misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: The Power Bill Diet -
- 01/28/08 11:00 AM
Looking to sve on those energy bills. Think copnservation, I just found this interesting website called the Power Bill Diet it is all about simple strategies to reduce your power bills without changing your lifestyle. The ideas are for both residential and commercial applications.
They claim you can save 70% of your energy bill with a variety of fixes, from solar tubes to reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours, tankless water heaters, sealing leaky windows and doors to elastomeric coatings to reflect up to 90% of the heat from the sun in the southern states that need lots of air conditioning.
This certainly … (0 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Camping in Bellingham in a Green RV
- 01/25/08 10:24 AM
There are loads of great camping spots around Bellingham, Larabee state Park is one of the closest camping spots to town. It is just a few miles down the beautiful, scenic Chuckanut drive. There is camping out in the San Juan Islands, one of my favorite spots is on Lopez Island, right along the coast. The North Cascades are not far away and Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has some excellent camp spots. I really like the Silver Fir campground on the Nooksack River on the road to Mt Baker.
But the inspiration for this post was the how of camping. Some do … (13 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Oh Don't Forget- Send Free Text Messaging
- 01/25/08 09:12 AM
Here is an interesting site I discovered today.
Oh Don't Forget - It is a FREE service that let's you input reminder messages for yourself on their website, including your cell phone number, and date and time you would like to receive the message ................ and then they send you a text message as a reminder.
This could certainly come in handy some days, remind yourself of Birthdays, appointments, whatever.
They have been included in TIME magazine's 50 Best Websites of 2007 list! The service is FREE but they will gladly accept donations.
… (2 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: A great time to see Eagles in Northwest Washington
- 01/25/08 07:49 AM
Bald eagles from Alaska and British Columbia, gather in large numbers this time of the year on the Nooksack and Skagit rivers. They are here to get their easy prey, spawning salmon on these rivers. In the winter, dead salmon wash up on the sandbars created by the many channels of the river. Bring a pair of binoculars to see the action close up.
There is a Eagle Sanctuary on The Skagit near the North Cascades Highway, also known as Highway 20, just outside of Rockport.
The Deming Homestead Eagle Park is small detour off the Mt. Baker Highway where you can also observe the … (3 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Compressed Air Cars - Talk about Green
- 01/19/08 09:24 AM
This or something like it could be the car of the future.
The compressed air car! That's right compressed air, talk about green cars, I think this idea has a lot going for it. More than hydrogen which seems to be the future of the automobile if you look at what Detroit is thinking for the future. The Air Car, could be one of the biggest technology breakthroughs in a long time. They are not expensive and they don'pt pollute. The ultimate commuter car.
It looks like Tata Motors, India's largest car maker, will be manufacturing these some time in the future.
Let's hope … (7 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Luxury, High End, Green, and Manufactured Homes in Bellingham
- 01/19/08 07:37 AM
Luxury, High End, Green, and Manufactured Homes in Bellingham? I don't know if there are any of these in Bellingham or Whatcom County yet, but there could be. Livinghomes is a company that is building this new breed of high end manufactured homes. These homes are architecturally designed by world class architects, built in a factory and can be delivered to your site and assembled there in just days.
They use up to date form and function, and use sustainable materials and energy systems.
"Our first home was designed by Ray Kappe, FAIA, and was installed in eight hours on April 13. … (7 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Larrabee State Park's Wildcat Cove - Beach Walk
- 01/17/08 05:13 AM
Larrabee State Park's Wildcat Cove - Beach Walk will take place Jan 19 at 8pm-10pm.
This is a rare opportunity to walk the beach after dark as the parks usually close at dusk. The program is to help people learn and care for the shoreline. Larabee in conjunction with Re-Sources sponsors the Volunteer Beach Naturalist program training local citizens to act as informal naturalists on our beaches in Whatcom and Skagit County. This event is co-sponsored by People for Puget Sound
Larrabee is the first state park that was created in Washington in 1915. It is located off the scenic Chuckanut Drive and it … (0 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Childhood Music Memories
- 01/13/08 08:22 AM
I must thank Jason, Paul and Adam for this trip down memory lane. Some of my first musical memories of the were listening to songs my sister used to play on her Victrola. I remember Johnny Mathis, and the Kingston Trio. As I got a little older I started to enjoy the Kingston Trio for a, listening to the saga of "The Man Who Never Returned" "Did he ever return? No, he never returned and his fate is still unlearned. He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston. He's the man who never returned " and Tom Dooley.
As I … (7 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: President Bush signs Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007.
- 12/21/07 08:22 AM
President Bush signs Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 this week.
The bill will eliminate income tax on mortgage debt that has been forgiven by lenders on primary residence for people in financial hardships. In other words the IRS will no longer collect money from people who have worked out a deal with their lenders or after a short sale. The bill gives this debt relief for a period of 3 years a compromise between the House who wanted it permanently and the Senate and the President.
This will provide much needed relief to people losing their homes. As it stands now, a lender … (11 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: My Pink or is it Green Dream Home
- 12/19/07 10:17 AM
In response to janeAnne's Pink Challenge, here is what I would do if money where no object to building my green home:
1. Radiant floor heating -- I've always wanted to live in home with radiant floor heating, living in the Pacific Northwest with the winters can be on cold side and I'm looking forward to radiant floor heating in my home. The water would be heated by electricity which will be free in my new home through the multiple sources listed below.
2. Solar generated electricity -- using the latest in solar technology I will be able to generate electricity to power … (1 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Winterize your Bellingham Home
- 11/16/07 07:15 AM
Here's a few helpful hints to prepare your home in the coming months for the fall and winter season.
Roof
Remove moss from the roof. Don't use a pressure washer, as this will often cause more damage. He's a brush or find some system at the local hardware store, we get a professional to clean your roof.Check your flashing, make sure it is all secure.Check for any damage or loose shingles.Clean out your gutters.True trees and branches near the roof of power lines.Exterior
Keep vegetation away from your siding.Keep soil at least six inches below any siding or wood products.Cleanup leaves around your home. … (7 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: House has passed Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007
- 10/30/07 08:17 AM
The house of Representativis has passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. The bill wiill eliminate income tas on mortgage debt that has been forgiven by lenders on primary residence for people in financial hardships. In other words the IRS will no longer collect money from people who have worked out a deal with their lenders or after a short sale.
This would provide much needed relief to people losing their homes. As it stands now, a lender who forgives a debt to must provide provide a Form 1099 to the IRS stating the amount the borrower has been forgiven. The rules apply … (2 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Washington State Foreclosure Rate .49% - Better Than 10 years Ago
- 10/27/07 06:32 AM
With all the media hype about "foreclosures skyrocketing" and "Mortgage Meltdown" do you think it worse than it was 10 years ago. According to the Mortgage Bankers Associaction the current foreclosure rate in the state of Washington in .49% compared to a national average of 1.4%.
Home values are appreciating here in Bellingham and in the rest of Washington.
The state as a whole is in a better position now in regard to foreclosures as they were 10 years ago.
So if you think the market is bad, think again, at least if you are looking for real estate in Bellingham or the state … (12 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Could this house be your new Bellingham Home?
- 10/13/07 10:21 AM
If you're up in the market via new home, you probably look at more than one. Houses come in all prices and sizes, shapes and conditions. But what makes a house home.
The house that makes me feel at home and I'm sure most of you, is the one where your family is, when I was single it was where I felt most comfortable, a place I wanted to be with friends or alone. A place to cook dinner, much TV, makes movies, right blogs, or whatever else you to that makes you feel comfortable, that will be the place that you … (0 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Accessible Homes in Bellingham
- 10/13/07 09:59 AM
Accessible Homes in Bellingham especially in the lower price ranges seem to be few and far between. Why aren't more new homes built for universal accessibility? It seems that as our population ages more and more people will be looking for these types of homes. Ramblers as we call them will become more popular as baby boomers age and want one level living.
There are new developments in and around Whatcom County that are one level but not handicapped accessible. I know it's the added cost, and the room it takes but someone needs to think about people who are disabled and helping to fill their … (1 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Selling your home in Bellingham part 2.
- 09/13/07 07:22 AM
What can you do to your home to make it more appealing.
Let's start with all the fixtures in the house. Make sure they're all clean and replaced with new ones where needed. Clean the sinks really good to try to remove any stains they may have. Make sure all knobs and faucets turned easily and don't leak.
Take a look at the walls and ceilings and see if there any water stains. If there are make sure the leaks have been repaired and and stained areas repainted. Speaking of paint, a neutral off white paint make your home feel more light and spacious and will … (0 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: So you want to know MeMe- OK
- 08/01/07 03:45 PM
Okay I've been memed by Steve Smith.
1. Some of you may know I like to consider myself recovering from multiple sclerosis. I been battling this disease for probably 12 years now and I like to think of myself as winning although it does often get the better of me. I'm into alternative therapies and though I once wanted to take one of the main stream drugs I had an enlightened doctor, who talked me out of it and I'm glad he did. I've been to Mexico several times for therapies that are not available in the US. I had an umbilical … (13 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Are you under contract to buy a house - don't go buy that new pickup yet
- 07/14/07 03:49 PM
I just heard a horror story recently from another agent that had a deal fall apart at the last minute. What happened was while the buyers were under contract to buy their new dream home, they went out and bought a new truck. What a mistake! Their bank did a final credit check before issuing the loan and lo and behold their credit rating and ratio's had totally changed. Enough so that they were denied the loan. No loan, no home, and most likely no return of their earnest money, although that could end up in some sort of court battle in … (5 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Open House Ideas
- 06/15/07 09:59 AM
I just read a post on Open Houses and started thinking about a few ideas I want to try for my next open house.
1. Have a drawing for theater tickets to every open house visitor who came by and subscribes to you email or snail mail newsletter .
2. Have several free copies of real estate reports available, making sure to offer a copy to every open house visitor.
3. Offer homeowners a free CMA of their home, even if they aren't thinking about selling soon.
4. An idea I got from someone here at AR. Candy bars with a custom made wrapper with … (23 comments)
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misc ramblings from your bellingham real estate pro: Maplandia - Find your town
- 06/15/07 06:54 AM
Here is an interesting take on Google maps. This free service is Maplandia.com http://www.maplandia.com This new service organizes Google maps site maps and satellite images by country and continent. Maplandia will creatke an HTML link you can paste into your blog so folks dropping by can see the map with one click.
… (0 comments)
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Looking to sve on those energy bills. Think copnservation, I just found this interesting website called the Power Bill Diet it is all about simple strategies to reduce your power bills without changing your lifestyle. The ideas are for both residential and commercial applications.
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