Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate Blog

Sequim Real Estate Popular Articles

2008-05-10T14:49:14Z

Accessory Dwelling Units (1)
Adverse Possession (1)
Alaska v. Sequim/P.A. (3)
Asbestors (1)
Asset Protection (2)
Bed and Breakfast (1)
Bristol Marunde (1)
Builders and Contractors (1)
Building a Home (2)
Buying Land (1)
Buying Real Estate in Port Angeles and Sequim (2)
California and Sequim/PA Real Estate (1)
Clallam County Fair (1)
Clallam County Property Taxes (1)
Coaching (1)
Contractor (2)
Covenants (1)
Custom Homes (2)
Dairy Farms (1)
Divorce and Real Estate (4)
Elwha River Dam (1)
Elwha River Pics (2)
Environmental Issues (1)
Escrow and RE Closings (1)
Estate Planning (1)
Excise Tax Fraud (1)
Finding an Agent (3)
Foreclosures (5)
FSBO (4)
Green Homes (1)
Green Houses (1)
Green Real Estate (1)
Hiring Agents (1)
Home Appraisal (1)
Home Security (1)
Homes and Land (1)
Homes for Sale Sequim and Port Angeles (1)
Internet and Real Estate (1)
Investing (1)
Jesse Marunde (2)
Judgments on Real Estate (1)
Lawyers and Injustice (1)
Listing Price (3)
Lot Sales in Port Angeles and Sequim (2)
Luxury Homes For Sale (1)
Luxury Homes For Sale in Port Angeles (1)
Mold and Mildew (1)
Mortgage Fraud (1)
Mortgages and Truth (1)
Negotiating The Best Price (2)
Neighbor From Hell (1)
New Construction (1)
New Homes in Sequim (1)
Novel Ideas for Your Home (1)
Olympic National Park (3)
On Being Thankful (1)
Open Houses (1)
Port Angeles (2)
Port Angeles and Sequim Real Estate (6)
Port Angeles and Sequim Real Estate Prices (7)
Port Angeles Home For Sale (1)
Port Angeles MLS (1)
Port Angeles Real Estate (7)
Port Angeles Real Estate Prices (1)
Port Angeles Recreation (1)
Port Angeles Water View (1)
Port Angeles Waterfront (1)
Port of Port Angeles (1)
Private Wells (1)
Probate (1)
Professional Incompetence (3)
Real Estate Agents (4)
Real Estate Brokerage (1)
Real Estate Investing (2)
Real Estate Nightmares to Avoid (1)
Real Estate Prices Nationwide (1)
Real Estate v. Stock Market (2)
Seattle Housing Prices (1)
Security Gates (1)
Seller Misrepresentation (3)
Selling a Business (1)
Selling Real Estate in Sequim and Port Angeles (1)
Selling Your Home (1)
Sequim (1)
Sequim and Port Angeles Home Sales (1)
Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate Brokers (2)
Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate Podcasts (1)
Sequim and Port Angeles Water View Properties (1)
Sequim Golf (1)
Sequim Home For Sale (1)
Sequim Homes Sold (1)
Sequim Lots For Sale (1)
Sequim MLS (1)
Sequim Real Estate (10)
Sequim Real Estate and Port Angeles Real Estate (4)
Sequim Real Estate Prices (2)
Strongman (1)
Taxes (1)
The Market (1)
Title Insurance (1)
Traps for the Unwary (9)
Your Host (1)

Courtesy Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate, LLC

Are Homes Selling in Sequim and Port Angeles?

2008-05-09T00:31:43Z

Are homes selling in Sequim and Port Angeles? In the first four months of this year sales are down. We all know that. I was going to write, "That's not front page news," but it still is. The market has taken a beating around the country, especially because of the mortgage fiasco. When sales slow down in California, Arizona, Texas, and around Seattle, our buyers have to postpone their plans to purchase their retirement homes here.

But exactly how much is Sequim and Port Angeles down in home sales? Here I compare the first quarter of each year since 2000.

This chart shows that home sales for Sequim and Port Angeles combined for January through April of 2008 are at pre-2003 levels. But let's face it--the real estate market really took off in 2003 through 2005 with great residual through 2007.

The market is down. No doubt. But consider this: in the first four months of this year 166 houses sold in Sequim and Port Angeles. Buyers are still arriving. That is good. Those who are at the retirement point and have planned to move here, are still coming, unless their real estate market is so slow they can't sell their homes.

The economy and the real estate market in the U.S. is amazingly resilient. I predict a reasonably good real estate market through the spring and summer in Sequim and Port Angeles. It is an excellent time to buy, and if you're selling, a good home in a good area has not lost value in these past months. The threshold of value remains strong.

Courtesy Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate, LLC.

Traditional Real Estate Brokerage is Dead

2008-05-08T09:42:07Z

Traditional real estate brokerage is history, just like the Model T is history. Consumers know this. Home owners and buyers have known this for several years. What is interesting is that so many real estate brokers don't know this.

Real estate brokers who operate under the traditional model are still using a 20 year old business model, but the business world, and in particular, the real estate world, has dramatically evolved in the past two decades.

How does the traditional model market listed properties? This old worn out approach markets property by:

1. Entering it in the local MLS;
2. Advertising it once every 6 weeks in a little newspaper ad.

That's it! Let's pause here to answer the objection a traditional broker would immediately have at this point. He/she would say, "Oh, no. We do much more than that. We send out "Just Listed" post cards to neighbors, we send out price changes to other agents through our email system, we put the house on the broker tour, we hold an open house, we run ads in the newspaper, . . . we have it on our website, oh yes, we do so much more." They would also talk for several minutes in a fast and nervous voice, but when they finished, you would not be able to repeat what they said, because it didn't really seem to make sense.

Yadda, yadda, yadda. All of these things are just more of the same, and all of this is part of the 20 year old business model.

There's nothing wrong with such tactics, but the world has changed in the last two decades, and buyers and sellers have become very savvy. Buyers and sellers do not necessarily understand how the world has changed in real estate sales, or what marketing tactics work or don't work, but nearly everyone is aware that the traditional approach is no longer effectively connecting with buyers.

It's much more than just ineffective marketing that is at issue. A simple concept called CRM, or customer relationship management, became a popular subject about 15 years ago. The dialogue focused on meeting the client's needs and communicating regularly with the client during the relationship, keeping the client informed, building a positive relationship, and doing such a great job that the client would eagerly send referrals. Today, 15 years later, the vast majority of real estate brokers have NO customer relationship management system in place.

Again, consumers don't necessarily understand how it should be, but their gut feeling is that something is wrong, and they are not being treated the way they should be. Clients do not like being ignored for months at a time.

The 20 year old model focuses on the real estate agent, rather than on the client. For example, the old model suggests an agent promote himself or herself, brag about his sales record, or boast in other self-centered ways. But consumers have one question, "How are you going to help me sell my home?" Traditional real estate brokerage doesn't understand that it's not about me, the agent, but it is ALL about the client. The client is and should be the center of mass for all decisions made. It is the client's best interest that should be the focus.

Consumers sense this, and they don't like it.

The world has dramatically changed in the past two decades. Clients expect more. They expect brokers to sell their homes using cutting edge technologies and in such ways that strong and positive relationships are built during the process. Technology and the Internet have dramatically changed the way the real estate business is done. Most brokers are only slightly aware of the significance of this. In a feeble effort to demonstrate they are using the Internet, they have techies build a website that is no more than a static brochure on the Internet.

Consumers will not be fooled by counterfeits. Consumers are demanding more. How real estate is bought and sold is dramatically changing, and consumers know it. Unfortunately, most brokers and agents do not.

Sequim and Port Angeles Short Sales

2008-05-03T21:23:02Z

Listen to an audio segment of Sequim and Port Angeles Short Sales and Foreclosures by retired real estate attorney and now Broker/Owner/Realtor Chuck Marunde.

What should you do if your home mortgage is currently in default? Get help, but get it from someone who has experience dealing with foreclosures, short sales, real estate marketing and sales, and the legal issues you face.

Why have a security gate on your driveway?

2008-05-03T14:55:22Z

Sequim security gates, Port Angeles security gates for private roads and driveways--why have one?

There are four (4) major reasons, but most people would probably not guess the first one. A security gate serves more than one purpose, and the most common benefit and the most important benefit are not necessarily the same. Here are the reasons for a security gate in order of how often the gate returns a benefit.

1. A security gate stops garbage dumpers before they can dump wash machines, tires, and other garbage on your property, or on the drive to your home. People of low standards dump garbage every day on the most convenient rural roads, and they are almost never caught. Wash machines and dryers are very common, as well as tires, and lots of small junk, bags, paper, and rotting things. Not as common, but still popular, is the junk car or old vehicle parts. Here's an interesting piece of trivia: if a person of low standards has dumped junk on your property once, you can bet that the same thing that attracted that person will eventually attract another dumper. For this reason alone a security gate is well worth the money.

2. A security gate keeps recreational drinkers and drug users from partying on or near your home on Friday and Saturday nights. This issue can overlap, although not necessarily, with the next two reasons.

3. A security gate will help to keep 90% of all thieves from driving up to your home when you are absent and helping themselves to your prized possessions.

4. A security gate will substantially reduce the probability that a criminal will harm you or anyone in your home.

I took the photograph above on one of the back roads in Port Angeles. Who hasn't seen this kind of mess while driving around? There's no question that keeping your property clean and free of dumpers is the greatest use your security gate will get, although you will never know it since the gate doesn't tell you it deterred dumpers.

The most important use and benefit of your security gate will be to protect you and your family from physical harm. What price can one put on a security gate for this benefit alone?

If you live in the rural Sequim or Port Angeles areas, I recommend a private security gate. They are incredibly inexpensive compared to the great benefits you'll receive in the years ahead.

The Biggest Mistake New Home Builders Make

2008-04-28T11:33:50Z

The biggest single mistake made by the homebuilder who builds his first home is this: to build a spec home in the highest price range, which is the smallest segment of the buyers' market.

Since January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007 this chart shows total home sales in Sequim and Port Angeles, Washington in all price ranges at 2,310. The majority of homes sold were priced below $300,000. Homes priced above $300,000 represent 40% of the entire home buyers' market.

Here's where the mistake is often made. Building a spec home and listing that home at a price above $500,000 means the market for that home is only 9.0% of the entire buyers' market. The challenge is selling to that 9%, because that 9% is 100% of the market for that home.

I showed a home recently that was a spec home built by a first time builder and priced at $699,000. Let's round that off to $700,000. That home only has 3% of the buyers' market. Wow! That's a very very small segment of the buyers' market.

If you were building a custom home to put on the market as a spec home, would you target 3% of the buyers' market, or would you first want to know where 60% to 80% of the buyers' market is?

There is another challenge in finding the one buyer at this high price range. Buyers at this high price range will want a floor plan that is ideal for them, but the spec home only gives them one choice, a choice they may or may not like. Building a spec home for 3% or 5% of the entire market is a very risky proposition for a builder.

For the one buyer who falls in love with such a home (assuming one is found within a reasonable period of time, and in this price range a home like this could sit on the market for over a year), their negotiating power is far greater than they might realize, since they may be one in a hundred who find the home suitable in every way. Unfortunately, the builder has poured his heart and money into building a beautiful spec home, so his cost is going to be $175 to $220 per square foot, which brings us back to the buyer. At that price per square foot, a buyer may just choose to purchase a lot and have their perfect dream home built.

Beware of Unrealistic Builder Quotes

2008-04-17T09:51:45Z

Here's what most people don't know and may never know, and I share this as an insider who has practiced in real estate sales and law for almost 30 years, including as an adviser to builders and contractors:

There is a vast difference in the quality of homes built from contractor to contractor.
Advertisements of low construction costs based on the cost per square foot is a Trap for the Unwary homeowner.

As a real estate lawyer, I saw many clients who had been planning for years to build their dream homes or their retirement homes. These clients, who were good people, successful people, and intelligent people, hired their builders based primarily on one factor: cost per square foot. The reason these clients were seeing an attorney is because of two main problems: their homes were not being built with the quality materials and workmanship they expected, and there were so many surprise extras that the cost per square foot originally quoted in the advertisement that brought them to the builder had increased substantially. How does this happen?

Initially the homeowner talks to the builder about his incredibly low cost per square foot advertisement, and as he goes over what they want, and as they have several more meetings, the homeowners come to accept the fact that they will have to pay probably $20 to $30 more per square foot than the advertised rate in order to get the home they want. So they sign a contract, and then what?

THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF HOME CONSTRUCTION

The above average couple who plans to have a new home built are simply not knowledgeable about construction standards, the difference in the quality of materials that a builder chooses at his discretion, the shortcuts that some builders take to make more profit at the expense of the homeowner, the "little" things that a builder can leave out of the contract discussion and then, as though they were unexpected later during construction, suddenly require $5,500 more for drainage permits and work, $3,200 for a couple of additional windows that should really have been in the original design, $4,750 for a change in the flooring materials, $7,200 for kitchen cabinet upgrades, $2,100 for appliance upgrades, and on and on. The homeowners did not think the builder was going to use the cheapest generic brand appliances, but he was. The homeowner thinks these are unexpected surprises for the builder, too, but the builder has "been there, done that." There are few surprises for an experienced home builder. The only one who gets surprised is the homeowner, who has to somehow come up with a lot more money than they planned in their budget.

This is how the homeowner gets sucked into a contract, and ends up paying as much or more than what they would have paid another builder who gives honest quotes up front and builds a true quality custom home.

True story. Two homes were built adjacent to each other, one by a quality home builder and the other by the discounter. The quality home builder had the home completed in five months, and the homeowners moved in very pleased with the quality and the guaranteed contract price. The discounter next door did not complete that home for over a year, and those poor homeowners were kicking themselves for hiring the lowest bidder, because in the end it cost them more money, more time, and a lot of stress. What's interesting is that they originally talked with the quality builder, but his bid was higher than the one they hired.

Who are you going to hire as a builder? The lowest bidder or the best builder in Sequim or Port Angeles? Realize that ultimately the best builder may actually be the lowest bidder per square foot, but it won't sound that way when you are being sold by a discounter. I recommend getting some inside help on how to do your due diligence in selecting a builder. You will be very glad you did.

Who is the best home builder in Sequim or in Port Angeles? I know some good builders, some great builders, and . . . well, some who have had unhappy clients. Email or call me, and we can talk about what kind of home you want to build and what kind of builder you would like to work with. I'll help match you up if I can.

chuckmarunde@gmail.com

(360) 775-5424

SequimPortAngeles.com

Water View Homes For Sale

2008-04-10T21:11:55Z

Sequim water view homes for sale and Port Angeles water view homes for sale: we have many for sale. Really that's no surprise, after all we do live on the Northern Olympic Peninsula, and we are surrounded by H2O. It's the mountains and the rolling hills that give our homes the elevation to have such incredible views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, John Wayne Marina and the Port of Port Angeles.

During calendar year 2007, 926 homes sold in both Sequim and Port Angeles. How many of the homes sold have water views? Seventy homes sold in 2007 in Sequim and Port Angeles with a water view. In other words, 7.5% of homes sold have water views.

How many of the homes sold have mountain views? According to our local MLS, 328 homes sold in 2007 in Sequim and Port Angeles have a mountain view. In other words, 35% of homes sold have mountain views. What can I say? We have a lot of mountains here.

How many of the homes sold have both a water and mountain view? According to our local MLS, 131 homes sold in 2007 in Sequim and Port Angeles have both a water and mountain view. In other words, 14% of homes sold have both a water and mountain view.

Of course, the great variation and quality of these views would effect the value of homes sold, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For view properties currently available, search the entire Sequim and Port Angeles MLS of over 1,500 listed properties at SequimPortAngeles.com.

1117 West 11th St., Port Angeles, WA 98363

2008-04-05T13:12:22Z

Port Angeles Home For Sale with Incredible Water View and Mountain View

3 Bedrooms, 2+ baths, a second living room, 2 car garage, new custom home, 3,920 S.F. $569,900

This is a 3 story home with an incredible water view plus and incredible mountain view, and both the 2nd and 3rd floors have these views, custom built with high quality materials and workmanship throughout, recessed lighting, wired for technology, high grade appliances, and . . . you've got to see the full web page below to see your next home on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula.

For more details on this home, click here.

Land Sales in Sequim and Port Angeles 2007

2008-03-27T10:34:40Z

Land sales in Sequim and Port Angeles for the calendar years 2006 and 2007 are represented in this graphic. The chart is fairly self explanatory. I've compared calendar year 2006 with 2007 in both Sequim and Port Angeles for the various lot sizes that have sold.

The two noticeable decreases from 2006 to 2007 would be Sequim land sales for lots above 6 acres, which shows a drop of 23 lots sold in 2006 to 9 lots sold in 2007, and lots under 1 acre in size in Port Angeles, which shows 86 sales in 2006 and only 30 in 2007. Very interesting.

Source of Data: Local MLS Olympic Listing Service

259 Hunt Road, Port Angeles, Washington 98363

2008-03-26T00:25:47Z

County Home on 2+ Acres, Large Shop & RV Covered Parking, Distress Sale

4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 living rooms, lots of beautiful wood,almost 2,600 square feet, large shop and RV Parking, $25,000 below Appraisal at $425,000

This home is a few miles west of Port Angeles on 2.27 acres, and it borders 80 acres of Washington State DNR land with a walking trail down to the mouth of the Elwha River on Freshwater Bay on the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca. It doesn't get any better than this!

For a full page of information and more photos, see Port Angeles Country Home for Sale.

Sequim Homes Sales Winter 2007-2008

2008-03-24T08:51:02Z

How many homes have sold in Sequim in the past six months (and Port Angeles), and how does that compare with previous years? Here's a chart showing single family site built homes sold in each of the last five years, starting with the most recent past six months (September through February).

Here are the numbers for each year, which are also represented at the top of each bar in the chart.

Sequim	201	201	185	191	131
Port Angeles	195	193	192	174	140

Clearly, we have a significant drop in the most recent months. Sales of single family homes in Sequim are down to 131 from 191 over the same six month period last year (Sept through Feb). And Port Angeles also has seen a similar decrease in sales from 174 to 140.

While it is easy to look at these statistics with a negative perspective, there is also a positive perspective. This is important, because some are saying things like, "Homes aren't selling. Land is not moving." Consider this: in the past six months, an average of 22 houses sold every month in Sequim, and in Port Angeles an average of 23 houses sold every month. That means for Sequim and Port Angeles, real estate is definitely selling. We had an average of 45 buyers buying homes and 45 sellers selling homes. This is important. Buyers are still moving here to buy, and sellers are still selling.

Source: Data is from the local MLS, and sales of homes below $100,000 are not included.

131 Sequoia Lane, Sequim, WA 98382 (Withdrawn)

2008-03-18T16:01:46Z

Landscapped Perfection in a Country Home with Acreage

3 Bedrooms, 2 baths, a second living room, 2 car garage, built about 1986, 1,820 S.F. $369,900

This is 1.67 acres about 3 miles from the center of Sequim with a beautiful country setting and gorgeous landscaping, flowers, and trees. The high ceilings and all the windows and skylights create a very warm and comfortable home you will absolutely love.

For more details on this home, click here.

Sequim Real Estate News

2008-03-18T09:41:40Z

For your convenience, here are links to a number of articles on Sequim real estate issues, including sales prices, the real estate market, luxury homes, foreclosures and short sales, how to negotiate the best price, and much more. Enjoy.

Adverse Possession (1)
Alaska v. Sequim/P.A. (3)
Asset Protection (1)
Building a Home (1)
Buying Land (1)
Buying Real Estate in Port Angeles and Sequim (2)
California and Sequim/PA Real Estate (1)
Clallam County Fair (1)
Coaching (1)
Contractor (2)
Covenants (1)
Custom Homes (1)
Dairy Farms (1)
Divorce and Real Estate (3)
Elwha River Dam (1)
Elwha River Pics (2)
Environmental Issues (1)
Excise Tax Fraud (1)
Finding an Agent (2)
Foreclosures (4)
FSBO (3)
Green Homes (1)
Green Houses (1)
Green Real Estate (1)
Home Appraisal (1)
Homes and Land (1)
Homes for Sale Sequim and Port Angeles (1)
Internet and Real Estate (1)
Investing (1)
Jesse Marunde (1)
Listing Price (3)
Lot Sales in Port Angeles and Sequim (1)
Luxury Homes For Sale (1)
Luxury Homes For Sale in Port Angeles (1)
Mortgage Fraud (1)
Mortgages and Truth (1)
Negotiating The Best Price (2)
Neighbor From Hell (1)
New Construction (1)
New Homes in Sequim (1)
Olympic National Park (3)
On Being Thankful (1)
Port Angeles (2)
Port Angeles and Sequim Real Estate (5)
Port Angeles and Sequim Real Estate Prices (7)
Port Angeles Real Estate (7)
Port Angeles Real Estate Prices (1)
Port Angeles Recreation (1)
Port Angeles Waterfront (1)
Port of Port Angeles (1)
Private Wells (1)
Real Estate Agents (2)
Real Estate Investing (1)
Real Estate Nightmares to Avoid (1)
Real Estate Prices Nationwide (1)
Real Estate v. Stock Market (1)
Seattle Housing Prices (1)
Seller Misrepresentation (2)
Selling a Business (1)
Selling Your Home (1)
Sequim (1)
Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate Brokers (1)
Sequim Real Estate (10)
Sequim Real Estate and Port Angeles Real Estate (4)
Sequim Real Estate Prices (2)
The Market (1)
Title Insurance (1)
Traps for the Unwary (9)

Courtesy of Chuck Marunde, J.D.

Who is the best home builder in Sequim or Port Angeles?

2008-03-17T22:54:45Z

Who is the best home builder in Sequim? Who is the best home builder in Port Angeles? Who builds the best new homes or the best custom homes?

If you are planning to hire a home builder and have your dream home built, or maybe it's to be your retirement home, what are the most important considerations? Here's what the vast majority of people want.

First, most people want the highest quality home, and second, they want it for the least cost per square foot. Clearly, these two goals are in direct conflict.

Here's what most people don't know and may never know, and I share this as an insider who has practiced in real estate sales and law for almost 30 years, including as an adviser to builders and contractors:

There is a vast difference in the quality of homes built from contractor to contractor.
Advertisements of low construction costs based on the cost per square foot is a Trap for the Unwary homeowner.

As a real estate lawyer, I saw many clients who had been planning for years to build their dream homes or their retirement homes. These clients, who were good people, successful people, and intelligent people, hired their builders based primarily on one factor: cost per square foot. The reason these clients were seeing an attorney is because of two main problems: their homes were not being built with the quality materials and workmanship they expected, and there were so many surprise extras that the cost per square foot originally quoted in the advertisement that brought them to the builder was almost doubled.

How does this happen?

Initially the homeowner talks to the builder about his incredibly low cost per square foot advertisement, and as he goes over what they want, and as they have several more meetings, the homeowners come to accept the fact that they will have to pay probably $20 to $30 more per square foot than the advertised rate in order to get the home they want. So they sign a contract, and then what?

THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE IN THE
QUALITY OF HOME CONSTRUCTION

New Port Angeles & Sequim Broker

2008-03-02T02:45:48Z

News Release! New Real Estate Brokerage Hits Town!

There's a new Sequim Real Estate Broker and Port Angeles Real Estate Broker in town. In both towns! It is an established name in Sequim and Port Angeles. The owner and broker is Chuck Marunde. Many know Chuck as a Real Estate Attorney, some know him as a Realtor, and others know him as the father of famous athletes.

Blog Manager: Chuck, in this interview I want to take a more personal approach to an interview such as this. I'll ask about the new brokerage and your experience, because that will be important to people, but I think people also want to know who you are. Chuck, give us a brief vignette of who Chuck Marunde is, your business and real estate background generally, your connection here and your family.

Chuck: I'd be glad to. I started in real estate sales in Alaska in the 1970's, and went to law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane. I practiced real estate law for 20 years with a 4-year stint in the Air Force as a JAG. In 1994 I moved my family back to Washington and to Sequim where I continued my real estate law practice and raised my four children. If I may plug my children, I have the cutest little girl in the world, and my boys are amazing, too. Brady is 6'4" and a great basketball player. Bristol is a professional mixed martial artist, and while he is a humble and gentle person outside the ring, he is very dangerous in the ring or the cage. My oldest son, Jesse Marunde, became one of the strongest men in the world as a professional strongman. He placed 2nd in the World Strongman Contest in Chengdu, China three years ago. Jesse died in Sequim at his gym last August from a heart attack. It was a terrible shock, but I can say I am very proud of him.

Blog Manager: Many people in Sequim and Port Angeles knew Jesse. He had an incredible impact on a lot of people. For being only 27 years old, he left a huge legacy.

Chuck: He did.

Blog Manager: With all those athletes in the family, what do you do for exercise?

Chuck: I love to run, workout in the gym, watch my sons compete, and ski with my daughter. Of course, I'm always taking photos of my kids.

Blog Manager: Many people know you, but not everyone knows the extent of your experience in real estate. If you were forced to describe your real estate experience in one sentence, what would you say?

Chuck: I'm not big on talking about myself, because my new brokerage, Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate, will be all about the client, not me. I really mean that. But people are entitled to know who I am if I am going to represent them in selling their real estate or representing them as a buyer's agent. I only get once sentence?

Blog Manager: Right. But you've already used four. Do you want to try again?

Chuck: [Affirmative nod] My sales experience in real estate goes back 30 years, but my 20 years in real estate law gave me a great foundation in dealing with critical details and problem solving and for building a client oriented business, and along the way I have headed up an escrow company, closed 100's of real estate transactions myself, put together loan packages before they had software that typed everything, negotiated 100's of transactions, drafted 1,000's of real estate documents, litigated 100's of real estate issues, resolved many real estate conflicts successfully, have been an adviser to many real estate brokers around the state, including many agents right here in Sequim and Port Angeles, have handled many commercial transactions, have been an adviser to real estate investors and millionaires, have done many foreclosures and forfeitures, short sales, and creatively structured transactions, am licensed with the State as a real estate educator, and I'm a published author on real estate topics, for example, I write for the Pacific Northwest Home Owner Magazine, I sit on the Seattle PI panel of real estate experts, I'm on several other national real estate panels as an expert author, and I'm an Internet marketing consultant for people in the real estate industry.

Blog Manager: That's a long sentence Chuck, but full of good information for our readers. Tell us something about your new company.

Chuck: Sure. I wanted to build a company where the true center of focus is the client, where the level of professional knowledge and attention to detail is unsurpassed, where customer relationship management is actually practiced. In other words, I wanted clients to get the highest and best counsel in their real estate transactions, and that means getting the best price within a reasonable period of time, and with so much attention paid to the clients that when the transaction has closed, the clients will not only be clients but friends who are delighted with our service. I could describe in detail how this all works, but I think the best way for people to find out is to work with us. That's the ultimate test and the ultimate proof that our business model is truly different than any other Broker's. That's what Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate is all about, and this is what clients expect and deserve.

Blog Manager: Chuck, you told me earlier that you felt your experience would be beneficial to clients. Do buyers and sellers really want a Realtor who has a lot of experience, and do clients appreciate your real estate law experience?

Chuck: No question about it. Clients want two things, at least. They want a Realtor who is competent and trustworthy. I could talk for an hour about what that means, but long story short, it means that people want someone who really is knowledgeable and understands the real estate business. After all, their Realtor is handling what may be their most expensive investment, their home. They want someone who understands the current market, and who understands pricing, marketing and advertising, the Internet, negotiating, contracts, and who can protect them throughout the entire process all the way to closing and beyond. People don't just want a slick salesman who talks but does not walk the talk. I think the public is getting very smart about this. They are discerning more and more who has experience and who does not. I think more people are not just hiring the first Realtor they talk to, but the first Realtor who can answer their questions with depth.

Blog Manager: Chuck, you did not join a major real estate franchise. Do you think people look for the big names?

Chuck: I'll tell you what clients have been telling me for nearly 30 years. They want someone who will help them find what they are looking for. They could care less about the name of a company or the size of the building. They don't sit in California or Arizona, or even in Seattle, and say, "Honey, let's call a big name franchise in Sequim or Port Angeles, and see if they can help us find our dream home at a rock bottom price." About 75% of buyers start their search for their next home on the Internet, and they're not using real estate portals or franchise websites. Like all of us, they are searching with Google or Yahoo. Again, it's not about me, it's not about the company, but it is all about the client and what the client is looking for. I have a completely different business model than 99% of the crowded brokerage business. For me, it really is all about the client, not me.

Blog Manager: Chuck, since you talk about serving your clients more than anything else, can I assume that you have free resources that people can check out?

Chuck: Absolutely. I offer an incredible amount of information absolutely free. People might be surprised. They can start with
SequimPortAngeles.com, and they can go to
SequimRealEstateBlog.com or
PortAngelesRealEstateBlog.com, and they can also find real estate law help at FreeRealEstateLaw.com, and there are more resources, but that's enough for now.

Blog Manager: Well, there you have it folks. Check out those websites, and thank you Chuck for sitting under the bright lights for us.

Chuck: My pleasure.

To Contact Chuck Marunde:
Email: chuckmarunde@gmail.com, or
Call his direct line: 360-775-5424

New Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate Broker

2008-03-02T00:33:08Z

News Release! New Real Estate Brokerage Hits Town!

Blog Manager: Well, there you have it folks. Check out those websites, and thank you Chuck for sitting under the bright lights for us.

Chuck: My pleasure.

To Contact Chuck Marunde:
Email: chuckmarunde@gmail.com, or
Call his direct line: 360-775-5424

Microsoft Yahoo Disaster Coming?

2008-02-24T17:13:04Z

A Microsoft buyout of Yahoo would be a disaster. Such an acquisition would send us back in time, technologically speaking. The outcome has major implications for all of us, including the real estate industry, which depends heavily upon the Internet. Here's why.

First, large companies (in this case multi-billion dollar companies) do not merge with the same simplicity of making a banana split. You can hardly screw up mixing ice cream, fruit, nuts, and sweet flavors. Whatever you end up with is edible, at least for the creator. Attempting to mix two massive organizations with completely different foundations, management philosophies, marketing structures, business models, affiliate relationships, customer networks, financial and investment practices, and market niches would be the ultimate nightmare for both companies, but ultimately for consumers.

Steven Covey, one of this country's most knowledgeable and respected experts on business and mergers, said long after the merger of his company and the Franklin company that he would not have done it if he knew how massively complex and impossible it would be. That merger would be a skip in the park compared to a Microsoft buyout of Yahoo, which would be more like a New York marathon.

The second reason a Microsoft Yahoo merger (or acquisition) would be a disaster is because we all know from history (which we won't naively forget, right?) that Microsoft is the leader of absolute control, and the consumer is always going to pay for submitting to Microsoft. That is true of operating systems, software, subscription services and Internet infrastructure.

If you give Microsoft the keys to the castle, you will pay forever to live in the Kingdom, to own property, for the right to grow and sell crops, to irrigate your fields, to plant red roses (premium fees will apply if you want other colors), and if you want to actually tour the castle, you will pay in gold (secured by the lives of your grandchildren).

Google co-founder Sergey Brin recently called Microsoft's attempt to buy Yahoo "unnerving" and said the move imperils innovation on the Internet. Sergey Brin is correct.

An acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft would be a major disaster for all of us. Except Google. The leaders at Google are Internet light years ahead of Steve Balmer and company. While millions of consumers are moving rapidly toward open source software and reasonably priced and beneficial subscription services, and away from Microsoft products and services as fast as they can run, Google is embracing consumers' needs and preferences. What is Steve Balmer thinking? Where is Bill Gates anyway? Oh, yea, he left the building.

Prices of Homes for Sale in Sequim Washington

2008-02-15T12:41:42Z

Here's what's been happening in the Sequim and Port Angeles real estate market (the stats include all of Clallam County for the fourth quarter of 2007 and are provided by the Washington Center for Real Estate Research).

New building permits are down 18.6% from one year ago. Homes sold are down in Clallam County by 20.4% for the fourth quarter (2007) compared to one year ago. The median price of a home is $225,000, which is down 6.2% from last year.

Statewide, these states look like this: building permits are down 17.3%, homes sold are down 13.7%, and the median price of a home is $293,900, down 2.5%.

While sellers would like home prices to keep going up, up, and up (prices have been doubling in Sequim every 7 to 10 years), buyers are given a reprieve from the slowing rate of increase (even a small decrease) in prices. So buyers are saying, "Thank God."

There are more homes for sale in Sequim, Washington and Port Angeles, Washington than last year at this time, but again, that is good if you are buying. Of course, since many of our homebuyers come from California, Arizona, and other states, if those buyers are unable to sell their homes at a fair price within a reasonable period of time, they will not be ready, willing, and able to buy here.

But there are still buyers who have planned to retire and move here, who have the money, and the timing of this real estate market only plays in their favor. That also means sellers are still selling, which they are. In this kind of market it is even more critical that sellers have the highest level of competence and experience in their Realtor. Anything less could cost them tens of thousands of dollars and months of delay.

I recently sold a Sequim home for $759,000, and the buyers were from Arizona. The sellers were pleased to sell their home in this market, and the buyers are delighted to have found their dream home. Amidst the news media's dramatic headlines, we still are making buyers and sellers happy here at Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate.

Sequim Home Sales 2006-2007

2008-01-22T14:20:28Z

How do 2006 home sales compare with 2007 home sales in Sequim and Port Angeles. Here's a single chart with a lot of information packed into it with a graph that includes:

- The total number of homes sold by comparison in both years

- The average price of homes sold by comparison in both years (scaled to this chart: price x 1,000)

The average price of a home sold in Sequim was higher in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007 the Sequim average is skewed upward by the fact that there were seven (7) homes that sold for over $1 million. In the same year in Port Angeles, there was one. Recent indications (the large inventory in Sequim, and the increased interest in Port Angeles homes for sale) will, in my opinion, result in a change in the wind toward Port Angeles in 2008. Time will tell. Keep up with the market at the Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate Blog.

Port Angeles and Sequim Homes Sales in 2007

2008-01-21T16:41:41Z

Homes for sale do not always sell for the original listing price, but how much less do they actually sell for in this market? This graphic represents the original listing price (in total dollar volume) and the actual selling price (in total dollar volume) in Port Angeles and Sequim (site built and condos and townhouses only) .

The average selling price in 2007 for a home in Port Angeles was $275,935, and the average selling price in 2007 for a home in Sequim was $351,493. Port Angeles saw homes sell in 2007 for 25% less than the original price, and in Sequim that figure was 8.57%. Very instructive.

Source: Sequim-Port-Angeles-real-estate.blogspot.com

Sequim Home Sales in 2007

2008-01-16T14:14:12Z

What did 2007 home sales look like in Sequim? Here is a graphic summary of home sales in Sequim categorized by price range. [Click on graphic to enlarge.]

The majority of sales in Sequim were in the price range of $200,000 to $350,000, and there were more single family homes sold in the higher price range than the lower price range. Over 50% of the houses sold are in three price ranges from $200,000 to $350,000--not a surprise. The more interesting statistic is that houses sold in 2007 in Sequim over the price of $400,000 accounted for only 27% of the market.

Sellers with homes priced above $400,000 will only sell to 27% of the entire buyer population! That will have implications for how a home is priced and marketed from day one. This is another major reason that overpricing a home in the beginning kills almost all chances of connecting with a buyer right away. Many FSBO's, and even many real estate agents, think that the best strategy to sell a home above $400,000 is to price the home high and leave room for negotiating downward, but this is actually a strategy that guarantees 73% of the buyers won't even come to the table.

It's something to think about in this market.

[Data Source: Real Market Data, LLC]

Port Angeles Home Sales in 2007

2008-01-16T14:12:11Z

What did 2007 home sales look like in Port Angeles? Here is a graphic summary of home sales in Port Angeles categorized by price range. [Click on graphic to enlarge.]

The majority of sales in Port Angeles were in the price range of $175,000 to $300,000, and there were more single family homes sold in the lower price range than the upper price range. Over 50% of the houses sold are in three price ranges from $175,000 to $300,000--not a surprise. The more interesting statistic is that houses sold in 2007 in Port Angeles over the price of $400,000 accounted for only 9% of the market.

Sellers with homes priced above $400,000 will only sell to 9% of the entire buyer population! That will have implications for how a home is priced and marketed from day one. This is another major reason that overpricing a home in the beginning kills almost all chances of connecting with a buyer right away. Many FSBO's, and even many real estate agents, think that the best strategy to sell a home above $400,000 is to price the home high and leave room for negotiating downward, but this is actually a strategy that guarantees 91% of the buyers won't even come to the table.

It's something to think about in this market.

[Data Source: Real Market Data, LLC]

Sequim Real Estate Prices Strong

2008-01-14T14:37:09Z

Real estate prices have stalled and dropped in some areas in and around Sequim and Port Angeles, Washington, but appreciation has far exceeded the minor price decreases as shown in this data from Standard and Poor's:

Seattle is a substantially different market than the Olympic Peninsula, but the price history has been similar. Since 2000 home prices in the Seattle area have appreciated 189.86%, and even in the last year, Seattle prices have increased 3.3%. The winter months always slow down on the Olympic Peninsula, and the spring months will tell us how 2008 will turn out for home sellers in the area.

Inventory is up as expected in this market, but we simply have not seen a crashing of prices by any measure in Sequim and Port Angeles. We are on a plateau for home prices, and we're seeing an increase in inventory, especially of lots, and greater competition among developers and builders. It is normal for developers to catch the first rogue wave, because developers must plan ahead for many years. To get a project to market is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the captain and deck hands, several years, and a hull full of money. When a market starts to slow, projects must be completed even if it takes longer to sell them out. There's no turning back. That's how it works.

As with many things, timing is everything if you're selling, but for individual home owners, pricing your home at true fair market value (FMV) is a major key to get a buyer to sit down and make a written offer in any market.

In difficult times wisdom becomes a precious commodity in deciding what to do and how to do it. I would recommend home buyers and sellers select their professional Realtor very carefully. Wisdom is not common. It comes from many years of diligence, education, experience, and the school of hard knocks. Search for it like buried treasure, because only by making wise decisions will you rest in the comfort of knowing you got the best price at the right time in the right place.

Sequim Well Logs, Port Angeles Well Logs

2008-01-09T14:47:55Z

Did you know you could purchase a lot or vacant land that cannot produce drinking water? Did you know that you could purchase a home with a private well that dries up part of the year, or has a low water flow? Imagine having to haul drinking water and having to install a storage tank for all your residential water use! It's a nightmare, but it happens!

If you live in California or the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area, or anywhere outside Sequim and Port Angeles, and you are planning to purchase property in the Sequim or Port Angeles areas, one of the Traps for the Unwary that could cost you a small fortune involves private wells and drinking water.

The vast majority of private wells produce excellent water flow and excellent quality on the Northern Olympic Peninsula. We are very fortunate that way. But you only have to be one in 1,000 who end up with a well problem to make it your personal nightmare. How can you protect yourself?

As with all things real estate, due diligence is important. Jennifer Henderson of Canal Pumps in Sequim, Washington, said the red flags are things like a well log that indicates low water flow, or a well log indicating a dry well, or well logs in the same area that indicate such problems or multiple wells drilled on the same property.

How in the world do you get the well logs for the general area that you are interested in? Good news! There is a beautiful website with just that information maintained by the Washington Department of Ecology, and it has Sequim Well Logs and Port Angeles Well Logs. You can use an online map to identify where you want to look, and you can zoom in on your specific area. All the wells that have been drilled will show up on the map, and you simply click on the red dot representing a well, and the entire well log is instantly available.

Of course you can also call local well drillers, who typically will know the troublesome areas and can advise you appropriately. Due diligence is always good. Working with professionals who can help you avoid Traps for the Unwary is always good. Saving money and stress are definitely good.