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Growth through partnerships

Red Lion, Magnuson, FairBridge sign more properties to networks

March 28, 2013

Spokane plays host to the corporate headquarters of three hospitality companies that all say they are in a growth mode, even if their business models are slightly different.Red Lion Hotels Corp., Magnuson Hotels, and FairBridge Hotels each are a

Lincoln Center finds niche with flexible space mix

Venue sees rise in rentals for corporate gatherings, weddings

March 28, 2013

Mike McLean

As the economy slid into a recession five years ago, it was an unnerving time to open a new event center in Spokane, says Richard Heftel, sales manager, marketing director, and co-owner of The Lincoln Center, at 1316 N. Lincoln.Still, The with a

Loan appraisal requirements set to change

Regulators are wanting closer look at homes with higher-priced mortgages

February 28, 2013

Six federal financial regulatory agencies last month issued a final rule that establishes new appraisal requirements for what are being termed as higher-priced mortgage loans.The rule implements amendments to the Truth in Lending Act made by the

B of A helps provide more than $2.6 billion in housing

Community development work last year to create 11,000 affordable units

February 28, 2013

Business Wire

Through its lending, tax-credit equity investments, and real estate development programs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch says it last year provided more than $2.6 billion for community development—commitments that it claims will help create in

Lenders said not likely to fill student-loan funding gap

Private loan origination is expected to stay below pre-crisis level, Fitch says

February 28, 2013

Business Wire

Fitch Ratings, of New York, says it expects the gap between rising U.S. college costs and available financing to continue expanding in future years as a result of static federal loan limits and ongoing congressional debate over fiscal spending will

Intermountain Community Bancorp reports upswing

Company posts earnings of $1.9 million for 2012 after ending '11 with loss

February 28, 2013

Kim Crompton

Sandpoint-based Intermountain Community Bancorp, which operates Panhandle State Bank and Intermountain Community Bank, has reported fourth-quarter net income applicable to common shareholders of $910,000, or 14 cents a share, compared with or $1.08

Commercial delinquency rates decline

January numbers were lowest since early 2012; other positives emerge

February 28, 2013

PR Newswire

The delinquency rate for U.S. commercial real estate loans included in commercial mortgage-backed securities fell 14 basis points in January to 9.57 percent, says a report issued late last month by Washington, D.C.-based finance research company at

Axia Home Loans grows here

Mortgage lender expects ongoing refinancing work, rise in home purchases

February 28, 2013

Treva Lind

Bellevue, Wash.-based Axia Financial LLC, which does business as Axia Home Loans, has grown its Inland Northwest operations since May, both in employee numbers and offices to meet demand for mortgage lending and refinancing services. This past a

Equity borrowing stages comeback as home prices rise

Lenders say value gains lift consumer confidence to tap collateral

February 28, 2013

Mike McLean

Home-equity lending is on the rebound in the Spokane market following several years of declines that coincided with the protracted slip in real estate values, lenders here say.Last year marked the first sustained improvement in median home sales

Recycling records might not provide enough security

Some business sectors face hefty fines for not disposing of materials as required

February 14, 2013

Patrick DeVries and Robert Johnson

While recycling office paper and discarded computer equipment is a noble cause, increasing liabilities and dangers make the secure destruction of information an imperative that deserves the same importance as recycling.Up until a few years ago,