Bill's Connect Realty Blog

Clackamas Americans for Prosperity

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:44:29 -0500

I started a "Ning" social network site in order to bring together people in Clackamas County who are concerned about current efforts to turn America into a Socialist country. We are gathering together as a means of voicing our concerns over this drastic 'change" Mr. Obama wants to impose on us.

Http://www.afpclackamas.com is the site we are using to recruit Patriots who are determined to resist the overthow of the free enterprise system that is the glue that keeps freedom alive.

I encourage all who value Liberty, Free Enterprise, and a prosperous future to join Americans for Prosperity.

Bill McKee

Title transferred to "phantom" person

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:47:12 -0600

Have you ever come across a property where title is held by a "phantom" or made-up person?

Imagine this... Mr. Schemer anticipates a divorce from his wife. He owns a property in his own name. But, he's thinking that that property might be inclued as a portion of the estate he would be required to "split" with his wife.

So, being the scheming person that he is... he decides to sign a quit claim deed to the property over to.. his long deceased grand father. He signs the quit claim, has it notarized, and records the deed in the county records.Seems to work.. he's been renting the property out for 20 years.

20 years later.....

Now Mr. Schemer would like to sell the property.

Guess what. It's not in his name. The property is free and clear of liens and encumbrances and he would like to sell in order to finance senior home care...

What would you advise Mr. Schemer to do?

Not meaning to ask for legal advise, just musing about how people paint themselves into corners without clearly understanding what it is they've done! What kind of problems do you see for Mr. Schemer?

Milwaukie Oregon Market picking up

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:04:48 -0500

Milwaukie Oregon real estate is picking up! I have compiled statistics from RMLS for the past 4 months (March-June) 2009 and entered the information into a table format. I also entered the info into a chart for fast comparision of Milwaukie home sales activity with the sales activity for a couple of adjoining markets (Clackamas and Happy Valley).

Let me know what you think of this format, and how I can improve it!

More info? go to http://www.milwaukiehomesandlistings.com

ACORN - it's role in orchestrating destruction of America from within

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:40:41 -0500

Think this title is over-reaching? Think again.

Here is a very quick summary of the history of ACORN.. and the plan of attack hatched by socialist/communists to feed on our free and open system of government.

The Obama administration "emergency" stimulus budget provides in excess of $3 Billion dollars in so-called "stimulus" funding for ACORN and it's 200+ offshoot organizations. Think about that for a moment

The current mortgage collapse was caused, in part, by the influence of this organization on our congress. ACORN is an organization that Mr. Obama takes pride in having been a major player.. calling himself a "community organizer".Currently ACORN is being found out to be deeply involved in corruption of all kinds. Do a www.google .com search, "ACORN FRAUD" and examine the results from reliable sources.

As Mr. Obama's radical pastor suggested, "the chickens have come home to roost..." and the chief chicken now intends to open your pocketbook and remove your income and wealth.. as he says, to "spread it around". All I can say is that it is a foolish, immoral, and short sighted "policy".

It will take time to repair the damage being wrought, but in time, surely our freedom and liberty will be reinstated as we turn our backs on the stifling tyranny of Karl Marx's policies. Socialism looks attractive, until you run out of someone elses money. Then what?

Oregon's anti-business campaign.. Government gone wild

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:23:59 -0500

For a long time now, the public policies put into play in Oregon- while well meaning- have diminished the economic prospects for businesses and citizens of the state. Today, Oregon ranks 2nd in the nation (behind Michigan) in unemployment. Prospects for the near term continue to decline.

To see just how Oregon compares economically to other states in terms of unemployment, state budget, and foeclosure rate, CNNMoney.com has published this useful statistical map.

Contributing to this debacle in Oregon are many basic philosophies that, when combined, have become extremely burdensome. Something has to change.

Let's take just one aspect of the problem: Taxation- Right now, the legislature is in session and virtually all efforts are being focused on ways to increase the tax burden on private enterprise and on individuals. For example, the tax on beer producers is being increased by something like 1900%. There goes the thriving micro brew industry in Oregon. Oregon immediately jumps to #1 in the nation for taxation of of this sort, a full 33% higher than the next highest, Alaska. In practical terms it means that the price of a single pint will increase by about $1.50. Will that effect employment in a positive way at restaurants? Other schemes under consideration include increasing taxes on health providers and insurers .. a special new tax on top of existing taxes. Actually, the list is far too lengthy to include here.

Here's a tax a real estate agent can relate to. The city of Portland has a special income tax (they call it a business license in an attempt to cleverly skirt the consitution). Here's how it works... Let's say your office is in Gresham, and you live there, too. You generate say $80,000 in GROSS commissions, of which just $5,000 was generated due to a sale you closed for a property located in Portland. Portland just passed a "business license fee" that confiscates 2.2% of your GROSS commissions, regardless of where the bulk of your business is performed or if you reside somewhere outside Portland, if your total annual commissions exceed $2,500. In other words, they claim you owe $1,760 "business license tax" on $5,000 of business just for daring to do business in Portland. Notice this is based on gross commission income, not reduced by business expenses. Imagine the ramification if every city started to impose this kind of "business license". I can see a situation where your taxes would exceed your total gross income! This is the new plan for "redistributing income". Take from those who produce and give to those who consume, after government slices off their "overhead".

In Oregon, the government class has become, in function, a form of Monarchy. I'm not sure what people are thinking when they vote for people who treat our small businesses so unfairly. Before much further damage can be inflicted, I hope we find leadership that puts' government back in the box. OUr future depends on it. Our unemployment rate is just one barometer of the problem.

Time for REAL change.

McKenzie River Home for sale near Vida

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:33:04 -0500

This McKenzie River home has been spruced up and is just 100 yards from the River.. with a creek bordering the east property line.

Located about 40 miles east of Eugene, near the small hamlet of Vida, on Hwy 126.

The 2 bedroom home is on almost an acre.. and offers a guest quarters separate from the house.

To see pictures, video and nearby sights, go to:

http://mckenzieriverforsale.com/mckenzieriver

Foreclosure Index .. UP.. way up

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:12:57 -0500

In February, US foreclosures are reported up by more than 67% over January's numbers. That translates into 121,756 new foreclosures completed. This tops the previous record monthly high of 104,243 which occurred in September of '08.

Initial pre-foreclosure filings also increased to the highest level- hitting 207,703 in February, up more than 9% from the previous high set in December, '08 (190,467).

The Mortgage Banker's Association has produced a somewhat depressing report on deliquency rates. The National Delinquency Survey reported that the delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties rose to a new record seasonally adjusted rate of 7.88 percent of all loans outstanding as of the end of fourth-quarter 2008. Imagine that... almost 1 out of 12 residential loans across America are in some stage of delinquency.. a rate that does NOT include those loans that are actually somewhere in the foreclosure process yet!

Inventory of bank owned homes is swelling. In order to move this inventory, the first time homebuyer market MUST be revived. That market creates momentum for the move-up market. Low interest rates and the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit helps. But in the end, employment is key. A strong and vigorous economy is the ONLY way to turn the market around.

In Oregon, bank owned and pre-foreclosures are rising, too, of course. To review the current inventory of bank owned and pre-foreclosure listings, go to http://www.realtyadvisorsweb.com/Foreclosures.html

If we continue recent historic levels of deficit government spending, we will surely create enormous inflation, (decling purchasing power of the dollar), high interest rates, and a much lower standard of living across the board. In truth, such enormous borrowing by our government has scary national security ramifications. http://mckee.activerain.com/post/954743/deficits-imperil-america-s-future-just-say-no-

Some things in life are more important that real estate

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:40:23 -0500

I just received this note from David at RestoreAmerica.org and thought it was right on accurate and reflects my concerns, and I believe, the concerns of most Americans.

Gary Cass, speaker at two Restore America Conferences in Portland, Oregon and head of the Anti-Christian Defamation Commission, today reported that, "Just in time for Easter, one of the most significant days on the Christian calendar, Newsweek magazine's cover declares "The Decline and Fall of Christian America."

Significantly, President Barach Obama, speaking to the Turkish Parliament just days ago, said that America does not consider itself a "Christian nation." Obama and John Meacham of Newsweek would do well to read and consider the "inconvenient truth" we find in the remarks recorded from a previous noteworthy President spoken at the 1939 State of the Union Address by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Christianity, the indispensable source of democracy and international good faith

"Storms from abroad directly challenge three institutions indispensable to Americans, now as always. The first is religion. It is the source of the other two - democracy and international good faith.

Religion, by teaching man his relationship to God, gives the individual a sense of his own dignity and teaches him to respect himself by respecting his neighbors.

Democracy, the practice of self-government, is a covenant among free men to respect the rights and liberties of their fellows.

International good faith, a sister of democracy, springs from the will of civilized nations of men to respect the rights and liberties of other nations of men.

In a modern civilization, all three - religion, democracy and international good faith - complement and support each other.

Where freedom of religion has been attacked, the attack has come from sources opposed to democracy. Where democracy has been overthrown, the spirit of free worship has disappeared. And where religion and democracy have vanished, good faith and reason in international affairs have given way to strident ambition and brute force.

An ordering of society which relegates religion, democracy and good faith among nations to the background can find no place within it for the ideals of the Prince of Peace. The United States rejects such an ordering and retains its ancient faith.

There comes a time in the affairs of men when they must prepare to defend, not their homes alone, but the tenets of faith and humanity on which their churches, their governments, and their very civilization are founded. * The defense of religion, of democracy, and of good faith among nations is all the same fight. To save one we must now make up our minds to save all."

* Highlights mine

Pandering To our shame

Pandering to the Muslim world, the source of terror, barbarism, and world wide instability, is a shame to all freedom loving people. Calling America 'arrogant' and our willingness to confront evil, 'derisive' in the face of the worlds cowardice and our efforts to set people free while ignoring the great cost to America and Americans, should be called what it is; weak, unbecoming of an American leader, beneath the office of the President of the United States, and an insult to the millions of Americans who have sacrificed their lives for others around the world.

As Roosevelt said, "There comes a time in the affairs of men when they must prepare to defend, not their homes alone, but the tenets of faith and humanity on which their churches, their governments, and their very civilization are founded."

Please stand with us in our efforts to Restore America

"Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them."

Justice Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Ct. 1811-1845

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

II Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

Nehemiah 4:14 NAS

President Obama's disparaging remarks while in Europe reflect quite closely the remarks and attitudes of his recent "spiritual mentor/advisor".. and speaks volumes about his own core values, allegiance, and intentions to suborn America to the anti-American values, attitudes, and laws being touted by leftists in Europe and beyond. It's time for American's to re-evaluate the direction our "leader" intends to take us.

Search Engine for Oregon- "Swiss Army knife" MLS search tool

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:45:39 -0500

Here is the best MLS search engine that I've come across! Search home listings from Vancouver, WA, south from Portland to Eugene, OR.. and west to the ocean. Save your search and return whenever it's convenient.

Why use this search engine? Because it simply provides more ways to search: price history, detailed property info, maps-including street level view, comparable sales tool to determine what similar homes in the neighborhood have sold for, RSS feeds which send you changes and new listings that match your search criteria, financing calculator.. and much more. You can even restrict the search to bank owned and short sale listings ONLY. This tool is the best!

More details at http://www.realtyadvisorsweb.com Bill McKee Connect Realty

The America Dream- Worth fighting for .. again..

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:05:51 -0500

The past few months of incredible borrow and spend policy decisions by the new administration will result in incredible inflation down the road. The mortgage meltdown has been a convenient "cover" for the true nature of the spending spree. This was not a stimulus bill... it is much better described as a defacto financing for far left political organizations and causes. The tactics used to pass this bill... (closed door, one party meetings to draft the bill- and the urgency to pass the "emergency recovery bill" with not ONE senator having read the full bill) are right out of the Marxist playbook.

The Obama administration, and the people he has, or is trying to appoint to "lead" our country, will lead to our ultimate destruction, if we don't quickly resist the insanity. Already, it will take many years to recover from the immense debt burden and the far left policies this debt is paying for.

If you are part of the Silent Majority, it's time to become "not so silent". Our nation is at a crossroads and the time for action is now.

This short video summarizes how we must regain our sense of unity, and turn away Marxism and the "collective" mindset that is being forced upon us. This is America, not some Marxist dictatorship. To insure the freedom fought and paid for by the blood of our ancestors we must be willing to take serious and forceful action to remove Marxist/Socialists from power by educating our friends, family and associates of the peril we face. WE must expose the lies for what they are. We must encourage all patriots to vote and pressure our elected officials to stand behind AMERICAN ideals. We must resist with all our might the tyranny being shoved down our throats by incompetents, tax cheats, and elitist liars who peddle the stench of death and and destruction with the mindless chant for "change". For freedom to reign, the last thing we need is this kind of "change".

Foreclosures and Short Sales in Oregon

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:14:25 -0500

Want to find foreclosures, bank owned reo's, and short sale opportunities fast, and with very little effort? want a daily update as new opportunities come to market?

This video explains a way to do that using the MLS search on my website. (hey, it's my first attempt at video in this manner, so the production value needs to be improved..) http://www.realtyadvisorsweb.com/Foreclosures.html

Timely list of Foreclosures, Short sales, REO, Bank owned

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:39:37 -0500

It takes a lot of time to sort/find the distressed listings from the not so distressed these days. To help reduce the time and effort, I decided to filter the MLS data and display only the listings that are likely REO's or short sale suspects. It's not 100%, but it sure is a time saver!

Check it out on my site: http://www.realtyadvisorsweb.com/Foreclosures.html

Connect Realty HQ is also rolling out some new technology for our virtual brokerage that will make our day to day tasks less time consuming, while increasing the time we have to actually talk with our buyers and sellers. I like that.

Let me know how I can improve the foreclosure/ reo / short sale functions at www.realtyadvisorsweb.com. I'd appreciate it!

Bill

Trillions in debt- reaching over $79,000 per household..so far

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:19:39 -0500

According to The New York Times, the government has made commitments of $9 trillion ($9,000,000,000) Through March 2nd. And has made commitments of $9 trillion to support the financial system. Only $2.1 trillion has actually been spent.

Crunching the numbers... that means the US has spent $18,500+ per household to shore up the financial system PLUS $79,646 per household for "other" commitments.

Oh, and our fearless leaders plan to spend ANOTHER $7,000 per household to "stimulate" the economy by borrowing more money.

My memory is short.. now why are we in this financial mess? Was it something to do with borrowers who took out loans beyond their means to repay? Hmmm. At what point do we acknowledge that our nation's leaders are following the exact same path?

Credit markets will only absorb so much.. and then our creditors (China, Mideast) will decide to cut off the creditline. Then what? The options are limited. Basically, the US citizen will have no savings.. so that leaves the ultimate option.. print more money! Yeah, that's a good idea. We'll need wheel barrows to carry the currency to the store to buy bread...and hope there is any available.

Friends- we are interfering in the financial markets big time and the catastrophe - the distortion government intervention has caused is almost unthinkable. Congress mandated these subprime loans be made or else... loans that would NOT have been made if Congress was not so intent on lording over the financial markets in this manner.

It's way past time to remove the parasites in Congress. They are ruining the country in so many ways it's hard to put into words. Promotion of radical programs is the fastest way to destroy freedom and liberty- we are being led into slavery by this "stimulus" plan. A high school economics student can see that.

Buy a home? Soon, interest rates will sky rocket- unemployment will continue to rise. Inflation will reduce buying power immensely. Government actions are going to make the recovery process longer and more painful than it should be... but try telling that to the President or Congress.

Financial "policies" reduce home financing options...again

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:03:08 -0600

Due to Mortgage Insurance guideline changes, maximum LTV's have been reduced..again, effective immediately.

Not only have maximum LTV's been reduced, minimum credit scores have increased, too.

Stable Market Changes:

LTVs > 90%: Eliminated. New maximum LTV is 90%
LTVs > 80%:
- Minimum Credit Score: Increased from 620 to 700
- Max DTI: Maximum DTI of 41%, regardless of AUS decision
- Tradelines: Minimum 3 tradelines required
- Payment History: Minimum payment history 0 x 30 x 12 required
- Reserves: Minimum 2 months reserves required, regardless of AUS decision
- Pay off of Subordinate Liens: Will now be considered cash-out and will not be allowed for LTVs > 80%
Second Home: Maximum LTV lowered from 90% to 80%
Cash-Out: Maximum LTV lowered from 85% to 80%
Non-Conforming: Maximum LTV lowered from 90% to 80%

Soft Markets Changes:

• LTVs > 80%:

•o Min Credit Score: Increased from 680 to 720

•o Condos: Maximum LTV lowered from 95% to 85%

• Interest-Only: Maximum LTV lowered from 90% to 80%

These new guidelines are in effect immediately.

U.S.S.A - the economic and moral decline of America-Wanna buy a home?

Bill McKee (Connect Realty) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:27:14 -0600

In light of the grotesque TRILLION dollar spending bill approved by the President and Congress a few days ago, and Obama's proposed federal budget through September.. totaling more than $410 billion (another record spending budget).. including substantial "political earmarks".. we Americans are fast becoming serfs to the world's lenders. Our "government" also intends to double gifts to foreign governments.. whether friend of foe. As we dig ourselves deeper into this mess, the lenders (Arabs, China, Asia) who have financed this spending binge are likely to turn off the tap.. sooner, rather than later. THEN the real battle begins.

We are being forced into a confiscatory tax situation. But rather than increase taxes now (which is not politically attractive), this administration is instead BORROWING against future tax collections. The burden being piled on us is becoming astromical in size. This is exactly how a nation destroys it's economic viability. We, as a nation- through our elected "leaders", are being subjected to an intense effort to become forced/indentured laborers under Socialism/Marxism tyranical rule. Many of our neighbors simply don't realize it quite yet.

Obama's desire is to impose on America the morality of collectivism. When Obama, and almost all other politicians, make their arguments for fairness and compassion, they are NOT advocating voluntary charitable giving. They insist on imposing government sponsored confiscation of some people's property and income.. in order to use it to benefit another group of people. Over time, recipients of this money come to depend on the labor of others for their sustenance. These donee's are chosen by the government on the basis of perceived "need", or (more likely) voting record. It is in the political best interest of this kind of government to nurture a large dependent class.. and keep it large, even though the entire economy is driven into the ground and economic opportunities for ALL are extinguished in the process. It's a recipe for misery and hopelessness everywhere it is imposed.

Do the fruits of your labor belong to you, or does it belong to the government, who (after absconding with the government's cut of the action) turns around and doles what remains to another group of people that has been designated 'worthy" and/or dependent? Think about it.. a growing percentage of your income/assets will be confiscated and transfered to people who "qualify" according to the government. You will become - in essence- a slave to the needs/desires of people you don't know, can't control, and who will likely "NEED" more of your income as time goes on. Where does it end? It's an immoral system.

Collectivism is not the opposite of capitalism. It's the opposite of freedom and liberty.

Obama yearns for a elitist Socialist future for America. His vision is to grow a government wherein we are forced to trade freedom and opportunity for misery and despair.

Contrast Obama's vision to that voiced by Ronald Reagan in his First Inaugural Address...

"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.

We hear much of special interest groups. Well, our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we're sick--professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, "we the people," this breed called Americans."

Another President, Abraham Lincoln, was a man of very humble beginnings and much failure during his lifetime. But his vision of the American opportunity offers a fresh perspective on freedom and opportunity. It's alarming to see how far our leadership has fallen in such a short period of time.

Abraham Lincoln's wisdom offers us a stark contrast the Socialist Collectivism that Obama hopes to impose on America. Here are a few of Lincoln's musings:

"Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."

"Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors." Socialism is the quickest way to destroy the spirit of a nation.

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." Whoa- hardly what we have today

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." A trillion dollar spending bill?

"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." Do I even need to comment on this one? Keeping the masses down and dependant on government is the structural backbone of the Socialism.

It's time to resist Socialism with all our might, energy and resources. If we don't, the American Dream will certainly be a vague memory and no doubt "revised" in textbooks in accordance with the collective's edict. Ownership of personal property will become a foreign concept.