteria in the wake of the subprime, they've again opened a window for those with not much cash to put down on a house to purchase.See the increased FHA loan limits for Oregon counties here.FHA loans require approx 3% downpayment. However this can be paid via the seller with the written offer.More questions as to the specifics? Feel free to shoot me an email, or give me a call

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-26572212967730179412008-03-02T09:38:00.000-08:002008-03-02T10:23:28.473-08:00

Click here to view the 2007 NAR report for Portland prices and trends in PDF.Some points are summarized here. But do read in it's entirety. Lots of charts & pictures to entertain as well... :0)The decline in new homes actually helps control and balance the inventory of unsold/listed existing homesDespite media reports, the Portland area decline in home prices are neglible.If there are FHA reforms

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-81779331545719190152008-02-27T15:49:00.000-08:002008-02-27T16:22:43.730-08:00

Amidst all the hype and fear mongering of recession, foreclosures and home values dropping by Presidential candidates and the media, comes the soothing voice of reason from billionaire investor, Sam Zell.The US economy will avoid recession as the housing market begins to recover this spring, according to billionaire investor Sam Zell.Speaking on "Squawk Box" this morning, Zell attributed much of

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-50335260454752138242008-02-20T10:11:00.000-08:002008-02-20T10:21:32.144-08:00

There are many sellers desperate enough to respond to the inviting "we buy houses for cash" signs as a way out of short sales or foreclosure. In this market trend, those running scams of this sort are in their prime.But beware those that approach, offering too good to be true bail outs of your credit or foreclosure problem. From an old, but more relevant than ever Scripps Howard News Service

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-38044144554644002752008-02-20T09:37:00.000-08:002008-02-20T10:24:53.789-08:00

As I stated in my Jan 23rd post, "Despite dropping home values, sellers still ahead in equity", I consider this declining values in homes a market correction. Indeed, when you average out the boom appreciation years with the latest national figures in decline from those highs, the average annual appreciation is still hovering around the "norm"... as if the boom never happened.What is not friendly

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-21682813446701787522008-02-04T15:36:00.000-08:002008-02-04T15:56:04.082-08:00

Wondering how to spend your home improvement money wisely? Certainly all improvements can make a difference to your homes value. But some remodeling choices pay off better than others. And unless you have the deep pockets to do it all, reading Remodeling Magazine's 2007 Cost/Value Report for the Portland area may help you decide which projects should take priority.So what pays for itself (at

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-64064492957662421962008-01-31T15:27:00.000-08:002008-01-31T15:37:04.565-08:00

Heart busting with pride, here. My 92 year old Dad got his first hole in one after decades of playing golf. As if age weren't enough to make it unusual (the only other one I found was a 78 year old in Iowa back in 2005), Dad is legally blind. No vision in one eye, and the other only perphiferal vision.Now Dad isn't into big "ta doos". Hang, his foursome had to prod him into even telling my Mom

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-38059750283322891342008-01-28T12:24:00.000-08:002008-01-29T09:10:02.636-08:00

I had an interesting question from a friend INRE putting in a new vegetable garden. He wanted to know, after getting rid of the indigenous blackberries, should he (roto)till or not?Not being a garden expert myself... and being one upped by my tomato plants more than I'd care to admit... I set to researching the opinions of experts. I actually landed upon several good sites that I'd like to

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-20757601442475997692008-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:002008-01-25T10:09:39.820-08:00

Bernanke's latest rate slash was designed to thwart off the spread of economic repercussions from the subprime fallout.However at least one Portlander has figured out that it's an opportune time to refi with the new low rates.Jan. 23--It remains to be seen whether the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut Tuesday will avert a recession. But it's good for Don Christensen.And, to some degree, that

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-17640871925038096052008-01-23T09:46:00.000-08:002008-02-15T10:48:20.915-08:00

There's a lot of panic going on in the sellers' world about their housing prices dropping. Far too many broke the cardinal rule, pulling out their equity and not spending the money for home improvements to increase the home's value, and instead spent it elsewhere. To waylay the cash equity elsewhere, and not improve the home, is a dangerous hedging of bets. It requires the market to keep yielding

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-83404348484073732672008-01-21T09:00:00.000-08:002008-01-26T10:38:39.723-08:00

When you bolt the urban and suburban areas for a lifestyle changes, there are a few adjustments to make. And one of these may include your gas appliances. While there are some exceptions, most rural homesteads do not have a natural gas supply line. But just as there are alternatives in high speed Internet, your alternative to electric appliances lies in propane fuel.If the home you are purchasing

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-64316687297388419522008-01-20T13:07:00.000-08:002008-01-20T18:14:22.089-08:00

In the aftermath of the subprime hysteria, the US Congress has threatened intervention more than once. While the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 is a good move, it is legislation that offers a better solution.... that being an effective tax reduction by not collecting income tax on homeowners' losses in short sales/preforeclosure. Get serious - it's much easier to not give your money

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-78171589155941721472008-01-17T09:47:00.000-08:002008-01-17T09:57:10.358-08:00

If you are facing a potential foreclosure, there is a concise list of alternatives - with brief summaries - from Second Opinion Solutions Group, LLC.Second Opinion Solutions Group, LLC, is a company devoted to helping people handle legal and financial hardships with free or low-cost debt reduction tools and professional credit consulting services. Kathleen Rieger, President, is a member of the

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-35232197643408757382008-01-17T08:32:00.000-08:002008-01-17T09:04:43.578-08:00

As I mentioned in my "Had a chat with your lender lately" post on Jan 14th, the slower home sales due to the lender standards tightening would result in more needing to rent until they can qualify for a home purchase. No matter what the economy, every one needs a place to call home - even if rented.Realtor® Magazine Online's Dec article (Commercial Real Estate Remains Strong) about 2007 market

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-14949050656420125982008-01-16T08:05:00.000-08:002008-01-16T08:43:20.030-08:00

"I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down"... so the fairy tale goes. It's an old story... in more ways than one... but still a good one. And who would have thought this long revered childrens' story, "The Three Little (homeowner) Pigs", battling the evil (lender) wolf would manifest itself in a new light with the 2007 real estate trends?It's nothing new that some homeowners

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-26324358527206143952008-01-15T14:40:00.000-08:002008-01-17T09:39:36.269-08:00

It's not unusual to hear sellers mutter obscenities under their breath when they think of paying agent commissions in their homes sale. And in a market when trends are not the wild, out of control appreciation we've seen the past couple of years, sellers are paying far more attention to every cost associated with selling. That most certainly includes their largest closing cost expense - the agent

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-58730678848743459832008-01-14T13:03:00.000-08:002008-01-15T09:16:40.631-08:00

The past couple years, highly inflated home values followed by the problems with the smaller percentage of subprime loans gone bad have created some big changes in the mortgage industry and real estate values.First, what most sellers notice, is home values have declined. The national media quotes a 6% decline in value. And while many consider this devastating (especially if you're in a 100%

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-57243547668895677782008-01-11T10:14:00.000-08:002008-01-11T10:26:40.670-08:00

One "must have" on our country acreages here in Oregon is a chain saw. Whether clearing debris after storms, basic maintenance of underbrush or unwanted trees, or firewood, there's nothing that fits the need like a chain saw. It's almost downright embarrassing... I get this Home Improvement/Tim Allen gleam in my eye when there's some clearing to be done! Fact is, it's a stress reliever as well as

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-33500323270140068822008-01-10T16:12:00.000-08:002008-01-10T16:59:20.665-08:00

Both state department of revenues and the federal IRS generally claim immunity when it comes to kicking someone when they're down and out. And when you're forced into a short sale, about the last thing you need is tax repercussions... ala owning money on the amount you were short to pay off your mortgage balance. To the government's eyes, that's considered "income" and is taxable.Or, to give you

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-67825382653923584322008-01-10T15:20:00.000-08:002008-01-10T17:01:26.886-08:00

First off... as you can see... I started this blog over a year ago. Then let it go so long that Blogspot changed over to Google management, and I had forgotten my passwords! DOH!But I'm back on the air, and plan to keep any and all abreast of real estated related issues and news.And we'll re'enter the real estate blog world with some older news, but an issue that may have escaped you. Credit

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-1161407215235792712006-10-20T21:34:00.000-07:002008-01-10T17:00:53.140-08:00

Biggest Wi-Fi cloud is in rural OregonBy Rukmini Callimachi, Associated Press, Appearing in USATODAY.comOne of the stumbling blocks urbanites first encounter is the notion that getting back to the land means leaving behind something none of us can admittedly live without anymore.... high speed internet. According to PewInternet's Feb 2006 research report, only 24% of rural residents have high

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155781.post-1161402458948668592006-10-20T20:40:00.000-07:002008-01-10T17:01:01.853-08:00

Are You Ready For The Country?Ranch and Country Magazine A place in the country! - Finding that special piece of land is fast becoming the "American Dream." For some, the dream may be for an acre or two - just enough room for a garden, or a horse, or maybe both. For others, the dream may be for land that extends as far as the eye can see. The demand for ranches for sale, farms for sale, vineyards

Terri Fiyalkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021991434648232852noreply@blogger.com2