Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Time to SKI! Washington Ski Areas

This week, Stevens Pass announced that they were opening their ski slopes for the season!  It looks weather patterns will make it an awesome year for NW skiers.

Here is a list of the Washington Ski areas and contact information:

49 Degrees North
www.ski49n.com
866.376.4949

Badger Mountain
www.skibadgermt.com
509.745.8273

Bluewood
www.bluewood.com
509.382.4725

Crystal Mountain
www.skicrystal.com
888.754.6199

Echo Valley
www.echovalley.com
509.682.4002

Hurricane Ridge
www.hurricaneridge.net
360.565.3131

Loup Loup Ski Bowl
www.skitheloup.com
509.557.3405

Mission Ridge
www.missionridge.com
509.663.6543

Mount Baker
www.mtbaker.us
360.734.6771

Mount Spokane
www.mtspokane.com
509.238.2220

Squilchuck State Park
www.parks.wa.gov
509.664.6373

Stevens Pass
www.stevenspass.com
206.634.1645

Summit at Snoqualmie
www.summit-at-snoqualmie.com
425.434.snow

White Pass
www.skiwhitepass.com
509.672.3101

And just across the border in Oregon:

Mount Hood Meadows
www.skihood.com
503.659.1256 

Timberline
www.timberlinelodge.com
800.547.1406 or 503.272.3410

Mt. Hood Skibowl
www.skibowl.com
503.222.BOWL

Cooper Spur Ski Resort
www.cooperspur.com
541.352 .6692

So, what is the value of "no value" postage stamps, anyway?

I rarely jump on posts that I see from others to recreate them in any degree to this blog, however a Facebook entry from an Austin Texas  area real estate buddy, JoAnne McKinney really caught my eye.

You see, postage rates are going up again on May 11 to 44 cents, and I have several of these in my stamp drawer:

So our philatelic question of the day is, WHAT do these stamps have in common?  Well, there is NO PRINTED VALUE on them!  I have always been reluctant to use them after any kind of postage increase because I did not know what they were worth, so by default I was becoming a "stamp collector"!

Here is a handy USPS website that explains how these and other pesky no value stamps are valued: http://pe.usps.gov/text/qsg300/Q604a.htm

So now I can relax my philatelist ambitions and send these unmarked mutants on a postal journey  (with correct additional postage affixed).

And remember, on May 11th more spending stimulus will be in effect as postage rates rise an additional 2 cents!  I don't know about you, but I can't WAIT to participate!

Hat tip to JoAnne McKinney, the best darn Austin, Texas Realtor that I know!
See JoAnne's website at http://www.violetcrownrealty.com/

It's time to look at your interest rate (again!)

Don't look now, but we're firmly in a mini refinance boom (seems like deja vu all over again).  Rates have been bouncing between 4.5% and 5%.  The markets are erratic and the rate bounces are happening quickly.  Every time the rates reach a low point, by the time most people hear about it ---it has passed.

If you have a an ARM loan or a loan that has an interest rate above 6%, you may want to consider refinancing your home. 

Meet with your mortgage professional and get your documentation and affairs in order, so that when the rates make a sudden drop, you can lock.  Keep in mind that banks have all experienced major lay offs and currently banks are taking anywhere from 5-20 days to underwrite a file!

One more thing........A wise friend many years ago gave me this advice.  He said pigs are cute, hogs get slaughtered.  When rates look good -- lock.  More people get hurt trying to eke out the best possible rate, than accepting a good, competitive rate.  Don't be too greedy.  If you can lock at 5% or under, go for it!

For future home buyers AND refi candidates:
Remember, inflation may be just around the corner.  Once the economy starts to recover, liquidity will need to be taken out of the markets.  The Fed may need to rapidly hike interest rates to control potential inflation.  These low rates may not last long.