I know it’s fall because Emma has started school—high school. It seems not that long ago I ran along side her bicycle with its training wheels and fancy streamers flying off the handle bar grips.- She really loved those streamers. And here she has already attended her first high school dance. A toga dance no less. (See Emma’s Corner)
This season’s late heat wave has driven a lot of us to break out the white slacks we’d put away after September 1. It’s also put out the call for field workers and support staff alike to get the grapes off the vines. With crush in full swing, it’s hard to get anyone’s full attention around here for more than a quick bite of lunch. I love the crisp feeling of fall in the air and our version of autumn color.
Even with the misters going, the front yard rhodies are getting a little singed. After this summer, I don’t trust the weather anymore. The silver lining in all this is that I may yet find a way to make it to the beach this year and show off the tan lines the sandals have given my feet. My skin tends to burn if my reading light is too bright, so a tan anywhere is a thing of wonder.
If you are looking to make a change in your living situation, and there’s a lot of that going around these days, I’m happy to talk things over with you and see what I can do to help. —Sheila
Low interest rates are here in full force! If you are buying a home, your timing couldn’t be any better with home prices at bargain levels and interest rates at historic lows. Will the low interest rates tick around for a while? The volatility is high these days in the financial markets, so if you are a buyer and are in contract to buy a home, I’d advise that it’s best to lock in your interest rate now. With rates as good as they are, you don’t want to get greedy and try to hold out for a rate that is only a bit better than what your lender is currently offering you. Often times a difference of .125% or .250% in rate does not translate to a monthly savings that you would lose any sleep over! And since we are all human, if you wait to lock in a rate hoping that things may get a bit better, but then they get worse, what happens then? You kick yourself for not locking in the good rate that you had in hand. As Warren Buffett famously said, “It’s better to be approximately right than to be precisely wrong.” Play it smart and lock in that great rate.
If you are looking to refinance your current loan to a better rate, then be prepared for the refinance to take some time. With all the folks taking advantage of this refinance opportunity, things are getting backed up – appraisals take longer and so does processing and underwriting. Some lenders (not Stearns) have gone to mandatory 90 day rate locks for their refinance customers – at Stearns we currently are locking for 30 days on all refinances. The refinance volume has not had any impact on our turn times for purchase loans – purchases are always the #1 priority.
Michael Madsen, Senior Loan Officer, Stearns Lending, Cell 707.481-2844, mmadsen@stearns.com
Sandy Zimmerman is a jewel in the Sonoma Education ring. A former principal for Prestwood and Flowery schools, she has had a far reaching effect in the education community. As the initial catalyst in getting the Mentor Me program started, her deep commitment to the continuing welfare of our youth continues to be manifested in her grant writing efforts. It is a privilege to know Sandy.
