Cowlitz News and Real Estate

Update: This home is SOLD

C.V.G. - Mint Valley Neighborhood home for sale. 2350 38^th Ave. Longview, WA 98632

Roomy in great condition well cared for home in the Mint Valley - C.V.G. neighborhoods. This home is conveniently located close to school, golf course, Wal-mart and many other services.  

One level with over 2,000 sq ft of living space, 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, Lg. formal dinning room, living room, family room with 2 skylights (pole to open shades), and extra computer room/office. Custom oak cabinets and closet doors, central built-in vacuum system, wood stove in family room and forced air furnace with heat pump. Oversized three car garage with big RV Parking area, big deck with built-in hot tub and professionally landscaped. New roof installed in October.

To see more photos and detail information visit www.235038thAve.com

Cowlitz County - Windermere's Community Service Day, 2009

Our job here at Windermere is not about selling real estate is about helping people, we do more than just sell houses, we are a dedicated group of individuals determined to make a difference in the lives of our clients and all those around us. Part of every commissions goes to the Windermere Foundation which help support many local none profit organization and gives out scholarships. Also, each year we choose couple less fortunate families to help out with Winter PUD bills, Christmas presents and we always trying to get involve  in improving the quality of live in the communities and neighborhoods we served by helping to improve and maintain them.

Community Service Day is one of the projects among the many things we do to help and maintain the communities our clients called home. The Community Service Day is a yearly event that has been taking place since 1984, is a day during the year that all Windermere offices close their doors to let agents participate in many projects around local communities. We participate in painting, cleaning and repairing schools, playgrounds, parks, shelters, community buildings among others.

We understand the importance of giving back to the very own communities who make us who we are. So, this year mark your calendar for Friday June 19^th, our office will be close all day but you may still see us around your neighborhood working along some of you. If you know some one who needs a helping hand or a community project that may need some help, feel free to contact Windermere or my self, we may be able to help.

Cowlitz Home Owners - What You Should Know About Short Sales

Short Sale - have you heard of this term before? I know here in Cowlitz County we don't have that big of a problem (yet) pertaining short sales but you may heard of it from the media since it seem that they make it a big deal daily event. I will pin point some of the most important information you need to know before you enter in to the selling or buying short sale venture.

What is a short sale? A short sale is a real estate transaction in which a lender or lenders are willing to take a loss and allows the home to be sold for less the amount a home owner owed on the mortgage. An example would be; if home owner have a loan on his home for $300,000 but in today's market buyers are only willing to pay $250,000 base on recently homes sales in the same neighborhood.  In this case the home owner (seller) have to ask the lender if he is willing to take less than what is owned on the home, if the lender agrees than is a short sale.

Why would a lender agree to a short sale if they are losing money? Well, taking a loss on a short sale sometimes is way less expensive than foreclosing on a home. The foreclosing process can get pretty expensive with court cost and attorney fees as well as time consuming, some home owners can keep lenders from foreclosing on their homes for months. This is why some times lenders feel it is better to accept a short sale than foreclose on a property.

What is the process of a short sale? A short sale process can get pretty complicated and time consuming, especially if you have more than one lien holder (first mortgage, second mortgage) and if a mortgage insurance is involved in the matter, the sale have to be approve by all institutions. All services will review the home owner's financial situation to determine the ability or inability to repay the debt, they will also determine the value of property and weigh that against amount owed and compare what will make them more money a foreclosure or a short sale.

How will I know if I qualify for a short sale in here in Cowlitz County? Not every home owner qualifies for a short sale, you have to fall in to a lenders guide lines to be consider and every lender have their own formula or guide lines to use when considering a short sale. Qualifying for a short sale is like qualifying for a loan but in reverse, you have to provide the same kind of information to prove that you are unable to make your monthly payments.

Cowlitz Summer Youth Employment Program

This summer, with the help of the Federal Government, the Longview Goodwill is bringing some great opportunities to Cowlitz County young workers and local employers who qualify. Along with the below press release, some TV, Radio and News Paper campaigns will be running making interested candidates aware of this great opportunity. You only have till June 20^th to contact the appropriate person to see if you qualify as a worker or as an employer.

Fed stimulus money to pay for young workers
Goodwill's Vocations Unlimited searching for youth, employers

LONGVIEW - If you're a young adult, 14 to 24 years old, a Cowlitz County resident, and searching for a summer job then visit Goodwill's Vocations Unlimited Office.

Through the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, Goodwill is using federal stimulus money to pay employees it places in jobs up to $1,500 this summer. The application deadline is June 20.

For information, contact Paul Spears or Rosalind Mallett at 360.425.6929 or by email to pspears@tacomagoodwill.org or rmallett@tacomagoodwill.org. Information is also available at the Vocations Unlimited Office, 1030 15^th Ave., in Longview.

"The goal of the Summer Youth Employment Program is to get young adults employed and helping the economy right away," said Spears, a Vocations manager. "This helps young adults get them involved in the work world or at least aware of other services we have available."

Employers are also sought who have part-time, temporary work to be done. Employers can be non-profit or public agencies. Some for-profit companies are included if they meet guidelines.

"We don't want it to appear that these jobs would prohibit someone else getting a job," Spears said. "The ideal situation would be a company needs extra staff for a specific task."

WHAT: Summer Youth Employment Program
WHEN: Summer 2009
WHAT: For up to 100 young adults in Cowlitz County, 14 to 24 years of age
TO APPLY: Contact Paul Spears or Rosalind Mallett, 360.425.6929 or pspears@tacomagoodwill.org, rmallett@tacomagoodwill.org by June 20

Venancio Gonzalez - GRI, e-PRO Realtor® with Windermere Real Estate Allen & Associates, serving Longview, Kelso and surrounding Cowlitz County real estate markets. gonzalezq@windermere.com or (360) 751 4001.

Cowlitz County real estate market report for single family only - April, 2009

Cowlitz County real estate market report for April 2009, compared to the previous few months there was more activity in April, more homes sold, one more pending and more active listings. Studies show that spring always have been the busiest time of the year for real estate and this year is not the exception.

This report will give you an insight of how the Cowlitz County real estate market is doing, number of active, pending and sold homes, average and medium prices, and average days on the market and what price range is more competitive and what price range is moving (selling) faster.

Cowlitz County Homes - Active, Pending and Sold Listings at the end of April, 2009

Active Listings - 604

Pending Listings - 99

Sold Homes - 57

Average List Price - $238,016

Average Selling Price - $182,706

Medium List Price - $206,950 

Medium Selling Price - $173,250 

Average Days on Market - 135

Most Competitive Price Range - $200,000 thru $249,999

Actives Listings at this price range - 107

Pending Listing - 16

Sold Listings - 6

Most Active Price Range - $180,000 thru $199,999

Pending - 15

Sold - 9

See March Cowlitz real estate market report or Cowlitz real estate report for 2008.