Oly Homes

Washington homebuyers realizing “market may have reached bottom of cycle”

2012-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

KIRKLAND, Wash. (March 5, 2012) – With spring on the horizon and consumer confidence on the rise, members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service are reporting positive gains in activity. Pending sales for February increased more than 27 percent from a year ago, more sellers are listing their homes, and brokers are reporting an uptick in multiple offers.

“Buyers are beginning to realize that we may have seen the bottom of this real estate market,” remarked Frank Wilson, a member of the Northwest MLS board of directors. “Waiting to buy may only result in paying a higher interest rate, having fewer houses to choose from, or finding that sellers do not need to give up as much as they have in the past,” he added.

Brokers reported 7,623 pending sales during February, the highest volume since August when they notched 7,632 mutually accepted offers. Last month’s tally jumped 27.4 percent from twelve months ago, with 20 of the 21 counties in the MLS service area reporting double-digit gains.

“The only thing tempering this from being a hot, thriving market are the short sales and foreclosed properties which represent about one-third of the transactions,” Wilson commented.

Buyers have fewer homes to consider compared to a year ago, with inventory down 22.5 percent area-wide. At month end, there were 25,510 active listings in the Northwest MLS database; a year ago, there were 32,922 homes and condos listed for sale.

REALTORS + Blood, The Radio Interview

2012-03-02T10:22:00.001-08:00

I'm feeling extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to speak this morning on KGY with Smilin J and Tori Fairhurst of the Puget Sound Blood Center about the Thurston County REALTORS Association's upcoming mobile blood drives. Here's the link to the 15 minute Piece:

How Much Is Enough?

2012-02-29T22:30:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt about it: this is a buyers market. Buyers have their pick of anything and everything on the market today. So if you are in the market to sell, listen up.

It's our responsibility to sell your home in the shortest amount of time, at the highest possible price and the best terms available.

The condition of the home, your responsibility, must be the best it can possibly be. Case in point: We listed this beautiful South Olympia home in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the Olympia area. This home is an estate and the heirs were understandably hoping to do as little as possible in preparing the home for sale.

From the first day we entered this home, we suggested the owners remove the carpet (installed in every single room) to expose the gorgeous hardwoods underneath. After a few months on the market and no offers, our clients took our advice and the first buyer to see the home with the floor modification made an offer.

As trusted professionals in our industry, take our advice. You'll be glad you did.

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Hot Off The Press

2012-02-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

RE/MAX and This Old House have teamed up to co-brand a new do-it-yourself consumer magazine, "Maximize Your Home with RE/MAX," to help me connect with you.

In addition to a number of helpful articles for homeowners, the magazine includes a letter from RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly, a RE/MAX ad featuring the J.D. Power and Associates awards, and a Lowe’s ad offering a 10 percent-off coupon.

If you haven't received your copy, please let me know so I can send you one.

FSBO In This Market?

2012-02-15T11:46:00.000-08:00

Consumers have been using REALTORS for over one hundred years; there must be a reason for this. Before searching online or skimming the yellow pages for the best looking real estate agency, a person must be knowledgeable of the agent & company they are choosing to represent their biggest investment. You won’t find any inexperienced agents in our RE/MAX Office. But you will find synergy – the kind that occurs when the best work with the best, sharing the support & services of the world’s premier real estate organization. Over the past 35 years, RE/MAX has grown from a single top producer to nearly 95,000 agents. That’s more than 95,000 professionals, averaging twice the experience & three times as many sales per agent as other real estate agent in the

United States

Many homeowners decide to market their homes independently in order to save money by not paying the real estate agent’s professional fee for services. Buyers in today’s market are working with professional agent to find a home. We have all the tools for a successful sale. Why would a buyer go to a ‘for sale by owner’ when there are over 1200 homes for sale in Thurston County listed in the NWMLS? Obviously they are looking for a deal & there’s just no such thing as a deal. Frequently the job of selling your own home is extremely difficult because of emotional involvement. Retaining objectivity throughout negotiations with a buyer is not always easy. I can negotiate in three party transactions without getting emotionally involved as a seller easily could.

Even if successful, will they ever know with certainty that they received the highest possible price? I can assist in this process by getting price data on sold comparable properties & helping create a marketing plan for their home. First identifying it’s selling features. Then decide who the potential buyers are & how they can be reached.

Should they advertise and if so, where? What will the marketing strategy be and to who? Will they hold open houses? Open houses will allow them to meet all their neighbors, as well as those who just like to “kick the tires” off of the local real estate market. At my office, we’re constantly developing new promotional tools, implementing new advertising strategies & introducing new technologies to keep us “Out in Front” of the competition.

Finally, when a seller tries to sell & market the home on their own, they are not equipped with the mandatory Washington State forms such as the five page real property transfer disclosure statement & the lead based paint disclosure. Unlike our major competitors, RE/MAX is still led by the same team who created it 35 years ago. The concept was to attract the top agents in the profession who felt that they wanted to have total control over their sale and marketing efforts.

Isn’t the decision easy? Call me & you’ll have an agent for life.

4 Quick Tips for Prepping to Sell Your Home

2012-01-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Super clean. Make the house shine from top to bottom. Don't forget about cleaning the carpets, drapes & windows too.
Clear the clutter & unload some furniture. Remove unnecessary items from countertops, bathtubs & shower stalls - all areas that often attract the most clutter. Keep only the necessities. A decluttered home helps buyers mentally "move in" with their own belongings. You may need to rearrange or remove some furniture. Pieces that crowd a space can make it look smaller than it really is.
Prep your landscaping. Check gutters and roof for dry rot and moss, and ensure they are clean. Examine all plants: Prune bushes and trees, make sure no plants are blocking windows, remove any dead plants & keep the lawn freshly mowed.
Add nice touches. Coordinate towels in the bathroom in one or two colors only. Keep accessories restricted to groups of one, three or five items. Make sure all lights and lamps are on for showings, and set an inviting mood: Have soft background music turned on.

Washington Real Estate Market Research Update

2012-01-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Derived from the Washington Association of REALTORs, the data for the last quarters of 2011 has been compiled as follows:

85,870 Homes sold in Washington in 3rd quarter, 2011, up 0.8% from previous quarter.

$225,300 Median home sales price in Washington in 3rd quarter, down 9.5% in last year.

3,625 Single-family building permits issued in Washington during the 2nd quarter of 2011. Up 26.7% from last year.

62.9% Homeownership rate in Washington in 3rd quarter 2011. Down from 66.9% in 2008.

5.0% Apartment vacancy rate in Washington in 3rd quarter 2011.

$952 Average apartment rent in Washington n 3rd quarter 2011.

The Ten Commandments for 2012

2012-01-09T11:17:00.001-08:00

I recently came across the "Ten Commandments of Endurance" by elite extreme endurance athlete, Marshall Ulrich. I read, reread, reread again and decided, these ten commandments aren’t only for athletes but rather, a tool we can all refer to in everyday life.

Enjoy and don’t just read – put this to use!

1. Expect a journey and a battle

2. Focus on the present and set intermediate goals

3. Don’t dwell on the negative

4. Transcend the physical

5. Accept your fate

6. Have confidence you will succeed

7. Know that there will be an end

8. Suffering is okay

9. Be kind to yourself

10. Quitting is not an option

Running: Beating the Voice Inside My Head

2011-12-29T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've never been an athlete. I've never played a team sport with the exception of seventh grade volleyball. Back then, everyone made the team so they had to take me. Was I good? No. Was I distracted? Always. That's it - there's my team sports.

As for individual sports, well I took private golf lessons but that ended with me throwing my clubs. I bowl a kids bowling ball and my scores are embarrassing. I've always loved riding my bike but who doesn't, right? I adore downhill skiing and have for years - the adrenaline when I tuck down the hill is phenominal. I'm not a skilled skiier but I have a true love for skiing.

So to running: rewind to September of 2010, I was warming my lunch at work when a nice young man (an assistant to an agent and also a personal trainer) and I had a brief conversation about physical activity. My memory is poor but I believe his suggestion was "Just walk on the treadmill at 4.0 for 30 minutes". So I began. Out to the shop I went, every other day, doing just as he'd instructed. I slowly increased the speed and began to run. Fast forward to the end of 2010, I was running on the treadmill.

Now how could this be? Me, Anya, she who couldn't run on the track during P.E. in school. How could I possibly be running? Well I was and it felt great. It took me some gumption to muster the ability to get off the treadmill and hit the road but in early 2011, I was running outside. The fresh air was unbelieveable, noting my progress on my app's map was fulfilling and I just barely missed watching episode's of The Real Housewives of anytown on the treadmill.

I've run with a handful of friends, I've run in all weather elements, I've run along the water, I've run in the forest and I seem to run often from my home or office. At home, it's my pup Zoe that keeps me going. A 10 year old lab who lost her sister just last year, she was the runt of the litter so at nearly 45 lbs, she keeps up with me perfectly. Sometimes she's met by neighboring dogs who want to protect their homes, other times we're jumping over live-stock droppings on the side of the road. Did I disclose it's Pure Country at home? From my office I can schedule in runs before or after appointments and I have the luxury of running on sidewalks with street lights partnered with a central location allowing for endless new routes.

November brought two milestones for me. The first, I totaled 55.2 miles of running during the month. The second, at the last minute, I decided to step-up my game and run the Oly Trot on Thanksgiving Day in Olympia. I had some apprehension but nevertheless, I ran my first organized run and I felt quite triumphant crossing the finish line. It wasn't about my final time, or my pace or anything other than: YOU CAN DO IT. And I did it.

So as I recount my origin of running, I'm pleasantly surprised to see I will have logged over 300 miles of running in 2011. I feel a goal is necessary to stay challenged but I'm not quite sure what I'll determine my goal to be. For this moment I'll remain content in knowing - I can run.

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." -George Sheehan

Annual Blood Drive Another Success

2011-12-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

In October, over 30 people from the Olympia area participated in the RE/MAX Parkside Affiliates Mobile Blood Drive in association with the Thurston County REALTORS Association. Words cannot express my appreciation to each and every person who made an effort to donate blood or assist with the drive. Thank You just doesn't seem to be enough.

When I originally pitched the affiliation to TCRA, my initial idea was for one REALTOR office from the Association host a mobile blood drive each month. If you're interested in scheduling a mobile blood drive, please contact me and I'll provide to you the necessary information.

The required 56 days has nearly passed so those of you who donated at our mobile blood drive, you are eligible to donate again on or after Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Please schedule your appointment here or contact the Puget Sound Blood Center at 800-398-7888.

Every day patients across Western Washington need at least 900 units of blood. Every donation counts.

Thurston County Christmas Tree Tips

2011-12-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

My family has a tradition of selecting a tree with some very good friends of ours just after Thanksgiving. There’s nothing like going directly to the farm and cutting down your own tree. We have so much fun at the tree farm with our kids and friends. It’s really become an event with camera’s and warm goodies. I thought you may enjoy these tips if you haven’t already selected your tree. You won’t get a tree any fresher and you can pick the perfect tree at one of our local tree farms.

What to Bring:

ü Saws and Equipment – Saws are usually provided, and most will cut the tree for you (usually for a small fee) if you’d rather not cut it yourself. Most farms also provide wheelbarrows or other tools for transport. Many will wrap your tree and; tie it on your car for you. I recommend you bring your own rope or bungee cords with you; they may not have it or run out.

ü Pack for a day trip – It’s fun to make an event of choosing your Christmas tree by packing some of your favorite snacks, hot chocolate or warm apple cider and hand towels or disposable wipes.

ü Dress in warm clothes and hiking boots or old athletic shoes. Bring heavy gloves to protect your hands and a jacket or other garment to protect your arms. Bring layered clothing, and some extra socks and a blanket. Dress for the weather.

ü Remember the camera. You may want to capture those memories you’re making.

ü Protect your car – Bring a sheet of plastic or an old blanket to cover the roof of your car and protect the paint and finish.

Where to Go:

ü Barneys Noble Trees, 2012 South Bay Road, Olympia WA 98506

ü Johnson's Smokehouse, 8212 Diagonal Road SE, Olympia WA 98501

ü Tom's U-Cut, 8137 Rainier Road, Olympia WA 98501

What to Get:

ü Generally, the tree farm should have a variety of trees such as Douglas Fir, White Pine, Blue Spruce and Noble.

How to Pack it Up:

ü Shaking – The trees have been living outside all year, and may well have become home to spiders. Get the farmer to evict Charlotte (and her web) by shaking the tree on their mechanical shaker.

ü Baling – Many farms also have baling (tree wrapping for transporting) or bagging for no fee or a small fee.

Congress Restores FHA Loan Limits

2011-11-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Last night Congress restored the loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for two years.

As you know, in late September the FHA, Fannie Mae; and Freddie Mac loan limits were reduced in 42 states pricing potential home buyers out of the American Dream of home ownership and holding back the housing recovery.

NAR immediately went to work with the goal to get the loan limits restored in Congress. For weeks that goal seemed unlikely.

You, and countless other REALTORS® like you along with YOUR leadership and YOUR management team worked to educate Congress that well-qualified buyers didn't need yet another hurdle to access affordable mortgage financing.

They finally listened. Because we were persistent. And because we were right.

The reinstated FHA loan limit formula and cap change will help make mortgages more affordable and accessible for hard-working, middle-class families in 669 counties in 42 states and territories, where the average loan limit reduction after the reset last month was more than $68,000. The provision reinstates the FHA loan limits through 2013 at 125 percent of local area median home prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in the highest cost markets, the floor will remain at $271,050. However, Congress chose not to apply the loan limits restoration to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie-and-Freddie-backed mortgages will remain at 115 percent of local area median home prices up to $625,500.

The bill also provides for a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through December 16, 2011. NAR will continue to press Congress to use the additional time to complete their work on a five-year reauthorization of the program, which ensures access to affordable flood insurance for millions of home and business owners across the country.

I know that when we work together we can accomplish anything we set our minds to in order to preserve, protect and defend the American Dream of Home Ownership.

Because of your excellent work, I am continually reminded that “REALTORS® are the Heart of the Deal.”

With much appreciation,

Moe Veissi
2012 President
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Adverse Possession: The Real Skinny

2011-11-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Roger Tufts, Maine

Q: I move to China for 20 years, leaving behind our 25-acre plot of vacant land in Olympia. During those 20 years, we do not check in on the land, nor does anyone we appoint (family, friends, etc.). Turns out the neighbors have been occupying the land during our time away, unbeknownst to us. Could the neighbors claim legal rights to the land?

A: Adverse possession is the occupation of property for an extended period of time, as defined by law, which is not legally owned by the person occupying the property. This is sometimes called squatting, or squatter’s rights. Clearly the property is unoccupied, and if a person lives at the property for long enough, 10-12 years in many states, they can come to own the property, even if they legally have no claim to it. Adverse possession can thus be said to be a means of acquiring land or homes, without ever having to pay for it.

It can’t be said that adverse possession is legal. In fact, the time of occupation prior to gaining the title of the property is specifically illegal. If the person actually owning the property chooses, he can have people who are squatting removed from the property and charged with trespassing. You really can’t just walk onto someone else’s property and claim it for your own without expecting legal repercussions. Further, in many cases, if you leave the property, you lose any time you have accrued toward adverse possession of the property (they could never leave during the 20years).

To claim adverse possession, an adverse possessor must show that he/she was in actual, open, and notorious possession of the property. The possession must have been exclusive and hostile to the title of the owner of the property. The possession must have been uninterrupted and continuous for at least 10 years. Successive occupation of the property by persons who are in privity with each other (i.e. by contract, will or blood) can be added together or "tacked on" for purposes of fulfilling the time requirements. If the adverse possessor occupies the property under color of title and makes payment of taxes, the period is 7 years. Color of title means that the person holds out that she legally has a possessory interest in the property (i.e. the defective deed includes the property in question). In addition, permissive use can never ripen into adverse possession.

While this explanation is simply my interpretation of a summary to elude to an answer to your question, as always, it is in your best interest to seek legal counsel as my expertise is as a REALTOR as I am not an attorney.

NWMLS Releases October's 'Mixed Results' Housing Activity

2011-11-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

Befitting October and Halloween, last month's housing activity had both tricks and treats. Northwest Multiple Listing Service members reported solid gains in pending sales (up almost 21 percent from a year ago), consistent demand in many price ranges, a shortage of homes in a few categories, and some resurgence of move-up buyers.

Despite those encouraging indicators, prices were down almost 11 percent area-wide compared to a year ago and brokers say there is persistent “hesitancy” in the market. “All the pieces (for a recovery) exist -- low interest rates, lots of choices, increasing loan availability as well as purchasing programs, yet as a whole the housing market has stalled in many places,” said Northwest MLS director Frank Wilson.

“What is holding back the housing market has little to do with houses,” Wilson stated, pointing to uncertainty in the stock market and volatile global economies, along with a more complicated, prolonged transaction process and lack of job creation.

“We knew the median price would take a hit in October because the temporary‟ loan limit for conventional financing dropped back down from $567,500 to $506,000 after being in place for two years,” said OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate Co. As of October 1, buyers in need of a mortgage above $506,000 must now qualify for a jumbo loan which is more restrictive and comes at a higher cost than conventional financing, he explained. “With fewer financing options for buyers of higher priced homes in our metro area, it‟s only natural that this would cause downward pressure on October‟s median price,” added Jacobi, a member of the Northwest MLS board of directors.

“As the supply continues to decrease, we expect shorter market time, with home prices stabilizing and even beginning to appreciate again,” Wilson predicts.

Pending sales (mutually accepted offers) increased nearly 21 percent from a year ago, rising from 5,653 transactions to 6,817.

In the past four months, the combination of shrinking inventory and more sales (both pending and closed) have led to a swift change in the supply of homes, remarked NWMLS director Darin Stenvers. Demand is remaining consistent in many price ranges and move-up buyers are returning to the market because of a shortage of homes that are not distressed, Stenvers noted. This move-up segment can list and sell their homes, then buy a better home with essentially the same payments, he explained. “Buyers know interest rates will not be at these historically low levels forever so they may pass up a short sale/fixer bank owned home for a more conventional transaction,” he remarked.

“Interest rates are at historic lows, and here in the Puget Sound we are fortunate to have a stable employment base,” he observed.

“Not every home has dropped 15 percent in value,” Spencer insists. He attributes much of the decline to a combination of factors, including shifting demographics and the influence of distressed properties, which he said may be as high as 40 percent in some areas. More investors and first-time buyers are purchasing in the more affordable price ranges, which results in a downward shift of median prices, Spencer explained. Also, he noted, distortions caused by REO (bank- or other lender-owned) and foreclosed properties contribute to price depressions. “When you adjust for these conditions and compare standard resale homes‟ the change in home values is much less drastic,” Spencer emphasizes. He believes a more accurate reflection of price declines for the Seattle area is around 6 percent, citing research by CoreLogic, Wells Fargo Securities and other analysts.

Not always apparent in the raw numbers are the hurdles faced by “real live buyers and sellers who are having a harder time than in the past,” lamented Wilson. “Transactions are more complicated and have a higher chance to fail. Lenders who are involved with short sales and bank owned homes further complicate and lengthen the transaction process due to their policies and practices.” Consequently, Wilson emphasized, buyers and sellers need to be explicit about what they want to accomplish. “They also need lots of patience and should choose their team wisely, making sure to select real estate professionals who can walk them through the process.”

Comparing last year with this, Mike Grady, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Bain, noted inventory was plentiful and competition was relatively light last year. Now, he said the market “ingredients” appear to be changed: the number of buyers is increasing and there are fewer homes for sale. “While that's a typical recipe for stable or increasing prices and quicker decisions, today's market has some less palatable ingredients, such as foreclosed properties and shaky consumer confidence. Knowing whether these new inventory dynamics will be slow-baked or microwaved into the housing market is still anyone's guess,” Grady suggested, adding, “It looks like more people are coming off their home buying diets only to find a reduced supply of homes for sale. That could create some welcome momentum in local markets heading into the new year.”

Northwest Multiple Listing Service, owned by its member real estate firms, is the largest full-service MLS in the Northwest. Its membership includes more than 22,000 real estate brokers. The organization, based in Kirkland, Wash., currently serves 21 counties in Washington state.

Change Clocks, Change Batteries; Dead Batteries Can Lead to Deaths

2011-11-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, D. C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding consumers when changing clocks this weekend to change the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, too. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6 this year.

"Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives by alerting you to a fire or CO buildup. They can't do their job if the batteries aren't working," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Protect your family by replacing smoke and CO alarm batteries at least once each year."

In addition to changing batteries every year, CPSC recommends consumers test their alarms monthly. Place smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside each bedroom. About two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that don't work.

Fire departments responded to more than 386,000 residential fires nationwide that resulted in nearly 2,400 deaths, more than 12,500 injuries, and $6.92 billion in property losses annually, on average, from 2006 through 2008.

In addition to changing batteries in smoke alarms, CPSC urges consumers to stay in the kitchen while cooking to help prevent fires. Cooking fires accounted for the largest percentage of home fires, an annual average of nearly 150,000 or 38.7 percent, from 2006 through 2008.

CO alarms should be installed on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas. CO alarms should not be installed in attics or basements unless they include a sleeping area. Combination smoke and CO alarms are available to consumers.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that consumers cannot see or smell. An average of 184 unintentional non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products, including portable generators, occurred annually from 2005 through 2007.

To protect against CO poisoning, schedule an annual professional inspection of all fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces and chimneys. Home heating systems were associated with 70 deaths, or 38 percent of CO poisoning deaths, in 2007, the largest percentage of non-fire CO poisoning deaths.

To see this press release on CPSC's web site, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12027.html

Washington Real Estate Market Research for Autumn 2011

2011-10-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Jake, Prairie View School
Palouse Country, Washington

Derived from the Washington Association of REALTORs, the data for Autumn has been compiled as follows:

23,750 Homes sold in Washington in 2nd quarter, 2011. 12.2% below 2nd quarter 2010

$226,900 Median home sales price in Washington in 2nd quarter, down 7.6% in last year.

47,838 Homes listed with MLSs as of June 30, 10.2% fewer than a year ago

45.1% Increase in multifamily building permits from 2nd quarter 2010 to 2nd quarter 2011. Single-family permits declined to 9.7% in same period.

Credit Scores & Mores

2011-10-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Looking for a mortgage loan may cause multiple lenders to request your credit report, even though you are only looking for one loan. To compensate for this, the score ignores mortgage, auto, and student loan inquiries made in the 30 days prior to scoring. So, if you find a loan within 30 days, the inquiries won't affect your score while you're rate shopping. In addition, the score looks on your credit report for mortgage, auto, and student loan inquiries older than 30 days. If it finds some, it counts those inquiries that fall in a typical shopping period as just one inquiry when determining your score. For FICO scores calculated from older versions of the scoring formula, this shopping period is any 14 day span. For FICO scores calculated from the newest versions of the scoring formula, this shopping period is any 45 day span. Each lender chooses which version of the FICO scoring formula it wants the credit reporting agency to use to calculate your FICO score.

Generally, people with high FICO scores consistently:

Pay bills on time.
Keep balances low on credit cards and other revolving credit products.
Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed.

Also, here are some good credit management practices that can help to raise your FICO score over time.

Re-establish your credit history if you have had problems. Opening new accounts responsibly and paying them on time will raise your FICO score over the long term.
Check your own credit reports regularly, before applying for new credit, to be sure they are accurate and up-to-date. As long as you order your credit reports through an organization authorized to provide credit reports to consumers, such as myFICO, your own inquiries will not affect your FICO score.

Waterfront Properties For Sale

2011-10-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

October has officially arrived which means now is the time to begin searching for waterfront real estate. Contrary to popular belief, it's not when the sun is shining and you feel like going boating or skiing. The best time is NOW!

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If you already have your waterfront property when the sun starts shining, you'll be able to spend your time enjoying the weather instead of looking for somewhere to enjoy it from!

Home, Home on the Section, Township, Range

2011-09-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

In colonial times, just after the Louisiana Purchase and smaller land acquisitions, the United States was faced with a major problem as to how to develop and describe the new land so
settlers could easily know who owned this real estate. The government also wanted to encourage people to move West in order to homestead the newly acquired land. This in turn would make the territory permanently part of the United States. The Federal Government wanted to give land away to early pioneers daring enough to move, but this vast expanse of territory was lacking an adequate legal description in which this real estate could be conveyed from the government to individual landowners.

Along came Thomas Jefferson and others with the idea of the Public Land Survey System or PLSS. This rather ingenious way of describing and surveying land was based on Meridians (Longitudinal lines) and Baselines (Latitudinal lines) lying within the United States. Just about every modern legal description we use in the western United States, except in Texas, comes from this method of breaking up land into Sections, Townships and Ranges.

A Section is one square mile or 640 acres. A Township is designated either North or South depending on its position to a baseline. Townships are six miles vertically. A Range is
designated either East or West depending on its relation to a meridian line. Ranges are six miles horizontally. A permanent monument or marker is usually placed at each corner of a
section to designate its exact location.

In a given Township and Range there are 36 sections or 36 square miles which are contained in a six mile by six mile box. Sections can also be broken down into Quarter Sections known as Northeast, Northwest, Southwest and Southeast. All of these quarter sections are 160 acres, and can even be broken down further into quarter quarters of 40 acres and so on. For
example, here in Thurston County we use the Willamette Meridian and Baseline. A common designation would be the Northwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 17 North, Range 2 West of the Willamette Meridian. This division would be 40 acres of land.

History was forever changed when the United States and its early settlers moved West. With this new ability to describe land it became extremely easy to convey property from the
government to individual citizens. This in turn encouraged early pioneers to move, knowing full well that they could have their very own piece of the American land pie.

Resources of unimaginable abundance were discovered along the way, especially here in the Northwest, along with a whole new coast used for the transportation of goods and services . None of this would have been possible without first being able to come up with a legal way of describing these lands. The idea of surveying the West by breaking it into Sections, Townships and Ranges, dramatically increased the speed at which this new land could be settled. Without encouraging settlers to homestead the West, the United States would never have become the nation it is today.

Author: Unknown. Many thanks to Kari E. Hayes of Thurston County Title Company, Olympia.

Don't Let Summer Pass You By

2011-09-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

Now's the time: check out these sweet deals on truly exceptional waterfront estates in the beautiful pacific northwest: http://marketing.remaxdesigncenter.com/42/47942/1557431/1557431.jpg

To schedule a showing, call Jim 360-870-6767 or Anya 360-870-5191 today!

Just Unveiled: New Explanation of Cost Valuation Report for Thurston County Real Estate

2011-09-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Time and time again, as REALTORS, we hear the age old statement "But my property is assessed for $X". While you might see this figure as good, or bad, our recently appointed Thurston County Assessor, Mr. Steven J. Drew, offered a detailed explanation of the work he and his team have accomplished since taking office January 2011. To read his letter, click here.

You may have recently received a postcard from the Thurston County Assessor's Office with the upcoming tax year assessed value on your real estate. I encourage you to read Mr. Drew's new Cost Valuation Report online. To do so:

go to http://tcproperty.co.thurston.wa.us/propsql/front_s.asp and locate your property by parcel search or property address
once found, click on the parcel number at the right of the page
this page will take you to your property's home page with numerous tabs; the 5th tab on the second row is 'NEW! Cost Val Rpt' - please select this tab

I'm hopeful you'll find this information helpful. One step further, should you be curious about how property taxes are determined in Thurston County, you'll want to click here.

And as always, contact Jim & Anya for all your real estate needs.

Six Keys to Farm Land Value

2011-09-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Jerry Lasky photos

Farmland investment income rests on crop production for much of its return on investment. What makes for a productive farm?

Soil quality
Fertilizer requirements
Percentage of tillable land
Water availability and control
Topography
Proximity to transportation

As always, call me, your personal REALTOR when looking to invest in real estate: 360-870-5191.

Today & Tomorrow: The 2011 Big Home & Garden Show in Olympia

2011-09-10T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Olympia Master Builder’s Home and Garden Show is this weekend, September 10^th and 11^th at Saint Martin’s University on Pacific Avenue in Lacey.

Click here for your printable coupon to enter the 2011 BIG Home & Garden Show!

Olympia Federal Savings & Loan will have a discount coupon, available only at the home show, for an owner occupied home purchase or construction of a green home which gives ½% off the loan rate! This could be big savings!

Acting As Your Own General Contract - Are You Qualified?

2011-08-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

If you're looking to remodel but on a strict budget, determining if you're a good candidate to be your own sub-contractor is imperative. Acting as the 'general' on your job will certainly save you the most amount of money but without the proper background and knowledge, the money saved might not be worth the final product.

Planning, researching materials, scheduling sub-contractors, daily on-site inspections, etc. Being your own general contractor should not be undertaken unless you have a good understanding of the construction process and the time to invest. But if you have experience and are willing to invest the time that will be needed then being your own general contractor should be a serious consideration.

As an industry professional in the Olympia area, I have a list of reputable contractors which I'm always happy to share. These qualified tradesmen and tradeswoman are skilled in their area of expertise. Just call, text or email me for the list.

Bad News on the Horizon for FHA

2011-08-25T22:56:00.000-07:00

Effective 10/01/2011, FHA will reduce the maximum loan limit in Thurston County from $361,250 to $293,250.

Tansy Ragwort: Know Your Toxic Weeds

2011-08-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed a thin yellow flowering plant in your field or pasture? It's important to know about Tansy Ragwort. Ten years ago, I received an informational postcard from the Thurston County Health Department about this plant. Since that time, I've only encountered Tansy Ragwort in my field just a handful of times. It seems this year's uncommon weather of more rain, less sun has encouraged this weed to sprout up everywhere.

You might say, well who cares - its just another weed? What you don't realize is the yellow flowering plant can be lethal to cattle and horses. Once the plant has gone to seed, it has the ability to spread everywhere. So I plead for you to do your part: pull the weeds by removing the plant and it's roots. Don't mow it or cut it.

Let's say goodbye to what might just be scotch broom's cousin - yet another terrible yellow flowering plant in our fields and pastures.

For more information: read here

Real Estate Leaders Roll Out New Logo

2011-08-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

This past week in Los Angeles, founder of RE/MAX International Dave Liniger told nearly 1,000 RE/MAX Brokers, Owners and Managers that he is through being polite or humble about the unmatched competitive advantages of RE/MAX affiliation. We have the best, most productive, most experienced Sales Associates in the business, and there's no reason to be shy about what that means. RE/MAX Sales Associates are…

• #1 in Market Share
• #1 in Sales Associate Productivity
• #1 in Brand Name Awareness
• #1 in Advertising
• #1 in Lead Generation
• #1 in Professional Education

Most importantly, we are #1 in the minds of buyers and sellers, and #1 in the eyes of most of our national competitors, who understand that RE/MAX continues to be the home of top producers who outperform them year after year.

The simple fact is…real estate professionals who want to be on the #1 team should be with RE/MAX. We are the #1 brand in real estate, and we will be saying so; loudly, and very clearly.

Nature Nurtures Childcare - Now Enrolling

2011-08-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

A client of mine is opening a new nature-based childcare program on a farm. If you're looking for childcare in Olympia complete with chickens and rabbits and ponies - check this out

What Goes Up Must Come Down

2011-08-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported the median sale price for existing single-family homes fell 2.8% in Q2 compared to a year ago. Yet 41 metro areas saw price gains, up from 34 in Q1. The NAR's chief economist said, "Median home prices have been moving up and down in a relatively narrow range in many markets, which shows a stabilization trend." Another survey showed two-thirds of the markets reported bigger price gains in Q2 versus Q1.

Housing Activity: “not as bad as some think; not as good as some would like”

2010-07-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Not even the lowest interest rates in decades could entice wary house-hunters last month. Home sales around Western and Central Washington remained sluggish with pending sales lagging year-ago levels, but not all the numbers were down.

June’s pending sales (mutually accepted offers) outgained the total for May by 5.8 percent. Closed sales were up from both a year ago and the previous month. Brokers also applauded congressional approval of legislation to extend the tax credit deadline on contracts signed by the April 30 deadline. That measure, which President Obama signed on July 2, pushes the deadline to Sept. 30.

“In general consumers seem to be stuck in uncertainty surrounding the world’s economic concerns, our lack of jobs and the rollercoaster of the stock market. They seem to be hunkering down despite the lowest interest rates in years,” said NWMLS director Frank Wilson. On a more upbeat note, Wilson said the deadline extension for the tax credit is good news. “Congress has acknowledged the length of time it is taking banks to close a transaction by passing this extension,” he remarked. Without the extension, the National Association of Realtors estimates as many as 180,000 buyers wouldn’t have qualified for a tax credit of up to $8,000 because they couldn’t meet the June 30 deadline to close on their purchase.

The latest report from Northwest Multiple Listing Service shows mixed news across its 21-county market area, with arrows going in both directions.

“The current market is not as bad as some people think, and not as good as some people would like it to be,” observed NWMLS director Pat Grimm. He also said the combination of low interest rates and affordable prices are the best he’s seen in his 25 years of experience in real estate.

The MLS summary statistics for June show: Pending sales of single family homes and condominiums (combined) fell 28 percent from a year ago, but rose 5.8 percent from May. Year-to-date (through June), pending sales are up 12.4 percent compared to midyear 2009. Closed sales for June outgained the same month a year ago by 617 transactions (up 12 percent), and rose 8.9 percent from May’s total. The median price for last month’s completed transactions is down about 7 percent from twelve months ago. Four counties (Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis and Pacific) reported price increases from a year ago, while eight other counties had declines of less than 5 percent.

NWMLS director Wilson surmised the drop in pending sales could be just a dip as kids get out of school “and we rush to embrace summer” or a “hangover from the tax credit,” but cautioned, “It’s too early to tell.”

“The economy is still recovering and that makes some consumers hesitant to buy,” Grimm stated, adding, “On the other hand, with prices down and mortgage rates at their lowest in 50 years, homes are more affordable now than they were before the tax credit went into effect.”

Grimm said the market has created its own incentive for buyers who missed out on the most recent tax credit. “Lower prices and lower interest rates more than offset the benefit of the tax credit. Homes are actually more affordable than they were three months ago, and that factors in the tax credit,” he emphasized. To illustrate his point, he said the purchaser of a $500,000 property this month with a $400,000 mortgage would save more than $250 per month as a result of the interest rate drop. “Do the math and you can see you are way ahead if you stay in the property for more than three years.”

House-hunters have plenty of choices. Brokers added 10,354 new listings to inventory last month, bringing the selection to 42,940 residences being offered for sale system-wide. That’s up about 4 percent from a year ago. Included in the current listings are 36,027 single family homes priced from $8,500 to $25 million, and 6,913 condominiums priced from $20,000 to $15.6 million.

Asked if now is the right time to buy, Grimm replied, “You can’t time the real estate market any more than you can time the stock market,” but added, “If you want to buy a home, and can afford it, I haven’t seen a better convergence of affordable prices and low interest rates in the 25 years I’ve been working in real estate.”
Last week’s benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.75 percent, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. That’s the lowest rate for the 30-year fixed in the nearly 25-year history of Bankrate's weekly survey. Freddie Mac reported an average of 4.58 percent, the lowest level in more than five decades.
Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic, said economists at that California-based firm see a U-shaped recovery, similar to the 2000 recession, but with a longer, more pronounced bottom. Because of various factors at play, including the expiration of the tax incentives and various mortgage modification programs affecting distressed properties, he expects the real estate market to “sag through the summer and slower cooler months,” but believes it will eventually grow in line with economic and income growth “as we put the great recession further behind us.”
Northwest Multiple Listing Service, owned by its member brokers, is the largest full-service MLS in the Northwest. Its membership includes more than 24,000 brokers and agents. The organization, based in Kirkland, currently serves 21 counties in Western and Central Washington.

Statistical Summary of Market Activity - June 2010
Single Fam. Homes + Condos in Thurston County
NEW LISTINGS = 525
TOTAL ACTIVE = 1,973
# Pending Sales = 303
# Closings = 296
Avg. Price = $252,888
Median Price = $235,000

Renew Tabs Online & Save!

2010-04-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

If customers who regularly use the Internet to renew their tabs sign up for email renewal, DOL would avoid printing 1 million notices over the next year. This would save 2,000 reams of paper and 2 million envelopes, as well as approximately $500,000 in printing and mailing costs.

To sign up for email renewal notices through the Department of Licensing (DOL) website at www.dol.wa.gov, when renewing tabs online, or at a neighborhood vehicle licensing office. Email renewal notices provide all of the information on a traditional paper renewal notice. They also have a direct link to DOL’s online vehicle tab renewal system.

Using the link to the online renewal system, you can have new tabs ordered and on their way within minutes of receiving the notice. As more and more people become accustomed to receiving bills and bank statements over the Internet, the agency is hoping people embrace email renewal notices.

Tax Credits Expire in 4 Days!

2010-04-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to purchase a home and take advantage of the Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit you only have a few days left. You must have a binding sales contract on or before April 30, 2010 to qualify.

Here are the rules for a First Time Buyer or Move Up Buyer.

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
~The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
~The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer's principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
~The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
~The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
~The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
~For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
~For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance
~To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.
~The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer's principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
~The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
~The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
~The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.
~Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

Earth Day 2010: 10 Things You Can Do To Celebrate Mother Earth

2010-04-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Today, the Earth celebrates its big day. And on this, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we are reminded of how far we've come - and how far we have to go.

What can you do for Earth Day? Anything that is meaningful to you and planet Earth.

You can start with simple changes in the home, in the garden and on the road. Take a look at these money savers for greening your home.

1. Fix faucet leaks — A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year.

2. Seal drafty windows and doors — A home can lose about 50 percent of its heat or cool air through drafty windows and doors.

3. Avoid running water — Turn water off while you brush your teeth.

4. Say no to plastic — According to data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2001, about 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide annually, and it can take months to hundreds of years for these bags to break down. Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store.

5. Use energy-efficient appliances — The average household can save up to $400 annually by using energy-efficient appliances.

6. Replace light bulbs — One fluorescent bulb can save approximately $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in six months.

7. Start a compost pile — According to the EPA, 23 percent of U.S. waste materials sent to landfills, such as yard trimmings and leftover food, could be used as compost.

8. Slow it down — Sticking to the speed limit and keeping tires property inflated can help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

9. Raise the thermostat — Households will save up to 3 percent per month in energy costs by raising the air conditioner thermostat for every degree above 72 degrees.

10. Think before wrapping — Be creative and use newspaper, take-out menus, old calendars and wallpaper to wrap gifts.

11. Make energy-efficient home improvements — The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extends, expands and simplifies the federal income tax credits for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements. The law extends the consumer tax benefits through this year.

Happy Birthday Mother Earth!

Kick-Off Blood Drive A Huge Success

2010-04-21T23:43:00.000-07:00

This year more than 200,000 people in western Washington will donate blood at Puget Sound Blood Centers. Because of their generosity, PSBC is able to serve 70 hospitals and 21 clinics in western Washington. Every day, PSBC delivers more than 1000 units of lifesaving blood.

Earlier this year, I proposed to my local Realtor office, Thurston County REALTORS Association (TCRA), that we re-establish our affiliation with the Puget Sound Blood Center. My proposal explained that each month, a Broker Member Office would hold a mobile blood drive at their location.

With 100% support by the Board of Directors, I scheduled the first mobile blood drive to be held at my office, RE/MAX Parkside Affiliates and over a month's time, I secured the 20+ donors needed.

Today was our first mobile blood drive and it was a bloody success! We had 25 blood donors and 15 of them were first time donors! I am extremely grateful to those who took the 45 minutes out of their day to participate in this event.

Every day something remarkable happens. And every day Puget Sound Blood Center makes it possible.

2010 Procession of the Species

2010-04-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

People celebrating community through nature... Olympia's 16th Procession of the Species will be on April 24th 2010 at 4:30pm!

Their mission: To empower communities to engage in cultural relationships with the natural world as a means of sustaining efforts of environmental protection and restoration.

We enjoy this event with our entire family each year. Don't miss it!

South Sound Green Tour

2010-04-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce a groundbreaking event for the whole community, a 1st for our local NW EcoBuildng Guild!

South Sound Green Tour
1st Annual Event
April 17 & 18, 2010
Olympia & Tumwater, WA
Inspiration – Education – Solutions

*******************************

This Saturday: A Busy One for Olympians

2010-04-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for something to do this weekend? I have 3 great ideas:

1. TREES: The City of Lacey will hold its annual tree seedling giveaway from noon to 3 p.m., or until supplies run out, Saturday at Huntamer Park.

Species available this year include red leaf Japanese maple, golden raintree, Yoshino cherry, ginkgo biloba, and Colorado blue spruce. There is a limit of one seedling per person.

The city had recently been designated a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 19th consecutive year. Lacey was one of the first cities in Washington receive this designation. The city has given out 22,000 free tree seedlings since the giveaway began in the early 1990s.

For more information, call Kathy Owens, recreation supervisor, at 360-491-0857.

2. FISH: Youth ages of 5-14 will have an opportunity to fish for free at Long's Pond on Saturday in Lacey.

The annual event is put on by the Lacey Parks and Recreation Department, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and community volunteers. Jenny Wilson, a recreation supervisor for Lacey, said they expect around 600 participants.

The event starts at 8 a.m. at Long’s Pond in Woodland Creek Community Park, and participants need to pre-register with the Parks and Rec Department. For information call 360-491-0857.

Fishing poles are available for $5.

3. DOWNTOWN: The popular spring ArtsWalk celebration and accompanying Procession of the Species are rapidly approaching. That can mean only one thing: It's time to clean up downtown Olympia and get ready for the festivities.

Every spring and fall, volunteer crews assemble in the heart of the city to pick up trash, sweep the sidewalks, weed, trim, rake, paint over graffiti and, in general, give the downtown business district a good cleaning. Last year more than 300 volunteers, including a sizeable contingent from Joint Base Lewis McChord, helped with the project. This year fewer than 100 people are signed up, so it’s time to add to the volunteer list.

Operation Downtown Clean Up is set for 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers are needed for all or part of the day, and each volunteer will receive a free barbecue lunch. The deployment center is the alley entrance to the old Olympia Press Building on Capitol Way between Fourth Avenue and State Avenue.

To volunteer, call Vida Farler at the Olympia Downtown Association office at 360-357-8948 or e-mail odaevents@tss.net

Real Estate: The Investment of Choice

2010-04-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

As the federal tax credits for home buying near the April 30 expiration, consumers are taking notice. The National Association of Realtors reported that its pending home sales index climbed 8.2% to 97.6 in February. The surge is similar to the one seen in October prior to the November 30 end date for the original homebuyer’s tax credit.

Will there be a third surge somewhere down the line? That's difficult to say, but the lobbying is on. NAR lead economist Lawrence Yun commented last week that another surge is needed to stabilize prices and reduce inventory, suggesting that extending the credits again wouldn't be the worst thing the federal government could do for housing.

Some remain unconvinced. Some think the credits have run their course, so any extension would have a marginal benefit at best. That's okay, though, because the market is close to taking over. According to a recent Fannie Mae survey, two out of three Americans think it's a good time to buy a home – a percentage that matches responses in a similar survey in 2003 – while 31% believe it's a very good time to buy. Seventy percent of the respondents said that buying a home continues to be one of the safest investments. To put that in context, 74% ranked a bank account as a safe investment while only 17% viewed the stock market as safe. Real estate remains the investment of choice.

Sign the petition | Jamie's Food Revolution USA

2010-04-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

STOP Increase on Real Estate Taxes

2010-04-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

Please take a moment to contact Governor Gregoire as soon as possible today and stress the importance of not increasing taxes on Real Estate.

There are 3 ways to get a message to the Governor's office.

1: Go to http://governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp and send a message.

2: Call the Communications Hotline at (360) 902-4136

3: Send a fax at (360) 753-4110

Please include the following points in your message:

- The new proposal to increase the Business and Occupation Tax (B&O) rate on real estate is unfair to our industry, which is suffering through 30% job losses and 50% income reductions in many parts of the state.

- It is critical to realize that the proposed expansion of the B&O small business tax credit provides no relief for individual real estate agents. Many real estate agents are below the tax credit cap, but do not qualify based on how B&O tax is calculated and paid by the real estate industry.

- The real estate industry is critical to economic recovery and job growth in our state. We are doing everything we can to stay in business and need your support.

Which comes first? The Realtor or the house?

2010-04-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

Many times when talking to people about buying a home this question inevitably comes up. Why do I need a real estate agent if I don't have a house picked out? Or why can't I just use the one with the sign in the yard?

Most people tend to rank real estate agents right up there with lawyers and dentists. OK, maybe not that bad. Perhaps buyers feel they will be pushed into something by the realtor. Maybe they think there is a special incentive that the realtor gets by steering a buyer to certain properties. Most of the fears that buyers have about Realtors are just plan false. It could also be due to a lack of basic knowledge on how the process works.

When a property is listed for sale, most of the time the commission that the seller is willing to pay is set. The commission to sell the home is usually around 6% of the sales price. So if you are a buyer and walk into a house for sale without your own realtor, the realtor that put the sign in the yard is going to make the entire 6% commission of the sales price if you chose to buy it through them. Does he have an incentive to get you to pay the highest price possible? Sure, he works for the seller. The more you pay, the happier his client is.

If however, you hire your own real estate agent to help negotiate the transaction, then the 6% commission is generally split between the two real estate agents so each realtor makes 3%. The seller is still paying the same amount regardless of how many Realtors are involved. The big difference here is that your real estate agent's job is to represent your interest only. They want to get the deal done for you! If you are a happy client, you are likely to refer business to them for doing a good job.

Some people might feel that the real estate agent is pushing them to pay a higher price because then they get a higher commission. Rarely would this ever be the case. Let's say the difference in what you want to pay and what you agent is recommending is as much as $10,000. The commission on that increase is only $300. Many agents split that with their real estate broker so they get about $150. Would it be worth $150 in extra income to possibly lose a sale? Remember that the difference was $10,000. Most price differences are usually just a couple of thousand dollars apart.

If you want a real estate agent to work hard for you in finding the perfect home at the right price - you need to be loyal to them. No real estate agent wants to spend hours researching information for a buyer, only to have them go use another real estate agent. One way to show that you are serious about working with an agent is to sign a "Buyers Brokerage Agreement." This document basically states that you will work only with them in finding a house, and if you go off and use another agent without first getting out of the contract, then you owe the agent a commission. You will find that by using this contract you get more time and effort on your agent's part.

However, before you ever sign one of these contracts you want to make sure that this is the real estate agent and brokerage company that you want to work with. You should interview the agent. Ask questions about their typical deals, typical clients, experience, communication style, and anything else you feel is relevant. Remember you are hiring them to work for you.

Some questions that may be helpful to you are:

1. How long have you been an agent?
2. How many transactions did you close last year?
3. What was the average price of the homes that you were in involved in the sales process?
4. How many clients are you currently working with?
5. Can you provide me with references?
6. How will you update me on new properties?
7. Can I review documents that I will need to sign ahead of time?
8. Why should I hire you to help me find a home?
9. If I agree to sign a Buyers Brokerage Agreement and we find that we cannot work together, how is this handled?
10. What advanced designations do you currently hold?
11. What is the length of the agreement?
12. Do you have an objective policy for handling conflicts of interest?

Once you think that this is the right real estate agent to represent you, then you should definitely consider signing the Buyers Brokerage Agreement.

Awesome Mom

2010-04-02T18:01:00.001-07:00

My friend emailed me this today and having read it many times before, I can't help but share. It couldn't be more true!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the
hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make
sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom

LEGISLATIVE VICTORY FOR REALTORS®, SO FAR

2010-03-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

With the powerful presence of more than 600 REALTORS® on our Hill Day in January, the message we carried to legislators in Olympia was heard-real estate is critical to the overall economic recovery. During a session where it seemed taxes were inevitable, where decisions were difficult and state funds were waning, no increase in the real estate excise tax or B&O tax passed, nor was there a sales tax on services imposed on real estate. The special session is not over but it seems that lawmakers agree that it we must protect the industry that will lead us to recovery.

Mark Your Calendar: June 11, 2010

2010-03-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

A new cell phone law (SB 6345) goes into effect June 11 where police can pull someone over for texting or talking without a headset and give them a $124 ticket.

Rates Rising?

2010-03-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

On Friday, the Obama administration announced a plan requiring lenders to temporarily slash or eliminate monthly mortgage payments for unemployed borrowers. The administration said costs would be shared between the private sector and the federal government. The intentions might be good, but if the plan is implemented, costs to lenders are likely to increase. Increased costs are invariably passed on to borrowers through higher rates or more stringent underwriting guidelines.

3 Reasons To Buy NOW, Not Later

2010-03-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions an individual can make. So it’s understandable that one considering a home purchase may take their time to avoid rushing into such a large financial commitment. However, several factors might leave prospective home buyers who don’t purchase a property now wishing they had taken action sooner.

Current market conditions have created a perfect storm of sorts that has made it an ideal time to purchase for first-time and trade-up buyers alike. Those who have the means and the desire to buy now but don’t, aren’t likely to see such a great opportunity again anytime soon.

Specifically, here are three reasons why those who aren’t under contract to purchase a new home by April 30, 2010 might regret it.

1. They won’t receive a sizeable amount of money from Uncle Sam.

For the past two years, the federal government has offered a home buyer tax credit to help stimulate the economy. But that financial incentive is set to expire soon. First-time buyers who aren’t under contract to purchase a home by April 30, 2010 will leave the $8,000 that is available to them through the tax credit on the table. Meanwhile, repeat buyers will miss out on the opportunity to collect up to $6,500 from the government.

2. They might not lock-in on the historically-low interest rates.

Thanks to measures taken by the Federal Reserve including the purchasing of mortgage-backed securities, interest rates have remained historically-low for several years. With the economy beginning to show signs of recovery, it is widely believed that the government will soon put an end to these stimulus efforts.

If that happens, many economists believe we will begin to see a sharp increase in interest rates which could result in a much higher monthly payment for those who wait. For example, an interest rate increase of 1% on a 30-year fixed mortgage of $300,000 could cost a buyer $188 more a month or $67,000 more over the span of the entire loan.

3. They might miss out on record home price affordability.

Home price affordability is at its most optimal level in decades. As a result, those who wait to buy will likely pay more for the home they purchase than what that same home would cost right now. In fact, home prices have already begun to rise slightly in some markets. Instead of getting a better bargain, waiting to buy a home might net buyers a higher purchase price, less appreciation and less house for their buck.

If you are prone to saying ‘what if’ and wondering what could have been, you will thank yourself down the road for buying now.

Existing-Home Sales Down in January 2010 but Higher Than Year Ago | RISMedia

2010-03-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

Existing-Home Sales Down in January 2010 but Higher Than Year Ago RISMedia: "Existing-home sales in the West declined 5.2% to an annual rate of 1.28 million in January but are 7.6% higher than January 2009. The median price in the West was $203,400, down 5.8% from a year ago."

Curb Appeal: Getting the Best Return

2010-03-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

Improvements can be crucial when preparing to list your home for sale but it's the improvements that create the best curb appeal that will get the buyers in the door. One of the best bang's for your buck: Turning your drab yard into a magnificent lawn.

PAYBACK: Varies; a recent study shows that good landscaping adds 5% to 11% to a home's value

COST: Varies widely

WHEN IT MAKES SENSE: Your home isn't as landscaped as others in your neighborhood, or your yard looks unkempt or just uninteresting.

BEST WAY TO DO IT: Hire a landscaper that has an eye for design or landscape architects on staff ($$). For a small fee (less than you probably think), many will walk your property and recommend plantings and placement. (If you want a drawn plan, you'll pay $$.) Prefer to go it alone? At the garden center of your local home improvement store, resist the temptation to buy a little of everything. Be sure to know what your plan is and sketch your layout before entering the store.

CAVEAT: Don't tear all your existing plantings out. Keeping some mature ones will make your yard look more established.

COST-SAVING MOVE: Rather than buying new items, just prune the plants you have now and get rid of the dead stuff. Talk with friends, family, neighbors, and me as you never know who might be throwing out the Hosta or Day Lily's that they hate but would be a great addition to your landscaping.

I speak from experience: We hired a landscaper to drawn a design, recommend plantings and placement and on occasion, stop by to check on our progress. The best money spent!

National Stats Account for Distressed Properties

2010-02-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

"Activity should be picking up strongly in late spring as buyers take advantage of the tax credit, which is critical to absorb distressed properties reaching the market and to continually chip away at inventory,” Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist said. “With a downtrend in the number of homes on the market, especially in the lower price ranges, values are beginning to firm but with great variance around the country.”

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $164,700 in January, unchanged from a year earlier. Distressed homes, which accounted for 38% of sales last month, continue to downwardly distort the median price because they typically are discounted in comparison with traditional homes in the same area.

A parallel NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 40% of homes in January, down from 43% in December. Investors accounted for 17% of transactions in January, up from 15% in December; the remaining sales were to repeat buyers. The survey also shows that buyer traffic increased 9.4% in January."

I'm Dreaming Of A New Lawn Mower

2010-02-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

Mowing the lawn is tops on my list. It's the best chore as so much instant gratification can be derived from the event: the look of the newly mowed lawn, the smell of the freshly cut grass, the brief exercise I get while being outside in mediocre to good weather.

As fall arrived last year, our 6 year old lawn mower died. I admit it was probably time and was certain that deep down, my husband was secretly jubilant as he was more than ready to trade in the old push mower for a fancy riding model.

According to the E.P.A, almost 17 million gallons of gasoline are spilled each year while refueling lawn equipment. I won't have this problem until we purchase a new mower but a few easy ways to reduce spillage: don't top of tanks and use a no-spill gas can.

I'm open to suggestions if you have a fantastic mower that you think I'd enjoy. As the lawn mowing operator in this household so my vote is to continue pushing.

P.I.T.I. - Real Estate Terminology

2010-02-20T16:24:00.000-08:00

As REALTORS, we often use terminology that sometimes difficult for our clients to decipher. A common term during the financing contingency is "PITI": the sum of monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

Take the monthly loan amount (principal and interest) plus the monthly property tax payment, homeowners insurance premium, and, when applicable, mortgage insurance premium and homeowners association fee. Commonly included in your mortgage is the property tax payment and homeowners insurance premium, known as "escrow", PITI therefore is the monthly "bottom line" of what the homeowner calls their "mortgage payment".

Richard the Raccoon

2010-02-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

The weather today was beautiful! February usually brings snow (as does March in the beautiful Pacific Northwest) but today truly felt like spring with the bulbs making their appearance, the buds cresting on shrubs and the temperature is nearing 60 degrees.

At 1:30 this afternoon, while nearing the end of a home inspection in the city limits of Olympia, my buyer shrieked with excitement 'there's a raccoon walking up the driveway'. What? Is she crazy? It's a beautiful sunny afternoon - no way is a raccoon walking up the driveway. As I launched out the front door in search of this so-called raccoon, I peered past the garbage bin and up the block wall, there it was: the fattest raccoon I've ever seen. It scampered along the wall and into the neighbors huge rhodendron bush, a clean arm's length from the bird feeder.

Now I am an animal lover, a huge animal lover. I love the birds, the deer, all critters. But, when it comes to my home, I prefer to keep the wild sort at bay. So, I sadly report to my fellow animal loving friends, you must be proactive in keeping wild animals and critters away from your structure to prevent any damage.

Those beautiful bird feeders go something like this: The bird eats the feed but some falls on the ground - what do you think happens to those extra pieces? The mice quickly come in, grab the food and head for shelter in your crawlspace. Partner that with any body of water, be it a bird bath, koi pond, water feature or dog dish, just a few sips of water for the mouse, his bits of bird feed and the warm covered shelter of your crawl space, before long the family of mice is movin' in!

So back to the raccoon (who my 5 year old son has named Richard after I reccanted the story), he was just on his way to that bird feeder next door. Why should he be living in the woods when he can get his lunch in the neighbors yard? And seriously, during broad daylight, Richard the raccoon has confidence and something tells me this isn't his first time eating at the neighbor's place.

"Home is Where One Starts From" ~ T.S. Elliot

2010-02-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

As with any profession, some aspects of my career are better than others. I especially enjoy helping first-time home buyers, the excitement of purchasing that first home is such a surreal experience. Listing a home and netting a seller more money than they ever imagined, also terrific. Working with clients whom have children, and knowing these children will associate their home with a lifetime of memories - that's pretty special.

As the Co-Chair of the Thurston County Realtors Association 3rd Grade Poster Contest, I enjoy reading the essays prepared by the youth of the Olympia area. We provide the materials to the schools, set a lengthy deadline (as we recognize how busy teacher's are) and the 3rd grade students complete a drawing of their home partnered with an essay they must finish "What My Home Means To Me".

The 2010 entries are in and they are absolutely exceptional! The boys and girls have creatively colored or painted beautiful images but it's the essays that are extraordinary. As I read each essay, I am overcome by the meaning of "Home" to each child.

Until Tuesday, February 16, the entries are on display at the Westfield Shopping Mall. Stop in, read a few, a vote for your favorite. Official judging will be in March followed by the awards.

I've Never Seen Smoke That Color

2010-02-08T21:29:00.000-08:00

Just a short mile from my home lies the beautiful neighborhood of Countrywood. This afternoon, a home built in 2003 was the site of a raging inferno. My heart is heavy tonight thinking of the family that's been displaced due to this horrific nightmare.

I haven't a clue what the cause of the fire but according to the National Fire Protection Association, a residential fire occurred every 76 seconds in the U.S. during 2007. Prevent a common mishap from turning into a major disaster by following these basic steps:

Detect smoke and carbon monoxide by keeping an alarm in every room.

Maintain alarms by changing the batteries every six months and testing them weekly.

Replace smoke alarms every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms every five years.

Keep fire extinguishers in trouble areas, such as the kitchen and garage.

Plan escape routes out of the house and practice using them with the whole family.

It's easy to think "oh, that'll never happen to me" but unfortunately, it can happen to anyone.

You Can't Time The Market

2010-02-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

The age old question - when should I put my house on the market? Unfortunately, as REALTORS, we just can't time the market. While the winter months host the holidays, it might be cold outside and your yard isn't beautiful, you can rest assured that the buyers that are looking are serious, otherwise why would they be looking? Plus, you have less competition as many sellers wait until Spring to list.

With inventory of available homes down, interest rates are historically low, two federal tax credits are available - we see this as a great time to actively market your property for sale with a REALTOR. Foreclosures are increasing which means more competition in the near future so take advantage of today's market.

Don't wait for rates to increase. Don't wait for the tax credits to expire. Don't wait for the unknown. If you wait, you'll miss the boat.

What makes a home a home?

2010-01-31T21:53:00.000-08:00

After visiting our good friends home this morning, I quickly offered to my husband as we drove away "I love their home - it's such a home". You see, I truly believe there is a huge difference between a house and a home. I sell houses, not homes. A house is a structure but a home is the place that you make your own.

Their house is older, it's a true 'ranch style'. It's spacious, 2000 square feet approximately with perfect sized rooms, a gorgeous view of their pasture and set privately at the end of a road. Built in the late 60's, they paid more for the land than they did to build the house and over the years, they've raised their children in this home, added on to the home and remodeled the home.

Maybe I like their home because of them, because I like them so much? Maybe I like it because they are so inviting, opening their home to my growing family each time we stop by. I obviously don't know exactly what the answer is but one thing I do know - I'd love to have a home like theirs one day.

Kindergarten Round-Up

2009-05-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

My belly was full of butterflies but it was just another day for my boy. It was the official East Olympia Elementary Kindergarten Round-Up, an event to see the school, meet the teachers and principles, receive details of the curriculum and my official notice that my first born is entering school.

"We played number games, told the high school girls our names (the helpers), ate cookies. We rode on a bus and the driver was Shaun's dad. He held his two fingers up and that means be quiet and listen so we don't crash into a train. I sat by Kessa. There was fishs in one classroom and hamsters in the other room. I'm excited to go to school" ~ Drew, age 4

Could It Really Be A...

2009-05-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Tooth, that is. Our sweet Harper has been fussy, drooling, missing meals and stuffing her fist in her mouth so we're quite certain we'll be seeing a little something on her bottom gums soon.

The Procession of the Olympians, I mean Species

2009-04-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

An annual event that finishes Art's Walk each Spring, The Procession of the Species is a parade featuring all sorts! A little bit of everything, the parade always has a theme, although I'm not sure that I know what this year's was. We enjoyed watching this year along with Adam, Molly, Tommy & Alec. Harper was content to snooze in Molly's arms while the commotion marched right on by! The boys were mesmerized with the parade goer's, all the while keeping an eye out for Ann, Jack & Lucas Bowers but unfortunately they did a great job of blending in so we missed them!

Our Garden of Nutrients (plus Pumpkins and Hopps)

2009-04-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

The garden was planted with love and care in hopes that a bounty soon would be there. Drew wants pumpkins and Craig wants hops, Mama just wants to see if we'll actually harvest a side dish from this beautiful setting behind the shed, I mean shop! (Sorry Craig, you know I love to tease you when people refer to your shop as a shed!)

The boys worked hard to create this garden, planting seeds and starts of blueberries, broccoli, corn, cauliflower, cucumbers, potatoes, pumpkins, strawberries and a special spot for the hops. Harper and I sat back and enjoyed the sun, hoping to soon see the vegetables overflowing the garden.

Will he sink or swim?

2009-04-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Swimming lessons began this morning and the boys far exceeded our expectations. Drew and his best friend Tommy were members of the Pike class, and in 30 minutes, we witnessed them dunking their heads in the water, floating and (drum roll please)... jumping in for the finale. They were all smiles and are already excited for next week's class. Tommy's little brother Alec was excited to join in but settled for a puddle to stomp in. We're really looking forward to the lake this year - maybe they'll give Hunter a run for his money!