Steven Cook's (stcook) Blog

This is my AR Status Update - Blowing My Own Horn. With this blog, I will be moving into spot #40 among all the AR posters in Washington State.  I will also be #5 among all those in Pierce County and #4 in Tacoma.  It has taken some work to do this, but it has been worthwhile, especially consider...

George Souto -- on the east coast has put together a concise, helpful post regarding how Fannie Mae deals with folks who have had major negative financial events in their lives.In recent years we have experience an increase in Foreclosures, and Short Sales, in fact presently Foreclosed and Short ...

Singing Christmas Tree Tradition in Tacoma Washington. The Life Center Singing Christmas Tree is performing their 50th anniversary series of concerts this month.  They were this weekend, and will be performing again next weekend. Former Pastor Fulton Buntain nurtured the program as a way to reach...

Zoolights is Celebrating 25 Years at the Point Definace Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, this holiday season. This is a great time for families who love the beautiful lights of the season.  There are over 500,000 lights which are spread throughout the Zoo and Aquarium area.  They are shaped ...

Michael Kara in Florida has written well on the unintended consequences of chaning the mortgage interest deduction while our economy is still struggling to recover (with only about 64% of eligible workers currently working or seeking work).One of the many compromises being levied in the discussio...

Gig Harbor (Washington) Lights Up The Water this Saturday evening, Dec. 15th. There are two different events which will be taking place that evening, in the waters of Gig Harbor. The first one, starting at 5 p.m. is the lighted kayak holiday tour.  You can bring your own kayak and they will decor...

"A Rented Christmas" the musical is being presented by Arts at Trinity. This musical will be presented the next two weekends at Trinity Lutheran Church here in Parkland, Washington.  Their exact address is 12115 Park Avenue, which is just blocks off of Pacific Avenue, right across the street from...

Garfield Street Business Association Christmas Shopping Event is this Saturday, December 8, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Children get an opportunity for a free picture with Santa (though we do ask for a donation of food staples for the local community kitchen). Santa (played by yours truly) will be ...

On our way back from stay at Depoe Bay, OR, my wife and I stopped at the McMinnville Air Museum. Their primary building is basically built to house a one of a kind aircraft - Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose".  From the picture you can get a bit an idea about its size, but to know that even today no ...

Mark Taylor from Arizona makes some excellent points about the FHA program, which are also applicable to those looking at using it in Washington State.  In this case, sooner is definitely better than later. If you have any questions regarding loans in WA, please contact me.FHA New Rules for 2013 ...