Kitsap Homes

The Kitsap County Real Estate Snapshot Today, July 23, 2008

2008-07-24T00:13:21Z

Right now, right this very moment in Kitsap County, WA, there are 2,591 single family homes for sale, according to the local Multiple Listing Service. Yes, that's right, 2,591 homes for sale through local real estate agents.

That's a lot of competition for a small number of serious homebuyers!

In the last 30 days, only 210 single family homes have sold and closed, again according to the Multiple Listing Service. What does that number mean to you if you are currently trying to sell your home, or if you are thinking of selling your home in the near future?

If the next 30 days of home sales continue in this pattern (which they are expected to do) this means that the chance of the average home seller actually selling their home in Kitsap County is about 8.1%. The absorption rate in Kitsap County is only 8.1%!

You may be surprised to learn that this actually is not that bad. It sounds like a horrible number, but the truth is that our area of the country has not been affected by the horrible wave of foreclosures nearly a much as many other areas of the country.

Will it be easy to sell your home these days, in this market? Absolutely not! Is it impossible? No, but you have to do everything right to turn that 8.1% absorption rate into a sold sign!

For all your Kitsap County, Bremerton, Silverdale, and Port Orchard real estate needs, call Marlene Scheffer at Realty Station at 360-689-6836.

Having Issues with Mortgage Fraud Article

2008-06-04T10:39:14Z

This is an excellent article from USA Today on one aspect of mortgage fraud and how it is committed. The article explains how a team of "professionals" can use a "straw buyer" (think of the story of the three pigs) to steal tens of thousands of dollars from a bank and homeowners. One team can do this many, many times and walk away with hundreds of thousands of dollars.

See the entire article here: http://money.aol.com/news/articles/real-estate/_a/mortgage-fraud-cases-up-by-two-thirds/20080603123509990001

According to the article, two people are under investigation by the FBI involved in the house in Las Vegas on Gold Mine Drive and Rolling Hills. The house was on the market with no activity for months. Then, out of the blue, a man showed up wanting to pay more than $40,000 more than the asking price for the home. Catch? The sellers would have to pay $43,000 to another company at the time of closing. And they had to move quickly as the buyer wanted to move in right way. Apparently, the real estate agent who represented the sellers was the wife of a special agent for the FBI.

I hope it was some sort of sting, and that this woman did not participate in this scheme in any other way. If the real estate agent did not participate as a way to catch the mortgage fraud perpetrators, then she is likely guilty of mortgage fraud herself.

As far back as 2005, the real estate company I worked with in California was training its agents to bring any escrow instructions that involved payment of a third party, especially payment of large sums of money, to the broker right away. The fact that 15% of the homes purchase price was being paid to an unknown third party at or shortly after closing, and given the previous showing history on the house (or lack thereof), as well as the speed of closing, should have all been BIG red flags for the sellers agent.

In California, the team I worked with had a purchase offer come through that involved the payment at closing of almost $50,000 on a $350,000 home. Supposedly, the money was to be used for additional 'landscaping'. Yeah, right. We brought it to the broker's opinion, and it was decided that this was waaaaay to risky to pursue. The sellers were notified in writing about mortgage fraud, and they were given the option of not responding or we would cancel the listing. They opted not to pursue the offer.

In my opinion, the sellers' agent bears some of the responsibility here. She should have raised those red flags. She should have been the one to call in the FBI prior to closing. Did this scheme hurt the sellers? No, probably not directly. They did, after all, sell their home. Did it hurt all of us who have to bear the cost of the mortgage debacle now, including current buyers and sellers who now have to deal with tightening restrictions and ridiculous contingencies placed on them by lenders who have turned 180 degrees by becoming over-conservative in granting loans?

What do you think?

"Well, I don't have to, but..."

2008-05-19T22:58:40Z

Apparently, there is a checklist at many of the larger brokerages in Washington State for agents to follow during a transaction. These checklists are inaccurate, and if brokers and agents were paying attention, they might realize this.

Lately, agents have been asking me for a copy of the earnest money check when I represent the Buyer. Today, I had an agent get very huffy with me when I explained that since Mutual Acceptance was Friday, I actually had two business days to collect the earnest money check. Therefore, our deadline for collecting it was actually tomorrow. I also told her that I would have to get the Buyers' permission before releasing that to her. As I was asking her if there was anything else she needed, she actually hung up on me.

Nice, real professional. No wonder our profession in general has such a great reputation! But we'll save that for another blog post.

I can certainly understand why a copy of the earnest money check would be useful. Whenever I am the Seller's Agent, I write into the contract that the Buyer will provide a copy of the earnest money check within 24 hours of mutual acceptance.

BUT! Unless you write it into the contract, there is no requirement in the NWMLS forms that the Seller receive a copy of the earnest money check. If the Buyer is not required to do it, then I have to ask permission before releasing a copy of the check to the Sellers.

Frankly, some Buyers will not want their personal information released to the world. There is such a thing as fraud and theft in the world.

So, Washington State agents, if your office wants a copy of the earnest money check, you better explain this to your Sellers, and get it written into the contract. I usually try very hard to cooperate with other agents, but I don't have to.

And please, don't get huffy with me because you haven't read the contracts you are having your clients sign, and you are not properly doing your job!

"Have we hit bottom yet?"

2008-05-14T02:08:49Z

"I want to buy a house when the prices are at their lowest."

"How long before the market turns around again?"

"I'll wait a while longer til prices drop a bit more."

"Buy low, sell high" doesn't apply only to the stock market - it applies to real estate as well. However, the problem that plagues stock investors also plagues the real estate investor -- how do we know we have hit bottom?

As real estate agents, we listen to the financial experts, monitor the economy and the real estate market in general, watch the national trends, track home prices and foreclosure rates, and analyze the historical data. But for all that research, and after two decades in the real estate business, I can only offer an educated guess as to when prices will be at their lowest.

The inherent problem in "waiting for the bottom" is that no one knows it is "the bottom" until months later -- and then it is too late. Prices have started to rise, interest rates are fluctuating, and who knows what the economic forecast will be? Bearish? Bullish?

In real estate in Kitsap County, we are experiencing a Buyer's Market. There are too many homes on the market (supply) and not enough serious buyers (demand). When supply exceeds demand, prices fall and competition between sellers flourishes.

If you are considering purchasing a home in the near future, whether to live in or for investment purposes, don't wait! Take advantage of the foreclosures, pre-foreclosures and short sales happening around us. You can find the right home at a good price for yourself and your family.

How to Never Lose Your Small Child in a Crowd Again...

2008-05-03T03:41:22Z

Yes, even on vacation in San Diego I can blog if something important or timely comes up. To me, this was important.

We went to Legoland today. It was very crowded, and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep track of Adam, who is 4 years old and very mobile, curious and well, fast!

To help prevent that, I dressed him in a bright red shirt. He was very easy to spot when he was farther away from me than he should have been. A brightly colored hat works well too.

Even better, my friend Ashley T. gave me a great idea. Today, I used a Sharpie marker (because they don't wash off as easily) to write "mom's cell" and my cell number on the inside of Adam's arm. Yes, it looked funny, but I knew that if he got lost, I would get him back.

Adam is too young to really understand that he should go to Lost and Found or Security, so this worked really well. I told him if he was lost to go find a Legoland employee in the red shirts and show them his arm. They would find Mommy.

I think I actually enjoyed the day more because I wasn't as stressed out, knowing that we had a good back-up plan if we got separated.

I've Become One of Them (And Guess Who's Fault It Is?)

2008-04-22T18:13:40Z

First, let me just say that the final transformation is pretty much Active Rain's fault. And even if it isn't really, let me believe that it is because I have to blame someone. So tonight, that would be all of you.

I never meant to be one of them, but it happened slowly, and it wasn't until tonight that I realized that I had done just what I never wanted to do. I became one of them.

Those of you who have been married to military will know who I am talking about... It's those wives!

You know the ones I'm talking about. One month after their partner gets home from a deployment or an underway period, you hear them moan, "When is he going to sea again?" And you are shocked and horrified...

At least I always was. How could they say that? Didn't they love their spouses? How could they not want their husbands home every night, to have dinner with, give the little one a bath and tuck them into bed, then cuddle up with and fall asleep themselves? Was there no love there? Could those women really be that heartless and cold?

And then it began. At about year four (right after I had the baby three months early and found out that hubby would not have duty for the next year) I began to think "It sure would be nice if he had duty again once in a while." I didn't feel bad thinking it.

For the non-navy readers, duty usually requires a servicemember to stay away from family for at least one full day and night, usually sleeping on the ship or boat. Some spouses get phone calls and lots of email during duty days. I'm lucky to get a good night phone call, and sometimes that's ok.

I had taken that year off from real estate to stay home with our miracle child. The navy had moved us to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It was a lovely town and I made some phenomenal friends there, like my Karens. However, it was also a hard time for me. Because I wasn't working, I tried to compensate for my lack of income in other ways, and of course overdid it. I identified so much with being a Realtor, that when I took time off I lost part of my identity. I looked to my husband for approval, and knocked myself out trying to get it. The house was spotless, the laundry done, the beds even got made. I shopped, I volunteered, I played with baby Adam, and I was exhausted.

When I realized how much I was doing, I dreamed of a night of duty, so I could leave the dirty dishes in the sink and the beds unmade. It had nothing to do with him, it was me. I didn't love my husband less, I just had other things to do.

Then we moved again, this time to California. I began working again, got my identity back, became as busy as ever. However, by then, I couldn't stop being happy about duty days.

One night, every week or so, I got to spend an evening alone with my son. After a hard day of work and babysitters, the zoo, the beach and real estate, it was just the two of us, eating mac and cheese, snuggling under the covers watching the Wiggles as Adam fell asleep against mama in mama's bed. It was nice!

And I didn't feel guilty about it at all. I didn't love my husband less, I just had other things to do.

And now we've been back in Kitsap County, Washington for nine months. As soon as we arrived home, my husband was sent to school for six weeks. I was afraid at first. Afraid of being alone for so long again, afraid of being alone with Adam, caring for him by myself. Many of my old friends had moved away. I had my parents here, but who else could I turn to for help if I needed it? And with my health problems, I was sure I would need it.

And the biggest thing? What would I do about working? Of course I would re-ignite my real estate career here. I love real estate in Bremerton and Kitsap County! How could I not get back into it full time?

But I was afraid. I have always been successful. I have rarely failed at something, even when I was a child. What if I failed at being a successful real estate agent again? What if I failed at being a good navy wife? What if I was a lousy daughter? (I've done if before, I'm sure I'll do it again.) Worst of all, what if I failed to be a good mother to my miracle boy?

What I had forgotten is that I am never alone for long. I always make friends. Good friends! And my parents have been a godsend to me. I knew I moved home for the right reasons. The Kitsap Moms Meetup group that I started for moms and kids in Kitsap County has been life- and sanity-saving, for me and others. I've made some great friends there, like Jessica and Naya and Alexis and Adriane and Erin and, well, the list goes on. And one of the best surprises of all was that I didn't have to make a lot of new friends, I had left behind people who were best friends, like Barbara and Carla. I didn't love my husband less, I just had other things to do.

But all of that doesn't mean that I don't look forward to duty days still....

The six weeks while hubby was in school really wasn't that bad. Adam and I got into a routine. Yes, we were tired a lot. We were hardly ever home. But when we did get home at 8 at night, he was always in bed within an hour, snuggled beside me, fast asleep while I worked or played on the computer. And that's where the trouble really lies.

Hubby is getting ready to go again, at least for a bit. And if I said I was dreading it, I would be lying. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it.

When he goes, Adam and I will once again find our routine. I'll have what I want for dinner, and I'll probably feed Adam too much junk and fast food. And at 8 at night, Adam will be in bed asleep beside me. And where will I be? Propped in bed next to him on the computer, either returning emails, on the Multiple Listing Service, or here on Active Rain.

You see? When my husband is home. I have to make other things a priority, like making sure he has a clean uniform, or making sure we have food for his lunches, or sometimes I even plan a homecooked dinner. Many days I try to beat him home, so his family can welcome him home with love, hugs and kisses. My time to work diminishes a little, and I can see the results of that dedicated time in my commission checks - they tend to be farther and fewer between.

You may have noticed that my dedication to my blog and to Active Rain comes in spurts. Some weeks I am all over it! Blogging every couple of days, getting on Active Rain almost every night. And I like it. Then there will be weeks with very little activity here. Hubby's home...

Sometimes I wait for him to fall asleep, then turn on the bedside lamp and pull out the laptop I have stashed under the bed. I hit the mute button before I turn it on, so it doesn't make that horrible musical-but-not-musical noise when the screen lights up. I feel like a drunk with a bottle hidden in the bedside drawer. Real estate in general and Active Rain in particular can be a form of addiction, I'm sure!

So when hubby goes to sea or to a conference or to school, I can spend more time on my career, with my clients and on marketing. I can spend more time in the office. In the evenings, Adam and I can come home and pop "Ice Age 2" into the DVD player in my office, Adam sitting in the armchair I put there just for those occassions and I can sit at the computer.

And at night? Adam can sleep beside me, and I can blog, comment on others blogs, learn about new technology, new marketing ideas that will help sell my listings and attract new clients. And I can do it all here, on Active Rain.

It's been almost eight years now that we've been married. My love for my husband has not lessened at all. It has actually grown deeper and has matured. I can't imagine not having him in my life. We plan our retirement together, where will we travel, talk about our "someday" waterfront home and which expensive car we will buy then.

I do look forward to him coming home from deployments and underways, because when he is gone I truly do miss him. But then, he forgets to take out the garbage, or argues with me about when the car needs to go into the shop, and I find myself thinking, "When do you leave again?"

I have become one of those wives. When is he leaving again? I don't love my husband less, I just have other things to do.

Like play in the Rain....

Following the Do Not Call List Rules - Some Examples

2008-04-04T17:02:24Z

I've read several blog pots about avoiding prospecting by phone. In more than one, the author indicated that they really didn't understand the Do Not Call list. Rather than risk violating the DNC list, they send letters and postcards instead.

It's a good tactic -- agents do routinely violate the Do Not Call rules and regulations. Having taken many courses in risk management, I thought I might clarify some of the Do Not Call rules by providing a few examples.

All real estate agents MUST follow the federal laws regarding the Do Not Call list! Otherwise, you and your company could be hit with large fines.

You decide to farm expired listings. You arrive at your office at 8 am, and pull the expired list for the last 24 hours. You spend the next little while searching for the sellers' phone numbers, using whatever resources are available to you at the time. At 9 am, you begin making phone calls. Oops! You just violated federal law!

Even if you do not call anyone whose number is on the list, you violated federal law. How? Because you forgot to check the list! Before making phone calls to prospective clients that did not initiate the contact, you must check the list!

You've spent a few weeks calling expired listings. Now you have some spare time in your schedule, so you decide to go back through the older expired listings that have not yet relisted. It is time to call them again. Your expired listings are three weeks old. You checked the Do Not Call list before you called three weeks ago, and you only kept the expired listings that were not on the Do Not Call list. So, there's no need to check the list again, right?

Correct! Law says that you must check the Do Not Call list every 31 days. Since you checked it three weeks ago, by federal law, you are not required to check it again.

Let's say you decide to call on For Sale By Owner properties. You drive by a home with a handmade "For Sale" sign on the front lawn. You pick up your cell phone and place the call. You just violated federal law, again!

That's right, even if the home is for sale, if the seller didn't initiate contact with you, You must check the list first!

Same scenario, but this time you pick up a newspaper and see a For Sale By Owner advertisement. Since they are advertising, it must be ok for you to call, even if they are on the Do Not Call list, right?

Wrong! Even if the seller is advertising on a billboard right across from your office, he still did not initiate contact with you specifically. Therefore, you must still follow the Do Not Call list rules.

For more information on the Do Not Call list rules, click here.

Remember, fines for violating Do Not Call list rules can be up to $10,000. Don't let this happen to you! You deserve to keep every penny that you have worked so hard to earn.

I am NOT a Bottom-feeder!

2008-04-03T03:57:03Z

A post by Pacita Dimacali entitled "Bottom-Feeders?" is actually a post about whether short sales or bank foreclosures are better options for investments. One of her commenters is quite opinionated on the subject of "Bottom-feeders", however. This commenter vehemently pushes the idea that agents who represent investors who look for short sale opportunities are flawed individuals with no principles or ethics. As a matter of fact, she outright calls these people "bottom-feeders".

Really? Are we? I am working with a very serious investor now who is looking for short-sale and foreclosure opportunities in Kitsap County real estate. And I love working with this gentleman! I enjoy a challenge, and finding just the right property can be just that -- a challenge. But I am good at it -- we have a property under contract right now.

Does that make me as his buyer's agent a "bottom-feeder"? Is he as the investor a "bottom-feeder"?

When a seller is in a short-sale situation, it is sad. There is no question about that. There are personal and financial tragedies taking place across the country because of the loss in value many homes have experienced lately.

So we make low offers on short-sale properties and the sellers have to deal with that. But let's look at the alternative, shall we?

The home sits on the market for two months with no offers. The sellers lower the price even more, dramatically less than they paid for it three years ago when the market was booming in Kitsap County. He has lost his job and she is sick and needs medical care -- they must sell. No offers after four months. They have received a Notice of Trustee's Sale -- their home is being foreclosed on. By month six, the house is no longer theirs. It is now a bank-owned property after being auctioned on the couthouse steps.

Now, would they have been better off if they had gotten a low offer and done the short sale?

I would argue that investors may actually be helping a seller out of a bad situation. It is not a perfect solution, but it may be the only solution these sellers can get. All you need to do is look at the higher number of foreclosures many areas are experiencing, and you see the proof.

As the investor's buyer's agent, I can make sure that the investor is properly following federal, state and Kitsap County laws and customs of real estate, and help the transaction run more smoothly. Having a real estate agent involved in a short sale in more likely to result in a closed sale than if the buyer and seller were doing it on their own. So perhaps I too am helping the seller out of what could be a much worse situation. Think about it...

If you'd like more information on investing in real estate in Kitsap County, or would like lists of short sale and foreclosure properties in Kitsap County, please call me at 360-689-6836, or email Marlene@RealtyStationInc.com

Calling Manette "Home" - Manette, Bremerton

2008-04-03T02:11:49Z

The neighborhood of Manette is located on the east side of Bremerton on the hill of Point Herron. Many of the Manette homes have a fantastic view of the water as well as the mountains. Residents can often see the ferry coming in from Seattle as the sun sets over the Olympic Mountains. Manette real estate has not seen as broad of a price adjustment as other areas of Kitsap County.

Manette was founded as a city in 1891, but was annexed by the city of Bremerton just a few decades later. It is now a unique and very desireable Bremerton community.

Manette is connected to West Bremerton, the ferry terminal, Naval Base Kitsap and the shipyard by the Manette Bridge. For more information on the Manette Bridge, see my article "Old-Fashioned Bridge in Manette".

Manette is different from many other neighborhoods in Bremerton due to the atmosphere of the downtown area and the attitude of its residents. People are proud to be in Manette. They are proud of the history of the area, and they support neighborhood businesses.

I lived in Manette for many years before getting married and moving to Ridgetop. During my time there, I never felt uncomfortable or unwelcome. Walking down the street always took longer than it should have because so many people stopped to say hello. A neighbor brought my trash cans in from the curb when I was sick. Manette is just, well, home-y.

Many of the homes in Manette were built in the 1930's and 40's, and many of the new homes currently being built have the look and charm that was evident in the homes of that era. Most yards are pristine, with green grass and flowers all spring and summer. At the holidays, many of those same homes have beautiful light displays decorating the eaves, roofs and yards.

Manette is home to many churches, including the Manette Community Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church and West Sound Unity Church. The Bremerton Senior Center, located in Manette at 1140 Nipsic, provides opportunities for seniors to get out and share enriching education sessions or exercise classes, among many other things. The Senior Center also allows non-profit groups to utilize their facility as space is available. Bremerton Girl Scouts used the space many times.

Manette is also home to the Bremerton Community Theatre, located just under the Wheaton Way Bridge at 599 Lebo Boulevard. The theater is a fun local theater group offering plays and musicals throughout the season. Bremerton Community Theatre also sponsors BCT JR, whose volunteers teach young children with stars in their eyes everything they need to know to be a success on stage.

The Sheridan Park Community Center offers programs for both children and adults. It is located at 680 Lebo Boulevard. My son has attended soccer lessons there, at the age of three, and will start t-ball next month, at age 4. They also provide an indoor playground during cooler months two days a week for children under 6, which the Kitsap Moms Meetup group frequently attends.

Manette has everything you need in a neighborhood either in the area or a very short drive away. Realty Station's office has been in Manette for more than 10 years, the oldest existing Manette real estate company. If you are looking for a home in Manette, call Realty Station at 360-377-5699, or visit our website.

Old Fashioned Bridge in Manette, Bremerton, WA

2008-04-03T02:04:20Z

The Manette Bridge played a significant role in the building and expansion of Bremerton. Built during the Great Depression, the Manette Bridge is the oldest of two bridges that connect East Bremerton to West Bremerton.

In this photo, Manette is to the right, West Bremerton on the left side. The Port Washington Narrows goes north toward Silverdale. The Olympic Mountains are in the distance. (Much appreciation to Capt. Alan R. Beam, USN, ret., for the photo. Thanks, Dad!)

Prior to the building of the bridge, Mosquito Fleet ferries made the crossing each day to allow families from East Bremerton to go to their jobs in West Bremerton. If a laborer missed the last ferry, he would have to make an extremely long commute around the north end of the inlet, through Chico, Silverdale, and Tracyton.

Construction on the bridge began in October 1929, and continued until opening day in June of 1930. The bridge was originally a toll bridge, charging $.25 per car and $.05 a passenger. The toll continued until 1939.

Shortly after the toll was lifted, it became clear that the little two-lane bridge would not support the growing traffic burden, and talk of a second bridge began. This resulted in the building of the Port Washington Narrows Bridge, commonly known as the Wheaton Way Bridge, in 1958 as a toll bridge.

At that time, the toll was placed back on the Manete Bridge. Why pay the toll on the Wheaton Way Bridge if you could cross the Manette Bridge for free? The tolls were lifted in 1972 when both bridges were paid for.

Today, residents of the charming neighborhood of Manette use the bridge to cross to West Bremerton, Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton, and the Washington State Ferry Terminal to commute to Seattle. Unfortunately, the charming Manette Bridge is currently considered unsafe. The bridge is scheduled for demolition when a new bridge is constructed, beginning in 2010.

For more information on the neighborhood of Manette, including a list of homes for sale in Manette, Bremerton, stop by Realty Station. Or visit our website for more on Bremerton and Kitsap County real estate.

Selling Your Historic Home

2008-04-03T01:45:19Z

Selling a historic home often involves more emotion than logic, both for the seller and the buyer. In order to get the highest sale price possible for your historic home, we may need to go the extra mile.

Do some research into the history of the home, going back to the original owners of the home. Bill Cherry recently suggested naming the house after the first owner. Put everything together in a professionally written package for potential buyers. Of course, as your real estate agent, I am happy to assist you with this project.

Resources for researching your home include these:

1. Get a copy of your home's title report. If your home is too old, the original owners will probably not be listed, but it is a starting point.

2. Visit the County or City Register of Deeds. This is a list of transactions that involved your home.

3. Go to your friendly tax assessor and ask for the tax roll on your home. This is a list of everyone who owned your home and what the assessed value was at the time, as well as the property tax on the home.

4. For additional resources, you might visit your local library or the historic society near your home. If you are lucky, they may have photos of your home.

5. Once you have the original owner's name, be sure to consult historic guides for the area. You might get lucky!

Now, time for some marketing! I would like to suggest using new marketing methods to sell an antique property. We put up a single-property website with those research results on it, as well as outstanding current photos of the home, any old photos of the home and any photos you found of the previous owners.

We submit the property to all the listing websites we can, including Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, and many others. I have recently added two new sites to my list.

The first is www.HistoricProperties.com. Run by two women from their computers, these women only allow homes at least 50 years old to be featured on their website, This site is very classy, professionally presented, and seems to get more publicity as well as more google juice than other sites. You pay just $50 to have your home or listing on their site, and they do get quite a bit of traffic.

The other website is www.oldhouses.com. It's the same basic premise as the first website -- even the pricing is the same. This site consistently showed up on the google search pages right behind the first website.

For specific information on selling your historic home in Bremerton or Kitsap County, call me at 360-689-6836, or email me at Marlene@RealtyStationInc.com.

The Market in Kitsap County - March 2008

2008-04-02T19:37:41Z

It is definitely a Buyer's Market in Kitsap County! Listings are up, sales are down, and interest rates are excellent.

As of March 31, 2008, there were 2343 single family detached homes listed by real estate agents in Kitsap County. If no other homes were listed for sale in Kitsap County, and we worked through all the home currently for sale, it would take us over 12 months to sell them all. In other words, we have 12 1/2 months of inventory on the market.

What does that mean to you? If you were trying to sell your home in Kitsap County in March, there were 2342 other homes competing for very few buyers.

Of those homes for sale, 496 were listed for sale with a Kitsap County real estate agent in March alone.

Between March 1 and March 31, only 187 homes actually closed, or sold.

In other words, your chances of selling your home in Kitsap County in our current market in any one month period is less than 8%.

Can your home be sold in our current market? Yes, but you have to do it right. For more information, see my article Beat the Buyer's Market.

Beat the Buyer's Market - Selling Your Home in Kitsap County

2008-04-02T12:18:26Z

Even though it is a "Buyer's Market" in Kitsap County and across the country, We can still sell your home. However, there are several things you must keep in mind in order to do so.

To sell your Kitsap County home, you must price it right, show it perfectly, and market it aggressively.

To price it right, ask your real estate agent to do a price point for you, showing you pending, sold, and active listings similar to your home. Once we have the range for your home's proper pricing, you must price it at the bottom of that range.

In other words, your home must be the best value for the money, against all the other homes in your price range. If not, your home will not sell.

To show it perfectly, the home must be spotlessly clean, odor free, easy to show (no day-ahead appointments), have furniture arranged to take full advantage of a room, and perhaps be professionally staged. The house must have excellent curb appeal. And remember, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. Call me at 360-689-6836 for free reports and tips on staging, including "27 Free & Easy Fix-ups" and "20 Low -Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home". I also provide a free staging report to my sellers, with suggestions for improving the value of your home.

In other words, your home must be "best in show". Make it perfect!

Marketing a home has changed somewhat in the last few years. Putting a sign in the yard and an ad in the local paper won't cut it anymore. Your home must be exposed to the widest possible audience.

Broker's Opens, virtual tours, word of mouth amongst agents, and most importantly a strong internet presence, will get your home sold. Blanket the internet with your home. Placing the home on a company website and in the MLS is not enough. Put it everywhere that a potential buyer may find it. And don't forget to tell all your friends! Hire a real estate agent who is internet-savvy and aggressive in their marketing strategy.

In other words, tell everyone about your home! The more people we expose the house to, the more likely we are to find your perfect buyer.

We must have each of these three components as part of our marketing plan. Two out of the three won't cut it!

To sell your home in Kitsap County, Bremerton, Silverdale, and Port Orchard as well as other areas, use this guide to find your home's next owner. And be sure to contact me for more information and ideas for getting your home sold!

A Ferry, A Tunnel, and Sewage

2008-04-01T13:43:31Z

The Washington State Department of Transportation ferry terminal in Bremerton, WA is not very pretty right now. Construction workers have dug up a huge section of road that begins in the ferry's auto-waiting lot, where drivers park there cars as they wait to load them on the ferry. The construction ends up, around several corners, between Pacific and Park on Burwell Street.

What's going on? And where does the sewage come in?

The City of Bremerton is installing a tunnel to allow ferry traffic to unload from the ferry in a shorter time frame while decreasing the risk of accidents. The tunnel will run from near the ferry terminal to the Bremerton Transportation Center, almost 1,000 yards total. The cost of the tunnel is estimated at $30.7 million, Yup, that's right, $30.7 million.

At the same time that this project was being considered, a problem with Bremerton's sewage runoff and new state regulations came to light. Seems that when the clean sewer water drainage system got a large influx of water such as during a heavy rain, the combined water would overflow improperly.Bremerton needed to update and upgrade part of the sewer drainage system.

In an effort to save money, the two projects are being worked at the same time. The city also hopes to minimize the impact of construction on local traffic and people who work and live downtown.

Several lanes along Pacific and First streets are closed. Today, of the two ferry toll booths, one was closed today. Probably not the best day to close a ferry toll booth, considering that it is Monday and Opening Day in Baseball. Hopefully, fans going to ther Mariners game at Safeco this afternoon weren't too inconvenienced.

Construction is scheduled to end in Spring of 2009.

OPR Porsche Club Tour and Lunch 3/30/2008

2008-03-30T21:20:32Z

It turned out to be a beautiful day in Belfair and Gig Harbor, which is the route the Olympic Peninsula Region Porsche Club of America chose to take on their drive today.

Twenty-one cars took part in the event today. We began at the Bremerton Airport shortly after 10 am. A long line of cars took off for the North Shore Road, then cut off north on Belfair-Tahuya Road. Unfortunately, one part of the group took the wrong turn-off, but caught up with the rest of the group before hitting the Tahuya River Bridge.

Surprise! The Tahuya River Bridge is down to one lane, thanks to the severe flooding that occurred across the peninsula in December. The entire bridge washed out, but construction crews have built a temporary one-lane bridge to accommodate traffic until the old bridge is replaced.

The group got together at Belfair State Park to get their bearings and review the route ahead. We managed to get a group photo at the park.

The group then drove back through Belfair and took off on Highway 106 toward Twanoh. Shortly before reaching Twanoh State Park, the tour turned south to go the long way to Allyn. Once in Allyn, the Porsche Club headed toward the Purdy Spit and ended with lunch at Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant in Gig Harbor.

The food at Puerto Vallarta was delicious, with large portions and larger margaritas. Although initially slow in taking food orders, the service quickly improved and our server did a great job, especially considering that everyone was on separate tickets and everyone determined their own gratuity.

The drive was a nice way to spend a Sunday, and although there are a few things we will do differently next time (can you say 'short-wave radios?), it was a lot of fun! We can't wait for the next drive in April.

For more information on joining the Olympic Peninsula Region Posche Club of America, go to their website and contact membership chair Gloria.

HUGE Rotary Garage Sale Scheduled April 19

2008-03-28T20:20:38Z

The 11th Annual RAGS (Rotary Annual Garage Sale) event is being held at the Kitsap Sun Pavilion and the Vanzee building at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds on April 19, 2008.

If you have never been to a RAGS event, put this on your calendar! There are deals to be had, with everything from gently used clothes and building supplies and home decor to kitchenware to collectibles and art to furniture on sale for bargain prices!

Five different Rotary Clubs from across Kitsap County sponsor and run the event, including the Bremerton Noon, East Bremerton, Silverdale Morning, Silverdale Noon and South Kitsap clubs. The sale is for one day only, from 8 am to 2:30 pm. A silent auction will also be held on that day.

The clubs are currently seeking donations. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information on donations, please see the Bremerton Rotary website.

The Rotary club is worldwide organization made up of professional men and women whose ultimate motto is "Service over Self". The goal of the Rotary club is to better their local community.

A Short Trip for the USS John C. Stennis

2008-03-28T11:01:09Z

The USS John C. Stennis spent the week at sea for sea trials after a long maintenance period at the Puget Sound Shipyard. They are returning as we speak!

My son and I are sitting at my mom and dad's beachfront home, watching Adam's Daddy's ship come in on this chilly, gray March morning.

They just blew the whistle, and my mother told my son that the whistle means "Hello, Adam, from Daddy," and Adam is grinning from ear to ear.

In about 10 minutes they should be pulling into their pier at Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton.

This is the first of many trips the USS John C. Stennis will be making this year in preparation for their next major deployment.

The USS John C. Stennis is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier homeported in Bremerton, WA. The aircraft carrier was built at the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia and was commissioned in 1995.

The carrier is named after former US Senator John C. Stennis from Mississippi, also known as the "Father of the America's modern navy".

If you are transferring to the USS John C. Stennis at Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton and would like help with housing, either rentals or a home purchase, please contact Marlene Scheffer at Realty Station at 360-689-6836.

To see more information on the USS John C. Stennis, please visit their website.

These photos were taken by my father, Capt. Alan R. Beam, USN, Ret., from his beachfront home.

Charming, Rustic Brownsville Marina

2008-03-28T01:39:20Z

Boaters in Kitsap County have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to moorage, especially when travelling away from home. Guest moorage can be found at many marinas in Kitsap County, including the Port of Silverdale, Port of Bremerton, Port of Poulsbo, and Liberty Bay.

However, if you are looking for something quiet and off the beaten path, the Brownsville Marina in Bremerton is the place for you!

The Port of Brownsville lies just southeast if Silverdale and north of Bremerton. While picnicking at Brownsville, you can look out over the water at the west side of Bainbridge Island. The views are very nice, making you feel miles away from home, even if you have just motored over up from Port Orchard.

Brownsville Marina offers bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a deli and mini-mart. Slips include shore power and water, including guest slips. Guest slips can accommodate boats up to 24 feet. There is also a line for guest moorage along the north breakwater.

When we had our 18 foot Mariah, we frequently used the two-lane boat launch at Brownsville. The wait at other boat launches can sometimes be long, and parking has been known to be a problem. However, at Brownsville, we never had either of those issues.

We would bring a picnic lunch and eat our foot-longs at either the picnic tables in front of one of the parking areas looking out at the mud flats during low tide, or at Overlook Park up the hill, which offers recreational fun like horseshoes as well as an outstanding view.

All boaters visiting Brownsville Marina have use of the pump out station, as well as a full-service fuel station.

When motoring into the marina, be aware that you must enter through the south entrance, and you must stay on the marina side of the green buoys at all times, but especially low tide. If the mudflats don't get you, the sunken boat marked by the white buoy might!

As spring approaches and we have the larger boat, we are anxious to renew our visits with the Brownsville Marina.

For more information on the Brownsville Marina or the Port of Brownsville, you can visit their website, or call them at 360-692-5498.

Success: Do I Have To?

2008-03-24T02:29:25Z

A question was brought up today on Active Rain by fellow blogger Guy Giminez: what is your definition of success?

In my opinion, a mature, fulfilling answer would suggest that success is the journey, not necessarily the goal. Success is not about reaching a goal, but would focus on the path in getting to a goal. If the path you took was been an ethical path, one that made you happy while travelling it, then you have achieved success. An unhappy journey would mean failure. That would be the higher-ground answer.

But we're not usually wired that way, now are we?

Even as a child, I have always been goal-oriented. A the age of 7, I would stay up way too late so I could finish reading my book and find out the ending. Granted, I was reading with a flashlight under my covers so my mom wouldn't find out, but I HAD to know what happened. Sometimes, I would cheat on puzzles just so I could finish them. I never unwrapped one of my Christmas presents, but I shook the living daylights out of them trying to figure them out!

And now? What is my goal in my real estate career? Yes, I love helping people, and I have specific and definite goals for each client that I work with. But what about long-term goals? What about my own personal goals for my entire real-estate career?

And what happens when you reach your goal, i.e. become successful? Is that when you quit? Retire? Or is that when you make new goals for yourself?

Part of my goal is definitely financial. But there has to be balance too. At this point, my long-term goal is two-fold: to add a certain amount of money to our retirement savings each year, and to have a high enough income so that when my husband retires from the military in 7 years, he doesn't feel that he haas to go get anotheer job right away. I want him to be able to take his time and figure out what will make him happy. So, I guess if my husband is happy in his second career in eight or nine years, then my real-estate career can be considered successful.

Now for the balance part -- I need to be able to do that while still being able to spend a lot of time with my immediate family. My miracle-baby little boy, my husband, my mother, my father, all mean so much to me, and I want them to know that. I don't want to look back and mourn the time that I could have spent with them. It's the balance part of success that scares me. I have never been good at balance. I either did everything 100%, or I didn't do it at all. And the danger right now is that I see myself doing that with real estate too, in short spurts.

One week I spend a lot of time on real estate, and get very busy. The next week, I spend a lot of time with my family, having dinner with my parents, taking my son to the Kitsap Moms Meetup playgroup I set up for him, seducing my husband into leaving the USS John C. Stennis before 7 pm by promising him that, after dinner, he can work on his car. (thought I was going somewhere there, didn't ya?)

Perhaps that is my balance. Perhaps I balance by going from week to week. Maybe this is my success. Could this be my success right now and I am missing it? Wow, never thought about that concept before. Hmmm, this may lead to another blog post.

Will the New Lowe's Opening in Silverdale Succeed?

2008-03-19T15:13:54Z

Earlier this week, The Kitsap Sun newspaper ran a story regarding a new Lowe's store, slated to open in Silverdale at the corner of Myhre and Mickleberry roads toward the end of the year.

Will this Lowe's store be a success? There is already a large Home Depot store in Silverdale, while just a few miles south, a Lowe's store already exists in East Bremerton. Home Depot just opened a new store in Poulsbo in 2006, and Lowe's just opened a store in Port Orchard on Sedgwick Road. Plus, Home Depot already has plans for another store in Port Orchard.

Sounds like a lot of major hardware stores for a county with a population the size of Kitsap's, doesn't it? Especially when you consider the slowing economy and the poor housing market.

Actually, the poor housing market may be a point in their favor. As sales of homes decline, less sellers will be able to sell their homes. More sellers will decide to stay put in their homes, and those sellers may proceed with remodelling plans so their homes are more comfortable for them.

So far, all of the four major hardware stores mentioned have experienced some modicum of success, with the Home Depot in Silverdale and the new Lowe's in Port Orchard at the head of the pack. The only real issue I see with the new Lowe's going into Silverdale is that it may lead to cannibalism. The Lowe's in East Bremerton is the least-busy of all of the hardware retailers, and with the competition from Silverdale (awfully tempting to drive those few extra miles to a brand new store) Lowe's may decide to put more of its resources toward the Silverdale store.

I hope that this will not lead to another store leaving Bremerton. Growth in one area should not be bad for the revitalization of another area, but in our county, it sometimes seems to be the case, usually to the detriment of Bremerton.

Military Appreciation Day at Kitsap Mall March 29,2008

2008-03-17T23:14:19Z

Military Appreciation Day at Kitsap Mall is scheduled for next Saturday, March 29, 2008. This annual event, sponsored by Kitsap Mall, the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, and local military installations, is a salute to our military men and women as well as their families.

Local businesses will be on hand offering demonstrations of their products, as well as discounts and specials. Many military divisions will also be showcased. Entertainment includes NJROTC drill units, Navy EOD divers, Navy Working Dogs, and performances by Navy Band Northwest. Other local entertainers will be the Clan Heather Dancers and Halau Hula O Healani.

For elementary kids, the Marine Security Force will hold a special mini-boot camp, featuring a climbing wall and giant slide.

The event is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Displays will be both inside and outside Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.

Famous Dave's Opens in Silverdale!

2008-03-17T16:27:19Z

Famous Dave's, the largest barbecue franchise in the nation, has opened a restaurant in Silverdale! The grand opening was today, March 17, 2008, at 3276 NW Plaza Road, between Pier One Imports and Target.

I first became familiar with Famous Dave's when my friend and past client Tara S. heard we were moving to Kansas for a year. She said we absolutely HAD to go check out this barbecue joint next to the Kansas City Speedway. Turns out, we stumbled across it when we went to Nebraska Furniture Mart, and I have to say it is some of the best barbecue I have ever had, a big compliment coming from someone born in Georgia.

Famous Dave's has "five ways to get sauced", including their Georgia Mustard sauce and the Texas Pit sauce. I haven't been brave enough to try their Devil's Spit sauce yet, and I doubt that I ever will. I'll let hubby try that one out!

They serve pork ribs, barbecue brisket and barbecue chicken, with sides that include Wilbur beans, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. The service at other Famous Dave restaurants has been exceptional, even if the lines can be long at peak times.

I am definitely looking forward to dinner at Famous Dave's later this week!

Update: The phone number to Famous Dave's is 360-307-9999. They do not take reservations, but you can call ahead to find out how busy they are.

KitsapKids Playground in Bremerton, WA: Naval Base Kitsap

2008-03-15T20:53:19Z

What would happen if you asked children to design their own playground? What would that playground look like? What would a child's imagination conjure up?

To find out, spend some time at one of my favorite play areas in Kitsap County -- KitsapKids Playground at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds!

The playground was designed based on input from children, and it includes a boat, castle towers, numerous slides, several swings for big kids and babies alike, and a tot area. There are also covered picnic tables, surrounded by a great mural.

My son and his friend Alex had a wonderful time playing on the equipment last week, climbing up the ladders, running along the raised pathways from one castle tower to another, then sliding down the slide at the other end. It is a huge play structure, so it was easy for them to run away from Alex's little sister PJ.

Mom Naya and I sat in a covered seating area near the front entrance, so we could make sure no one was able to escape from the enclosed playground. The kids were especially fascinated by the large musical instruments near the entrance to the playground. It was a great way to spend an hour on a sunny March afternooon -- the kids played and wore themselves out while Naya and I got to chat and catch up.

KitsapKids Playground is located on Stampede Boulevard, just south of President's Hall at the Fairgrounds and Fairgrounds Road. The Fairgrounds area is also a nice area to live in, with affordable quality homes in the Central Kitsap School District. See an example here.

2950 Delphi Court, Bremerton, WA 98311

2008-03-15T20:10:00Z

Imagine entertaining in this updated, warm kitchen. This large home has three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage. The living area feels spacious, with separate living and dining rooms attached to an open kitchen with an eating bar. The custom, built-in entertainment center surrounding a brick fireplace adds to the stylish living room decor.

A covered deck overlooks a fenced backyard, the perfect spot for a summer barbecue. The downstairs rec room with wood stove provides a great place for the big screen tv and a home office.

In the Central Kitsap School District, this home is close to everything you need, including Walmart, Safeway, Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton and Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor. Rolling Hills Golf Course is just around the corner, and the Illahee dock is just east of this neighborhood. Gas heat and hot water plus double-pane vinyl windows help keep energy bills low.

NOTE: As of 5/5/2008, I no longer have this property listed for sale.

Bremerton's Rolling Hills Golf Course: Naval Base Kitsap

2008-03-14T22:20:24Z

You've just gotten back from three months at sea. The sun is shining, it's nice and warm, and it's 4:00 Friday afternoon. What are you going to do now?

Rolling Hills Golf Course In Bremerton, WA, may just be the thing for you! The 18 hole, regulation-length golf course is open to the public. Built in 1972, the course is apptly named -- the fairways are long expanses of sogtly rolling hills of green grass and water features.

The atmosphere at Rolling Hills is very laid back, perfect for a lazy afternoon of golf. Dress is casual, of course.

Rolling Hills includes a driving range, strategically placed next to Putters Restaurant and Lounge, where cold beer and hot fries are easy access. The beverage cart careens through the course on a regular basis, offering more cold beer and chilled soda and water to thirsty golfers.

The course is easy enough for beginners and kids, and very amenable to hosting groups also. The par 70 course is also very affordable, with green fees ranging from $35 to $45.