Speeding Into New Worlds

A Streaker in the Hole
Originally uploaded by ahockley

This Blogger site has been a great way to start out but it has become time to "grow up" and move into the world of self hosted WordPress. After months of "behind the scenes" tinkering the band aid has been pulled and we have moved. Please head over to Clark County Real Estate Guide for the new and improved site. RSS or sign up for email updates and tell your friends.

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Guide
The Chumbley Team

Gated Estate Home Coming Soon...

Coming soon is a brand new listing that will be an amazing opportunity for some lucky homeowner. The teaser site is live now and can be found at www.fifteenthousand.com. Go check it out and call or email with any questions.

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Guide
The Chumbley Team

New Olive Garden In Fishers Landing

Do you get tired of waiting for a table at the Olive Garden by Vancouver Mall? If so, have no fear, relief is coming. Soon Clark County residents will have a brand new Olive Garden to enjoy. It is located in the Fishers Landing area of east Vancouver, WA. It is located on the SE corner of Mill Plain and SE 164th Avenue. Stay tuned to find out when!

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Guide
The Chumbley Team

Isn't The Market Horrible?

It's Just Different

I get asked this question on a regular basis. Continually, I let people know "no, it is not a horrible market". It is a different market than the one we experienced a couple years ago. Not horrible, just different. Actually, the market is much more normal now than it was then. As a real estate professional I feel like I have a better grip on the market and how to price properties.

Throwing Darts At A Dart Board Is Not The Way To Price Properties

Unfortunately this is how things were being priced back then by a lot of people. Even then, the prices were being escalated into heights unheard of. The demand was there and the inventory wasn't. Mixed with low interest rates and way to relaxed lending policies disaster was inevitable (as we all now know).

What About Now?

People will always need to sell homes and buy homes. This will not change. For those buying with nothing to sell, welcome to an incredible place to be! You are in a market that still has historically low interest rates and prices that are getting back into the place they should be. It is an amazing time to be purchasing a home or investment property.

If you are selling, remember you will not get what you "might have gotten" two years ago. That is the way of the market. If you have owned your home for more than three years you should still have made a great profit on your investment. Owned it for more than five years? Even better. Look at the return on your investment over that period of time, not "how much you lost" since the anomaly in the real estate market. Plus, if you are buying after you sell, you will pick up the same advantage of great prices as a buyer.

Questions?

If you have any questions about buying or selling, please don't hesitate calling or emailing me. That is why I'm here. To counsel and advise in all your real estate needs.

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Guide
The Chumbley Team

100,000 People Swarm Vancouver, WA To Devour Sausage

Today is the day we wait for all year! The day to see all our old friends, catch up on local gossip and eat good food. Yes, today kicks off the one and only Vancouver Sausage Fest.



Beginning at 5 pm today we get our fill of great sausage, corn on the cob, ribs, chicken, spuds with all the fixin's and of course... the elephant ears! The kids can ride the rides on the midway, you can purchase products from local vendors and you get to check out all sorts of local talent on the main stage. All this for only $1 per person. Yes, only $1 per person.

The Sausage Fest is happening at St. Joseph School & Parish Grounds located at 6500 Highland Drive, Vancouver, WA.

If you have never been you owe it to yourself to go! I'll be there sometime Saturday for sure. Shoot me a text message at 360-260-3253 and say hi. I might even buy you a sausage.

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Guide
The Chumbley Team

1904 H Street Home For Sale In Vancouver, WA

1904 H Street Home For Sale In Vancouver, WA
Originally uploaded by dalechumbley

This fabulous home has just come on the market. Just blocks from downtown Vancouver's Uptown Village. Experience urban living today!

Featuring almost 2,000 square feet of finished living space plus another almost 900 square feet of potential space in the basement.

To see this fine home give me a call.

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Attn: First-Time Home Buyers

If you are a first-time home buyer (someone who hasn't owned a home in the past three years), now is the time for you to buy! The IRS is extending a tax credit of $7,500 for first-time home buyers within certain income limits: less than $75,000 income for single or head-of-household and up to $150,000 for married filing joint. Married couples who earn between $150,000-170,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time home buyer tax credit. You can receive the $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of any home between April 9, 2008 - June 30, 2009. Buyers can take this tax credit on their 2008 or 2009 tax returns and it is a refundable credit (meaning that if you owe no tax, you would still get a $7,500 refund).

If you are a first-time home buyer, this is not the only reason to buy at this time. In addition to the tax credit, mortgage interest rates are good and the opportunity to get a good buy on a home is great right now. I would be happy to speak with you about your financial situation and how we might structure a loan that will work for you. I'm here to help you find the right loan at the right rate, right now!

For all mortgage-related questions, feel free to give me a call at (360) 907-911 or click the link below to go to my website and to apply online!

Take care,

Chris Hyde
Chris Hyde Mortgage

A Walk In The Park: Cottonwood Beach

Cottonwood Beach In Washougal, WA
Originally uploaded by dalechumbley

Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach in Washougal is a great place to enjoy the beautiful sunny days that we have been having. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark established a camp at Cottonwood Beach on March 31, 1806, while they secured provisions for the return trip through the Columbia River Gorge and points east.

Today, acres of riverfront property on this site have been developed into a beautiful park. There are walking, biking, and equestrian trails as well as picnic shelters and historic interpretive elements for your whole family to enjoy. The beach at the park is a great place for summer sunning, swimming, and play. Located at the intersection of S. Index Street and S. 32nd Street in Washougal, Captain William Clark Park is one of Clark County’s gems and a great place to enjoy the beauty of the Columbia River and the entrance to the Gorge!

Take care,

Chris Hyde
Dale Chumbley

Has Cancer Touched You? It Has Touched Me!

As a cancer survivor myself, this touches me as close as it possibly could. Not only am I a survivor, I have lost many family members and friends to this horrible disease.

10 Years ago, I finished my treatment for Hodgkin's Disease. Today I stand clean and clear. I am thankful to be here today. Unfortunately, not all are as fortunate as I have been. There is still so much to be done in research and development.

Some of you can do a little, some of you can do a lot. If each of us did something, the results would be off the charts! Please consider skipping a few drinks at Starbucks, a few lunches out, a round of golf or whatever thing you can think of to help raise funds! I promise you will feel better for it! I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart with whatever amount you can give!

Go here to help!

Pressing on together toward a cure!

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Guide
The Chumbley Team

3521 NE 159th Avenue Home For Sale

3521 NE 159th Avenue Vancouver, WA
Originally uploaded by dalechumbley

Here is a great new listing we have in east Vancouver, WA. It is located just off NE 39th Street and NE 162nd Avenue. This is a wonderful neighborhood just waiting for a new homeowner.

This lovely home has just over 2,100 square feet with 3 bedrooms plus a huge bonus room that could be another bedroom if you needed it. The kitchen features granite counters and newer appliances.

You will also find a new roof plus Hardi plank lap siding all the way around this home. In the backyard you will find all the privacy you want, a good sized storage shed and a peaceful pond with waterfall to relax by. All this on a large corner lot ready for you.

Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Blog
The Chumbley Team

Major Growth In Clark County

New Construction In Clark County
Originally uploaded by dalechumbley

This last week I had the opportunity to visit the "other" Clark County. That's right, the one and only Las Vegas. The trip was amazing and I took lots of pictures. You can see them here.

One thing that amazed me was the amount of growth going on there. We hear that things aren't happening in real estate, but let me tell you, things are happening on The Strip. The amount of new construction in the last year (since my last trip there) is astounding. This photo is of the 10 billion dollar CityCenter project. Yes, 10 billion dollars! In addition to this project there are many other high rises popping up all over Vegas. Real estate is alive and well and this is an amazing time to buy.

I hope you enjoy the photos.


Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Blog
The Chumbley Team

Fishers Landing Red Robin Fun

Red Robin is always a fun place to go. My family loves the food and the environment. Here is a fun little show to check it out. Get out and enjoy our restaurants. You can find Red Robin by Vancouver Mall or out in Fishers Landing.



Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Blog
The Chumbley Team

In Honor Of Memorial Day

To honor all those who have served and sacrificed,thank you is not enough! For those who have served and continue to serve, all my thanks to you as well.



Take care,

Dale Chumbley

Clark County Real Estate Blog
The Chumbley Team

Spotlight: Hockinson

Welcome to Hockinson! Tucked away in a rural corner of Clark County, yet only minutes from east Vancouver, Hockinson is a gorgeous area that suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. As a rural, unicorporated area, Hockinson is split between having Battle Ground addresses and Brush Prairie addresses. Still, this little community shines as a much-desired place to live for those that wish a little rural living that is close to the amenities of a big city like Vancouver.

Over 5000 people live in Hockinson and those residents KNOW what a wonderful place Hockinson is to call home. Most homes sit on acreage that range from horse ranches to hillside homes with a view. The surrounding evergreen trees and wide open spaces make Hockinson a quiet and beautiful place to live. With one of the top school districts in the area and a fairly new high school, parents know that Hockinson is a great place to raise a family.

Besides being a great place to live, Hockinson is a fine choice for a little "breather" for those of us who are city-dwellers. Being just minutes from east Vancouver, Hockinson is a great place to enjoy a leisurely drive through the country. Along the way you'll see Christmas tree farms, rolling hills, berry farms, and the wide open spaces that call to many of us. And though it is small, the quaint "downtown" found near the corner of NE 182nd Ave and NE 159th St has a lot of charm. Country churches, a small market, schools, a restaurant, and small stores all add to the character of Hockinson.

If you are in the mood for a drive in the country and a great homestyle meal to fill your belly, I highly recommend the Hockinson Kountry Cafe. The breakfasts there are hearty and enjoyable.

Whether for a day in the country or a slice of country living, Hockinson is a great choice. It's one of the hidden gems of Clark County, Washington!

Have a great day!

Chris Hyde
Mortgage Loan Officer

A Walk in the Park: Battle Ground Lake

My wife works in Battle Ground and as I was out there today, I remembered Battle Ground Lake State Park. I've lived in Clark County for 6 years but still hadn't been out to the lake. With the weather being as beautiful as it is, I decided I would go for a walk in the park.

Battle Ground Lake State Park is located just a few miles northeast of the city of Battle Ground and the lake is surrounded by a gorgeous forest. For hikers like me, there are trails all through the forested areas around the lake that allow you to walk through some very beautiful scenery. There are even some benches if you want to just sit and soak up the surroundings.

Battle Ground lake is almost perfectly round and you can walk around the whole lake. Other activities at the lake include fishing, boating, and there is even a beach where the family can soak up some sun. Picnic tables, restrooms, and barbecues are all available. If you are a camper, campsites are available by reservation.

For a hike, family picnic, or overnight camping, I think you will enjoy Battle Ground Lake State Park. For more information, check out the Washington State Parks website. You might even want to take advantage of our beautiful weather and head out to one of our area parks this weekend. This is the time of year to enjoy the beauty of our area!

Have a great weekend!


Chris Hyde
Mortgage Consultant