A Knight of Chess and Wine

when: Wednesday May 27th. 4-6pm

where: Wine Styles/Canyon Park, 22833 Bothell-Everett Highway, #104

why: To provide a place with atmosphere to enjoy a friendly game of chess with a glass of wine. All levels of play and are welcome. We will also provide a lesson if you like. This is an event that could be used to form a chess club, or meet people that would like to play on a regular bases. Winestyles has a food menu, so please do not bring any food or drink

what to bring: Your chess sets and/or clocks. Tables will be available inside and outside of Wine Styles.

who to contact for more info: Carl Michael Brecht carlbrecht@netscape.net Carl started playing chess in high school and has taught students that have attended the National Elementary School Championships.

Condo in Mill Creek for Sale

New today! Making Home Affordable

About Making Home Affordable
The Obama Administration has introduced a comprehensive Financial Stability Plan to address the key problems at the heart of the current crisis and get our economy back on track. A critical piece of that effort is Making Home Affordable, a plan to stabilize our housing market and help up to 7 to 9 million Americans reduce their monthly mortgage payments to more affordable levels. The Home Affordable Refinance Program gives up to 4 to 5 million homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac an opportunity to refinance into more affordable monthly payments. The Home Affordable Modification Program commits $75 billion to keep up to 3 to 4 million Americans in their homes by preventing avoidable foreclosures.Our consumer website, www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov, provides homeowners with detailed information about these programs along with self-assessment tools and calculators to empower borrowers with the resources they need to determine whether they might be eligible for a modification or a refinance under the Administration's program. Through this website, borrowers can also connect with free counseling resources to help with outstanding questions; locate homeowner events in their communities; find a handy checklist of key documents and materials to have ready when making that important call to their servicer as well as FAQs from borrowers in similar circumstances; and much more.We hope that you will find this website informative and useful as we all work together to solve our nation’s housing crisis and put our country on the path to a lasting economic recovery.

For a Dollar off coupon to the Spotted Cow "cafe and Icecream"

Please e-mail carlbrecht@netscape.net in the subject say - "Spotted Cow"

Real Estate Broker comes back to the Pacific Northwest after 32 years.

Real Estate Broker comes back to the Pacific Northwest after 32 years.

Leaving Seattle in 1977 was only going to be temporary, with plans to return in 5 years. 32 years later, Carl Brecht is back. Carl, after graduating from the University of Washington Business School in 1975, began working for West Coast Realty. Two years later, he continued his real estate career in Chicago Illinois, Granger Indiana, and Saint Joseph Michigan. Now back, with 3 broker licenses,
Carl has chosen to place his Associate Brokers License at Home Realty. Home Realty has four locations. They are a privately owned company geared to customer service. With continued success in these market conditions, Home Realty has initiated an expansion program. Carl’s expertise is finding an area that is reasonably priced, and promoting the property to investors. He has owned a few wholesale and retail businesses. His favorite one was a gourmet coffee shop, and that is a operation he enjoys selling. The enjoyment is finding that right person to carry on the business.
Carl’s education did not stop after business school. Just a few years ago Carl attended Thomas Cooley law School to concentrate in property and contract law. His back ground has enabled him to offer his clients an expertise above the norm. Even though he does have a knack for selling businesses and commercial property, his enthusiasm for selling residential property is also evident. “Older historical homes are irreplaceable and have a story to tell “
When asked about his fondest memories of Seattle, Carl was quick to mention his days with Boy Scout Troop 15. Taking the Adventurous, a hundred plus foot sailing ship to summer camp in the San Juan Islands. Another adventure was on an Eagle Scout climbing trip to Mount Rainer. On that climb he ran into both Whitaker brothers at Camp Muir. A highlight of his high school days was being a member of the Roosevelt Chess Team. His love for the game continued by teaching hundreds of elementary school students. His team of five third and fourth graders routinely defeated the top high school players in the Indiana area. Carl also is an avid rower and skuller. He was a member of the University of Chicago Rowing Team and attended the annual Head of the Charles rowing regatta in Boston. His only regret was that he did not take advantage of the rowing program at the University of Washington in his earlier years.
At age 55 Carl sees himself working another 25 years in the profession he loves. His experience over the years has seen markets like today. “ There is no place in the world like the Pacific Northwest.” He is back to stay. If you would like someone like Carl working in your corner, you can reach him by email at carlbrecht@netscape.net, or by cell phone at 425-368-8246

Money that is available for our area

HUD ALLOCATES MORE THAN $10 BILLION OF RECOVERY ACT FUNDING ONE WEEK AFTER BILL SIGNINGWashington State Receives $168.6 Million As Nearly 75 percent of HUD Recovery funds allocated today
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today allocated nearly 75 percent of its funding, or $10.1 billion, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Jurisdictions in Washington State will receive a total of $168,599,677 as a result of today's allocations. (details below)
The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, 75 percent of which was allocated to recipients today - only one week after President Obama signed the Act into law.
The funding announced today is primarily formula-based, meaning that it is allocated using set program criteria that do not require grantees to apply for the funds, allowing them to be allocated very quickly. The remaining 25 percent of the funds, which will be competitively awarded later, will be used to build on the President's priorities to promote green jobs and mitigate the destabilizing effects of foreclosures on communities.
"I am pleased to announce that we are moving swiftly to get these much-needed funds out to states and cities to create jobs and help stimulate our economy," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Recovery Act investments in HUD programs will be not just swift, but also effective: they will generate tens of thousands of jobs, help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis, and modernize homes to make them energy efficient."
Promoting Energy Efficiency and Creating Green Jobs
These investments are powerful vehicles for economic recovery because they work quickly, are labor-intensive, create jobs where they are needed most, and lead to lasting neighborhood benefits. Many will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save Americans money by retrofitting housing to make it more energy efficient.
Public Housing Capital Fund Program - $3 billion nationally; $40,250,758 to Washington State's 29 housing authorities.
HUD is allocating nearly $3 billion to 3,134 public housing agencies to develop, finance, and modernize public housing in their communities. Local PHAs will use this funding for energy-efficient modernization and to make large-scale improvements to public housing developments, including critical safety repairs. In addition to the funding allocated through this capital fund, HUD is working to competitively award another $1 billion to local housing agencies to support catalytic investments, particularly investments that leverage private sector financing to retrofit public housing and enhance energy conservation. For allocations to specific housing authorities, please visit website.
Native American Housing Block Grant (IHBG) - $255 million nationally; $14,863,303 to 30 tribal organizations in Washington.
Tribal entities will use this funding for energy efficient modernization of and renovation of housing maintained by Native American housing programs. In addition to the funding allocated through formula funding, HUD will competitively award another $242 million for Native American grants later this year. Also, pursuant to today's recovery formula funding, HUD is allocating $10.2 million for Native Hawaiian Housing. For allocations to specific tribal organizations, please visit webstie.
Lead Hazard Reduction/Healthy Homes - $100 million nationally; $6,725,000 to to King County, City of Spokane and State of Washington.
Nearly $100 million will be invested in HUD's lead based paint and hazard reduction and remediation activities, including promoting local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead from lower income homes and stimulating private sector investment in lead hazard control. For allocations to specific jurisdictions, please visit website.
Supporting Shovel-Ready Projects and Assisted Housing Improvements
These investments will support a broad range of housing and community development projects that are ready to go. Many of these projects have been held up for lack of private investment due to fallout from the broader economic crisis and credit crunch.
Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) - $2.25 billion nationally; $43,010,192 in Washington.
Funded under HUD's HOME Program, TCAP grants will help State Housing Finance Agencies to kick-start the production of stalled affordable rental housing projects that rely on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. These agencies will distribute the funds competitively and give priority to housing projects that can begin construction immediately. For specific allocations in Washington, please visit website.
Project-Based Rental Assistance - $2 billion nationally; $22,494,740 to 160 contracts in Washington.
HUD is allocating $2 billion to invest in full 12-month funding for Section 8 project-based housing contracts. This funding will enable owners to undertake much-needed project improvements to maintain the quality of this critical affordable housing.
Promoting Stable Communities and Helping Families Hardest Hit by the Economic Crisis
These investments will help communities and families that have experienced the brunt of the economic downturn. Resources will be used to stabilize and revive local neighborhoods and housing markets with heavy concentrations of foreclosed properties. Funds will also assist the vulnerable families and individuals who are on the brink of homelessness or have recently become homeless.
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) - $1 billion nationally; $16,307,031 to 30 grantees in Washington.
HUD is allocating nearly $1 billion to approximately 1,200 state and local governments through the Department's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to target their own community development priorities. Most local governments use this investment to rehabilitate affordable housing and improve key public facilities - helping to stabilize communities and create jobs locally. For specific allocations to jurisdictions, please visit website.
Emergency Shelter Grant Program/Homelessness Prevention - $1.5 billion; $24,948, 653 to 10 grantees in Washington.
HUD is allocating nearly $1.5 billion to state and local governments to help rapidly re-house homeless persons and families who enter shelters. In addition, HUD's Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG) will significantly expand efforts to prevent homelessness among those facing a sudden economic crisis. For specific allocations in Washington, please visit website.
FHA Loan Limits
HUD will temporarily increase the loan limits of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) up to $729,750. This will keep credit flowing to millions of families whose options are limited by the current crisis. Previously, FHA's loan limits in very high-cost areas were capped at $625,500. FHA's reverse mortgage product known as the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) will have a new national mortgage limit of $625,500, up from the previous limit of high of $417,000. These increased loan limits are applicable to all FHA-insured mortgage loans endorsed until December 31, 2009.
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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/ and espanol.hud.gov.