Kitsap Homes

Central Kitsap Fire Department

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:07:01 -0600

The weather today in Bremerton and Silverdale was absolutely gorgeous! Sunny and warm, it was a real treat in Kitsap County, especially considering that it is February.

Like many other residents of Central Kitsap, the members of the Central Kitsap Fire Department took advantage of the weather, practicing some of their life-saving and fire-fighting skills at the Meadowdale Fire Station, CKFD Station 41. The Meadowdale Fire Station has a three-story training tower and is home to one of eleven new fire engines in Central Kitsap.

Do it NOW!!!

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:40:08 -0600

If you are planning to sell your home in Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo or anywhere else in Kitsap County, I have some advice for you: list your home for sale ASAP!

If you are planning to move away from Kitsap County WA in the next 6 to 8 months, you need to list your home as soon as you possibly can. You need to price it very competitively, stage it beautifully, and find an agent who will market it very aggressively.

Why list your Kitsap County home for sale now if you aren't planning to move for six months? Because the numbers say you should.

Right now in Kitsap County, there are 1836 single family homes for sale. This does not include condominiums. Since the 16th of January (the last 30 days) only 123 homes have sold. If the past month is an indication of future activity, and homes in Kitsap County continue to sell at the present rate, it will take almost 15 months for your home to sell.

Now, remember that statistics lie. Is it really going to take almost 15 months for your home to sell? No, probably not, but you have to do the three things we talked about earlier - price well, stage beautifully, and market aggressively.

Even if you do price, stage and market great, it will still take time for your Kitsap County home to sell. So, again, if you have to sell and move away in the next six months, I would list it right away! Make sure you hire a Kitsap County Realtor with the skills, ability and experience to help you.

Should I sign a Buyer Agency Agreement?

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:26:25 -0600

Another excellent question from a client today! "Should I sign a Buyer Agency Agreement?"

The answer is - Probably, but it depends.....

First, remember that Agency rules differ from state to state, so if you are not buying a home in Washington State, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Silverdale, Poulsbo or surrounding areas, you will need to clarify agency laws in your state.

Most clients will want to sign a Buyer Agency Agreement. In the contract, make sure your agent spells out exactly what you can expect from them. For example, what type of home will you be finding for them, and where will the home be? How long will it take them to return your phone calls or emails? How does their pay structure work?

In Washington State, you do not need a written contract to establish that a particular agent is your Buyer's Agent or Buyer's Representative. Some people are hesitant to sign such a contract, and I can understand the reasons why.

What if you sign a contract with a Buyer's Agent in Kitsap County and then find out that the agent really has no idea what they are doing? Or that they don't know the area? Or perhaps they are too busy to help you? Excellent reasons to spell out certain things in the contract ahead of time...

If you do not want to be contract-bound to an agent right away, ask them to take a day to meet with you and perhaps show you homes for sale in Bremerton, Silverdale, Port Orchard, wherever, for a day before you decide whether you will work together successfully. As an agent, I want to make sure that we will make a good team before I agree to work with you and you agree to work with me. It is in both of our best interests.

Before you sign anything, always read it and make sure you understand it! In Washington State, if you sign a contract, the courts usually interpret that to mean that you have read the document, that you understand the document, and that you agree to the terms in the document. If you don't understand what you are signing, make sure you find out. Asking questions is a good thing!

So in most cases, yes, you will want to sign a Buyer Agency Agreement. It protects not only the agent, but you, the buyer, as well!

What does it cost me to have you as my Buyer's Agent?

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:42:50 -0600

You'd be amazed at how many people never ask....

Actually, it's a great system for Buyers. When a Seller lists his property with an agent, he agrees to pay the real estate agent a certain percentage of the sales price. The Seller's agent then puts the property in an enormous database, which is called the Northwest Multiple Listing Service in Kitsap County real estate lingo. The listed home is then available for other real estate agents to access and show to potential buyers.

If another agent brings in a client to purchase the property, the Seller's agent splits his commission with the Buyer's agent. (In this case, if you purchase property using me, I would be your Buyer's agent.)

For example, Mary puts her Silverdale home for sale with real estate agent Bob. You contact me and want to see properties for sale in Central Kitsap County that match the description of Mary's house in Silverdale. I check the database and find Mary's house listed there, by Agent Bob. We go look at the house, and you decide it is a great house and fits your needs well.

We write an offer, and it is accepted. You are buying a house! When we close on the house, Agent Bob gets a check from the proceeds of the sale of Mary's house. He then turns around and sends half of his check to my company.

There are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you decide to purchase a home that was not listed with a real estate agent, we would have to work out some sort of payment structure.

Some people believe that they will save money if they don't use a Buyer's agent. Studies have shown that this usually ends up costing them more money, for two reasons:

First, the seller is going to pay his agent the agreed-upon commission, no matter what, whether he has to split it with another agent or not.
Also, because the seller has someone to protect him and look out for his best interests, and the buyer does not, the buyer often ends up either paying more for the property right away, or finding out later on that he could have done or paid for certain things during the home's sale that would have saved him money years later, such as a homeowner's warranty or a private home inspection.

If you are considering buying a home or land in Kitsap County, I strongly advise you to get a Buyer's agent to work exclusively for you! It won't cost you extra in most cases, and will probably prevent you from losing money.

Wanna make $25???

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:42:53 -0600

All it takes is a $250 initial investment, and after 30 days you will be rewarded with an additional $25!

No it's not a scam, or a pyramid set-up, or any of those other get-rich-quick schemes. It's exactly the opposite.

Woman's Day magazine is doing a year-long series on finances and saving money. They have partnered with ING Direct to offer a special savings program to encourage readers to start saving.

If you are a new customer, you can sign up with ING Direct through a link at Woman's Day's website for a special "Orange" savings account. It is done via electronic transfer only.

All it takes is a $250 deposit to open the account, and 30 days later ING Direct will deposit $25 into your account. Be aware that you can not withdraw the money for at least the first 60 days. Hurry, the promotion ends March 31!

That is a 10% return on your initial investment within a two-month period. You can't even get returns like that in real estate!

Go to Woman's Day Saves for all the details and to sign up!

To Refi, or Not to Refi? That is the question...

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:13:01 -0600

Hopefully this post will help you find the answer. When is the right time to refinance? With interest rates so low, it seems like refinancing your home loan might be a good idea. What are the determining factors?

There are a couple of things to look at when considering a refi. First, do you have any equity in your home? If you owe $250,000 for your home, and you owe a total of $245,000, you probably won't be able to refinance unless it is a VA loan. And VA loans are a whole different ball game.

Now, as far as whether the rates will go lower? There is no crystal ball. Wish there was, cause I'd be rich. You do it when it makes sense to do it. We refinanced twice within two years, because rates dropped significantly and held for a bit (first refi), then eight months later they dropped again (second refi). That was five years ago, and we won't be refinancing again. We're extremely pleased with our rate!

The most important factor in whether to refinance is, will it actually save you money? First, see what your monthly payment is now. Then have your mortgage officer figure out what it would be if you refinanced. What is the difference? For example, let's say you pay $1800 a month now, a refi would have you paying $1600, for a savings of $200 a month, or $2400 a year.

Sounds great, but what about the cost of the refinance? It does cost money to borrow money, after all.

Figure out what it is really going to cost to refi. Closing costs, prepaid taxes, prepaid insurance etc. all need to be considered. Yes, it can be added into the cost of your mortgage in most cases, but you do still have to pay it. That is the true cost of your refi.

In this case, let's say that it is going to cost $8,000 up front, but you will get part of that back from your original mortgage company. (You will receive a check from your former mortgage company once they close the escrow account.) So the true cost is $6,400. Now, how long is it going to take you to make up that expenditure?

Divide your $200 a month savings into the $6,400 cost of the refi, and you will see that it will take 32 months to start seeing any financial gain. Basically, for the next 2 1/2 years, you will be paying for your home plus your refinance. After that, the $200 savings is gravy.....

In this case, if you are planning to stay in your home for more than two and a half years, then it may be the right time to refinance your home. If there is a good chance you will be moving before then, keep the rate you have.

If you are considering refinancing your Kitsap, Pierce or Mason County home, call me for a referral to a great local lender. They'll take good care of you! And as always, if you have questions, feel free to give me a call - I'm happy to help!

11640 Breckenridge, Silverdale, WA

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:37:10 -0600

3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths

Large 1592 Square Feet

Attached Two-Car Garage

Fantastic, Move-in Condition

Located on Ridgetop in Silverdale, WA

Gorgeous like-new home in fastastic maintenance-free community!

Wonderful open floor plan makes the large living area seem even bigger! Luxury abounds in this home, with angled fireplace and media center in living room with high ceilings, separate dining room, breakfast bar in spacious kitchen, and den or office all on the main floor.

Upstairs finds a nice master suite with full, private bath and two closets plus two additional bedrooms with a shared full bath. Backyard provides privacy with a fenced, terraced yard. All appliances included.

In the sought-after Central Kitsap School District. Across from community playground, near major shopping, schools, military bases and Poulsbo.

Priced at only $243,000! To see more photos, go to www.11640Breckenridge.com

"The Patio" in Manette, Bremerton - And this used to be a laundromat?

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:07:48 -0600

That's right - a laundromat. The building sat on a corner in lower Manette unused for many years in the 1990's and early 2000's, until Jeff and Michelle Hecker took over and redesigned the building into the swanky restaurant and happy hour hotspot that it is now.

The Patio opened in May of 2008. Located right next to the Manette Bridge in Downtown Manette, the restaurant is small in winter, with very limited indoor seating. However, that also allowed us very attentive and personal service. In warmer months, tables on the patio are used, doubling the seating area.

"Serving 'New American' classic comfort food with a twist" is the description from the website, but I would go even farther than that when describing the scrumptious edible offerings at The Patio in Manette, Bremerton.

My substitute date (hubby's at sea again so, my poor Dad...) had a nice steak that is only sometimes found on the menu. Always ask about the specials! I had the small plate Grilled Mediterranean Platter. Everything on the Grilled Mediterranean Platter is fabulous! And check with the waitstaff, but I believe it is vegetarian. We finished our dinner with a nice bottle of "The Show" Cabernet. I went home quite full and happy.

Other options at dinner include Seasonal Ravioli (this week it was lobster), Flat Iron Steak with herb reduction butter, or a Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Breast. There are also several vegetarian meal options, and the cook and waitstaff seem very willing to work with you if you have a special diet.

Repurposing and redesigning that old laundromat has had a huge impact on the face and feel of downtown Manette, Bremerton. The Heckers had a vision of what Manette could be and is becoming. The Patio has "raised the bar" for style in Manette.

The Patio is open for lunch and dinner daily. Breakfast is served Monday through Saturday. And the best meal of all? Sunday Brunch is served from 10 am to 3 pm. That's our next culinary excursion. So far, I give The Patio a thumbs up. I can't wait to take my husband there!

Address of The Patio: 2003 East 11th Street, Bremerton, WA 98310

Reservations: 360-373-1472

The Boat Shed Restaurant is a Pleasant Surprise

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:17:33 -0500

Want to go out for a nice dinner, but don't want to spend a lot? Want a view but don't want to pay for it? Consider The Boat Shed restaurant in Manette in East Bremerton!

The restaurant sits almost underneath the Manette Bridge, and if you aren't looking for it you could miss it! The unassuming entrance will leave many doubting the quality, right until they open the front door and smell the tantalizing food from inside.

Get a table by the window. From your seat, you will have a view of the bridge, the USS Turner Joy, and the Seattle-Bremerton ferry arriving and departing every hour or so. On summer days, count the pleasure boats that whiz past under the bridge.

The Boat Shed has been open since 1979. The restaurant serves a nice blend of steaks, seafood, salads and pastas for dinner. At lunch, they also have many unique and classic sandwiches, with cool names like the Spinnaker and the Clipper. Dungeness crab and crab cakes are almost always on the menu. The restaurant is well-known for its clam chowder, and the nachos and margaritas are great for an after-work happy hour.

A nice wine list includes such local favorites as Chateau St. Michelle and 14 Hands. And don't forget to leave room for dessert!

On a nice day, ask to sit outside on the deck. The restaurant is actually perched over the water, and there is a boat dock connected to it, with room for several smaller boats.

The service is usually very good, and the food is excellent! They also have a kids menu. It is one of my family's favorite places to dine in Bremerton, and has been for many years.

Special Event: Wine Tasting and Dinner at Cosmos September 7, 2008

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:01:11 -0500

Wine aficionado and Foodie Mike Watkins is pairing with Cosmos Deli in Port Orchard to offer a fantastic Wine Tasting and Dinner to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

Sunday, September 7 at 5:00 pm, Mike and Cosmos will provide a sensational gourmet dinner paired with five, yes FIVE different wines. Dinner includes an antipasti, braised beef short ribs with smashed yukon gold potatoes, and grilled sweet peaches with gelato and honey.

Dinner is followed by a silent wine auction, including bidding for a Magnum of 2005 Bordeaux.

All proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an organization which helps patients with several different types of blood cancers. For more information on the organization, please visit their website here.

Cosmos is usually open Monday through Saturday only, but is opening this Sunday only for this very special event. Cosmos serves cheese and meat in their deli, coffees and teas in their espresso bar, and has a wonderful restaurant and bar that serves both small plates and full meals.

There are not many tickets left, so hurry! To purchase tickets, call Cosmos at 360-895-3138. Cosmos is located at 1821 SE Lund Avenue in Port Orchard.

Manette Fest 2008

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:17:52 -0500

Each year, the people and businesses of the charming Manette neighborhood of Bremerton celebrate their community culture and spirit in a fantastic one-day festival.

This year, join us for Manette Fest 2008 on Saturday, September 6!

The festival starts with a Fun Run for all ages and athletic abilities, continues with a pancake breakfast, then features Manette's Tiniest Parade, which is open to anyone and everyone. Have the kids decorate their bikes, or dress up their strollers and bring them out!

Spend the afternoon listening to the music and entertainment and watching the street dancers. Don't forget to check out all the vendors and artisans at the many booths lining the streets of Manette's downtown area!

The schedule is as follows:

9:00am : Fun Run Begins
9:30am : Pancake Breakfast @ The Manette
9:45 am : Stage Performances Begin
11:00am : BBQ Lunch
1:00pm : Manette's Tiniest Parade
1:45pm : Kids Raffle
5:00pm : Close of Event

The kids can jump in the free bouncy house, get their faces painted and try their luck at the dunking booth. Big kids can cool off at the beer garden. Loads of food can be purchased at the event.

Best part of the event? It's all FREE!

What a great way to spend a Saturday in Bremerton! For more information, go to the Manette Fest website, designed by Bremerton's Rival Vision.

7350 Grevena, Bremerton, WA 98311

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:52:09 -0500

Great Value in Central Kitsap

$219,000

7350 Grevena Avenue NE, Bremerton WA

Features:

3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths
Three bedrooms plus bonus room
Marvelously maintained
Fenced backyard
RV or boat parking
Quiet neighborhood, great schools
www.7350Grevena.com

Remarks:
This Central Kitsap rambler has three bedrooms and 1 3/4 baths. Many recent upgrades on this wonderfully maintained home. Built-in window seat in bright sunny living room. Family room or office space off kitchen. Bath off master. Fenced backyard with deck, surrounded by trees. One car attached garage plus room for and RV or boat, plus parking in the driveway. Fantastic value in great neighborhood in Central Kitsap School District!

Marlene Scheffer

360.689.6836 mobile

360.377.5699 office

Marlene@RealtyStationInc.com

View My Website

View My Other Listings

Realty Station

2135 Sheridan Road
Suite F
Bremerton, WA 98310

360.377.5699

©2007Properties Online, LLC, Patent No. US 6,760,707. The above information including square footage is based on data received from the seller and/or from public sources. This information is deemed reliable but has not been independently verified and cannot be guaranteed. Prospective buyers are advised to verify information to their own satisfaction prior to purchase.

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:13:21 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:39:14 -0500

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..."

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:58:40 -0500

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?"

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:08:49 -0500

"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...

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Sat, 03 May 2008 03:41:22 -0500

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?)

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:13:40 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:02:24 -0500

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!

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:57:03 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:11:49 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:04:20 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:45:19 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:37:41 -0500

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

Marlene Scheffer, Realtor to Kitsap County, WA (Realty Station) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:18:26 -0500

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!