Tina Faust, GRI - Western WA Real Estate

Update to the Air Force Tanker Contract

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:42:03 -0500

Great News! The Government Accountability Office has determined that it supports Boeing's bid protest regarding the air refueling tanker! This means it may be re-bid! Read the full story here.

Air Force Tanker Contract

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:17:18 -0500

No, we can't celebrate quite yet, but for those of us that live in Washington State, good news was released today regarding the tanker contract which Boeing lost earlier in the year. Honestly, in my opinion this affects everyone around the country due to tax dollars and jobs being lost when the tanker contract was awarded to a non-American company.

Reuters reports that the Air Force admitted to errors in the calculcation of life cycle costs between the two air refueling tankers. The 767 Boeing offered will cost less over time. Read the full story here!

The Government Accountability Office still needs to rule on this one, but that decision is expected soon. Keep your fingers crossed! I am....

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Thinking of buying or selling? I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you! I offer full time real estate expertise and advice to buyers, sellers, corporate and military relocations, new home purchases and investors.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

More Lists featuring Seattle Area

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:34:16 -0500

RelocateAmerica.com, a web site offering resources to people relocating within the US, has published their Top 100 Places to Live list and, you guessed it, Seattle was on that list. But even better - it made the Top 10!!! I can certainly attest to this positioning, I love living here!

In addition to this good news, the PMI Mortgage Insurance Company just released their Spring 2008 US Market Risk Index and Seattle was on the low end. The Company is rating cities based on the likelihood that home prices will be lower in 2 years. They ranked cities from 1-5 with 1 being the most risk. Seattle was in the 5 ranking.

PMI Spring 2008 PMI US Market Risk Index
Rank	MSA	Score
1	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	93
1	Las Vegas-Paradise, NV	91
1	Orlando-Kissimee, FL	85
1	Fort Lauderdale-Pompano-Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL	84
1	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	84
1	Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA	81
1	West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL	79
1	Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, CA	78
1	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	78
1	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA	77
1	San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA	72
1	Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA	63
1	Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL	61
2	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	51
2	Providence-New Bedford Fall River, RI-MA	47
3	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MC	37
3	San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA	30
3	Nassau-Suffolk, NY	29
3	Boston-Quincy, MA	20
3	Edison, NJ	19
4	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	17
4	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN	16
4	Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI	15
5	Baltimore-Towson, MD	10
5	Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI-NJ	9
5	Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA	9
5	Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR	9
5	New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY	7
5	Newark-Union, NJ	5
5	Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA	4
5	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA	4
5	Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN	3
5	Philadelphia, PA	3
5	St. Louis, MO-IL	2
5	Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL	2
5	Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	2
5	Denver-Aurora, CO	1
5	Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH	<1>
5	Austin-Round Rock, TX	<1>
5	Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC	<1>
5	Kansas City, MO-KS	<1>
5	Columbus, OH	<1>
5	Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN	<1>
5	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	<1>
5	San Antonio, TX	<1>
5	Indianapolis-Carmel, IN	<1>
5	Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX	<1>
5	Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX	<1>
5	Pittsburgh, PA	<1>
5	Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	<1>

The published web site address for more information is http://www.pmi-us.com/eret, however the site wasn't working when I tried going to it.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Environmentally Conscious

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:22:12 -0500

What I wanted to chat about today is a topic we hear a lot of lately: Going Green. What you should know right now is that you won't be reading about Global Warming, I'm not even talking about Climate Change. Too many arguments out there for and against those issues. What I am talking about is Sustainability. I don't think many can argue about that.

Folks, we need to be more concerned about being wasteful. It's not difficult, nor does it cost significantly more, to forward think about what's going to be left in 100 years. Ok, so many of us reading this post now won't be here in 100 years... but our families will.

So, here are the things I've done in thinking more about the planet:

Changed all incandescent light bulbs to Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs (CFL's). Not only do they use less energy to light up a room, but in warm climates where summer temperatures soar, they don't generate additional heat in a room that you are paying to cool. Note: CFL's now come in a range of sizes made to fit recessed lighting, flood lights, track lights, lamps, etc.
Planted trees and shrubs in my yard. I now have over 120 plants and 15 trees. I also have a vegetable garden. This not only helps the air, but I am able to eat my own fruits and vegetables. Note: There are lots of small tree varieties, and many herbs, vegetables and fruits can be container grown, so even those with small spaces can garden.
Ordered the yard waste service through my garbage collection company. Rather than send my food waste and yard waste to the landfill (which creates dangerous gases during decomposition), these items now get composted and turned into something that can be used for gardening. In addition, most recycling programs won't take shredded paper, paper plates, paper towels and pizza boxes. The yard waste service will! Note: I get the compost friendly (cardboard) paper plates, not the styrofoam ones. When I'm shopping for groceries, I look for items in compost friendly packaging. For example, Fresh Express (in my area) distributes organic salad mix in a plastic container that's made from corn so it can be composted!
Ordered kitchen waste Bio Bags so I can send more of my food scraps to the yard waste bin without worry of non-solid items (like sauces) making a mess. Note: I use Bio Bags for my pet waste disposal as well... even though this waste is not compostable, I'm not sending plastic bags into the landfill.
Keep my thermostat lower. I try to use less energy in the house by wearing long sleeve/pants if I get chilly. My heat setting is rarely above 68 degrees.
Reusable grocery bags. Plastic grocery bags are one of the most wasteful products coming through my house and they are so bad for the landfills. I am now transitioning to reusable grocery bags. Note: After putting away your groceries, store your reusable bags in the car so they are always there for the planned or impromptu visit to the store. Use them for more than just groceries - anytime you shop fill up your reusable bags first.
Reusable water bottles. Even though plastic water bottles are recyclable, we are still using this product to make new ones - beyond that - many of these bottles are not recycled. Note: Look for bulk packaging to make it more affordable. A recent visit to my local Costco got me 12 reusable water bottles for about $15.

In addition to the list above, my future plans for continuing in the sustainable direction include: switching plastic silverware to compostable kind, switch my plastic garbage bags to a material that will breakdown in the landfill, add solar panels to my home and continue to plant more shrubs and trees each season.

Some of my favorite nurseries to shop at are: The Plant Farm, Flower World, Sunnyside Nursery and Clearview Perennials (Wholesale Nursery only only a few weekends per year to the public).

For information on purchasing environmentally friendly products and Bio Bags, go to BuyGreen.com

For information on CFL bulbs, go to the Energy Star web site

Want a unique gift idea? Try these handbags made from re-purposed movie billboards and candy wrappers.

HOMEOWNERS: If you are moving towards sustainable living, I'd love to know what works for you.
REALTORS: Are you promoting sustainable living in your communities? If so, how and what kind of response have you received?

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

April 2008 Sales Statistics for Snohomish County by City

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:15:57 -0500

Cities shown above may not reflect all cities w/sales. See County Totals for actual totals/averages as published by the NWMLS.
Information deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

We did it again - Seattle is on another Forbes Top 10 List!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:30:11 -0500

Despite real estate sales being down over years prior, we're still in a good place! Forbes.com just rated Seattle among the Top 10 Recession Proof cities when looking at the 50 largest metro areas in the US. In naming these cities, they looked at:

Unemployment Data for year ending February 2008;
Median Home Price Data;
Data from a November 2007 report, "U.S. Metro Economies: The Mortgage Crisis," by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Here's the Top 10 Cities:
Oklahoma City, OK
San Antonio, TX
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Charlotte, NC
Dallas, TX
San Jose, CA
Raleigh, NC
Salt Lake City, UT
Seattle, WA

Read the whole story here.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

What's on my table tonight? Weeknight Pasta

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:16:55 -0500

This recipe actually comes from my husband, with a little twist from me. This is a great weeknight pasta recipe that tastes great and it's easy! It's another dish that we don't measure for, so these are approximate:

1/2 box ziti, penne or rigatoni pasta
2 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP diced/minced garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how hot you like it)
1/4 cup finely diced onion (or 2 TBSP dried minced onion)
2 cans diced tomatoes (I use the italian version)
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar
Pinch sugar

Cook pasta according to package directions. Start this first, the pasta sauce doesn't take long to make. While the pasta is cooking saute the garlic, red pepper flakes and onion in the olive oil until the onion and garlic are tender/lightly browned. Add the diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and stir. Add the pinch of sugar (to reduce the acidity of the tomaotes). Bring to boiling and reduce heat. Cook until heated through and/or pasta is done. If desired add meatballs and or cooked, diced chicken. Top with fresh shredded parmesan cheese and minced fresh basil. Served with salad and bread this should feed 4.

1st Quarter 2008 Sales Statistics by County

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:03:13 -0500

Here are the sales numbers for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to 2007 by County. I've included Snohomish, King and Skagit Counties.

	Count			Average Price			Average Days on Market
County	2008	2007	% Diff	2008	2007	% Diff	2008	2007	% Diff
Snohomish	1867	2998	-38%	$366,859	$381,325	-4%	90	63	30%
King	4840	7347	-34%	$486,664	$481,308	1%	75	58	23%
Skagit	265	425	-38%	$327,714	$317,662	3%	108	93	14%
Total / Avg	6972	10770	-35%	$393,746	$393,432	0%	91	71	28%

As you can see, despite reports of doom and gloom we were still in a 'healthy' market through March. The number of sales were down and the average days on market were up; though overall we remained in a 90-120 day marketing time and our price change over the three counties is minimal as compared to this same period last year.

Other states across the nation aren't as fortunate. Despite these numbers, sellers still need to be realistic with their pricing and may need to make adjustments to match the market. Within these counties are 'pockets' that are selling either better or worse than the averages shown above. Keep an eye out for the April sales numbers I'll post here this week.

If you would like to know what is happening in your area, city or neighborhood please give me a call or drop me an email - I promise to respond quickly!

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Summer Road Construction, It's Almost Here!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:09:01 -0500

With the temperatures starting to warm up and the rain subsiding (it will happen!), the Department of Transportation begins to make their plans for the summer season road construction.

Here's a link to the Key Projects in Snohomish County. Here's a quick rundown:

Ongoing Projects
I-5 Expansion and HOV Lanes in Everett
I-5 Park and Ride in South Everett
SR-9 Road widening
I-5 Bicycle Pedestrian Overpass at 124th
SR-9 Safety Improvements

New Projects
SR-9 Road Widening - Lake Stevens
US-2 and SR-92 Guardrail
US-2 Rumble Strips
US-2 Sunset Falls Slope Stabilization
US-2 Slide Repair near Index
SR-9 Road widening
SR-526 Repaving
SR-528 Repaving

A detailed description of these projects is provided in the link above.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

First Time Homebuyers: An offer for you.....

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:39:57 -0500

The thought of buying the first home is often just as scary as it is exciting. There are so many questions unanswered many don't know which direction to go. Instead of going about this process 'blind', email or call me to receive a free, no obligation brochure on facts for the First Time Homebuyer. It's filled with great information and things to consider before taking the big step.

For many this is the single largest purchase they have ever made. It's important to be protected. When you request this brochure, your personal information will not be shared or sold to any other parties.

Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Phone: 425-374-2728

I look forward to hearing from you!

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Investors - Now is the time!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:55:32 -0500

There are many investors that swept the West a few years ago buying up properties to either fix and flip or rent and hold. Today's prices make investing a bit tougher... but when rents are high and vacancies are low this is the time to have rental properties.

The Seattle area is experiencing these high rents and low vacancies - quality properties are being rented almost as fast as they become available. Earlier this month I helped a relocating client find a condo to rent in Downtown Seattle. The night before we went out I called the agents for all of the properties I had selected to show and half were already taken.

According to an article in the Seattle PI vacancies in King County are at about 4.1%. This is only slightly higher than the same time last year. Also noted in this article is that rent prices still have room to rise about 10-15% because rental increases have not kept up with income.

If you are considering the rental market for your investments, I recommend purchasing in the Downtown and/or University districts - these areas will have the highest demand. Let's not leave out the Waterfront area of Downtown Seattle. Tourist season is about to ramp up and with cruise ship traffic between May and September seasonal (furnished) rentals could be in higher demand.

I checked the MLS for all Seattle (residential) rentals available and currently there are 134 with an average days on market of 74. In the last month (going back to 3/22/08) 59 properties have been rented with an average days on market of 46.

Due to market fluctuations, I don't recommend this strategy for short term investing, as it was back in 2004-2005-2006. If you are willing to hold your rental for at least a few years, than this could be right up your alley.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Seattle Housing Made Another Top 10 List

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:14:13 -0500

Another example that real estate is local - very local. There is a lot of discussion about the housing market being stale and homes are sitting for months if not years. Folks, here in Washington it's not time to panic. Yes, homes are on the market longer than they were a year ago. Yes, there is more inventory than there was a year ago. Buyers and Sellers alike should rejoice, our market is returning to normal. It is a healthy market.

Forbes list of the Top 10 Best Cities for Sellers ranks Seattle as number 10. Check it out:

1. San Jose, CA: Because of a tough regulatory environment, new home construction dropped 63% last year.
2. San Francisco, CA: When the conforming loan limit recently jumped from $417,000 to the maximum $729,750, that made credit much easier to get for many of the city's home buyers.
3. Salt Lake City, UT: The 3% annual job growth rate, paired with a declining inventory of existing homes and one of the nation's sharpest declines in construction made this market a good one for sellers.
4. Austin, TX: Texas is very affordable, plus the city has the nation's fastest job growth at 4.1%.
5. Kansas City, MO: The number of unsold, vacant houses dropped by 40% last year.
6. San Antonio, TX: Jobs are growing by 3% and construction starts have dropped by 42%.
7. Denver, CO: The 49% drop in construction starts paired with the 2% rise in new jobs are good news for sellers.
8. Providence, RI: Vacancy rates at 1.6% combined with a 42% cut in inventory help sellers.
9. Charlotte, NC: Moderate prices and strong job growth bode well for sellers.
10. Seattle, WA: Strong job growth and 42% decrease in new home construction are good news for sellers

As with any major metropolitan area, there will be pockets that perform better or worse than others. I encourage you to speak with a REALTOR about what's happening in your area. If you are interested in buying or selling a property, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Source for Top 10 list: Realtor Magazine/Forbes

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Tulip Festival Events for April 11-13

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:58:53 -0500

The Tulip Festival located in Skagit County is in full swing through April 30th. The following events are scheduled for this weekend. With temps forecasted to be in the mid to upper 60's with sunny skies, I can't think of a better time to get out and enjoy this Northwest treat!

Friday
Art in a Pickle Barn (goes through April 27th): Meet artist Jennifer Lommers. Open 10a-6p daily. 15379 SR 536; Mount Vernon - 360.428.8576
Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Nat'l Show: Gas and steam engines in operation, antique machinery and blacksmithing, classic farm tractors and antique vehicles. Admission $3, children under 10-free. Runs 8am-Dusk. Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St., Mount Vernon - 360.826.3782
Guided Bike Tours: Pedaling past tulip fields. Bike, helmet, lunch and tour for $75 per person. 13391 Avon Allen Rd. - 360.424.7461 (http://www.countrycycling.com/)

Saturday
Anacortes Quilt Walk: View hundreds of quilts along Commercial Ave. Store hours vary. 360.428.3726 (http://www.fidalgoislandquilters.com/)
Cow Town (through April 20): Family farm experience; adults $4, Senior/Child $3, under 2 free. 10a-6pm. 15925 Fir Island Rd., Mount Vernon - 360.445.6681
Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Nat'l Show: Gas and steam engines in operation, antique machinery and blacksmithing, classic farm tractors and antique vehicles. Admission $3, children under 10-free. Runs 8am-Dusk. Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St., Mount Vernon - 360.826.3782
Kid's Giant Garage Sale: Kids under 16 sell their stuff! Pick from board games, puzzles, sports equipment, etc. Open to the public, free admission, sponsored by Burlington Parks and Rec. 9am-12pm. 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington - 360.755.9649
Kiwanis Club 20th Annual Salmon BBQ (Daily through April 20): Salmon dinner with all the fixings. Adult plate $12, Child/Senior plate $10. 11am-7pm. Hillcrest Lodge, Exit 226 from I-5, right on 13th St, 4 blocks to Hillcrest Park, Mount Vernon - 360.420.9610
PACCAR Open House: Check out the trucks and how their tested. A 242-acre site providing test and development facilities for all PACCAR divisions, including Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. Tour highlights test labs as well as trucks manufactured by PACCAR. Free; 11am-3pm. One mile N of Hwy 20 on Farm to Market Rd., Bow - 360.757.8311
Poulsbo RV Tulip Frolic: Fun for all ages to include music at Kenmore Square and "Dirty Biter Park", kid activities at Boys and Girls Club Kids Zone (12pm-3pm), Challenger Ridge wine garden. 12pm-4pm. 1st Street in LaConner - 360.428.5959
23rd Annual Kiwanis Club of La Conner Not So Impromptu Tulip Parade (Sponsored by US Bank): Parade features farm animals, clowns, bands, mascots and your favorite pets. Any size entry welcome. Spectators should bring lawn chairs. Day of parade entries welcome. Parade starts at 2pm, parade maps available at Skagit County US Bank branches. Downtown La Conner on 1st St. - 360.428.5959
2008 Tulip Poster Artist: Lee Mann poster signing from 11am-3pm. RoozenGaarde, 15867 Beaver Marsh Rd., Mount Vernon - 360.424.8531

Sunday
Alpacas of Misty Ridge (through April 30): Meet and learn about alpacas. Shops, u-pick tulips, spinning demonstrations and other fun activities. Free. On the East side of I-5 between exits 221 and 225. 360.424.0501 (http://www.alpacaranch.com/)
Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Nat'l Show: Gas and steam engines in operation, antique machinery and blacksmithing, classic farm tractors and antique vehicles. Admission $3, children under 10-free. Runs 8am-Dusk. Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St., Mount Vernon - 360.826.3782
Pleasant Ridge Gallery at Rexville: Bamboo Trellises; Tom Burton demos 1pm-3pm. 1929 Rexville Grange Rd. - 360.466.0469

For more information about the festival , maps and updated information about scheduled events, visit www.tulipfestival.org. Photo by Tina Faust, 2007 Tulip Festival

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Handy Home Tip: Carpet Dents

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:59:26 -0500

Moving furniture around in the house? Chances are you'll have those carpet dents leftover that stick around for weeks! Here's a tip: place ice cubes in the dent. By the time the ice melts it will have pulled it right out of the carpet. If the ice melts too fast it won't completely make the dent go away, but it should be much better than before.

What's on my table tonight? Red pepper pesto chicken

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:11:11 -0500

So, I usually get a lot of requests for my recipes and meal ideas. One of my passions/hobbies is cooking. I'm going to start putting some of this on the blog. Tonight we had red pepper pesto chicken over rice. It's one of my husband's favorite meals. For this particular recipe I can't give many exact measurements because I just do a little of this and a little of that.

1 jar roasted red bell peppers
Olive oil (approximately 1 TBSP)
Balsamic vinegar (approximately 1-2 TBSP)
Garlic (approximately 2-4 cloves, minced)
Shredded parmesan cheese, not the grated stuff (approximately 1/4 cup)
Basil (approximately 1 tsp)
Oregano (approximately 1 tsp)
Black pepper (approximately 1/8 tsp)
-- They may be difficult to find, but I also add 3-4 Mezzetta: Napa Valley Bistro - Mediterranean Antipasto olives along with 2-4 cloves of the garlic from the jar.

Put all into a food processor or blender, pulse/process until it's a pesto consistency - I usually pulse a few times, then process about 15-20 seconds.

Boneless skinless chicken breast (one breast for each person served)
1 TBSP olive oil

Dice chicken into bite size chunks... add to a pan with the oil. Cook chicken until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes. Pour the pesto into the pan and heat through on med - med/low ... just until it's warmed through - approximately 5 or 10 minutes.

Serve chicken/pesto mixture over a bed of white or brown rice.

Above pesto recipes serves 2-4 depending on portion size and if there are any sides.

Well folks, that's what was on our dinner table. :-) Post your questions here, and if you try this recipe I'd love to know your thoughts.

Image courtesy of stock exchange.

12404 E. Gibson Rd. #G202; Everett, WA 98204

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:53:33 -0500

New Listing Alert: A top floor 2 bedroom / 1 bath condo in the South Everett community of Bluegrass is available for just $199,999. The owner has meticulously cared for this home and it shows. Completely move-in ready, it's a must see!

This home includes TWO assigned parking spaces (1 covered) and they are directly in front of the stairs leading to the front door. Vaulted ceilings further enhance the open floor plan; a wood burning fireplace is centrally located, though this condo is also heated by wall and baseboard heaters. Trees shade the windows providing privacy and shade in the summer; a private patio allows for enjoying the outdoors. The owner has thought of everything; upgraded dining room light fixture and customized the closets to maximize space. Flooring is new within 2 years and the appliances are approximately 1 year young. The washer, dryer and refrigerator are included!

The Bluegrass community offers a clubhouse with full kitchen, plenty of seating, a billiards room, fitness center, pool and 2 spas. This condo is located perfectly within the community; close to the entrance, clubhouse and mailboxes.

To see additional photos and get more information, visit:
www.TinaFaust.com/g202 or www.BluegrassG202.com
MLS #:28043114

To schedule a showing of this property, contact me via email (Tina@TinaFaust.com) or by phone (425-374-2728).

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Ask for testimonials!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:41:26 -0500

Do you know the powerful effect of testimonials to your business? First let's look at the meaning of testimonial:

According to Miriam Webster =
1. a. (Noun): a statement testifying to benefits received b. a character reference :letter of recommendation
2. (Noun): an expression of appreciation (tribute)

Consider the times you've needed to do business with someone that you got from the internet, yellow pages or other advertisement. It's like going into the deal blind - you have no idea what to expect. If you ask that person for testimonials, you'll likely get opinions from a 3rd party not involved in your transaction. The person you are hiring can say all the right things about themselves, but it's the words of others that mean the most.

I know - this is still not a true measure of the type of service you will receive. We don't know if they've had 30 unhappy customers and 5 happy ones. But, isn't it safe to assume that a list of happy past clients means they do their job right at least some of the time - and that if they didn't do it right most of the time they would be out of business?

For those of you that have your own business - I can't stress enough how important it is to ask for a testimonial and survey your clients! Not only will this help you improve what you offer, but it's a great way to let potential clients know they can trust you. All you have to do is ask - if the end result is that your client is happy they are often more than willing to write a quick note or letter for you. Give your clients permission to show you the love!

The testimonials you receive should go everywhere: on your web site, in your blogs, include (in partial or entirety) on your print materials - brochures, back of business card, as part of your presentation materials... anywhere you can think of. Last, but not least, make sure to send your client a thank you - whether it be a handwritten note or small gift for taking the time to write you a testimonial.

Here's a testimonial I received last week from a past client. Thanks Bill!!!!

"Tina Faust is an extraordinary person, as well as a phenomenal real estate sales professional. I first came to know Tina through one of her monthly real estate newsletters that was delivered to my house. It really impressed me with its appearance, content and professional quality. Accordingly, I decided to have Tina sell my personal residence.

To add some credibility to my comments about Tina, I have dealt with more real estate professionals than I can count over my years. These dealings were for buying and selling personal residences, as well as local and out-of-state income property. With each of those transactions, I gained valuable experience about real estate agents and brokers. What mostly sets these individuals apart, for good or bad, are honesty, ethics, knowledge and motivation. Tina exhibited stellar performance in every area.

Tina was truly tested when it came time to sell my house. For one thing, I was having a house built in another state and had to target a builder-specified completion date. Further testing Tina's sales ability was a depressed real estate market. You can imagine the difficulty that would have arisen if I had a house that wouldn't sell in one state, and a builder anxious to close the sale of a finished, custom-built house in another state. I'm pleased to report that Tina came through with flying colors, as she was able to negotiate a very fair sales price for my house, and she coordinated the close of escrow such that the proceeds were rolled right into the closing of my new house.

I highly recommend Tina to anyone wishing to sell their home, or to anyone needing a buyer's broker to locate a property suitable for their needs and purpose. I hope to use Tina in the not-too-distant future to locate income property for me, as there is no one else in the real estate business that I trust so completely."

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

New Conforming Loan Limits Announced!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:59:19 -0600

As part of the economic assistance package recently introduced, the new loan limits for conforming loans are calculated at 125% of the HUD published median prices.

To find out what the new limit is in your area, click here. This link takes you to the HUD web site, where you can input the information for your location and loan type. (Note that the FHA Forward is the temporary FHA loan limit).

This is good news for many of us living and working in higher priced communities. For the market I work in, the ceiling of $417k was not high enough in many instances unless the buyer had a significant down payment, or split the loans into a 1st and 2nd.

Keep in mind, this also helps the refinance sector - if you are currently in an adjustable rate product that is going to reset but couldn't re-finance because of the higher JUMBO loan rates, you might qualify for a conforming loan... check with your local mortgage professional for more information; and if you don't know someone, please contact a local REALTOR for a referral.

Current conforming loan limits for the counties in my service area:

For more information about purchasing a home or refinancing; please call me at 425-374-2728. I look forward to hearing from you. Make it a great day! :-)

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Cirque du Soleil comes to Seattle!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:55:57 -0600

Get ready for the Cirque Du Soleil show this April 24 - May 18! I have not been to a Cirque Du Soleil show before, but know people that have and it's supposed to be phenomonal! Hopefully this will be my year.

I saw something similar on a cruise ship called Cirque Pacific and it was amazing.

The performance coming to Seattle is called Corteo, about a clown that imagines a festive parade / joyous occasion. Click here to get more information about Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Seattle area made another top 10!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:32:09 -0600

According to Forbes, Seattle is number ONE on the Most Stable Housing Market list! They anticipate a 3.09% price change in 2008.

The median price for single family homes and condos combined in King County was up by 4.86% in 2007 vs. 2006.

Sellers, if you are considering a move - now is still the time. The rise in values isn't as strong as 2005 and 2006, however the market here is projected to remain stable. We have a good economy and strong employment.

Buyers, with the slight softening of home prices it's a good time to consider getting into the market - whether it be for your primary residence or an investment. King County ended 2007 with just over a 7 month supply of homes on the market, up from the lowest in 2007 of a 2.31 month supply.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering a move to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.TinaFaust.com

Client Appreciation each month after closing

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:11:34 -0600

Within 2 weeks after closing, each and every one of my clients will receive a personal letter congratulating them on their sale and/or purchase, also explaining that they are now a part of my client appreciation program. Every month for twelve months they receive a little gift in the mail. Sometimes it's a gift card, sometimes it's an item. I have letters that correspond to each gift and they are always mailed out on the first day of the month.

The response has been GREAT! I generally hear from my clients every month because they want to show their appreciation for the gift and comment about it.

My clients are #1 and I always want them to know how appreciated they are. I'd love to hear some of the things you do after closing.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering moving to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Thinking of buying or selling? I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you! Tina Faust provides full time real estate expertise and advice to 1^st time home buyers, sellers, corporate and military relocations, new home purchases and investors.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

The Preserve at Lake Cassidy

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:24:00 -0600

Are you looking for a wooded paradise in Snohomish County to call home? Welcome to The Preserve at Lake Cassidy, located just north of Lake Stevens. Picture looking out your window and seeing the neighborhood deer (at last count there's 5 of them, up from 3 last year) walking through a neighbor's yard, going from one feeding spot to another. Or maybe you are out in the backyard playing with the kids or dogs and two Bald Eagles fly just overhead.

About the Location and Lake
The Preserve at Lake Cassidy is situated approx. one mile from the Centennial Trail and is within walking distance of Lake Cassidy, utilizing a series of wooded paths winding through the outskirts of the community. Lake Cassidy is a small fishing lake allowing 10 hp max boats with a speed limit of 8mph. It's peaceful, serene and beautiful. There is a public boat launch off 99th (west side of lake) with parking. On the east side of the lake (along the Centennial Trail - no vehicle parking) there is a public fishing dock.

About the Homes
The homes here are situated on estate sized lots, most being about 3/4 acre, while other lots could be up to approx. 1 acre. All feature at least 3 car garages, while some have 4-car garages. Some owners have built workshops or guest houses on their properties. Many properties border NGPA land with towering evergreens.

Current Market
As of 2/22/08 there are 10 homes listed for sale, ranging in price from $385,950 to $538,950 and in size from 2005 square feet to 2620 square feet. In the last six months five homes have sold ranging in price from $519,950 to $584,950 and in size from 2006 square feet to 2900 square feet. Some of the larger homes in the community are over 3000 square feet.

If you would like to see any of the homes available in The Preserve at Lake Cassidy, or any other community please call me.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering moving to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Thinking of buying or selling? I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you! Tina Faust provides full time real estate expertise and advice to buyers, sellers, corporate and military relocations, new home purchases and investors.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Sachi Fine Jewelry and Design: Snohomish, WA

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:41:53 -0600

Many, many, many thanks go out to Keenan at Sachi Fine Jewelry and Design in Snohomish, WA. About 2 months ago, the center diamond to my wedding set fell out. I have no idea where, I just looked down at my hand and noticed the empty prongs. I was devastated, but take some of the blame since I never had my prongs checked; the ring is 9 years old.

Since I was able to acquire a ring from my mom with a marquee center stone similar in size, I needed to find a jeweler to do the job. I had been to the common stores in the mall and wasn't impressed with the people behind the counter and just didn't feel good about giving them my business. Besides, I really like supporting my communities by doing business with local owners whenever possible.

I spend a fair amount of time in Snohomish and frequently drive or walk past Sachi, but had never been in. One afternoon, after having lunch at the Snohomish Bakery and Cafe, I asked the gal behind the counter what she knew about Sachi's. She said they've been making a really good name for themselves since moving in to that location. A customer in line behind me immediately spoke up and proudly showed me a ring that had been made by Sachi's. I felt confident this was going to be just the place I was looking for.

It's a typical jewelry store with cases full of beautiful pieces... but on closer inspection, there were some really cool items I didn't think I'd find anywhere else. After talking with the folks behind the counter I knew I'd bring my ring back to them. The very next day I met Keenan. He was SO helpful, really knew his stuff and took as much time as I needed to answer questions. He put my newly acquired diamond under the scope to show me all the details. His comment (was something like) 'It's important to know everything about your diamond' sealed the deal.

The ring my mom gave me also had two little diamonds on either side of the center stone. We started talking about what to do with those and he suggested adding them to my existing wedding set. My set already has a particular design with some smaller channel set stones, so I wasn't sure how it would look, but trusted his vision. Boy am I glad I did. It turned out BEAUTIFULLY! I couldn't stop looking at it... He did a PHENOMENAL job. I give my highest recommendation to Keenan at Sachi's. I'm so excited... and when it comes time to get a different wedding set, it will most certainly be purchased at Sachi's. I just wish I could get a good photo of the finished product to show here... but none of them have turned out yet.

For great home town, personal service visit Sachi's and check out their traditional and unique designs; I promise you won't be disappointed.

New to Western Washington? Are you considering moving to the Emerald State? Just ask for my Welcome Home Washington booklet filled with helpful information about the area.

Buyers: My services to you are FREE; Sellers: I don't get paid unless your home sells. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tina Faust, GRI
RE/MAX Champions
Direct: 425-374-2728
Email: Tina@TinaFaust.com
Web: http://www.tinafaust.com/

Crystal Mountain Offers Military Appreciation Ski Days!

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:49:32 -0600

There are still two dates left to take advantage of the lift ticket discounts offered to Military personnel!

Wednesday, March 5th. 2008
Sunday, April 6th, 2008

Your lift tickets will cost just $29 with a valid Military ID. For more information, visit www.skicrystal.com

Here's a list of some other ski areas (though I am not aware of any discounts offered):
Hurricane Ridge: 360-457-2879
Leavenworth: 509-548-5477
Stevens Pass: 206-812-4510
Summit at Snoqualmie: 425-434-7669
Mt. Baker Ski Resort: 360-734-6771

There are other ski areas in Washington, these are just the ones in and around Western Washington.

If you are transferring here with the military, there are a plethora of things to do anytime of year. For more information, please contact me!

Random Acts of Kindness

Tina Faust, GRI (N/A) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:26:40 -0600

Although Random Acts of Kindness week ends on February 17th, we should still be looking for opportunities to make someone's day all through the year. Here are some ideas!

Say something nice to someone/Pay a compliment;
Smile at a stranger;
Deliver soup to a sick friend or neighbor;
Help a neighbor with yard work/pull weeds;
Hold the door open for someone behind you (and let them go first) when entering or leaving a store;
In line for a cash register, let someone go ahead of you that has only a few items;
If someone is digging for change at the register, or seems a bit short, offer to cover it;
Leave a pot of flowers at a neighbor's door;
Bring a friend or neighbor some chocolates for no reason;
Help someone load their groceries, or offer to take the cart to the return area;
Pay for the coffee or meal of someone in line behind you;
Bring a new neighbor a meal or dessert/Introduce yourself and welcome them;

What ideas do you have for random acts of kindness? Post them here!