Happy Friday!  This week has been incredibly busy, what a blessing!  I wanted to get a second today to put this post up to spotlight a new listing in south Salem.  I’ve personally seen the recent improvements and am absolutely blown away by the beautiful place.  If you have a moment check out the link www.5250parker.com.  If you’re interested call James Hauge @ 503.510.4005.

5 April 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

“A pox (plague) on both your houses.” If Shakespeare didn’t say this, he should have. Actually, it does come from Romeo and Juliet. Two families, competing for power, cause the death of one of the characters and, dying, he utters this oft-quoted phrase.

Unfortunately, the human condition is alive and well in both the Republican and Democrat parties. A pox on both their houses. So far, constitutional checks and balances have curtailed the more outrageous excesses and our country has managed to survive.

Many are now wondering if the rope hasn’t stretched to the breaking point. We are doing some mighty dumb things. It’s high time every Christian in the land pray God will give our leaders, both Republican and Democrat, new hearts and a desire to do right.

…

Many years ago radio station KOIN started their broadcasting day at 0600 with the same words: “Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

That didn’t mean much to a little country boy of six but I liked the way it sounded. As I grew older these words, burned into my memory, would come back from time to time and I would ponder their meaning. I can’t say I ever came to any startling conclusions.

Life is a journey. Someday, we promise ourselves, we will be happy and content after we’ve done this or that. No, that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. It’s the traveling that’s important. If we allow God to guide us it will be a good journey and filled with inner joy.

May God’s grace be sufficient for each need.

Love…Larry Buhler

Have you wanted to buy a home and finance-in some improvements?  Well now is your chance!  For years the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has offered the FHA 203k FHA rehabilitation program.  As the mortgage industry expanded in the early 2000′s FHA simply became less desirable as other lenders offered programs that were more affordable.  However, we now stand in a market heavily saturated with FHA loan applications.

The FHA 203k streamline rehabilitation program allows a borrower who is purchasing or refinance to include cosmetic improvements in the loan.  I’ve heard hundreds of clients say, “this house is perfect, it only needs some cosmetic TLC”.  The problem is the money may not ever be available for them to actually complete the improvements.  The FHA 203k rehabilitation loan can be the answer for many of these buyers looking to put a little money towards improvements during a purchase.

Improvements of the property cannot alter the structure of the home (i.e. moving a doorway or tearing down a wall), but can include many updates that include: appliances, flooring, paint, windows, etc.

The key to this program is being completely educated on the process.  Not only do you need to understand how the financing program works, but you also need what improvements will actually raise the value of your home.  Working with a knowledgeable Realtor will help you in determining the potential for work to be done.

I will soon have a detailed description of this program on my blog.  Please contact me today if you might be the slightest bit interested in learning more – 503.798.9183 – email Conrad.

12 April 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

When I was a little fellow I didn’t much enjoy getting up early and going to the Easter Sunrise Services. In Salem this meant either some country hillside or the stadium at Bush Park. However, this was the thing to do so that was what we did. De rigueur.

Dad thought this was great. Often it was cold, wet, and windy. Someone would hold an umbrella over the speaker so his Bible wouldn’t get wet. Although I’d tuck myself in between mom and dad, by the time the service was over I was totally chilled.

Still, I looked forward to, loved Easter. It was a special day filled with happy music, pretty things and the hints of spring. As I began to understand what we were celebrating I could appreciate the power of the message. Today, more than ever. Resurrection! Yes!

…

Probably everyone reading this will be familiar with the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. The details of how, what, when, and where have been studied in great detail. One part has often been of special interest to me. That was when after Jesus had breathed his last, the Roman Centurion, a hard man who had directed the entire episode, looked up, amazed, and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

A Roman Centurian earned his position by long and faithful service. He was commander of one hundred Roman soldiers and accustomed to carrying out any and all orders given him. This detail would not have been anything new to him until he discovered he was part of a truly unique event. I’ve sometimes wondered what kind of a person the Centurion was after this?

Love…Larry Buhler