Seattle Real Estate Blog

I Am A Murderer and I Need Help

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:43:36 -0600

I killed another laptop.

I go through about three or four a year - one year it was six. I don't drop them or throw them around. They just hate me. Watches are the same. I think it is my "electric personality" because I kill electronics - all of them eventually. I even killed one in less than 30 days about five minutes after transmitting my taxes to the IRS without backing them up. Palm Pilots, laptops, watches all meet their deaths with me very quickly.

This last year I decided that I would use a desk top as my primary computer and keep laptops for on the go to expose myself to them less and therefore prolong their little electronic lives to the fullest. It has actually helped slow down the death toll, but I still feel like I am the Dexter of electronics.

Once again, this evening, I am faced with a dead laptop as I was trying to curl into bed and do a little blogging in the sub 20 degree Seattle weather. No pulse. So I type at my desk.

Technology has gotten so cheap it is actually ridiculous and lucky for me with my luck. Here is where I need your help:

What about a fast netbook? I am thinking that there is no point in me getting anything with memory in my next laptop because it won't last longer than four months tops (my record so far). I already have a big collection of encased hard drives from past victims - why not just buy something that runs around the internet like a race car and fits nicely inside my purse instead? Anyone have any recommendations for me?

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Pioneer Square Real Estate Update December 2009 Market

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:17:04 -0600

Pioneer Square Real Estate Update December 2009 Market:

I did the Underground Seattle Tour again the day after Thanksgiving when some of my family was in town. Pioneer Square is so fun anyway, but I love the tour. My sister said it felt very Universal Studios, but it really is so Seattle - anyone interested in our city should go on it. There were some funky things that happened in Pioneer Square a hundred years ago and more!

Luckily thanks in large part to the funds raised over the years by the Underground Tour, Pioneer Square and all the gorgeous buildings in it were saved for the most part. As a result you can find some very cool Pioneer Square lofts that are a great Downtown Seattle living situation!

Right now, there are 7 Active Pioneer Square condo listings ranging in price from $299,000 to $558,000 with an average price of $494,771 and a median price of $519,000. You can see comparing that to Downtown Seattle Condos that Pioneer Square is not only Downtown anyway, but also affordable! Average Days on Market (DOM) for these actives is 137 right now.

There are 2 Pending Pioneer Square properties right now priced form $350,000 to $359,000.

Sold in the last six months? Pioneer Square real estate sold in the last six months is a total of 4 properties ranging in price from $235,000 to $880,000 with an average price of $503,625 and a median price of $449,750. The average DOM is 139 for these that have sold.

Pioneer Square condo and loft living: If you are interested in living in a great part of Downtown Seattle in one of the most historic places on the West Coast, then please feel free to get in touch with us - we are happy to help you with all aspects of Seattle real estate and find a perfect Seattle neighborhood for you!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

9042 6th Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:43:35 -0600

9042 6th Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117: Beautiful Craftsman Stately home in the heart of Greenwood! 4 bedroom officially, but room for more! Seller putting in brand new bathroom upstairs with beautiful newer bath on both main and lower as well! The lot, though , is the real surprise! In city Large lot? How about .32 of an acre? 13,936 square foot lot is perfect for having your own private park or potential subdivide or expansion.

Want a private tour and more info on this Greenwood stately home? Also ask about how to get your closing costs completely paid!

9042 6th Ave NW

This is a beautiful home! Tons of loving touches throughout waiting for its next owner.

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

West Queen Anne Real Estate Update December 2009

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:10:55 -0600

Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood has had some beautiful sunny days in the last weeks and West Queen Anne is particularly gorgeous perched over the Puget Sound. This picture was taken the day after Thanksgiving for anyone who doubts we get sun in the winter at all.

Here is your West Queen Anne real estate update for the December 2009 home selling market. You can find West Queen Anne real homes for sale and other Queen Anne real estate on my site if you want to see all current listings, but here are the numbers for tonight:

West Queen Anne homes for sale: Currently there are 47 West Queen Anne homes for sale in zip code 98119. They range in price from $340,000 for a home on the far West slope near Smith Cove on 14th to $4,890,000 for 602 W Highland which is a newer Queen Anne home in the very perfect spot on that gorgeous Southwest slope. The average price in zip code 98119 for homes on the market right now is $1,004,633 and the median is $650,000. The average days on market (DOM) for these is 97 days. There is also one home marked contingent in West Queen Anne priced at $1,185,000.

Pending homes in West Queen Anne: These are homes that have received offers on them. There are 12 pending West Queen Anne homes on the market right now ranging in price from $349,950 to $1,075,000 with and average price of $696,599 and a median price of $742,500.

West Queen Anne home sales last six months: In the last six months, 86 West Queen Anne homes have sold in zip code 98119. These sold and closed home listings range from $199,000 for an extreme fixer to $4,300,000 with an average of $800,639 and a median sales price of $645,000. The average days on market over the last six months? 72 days.

Conclusion: West Queen Anne is selling! But how do these numbers stack up to previous years of sales in 98119 for the same period?

2006 Total Volume: $75,463,950 Avg/Med Price: $804,451/$699,950 Avg DOM: 35

2007 Total Volume $62,104,075 Avg/Med Price: $874,705/$700,000 Avg DOM: 35

2008 Total Volume $34,368,800 Avg/Med Price: $781,109/$636,000 Avg DOM: 73

2009 Total Volume $68,854,945 Avg/Med Price: $800,639/$645,000 Avg DOM: 72

The sales volume itself is the best it has been in over three years! It doubled last year for the same period and then some! Prices have definitely gone down and days on market are longer, but a well priced house will sell and there are buyers out there buying West Queen Anne. In fact, inventory in this Seattle neighborhood is actually one of the problems while working with buyers in this area so if you are thinking of selling, please do consider getting an evaluation!

(I took out the Queen Anne townhomes for this property list, but you can find Queen Anne townhouses and Queen Anne condos on the site, too, if that is what you are after.) Please also feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions at all about Seattle real estate.

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Tis The Season for Giving - Feed It Forward

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:15:52 -0600

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain):

One of our ActiveRain members just sent me a $10.00 gift certificate to go to any restaurant of my choice in my area. What a nice gesture and what an impression it just made on me. It's not the gift so much as it was the thought that really did count. Now the fact that the gift was for food REALLY counted because I LOVE FOOD!!

Keeping with the tradition of giving during the Holidays, I want to Pay It Forward "Feed It Forward" to any of you who would like to do this for one of your favorite AR members. Maybe even a past client or family member, it's your choice. It only takes a minute and will really make someones day, at least it did mine.

Here's the deal:

You can give away up to (30) gift certificates each day up until Christmas Day. Each Gift certificate is worth up to $10.00 each. You can give them to anyone you choose. All you need to do is send them an email. The email comes from you with a personal message, and then all they have to do is register, search for a restaurant of their choice in their area, then print out their certificate and go eat! Sound to good to be true? This time it is!!

Feed It Forward is something Restaurants.com is doing during the Holiday Season and I commend them for doing this, especially in a time when the Country's economy has gone through some major changes. It's also a really nice way to keep the "giving" spirit alive and well. Check it out, send a $10.00 gift certificate to someone and then don't look back. It will "Make A Difference" in someones life, maybe yours!

This all reminds me of the time when I paid a $3.00 Bridge Toll for the car driving behind me (a complete stranger) then she ended up paying for the car behind her since she already had her money out, then they paid for the car behind them and so on and so on. This went on for about 10-15 cars before someone finally broke the chain and put their money back in their pocket, said thank you, and then drove on.

The very next day, as I drove through the toll booth again, the toll booth attendant looked at me and shouted, "Have you any idea what you caused yesterday?" For a second, I was shocked, I thought I was in trouble or something.. I had forgotten about paying for the car behind me the day before, and that's when he told me the story about all the people paying each others Bridge Tolls behind me. He said, "You really made an impression on me yesterday, it's something that will live in my heart forever!" Nothing feels better than that folks! Nothing!

It feels good to give! Give to family. Give to friends. Give to neighbors. Give to anyone who has touched your life, but most of all, just give! Who knows, you might be the next one getting an email "meal" from me!?!

Feed It Forward
Happy Holidays Friends! :-)

"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount
RainCamp™ - "Because The Way We Do Business Online Has Changed!"

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Cobra Subsidy Extension? Maybe Another Six Months

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:59:51 -0600

The COBRA Subsidy through the government ends on 12/31 which could have a significant effect on our economy. Currently the subsidy reduces COBRA premiums by 65% for qualifying households. This is a significant financial factor for many and is only set up for the first nine months. Two new bills are in the works to try to extend it:

S.2730 COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009 - this will extend the current subsidy period from nine months to 15 months and increase subsidy from 65% to 75%. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-2730

HR 3930 Extended COBRA Continuation Protection Act of 2009 - extends subsidy period from nine months to 15 months and also extends COBRA eligibility period from 18 months to 24 months (Cali is different). No increase in subsidy for this one. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3930

COBRA Subsidy Extension is vital so let's get this thing moving! Both of these were only recently introduced and have a ways to go before the president can sign if they make it that far. There are many people affected by this so hopefully one of them will successfully go through sooner than later! I will keep you updated as I learn more.

On the links above, you can contact your legislators about COBRA subsidies and push them on these. This affects everyone whether you are on COBRA or not because it directly affects our local economy. The cost of a premium for an average family is well over $1000 without the subsidy and below $400 with it so do the math and figure out how much money that pulls out of our local economy. Our local economy affects many things including Seattle real estate which directly affects your home values.

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Google wave invites

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:18:27 -0600

I finally got my Googlewave invite and am having a blast reading all Cheryl's posts on it. I have a few extra invites if anyone wants to play?

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Should you buy down a loan?

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:37:15 -0600

Via Jim Cheney Your Rincon Valley Realtor (Saint Francis Property Santa Rosa, CA):

I have a client now, and have had clients in the past, who want to know whether or not they should pay points to buy down their loan. First of all, let me say that I'm not a mortgage broker, and don't pretend to do lending. I believe I should do what I do best, and let other professionals do what they do best. Also, what I'm explaining here is a principle, so don't blog me back saying that you can beat this rate, and ask my client to call you.

What is a buydown?

It is paying money upfront to the lender to get a better interest rate. This money is in addition to the money needed to get your loan. You might get preapproved for a 5.12% loan, but by paying an extra $2,500 you could get a 5% loan. The amount paid is referred to as points. One point is equal to one percentage point. One point on a $300,000 loan would be $3000. A half point would be $1500, and a quarter point would be $750. Your lender will tell you how many points or fractions of a point you would have to pay to buydown your interest rate aka: buydown your loan.

Why buydown a rate?

Buying down a rate makes the amount you end up spending at the end of your loan (lets say 30 years) less. You could save tens of thousands of dollars in interest by buying down a loan.

Buying down your loan may mean the difference between qualifying for a loan, and not qualifying. The numbers used to decide if you qualify on a loan is based on the amount of monthly payment, not necessarily the the amount borrowed. If buying your loan down lowers your payment by a few hundred dollars that may make the difference in your "qualifying figures". It's is possible you could qualify for a mortgage with a $1470. mortgage, but not qualify if the amount was $1820. Buying down the loan might be what makes the difference.

Why would a bank want me to buydown my interest rate:

Banks want you to borrow money. If you don't qualify at a certain rate, the bank offers a better deal if you are willing to pay "upfront". You get your loan, and the bank gets your business. Without buydowns, a lot of banks would not be able make loans to some people who were unable to qualify.

THE BANK MAKES MONEY! I know it sounds crazy, but the bank stands to make more money on you by letting you buy down your interest rate. This sounds a bit contrary to what I said earlier when I said you could save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan but think about this. The average family sells every 8 years. They refinance even more frequently. If you refinance or sell shortly after getting your loan, you will never see the benefits of the savings, and the bank wins by keeping the money you used to buydown your loan.

Is it worth it?

Here's how to figure out if buying down your loan makes sense.

You qualify for a 30 year fix rate loan of $100,000 at 5.12%, that would equal a monthly payment of $544.18 You can pay 1/4 point to buy down to 5% for the same loan. The 1/4 point (or .25%) will cost you $250. Your new payment would be $536.82. The difference in the two loans is $7.26.

It cost you $250 to save $7.26 each month. How many months would it take before you break even? Divide $7.26 into $250 and you get just a bit ove 34 months. So you will need to keep your loan for almost 3 years before you start seeing any savings. How much would you save during the course of the loan if you kept it for 30 years... ???

So that's it. Easy to figure out with basic math. You just need to understand the concept. It's hard for an agent to know if you should buy down your loan, unless you won't qualify without the buy down, then the question is easy. The real question is: Do you need to, and will you keep your loan long enough to see the reward? Oh, the money you would have saved? $2,649.

Jim Cheney, Broker "Your Rincon Valley Realtor"

Serving Rincon Valley's real estate and property needs

Rincon Valley, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Hope You Had A Great Thanksgiving!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:52:22 -0600

Now back to work! I just put my visiting family back on the road at four AM and am settling back into a very clean house for the weekend! It is so hard to believe how fast 2009 has gone by! I still have a couple of closings before the new year comes, but I am also anxious to welcome 2010 into my life.

Although I am thankful for my family and friend's health this year and also for the wonderful business opportunities I have had with my own Seattle real estate brokerage, I am waving good bye to 2009 anxiously. 2009 was also filled with a husband getting laid off from JP Morgan and my young son having a terrifying stay at Children's Hospital. Steep COBRA payments, numerous car repairs, and my washing machine completely dying were the frosting on the cake.

Despite the fact that we weren't able to catch a lot of breaks personally, we all survived. I had some amazing clients! I exceeded my yearly goal on sales and am now having one of the most rewarding business experiences ever!

I am thankful for all we have and look forward to 2010 because it can only get better! Now back to work!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Buy Local For Your Holiday Gift Guide Shopping List

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:46:24 -0600

Seattle Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide: You have heard the saying "support the little guy". I like the little guys of the world and will go to a small mom and pop store before I will hit a larger chain almost any given day. Support your local economy by buying local. Local products support our economy and cost less in resources to get here! These all are not little guys, but they are local Seattle places to buy your holiday gifts from with pride.

Support our Seattle economy!

Made in Washington: The name says it all. There are some wonderful products in this store that not only support our local economy by purchasing products made by artisans and local companies, but also promote out state. Some of my favorite purchases at Made In Washington? Seattle Space Needle pepper grinder, art glass, platters - You can buy online, but also fine stores across the Puget Sound

City Dog Magazine: (Seattle) This is a locally published magazine about Seattle dog life!

Theo Chocolate : (Fremont) from their site: "OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 10am-6pm. We are located at 3400 Phinney Ave. N. (in Fremont) Seattle, WA" Eco Friendly local chocolate!

Queen Anne Books: (Queen Anne) This is a wonderful book store in Upper Queen on Queen Anne Ave N which carries some great local books and products including the very cool map of Queen Anne Staircases.

City People's Mercantile: City Peoples in Sand Point is my favorite spot to stop in and find a great combination of gift and useful items - lots of local products and fun store.

Caffe Appassionato: Caffe Appassionato is a fabulous smaller Seattle chain based out of Magnolia. They roast their own coffee and have a huge array of gifts and yummy concoctions in their wonderful Magnolia cafe. You can also find them all over the Seattle area.

Gorditos: How about a gift certificate to Seattle based Gordito's (in Greenwood) for healthy Mexican food? Gorditos is a Seattle tradition and there is nothing better than their vegetarian spinach burrito served wet.

Math N Stuff: Look to this Maple Leaf Seattle Educational store for all your little one's math needs at holiday time and beyond.

Trophy Cupcakes: Located in both Wallingford Center and University Village, this place is a dream come true for Seattle cupcakes. Seriously inspired recipes and beauty here!

Fremont Sunday Market: All year long rain or shine with a farmer's market component as well. 10-5 - what better way to gather local offerings?

PCC: PCC is more than just a Seattle natural grocery store - they have a ton of gifts there and I would gladly receive a gift certificate or goodie from this wonderful place!

Partial List Bigger Local Retailers for Gift Certificates if you just run out of time: Amazon, Costco, Nordstrom, REI, Starbucks

I know there are a ton more, but I need to run out for an appointment! Seattle Local Gifts: Are you offering a locally made product that would be perfect to include in this gift guide? Please email me and I will be happy to consider submissions! courtney@cooperjacobs.com

If you are interested in Seattle real estate, we are happy to help guide you through that, too!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Thinking of Selling Your Home – Twenty-one Reasons to Call a Professional Realtor

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:34:06 -0600

21 of 100s of reasons why you might need a Seattle Realtor:)

Via R. Greg Osmond Realtor, St. John's, Newfoundland, Real Estate (Sutton Group-Capital Realty Ltd.):

Thinking of selling your home? Here are twenty-one reasons to call a Professional Realtor today.

If the thought of selling your home is a little overwhelming and you are not quite sure what to do, perhaps the time has come to call a Professional Realtor and get some valuable advice. Have a look at this list and ask yourself, do any of these apply to me? If they do, call a Professional Realtor today.

1. You don’t know the value of your home and it has been more than 12 months since you've had an evaluation.

2. You need to know what things to upgrade in your home and what things you can leave as is before you sell.

3. Your neighbour's home down the street just sold and you need to know what they got for their home.

4. Your fence is encroaching on the adjacent property and you are not sure if that will affect your own sale.

5. Your shed is sitting on an easement and you are wondering if it will need to be moved before you sell.

6. You know home inspectors are involved now and you wonder if your home will do well with a home inspection.

7. You heard its a seller’s market yet some markets have been beaten down. You wonder what you will face?

8. Your mortgage is up for renewal soon but you are thinking of selling so you are wondering what to do.

9. Your kids have all moved out and the home is too large for you now so you think you should downsize now.

10. Your adult kids won’t move out so you think maybe you should downsize and give them a nudge.

11. You gave your equity to the buyer when selling your home privately so you want to do better this time.

12. Your mother/in-law needs to move in with family so you think a new living arrangements will be necessary.

13. You are going through a divorce and you need to get best value soon to settle accounts with your ex.

14. You need to renovate but you are wondering if it would be better to sell and buy something else instead.

15. You would like to have a new home but you don’t understand the tax implications of buying new.

16. Your neighbour has been accumulating junk in his back yard and you are getting sick of looking at it.

17. The noise level on your street has increased over the years and you are ready for a quieter street.

18. You are about to retire and you want to reduce your mortgage before you take a reduction in income.

19. Your rental property management has become a pain and you just want it to end.

20. Your home equity has grown in the last few years and you think maybe it’s time to lock in your gains.

21. Cutbacks at work are immanent so downsizing now would be better than waiting for the recession to end.

Alright, I suspect you are getting the picture. There are probably another 100 reasons why you should call a Professional Realtor. Anything that causes you to wonder about selling your home for any reason is just enough reason to make that call. Professional Realtors are in business to be of service to you. If you have any questions that a Professional Realtor can help with, make the call. You will be amazed at how good it feels to get good advise from a Professional Realtor.

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About the Author: R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor dedicated to serving the people of St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Kilbride, Goulds, Conception Bay South (CBS), Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Torbay – Flatrock – Pouch Cove, and Logy Bay - Middle Cove - Outer Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. For over 21 years Greg has been practicing in Real Estate. He can be reached at 709-895-2500.

Want to get in touch? Email rgosmond1@gmail.com. For more information, please visit http://www.rgregosmond.com. Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for helping my clients with buying and selling real estate! If there is any way I can be of service to you today, please feel free to contact me!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

RainCamp™ is Coming to New York City January 12th, 2010

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:00:50 -0600

Seattle Greener Thanksgiving

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:38:53 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving, Seattle! Here are some tips on having an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving!

The biggest three in my opinion:

***Eat local, use your green bin, and set an eco table***

Eat Local - This is something Seattle has really been getting better at anyway, but don't forget about all the local farmer markets and local companies when it comes to Thanksgiving! Eating local does several things - the food is fresher, it supports the local economy, and it takes less in resources to get it from point A to point B. This picture is from a Victory Garden in Sunset Hill where a neighbor was encouraging people to come and plant a plot.

Green Bin: I was so thankful when we were able to start using green bins for food scraps and food soiled products. When I think back to all of those pizza boxes where I had to rip them in two and put the top unsoiled half in the recycling bin and throw away the bottom half it makes me sick. Pizza boxes and soiled paper products (if you are still using them) can go right in the green bin along with all your food scraps, leaves form your yard, and even the leftover turkey carcass after Thanksgiving. It is easy and there is just no excuse not to take advantage of this one.

Eco-Table: NO disposable products. EVER

Happy Thanksgiving this week! I hope you all have a great holiday! We are in town so feel free to get in touch with us if you decide to go out and look at houses instead of seeing New Moon or the Blindside:)

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Seattle's Missing Ghost Hill: Denny Hill Regrade

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:38:14 -0600

Seattle City of Seven Hills: In the late 1800's real estate developers decided to make Seattle be the city of seven hills similar to Rome and there have been varying theories through out the years ever since as to what are those seven hills? The fact of the matter is Seattle is full of hills and slopes and steep bluffs, so picking just seven will always be a challenge.

We can probably all agree that Queen Anne Hill, Capitol Hill, and First Hill surely qualify, but Magnolia is pretty high up there, too, and no one ever mentions Maple Leaf which to me is very high... The debate will go on, but one of those hills is lost forever: Denny Hill. In 1900, the city decided to basically eliminate a whole hill which covered 62 city blocks. They did it in two parts, but literally razed the hill.

This can not be good environmentally, I am thinking and I have to wonder what the area North of Pine Street would look like with a big hill covering it.... Today it is part of Old Belltown and South of the Space Needle. The landscape would be quite different if the hill was still around! Here is a view towards Downtown from the South slope of Denny Hill in 1886 (photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives Item # 2869):

Denny Hill height: Look how high that hill must have been! The removed over 6 million cubic yards of earth to get rid of it!

According to NWDA:

"Before the regrade, Second Avenue rose 190 feet in the twelve blocks between Pioneer Square and Lenora Avenue, causing traffic and transportation problems in the area. The project began by flattening First Avenue between Pine Street and Denny Way. "

190 feet???? So Denny Park would have been pretty high and full of Puget Sound and mountain views back then, but instead is a flat park with huge sweeping views of nothing. One man wants to change that: Denny Park plan to restore the view given to Seattle's first park back to the citizens. It is a little nuts, but he does have a point.

What the heck was the city of Seattle doing? It was apparently a infrastructure nightmare to have this beautiful hill smack dab in the middle of the city so they just got rid of it and dumped the dirt into Elliot Bay or used it to fill in the soggy streets of Downtown Seattle. Wow.

Denny Hill would have sloped right down North practically to the Space Needle if it were still here and might not make the needle rise up so obviously although the space needle height is a little over 600 feet.

The Denny Hill regrade was done in two phases. I found a really cool before and after shot from the second phase which then adds the Space Needle after that to give you an idea. I am still amazed that they would knock Denny Hill down. It was so beautiful!

Besides the fact that the city's first park was basically lowered to flat acerage with no view, one of the truly most amazing things to me about the city's decision to raze Denny Hill was the loss of Denny Hotel (later called Washington Hotel). Theodore Roosevelt slept in this hotel and they knocked it down to lower the hill.

This picture shows what was left of Denny Hill at the beginning of the second phase of the regrade in 1928 then after the regrade in 1936 and then again after the addition of the Space Needle to Seattle's skyline in 1964 (Picture Courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives item # 28958).

So I went to the SDOT site and found a list of highest elevations in Seattle:

"NAVD88 stands for North American Vertical Datum

High Point above sea level, 6 parcels south of watertower at 35th Ave SW and SW Myrtle Street - 520 feet - NAVD88

Near Bitter Lake, on N 145th St just east of Greenwood Ave - 493 feet - NAVD88

NE 92nd ST and Roosevelt Way NE - 466 feet - NAVD88

Queen Anne Hill, at First Ave N and Lee Street - 456 feet - NAVD88

Highest point in Volunteer Park - 453 feet - NAVD88"

This list is interesting to me - Queen Anne and Capitol Hill seem to dominate here, but I was definitely right about Maple Leaf - it is in there! Let us know if you are interested in learnign more about a particular Seattle neighborhood history!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Twilight New Moon Midnight Showings in Seattle

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:33:56 -0600

Twilight New Moon Midnight Showings in Seattle: Both Pacific Place & Cinerama are offering 12:01 AM showings of the latest in the Twilight Saga: New Moon. Other Seattle theatres offering midnight shows? Neptune in Wallingford, Thornton Place, Uptown 3, Majestic Bay in Ballard, Columbia City Cinema, Lincoln Square in Bellevue, Factoria 8, and Regal Crossroads.

My New Moon adventure: Mommy/daughter get away. I personally will be taking my little preteen to the prescreening show at 9:30 tonight at Pacific Place which was free through a Nordstrom promotion. We got some really cool keepsake lanyards and hopefully will get decent seats.

The Twilight New Moon movie is 2 hours and 10 minutes so be prepared to sleep in tomorrow if you want to join in, but also call ahead because I heard it might be sold out!!

Seattle Showings of New Moon:

http://www.google.com/movies?hl=en&near=pacific+place+seattle&dq=new+moon+pacific+place+seattle&sort=1&mid=1c34a797df83a177&ei=hJoFS9XlNJXUM9PywbEK&sa=X&oi=showtimes&ct=movie-link&cd=1&ved=0CAwQwAMoBA

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Lake Forest Park: Did You know?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:30:52 -0600

Lake Forest Park WA Community Info:

Lake Forest Park WA is full of natural beauty and is all in all just a wonderful community! It is a great alternative to city living, but still close enough in to take full advantage of all Seattle has to offer.

Here are some of the Lake Forest Park WA things you may not have known:

Speeding STRONGLY discouraged with many speed traps and camera tickets especially around schools.
Hybrid drivers welcome!
Lots of trees!
Farmers Market
Beach Access even if not deeded through one of the private clubs through public park

Want to know more about Lake Forest Park Wa and Lake Forest Park Living?

Here is a link to a Lake Forest Park Community Guide:

Lake Forest Park WA Living

You can also find more info here:

Lake Forest Park Blog

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Queen Anne Yesteryears Revisited...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:07:32 -0600

Queen Anne historic homes: Very close to home for my family

Yesterday we visited two sets of great grandparents on Bainbridge Island and I got the chance to talk to my husband's Grandfather about growing up on Queen Anne. It is funny because the two houses he grew up in are on the historic registry and his gandfather's house is also on the historic registry. Unfortunately, his "Uncle Joe's" Queen Anne house hadn't gotten there yet before the disaster when it was knocked down a few years ago on a long holiday weekend to make way for the new buyer's "new home". Now it is the the site of a planned townhome community (google the JC Black house sometime if you want to hear more about that one).

West Queen Anne Love: I recently wrote a post on Betty Bowen Viewpoint and was completely drawn to a particular house right across the street. That shouldn't be too surprising because West Queen Anne is full of gorgeous homes, but this one really brought me in and while I normally would take the time to take a picture of a house so that it looked good on my blog or website, I just snapped a quick photo of this house because I LOVED IT.

I was completely taken in and drawn to this house. I will go ahead and show you the photo I took, but it really doesn't do the house justice:

It turns out that this very house was my husband's grandfather's house when he was 17 and his parents had it built especially for them! I could not believe it!

The house is something like 6 beds and an unheard of 3 car garage in Queen Anne. My husband's great grandfather had it custom built in 1939-1940 and they moved into it when his grandfather was 17 from their home a few blocks over on West Prospect which they had lived in for the first 17 years of his life. The West Highland house was built for my husband's great grandfather and mother and the name on the historic registry is the Lyman H & Marion Black Home.

This house on West Highland is only a couple blocks South of my husband's great great grandfather's house, the CH Black house on Lee Street which takes up an entire city block. It is also right across the street from Betty Bowen Viewpoint and the West Queen Anne Walls. In listening to my husband's grandfather's stories yesterday, he said his dad used to have a light he would switch on in the 1940s whenever couples were hanging out at the Viewpoint for too long after dark. He remembers that his parents would always know he came home safely because he would come in and play Moonlight Sonata at the Grand Piano after a fun night out. He KNEW Betty Bowen!

I had heard the piano story before but it was so amazing to find out that this particular house that I obviously did not photograph for any purpose except that I loved it happened to be the house where all this happened. I also find it amazing that not one, but at least four of their family homes are on the historic registry in family names - even if one other is gone now.

If you are interested in West Queen Anne real estate or other Queen Anne real estate, please feel free to get in touch with me. Queen Anne has a rich history and I would love to share with you some of my favorite spots!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

On Hiring a Realtor Based on their Fee

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:36:15 -0600

I can't help it. I am loving Liz's Realtor series! It is perfect - please enjoy! I think it is a great write up and a good way to be able to answer those objections to someone who might find your commission seems too high - WHATEVER THAT COMMISSION IS.

I am a big fan of all business models and strongly believe that commission is negotiable depending on the situation. That being said, this is a great explanation to a client of how we get paid.

Via Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack,Hope,Langley,Abbotsford (Harrison Hot Springs, Cultus Lake):

What's Your Commission? On Hiring a Realtor Based on their Fee...

I always say (oh well maybe somebody did say it before me) - if the Realtor cannot negotiate their own Commission then how are they going to negotiate the best price possible for your home? Negotiation skills. I would think, given a choice - you would want an aggressive negotiator, not someone that either doesn't believe in their own ability or the value of your home!

The question that begs to be asked is....Why do some Real Estate Agents offer Discounted Fees? Is it because they're the Good Guy? They just want to see more money in your pocket then theirs?



Well there could be a number of reasons:

- they feel that's the only way they can compete

- they have poor negotiation skills

- they have trouble justifying their own worth

- they're hoping to make up for it in volume

- the agent is desperate - any commission is better then no commission

- qualifications/experience of the Realtor

- you're willing to do the marketing instead

- they feel sorry for you

- they believe in pro bono

- having a sign on your lawn is more important then the commission



So let's do a little review.

Did you know that the commission the seller pays is split between the Selling Agent (the person with the buyer) and the Listing Agent (the person with the seller). So if the commission is 6% then typically 3% will go to the Selling Agent and 3% will go to Listing Agent.  Sometimes we Realtors assume that you know that! However I'm pretty sure that some of you think we get the whole kit and caboodle!

Do you know that there are Real Estate Companies out there that Do Not put your home on The Mutiple Listing System (MLS)? They have this 'exclusivity' thing happening. They think that their paycheque might be a lot bigger if they do not have to co-operate and share their commission if they get to to List AND Sell your home. Be sure to ask them what portion of the commission you are paying will be going to the Selling Broker.   How much longer do you think it will take to sell your home if it's only YOUR AGENT that's trying to sell it? I think I read somewhere that it's like 16:100 odds.

When looking at an MLS Listing - the Selling Agent can see the commission they will be paid. It may not show up on the Public Version - but that information is disclosed in the Realtor's version.   Note: It's the Selling Agent that reviews the properties for sale in the MLS and most often choose those they deem appropriate for their buyer. Guess what?  Herein lies the conundrum.

Now put yourself in the Selling Agent's shoes. You can sell House A or could sell House B. But house A will pay you $1,000, $4,000, $7,000 or MORE! You have mortgage payment, bills, & children to support. Which house would you like to sell?

Did you know that unlike Doctors, Lawyers and Government Employees - Realtors are not paid per hour. But we do take all the risk by putting our time & money into advertising YOUR property in order to get it sold. Chances are we also have an OFFICE cost, MLS Fees, Board Fees and more! Do you know that we only get paid if the Seller sells and the Buyer buys? If they don't our costs are not recovered.

So no - commission is not regulated - there is no set rate if you're selling your home - but it IS a good idea that the commission you're paying the Selling Realtor is  in-line with the rest of the comparable houses on the market. Market slow? Well in that case you might even consider offering a greater sales commission or a sales bonus. You say WHAT??? But look at it this way. For every week/month your home doesn't sell - how much will THAT cost you? You get to choose!

Still think you'd like to go with a Discount Broker?

*Please note - this is not meant to suggest that the Commission fee charged is the only criteria - there are many, many different aspects to hiring the right Realtor. Please check out this post:   How Do I Find a Good Realtor?

Is It Wrong to Work With More Then One Realtor?

Speaking of Statistics...What's the Difference Between Median Price and Average Price?



If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos by Liz Moras ( except the one's I'm in!). All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

10 Reasons Why The Holiday Season Is A Better Time To Sell

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:24:08 -0600

This applies to Seattle real estate, too!

Via Kim Boekholder, Murray Utah, Sandy Utah, Salt Lake County, Utah MLS Listings, UT (Relocation, Short SalesK.W. Utah Realtors, Associate Broker ):

10 Reasons Why The Holiday Season Is A Great Time To Sell. Below is a list of reasons why now is the time to list.... Don't wait until spring.

*Sellers are dropping out of the market for holidays, less competition

*Buyers who are looking in the winter tend to be more serious buyers.

*Singles, couples, and empty nesters tend to wait while school is in session to buy, less competition for them.

*Interest rates are at an all time low

*Buyer scan buy more house right now.

*February and March produce the highest amount of homes sales, but November and December and January don't have as many homes for sale so there is a higher ration of homes sold to those for sale.

*The holiday spirit can help sell your home, you decorate for your guests, but buyers will find your home more charming while it is decorated for the season.

*Most homes are never cleaner and never smell better, or are better decorated than during the holiday season.

*If you don't want to move during the holidays you can negotiate possession for your own convenience.

*Sellers can usually negotiate their best deals during the holiday season.

Sellers who take their homes off the market or postpone selling them during the holidays won't save any money; they will simply postpone their own dreams and perhaps find more competition when they decide to enter the market again.

Are you ready to postpone your dreams or are you ready to move ahead and live your future now?

Kim Boekholder, Keller Williams, Moving to Utah? Moving Around Utah? Contact me for help

Follow me on Twitter:

Subscribe to my blogs:

Become my friend on Facebook

To View all homes throughout Utah and real estate tips http://www.kimshomesforsale.com

Share this information with others. Thank you

iUtah - Utah      For Utah places to go and things to do. KSL's community Calendar.

p.s. "By the way, if a friend or family member you know could use a caring and competent agent, I would enjoy meeting them. Thanks for thinking of me with your referrals. I am certified in short sales, foreclsoures, buying, selling, investing, luxury homes, relocation.

Kim Boekholder Associate Broker,

Keller Williams Utah Realtors, Chair Ambassador Murray Chamber

Specializing in Short Sales and Relocation

Mobile: 801-580-5624
Fax:     801-303-8556
boeks@msn.com

Keller Williams a great place to hang your license.

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Houseboats: Yesterdays Weren't Always The Best Times

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:16:40 -0600

Historical Seattle Houseboats:

Seattle houseboats were born of a brilliant cheap housing for people who could scavenge extra logs for floats. It was economical housing at its best. Although that isn't necessarily the case anymore, it is important to recognize our roots in any situation!

Here is a great reminder of Seattle floating homes roots:

This picture was taken in the early 1950's but it is a good example of early houseboats.

Picture is courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives item # 45982

Are you interested in Seattle floating homes? Seattle has lots of waterfront real estate, but houseboats are a favorite and there are only a little over 500 of them left.

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Wilcox Wall on Queen Anne's West Slope: Major Part of Queen Anne Boulevard

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:49:28 -0600

The Wilcox Wall is just one of the jewels in the Queen Anne Blvd necklace on the Queen Anne's West Slope. This amazing piece of Seattle history is such a key feature to this neighborhood and a wonderful place to take a stroll at just over .4 of a mile long.

Wilcox Wall: Originally the Wilcox Wall which was designed by architect Walter Ross Baumes Wilcox (also designed the Arboretum Bridge) was called the 1913 Queen Anne Boulevard Retaining Wall according to the Museum of History & Industry. It is also referred to as the West Queen Anne Wallsby some sources, but many more just know it as the Wilcox Wall. It is interesting because the walls are all interconnected and vary in height from around 4 feet to about 22 feet. The brickwork and lighting on the Wilcox wall are phenomenal and there are staircases going down to the next street level if you choose or just a flat walk.

Where can you find this beautiful Queen Anne landmark? The Wilcox Wall is on the West stretch of Queen Anne Boulevard. Queen Anne Boulevard is Queen Anne's Green Lake Loop and spans many streets for a complete distance of around 3.7 miles. The Wilcox Wall is just a small portion of that at a little over .4 of a mile as stated above, but it is all scenic Puget Sound views along the way. Wilcox Wall runs along 8th Place West between W Galer Street to the North and West Highland Drive to the South at Marshall Park (Betty Bowen Viewpoint).

Queen Anne View Homes: If you find yourself looking for a Queen Anne home with a Puget Sound View, then chances are you will run into the Wilcox Wall or another part of Queen Anne Boulevard.

West Queen Anne real estate is full of Seattle homes that offer wonderful views from Southwest Queen Anne Hill in most cases!

Queen Anne real estate is amazing! Let us know if you have questions about Wilcox Wall, Queen Anne Boulevard, or Queen Anne homes - this is one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods and full of rich history. We would love to share it with you!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Houseboats: Creative & Part Of Nature

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:23:36 -0600

Seattle houseboat living is one of the most unique in Seattle:

Are you a creative person looking for your perfect Seattle waterfront nest?

As we go into the snowy winter this year, I wanted to share one of my favorite houseboat shots from this summer:

The "Duck Lodge" floating raft is located on one of the Eastlake Seattle floating home docks and a great way to welcome in Seattle's nature. This creative Seattle houseboater has made a duck house instead of a dog house on a floating raft attached to the float the home is on.

Lake Union Houseboats: Living close to nature!

Ducks aren't the only nature a Seattle houseboat owner co-exists with. Lake Union is a working lake with fish and fowl everywhere.Here is a peaceful guy. For being right in the middle of the city, the banks of Eastlake are incredibly peaceful and a great place to land for Seattle waterfront homes!

Seattle Houseboats Big Force In Keeping Lake Union Clean

In what seems like thinly veiled political agendas, the Seattle houseboat community has long been targeted as being potentially harmful environmentally over the years. The truth of the matter is that Seattle houseboat owners have been a major force in cleaning up Lake Union so that we all can enjoy it. One of the requirements for living on a floating home successfully is a fondness and care for the environment.

Seattle houseboats: if you are interested in learning more about Seattle houseboats including floating homes or other Seattle waterfront living, please let us know. We are happy to help you find your perfect spot!

SeattleAfloat.com

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Closing Day is Coming - Prepare Your Home For Pay Day

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:50:50 -0600

Via R. Greg Osmond Realtor, St. John's, Newfoundland, Real Estate (Sutton Group-Capital Realty Ltd.):

So you have sold your home! Congratulations! Closing day is coming. Prepare your home for pay day.

When your house sells it usually results in you feeling pretty great, at least for a little while. Yet not long after, the pressures of preparing the home for closing day begin to mount. You wanted this day to come but now that it is really happening you have some ambivalence. Preparing the house for closing becomes top of mind.

So what things should you do to prepare for closing day?

Here are seven recommendations to help with the mental task of preparing your home for closing. That is the day when the buyers walk through, inspect "your" work, confirm that everything is as they expect it to be, and proceed to the lawyers office with the cheque.

1. Find yourself some boxes. If you are doing your own packing, and many people do, gathering lots of wrapping tissue or news paper and boxes will be just the thing. Pick up 50 or more depending on how much stuff you plan to take to your new destination. When you have them, start packing all the things you plan to take but can do without until you are relocated. It is more than you think.

2. Identify the give aways and make a list of people you know will take them off your hands. We all have a few items that we would prefer to give away. Avoid carrying these into your "next life" by passing them down to a loved one or friend. It often feels liberating to pass along something you are no longer using or that you just want someone else to have.

3. Identify the garage/yard sale items and plan your weekend sale now. This will involve putting the announcement notice in the paper and online. Get it organized and planned for the earliest date. This will help you to make sure the weekend does not creep up on you unaware. Deadlines for advertising in the paper are some of those things that do creep up.

4. Throw away anything else left over. If you can't sell it or give it away and you are not going to keep it, then send it to the landfill. Yes, I know that is not environmentally friendly but unless you can make an old broken chair into next weeks dinner, you have to throw some things out. This is one of those times.

5. Clean up all rooms in the house that you can before moving day gets here. Leave only the vacuuming for the very last day. Ask a couple of cleaners to go through the home and do the heavy work for you. Hire them if you need to. Cleaning the ceilings and walls, lights, shelving, cupboards, windows, and storage areas are things the hired help can do. This is not the time to be Superwoman....or even the time to be married to her. Tip for the guys. Insist on this one. It will save you a tonne of guilt. :-)

6. Book the movers. I know, I have it numbered as 6 but really you should make this number 1. The earlier you do this, the better. Often the movers are really busy at peak moving days so get on this and reserve them now. It will take a lot off your mind.

7. When closing day comes, you will have everything out of the house, and the house thoroughly cleaned. Why not leave a little gift on the counter and a hand written note expressing your personal enjoyment of the home, along with well wishes for the new owners in the years ahead? It is amazing how that little gesture will help smooth over any small wrinkle that might arise. At this point, you have prepared the house as best as you can. The final piece is all about people management.

Closing day will come and your efforts will all be rewarded. With careful attention to details the sale will close smoothly and the payment for the home will be in your account, if only for a moment in time. At this point, you need to take yourself out for dinner. After all, you deserve a reward too. You have done a great job!

___________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author: R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor dedicated to serving the people of St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Kilbride, Goulds, Conception Bay South (CBS), Portugal Cove - St. Philips, Torbay – Flatrock – Pouch Cove, and Logy Bay - Middle Cove - Outer Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. For over 21 years Greg has been practicing in Real Estate. He can be reached at 709-895-2500.

Want to get in touch? Email rgosmond1@gmail.com. For more information, please visit http://www.rgregosmond.com. Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for helping my clients with buying and selling real estate! If there is any way I can be of service to you today, please feel free to contact me!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

How Do I Find a Good Realtor? From That Chilliwack Girl!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:46:43 -0600

Via Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack,Hope,Langley,Abbotsford (Harrison Hot Springs, Cultus Lake):

How do I Find a Good Realtor I Should Work With?

It's a common question - and perhaps not one always asked of THE Realtor - but definitely one discussed amongst the public! I just did a post - Is It Wrong to Work With More Then One Realtor? and one question begets another. It reminded me of a conversation I had recently.

I was working my mall shift at the Kiosk the other day ~ and chatting with a customer and she asked..."But How do I find the Good Realtor?".......And I thought to myself - the choice Must be confusing for people! If you don't have someone you know recommend one - and if you don't want to solely rely on the ads in the Real Estate Weekly what do you do?



Well I can tell you what you Don't Want to do! And that's choose on the basis of the Lowest Commission and Who Suggests the Highest Price for your home! But that's the subject of another post. This one is about what you Should Do!

Some people go for Experience - believing that is the KEY! And it could be - but brand new agents can be amazing as well. There's something about enthusiasm and thinking anything is possible - that can be pretty powerful!

I'm a big believer in Enthusiasm: When an agent shows excitement about your home it'll come through in every conversation whether it be on the phone - at an open house - or through their advertising! They'll be able to convince both Realtors and Customers to view the house but still make recommendations to show your home in it's best light!

Marketing has always been important ~ but these days a Web presence is critical! I believe one of the first things you should do is GOOGLE them. Google their name, their company and things like 'Your Town/Community Realtor' and see what comes up.  Ask the Realtor if they BLOG, evaluate their Website (because of course they HAVE to have one)....Ask them to show you how they market other homes - that'll give you a pretty good clue! If you're not computer savy then ask a friend that is!

Find out where the Realtors advertise ~ Real Estate Newspapers have become passe in some communities so don't be surprised if they don't advertise in newspapers - but let them show you how they will market your property. In the same way Open Houses can be a good tool in some areas and yet not in others. So ask questions and ask why. Ultimately you want to get to the point where you trust the Realtor in their choice of marketing !

Communication: You want an agent that can tell you The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! A phone call after each showing is not too much to expect, nor is a monthly report outlining showings, ads placed, feedback, etc. You should be able to expect a return phone call within a few hours - but some Realtors don't work Weekends or evenings - so make sure you know what you can expect.

All that being said.......I find Intuition and 'Gut Feelings' can also be a powerful factor. You'll know if you feel uneasy about the potential association or if there's a mutual respect and camaraderie. My best advice? Research, Ask Questions And then go with your Gut Feeling!





If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos by Liz Moras ( except the one's I'm in!). All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive. It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..



or

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Betty Bowen Viewpoint on Queen Anne

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:01:09 -0600

Betty Bowen Viewpoint or Marshall Park on Queen Anne's Southwest slope is a thing of beauty. Betty Bowen was a patron of the arts in Seattle and supported artists like Morris Graves whom she met as a teenager. There are some wonderful art installations right here (including an unsigned Morris Graves)for all to enjoy if the view from Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood isn't enough.

Beautiful Southwest Queen Anne View Location: This park is located on the very West end of West Highland Drive over looking Seattle's Puget Sound and at the foot of the South end of the Wilcox Wall.

Queen Anne Seattle Living: Queen Anne real estate: Are you interested in living in one of Seattle's oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods? We are happy to show you some of our favorite spots here!

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This Seattle Real Estate blog written by:

Courtney Cooper, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, Designated Broker for Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

@CourtneyCooper 206-251-5948 courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Serving Seattle WA neighborhoods & suburbs with care! Search ALL Greater Seattle's MLS listings for FREE no matter who they are listed with: www.cooperjacobs.com

Seattle Real Estate Blog

I Am A Murderer and I Need Help

Pioneer Square Real Estate Update December 2009 Market

9042 6th Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117

West Queen Anne Real Estate Update December 2009

Tis The Season for Giving - Feed It Forward

Cobra Subsidy Extension? Maybe Another Six Months

Google wave invites

Should you buy down a loan?

Hope You Had A Great Thanksgiving!

Seattle Buy Local For Your Holiday Gift Guide Shopping List

Support our Seattle economy!

If you are interested in Seattle real estate, we are happy to help guide you through that, too!

Thinking of Selling Your Home – Twenty-one Reasons to Call a Professional Realtor

RainCamp™ is Coming to New York City January 12th, 2010

ActiveRain will be bringing our third RainCamp™ to the Big Apple on Tuesday, January 12th. We have teamed up with the folks at Inman to kick off Real Estate Connect New York City 2010.

"What's RainCamp™ All About?"

"What's the Big Deal?"

"Could Real Estate Connect Be As Cool?"

"Bob, Shut your mouth.....It can't get BETTER, can it?"

"This Must Cost One Million Dollars, Right?"

WHAT IS RAINCAMP™?

Platinum RainCamp™ Sponsor: Market Leader

Seattle Greener Thanksgiving

Seattle's Missing Ghost Hill: Denny Hill Regrade

Twilight New Moon Midnight Showings in Seattle

Lake Forest Park: Did You know?

Queen Anne Yesteryears Revisited...

On Hiring a Realtor Based on their Fee

10 Reasons Why The Holiday Season Is A Better Time To Sell

Seattle Houseboats: Yesterdays Weren't Always The Best Times

Wilcox Wall on Queen Anne's West Slope: Major Part of Queen Anne Boulevard

Seattle Houseboats: Creative & Part Of Nature

Closing Day is Coming - Prepare Your Home For Pay Day

How Do I Find a Good Realtor? From That Chilliwack Girl!

Betty Bowen Viewpoint on Queen Anne