I saw this sign as I went to get my hair cut yesterday and it stopped me dead in my tracks.  Just seemed bizarre on so many levels.  Don’t get me wrong.  I like the dollar stores for some things like party favors, craft supplies, balloons, wrapping paper . . . but STEAK!? I seriously considered going in and checking them out but my hairdresser told me it was by request only.  They have to go into the back room to get one for you . . . didn't want to inconvenience anyone!  As I paused there on the curb taking this picture, it occurred to me that there must be a blog in this somewhere.  So here is my best shot at making a $1 steak relate to real estate! I came up with two points . . .let me know if either of them works for you! POINT #1:   Seriously, folks, do you think that $1 for 3.5 o... 07/07/2011

Sometimes it is the simple things that make the best memories.  Here in my Cliff Park neighborhood of Spokane we carry on a tradition that started many, many years ago!  It is the annual Cliff Park neighborhood parade.  There are no big fancy floats, but there is this guy in his cool car.     There is no marching band, but there are lots of kazoos, a fiddler, a trumpet player and even a few pot lids!    It is a time for neighbors to walk the neighborhood and say hello to old friends, and maybe even share your popsicle with a brand new one!      A time to kick back and wiggle your toes in the summer sun!     There aren’t crowds of spectators . . .almost everyone in the neighborhood who didn't take off for their lake cabin is a participant.  Young and old take to the street to strut thei... 07/04/2011

  Spokane Hoopfest 2011 is June 25 and 26.  If you have never participated or observed Hoopfest, Spokane's   annual sports bonanza, be sure it's on your "bucket" list.    Nearly 7000 teams have registered this year to compete in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament occuring on Spokane's city center streets.  The games are fast and furious.  (Winners are teams who earn 20 points first or whoever is ahead when the alotted 20 minute game clock stops). The spoils for the winners INCLUDE the ubiquitous T-shirt and applause from fans. A wide variety of  charities benefit from Hoopfest including Special Olympics, the YMCA/YWCA and youth athletic programs. Hoopfest is really one of Spokane's most exciting and well attended events.  Over 3000 volunteers give graciously of their time and the generou... 06/07/2011

see the testimonial here   06/02/2011

Spokane, WA Lender:  Advice to June brides and grooms You have heard of truth-in-lending...now hear this!  Truth-in-marriage! Long before they approach the alter,  the couple should understand that each will maintain his and her own credit information which is reported separately to the credit agencies.  Marriage is not a stepping stone to better credit.  It  becomes part of the wedding package and disparate credit scores do not average out. I'm thinking a pre-nuptial credit report expose' might be wise for full disclosure especially for couples who have not known each other for a long period of time. I suggest myfico.com. So young couples, spend wisely and pay off your bills.  Don't go into debt for the wedding of your dreams.  You don't want to be paying the bills for years to come.  ... 05/25/2011

Homes for Heroes would like to give a warm welcome to our new Affiliate, Carrie Toft. Carrie is a real estate broker with EXIT Real Estate Valley, with over 17 years of experience in the real estate industry. “My decision to join HOMES for HEROES® is very personal.  My husband Greg is in Kidney failure. He has received care from medical professionals for many years, and he as well as my family would not be able to get through it without the help of the medical community. I am so blessed as well to have a military hero in my immediate family, my brother John. I recognize the sacrifices he makes every day, as a soldier for the US Army.” 05/20/2011

Five Mile Home for Sale Full Details - Click image above 5-Mile, Corner Lot, Craftsman with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and 2200 sq ft of living space. Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. Unfinished basement with room for 2 more bedrooms and a bath. Master bedroom has a walk in closet and it's own full bath. Fenced backyard with sprinkler system, deck and custom patio. An Oversized 3 car garage completes this well cared for home in the Mead School District. Listing Courtesy of Keith Riddle, Keller Williams Spokane - Main   View additional Five Mile Homes for Sale 05/14/2011

Celebrate Life! Expo -- one day only, Saturday, May 14 Spokane County Fair & Expo Center   9 AM to 4:30 PM  Why not invite a friend and come on by?     9 Free Ticket Locations around town ($10 at the door)    Free Parking  Over 150 exhibitors  Health screenings  Live entertainment & Demonstrations  Giveaways   My booth is #136. I will be visiting with attendees and sharing information on reverse mortgages and real estate lending.  Please stop by and say hello. I would enjoy meeting you.          Another Spokane happening!   Celebrate Life! Expo -- one day only, Saturday, May 14 Spokane County Fair & Expo Center  9 AM to 4:30 PM. 05/13/2011

Wait! What IS a reverse mortgage?The other day I had a conversation that summarizes an all-too-common situation.I was chatting with a lovely senior lady (we’ll call her Jane) who, with her husband, was shopping for a new senior-friendly home.I suggested that she may wish to purchase the home with a reverse mortgage.“Oh no! I don’t want a reverse mortgage,” Jane proclaimed.“Why not?” I asked?“I just don’t want one. No reverse mortgage for me.”“But you would be able to live here, keep a great deal of your cash from the sale of your previous home, and never have a house payment as long as either one of you stayed in the home,” I said.“No no. Not for me,” she insisted.“Hold on, tell me more about this thing,” interjected her husband.“No, we don’t want …. Wait. What is a reverse mortgage?” s... 05/11/2011

Just the title of this post reminds me of an old story of a friend of mine who was on a flight into Spokane where the pilot announced on the P.A. system that he had begun his decent into Gieger Field saying that his passengers should set their clocks back 20 years!  lol.  Well, if you set your watches by the clock tower in downtown Spokane and Riverfront Park, you may in fact be way off come this Friday as work begins on the 109 year old giant sized grandfather clock and famous Spokane landmark.  This Friday (May 13, at 10am) the clock will stop as work is conducted on the internal mechanisms.  It should be back to regular time at some point during the following week. The clock tower was constructed between 1901 and 1902 and was part of the Great Northern Railroad Depot that was demolis... 05/09/2011

Beautiful Spring weather has finally arrived in Spokane Just shy of 70 degrees with a gorgeous blue sky and the thundering falls sound is all around The running water feature at Riverfront Park's entry way is a sure sign that Spring has definitely arrived Nice view looking south from the park with the Macy's building in the background The land has always held an honorable spot in the heart of Native Americans, partly because of the rich history of the abundance of fish in the waters, a once robust area to catch Salmon as they jumped and swam up the falls towards their ultimate destination up stream for spawning. This is part of the 14.8 mega-watt power generating hydroelectric damn on the Spokane River Falls in Spokane Washington.  Also seen here is a pedestrian foot bridge and the las... 05/09/2011

Up to 3 chickens are allowed in the backyard of Spokane homes.  I'm told that hens are normally very quiet and that's good. Roosters, however, are considered a nuisance, because of their loud and shrill call which we can all vividly imagine.  Some breeds may live 5 to 10 years.  Everyone is atwitter (no pun intended) about eating fresh and eating local.  It doesn't get any better than this with chickens in your backyard and fresh eggs in the nest!  You should have plenty since some egg laying breeds may produce as many as 300 eggs per year. I am not a farmer, I am not even a wanna-be farmer but I do have neighbors who are entertaining the idea.  They have casually mentioned this idea to test my reaction. Two thoughts came to mind.  One: Check the regs carefully.  Most major cities have ... 05/07/2011

It is 10:30 p.m. on the fourth day of the 31 Days of May challenge . . . it has been a long day and I just sat down to write my daily blog.  I am determined to see this through even if I have to write my grocery list and call it a blog!     Speaking of groceries, I DO have something to write about!  Being somewhat of a “foodie” I am very excited about something new we have coming to Spokane!     This something is the Spokane Public Market.  The Market will be a place where Spokanites can buy food, art, and other products made or grown right here in the Spokane area. Unlike our Farmer’s Market (which is great by the way), the Spokane Public Market will be open year round.  It will be located downtown at 32 W. 2nd Avenue.  I recently did some phone calling to the merchants who are close ... 05/04/2011

Perfect Spokane Home for Sale Click image above for additional details. Looking for the Perfect Place? This 4 bedroom, 3 bath home is BURSTING with amenities! Live in luxury and grace and have the best of the best! Shaw wooden floor, Techshield for added insulation, slab granite countertops, 2"" Wooden blinds, Stainless steel appliances, and MORE! Enjoy the changing seasons from the view lot with incredible forest scenery and deck. Entertain in the landscaped yard w/underground sprinkler drip system throughout! You have found the Perfect Home! Listing Courtesy of Claudia Maefsky, Keller Williams Spokane - Main View similar Spokane homes for sale 05/02/2011

South Hill Home for Sale Full Details, including pictures and details - Click Image Above Located in the Rockwood and Hutton School Dist. This 1910 Craftsman home has been completely remodeled! Over 3000 sq ft of living space plus a full basement for storage. 4+ Bed/3 bath. Full Master Suite Wing! Gourmet Kitchen, Library with gas fireplace, Beautiful Oak woodwork. 2 car attached garage plus a 13'x22' workshop! Backyard is fenced and secluded. Short walk to Rockwood Bakery! Must see property, right in the heart of Spokane's South Hill! Listing Courtesy of Keith Riddle, Keller Williams Spokane - Main View Similar South Hill Homes for Sale   05/02/2011

Fun new store opening on Spokane's South Hill!  Auctions are great places to meet people. Spokane's Owen's Auction Gallery is relocating this May and I can't wait to browse through all the "treasures" and to visit with folks who have a little time on their hands and a little money.  Do you suppose they might need a new house if they purchase too many items?  I could refer them to a great Spokane real estate agent and a great ahem! loan officer....me!            Once a month Owens holds a two-day auction.  Things will be heating up soon at their new location 17th & Ray (they were previously located in the Spokane valley).    Auctions draw people from near and far.  I think Owens Auction Gallery will be a great neighbor and nearby businesses will benefit from the traffic it will generate.... 05/02/2011

Cheaper to buy than rent in 78% of major cities Trulia: Dropping prices and rising rents boost affordability By Inman News, Thursday, April 28, 2011. Inman NewsTM It is cheaper to buy a home than to rent one in 39 of the nation's 50 largest cities, according to a quarterly report released today by real estate search and marketing site Trulia. Trulia's rent vs. buy index compared the median list price with the median rent on two-bedroom apartments, condominiums and townhomes listed on Trulia.com as of April 1, 2011, in the 50 most populous cities in the U.S. While 72 percent of the cities favored buying in the previous quarter's report, 78 percent favored buying in this latest report. "With home prices nearing a double dip and more foreclosures expected to flood the housing market over t... 05/02/2011

Do Run Run!  Bloomsday tomorrow in Spokane!  I am pround to announce that I am a perennial.   35 Bloomsday events, 35 entered, 35 finished after Sunday morning!   (A diminishing number for sure.)    Today the Lilac Bloomsday Association buys me lunch along with the other perennials. If you have not observed a Lilac Bloomsday Run (or participated in one) you really owe it to yourself to join in the fun.  This is the biggest timed road race in the United States.Yes, there's a nice crowd for Bay to Breakers. The only thing is, no one knows who is actually running the event. May 1, 2011 9 AM the gun goes off and runners from all over the globe are lined up in the downtown streets of Spokane to compete against the clock and each other......7.46 miles (12 kilometers). Over 50,000 participants... 04/29/2011

Can you guess where Spokane's giant "lego-man" is standing? I'm walking along and before I know it, this guy towering 16 feet tall and weighing 5 tons is proudly standing on a corner lot with a granite monument next to him.  Where did he come from?  Have you seen him before?  Do you know where to find him in Spokane?      Perhaps some clever citizens with a talent for welding scrap metal into sculpture created this lego-man on steroids.  I challenge you to find him and take your picture with him!       04/25/2011

What's happening in Spokane, Washington? Can you say "Kon Ni Chi Wa"?  It means "hello" in Japanese. All things Japanese are going to be happening in Spokane; therefore area residents & visitors might want to brush up on a few Japanese words to keep up. With all the sad news surrounding Japan let's be sure to participate in an exciting event which will enrich and brighten our days and those of our Japanese friends!   The 19th Annual Japan Week is coming up April 16-24, 2011. Everything from sukiyaki dinners to Japanese stories, bonsai demonstrations, music & sushi cooking classes are going to be offered at various venues throughout the city.  This annual event reflects Japan's culture and traditions and honors Spokane's long affiliation with not only our sister cities  but a strong hist... 04/14/2011