|
| Sure there are pockets of pain aruound the US, but it`s not as if most Americans are losing
their homes. More than 99% of homes aren't in foreclosure. |
by Scott Burns
|
|
A resent list of year-end mortrage foreclosure races in 100 top metropolitan areas drew
a lot of attention. Released by Realty Trac, a company that compiles data on home foreclosures,
the list showed the number of foreclosure filings
in each metro area,the percentage of homes being foreclosed and the percentage change from the previous year.
Though the report had some dismal news such as the nearly 4.9% foreclosure rate in the
Stockton,California area - aclose look at the data also provides some reassuring information.
It tells me, for instance, that the foreclosure crisis is a regional problem, not a systemic
one. It could become a systemic problem, of course, but we're along way from that now.
This news will disappoint the gloom-and-doom crew and all those seeking the excitement of
financial upheaval.But it may be time to temper our worry and take a closer look at some
of the year-over-year foreclosure statistics:
- Though the national rate of foreclosure increased by a whopping 79% between December 2006 and December
2007, the rate was still only 1.033%. Because about 30% of all homes are owned mottgage-Free,
this means that for all the noise about a crisis,only seven-tenths of 1% of all homes were in
foreclosure.
|
- In the top 100 housing markers, the average foreclosure rate was somewhat higher - 1.38% -
and it was up 78% over the previous year.But if you rank-ordered the list of the top 100 areas
only 34 had foreclosure rates above the group verage. Fifty-oneareas had rates of 1% or less.
- Foreclosures rates actually fell in 14 of the 100 areas. More important,many of the areas with
the highest increases in foreclosure rates were rising off rates that were tiny.The Bethesda,
Maryland area, to offer the most extreme case, saw foreclosures rise 1,288% - to a rate of 0.682%.
In other words,foreclosures there were virtually nonexistent the year before. Today they are still
well below the national average.The same can be said for the Albany, New York area(up 638% to 0.25%),
the Baltimore area(up 544% to 0.73%) and the Providence, Rhode Island area (up 354% to 0.41%).
|
 |
|
| |
If you didn't see the last Pacific Northwest Title newsletter on our Snohomish Country office weight
loss contest, here is an overview.
For a New Year's resolution, our County Manager, Chris chulz,wanted to lose a few pounds and thought it would be fun to have a few people join him.
He thought, "Why not make a contest out of it"; with additional paid days off as prizes. Chris offered to
sponsor a thirteen week Weight Watchers program for anyone who was interested in shedding a few pounds.
Thirty-two of our forty-four employees jumped at the opportunity to lose weight and live a healthier
lifestyle and joined the program.
We are now on our 13th week, and as a group, we have shed a total of 211 pounds. Not only are we losing
the pounds,the cholesterol and blood pressure levels are lowering as well.The contest is set to end on
April 22nd when the winners (Which will be determined by percentage of body weight) will be announced.
We'll keep you up to date!
|
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
What is your position and your responsibilities at PNWT?
My position at Pacific Northwest Title is the Controller and Human Resouce
Manager.
How long have you been in the business?
Ihave been in the title industry for 30 years now;25 of those years I have
been fortunate to be mployed by Pacific Northwest Title.
What is a typical day like for you?
I start the morning off gathering invoices to be entered in the Accounts
Receivable system. Any bills due w ill be processed through Accounts Payable.
I answer question to employees regarding payroll,Vacation, Health & Welfare,
etc. and process employee changes. I also reconcile bank statements to the
General Ledger, do tax filings, and order office supplies.
What is your philosophy on customer service?
'Customer Service.' Treat the customer with the same respect and helpfulness
you expect when you need service!
|
Tell us a little about yourself.
I emigrated from Denmark in 1978. My husband and i were only going to sped a
couple of years in the United States, then go back to Denmark and settle down.
However, we just could not leave this great place. We purchased a house with
five acres in Snohomish where we have converted almost all five acres into
differemt gardens and ponds.
What do you like to do for fun?
Designing and creating new garden areas,dinners with friends, wine tasting
and visits to the local Cask Club for beer tasting.
What is your favouite thing and your least favorite thing?
My favorite things; Working in my garden and taking care of our four cats
(Blossom, George, Gracie and Oliver),one (verys spoiled) dog Niko and two parrots (Stinkey and
Jake).
My least favorite thing; Having to do housework on a sunny summer day when
i could be working in my garden!
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| |
| Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Spiced Blue Cheese Sauce |
Main meals
Points0 Value;10
Servings;6
Preparation Time; 15min
Cooking Time; 35min
Level of Difficulty; Easy |
| Ingredients |
|
| 2 pound lean sirloin beef |
1 Tbsp blue cheese.crumbled |
|
| 1/3 Cup Dijon mustard |
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice |
|
| 1/3 cup reduced - fat sour cream |
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce |
|
| 1/3 cup reduced_calorie mayonnaise |
6 cup green beans, |
|
| 1 Tsp store - bought horseradish |
steamed
|
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425"F.
Coat beef evenly with mustard and place in a baking pan lined with aluminum
foil;roast for 35 minutes for medium doneness, or longer until disired degree
of doneness.
Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a medium bowl; chill until ready
to serve.
Slice tenerioin into 1 - inch thick slices and drizzle with blue cheese
sauc.Yields about 4 ounces of beef, 2 tablespoons of sauce and 1 cup of
green beans per serving. |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Answers to questions can be found low.
- What current branch of the U.S. military was a corps of only 50 soldiers when World War I broke out?
- How much bigger is the sun than the earth?
- What digit did Arab mathematician al-Khwarizmi give to the West around
800 B.B.?
- What portable device did james Spengler invent in 1907, using a soap box,
pillow case, a fan and tape?
- What TV star did 500.000 people show up to watch sing at the Berlin Wall?
|
| |
| |
| |
 |
| "If we did all the things we are
pable
of doing, we would literally
astonish
ourselves." |
| Thomas Edison |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Anwers to Trivia Questions
- The U.S Air Force.
- The Earth is about 13 thousand kilometers (8000 miles) wide, whereas the Sun
is roughly 1.4 milion kilometers (900.000miles) across. If the Sun were a hollow
ball, you could fit about one million Earth insideof it!
- Zero.
- The vacuum cleaner.
- David Hasselhoff.
|
|
|
|
|
Download Newsletter |
|
|
