House Hunting Part 6 of 11 - 03/31/07 09:25 PM
House Hunting Part 6 of 11
The average number of years a family lives in a home before selling it and moving to the next one is getting shorter and shorter. Knowing how long you will live in your next home is a critical in finding the right home within your budget that will work for whatever your time frame happens to be.
Is there room for expansion? You might not be concerned with adding onto the home you're viewing today, but what about tomorrow? Don't necessarily exclude those that don't have the room and a logical place to expand, but do … (0 comments)

House Hunting Part 5 of 11 - 03/27/07 03:56 PM
Take an inventory of what needs fixing.
Good news: With more houses on the market than in the past several years (676 active Renton Real Estate listings and 70 active Newcastle Real Estate listings), you'll likely be able to look at more houses before making a decision to put in a bid.
Bad news: That means it can get quite confusing to remember the details of each. Develop a list of things you like in the house as you walk through each, and also make a list of things that might need fixing
David Edwards
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
425-890-8045
E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com
Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com
Blogsite: … (0 comments)

House Hunting Part 4 of 11 - 03/24/07 12:59 PM
Make sure the most expensive stuff works. The two most expensive rooms in a home to renovate are kitchens and bathrooms. If you're stretching to be able to afford a home and still eat, make sure these two rooms don't need renovating anytime soon.
The first step to accomplishing this is to hire a qualified home inspector to conduct an inspection. The Renton and Newcastle real estate markets have recently normalized allowing buyers to submit offers that are contingent on a satisfactory home inspection. I always encourage my buyers to find their own home inspector to avoid any possibility of a … (0 comments)

The Orchards in Renton is a Great Place to Live - 03/23/07 11:53 AM
 
The Orchards (www.orgsites.com/wa/theorchards/) is a planned community located in Renton, Washington in the Highlands. 
Built in the early 1990's, The Orchards encompasses one square mile and more than 300 homes. This modern community has the feel of small town America. Housing options in The Orchards range from rental units at The Windsor Apartments (http://www.rentnet.com/) which are not officially part of the Orchards but sit across the street to Condos in both Plumgrove and Peachtree Lane.  Single Family homes with smaller lots share a central park in Cherrywood Lane. Orchards I and Orchards II both offer single family homes with larger lots but … (1 comments)

House Hunting Part 3 of 11 - 03/22/07 11:33 AM
When looking at room layout, corners are key. Rooms with doorways in the middle of walls flow better than rooms that open in a corner. However, when space is limited, a corner door leaves more room for furniture placement within the room. Remember to look for corner doors in small bedrooms and doors in the middle of walls in general living spaces when looking for your dream home.
David Edwards
Real Estate Agent & REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
425-890-8045
E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com
Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com/
Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp
David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and … (1 comments)

House Hunting Part 2 of 11 - 03/21/07 09:36 PM
Look for good bones. Don't get hooked on the decorating. The town or towns you are targeting for your home search likely have a handful of builders who have built a majority of the homes. Get to know the reputation of these builders. Then, before going to look at a home, find out who the builder was. You'll want to be careful when looking at homes built by those with less than stellar reputations. Then, you need to learn to look past the furniture, wall colors, window treatments, and other decorating, and just look at the home layout and flow. New … (1 comments)

Mayor Kathy Keolker Delivered Renton's State of the City Address - 03/20/07 11:19 AM
 
Mayor Kathy Keolker delivered the State of the City address last Wednesday. You can read her address online at http://rentonwa.gov/.  
In her speech, Mayor Keolker spoke about the state of the city as opposed to the places the city needs to go. She covered future goals as well but mostly focused on the progress the city has already achieved. 
Based on her speach, here is my report card... 
440 New companies have located toRenton, with 1,338 employees in the last year.  
Renton's bond rating improved from A+ to AA- 
Renton's taxable retail sales increased by almost 10% in 2006 and is expected to increase another … (0 comments)

House Hunting Part 1 of 11 - 03/19/07 12:17 PM

It sounds like a great listing - in your price range - in the right neighborhood - with features you're looking for. First impressions mean a lot - but you find the bushes are overgrown, the front hallway is covered with tacky foil wallpaper, the kitchen cabinets are painted dark brown, the living room rug smells musty, and the hardwood floors have black water marks on them.
Should you head back out the door? Maybe. But to fully determine whether you should cross this house off of your list you'll need to gather more information, and perhaps look past the blemishes … (0 comments)

Buyers... Who represents you? - 03/18/07 12:33 PM
An important topic in the world of real estate is the issue of agency. Some people might have you believe that it really doesn't affect you, the buyer, and that nothing much has changed. But they are wrong.
The topic of agency is important to buyers because it answers the most fundamental question that can be asked of any real estate professional: Who do you represent in this transaction?
Until that question is answered, you may be left with the impression that all agents who work with buyers actually represent those buyers, and that you have somebody going to bat for … (2 comments)

Open House on March 18, 2007 at 611 Cheland Place NE, Renton WA 98059 - 03/16/07 08:19 PM
On March 18, 2007 at 13:00 PM, you are invited to an Open House at 611 Cheland Place NE in Renton. If you are looking for a Condo property in this area, don't miss this rare opportunity to visit this magnificent property. For a preview of this Condo property, check out my site at http://www.davidjedwards.com/. Please do not hesitate to Contact Me if you have any questions or wish to schedule a private showing.
David EdwardsREALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
425-890-8045
E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com
Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com/
Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp 
David J Edwards is a full time REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers … (0 comments)

Selling Step 7: Moving - 03/14/07 11:56 AM
Even the smallest home contains a lot of furniture, clothes, kitchen equipment, pictures and other items. For a short move, it may be worthwhile to transport small goods by yourself, but larger items may require a professional mover. Your REALTOR® can give you advice on the moving process.
How Do You Plan a Move?
The time to plan your move begins once you've decided to sell your house. Some of the things you do to prepare your house for sale can actually help with the moving process, e.g., cleaning out closets and the garage, basement and attic. If you have a house cleaner, … (0 comments)

Selling Step 6: The Sale Agreement and Closing - 03/13/07 01:47 PM
It might seem that once a sale agreement has been signed that the selling process is complete. Not only is it not over yet, but some of the most complex aspects of a real estate transaction now begin.
Once a contract for the purchase of a home has been accepted, a series of inspections and checks are typically required to satisfy buyers and lenders. REALTORS® help owners complete the transaction process by assisting with the many requirements found in a typical sale agreement. The real estate agent also helps the seller prepare for closing, that is, finalizing the sale.
What's in a … (0 comments)

The Do-Not-Mail Movement is a Bad Idea - 03/12/07 11:26 AM
The Do-Not-Mail Movement is a Bad Idea
 
Consumer advocate groups in more than a dozen states (including Washington State) now have do-not-mail bills on the agendas of their legislatures.
 
My concern is that consumer's won't really benefit from the passage of this legislation because it won't deliver any time savings to the consumer and it will be bad for the economy in which we live.
 
This is different than the passage of the Do-Not-Call Registry back in the year 2003 which prohibited unwanted telemarketing calls. It is different because marketing pieces sent in the mail do not … (0 comments)

Selling Step 5: Offers, Counteroffers and Negotiation - 03/11/07 05:33 PM
Selling your home involves both business and personal issues: you will have people looking at your house, and buyers presenting offers and counteroffers; and you'll have to deal with bargaining, negotiating and signing documents.
REALTORS® assist owners in the offer, counteroffer and negotiation process, offering advice and counsel as offers are received and by working closely with legal counsel, tax specialists and inspectors as required.
What is an Offer?
When you put your home on the market, you are essentially making an offer to buyers: for a given number of dollars and other terms they can acquire the home. Buyers, in … (0 comments)

Selling Sep 4: Market Your Home - 03/08/07 09:44 PM
Marketing a home requires a specialized approach because each home is unique, our marketplace is always in flux, interest rates frequently change and new buyers search for homes each day.
In such a dynamic marketplace, you can get best sales results by working with a REALTOR® who can craft marketing plans tailored for individual homes, market conditions and buyers. Skilled REALTORS® base their marketing efforts on extensive training, what has proven successful in previous transactions and ongoing research into industry best practices.
How REALTORS® Can Help You Market Your Home
Selling can entail a variety of marketing strategies. REALTORS® can assist in marketing … (0 comments)

Selling Step 3: Set the Listing Price - 03/07/07 11:26 AM
Selling Step 3: Set the Listing Price
All owners want the best possible price and terms when selling their home. Several factors, including market conditions and interest rates, will determine how much you can get for your home. The idea is to get the maximum price and the best terms during the window of time when your home is on the market.
According to the Seattle King County Association of Realtors (SKCAR), found on the web at http://www.nwrealtor.com, real estate agents added 11,719 new listings to the existing inventory of homes for sale in January. February's numbers are not out yet. This is … (0 comments)

Selling Step 2: Get a REALTOR® When You Sell a Home - 03/06/07 08:08 PM
Before placing your home on the market you should identify REALTORS® in our community who can assist with the sale.
 
Why Use a REALTOR® to Sell Your Home?
REALTORS® are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) and must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, and have access to a wide range of classes, seminars and certification opportunities. Local REALTOR® groups are active in community matters, and individual members are routinely involved in neighborhood organizations.
Essentially, local REALTORS® are community experts. They track real estate trends, share neighborhood concerns and participate in local matters. They're good neighbors who are in the … (0 comments)

Selling Step 1: Evaluation - Get Ready to Sell Your Home - 03/05/07 12:17 PM
6,575 homes were sold within the boundaries of the Northwest MLS in January; and while each transaction is different every seller wants the same thing - the highest price with the least amount of hassle and aggravation.
 
The boundaries of the Northwest MLS span from Whatcom County in the north to Clark County in the south and selling real estate within these boundaries has become more complex than it used to be. As a seller you need to be aware of a range of issues and deal with many complex forms. You also need to know that buyer agents represent buyers and … (0 comments)

Open House This Weekend! - 03/02/07 12:05 PM
Open House!
If you are looking for a newly built home with unobstructed views of Lake Washington, the Cascade Foothills and the Renton Valley, you don't want to miss this open house! The home is located at 8201 S 122nd St, Seattle WA 98178.
You are invited to visit between the hours of 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 3rd and Sunday March 4th.
The home is appointed with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, hard wood floors, a 36 inch see-through fireplace with a fan, a custom mantle and a central vacuum. It is wired for security; it has 9 … (0 comments)

Spring is in the air? Not on Cougar Mountain - 03/01/07 12:57 PM
Spring is in the Air? Not on Cougar Mountain.
I was going to talk about the fact that Spring is in the air and then go on to identify some springtime home improvements you should start preparing for in today's blog post. That was until I saw the dusting of snow on my lawn as I poured my first cup of coffee this morning. I think that discussion can wait a few more days.
The higher elevations of our area received more than just a dusting of snow. My wife is a Teacher at Open Window School (OWS) (www.ows.org) in Bellevue. … (0 comments)