kitsap county: Shrimp season opens soon Hood Canal/ Gone Fish"n!!! - 04/25/10 02:32 AM
The worst day fishing is better than the best day at work!  Those words keep ringing in my ears as we get closer to Shrimp season!
Below are some great dates to be gone fish'n
The 2010 Hood Canal Recreational Shrimp Fishery is scheduled to occur from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday May 1st, Wednesday May 5th, Saturday May 8th, and Wednesday May 12th. Additional dates and times for the 2010 fishery will be announced, if sufficient quota remains after those first four days.
Hope you have a great year, and take time with family & friends!!
www.daryldatus.com
 
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kitsap county: Tips for garage sales for buyers and sellers - 04/24/10 03:13 AM
For buyers and sellers who are new to the garage sale scene, here are some tips:
What to know if you're selling-Price low. That should be the goal if you want to get rid of stuff. For pricing guidelines, visit thrift stores, not eBay.-Heed the signs. Keep signs on every other block and every corner where a turn is required in the city (a half-mile apart along longer stretches in the suburbs). Make sure the address and sale dates are large and easily readable. Add balloons to attract the eye.-Sell with others. Doing it alone is too much work.-Sell to … (3 comments)

kitsap county: Tips for garage sales for buyers and sellers - 04/24/10 03:09 AM
For buyers and sellers who are new to the garage sale scene, here are some tips:
What to know if you're selling-Price low. That should be the goal if you want to get rid of stuff. For pricing guidelines, visit thrift stores, not eBay.-Heed the signs. Keep signs on every other block and every corner where a turn is required in the city (a half-mile apart along longer stretches in the suburbs). Make sure the address and sale dates are large and easily readable. Add balloons to attract the eye.-Sell with others. Doing it alone is too much work.-Sell to … (0 comments)

kitsap county: Shrimping on the Hood canal - 04/22/10 02:45 AM
The Hoods Canal Spot Shrimp sport season generally opens during the month of May with clear blue skies and majestic Olympic Mountain views. This has lured the sportsmen and ladies out like only Hood Canal can. With baited and set pots the fishermen awaited the first easy limit. By 10:00 am the first shrimp are in the cooler . . Still, limits (80 shrimp/person). This is truly one fishing activity that the boater and crew need to be prepared for and not have any impaired senses.DEPTH: Didn't matter the first opening, 200-230 ft worked well and was supported by local knowledge. I fished 250-300 … (2 comments)

kitsap county: Tips for cleaning the garden for spring !! - 04/17/10 03:06 AM
With the weather warming early this year,  and the excitment of the out doors. Every day I hear "Is it spring yet?"
 
Its ok with your evergreens, dogwood, spirea, maples, deutzia, mock orange, elderberry and buddleia. Its best todo your roses in stages, starting by removing dead or diseased wood and large old canes right down to the ground. To avoid impenetrable thickets later in the year, its best to also thin shrub roses and ground cover roses before they leaf out. In mid-March,  start pruning the roses with careful attention to detail and begin  fertilizing program.
Some vines like clematis and honeysuckle also need … (1 comments)

kitsap county: Tips for buyers - 04/17/10 01:46 AM
Tips for BuyersThe key to finding the right home or property is organization. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Before you start house-hunting or property hunting, decide out how much you can afford. I will refer you to a loan officer to pre-qualify you for your home or land home package. To see how much you are able to afford, use our mortgage calculator section. Prioritize what is most important and what is least important in your purchase . Make a list of everything you want in a home or land. We will go over your list, so … (0 comments)

kitsap county: Spring cleaning tips to sell your home for top dollar!! - 04/16/10 05:30 AM
Ready to give your home a top-to-bottom buffing? Start by focusing your efforts on the big pieces and on the places that make the most difference to you: furnishings, appliances, and carpeting. Once you've covered these major tasks, you'll have your home spring-cleaned in no time.
1. Make doormats welcoming. Shake 'em, wash 'em, swat 'em with a broom. Give them the toughest cleaning they can take. They're your front line against tracked-in dirt -- so keep them clean enough to function at peak efficiency.
2. Clean carpets and upholstery. Fabrics that have absorbed a winter's worth of dirt, body oil, and … (1 comments)

kitsap county: Home sales up in Mason & Kitsap county - 04/05/10 02:17 AM
Its great news for all that homes are selling ,the numbers are in and are expected to go up thru this month, this should boost are second quarter!
the number of buyers who agreed to purchase previously occupied homes rose sharply in February, far exceeding expectations, in a sign that the housing market may be coming back from the winter doldrums.
The National Association of Realtors says its seasonally adjusted index of sales agreements rose 8.2 percent from January to a February reading of 97.6. January's reading was revised slightly downward to 90.2
Hope everyone has a great week.
www.daryldatus.com
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kitsap county: Things to consider on moving day! - 03/31/10 03:40 AM
 
You're likely approaching moving day with equal parts excitement and dread.

The excitement: a new home, a new life - a fresh start!
The dread: moving. However, you can't go from "Old, Boring Life" to "New, Exciting Life" without passing through "Moving Day." Thankfully, the day itself needn't be an ordeal, if you keep in mind four things you absolutely should not forget to do.
1. Don't forget to make sure everything is loaded on the van.
It's not unheard of for moving companies to neglect to load some items, so before they leave, make sure you go through … (1 comments)

kitsap county: Repeat buyers & Tax credit - 03/31/10 03:08 AM
The biggest issue is for repeat buyers, who will have to accelerate their buying plans if they want the expanded tax credit. Since you must have a contract in place by the end of April, the best advice is to consult a Realtor ® now about qualification criteria and options in your area ! 
Repeat buyers do not have to sell their existing home, but all buyers must occupy the property they purchase as a primary residence to qualify for the tax credit. Buyers who have a contract in place by April 30, 2010, have until June 30, 2010, to finalize … (0 comments)

kitsap county: Mortgage rate droping ! - 03/12/10 11:09 AM
Mortgage RatesMortgage Rates Drop Slightly in Freddie Mac Weekly SurveyMcLean, VA Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its PrimaryMortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)averaged 4.95 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 11, 2010,down from last week when it averaged 4.97 percent.  Last year at this time, the30-year FRM averaged 5.03 percent.The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.32 percent with an average 0.7 point, down fromlast week when it averaged 4.33 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRMaveraged 4.64 percent. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) … (0 comments)

kitsap county: stock pricing up due to sales on homes! - 02/02/10 12:37 AM
 Many stock futures rose modestly Tuesday as investors are betting that upcoming economic reports will show more signs of growth.
A report on the housing market in December is expected to show continued improvement in the battered sector. Major indexes rallied Monday following encouraging signs about growth in the manufacturing sector.
Overseas markets mostly rose following gains in the U.S. on Monday. Some Asian markets gave up gains as speculation remains that China's government will continue to try and curb runaway lending in an effort to avoid speculative bubbles.
Australia's central bank unexpectedly left a key interest rate unchanged. Australia, which … (1 comments)

kitsap county: Home sales down in December! - 01/25/10 02:10 AM
Sales of previously occupied homes took the largest monthly drop in more than 40 years last month, plunging far deeper than expected after lawmakers gave buyers extended time to use a tax credit.
The National Association of Realtors says sales fell 16.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.45 million in December, from an unchanged pace of 6.54 million in November. Sales had been expected to fall by about 10 percent, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
Buyers were no longer scrambling to qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homeowners. It had been … (1 comments)

kitsap county: Sitting by the dock at the bay! - 01/24/10 03:28 PM
Yes watching time go away!
The longer I am selling Realestate, the more my time seems so important with regards to family and friends!
The picture below is of a dock in Fair Hope Ala. Its been many years since I last fished off the dock , but I have so many good memorys with friends and family, that I just wanted to let others know,
 
spend time refelecting , and charish the time you do get to be with your family and friends.
 Thats worth more than any sale could ever bring!

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kitsap county: common questions that buyers have on tax credit - 12/19/09 02:22 AM
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit
Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?
Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who
meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.
Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a
new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and
am within the new income limits. I will … (0 comments)

kitsap county: Thawing frozen pipes - 12/08/09 10:29 AM
Unless your water pipes freeze at night while your family is asleep (and this is often the case), you may recognize that your pipes are beginning to freeze by a reduction in water pressure. At this point, action should be taken immediately. If the pipes are allowed to freeze completely, blocking the flow of water, the pipes are likely to burst. Water expands as it turns into ice, and there is only so much room in the pipe. When the water expands beyond what the pipe can handle, the pipe may burst.
If you can catch the situation before the pipes … (4 comments)

kitsap county: Tips for sellers to maximize there return - 11/25/09 01:46 AM
Tips for SellersThe key to selling your home quickly and at the right price is in preparing it appropriately. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Give home a though cleaning. Oil door hinges, tighten door knobs. Have carpets professionally cleaned, or replaced if damaged. Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Replace all burned out light bulbs. Repair defective light switch. Get rid of clutter both inside and out. Cut and edge grass. Trim hedges and weed gardens. Paint, fix or wash railings, steps, storm windows, screens and doors. Clean out the gutters. Wash the windows. Tidy up the … (3 comments)

kitsap county: Black Friday/ Fourth quarter - 11/25/09 01:30 AM
The Commerce Department says sales rose 6.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 430,000 from an upwardly revised 405,000 in September. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a pace of 410,000.
Home shoppers in October were acting before lawmakers decided to extend a tax credit for first-time buyers and expand it to existing homeowners. Nevertheless, sales were up 5.1 percent from a year ago, the first yearly increase since November 2005.
This is great news, and will continue to help the coming 1st quarter!
Stay positive the best is yet to come!
 
http://www.daryldatus.com
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kitsap county: morgage assistance program news - 11/24/09 12:34 AM
The mortgage assistance program, off to a slow start, has now helped 650,000 homeowners with trial loan modifications, with average savings of $500 a month. The administration aims to help between 3 million and 4 million over three years, but that is $50 billion that won't get repaid directly to the Treasury.
It will continue to help those in need and assist us in not competing with foreclosed properties!http://www.daryldatus.com
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kitsap county: New Jobs in Belfair/ more home buyers too! - 11/21/09 12:55 PM
Just a note to help us thru the week, QFC inBelfair id geting a new gas station,with that come new people to the area, and the need some place to live!
Jobs can be found on QFC web site, for those that need housing once you get here , well I hope you think of me!
Have a great winter!
Daryl has lived in Belfair since 1973 and has a home on the Hood Canal   where he and his family relax and enjoy Boating, fishing, crabbing, clamming relaxing & good cup of coffee.
Navigating the multifaceted decisions needed in today's real … (1 comments)