Brett 's Blog

Every month or so, the news media generates articles based on the latest statistics from various multiple listing services.  In those articles they relate how "Median Prices" have either fallen or increased.   What's that mean?  Well, a median price is one  where it's the middle price of all the ...

Around the country to day you'll hear - TGIF, and hip hip hooray, it is FRIDAY....what do you do on Friday?  Is it a day for you to rest before a big Real Estate Weekend?  Are you planning for a busy weekend of activity? Friday for me is a day for loose ends, training and personal growth.  Friday...

Does the looming US Government shut down affect Realtors and Loan Officers?  You bet it does....if nothing else it adds a little more stress to an already stressful business. So - lot's of speculation but here are a few potential issues: - no FHA Case number assignments - no FHA Insurance on fund...

A little advice for folks shopping for a mortgages, the Federal Reserve changed the rules on how loan originators can get paid as of today.  Our company has adopted a plan with one rate sheet where all loan officers get paid the same.   We felt that this was the most fair to the consumer.  Many o...

Someone told me that once - and they weren't referring to a woman....it's kind of like the bumper sticker - "my carma ran over your dogma".  A play on words - Carmen will get you really means, karma will get you.  You know what goes around comes around.  You reap what you sow. This has been so tr...

So - I'm new to this blogging world - I blogged for a little while a few years ago, but really, I've just picked up the habit recently.  I just watched a video by Seth Godin and Tom Peters, and they came to the conclusion that as a beginning blogger, it's a great idea to post 5 times a week for a...

In Portland, Oregon, we have a reputation for LOTSA rain.....but really, we don't get that much more than a lot of places.  But, we get a little a lot!  It's gray here quite frequently.  So, when the sun comes out, it's an exciting moment.  Here in Clackamas, Oregon (a suburb or Portland), we've ...

The Federal Reserves changes in the rules regarding loan originator compensation have the potential of affecting more than just people in the mortgage business. A major good thing will be that most mortgage company's will have fairer pricing.  In the past, it was common that a borrower could go t...

Ok - so....blinding flash of the obvious here....Appraisals are serious problems for real estate transactions right now.  Lawrence Yuen, the Chief Economist from the National Association of Realtors said this week "Home sales are being constrained by the twin problems of unnecessarily tight credi...

So - after years in the business, I thought I'd share with you the most common mistakes borrowers have made that make a good loan go bad! Here's how to do it: Quit or change your job right before you apply or while the loan is in process.  Some jobs have probationary periods where they can let yo...