Steve Quaife,

VP/County Manager

 

Teresa Spain,

Escrow Officer

 

Trisha Sauers,

Escrow Officer

Autum Parry,

Escrow Assistant

 

Carrie Staggs

Bookkeeper/Recorder

 
Title Officer
 

Destiny Kastner,

Title Officer

 
 

Leah Stanley,

Title Examiner

 

Pam McCormick,

Administrative Coordinator

melindagottfryd
Policy Typist
 
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To view the most recent Mortgage Barometer report click here.

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Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1.5 cups sugar

7.5 oz. pumpkin puree

2 eggs

1/2 cup water

1.75 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup nuts chopped

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

1/8 tsp ginger


Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, water and pumpkin puree. Sift dry ingredients, then add all together and mix. Bake in a well-greased and floured loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done.


Cream cheese frosting:

4 oz softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract mixed together until smooth.



Frost top of cooled (min. 1 hour out of oven) pumpkin bread and enjoy.


Recipe by Ruby


Home Prices Rise, but Inflation Wins

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Home prices are still inching higher, but inflation continues to outpace those gains. According to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, home prices rose 1.9% year over year in July, marking a modest improvement from June. Yet with inflation at 3.4%, home values declined in real terms for the 14th consecutive month. The picture also varies significantly by market, with Chicago, New York and Cleveland posting some of the strongest gains while Seattle, Las Vegas and Denver saw prices fall. The ongoing East-West divide remains evident, underscoring how differently housing markets are performing across the country. For homeowners and buyers alike, the numbers offer a mixed picture. Click here to learn more.

No Crash in Sight

Worried that home prices are headed for a crash -- or hoping they are? The latest outlook from more than 100 housing experts surveyed by Fannie Mae suggests neither scenario is likely. Their current forecast calls for home prices to continue rising each year through at least 2030, with an expected national increase of 14.7% over the next five years. Even the more pessimistic experts still anticipate prices will rise. While growth is expected to moderate from the rapid gains of recent years, the overall direction remains upward. For buyers waiting on a major price drop, the latest numbers suggest that waiting for a crash may not be the strategy they’re hoping for.

Know Your Real Rate

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Mortgage rate headlines can make buying a home feel out of reach, but the rate you see online isn’t necessarily the rate you’ll actually receive. Your personal mortgage rate can vary based on factors such as your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, and loan program. There may also be opportunities to lower your rate through a buydown or seller concessions. That’s why getting pre-approved can be a valuable first step for buyers. Rather than making decisions based on national headlines, a conversation with a lender can help you understand your actual options, what you may qualify for, and how today’s rates could affect your monthly payment. Click here for more information.

Warmth Over Cool

When it comes to creating a restful bedroom, cool colors like pale blue, gray and green are often considered the obvious choice. But designers say the real key to tranquility isn’t whether a color is warm or cool -- it’s how the shade works with the room. Undertones, natural light, lighting at night, furniture and fabrics can all dramatically change how a color feels. Even a supposedly calming blue can become cold or clinical in the wrong setting, while earthy pinks, warm neutrals, olive greens and rich browns can create a cozy, peaceful retreat. The best bedroom palettes are thoughtfully layered, tested in real light and chosen to complement the room as a whole.

Breaking Into Luxury

Luxury real estate can seem like a market reserved for agents with years of experience and an extensive referral network. But breaking into the high-end market doesn’t necessarily require waiting for a lucky opportunity. Successful luxury agents build credibility through deep local knowledge, strong relationships, polished presentation and a clear marketing strategy. From targeting expired high-end listings and co-listing with experienced agents to networking with trusted professional advisors, there are practical ways to create opportunities. The key is to treat luxury real estate as a specialization -- not simply a higher price point -- and to consistently demonstrate the expertise, discretion and level of service affluent buyers and sellers expect.

Thank You

for choosing local, and voting

Cowlitz County Title

"Silver Winner Title/Escrow

Company in

Southwest Washington".

 

"October, crisp, misty, golden October, when the light is sweet and heavy."

-- Angela Carter

Do you have a question? Or is there something you'd like to see in the Title Tidbits? Just email Steve at steve@cowlitztitle.com!
 
 
Cowlitz County Title
1159 14th Ave, Longview, WA 98632
 
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