Happy Friday! Enjoy this amazingly beautiful song as you blog - 10/30/09 07:30 PM
No real estate discussions from me on this Friday afternoon, instead I want to share with you this beautiful new song.  So sit back, and blog or better yet, kick your feet up and enjoy. 
This day is a gift and here is my gift to you.  It is called Just Breathe.  Let me know what you think.
Have a great weekend!
Julie
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Putting Swine Flu in Perspective - 10/30/09 01:28 PM
Thanks Terry for putting this in perspective.  We need to see these types of statistics.
Via Terry Chenier (Homelife Glenayre):
Lots of hysteria has been in the news recently regarding Swine Flu.
Symptoms of H1N1 Influenza include:
Fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny of stuffy nose,
fatigue, muscle aches. nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Deaths: 
5,382 worldwide in 160 countries
2,659 in South America.
So what are the odds?

Death by...
Assault: 331:1
Falling: 250:1
Firearm: 325:1
Poison: 1,400:1
Car crash: 5,000:1
Choking on food: 5,000:1
Drowning: 9,000:1
Murder: 20,000:1
Lightning: 71,000:1
Dog attack: 137,000:1
Bathtub: 807,000:1
Flood: 713,000:1
Terrorist attack: … (0 comments)

This escrow officer travels to her customers to sign documents and what did I find? - 10/29/09 06:38 PM
This escrow officer travels to her customers to sign documents and what did I find when I visited this seller at his place of business?
Yarn in every color, size and textures imaginable.   All of a sudden my pulse started racing and I was taken back to a couple decades ago when I passionately made afghans, scarves, lacey doileys and even collars. 
I couldn't help but look around as I went over his HUD Settlement Statement and Escrow Instructions.  I had to pause and ask him a couple of questions about his beginnings with yarn, which go back to when he was … (9 comments)

What am I doing special to celebrate my landmark birthday? Psycho. - 10/28/09 01:50 PM
Being blessed with a birthday so close to Halloween, I have strived to enjoy it without thought of ghouls and goblins as I got older. 
This year I am tossing caution to the wind and heading down to the Benaroya Hall to watch the movie Psycho.  This will not be just any movie evening.  This is the home of the fabulous Seattle Symphony and they will be playing the music from the movie as it progresses.
It should be fun and memorable and a darned good way to spend a Thursday evening, right before month end!
Enjoy,
Julie
 
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How does Washington State rank in taxation with the rest of the Nation? - 10/27/09 10:47 AM
News Release, October 22, 2009 by the Department of Revenue:  Washington ranks 26th highest in State and local taxes; 32nd highest in property taxes.
Olympia, Washington; Washington ranks 26th highest nationally in state and local taxes as a percentage of personal income, and 32nd highest in property taxes, according to newly released federal data covering Fiscal Year 2007.
Washingtonians paid $109.35 in state and local taxes per $1,000 of personal income, compared to a national average of $113.32.  Of that $29.25 went to property taxes, compared to a national average of $34.04.
Washington ranked 15th in state and local taxes per … (0 comments)

AEA supports NAR to extend the tax credit Call your US Senators now! - 10/24/09 08:11 AM
AEA supports NAR to extend the tax credit  Call your US Senators now! 
Fresh in from Art Davis, the American Escrow Associations "eyes and ears" in Washington DC comes this email regarding the efforts of the National Association of Realtors to extend the $8,000.00 tax credit:
"We are supporting the grassroots efforts of the National Association of Realtors (R) to extend the $8000 tax credit, now just for first time homebuyers.  It is due to expire next month.  You should consider contacting your United States Senators (at their in-state offices) and indicate you support this proposal as important to you and the … (0 comments)

Does anybody love fishing as much as my boyfriend? - 10/22/09 04:10 PM
Does anybody love fishing as much as my boyfriend?  That is doubtful.  On the plus side, I love boating and he loves to filet and cook his fish.  It is the best food I have ever eaten.  Until John & I met, I really didn't like fish that much - you know all those bones makes it hard to enjoy a bite of food, right?  No bones!  In the 3 years since we have been dating, not one.   Yaaaa, this is turning out to be a successful relationship. 
We are located in the Redondo area of Federal Way and enjoy beautiful … (3 comments)

Regulations and Regulators! Is this a good thing for your customers? - 10/20/09 04:41 PM
Regulations and Regulators, is this a good thing for your customers?  When it comes to selecting who is going to handle the escrow of your real estate transaction, have you considered that in the State of Washington, title companies are not regulated by the Department of Financial Institutions?  Independent escrow companies are. 
There is additional testing, rules, consumer protection and regular examination's or audits of the books by the DFI that title companies need not be concerned about. 
I am thrilled to bring true independent escrow services to Federal Way.
Julie
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Agents: Here is a tip you can give your sellers for additional cash-back - 10/05/09 03:52 PM
Agents, here is a tip you can give your sellers for additional cash back after the closing of your sale:  Remind them to cancel their homeowners insurance after their transaction is recorded and funded. 
In Washington State, we record & fund the same day in most cases, so the sellers can contact their homeowners insurance company the next business day and have their policy stopped.  Most insurance companies will pro-rate the unused premiums and return those funds directly to the seller.
The seller will thank you for the reminder!
Of course, if your property is a short sale, most short sale … (9 comments)