Take a vacation without leaving home

  • Long Beach Real Estate– Laurie Manny
  • Sacramento Real Estate Voice– Gena Reide
  • Luxury Home Digest– Roberta Murphy
  • Henderson Real Estate– John Novak
  • Manhattan Beach Real Estate– Kaye Thomas
  • Eastern Conecticut Real Estate– Linda Davis
  • Charlotte Real Estate Voice– Leigh Brown
  • Virginia Real Estate Homes– Lenn Harley
  • Columbus Best Blog– Maureen McCabe
  • Manhattan Blog– Mitchell Hall
  • Destination48009 – Sara Lipnitz
  • 3 Oceans Real Estate – Kevin Boer
  • Bloodhound Blog – Greg Swann
  • Real Estate Undressed – Larry Cragun
  • The Phoenix Real Estate Guy – Jay Thomson
  • Denver Real Estate & Relocation – Kristal Kraft
  • St. Paul Real Estate – Teresa Boardman
  • Just in case you’re considering a move away from Seattle…it’s sunny today so wait until it rains again (tomorrow).  Here are some great real estate blogs from across the nation.   

    Larry Cragun’s May Magnificent 7 Nominees

    383169803_80606fe014_oI feel pretty special when Larry Cragun of RealEstateUndressed presents his monthly nominees for his Magnificent 7…especially when my post are included with some pretty good company.   He focuses on consumer friendly content, just like I try do.

    Larry has selected 8 posts from May that are worthy of reading…somehow, three of articles are written by me.  Do check out everyone else’s worthy reads and give Lar a visit.

    Live at the picnic

    Update:  I did this post from my new Treo…photo and all.   My kids say that it’s especially sick that I blogged during a picnic for bloggers! 

    It was so much fun to meet the people behind the blogsI can’t even remember them all and I’m not sure that I want to try naming them in fear of who I might leave out! 

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    With three (pretty patient) teens…we had to leave after a couple hours…I believe the picnicking is still going strong.

    Happy First Birthday, Active Rain!

    PS:  Lydia, your guac rocks!

    Here are more photos of the Active Rain event courtesy of Betsy Talbot.

    Active Rain’s Birthday Party in Magnolia Park

    Mpj042861800001How could I have missed this?  Perhaps it’s because last weekend my Dad was admitted to the hospital and it’s been touch and go.  Somehow they managed to release him tonight (much to my surprise). 

    Anyhow, Active Rain–a real estate blogging network national biggy based out of Seattle, is having a picnic for Seattle real estate bloggers tomorrow at Magnolia Park to celebrate their first birthday.   Rain City Guide Creator, Dustin Luther…just blogged the details about it.

    Happy 1st Birthday Active Rain!

    Note:  Late last night I posted the picnic was at Magnuson Park…this is not correct.  The picnic is at Magnolia Park.   Ooops!

    My first interview on iTunes

    Recently I was interviewed by Jeff Chasin of Blogging for Mortgage Brokers with fellow mortgage bloggers Brian Brady of America’s Most Opinionated Mortgage Broker and Morgan Brown of Blown Mortgage.    Although the interview is intended for Mortgage Professionals who are considering blogging… I think the information is relevant to any real estate professional who has been wondering about whether or not a blog is for them.   To download via iTunes, click here or you can click the link under press and interviews.

    April’s Magnificent 7 compliments of Real Estate Undressed

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    Larry Cragun of Real Estate Undressed reviews posts (99 for the month of April) and recognizes the one’s he feels are most useful for consumers.   I honestly don’t know how he can manage to keep up with this month after month…but I’m glad he does!  He manages to select very interesting articles to read.

    This month, I am honored to be amongst the Magnificent 7…please check out these other great post and Larry Craguns site where he undresses real estate and mortgage issues and what ever else may be "bugging" him!

    Mortgage Rates and Why I Don’t Post Them. by Nigel Swaby: SLC Real Estate Blog

    Preparing to Sell Part 1: by Merv Forney – Northern Virginia Real Estate Guide

    Protecting Your Credit And Your Privacy: Blown Mortgage

    Putting The Cart Before The Horse: Making A Contingent Offer; by Sparky

    Should I Tell My Loan Officer About The Loan Thats Not On MY Credit Report: by Buckwheat

    Two Refi Offers In One Day…Just How Lucky Can A Gal Be?: by Rhonda Porter for Rain City Guide

    Top 10 Things To Know About Reverse Mortgages: by Mortgage Loan Place Lending Guide.

    Hey, Larry, high 5 high 8 for all you do! Mpj031407700001_2

    The Debt Disease…Dollar Buy Dollar

    ShredderThe other morning, I had CNN on as I was getting ready for work when a story about a local blog caught my attention.   Dollar Buy Dollar is authored from a Washington State resident who has found himself in quite the pinch by jacking up his credit card bills and student loans to a total that tipped over $70,000.   The blog is an honest (sometimes painfully honest) account on what he’s doing to try to get out of that mess.   This should be a must read for every senior in high school and anyone with more credit debt than savings.    Debt happens far too easily and, like packing on a few pounds, it’s much easier to gain it than to whittle it away.

    The author of the blog is remaining anonymous and calls himself "Fellowes" (like his shredder).    Here is an excerpt from Fellowes most recent post:

    • Taking on debt has become a lifestyle for many people, something that seems to be actively encouraged by our consumerist society
    • Couples hiding/lying to one another about debt IS a huge problem
    • Debt and the seeming inability to pay it down, discuss it openly with your spouse or other members of your family has a HUGE impact on mental health, physical health and family stability
    • There is a tremendous amount of confusion about the “best” way to pay off debt while still maintaining one’s dignity and self-respect.

    As a Mortgage Planner, I see consumer’s debts all day long when I’m completing a loan application or reviewing a credit report.   It can be a tremendous slippery slope for a family when your debts exceed your savings.   And with the national savings rate at below 0%, we are in more danger of a credit bubble ready to burst than a real estate bubble (at least in the Seattle area).

    This is such an important topic and I personally believe that this issue is more wide spread and impacts more consumers than we know since it is often kept secret, as Fellowes mentions above.   Fellowes is receiving quite a bit of attention from his bit on CNN, many others are confessing their tough situations via comments to his posts.   Fellowes offers this heartfelt advise:

    For those of you in the same situation. DONT WANT ANOTHER MINUTE. Overspending, lying and hiding from this can lead to other VERY destructive behaviors that can not only put your marriage at risk, but your life at risk. Go seek professional help if you can’t have the conversation with your spouse, but my all means HAVE the conversation. The hardest part of this whole ordeal was admitting how bad the problem was and that I my behavior was out of control. Paying in down and finding ways to negotiate and save and nickel and dime here and there is becoming a game for me, albeit a fun one. Thanks everyone for your support, suggestions and feedback. I will do my best to chronicle my journey and share other financial musings to keep you all coming back.

    I will be following up with a series of posts on this topic.   You can consider this "Part One".

    My Blown Interview

    Last week Morgan Brown interviewed me for a podcast on his blog, Blown Mortgage.  This is my very first podcast and…you can probably tell I was a little nervous at times.   Our discussion covered the CMPS designation as well as the current subprime market.   To hear our interview, click here.