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I use GreatSchools.net often to look at the ratings of schools in different areas and suggest that my clients also go to the website. It is a good site to find what each school offers. While on the website today I noticed something I hadn't paid attention to before. There are articles for each level of school.
For instance, under preschool they have several topics:
Preschool 10 Signs of a Great Preschool The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests signs of a great preschool. NAEYC
What to Expect at Preschool: Science Preschool teachers share science by taking advantage of children's innate curiosity about the world. Scholastic
What to Expect at Preschool: Art Hands-on craft projects in preschool build a surprising set of skills.
Scholastic What to Expect at Preschool: Math. Math is an everyday experience for your child. The best teachers know how to capitalize on it.
Scholastic What to Expect at Preschool: Literacy Time-tested classroom strategies will help your preschooler develop early reading skills. Scholastic How Academic Should a Preschool Be? A good preschool will help your child build academic skills while also allowing time to learn through play.
Under each topic they also give suggestions as to what can be done at home. In the science section they talk about watching nature programs on television. They suggest going on nature walks and noticing rocks, leaves, clouds etc. and talking about them. They also mention involving preschoolers in sorting the laundry--what a concept!
Some of the things my three year old grandson loves doing that is science related is playing with flashlights, cooking, going to the Children's Museum (at the Seattle Center), going to the zoo, the aquarium, and the many city parks.
There are enough activities suggested under each topic to keep you all well occupied.
If you know of a school you especially like, you can go onto the website and write a review.
LuvSeattle for property searches and real estate information Seattle, Eastside, King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Just click on the "Realty Watcher" button on the home page.
I received an email from one of my brother-in-laws and it was so helpful. It is from the website called "familyhack.com." Family hack says on their website "We are a family with three small kids figuring out how to travel the world, work from anywhere while home schooling our kids. We also blather on about life hacks, saving money and cool stuff we love." The website is great, some sample categories they have are: Age 2-4, Age 5-7, Books, Maintenance & Repairs and Work.
This particular feature is on how to get something out of a drain without calling a plumber. You do need a wet and dry vac! View the link if you have time--it could save you lots of time and money! Here
Hope this comes in handy for you!
LuvSeattle for property searches and real estate information Seattle, Eastside, King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Just click on Realty Watches on the home page.
My Mother's Day will begin at 5:00 this evening with dinner with my daughter's family in Wallingford. I should walk around Green Lake after that!
Anyway, I was looking at my list of folks I should call (old friends, past clients, people I am working with and potential clients)and debating if I should make that call! Yes, it is Mother's Day--are people going to feel interrupted?
I have decided I am going to call the "old friends and relatives" the ones that I have not kept in touch with--not because I did it intentionally, but because it is so easy to not keep balance in my life. A perfect balance, would be to see those folks at least once a quarter--because we enjoy each other's company.
Maybe that should be the tradition--call friends and relatives on the holidays--that would do it!!
Enjoy the Day!
P.S. If you don't know how the "Mother's Day" Tradition started click on the "Google" logo today.
www.LuvSeattle.com for full service real estate consultant assistance in Greater Seattle, Eastside and Kent. Ask me for a copy of my Market Watch for your area.
This is a reminder that the Friends of the Seattle Public Library is soon having it's Magnuson Park Book Sale. It will be Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday April 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Magnuson Park is located at 7400 Sand Point Way N..E. Hangar 30, in Seattle
They would like you to please bring your own boxes. I would recommend that you bring your book lists with you. This is a very popular event so you may want to arrive early.
LuvSeattle.com for full service real estate consultant in Greater Seattle, Eastside and Kent. Ask me for a copy of my Market Watch for your area.
One of the things I admire about Google is that for holidays they decorate their Logo. I also wonder how long does it take them to do the artwork and enjoy what they come up with. Today's logo has me stumped. It sort of looks like a moon scape but I don't know.
On Thursday, I was invited by my financial advisor, Mike Dukes (with BECU), to go on a Royal Argosy Cruise (leaving Pier 56) to listen to Jeffrey Kleintop, CFA, Chief Market Strategist at LPL Financial. If you "google" his name you can see different interviews he has had.
First of all, it was a beautiful day and Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountians were glorious.
Mr. Kleintop spoke about:
How we Got Here
Bubble Trouble
Presidential Pattern
Recommendations
He did say there are some leading indication of some improved signs of growth. Metal prices are rising and the Port traffic is rising.
I asked him "What keeps you awake at night? And, what do you think we should think about investing in?" He said "Inflation is his biggest worry and that he feels techology, industrials and retail should be the first to recover."
He feels dollar cost averaging is the way to go and feels that by "around midyear we'll begin to see a sustainable move higher."
I enjoyed his talk and the luncheon cruise. If you haven't taken a cruise of Seattle's waterfront it is well worth it.
Under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, eligible borrowers who stay current on their mortgages but have been unable to refinance to lower their interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to refinance into a 30 or 15 year, fixed rate loan. Through the program, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow the refinancing of mortgage loans that they hold in their portfolios or that they placed in mortgage backed securities.
Eligible loans will now include those where the new first mortgage (including any refinancing costs) will not exceed 105% of the current market value of the property. For example, if your property is worth $200,000 but you owe $210,000 (or less) you may qualify. The current value of your property will be determined after you apply to refinance.
This program is limited to loans held or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Check with your lender as they may have sold the loan to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac but they are still managing the loan.
There is much more information available on: www.whitehouse.gov go to the blog and scroll down to Feb. 18th.
Our sales meeting this morning gave loads of information regarding Foreclosures vs short sales.
The following are a few reasons sellers should seriously consider a short sale rather than go through a foreclosure:
FORECLOSURE
A homeowner who loses a home (primary residence) to foreclosure is ineligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage for a period of 5 years.
Future loan with any mortgage company on any future 1003 application (standard loan appication), a prospective borrower will have to answer YES to question C, in Section VIII, that asks, "Have you had property foreclosed upon, or given title or deed in lieu thereof?" This will affect all future rates.
Credit score may be lowered anywhere from 150 to over 300 points. Typically, this will affect the score for over 3 years.
SHORT SALE
A homeowner (on primary residence) who successfully negotiates and closes a short sale will be eligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage after only 2 years.
There is no declaration of whether or not you have had a property foreclosed on.
On a short sale, only late payments on mortgage will show, and after sale, mortgage will be reported as paid or negotiated. This will lower the score as little as 50 points, if all other payments are being made. A short sale's effect can be as brief as 12 to 18 months.
If you are at risk of losing your home and would like more information about a short sale, please let me know.
I have been spending very little time on Active Rain and some people have noticed. Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) wrote a note on my latest post asking where I have been and hoping that I am all right. I am fine. I have been dealing with bad tenants--have you ever had any? Well, I have learned some great lessons.
Do not be too nice--this is a business.
Always do a credit check (make them pay for it) to see if they can afford the rent.
Always get a contract--even if it is month-to-month.
Check references and if you can--go see where they live.
And the latest I just learned from my insurance agent is make sure they have renter's insurance--make sure you are listed as an interested party on their policy so that you will get a copy if they cancel It should be with at least $500,000 liability. This insurance is cheap for them and it is so if they burn your house down, their insurance picks up the bill.
Take pictures of your stuff if you have any in the house.
Go in and check the place out from time-to-time
Put in important addendums in the lease--such as "tenants are not to do repairs or painting without landlord's permission in writing."
I have had to evict two different tenants because they were not paying their rent. The first family makes a habit of moving into a house and staying until they get kicked out. The emotional frustration of dealing with nasty mouthed, dishonest folks is certainly something I am not used to. The second family wasn't paying the rent and had moved in several people that I knew nothing of and having them give rent money to the tenants.
Also, some of them were drug users. As soon as I found out I told them they had to leave--I didn't want to risk losing my house.
I have been having repairs done to the holes in the walls, broken windows and ruined carpets. And painting walls that I made the mistake of letting tenants paint--Wow, some people can come up with some ugly colors and do a terrible job of painting.
Also, I have had many things stolen and had to pay for the eviction process. How about a huge water bill. Luckily, their electric bill went with them. They tried to tell the electric company that they had moved out months before they did.
There are several good things that have come out of all this.
I have been spending lots of time in the yard getting it in great shape--to me that is very satisfying.
The house is looking very good--just need to pick out a carpet color and get it installed.
My hardwood floors have been refinished and look glorious!
The last tenant is a handy man and working off what he owes.
This is a house that I have not been able to live in since my husband died in a terrible accident seven years ago. It was too depressing. Now, I have finally reached the point that I can return and feel good there. A couple of Sundays ago, early in the morning, I was in the living room with the sun streaming in and felt that I was finally home. So I am moving back in--may find a couple of housemates.
I hope this is helpful to some of you.
LuvSeattle.com for property searches in Seattle, the Eastside, and Kent
The Irish Festival of Seattle is going to be at the Seattle Center on Sat., March 14th; Sun, March 15th and again on Tues., March 16th.
On the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle's website they say that the Festival features "booths selling Irish and Celtic products, non-stop Irish music, singing, dancing, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children's contests and activities, etc. In addition to the Festival Highlights listed below, there will be Genealogy Workshops, Irish Language Workshops, Cultural Exhibits and more. Family-oriented activities include wonderful Irish Musicians along with Champion Irish Stepdancers from around the Pacific Northwest. Events for children include the “Smilingest Irish Eyes Contest” and the “Most Irish-Looking Face Contest”, and other activities in the Children’s Activities Center."
I am providing the link to the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle where you can view pictures from last year's Irish Festival. You can also join the club if you are interested. I have always had an interest in different cultures and this really does look like fun!
LuvSeattle.com for Bellevue, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings
I plan to give helpful information relative to real estate and whatever else I may come across. And, because humor is so important to me I may throw in something funny.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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