Jacquie Cliff's Real Estate Blog

12th Annual Festival of Artists at the Everett Marina Waterfront

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:49:27 -0500

The Arts Council of Snohomish County needs to promote their events a little better. I just found out this morning about the Fresh Paint festival going on this weekend the 16^th and 17^th of August at the Everett Marina.

Artists of almost every media from paint and pencil to fiber and glass will be on hand displaying their crafts and their skills. In addition to these events, they are having the first annual glass sea-float find on Jetty Island, which sounds like a lot of fun.

For more information on the Fresh Air Festival of Artists at Work you can visit them at http://www.artscouncilofsnoco.org/freshpaint/ The event will go on this weekend and is at the Everett Marina Prominade.

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator
Let me lead you through the Real Estate Jungle!

Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!
Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Copyright © 2008 By Jacqueline A. Cliff, All Rights Reserved.
'12th Annual Festival of Artists at the Everett Marina Waterfront'

What to do to sell your home fast!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:45:52 -0500

Everyone wants to know how to sell their home fast, even in this crazy market that we are experiencing right now. The reasons vary from adjustable mortgages that are about to make house payments unmanageable to needing to move to another area because of work. Here are my eight essentials on how to sell your home fast.

Hire the right agent to sell your home fast! Working with the right agent is possibly the most essential element to selling your home fast. A top notch agent will already know and help you implement the rest of the elements of selling your home fast. Additionally an all-star agent will make sure that any buyers are followed up with and that transactions make it through any problems and get closed!
Pricing your home right is essential to selling your home fast! Talk with your agent about what the right price is to market your home at. Look at the current properties on the market and consider pricing your home at or even 5% or 10% below them. Buyers will recognize a hot deal when they see one and the added competition may even garnish some higher than listed price offers!
To sell your home fast, make sure your home is ready for buyers to see! Make sure that your home is clean and all the clutter is out of your home if you want to sell it fast! You may love all of your pictures, collectibles and so on, but buyers need to be able to see themselves in your home. Rent storage if needed, but consider cutting the volume of 'things' in your home by at least 50%. Consider the effect of buyers opening a closet to see it crammed with boxes, coats and shoes as opposed to them opening it and finding it spacious and well organized.
Consider hiring a professional home stager to help sell your home fast! The small amount that a home stager charges is usually made up in selling price and marketing time! These professionals can suggest what items to keep and what to remove, any color changes that might be made, and what other alterations you can make so that it appeals to more buyers and will sell as fast as possible!
To sell your home fast, consider offering broker incentives! Now is the time to offer higher commissions, not lower. Even a small bonus such as half a percentage point of commission may be the difference that gets agents showing your home first. Want to stand out from the crowd? Offer gift cards as a bonus to selling agents. A $500 gift card good for new clothes or toys can go a long way towards getting your home sold fast!
Don't hesitate to take the first offer if you want to sell your home fast! Some times sellers get jumpy when after a week on the market, they get a solid offer and think that they should wait to see if a better offer comes in. This can be a critical mistake! Statistically, the longer a home is on the market, the lower the selling price. As time goes buy, prospective buyers will assume that something must be wrong with it or that it is over priced and that is why no one else wanted it.
Don't let any surprises stop your home from selling fast! Recently I had buyers who were in love with a home and we had a contract with the sellers, who were very near having to go into a short sale situation. Things were moving along smoothly until the inspection, when we found that there was extensive beetle damage to the foundation. Needless to say, this brought the deal to a screeching stop. Don't let this happen to you! Make sure that all of the maintenance is done on your home and there are no surprises that might make buyers back out of purchasing your home.
If you need to sell your home fast, be prepared to adjust your marketing plan! Talk with your agent from the outset about when you need to adjust your marketing plan, primarily of course your asking price. Have a plan, talk with your agent and go over the 'what-ifs'! Waiting around for that 'magic buyer' when the showings have stopped happening is a disastrous road to go down.

There really is no secret to selling your home fast. A great real estate agent, proper pricing, and an aggressive and flexible marketing plan are the key elements. There are no magic tricks or gimmicks that will make cash buyers appear out of no where. If you need to sell your home fast, talk with your agent and discuss my eight points and how they apply to you. Doing this will give you an above average chance of selling your home fast!

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator
Let me lead you through the Real Estate Jungle!

Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!
Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Comcast television has competition from FIOS in Snohomish county now!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:11:41 -0500

My mail is filling up with articles about how cities in Snohomish county giving Verizon the thumbs up to start offering television programming in their cities via their much touted FIOS system. Edmonds and Bothell are the two latest towns to give their approval, and Lynnwood, Everett, Kenmore and Marysville have all recently given theirs as well.

Verizon's FIOS TV service is most likely going to be a major competitor with Comcast both in their TV and Internet services. I know already in my area, they have upgraded the undergound wires and several of my neighbors have switched to FIOS. Quite honestly the main reason we would switch is because our service is just OK and on Friday nights when apparently everyone is home watching, our signal tends to break up and our set top box not work so well. Comcast has been out to look at it several times, but never has an answer that works. I suspect that now that they have some serious land based competition, they are going to have to step things up.

FIOS TV appears to offer many of the same features and channels as Comcast and claims:

More than 400 all-digital channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.
A wide array of high-definition channels, with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound. The company plans to significantly expand the HD lineup to include all available major HD programming by year-end.
An industry-leading library of more than 10,000 video-on-demand (VOD) titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, an increasing number of on-demand titles in high definition, with 1,000 HD VOD titles per month by the end of the year.
An easy-to-use interactive media guide that integrates HD programming, on-demand content and the digital video recorder along with broadcast television into a seamless user experience. (This is something Comcast can't seem to get right.)
Set-top boxes ranging from a standard-definition box to the Home Media DVR, featuring a multi-room DVR that enables up to three simultaneous viewings of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. The recorder is bundled with Media Manager, a feature that lets customers easily access photos and music from their personal computer and play them on their entertainment center where they look and sound the best.

Most likely we will be looking to switch towards the end of the year after they get the bugs worked out and all the channels up and running, but if they can provide a service that works, doesn't lock up and have interactive 'guides' that are plastered top and bottom with ads, they stand to make a lot of friends in Snohomish County

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving: Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas! Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime! Copyright © 2008 By Jacqueline A. Cliff, All Rights Reserved. Comcast television has competition from FIOS in Snohomish county now!

North Bothell Townhome - $329,950

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:23:55 -0500

CLICK HERE FOR MAPQUEST DIRECTIONS

21602 9th Ave SE #A101
Bothell, Wa
$329,950

Excellent Bothell Townhome!!!
Snuggled in off of the Bothell-Everett Highway and just north of I-405, this townhome affords a large amount of space for a very reasonable price, with a surprising amount of privacy! An end unit, with 2-car garage and a private back patio makes this town home feel like you really don't have neighbors.

3 Bedrooms
3 Baths
2 Master Bedrooms
~1545 Square Feet
Fireplace
Patio
Attached Garage
Easy Access to I-405

Don't miss out on seeing this affordable North Bothell Townhome.
Call now to make your appointment to tour this property!

Call 425-773-3149 or e-mail Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com now for your appointment to see this property!

Listed with Re/Max Champions

Listing #: 28127432

	The Amazon Negotiator "Let me lead you through the real estate jungle!" Jacqueline A. Cliff Real Estate Agent, Realtor, ABR Certified Mortgage Specialist with Lending Associates			Re/Max Champions

Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com

425-773-3149

http://www.jacquiecliff.com

Great Eats at Shawn O'Donnel's Irish Pub in Everett!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:20:54 -0500

Right off of I-5 on 128^th is a Irish Pub that not everyone knows about. Shawn O’Donnel’s Irish Pub is a great bastion of good Irish food with a twist and cold beer! This pub opened up in 2006 and has been open for lunch, breakfast and dinner ever since.

When you visit Shawn O’Donnell’s be sure to have the corned beef! The stuff is great, slow cooked in Guiness and good to the last drop you lick from the plate. But don’t think that they are only a dinner place Shawn O’Donnell’s is open for breakfast too!

Be sure while you are there to sign up for their email newsletter. They offer some great specials that you can only get by being on their mailing list! In their last newsletter they announced that they have teamed up with Harley Davidson of Seattle and started a “Wednesday Night Bike Night.” In addition to that on Saturday nights through Labor Day they are doing a “Cruise-In” for the classic and hot rod car buffs.

So next time you are wondering where you should go to eat, swing on into Shawn O’Donnell’s and order up a big plate of Corned Beef and a big glass of Guiness!

Yelp Review of Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub

Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub
122 128th Street SE Everett WA 98208
425-338-5700
shawnodonnells.com

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator – Leading you through the real estate jungle!
Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!
Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

The University of Washington Bothell Campus Wants to Expand!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:05:44 -0500

In a recent meeting University of Washington President Mark Emmert announced plans to expand capacity at several campuses including the University of Washington – Bothell. Under the current plan, the UW Bothell would go from 1,900 to 3,800 students by the year 2017.

This announcements come after plans for the construction for a University of Washington campus in Everett have failed to come together. The primary reason for the failure was a debate over a location for a new school.

Randy Hodgins the University of Washington Director of State Relations points out that increasing the size of the student body will also help the area students by giving them more academic choices.

"They aren't quite able to offer the same array of programs and majors that, say, the Seattle campus is able to, or even some other comprehensive schools around the state. So with more choices and a larger student body, we think they'll also be more attractive to students in the Puget Sound area."

The addition of classes and new degrees definitely is an indicator of the shift of economy that is happening in the Everett area as it is being pushed from a labor market into a skilled work market. Additionally, the demand for classes is there. From personal experience I know that the University of Washington Bothell MBA program has far more applicants than it has capacity for.

Of course all of the University of Washington’s hopes for expansion of the Bothell campus rests on funding approval from the state, so if you want to see more education in Snohomish county, be sure to press your representatives to approve funding for expansion!

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator
Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!
Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Copyright © 2008 By Jacqueline A. Cliff, All Rights Reserved.
The University of Washington Bothell Campus Wants to Expand!

A Bit Closer to Commercial flights at Paine Field!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:16:11 -0500

Paine Field in Everett looks like it is closer to having commercial flights going in and out of it. A study put together by Thomas/Lane and Associates states that local business leaders are in favor of having air access, and that having commercial flights from Paine Field would be a significantly beneficial to the area’s economy.

The executive summary of the report on commercial flights at Paine Field was presented to the Everett City council at their last meeting. They are expected to review the full findings at the July 30th meeting.

“Looking into the future, scheduled commercial air service at Paine Field will help shift Everett’s economy away from its historical blue collar base and move it toward becoming a new economy type city.” The study states.

In recent months the debate over allowing commercial flights at Paine Field has come back around again as Allegiant Air proposed to start flying to Las Vegas twice a week. Allegiant has tagged Paine Field as an "excellent candidate" for small commercial flights. The debate of course is the increased noise and traffic. The resistance to allowing commercial flights has hit Federal resistance because as a Federally designated ‘public use’ airport, passenger service can not be limited or prohibited by the County. The catch of course is that they don’t have to promote it as well.

This all being said, I can not see that the expected 5 flights a day by small commuter planes is going to disrupt life to any great extent. I could definitely see some concern if the plans were to begin full scale jet traffic in and out of Paine Field, but that is likely never to happen. The benefits of commercial flights are impressive as well.

“The airport’s excellent infrastructure gives rise to industrial activity located both within and around Paine Field, and the total economic benefits of this activity are in the range of 35,000 to 40,000 jobs and over $2.5 Billion in wages and salaries.”

Considering the pressure from the Federal government and economic demand and benefits, I would not be surprised to see some level of commercial air traffic at Paine Field in the next few years. I have to admit it would make for easy escapes to Las Vegas!

Photo courtesy of Drewski2112

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator
Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!
Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Technorati Profile

Snohomish county free activites search!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:09:58 -0500

Are the kids saying their are bored and you don't have anything to keep them busy? Get them up and moving with free, family friendly activities that you can find at the Sno-Isle Library Activity site! The Snohomish County Library System has a list of fun things for kids, teens and their parents to do all across Snohomish county!

These aren't boring old typical library events! The Snohomish County Library System offers up things like ‘Teen Video Gaming’ featuring Guitar Hero and Rock Band. How about sending your teens off to hang out with the Anime club? For younger kids there are lots of story times (it is put together by the libraries after all.) But they also have fun things like Insect Safaris where kids can learn about and look at real bugs.

Get out and explore all the great activites that the the county libraries have put together for us. The interface is easy to use, and you can search activities by age groups, type of event and location. This is a great fun and FREE way to get the family out of the house and doing something!

Bellevue rated as one of America's best small cities!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:20:22 -0500

A recent list of the Top 100 Small Cities in Americal put together by CNN lists Bellevue as the 42nd best small city to live in overall. People that live in Bellevue won't be surprised by this I'm sure, and might think they should be rated just a bit higher, but being in the top 100 isn't bad.

If you are interested in the area, there are some great links and a lot of really interesting information and statistics about life in Bellevue that you really ought to check out. It is interesting comparing how Bellevue stacks up against the other cities, particularly those in the top 10!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Congratulations to Nanostring Technologies of Seattle!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:43:24 -0500

I just got done reading about how Nanostring Technologies has finally brought a product to market and gotten their first sale. Companies like this that continue to innovate and create new products are part of what keeps our region strong when others are faltering.

Fell is starting to think about raising a third round of venture funding, of about $15 million to $20 million, which he says will be the last time he seeks capital before the company turns profitable. The cash will be used to build up manufacturing, sales and marketing, and development, he says. The staff will grow from about 41 to 70, so the company is already looking to move from its offices along Elliott Bay to a new building at Fairview and Mercer Streets. The Full Article

The great part is that having a product go into production means more cash flow into the area and more jobs for the people who live here. They state that the market for RT-PCR machines is worth an estimated $1 billion a year and growing steadily, so we definitely are talking about some serious money!

So congratulations to everyone down at Nanostring Technologies!

Are there any 100% financing solutions left for Snohomish County?

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:51:06 -0500

With lender after lender closing their doors and loan programs being shut down one after another the options for fiancing a home are looking bleak. Loan programs that once allowed people with little savings to purchase a home have been virtually eliminated, which has put many of my clients in Snohomish county (and just about everywhere) in a real bind. But there are still options!

Gone are the days of 80/20 loans, 100% stated loans, or reduced documentation loans. We are now back in the realm of Government subsidized loans. FHA loans are making a strong come back and along with them are programs like the Nehemiah Grant. This program allows the buyer to negotiate having the seller pay a 3% down payment on the buyer's behalf as well as 3% of the sales price towards the buyers closing costs. The rates for the program follow the FHA guidelines and are quite good in comparison to conventional loan products. Recent ranges were between 5.875%-6.250% on a 30 year fixed depending on the lender involved. These loans do include mortgage insurance, but right now so does every other conventional product out there that is more than an 80% Loan to Value. And in most cases, the amount of monthly MI required by the FHA product is less than that of conventional. As before, you can acquire an FHA loan with “less than perfect” credit. Having a good work and rental history is important, but minor infractions on your credit are generally accepted.

Another 100% financing product is that in the form of a Rural loan. In order to stimulate buyers into purchasing in rural areas, the government is supporting a 100% rural loan in specific locations. You would need to buy property in the designated areas, but the loan would finance it completely. As with the FHA loan, the guidelines for this product are not nearly as stringent as the current conventional loan products and non-perfect credit is allowed. In some cases, we are even seeing them allow more “credit issues” than the normal FHA product.

If you are looking to purchase a home in Snohomish county and would like to discuss your financing options give me a call at 425-773-3149. It is never too early to establish relationships with a great real estate agent and loan officer and to start charting your course towards owning a home!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

PCC prepares to open in Edmonds with it biggest store yet!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:11:38 -0500

PCC the nation's largest consumer owned natural foods cooperative is coming to Edmonds, and aside from a little oopsy over cutting three trees down to make way for a water cistern without a permit, things are on track for the store to open this fall in the Westgate neighborhood. They are taking over and renovating the building previously occupied by an Albertson store on the corner of 100th Ave. W. and Edmonds Way (SR 104). Somehow I think PCC willl be a good fit down in Edmonds!

The existing structure is being renovated to incorporate a wide range of eco-friendly features to position the store for LEED® Platinum Certification, a distinction awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for excellence in building design and operation. In fact, the trees that were cut down without a permit, were removed to make way for an underground water cistern that will store water for flushing the stores toilets and watering the plants. At 24,000 square feet it will be the largest PCC store to date and promises to have a huge selection of local and organic fruits and vegetables as well as a 100 percent sustainable service seafood counter, immense selection of artisan cheeses, organic olive bar and of course a great wine selection!

As of right now the projected opening for the new store is early September and is expected to add about 100 jobs to the local economy. I look forward to checking it out on opening day!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Healthy food for healthy pets in North Lynnwood

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:36:11 -0500

Ash Way Pet Supply in Lynnwood
16108 Ash Way #104 in Lynnwood.

In Newberry Square
it is right across from the Park & Ride at I-5 and 164th St. http://www.Ashwaypetsupply.com/
(425) 741-AWPS(2977)

Have you been looking for a great place to find food, supplements and toys for your dog or cat in the North Lynnwood area? Then you really need to stop in and visit Ash Way Pet Supply. The owners started their business to provide their family pets with healthier food and treats and is garnishing a strong following. Their goals is promote longer healthier lives for pets with fewer trips to the vet which makes everyone happier all around! If you have a pet that is prone to itchy, flaky skin, is stinky/smelly, always sick or generally not healthy they can help with better food and supplements to enhance your pets lives and immune systems. From personal experience, their recommendation of a different cat food has definitely made life around our cat much more pleasant!

“I'd like to tell people to come in and get the feel of our store. We're laid back, fun, and know our product. Shopping in our store is always pressure-free, relaxed and ultimately beneficial to you and your pet.”

Take a minute and stop in and say hi. Be sure to sign up for their mailing list and find out what suggestions they have for your furry best friend!

Tags: Lynnwood, Pets, supplies, business

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Power of Attorney and rental property scam, my clients nearly got bit good!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:19:52 -0500

The Leasing Scam

Just this week I was contacted by a renter who only after living at her new home for approximately 3 weeks came home to find a foreclosure notice on the door. Completely taken aback, she and her husband contacted the gentlemen (and I use that title loosely) whom they signed the lease with to find out what was going on. When he finally called them back, he simply said that he was aware this was happening, but not too worry......as the lender was just trying to scare them.

First of all, the man in question not only violated tenant law by not disclosing to the tenants that the property was in foreclosure, but we then came to find out that he isn't even the owner of the house. Apparently he has a Power of Attorney giving him the ability to sell or rent the property. The problem is that the POA is only valid as long as the property is “current”...meaning up to date in payments. The owner of the property has moved to Arizona and most likely signed over the abilities to this man under the impression that he would keep all in good standing.

We are now dealing with a property that hasn't made a payment in 10 months and is set to auction in September. To make it even more interesting, it looks as though this man had been squatting in the property since the actual owner moved out last year. My clients had to physically remove some of his property and clean up after him when they moved in. As an extra bit of icing, this man also claims he is a loan officer and is trying to get my client (the renter) to let him pre-qualify them for a mortgage so he can then negotiate with the lender and try to get them the house as a short sale. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!

What scares me is that I am sure there are more unscrupulous jerks like this out there. Luckily my clients contacted me and I am going to be able to help them out of this situation. It just really chaps me that these people find is acceptable to damage others in this way. So heads up Renters!! Be sure the persons you are dealing with are either a legitimate leasing company or the owners themselves. This kind of fraud is starting to run rampant due to the type of market that we are in.

Jacquie Cliff - Real Estate Agent and Loan Officer
Accredited Buyers Representative and Residential Real Estate Specialist Serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Free lunch time concerts in Everett starting July 9th!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:28:40 -0500

Starting July 9^th, Music in the Plaza returns to the Everett Snohomish County Campus. These lunch time concerts are free and open to the public every Wednesday from 11:30 to 1:30 at the amphitheater at Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street. The series kicks off with Ed Hartman and the Olympic Marimba Band. The concert series includes:

July 9^th – Ed Hartman and the Olympic Marimba Band (Marimba)

July 16^th – Eric Madis (Blues)

July 23^rd – Sister Monk (Gypsy Funk)

July 30th – Dub Championz (Reggae)

August 6^th – Massy Ferguson (Americana Roots)

August 13th – Los Flacos (Music from Latin America)

August 20th – Bob Strickland Group (Jazz)

Be sure to get down there and enjoy the free lunch time entertainment! Wendy Becker the Snohomish County Economic and Cultural Development Officer let me know that you can enter to win a $50 Gift Certificate at Tully's by uploading the winning photo of your crew bustin' their favorite dance move. Send your photo to dancecrew@snocoarts.org!

Tags: events, Everett, Free, music

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Is your home at risk of being foreclosed upon? Being creative may offer solutions!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:36:41 -0500

Are you facing Foreclosure? Is a Short Sale really the only answer?

The answer is....no. The biggest mistake people make when faced with the issue of not being able to make their house payment is hiding from their lender. In actuality, lenders want to work things out with you, but if you try and hide or do not respond to them....there is very little they can do. Right now the lenders are so overwhelmed with foreclosure properties that they would rather work out a way for you to keep your home rather than send it through the foreclosure process. It costs a lender around $40,000 on average to foreclose on a home. And when you are living in an area where the value of property is plummeting, their losses increase even more when forced to take a property back. So call your lender when the problem is beginning! Don't wait until the auction date is two weeks away and you have no place to go. When talking with your lender, be honest. Don't create some huge sob story. Trust me, they have heard them all before. Just give them the facts and tell them what kind of payment you feel you could handle. You may be surprised at what happens.

Other solutions may also present themselves. What other sources of income do you have at your disposal? Do you have other rooms in your house that you may not be using or that could be used for another purpose? I know having tenants is not the ideal situation, but it also doesn't have to be forever. Having some rental income may ease the financial burden that is currently plaguing you until you find a way to recover. Do you have the ability to rent out storage in your garage? Renting out space can be a lucrative way to subsidize yourself and with the rental market as strong as it is, you are sure to find tenants.

In a nut shell, don't give up. The Seattle area is one of the most stable real estate markets in the nation right now. Things will recover. In some cases a short sale (selling your property for less than what you owe with the lender's permission) may be your only option. If that is the case, be sure to work with an agent you trust and that can lead you through the process. But if you don't want to give up your home, be sure to explore all of your options.

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Does your prospective new home have asbestos in it?

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:34:39 -0500

One item that many home buyers overlook when purchasing an older home is the fact that it most likely has asbestos in it in one for or another. Up until the 1970's many products were manufactured with asbestos. A list of common items homeowners may run into includes:

STEAM PIPES, BOILERS, and FURNACE DUCTS insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape. These materials may release asbestos fibers if damaged, repaired, or removed improperly.
RESILIENT FLOOR TILES (vinyl asbestos, asphalt, and rubber), the backing on VINYL SHEET FLOORING, and ADHESIVES used for installing floor tile. Sanding tiles can release fibers. So may scraping or sanding the backing of sheet flooring during removal.
CEMENT SHEET, MILLBOARD, and PAPER used as insulation around furnaces and woodburning stoves. Repairing or removing appliances may release asbestos fibers. So may cutting, tearing, sanding, drilling, or sawing insulation.
DOOR GASKETS in furnaces, wood stoves, and coal stoves. Worn seals can release asbestos fibers during use.
SOUNDPROOFING OR DECORATIVE MATERIAL sprayed on walls and ceilings. Loose, crumbly, or water-damaged material may release fibers. So will sanding, drilling, or scraping the material.
PATCHING AND JOINT COMPOUNDS for walls and ceilings, and TEXTURED PAINTS. Sanding, scraping, or drilling these surfaces may release asbestos.
ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING, SHINGLES, and SIDING. These products are not likely to release asbestos fibers unless sawed, drilled, or cut.

I recently became aware of this (again) because of a talk I had with a remodeling contractor about the home he was working on. It was in the process of being sold and he was finishing the repairs list, but had asked the buyers agent about the ceiling tiles and whether they contained asbestos. He suggested that they be tested before the buyers closed the deal, but he suspects it was never done.

This means that for the lack of a $30 test, the buyers may now own a home with asbestos ceiling tiles throughout. This isn't an issue if they are painted and not shedding fibres, but a good home inspector may call them out and cause some serious issues when they get ready to sell this home. The truth is they should have had the tiles tested and if they did contain asbestos, have a remediation company remove them at the sellers expense, not theirs.

If you think that the home you are wanting might contain asbestos, talk to your home inspector and your agent about having a test done. They are inexpensive and can save you from having a home with a major health and financial issue!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-77-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

Bothell, Washington Great Town Home Properties Convenient to Hwy 405

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:51:32 -0500

Spectacularly Built Bothell Town Homes

OPEN HOUSE THURDAYS
11am to 6pm!

905 225th Place SE - Bothell, WA
(Hwy 405 Exit 26 - South on Bothell Everett Hwy. - West on 228th - Right on 9th)

$348,000 to $350,000

Great location for these town homes!
Super easy access to 405 and bus routes, these town homes are conveniently located just West of the Bothell-Everett Highway off of 228th. Close to shopping, resturants and transit, but not so close that you are right on top of the highway! Spacious units that unlike many projects, were built with an eye toward quality and value.

- - 3 Bedrooms
  - 2.5 Baths
  - Fireplaces
  - 2 Car Attached Garages
  - 9' Ceilings in the Main Area
  - Extra Sound Proofing

Buy now and get an amazing price!
The builder is ready to move on to the next project and wants these units sold. The price has recently been reduced offering you a great home for less money that you might have thought possible. Come talk to me today about making one of these units yours.

Don't miss out on seeing this fantastic town home!

Call 425-773-3149 or e-mail Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com if you have questions about this or any other property!

Listed with Re/Max Champions

Listing #: 28017663

	Jacqueline A. Cliff Real Estate Agent, Realtor, ABR Certified Mortgage Specialist with Lending Associates			Re/Max Champions

Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com

425-773-3149

http://www.jacquiecliff.com

Home Loan Rates and the Fed Funds Rate

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:30:40 -0500

How are home loan rates determined?

A common question I have heard from my clients over the last few months is if a drop in the Fed rate will lower the home loan interest rates. The short answer is no. In my experience, home loan rates actually tend to fall prior to a Fed rate cut and rise after it is announced. That leaves the question of exactly what affects the interest rates on consumer home loans. The answer is no where near straight forward.

The Home Loan Process

When we start to look at loan rates, we need to understand the flow of money in the residential loan process. When you apply for a loan the mortgage broker shops around and finds a primary lender that has a program and rates that fit your needs. That primary lender processes your loan and pays the seller for the home you are purchasing.

The primary lender can either hold your loan and collect the interest you pay, or they can sell your loan to the secondary market which is what commonly happens. The primary purchaser of home loans in the United States is Fannie Mae. They purchase loans with particular requirements from primary lenders, allowing the lenders to turn around and make more loans. Loans can also be bundled and sold to open market as mortgage backed securities which is commonly what happens to loans that don't conform to Fannie Mae's standards.

Once the loan is sold, the primary lender has cash to go out and make new loans to home buyers. This cycle is what operates the home loan industry in our country.

Home Loan Risk and Marketability

Because the vast majority of home loans are sold to Fannie Mae or as mortgage backed securities the level of risk attached to your loan greatly affects your home loan rate. Your credit score, loan to value, type of loan, and even geographic area influence the best rate possible for your loan. In essence, the lower the risk that you will default on your loan, the lower your interest rate. Higher risk buyers will be charged higher interest rates to offset the increased default risk.

Finally the Federal Funds Rate

The Federal Discount Rate that we hear so much about, has little directly to do with your home loan rate! The Federal Funds Rate is the price of very short term loans that banks pay to borrow money from the Federal Reserve Bank. This in turn influences the rate that banks charge to loan money to each other and from which banks set their prime lending rates.

The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate is the most widely quoted measure of the prime rate. It is a survey of 30 of the largest lenders and changes when three-quarters of them adjust their prime rates. This index is commonly used as a reference for credit cards, home equity lines of credit and adjustable rate home loans.

The Fed Rate for home loan investors is one of the indicators of how well the economy is doing. Home loan rates are market driven, and if investors feel that the economy is doing poorly, rates fall, and if it is heating up and will experience inflation, rates will climb. There is no set index or number that your home loan is tied to. Home loan rates move and flux and can change several time through out the day. So if your loan officer says 'lock your loan now' you may want to do it right then.

Putting it All Together

From this it should be starting to be clear that it isn't the Fed that sets your home loan rate, but rather the investors that ultimately will be buying your loan, even though they will never know who you are personally. It is their estimation of the economy in general combined with the market demand for loans that actually sets the home loan rate at any one moment. This is a great reason to establish a relationship with a trustworthy mortgage broker and check in with them from time to time regarding what the loan market is doing.

Your Best Bet

If you are pondering buying a new home, then it will likely not be in your best interest to try and time out the home loan market. You should talk with your loan officer and talk to them about your situation and needs in comparison to what loans are currently available. It is much more profitable to put time into improving credit scores, improving debt to income ratios and building up your down payment, as those will all improve the class of loan available to you.

Refinancing a home gives more opportunity for timing rates, and if you have an adjustable rate loan, or a fixed loan that has too high of an interest rate, you may find that refinancing is a good idea. Talk with your loan officer about what programs are available, and what they expect loan rates to be doing in the near future.

If you are thinking you should refinance or are thiking of buying a home in the greater Seattle area, give me a call. I can give you the heads up on what is going on in the market and what the current rates are looking like!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

What is killing my buyers lately!

Jacquie Cliff (RE/MAX Champions) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:25:30 -0500

Nationwide the housing market is in the toilet. That is just a fact of life, but in the Lynnwood and Everett area and really most of the greater Seattle region. Things are still moving along. Granted they aren't moving at the frantic pace of two years ago, but there are still buyers out there looking for homes. Now if we just had loans to give them things would be fine.

Currently I'm working with several clients that have good credit, and as is typical these days, enough money to cover their closing costs but not a lot left over for down payment. The hard part now is finding them loans. Between financial institutions closing, and simply doing away with low and no down loan programs, especially the no-doc and low-doc loans, things have gotten difficult.

To make things even more interesting, the companies providing mortgage insurance have tightened their requirements as well. It is all fine and good for the government to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase more loans, but if the lenders are cherry picking for buyers with 750 plus credit scores and 20% down, they are going to pull the market to a standstill.

It will be interesting to see over the coming months, which lenders decide to get back into the loan business again. Right now it feels more like they would rather not do any loans for fear of doing a bad loan. Eventually though, they will have to open up loan programs, because if they don't make loans they don't make money! All in all it should be a very interesting year.

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!

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Bothell, Washington Great Town Home Properties Convenient to Hwy 405

Home Loan Rates and the Fed Funds Rate

How are home loan rates determined?

The Home Loan Process

Home Loan Risk and Marketability

Finally the Federal Funds Rate

Putting it All Together

Your Best Bet

What is killing my buyers lately!

21602 9th Ave SE #A101
Bothell, Wa
$329,950