Woodinville, Washington Rocks! - 02/28/10 10:13 PM
Woodinville, Washington Rocks!
We are about to embark on a major project we've been planning for some time. With friends and family showing up in a few weeks, we know it will be time to do some serious partying in our backyard. But our backyard is not quite ready, it needs a bit of landscaping and a few rock features to really create an inviting and fun space.
So, we starting asking around for a close by location where we might get the rocks and stones to use for our landscaping adventure. The advice we got was to go to … (11 comments)
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What is the Real Hollywood, Washington Connection? - 02/28/10 09:02 PM
What is the Real Hollywood, Washington Connection?
If you did a Google search for Hollywood Washington, you'd most likely come up with a bunch of glitter meets power type results. Unless you looked closely, you might miss the real Hollywood, Washington connection.
Today, while touring properties, I spent some enjoyable time in Hollywood, Washington.
In Woodinville, Washington, there is a fine historical landmark brick schoolhouse built in 1912. This structure was constructed to take the place of the original one room school house in the Hollywood Hill neighborhood of Woodinville. Tradition is that the name came from all the holly … (2 comments)
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Every New Beginning --- - 02/27/10 08:32 PM
As this week draws to a close and another one is about to begin, I received a hand written card in the mail from a new friend. How nice it is to feel the special attention of a note in someone's handwriting. On the outside of the card was a simple quote from Seneca, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." I'll supply my own photo of a sunset at Port Townsend Washington, below to convey that feeling to my friends reading this message . . .
. . . Thank you for dropping by . . … (13 comments)
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Olympic Competition --- The Great and the Ugly --- - 02/26/10 11:34 AM
Olympic Competition --- The Great and the Ugly ---
Anyone who made it to the Olympics is great. Anyone who tried to make it the Olympics is great. Could anyone of us even begin to consider the absolute dedication and commitment it takes to get to that level of human achievement?
For some Olympians, like Bode Miller, it was not enough to be a great athlete. He had to experience the destructive power of ego and not meet his own expectations four years ago to finally get his act together and perform as he knew he could. … (14 comments)
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Enjoy the Process - 02/24/10 09:43 PM
Inspired by Debi Boucher and her post --- What's in YOUR Backyard? . . . I decided to go take a look (as I always do what I'm told ;-) What I found was evidence of our early Woodinville, WA spring.
Many of my favorite plants are coming out of a dormant stage and beginning their growth cycle. Two of my favorites include the azalea I transplanted to the top of a hill we developed a couple of years ago. It always blooms first before anything else. It blossoms into Mary's favorite color.
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Then there … (10 comments)
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Olympic Lesson --- Don't Give Up! - 02/24/10 12:01 PM
Olympic Lesson --- Don't Give Up! ---
The Winter Olympics provides us with daily confirmation of the basic principle of all winners --- Don't give up. You won't always win, but you certainly won't win if you give up.
For us in the real estate business, the times are confusing at best. It seems like we are working our way through a fog. We have the courage to continue, but at times it seems like we don't know which way to turn next.
None of the competitors at the Winter Olympics made it to Vancouver without a coach. … (12 comments)
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New Federal Guidelines May Help to Streamline the Short Sale Process. - 02/23/10 07:37 PM
New Federal guidelines may help to streamline the short sale process. --- The new rules, under the Home Affordability Alternatives (HAFA) program, are to remain in effect from April 5, 2010 until the end of 2012.Basically, if a homeowner has tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a loan modification, then the lender must offer a short sale to the borrower within 30 days under the following requirements:The owner of their principle residence can demonstrate a hardship and is or will be in default. Additionally the unpaid principal is not in excess of $729,750 on a loan originated before the beginning of 2009. The … (6 comments)
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DONT TREAD ON ME --- A Chain of Revelation - 02/23/10 12:52 PM
DONT TREAD ON ME --- A Chain of Revelation ---
Sometimes we start out on an ordinary sightseeing trip, only to come away with new understandings and deeper thoughts about our place and time.
One of the great things about the Puget Sound area is the Washington State Ferries system that connects so many wonderful places and things to do. A ferry trip anywhere on Puget Sound is such fun, that any excuse to drive onboard one of the many ferries, and do a little exploring in a new place is all the motivation we need.
One such trip is … (12 comments)
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Ocean Shores Sunset --- Does it Get Any Better? - 02/21/10 11:39 AM
Ocean Shores Sunset --- Does it Get Any Better? ---
Although the beauty of the early spring in Woodinville WA (as predicted by Benny) is so enjoyable these days, we still get the hankering for the ocean and all its wonder after a while. Watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean is at the top of our list of most thrilling and romantic experiences. We think it's in our genes.
When we just have to have that joyful ocean experience, Ocean Shores WA is our first choice. This is partly due to the wonderful accommodations we've found, as … (11 comments)
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Lost in Robinswood Park, Bellevue, WA --- 60 Acres of All Kinds of Fun - 02/20/10 04:52 PM
Lost in Robinswood Park, Bellevue, WA --- 60 Acres of All Kinds of Fun ---
Just yesterday we got "lost" in the woods at Robinswood Park in Bellevue, WA. It seems I was going a bit slow down one of the forest trails, looking up at the trees and taking pictures, while Ziggy and Mary were charging ahead.
When I came to a major fork in the trail system, I went straight ahead and soon realized, that probably was not the trail Ziggy picked. A cell phone call a several whistles later we were reunited. It made the whole … (6 comments)
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Why Does the Glorious Weather in Woodinville WA Get Us So Excited? - 02/19/10 02:19 PM
Why Does the Glorious Weather in Woodinville WA Get Us So Excited? ---
It is all about the gardens. As the weather today is pushing toward 60 degrees and full sun in Woodinville WA, we are already preparing our gardens for the incredible displays ahead. Our heather is blooming and the azaleas are starting to tease their color.
One of the premium joys in our area is the gardens you will find everywhere, not only in Woodinville WA, but throughout the Northwest. Perhaps it is due to the abundant fresh water or the crisp clean air and brilliant sunlight, … (9 comments)
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Washington State Home Buyers, Do You Have Questions About Closing Costs? - 02/18/10 03:00 PM
Washington State Home Buyers, Do You Have Questions About Closing Costs?
Here is a three minute video produced by WAHomeowners.com that summarizes the closing process and some of the costs to complete a home purchase. There are other similar videos and guides available at WAHomeowners.com to assist new and existing homeowners understand the buying process. You can also find links to assistance programs that go beyond the current homebuyer tax credit opportunity.
Check out the video, and then give us a call and we'll help you through the process.
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Government Loans. A Primer. Part I-FHA. - 02/18/10 10:40 AM
The following FHA financing information is very valuable for buyers now looking to get in under the wire for the tax credit opportunity. This information is from a trusted lender we know, who can help you find the financing necessary to successfully complete your home purchase transaction.
Please contact Paul, and let him know where you made the connection to this information. Once you are qualified for a purchase, we'll be ready to help you find the right home and enter into an agreement that protects your interests.
Via Paul McFadden Mortgage Loan Officer Bellevue Washington Home Loans (The Legacy Group):
Good … (1 comments)
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Looking for the Best Bakery in Western Washington State? You’ve Got to Try the Hillcrest Bakery in Bothell --- - 02/17/10 09:36 PM
Looking for the Best Bakery in Western Washington State? You’ve Got to Try the Hillcrest Bakery in Bothell ---
While searching for a new park for Ziggy to explore years ago, we discovered the Bothell Landing Park with a set of great features along the Sammamish River. To add icing to the cake of discovering this beautiful park we chanced upon a little out of the way bakery nearby.
You have to understand, bakeries rank up there in importance with schools, hospitals and other area features for us. So, when we saw the word “Bakery” it … (8 comments)
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Time Limit to be in Contract for Home Buyer Tax Credit is Rapidly Approaching - 02/16/10 09:56 PM
Time Limit to be in Contract for Home Buyer Tax Credit is Rapidly Approaching ---
There is no time to waste. It is important to realize that there is increased buyer activity searching out the best buys in a fairly small inventory of quality homes. So, the competition is getting intense. The time limit to enter into a purchase and sale agreement to qualify for the Home Buyer Tax Credit is April 30, 2010.
If you have any questions about qualifying for the tax credit as either a first time home buyer or an existing homeowner wanting to … (2 comments)
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Relocation Resources for Northern Virginia - 02/16/10 04:29 PM
If you find yourself relocating from the Seattle Area to Northern Virginia, you are in luck. No need to search for an agent back east. Contact Steve Bachman, he will provide the service you need. You can contact Steve and his wife Jan here:
HomeByBachman.com
You'll be glad you did.
Via Steve and Jan Bachman--Northern Virginia Realtors (Reston Herndon Ashburn Sterling Fairfax Centreville):
When folks are moving to an area they want to know:
What are my housing options as far as location and cost?
What is the area like?What are the schools like?What are my transportation options?What are good sources of information … (0 comments)
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Strong Words of Wisdom --- And a Gift for You - 02/16/10 09:28 AM
Strong Words of Wisdom --- And a Gift for You ---
A few days ago I had the good fortune to attend a Brian Buffini event. Brian’s co-presenter was Joe Niego, an amazing success story himself. During one of Joe’s segments, he kept returning to the same quote several times to underscore his message. This act of repetition became quite humorous after a while.
I guess it worked because that quotation is now burned into my brain. So, last night I printed a poster to place above my computer that combined the quote with a public domain (expired copyright) photo … (16 comments)
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Help for Washington State Homeowners Facing Foreclosure --- Washington State Bar Legal Aid Project --- New Funding - 02/15/10 08:42 PM
Help for Washington State Homeowners Facing Foreclosure --- Washington State Bar Legal Aid Project --- New Funding ---
On February 11, 2010 a press release from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General went pretty well unnoticed. In the press release it was stated that cash from a Countrywide settlement will be dispersed to help some Washington State homeowners facing foreclosure.
The intent of the assistance is to provide counseling to those in trouble, with an understanding that homeowners seeking help stand a much better chance of saving their home than those that try to go … (5 comments)
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Brian Buffini Turning Point 2010 . . . Are You Ready to Outperform the Recovery? - 02/12/10 09:17 AM
Brian Buffini Turning Point 2010 . . . Are You Ready to Outperform the Recovery? ---
Approximately 1200 people are attending the two day Brian Buffini Turning Point 2010 event in Bellevue, Washington. Almost half of the attendees are from out of state and a fair number from Canada. Some from the Washinton DC area waited two days to fly out of the airport and on to Washington State. The theme of the event is: Outperforming the Recovery.
Brian Buffini emphasized that we have seen the bottom, but the recovery will be long and bumpy, due to the huge national debt, … (7 comments)
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Whimsical Wednesday --- Puget Sound Rocks! - 02/10/10 09:46 PM
Below are a series of rock sculptures along a shoreline of Puget Sound in Washington State. This type of construction is a popular art form in the area, to be found in surprising places, including formal gardens and backyard spaces. If you look really close you can see a new piece under construction.
… (6 comments)
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Our Thoughts Go Out to Our Friends on the East Coast . . . - 02/09/10 10:09 AM
Our Thoughts Go Out to Our Friends on the East Coast - - -
As the East Coast of America and the Nation's Capital begin to brace for yet another round of unbelievable snowfall, piling on already record amounts, our thoughts are with you.
Let's remember how the lotus flower rises out of the murky depths . . .
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Let the Games Begin . . . The Pacific Northwest is Ready to Celebrate. - 02/08/10 09:47 PM
Let the Games Begin . . . The Pacific Northwest is Ready to Celebrate. - - -
After having some fun with the weather last week, in a post highlighting the lack of snow in the Northwest, while the Northeast received enough snow for years to come, it is time to get ready for the opening of the XXI Olympic Winter Games. At the same time we can't ignore the fact that a lack of snow is still a major problem for a few events scheduled for the Cypress Mountain venues closer to Vancouver.
The good news is that the premier opening event … (5 comments)
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Super Bowl Cure . . . If You Don't Like Cute . . . Stop Here! - 02/07/10 04:50 PM
Super Bowl Cure . . . If You Don't Like Cute . . . Stop Here! - - -
The strategy for today was to take my wife Mary to some event that would offset my engagement in that All America pastime of gorging on the Super Bowl. So, the event we just took in this morning was a rabbit and cavy (guinea pig) 4-H show in Issaquah, to the southeast of Seattle. A small sample of the pictures is below.
What I didn't figure on was learning from the leader of the group that its very existence is … (15 comments)
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Do You Qualify for the Homebuyer Tax Credit? - 02/07/10 09:00 AM
Do You Qualify for the Homebuyer Tax Credit? ---
We came across a site that offer a multiple choice quiz that is very well done in determining eligibility for the Homebuyer Tax Credit.
This very informative site is appropriately named homebuyertaxcredit.com and has in addition to the very helpful quiz many videos and other resource material. I gave the quiz a tough time by answering some of the questions in a manner that I knew would disqualify me, but the quiz continued to be helpful with information, and allowed a "go back" to change answers.
No registration is … (0 comments)
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PC World Alert: Fake Firefox Update Spreads Spyware - 02/06/10 09:04 PM
PC World Alert: Fake Firefox Update Spreads Spyware - - -
I know many ActiveRain members rely on Firefox to do their posts before pasting to the AR editing window. In scanning the latest news a few minutes ago, I came across a warning about a spyware virus lurking about that comes disguised as a legitimate update to the Firefox browser through a toolbar addition.
After checking my toolbar, I was not sure of its integrity, so I ran an update from the Firefox Help drop-down at the far right of the upper menu selections. I found a new update, 3.6 … (7 comments)
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Any Plans on Moving the Winter Olympics to Washington DC? - 02/06/10 05:07 PM
With record snow in the Northeast, and the Northwest without the white stuff and the temperatures in the 50's - - - Vancouver BC is looking like a better spot for an early Summer Olympics.
So, either the trucks start hauling the snow from Washington DC to Vancouver BC, or just have the Olympians pack up for the east coast. A convoy of 300 trucks is already trying to haul enough snow into the Olympic venues in Vancouver BC. I hear they are fighting a melting battle.
Ever try to move a mountain of snow?
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Madison and Huntsville Alabama...the commute to work. - 02/06/10 08:56 AM
If you need to relocate from a military base in Washington State to the Madison/Huntsville Alabama area, please save yourself some time and grief . . . and contact the best Realtor® you can find in the area:Nick Pappas, you'll be glad you did. He knows the territory, and is someone you can trust.
Via Nick Pappas (Associate Broker e-Pro REMAX MADISON, ALABAMA):
Living in Madison and Huntsville Alabama the commute to work is a concern to all especially for those associated with BRAC, NASA, NASA contractors and the many high tech companies that support them. What is a … (0 comments)
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Seattle, Washington Home Prices Move Up . . . Do Buyers Want Shorter Commutes and More Time to Party? - 02/05/10 08:45 PM
Seattle, Washington Home Prices Move Up . . . Do Buyers Want Shorter Commutes and More Time to Party?
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It appears that consumer demand for homes closer to urban job opportunities and nightlife moved prices for housing in an upward direction in Seattle, Washington. Workers are not content to sit in commute traffic and are moving from the outlying areas to homes closer to job centers. The median price for a home went up from $400,000 in January 2009 to $415,000 last month as reported by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Further evidence for … (4 comments)
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Spring is Here . . . Now Showing at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle. - 02/04/10 09:57 PM
Spring is Here . . . Now Showing at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle.
The Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle is on until Feburary 7th at the downtown Convention Center. Hundreds of exhibits and seminars. Come and enjoy the beauty and the edibles.
This is one of the biggest and most enjoyable shows of its kind in the world. Over six indoor acres of wonderful flowers and imaginative garden designs are on display. Professionals are everywhere ready to answer your questions from the most basic to the very advanced. Have a spring experience, you won't … (8 comments)
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Next duty station..... the Pentagon. What are my transportation options? - 02/04/10 07:33 PM
If you need to relocate from a military base in Washington State to the Washington DC area, please save yourself some time and grief . . . and contact the best Realtors you can find in the Northern Virginia area: Steve and Jan Bachman, you'll be glad you did. They know the territory, and they are people you can trust.
Via Steve and Jan Bachman--Northern Virginia Realtors (Reston Herndon Ashburn Sterling Fairfax Centreville):
PCS to the Pentagon. What are the public transportation options? You are coming to work at the Pentagon...you've moved 6 times already so you know the ropes. Rope #2 … (0 comments)
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Ever Seen a Chicken Tractor . . . And Why Would You Want a Chicken Tractor? - 02/04/10 05:35 PM
Ever Seen a Chicken Tractor . . . And Why Would You Want a Chicken Tractor? - - -
When Debi read I was going to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, she expected to see pictures of flowers upon my return. I've seen her flower pictures, and I'm not about to compete with those beauties. Instead, I decided to present what was to me the most unusual item at the show: a chicken tractor.
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This chicken tractor was put on display … (18 comments)
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Groundhog Day in the Seattle / Woodinville, WA Area --- "Spring Comes Early" - 02/02/10 12:58 PM
Groundhog Day in the Seattle / Woodinville, WA Area --- "Spring Comes Early" - - -
Forget Punxsutawney, PA for the rodent forecast for how long winter will last. You want the smartest rodent alive for that kind of prediction. That rodent, Benjamin, lives in Woodinville, WA. And, here he says, "Spring comes early." Who is Benjamin, this wisest of all rodents? Well, Benjamin is from the oldest existing order of rodents on earth: the Mountain Beaver. The Mountain Beaver is not to be confused with the North American Beaver. Here is a picture of our Mountain Beaver, Benjamin, phoning in the prediction via … (23 comments)
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Home Buyer Tax Credit Deadline Extended for Military to 2011 - See One Minute Video Below - 02/01/10 05:03 AM
Home Buyer Tax Credit Deadline Extended for Military to 2011 - See One Minute Video Below.
The IRS has done the right thing by taking the pressure off our military personnel relative to the deadline dates to qualify for the current homebuyer tax credit. Please click on the one minute video below to get a quick overview of the IRS ruling for our military and other related services. Thank you.
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Other Posts in this Series:
How Can We Assist Our Defenders of Liberty
McChord Air Force Base, Defender of Liberty
Fort Lewis, Defender of Liberty
… (11 comments)
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