At Cascade Title, we're grateful for the business you bring to us, and it shows in the attention we bring to your transaction.  Thank you for continuing to trust us for your title and escrow needs.

Take time to express gratitude to your friends and co-workers.  We all appreciate being appreciated!  If you need a little inspirations, check out this blog.

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Your Friends at Cascade Title  

"I told my lender I wanted to use Cascade Title, but they told me they use _____ Title because they GET A SPECIAL DEAL!"  This is wrong for two reasons: (1) it is a violation of state law to give (or receive) "special deals" that differ from our filed title and escrow rates and (2) in both cases, the "special deal" turned out to be $250 MORE than Cascade Title's rates!

Cascade Title appreciates that real estate is a relationship business--that's why we have worked hard to provide our customers and referral sources with excellent service and sincere friendship.  At the same time, as a local and independent title company, we have chosen to price our products (title and escrow) at the low end of the price range.  It's our formula for success: title and escrow people that know their jobs and are easy to deal with, and prices that are the least-expensive in the County.  If you've used our company, thank you!  If you hear of a "special deal," be careful!  Compare it to our rates!

You have a choice -- choose Cascade Title!

Re-Surfacing

The Columbia River Crossing Project (CRC) is nearing a milestone: the end of the preliminary planning and environmental review phase. Financing issues and a "go/no go" decision remain, but it is a good time to consider the importance of the CRC's plan to replace the Interstate Bridge, built in 1917. To say it's a big deal is almost missing the point -- it is a HUGE deal.

The numbers are mind-boggling: the digits are in the billions: $3.1B to $3.5B. The fiscal heavy-lifting is segmented into thirds by the Federal Transit Administration, tolls, and the last third split between Oregon and Washington. The construction will take over 10 years (including light rail). The cost of the project is daunting, but the overall impacts on this region are just as significant.

The location of the crossing presents challenges. The bridge connects two states, and affects international trade by connecting the U.S. with Canada and Mexico, serving as one of the most important interstate corridors in the Country. In addition to the infrastructure on land, directly below the green-ironed bridge is a river that is the most important navigable waterway west of the Mississippi. The Columbia River is responsible for transporting commodities from the eastern regions of both Washington and Oregon to the global marketplace. A project that has the potential to interrupt the flow of traffic by both land and water, whether temporarily or indefinitely, is worthy of paying attention.

Emotions have surrounded the project ever since the initial discussions: a tangling of egos, states and values that has been explosive at times. There's more at risk than just numbers and trade. Downtown Vancouver sits smack-dab in the middle of the whole project. It has the most to benefit or lose from the CRC project, as it will forever enjoy (or suffer) the impacts on the way that Downtown does and attracts business. Even locally, there are potential competitors to downtown, including fast-growing East Clark County, which created its own Economic Development Council. A good design of the "crossing" has the potential to bolster the downtown economy, and a poor design could be devastating.

With construction of the crossing scheduled to begin in 2013, it's a good time to get educated on the CRC. More information, including how you can become involved, is at http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/.

-Erica L. Rodman

Understanding Mortgage Rates and Credit?

Rates are at record lows, but loans are harder than ever to qualify for.  What's going on the market and what has caused our current situation?  Click here to read this informative interview with UCLA Finance Professor Stuart Gabriel, and have some of those questions answered.

This year the stores are opening earlier than ever -- how do you decide if it's worth participating or not?  Take a peek at this website to get your "shopping motor" running and see what will be awaiting you in your Thanksgiving Day newspaper!