ETidBits-Header-May-2013

30 years
Greetings from Cowlitz County Title!
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Spotlight on Melinda Gottfryd  

 

 

melindagottfryd

Melinda Gottfryd, better known as "Blondie" in the office,  is celebrating her 22nd year at Cowlitz County Title.   She has lived and worked in Longview/Kelso all her life and "feels lucky to work with such a great group of people."  She has worked as an Escrow Assistant, along with other responsibilities, for most of those years and always keeps everybody in stitches around her with her quick-witted sense of humor.

 

Our "Blondie" is an animal lover that can't resist taking in a stray (and donates food to feed the animals at the Humane Society).  Her current animal brood has 3 dogs and 3 cats.  When she's not chasing or cleaning up after them, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her wonderful girlfriends of 40+ years. 

 

Thank you for your years of service!



-Bianca and your team at Cowlitz County Title  
In Trusts We Trust... 

 

Ever wonder what the pros and cons of a revocable trust vs. an irrevocable trust?  People who are worried about getting sued or have enough assets to trigger the federal estate tax find that an irrevocable trust can be a useful tool.  Assets inside an irrevocable trust are protected from creditors, and the assets are not considered part of the estate for purposes of calculating federal estate tax liability.  In 2013, the first $5.25 million of each individual's estate is exempt from estate tax.  (Going forward, that threshold will be indexed to inflation.) 

 

If your estate isn't near that limit, I think it's important to understand what you give up if you place assets inside an irrevocable trust:  control of that money.  That's what the "irrevocable" is all about.

 

With a revocable living trust you maintain complete control and flexibility.  While you are alive, assets you have put inside your trust remain 100 percent yours to use as you please.  You can also make changes to your trust as often as you want, altering beneficiaries or changing the terms of how you want your assets handled once you pass.

 

Creating a revocable living trust with an incapacity clause will allow someone you designate to step in and handle your financial affairs if at some point you can no longer make those decisions for yourself.  And when you die, your heirs will not have to deal with probate.  Wills are required to be approved by a probate judge; with a revocable trust your estate is disbursed exactly as you have laid out in the legal document.  No need for your heirs to get court approval.

 

The bottom line is that both types of trusts are very different, and one doesn't exclude the other.  Get yourself a good estate lawyer and check them out for yourself.

Happy Birthday to You! 

 

5/1 - Karen Johnson, CB Bain

5/2 - Darla Brown, Windermere

5/4 - Kim Hort, Auditor's Office

5/5 -  Tami Sari, Bank of America

5/6 - Melissa Hixson, Cowlitz Title

5/7 - Paul Young, Windermere Commercial

5/8 - Angie Stout

5/8 - Britney Rister, Hometown Bank

5/9 - Laura Bradbury, Cowlitz Title, Retired

5/11 - Shawn Warren, RE/MAX Premier

5/11 - Sharleen Woods

5/12 - Steve Jones

5/14 - Joe Amrine, Fibre Federal Credit Union

5/17 - Andrea Gebhardt, Heritage Bank

5/18 - Venancio Gonzales, Windermere

5/19 - Su Merrill, Pacific Northwest Realty

5/20 - Sandy Allen

5/23 - Lance Brown, Woodford Real Estate

5/23 - Todd Wade, Woodford Real Estate

5/26 - Bruce Kell, John L. Scott Real Estate

5/31 - Jill Clark, Pacific Northwest Realty 

 

Upcoming Events
 

Friday, May 10th - Pins for RPAC.  Haven't made your donation to RPAC yet?  Well what better time than now!  Join in on the fun at the 16th annual realtor party Monte Carlo style!  Cost per person is $40.00.  Arrive at the Triangle Bowl at 5:30pm, games start at 6:00.  Prizes awarded for best RPAC team spirit!  For team registration, contact your LoCAR office at [email protected] or RPAC Chair, Mike Wallin at [email protected].

 

Tuesday, May 14th - Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.  Come network "Fiesta" style hosted by Kelso Longview Elks #1482 at 900 Ash St. Kelso  5:30-7:30 p.m.  $15 advance/$20 at door.  Register online at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org.

chamber

 

Tuesday, May 21st -  State of the Housing Industry, presented by Lower Columbia Contractor's Association, LoCAR Government Affairs and Heritage Bank.  You're invited to attend this event and hear nationally acclaimed economist, Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. discuss what is happening in the housing industry, the economic outlook and what housing means to our local economy.  5:30 p.m. social, 6:30 p.m. dinner & program at the Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center.  Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 360-425-8820 to make your reservations today!

 

Thursday, May 30th - Cowlitz County Community Report Card 2013 presented by Pathways 2020.   Receive the new report card, hear of local success stories, congratulate champions of healthy lifestyles, enjoy a dinner of local and regional foods and be called to action for a healthier Cowlitz county!  Event will be held at the Cowlitz County Regional Conference Center starting at 5:30 p.m.  The cost is $10.00.  For more information, please contact [email protected].


 

MBA Statistics
Rates and Trends

 

The Mortgage Bankers Association application statistics can be an interesting picture of what's going on in the real estate market.   Click here to read more on the most recent mortgage application survey. 

 

Recent Building Permits

 

Click here to view the Building Permit records for our area.

 

Cowlitz County Title Is Now On Facebook
Join Us Today!

Parade of Homes
Join us as a "friend" on Facebook and stay up-to-date on what's happening at CCT!

"The number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying."
- Tom Hopkins

mls-apr     

Information obtained from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.   


Do you have questions?  Or is there something you'd like to see in the Title TidBits?  Just email [email protected]!