Leavenworth, WA - Almost like Germany - 11/29/07 03:46 PM
All the years I have lived here in Washington, I have never made it to the town of Leavenworth - until now.
Leavenworth is a small mountain resort town 2 hours east of Seattle. The town is modeled after a Bavarian village theme. When people learn that I'm German, they invariably ask … (13 comments)
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The Agent Bonus Lure - 11/27/07 12:21 AM
In the current buyer's market I more frequently come upon listings that offer a selling bonus for the agent who brings an acceptable offer. Now what does that imply about real estate agents???
It implies that, motivated by extra money, agents will bring buyers to a listing they might otherwise not have shown. Additionally, since the … (63 comments)
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Washington State Landlord Requirements - 11/21/07 06:02 PM
Did you know that the Washington State Legislature has enacted a law that requires landlords to notify their tenants about mold?
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5049.E.htm
The best way for landlords to fulfill this obligation is to include the Washington State Department of Heath's brochure on mold when handing over the keys. Just to be on … (7 comments)
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Yucky Weather? South Sound Guide to Fun Indoor Destinations for Kids - 11/21/07 05:47 PM
With the weather getting colder and wetter, it's increasingly difficult to get the kids out of the house and active. To prevent cabin fever and for a way to spend quality time with the kids, I've compiled a local guide of fun destinations.
Take a Trip to Westfield Shopping Center
"Kids, we're going to the mall!" … (8 comments)
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Mold in your Home - Now What? - 11/20/07 08:41 PM
Here in Washington mold can be found everywhere. Mold helps decompose plant debris, helps make great cheese and is used in medicines. Mold spores are constantly in the air and in the ground, and when they settle on moist, organic matter, they multiply. When mold accumulates you can see it, like on old … (7 comments)
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Winterizing Your Home - 11/20/07 07:45 PM
Preparing in advance for the winter season, will help cut expenses, save energy and protect your home.Here are a few simple steps you can take to be prepared for the chilly season:
Check your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. An open flame in your fire place, lit candles and lighted holiday decorations … (5 comments)
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Burdensome Impact Fees - 11/16/07 07:47 PM
Those pesky impact fees many cities charge for developing a new property are adding up to be quite a large chunk of change. The motivation behind charging impact fees is to recover the cost of added strain of the development on the public facilities, such as schools, roads, parks etc.
The city of … (2 comments)
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Looking for Great Gift Ideas? - 11/15/07 07:37 PM
If you're still wondering what to give your clients, friends, or loved ones, here is a list of great online resources.
Easy to mail items of value for clients:
Mini calculators, custom day planners and more at http://www.myron.com/
Custom luggage tags, thermometers and other promotional products at http://www.westsky.com
Flower seed packets at http://www.americanmeadows.com/
Branded Christmas CDs … (14 comments)
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Dropping Dollar could be good for Real Estate - 11/14/07 06:40 PM
A weak US dollar and a drop in US home prices are luring foreign investors to the U.S. real estate market. The U.S. dollar has dropped to its lowest level against the European Euro, currently priced at $1.47.
A recent article in "The Olympian" newspaper reports:
..."European investment is likely to pick up," said … (11 comments)
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Are you like Forrest Gump? - 11/13/07 02:07 PM
How often are we chasing marketing trends, tempted to try out gimmicks and focused on getting a leg up on our competition? We're busy chasing success instead of having success attached to us as inseparably as a shadow.
That's why Forrest is my hero. He's a simple man who goes through life … (12 comments)
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Thurston County Food Bank Donations - 11/13/07 01:37 PM
Sharing with those in need has just gotten easier. If you'd like to donate food items to the Thurston County Food Bank and you live on the west-side of Olympia, simply drop your items off at the Riley Jackson Real Estate office building at 1920 Black Lake Blvd. (next to Lumbermens).
… (0 comments)
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Taking Inventory - 11/10/07 08:00 PM
Our MLS furnishes informative housing market statistics that reveal, among other things, the average sales price of homes, the average amount of time listings stay on the market and the sales price versus list price ratios.
All are very important statistics to know, but another important statistic to keep handy is the amount of … (9 comments)
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Housing Inventory versus Demand - 11/10/07 07:40 PM
Just like in retail, we take inventory and measure the pace of demand.
The inventory versus demand picture in the Thurston County housing market looks like this:
Number of active residential listings: 2056
Number of residential listings sold within past 12 months: 4040
Average number of sales per month: 336
Number of months worth of … (4 comments)
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Ft. Lewis Holiday Bazaar and other Happenings - 11/05/07 08:32 PM
I don't think there's a military installation that doesn't host a holiday bazaar. The Fort Lewis 27th Annual Holiday Bazaar is put on by the Officers' Spouses Club and opens its doors from November 3rd until November 4th at the Soldiers Field House. Besides food and live musical entertainment, there will be plenty of … (2 comments)
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Who does the insurance industry think they're kidding? - 11/04/07 05:35 PM
I've reached a point where I just had to vent my annoyance at the insurance industry commercials on initiative 67. Do they think if they mention the words "frivolous lawsuits" and "money in trial lawyers' pockets" enough times, people won't care what the initiative is actually about and just go along … (8 comments)
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Dupont is a great place to invest - 11/03/07 08:38 PM
When it comes to Location-Location-Location, the city of Dupont is the right place to be. Its convenient location to Ft. Lewis, its location right off Interstate-5 and its location right on Puget Sound, with views of Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains make this a truly desirable place to live. I … (7 comments)
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Staging 3608 Steven Dr. Lacey, Before and After - 11/02/07 09:53 PM
I just got finished Staging a newly listed home, located at 3606 Stevens Dr. NE in Lacey. The home is vacant and needed a few finishing touches to give it some warmth and style. The home is over 2500 sq. ft in size, has 3 bedrooms, a den plus a large bonus room, … (14 comments)
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Riley Jackson Grand Opening - 11/02/07 02:57 PM
In February 2007, Riley Jackson Real Estate Inc. officially opened for business as a new brokerage in Olympia. It has differentiated itself through its dedication to exceptional service and outstanding business practices. Riley Jackson is home to 25 agents and has recently completed its brand new office building on Olympia's … (5 comments)
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Five Important Tips for Buyers of New Construction Homes - 11/01/07 08:41 PM
New construction activity has exploded here in the South Puget Sound area. This development has created a large inventory of new homes to choose from. With lender bonuses and other incentives, it's very tempting to walk into a model home and to walk out with a signed purchase and sale agreement.
Here are steps … (4 comments)
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