Really interesting article in ‘Wired’ this month.  It makes sense…all the Facebooks, Twitters, MySpace, etc. will one day share and need just one login. The article says it better:  “Wired” article

Short Sale Properties
A short sale is any sale where the purchase price will not result in sufficient proceeds to pay off the mortgage, or other liens, and clear the title.  Short sales are typically made using a short sale addendum that makes the transaction contingent upon the seller obtaining the consent from their creditors permitting a reduction in the closing costs sufficient to close the transaction for the purchase price.  Because the transaction is contingent upon the consent of third parties, short sales often fail.  Buyers should understand and plan for the resulting uncertainty.  Contract deadlines and termination provisions must be carefully considered in a short sale.  Because the transaction is contingent on the consent of one of more third parties, sellers can, and often do, continue to market the property and seek better offers.  Creditors will often demand changes in the terms of the sale agreement as a condition of giving their consent. Buyers should be prepared to deal with the additional uncertainty created by the potential for multiple offers and third party demands.  Real estate licensees can give buyers important marketing, business and negotiating advice and information and can assist in preparation of the sale agreement but only pursuant to the client’s instructions. Real estate licensees are not attorneys and are prohibited by law from giving legal advice.

This article I read in Greenzine is amazing.  They are developing ‘plastic trees’ that can capture solar power.  You’ll be amazed when you read this.
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/39956

You may be curious about how the recently passed stimulus package affects energy incentives offered in your state. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) web site is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Choose one or both databases to search Renewable Energy and/or Energy Efficiency. You can click on your state or click on the smaller U.S. map to look at federal incentives. Check it out at http://www.dsireusa.org/

As I am sure you are by now aware, Pres. Obama signed into law Tuesday the Economic Stimulus plan.  One of the provisions of this bill included a tax credit for first time buyers of homes.  (A first time buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years).  The credit is for 10% of the purchase price, up to an $8000 credit.  The home purchased must be their primary residence.  The purchase must take place between Jan 1 and Nov 30, 2009.  Most importantly, the credit is a “refundable credit”.  This means for example, if the taxpayer has a $5000 tax liability and an eligible credit of $8000, they would receive a refund of $3000.

I have heard from a few people recently that the Oregon Bond program is out of funds.  This is not true - the Oregon bond program is very much alive and does have funding (I understand that they had a bond sale recently).