Kristy Norman,

Phuong Stanyer,

Jason Hanson,

Darren Plank,

Leah Stanley,

Cooper Hart,

Steve Quaife,

To view the most recent Mortgage Barometer report, click here.

Michelle Mortensen, Title Policy Typist at Cowlitz County Title, works with the title and escrow departments to accumulate the end result of the process, “The Policy”. Michelle has five years of experience in the title and real estate financial industry. She believes work comes first and is committed to providing excellent customer service.

Michelle enjoys spending time with her grandkids, camping, riding quads, family gatherings, cuddling up next to a fire, and watching movies. Her favorite local restaurants are El Ranchero and Hop-N-Grape. Michelle and her husband, David, live in Longview. She enjoys day trips to Long Beach and the excitement of a Hellgate jetboat excursion on the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon when on vacation.  Contact Michelle at michelle@cowlitztitle.com 360-423-5330.

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 small onion

2 carrots

2 celery sticks

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp karo syrup

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup water

In a wok, cook chicken thighs and set aside. Sauté diced onions, carrots and celery in olive oil. Combine cooked chicken to vegetables or plate separately and add side of peanut sauce. To prepare peanut sauce, place sauce ingredients in a bowl and bring together with a wire whisk. Enjoy with a side of your favorite rice.

There's no way anyone could have predicted the many changes that COVID and the worldwide pandemic have brought to the real estate industry. What started as merely a way to safely market homes in the midst of virus fears, has morphed into finding new ways to market to clients whose concerns include good internet access and sound transfer between rooms. The biggest demand is for a home flexible enough to accommodate adults working from home and kids doing online school without interrupting one another or using up all the wifi bandwidth. Click here to learn more about the ins and outs of "COVID marketing".

The real estate business is about people, and now, more than ever, people crave authenticity and realness in their interactions with others. It is your authenticity that will build your clients' trust in you and make them hire you. With that in mind, your goal in personal branding shouldn't be to build an image, but rather to build a brand that represents the real you. Click here for some steps that will help you to do just that.

While millennials in today's market are anxious to become homeowners, many are plagued by uncertainties and financial stresses that make them anxious about achieving that dream. By understanding the unique challenges faced by millennials in the housing market, you can better tailor your service as a real estate professional to their needs and concerns. Check out the results of this survey in which 1,000 people who are planning to purchase a home in the next year were polled about their hopes, anxieties, and the compromises they are willing to make to become homeowners.

Thought the 70s were over when bell-bottoms were phased out? Think again. With animal prints, shaggy textures, striped walls, and retro rugs, the popular trends of the 1970s continue to have an influence on home design trends. There is something appealing about using nostalgic trends in modern ways, and designers are continuing to borrow from the disco-loving decade, but in a modern, luxurious way. Click here for a look at how they make it work.

It is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to keep personal life and business life separate in the digital age. With so many communication apps installed on our phones to keep us connected in every area of life, it can be nearly impossible to completely disconnect. However, it is important to remember that work is a part of life, it is not your life! With that in mind, check out these five keys to balancing your work life and personal life without generating frustration.