Homeownership & Lifestyle

Homeownership is more than a mortgage — it’s about community, lifestyle, and long-term planning.

This section includes personal insights, community involvement, and home-related topics that reflect the broader experience of owning and living in the great Pacific Northwest.

Congratulations to Dawn’s Army

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Dawn’s Army recently climbed 69 flights of the Columbia Tower as part of The Big Climb: an event to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   Dawn’s Army consists of her family members and a crew from The Talon Group, where she was employed when she was diagnosed with leukemia.

You can tell their leader, Dawn Robandtim(pictured above), is quite proud of her team raising over $6,000 for this worthy cause.

You can still donate to LLS to help fight blood cancers.

Pictured to the right is “Gomer” and Tim Daniels, Chief Title Officer of The Talon Group and members of Dawn’s Army.

Note:  As soon as I have a group troop photo, I’ll post it here!

Here’s the troop photo:

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The Bottomless Mortgage Junkmail Bag

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Here’s a new one for you from the Mortgage Porter Junk Mail Bag.  This gem arrived to us in a hand addressed envelope about the size of a greeting card with real postage stamps but no return address.  What a personal touch.

But wait…there’s more!  When you open the envelope it appears as though someone has cared enough about you to send you a newspaper article and there is a written sticky note that says: [Read more…]

Private Mortgage Insurance helps Home Owners at Risk

mortgage insurance pmi washington stateYesterday I attended the “Fannie Mae Back to Basics Road Show”.  I was really hoping to get some clarity and “insider nitty gritty” but left feeling a bit underwhelmed.  The information that was covered was (I guess as the title says) the “basics” which every Loan Originator SHOULD KNOW and Fannie Mae guideline changes which have all ready been announced and I’ve all ready written about. [Read more…]

The Mortgage Porter Quarterly

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The first issue for 2008 of The Mortgage Porter Quarterly is being mailed starting this weekend.

This snail-mail newsletter features:

  • Your Credit: Tips to Score Big
  • Last Minute Tax Changes for 2007
  • What’s New with Rhonda (a true read if you’re having troubles falling asleep)
  • My (and my hubby’s) favorite recipe for Huevos Rancheros (pictured above).  YES…I made that.
  • My Mortgage Adoption Campaign
  • Credit Check Up (this issue, I recommend visiting www.annualcreditreport.com and pulling your free copy from Experian.  (You’re allowed 1 free copy from each bureau annually).
  • And much, much more.

Would you like to be on my snail-mail list and receive The Mortgage Porter Quarterly?

Confession:  it’s really not a quarterly.  I only mail this out three times a year (currently).  I didn’t want to call my newsletter “The Mortgage Porter Thirdly”.

Something Smells Phishy

I just received two emails from “the IRS” that appears official with an IRS logo stating:Moreof1_2

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $134.80.

Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days in order to process it.

This is a scam.  With tax time approaching, scummy people are hoping that you and others will fall for their nasty trap.  The IRS will not contact you via email.  If you receive this email, please forward it to phishing@irs.gov.

I also receive phishy emails appearing to be ebay, various banks…you get it.  Always verify directly with your bank and not to the email that is being sent to you.  Be sure to forward these messages to the appropriate company’s internet security department so these criminals can be tracked down and stopped.

The IRS has more information about phishing scams here.