98146: Ways To Save On Heating - 11/20/09 02:44 AM
These days I am all about saving money.  I am constantly reading blogs aimed at saving and making do with less in our new economy, and in the past few months have learned a great deal.  Even a cheapskate like me can learn to be more frugal - amazing!
I wanted to share a great article I just read over at Mummy Deals regarding energy-saving tips for the home.  I've never been able to bring myself to plastic-wrap the windows, but by looking at the huge energy savings I believe I'll be heading over to my nearest hardware store soon to … (1 comments)

98146: The Real Cost of Owning A Home - 11/20/09 01:07 AM
Julie Rains over at Wise Bread has written an excellent article entitled, "What It Really Costs To Own A Home".  It's a great run-down of all(or most) of the costs of homeownership.  
Now, of course I'm all for investing in a home, but the real costs of ownership cannot be ignored, and need to be given serious consideration when buying a home. 
However, there's much to be said for the intangible benefits that draw people to buy a home in the first place.  The main point of the article is to make sure you set aside enough money every month … (6 comments)

98146: Changes To Conventional Fannie Mae Underwriting - Update - 10/22/09 06:07 AM
I just received an e-mail from Team Evergreen @ Evergreen Home Loans(www.teamevergreen.net) regarding changes to Fannie Mae coming December 11th.  There are some significant details regarding credit scores, ability to secure loans after a foreclosure, loans for duplexes and more.  These have not gone into effect yet and have not been confirmed. 
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Fannie Mae will be upgrading their automatic underwriting engine (DU) on Dec 11th.  This doesn’t include FHA/VA or Freddie Mac, but usually they follow suit in a short amount of time.
 
Here’s is what has been shared with our underwriting department.  We will confirm these changes when … (1 comments)

98146: "You Can Make A Fortune In Foreclosures!" - 09/15/09 02:07 AM
That's the excited claim I hear coming from my radio every morning.  A local commercial is advertising foreclosure workshops and stating several examples in their commercial of great deals to be had.
"For example, a house in Tacoma valued at X was recently sold for X.  That's $100,000 in instant equity!"
Question is, how are they determining "value"? I'm not certain myself, but from hearing the examples it sounds to me like they are using the previous purchase price to determine value.  You know, the prices from 2005-2007 that were inflated to begin with.  That is not the value anymore.
Sure, … (6 comments)

98146: Elvis Is A Scammer, and I Found Out Thanks To Activerain - 07/31/09 03:52 PM
Who needs Google when you have Activerain?
I received a suspicious e-mail today from an individual named Elvis Baker, Private Relocation Agent.  He says his clientele includes celebrities, government officials and other clients from the Gulf region. Big fat hairy deal. i'm surprised he didn't put a "Mr." in front of his name, he's so gosh darn dignified and all.
I read through the e-mail(which I will copy below) - basically, Elvis says he needs a residence for his client and client's mistress in Burien of all places. (Maybe Mr. and Mistress Moneybags would be interested in attending a "Raising Backyard … (16 comments)

98146: Washington State: Property Tax Help for Homeowners Affected by Economic Downturn - 07/24/09 04:35 PM
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98146: With MLS listings available everywhere on the internet, why do you need a buyer’s agent? - 07/19/09 11:57 AM
After I finish a long day of real estate, I am usually reading late into the evening. What kinds of books and articles do I like to read? Why, anything having to do with real estate, of course.
One of my top two favorite real estate blogs is BloodhoundBlog.com. I found this post the other day and thought about how well written it was. I was thinking about writing a post along similar lines; then, when I got to the bottom of the post the author, Greg Swann, gave permission to re-post. So that is what I am doing, because … (10 comments)

98146: WOW - July 2009 Brings Impressive Price Reductions At Burien Town Square, Burien, WA! - 07/12/09 02:57 AM

Burien, WA - the new Burien Town Square
**Here's the e-mail that I received from Sarah Heath, Community Sales Assistant over at Burien Town Square:
Dear Lisa,
Greetings from Burien Town Square! For a limited time, we are able to offer reduced pricing on 11 select homes at Burien Town Square. Savings up to $80,000 from original prices!
Studios (531-533 sq. ft.)
#316 WAS $229,950 NOW $199,950
#318 WAS $236,950 NOW $199,950 1+Den/1 (810-905 sq. ft.)
#309 WAS $369,950 NOW $324,950 #327 WAS $364,950 NOW $299,950
#330 WAS $324,950 NOW $299,950 
#419 WAS $379,950 NOW $299,950 2/2 (1059-1074 sq. ft.)
… (1 comments)

98146: Burien Farmer's Market is now at Town Square! - 07/05/09 04:26 AM
On Thursday the Burien Farmer's Market moved to its new location at Burien Town Square, between the new library and the new condo development. 
There seemed to be more booths than ever, and we are coming into the peak of the season with all kinds of wonderfully fresh and inexpensive produce and flowers.  There are also arts and crafts booths, baked goods, composting supplies, and more. 
I kept hearing comments from shoppers saying that they found it much easier to park here than at the previous location in Olde Burien.  I would have to agree.  It also seemed quite a bit … (0 comments)

98146: The Last Day Of School! - 06/23/09 04:47 PM
Today was my 8 year-old son's last day of school - hello, summer vacation!!

Here we are, my son has the entire summer off, and I just completed my intense 8-week plan for generating sales, which I should be kicking off right about NOW.  Gotta take advantage of the prime season.
But I also need to take advantage of the fact that my sweet boy is home all summer! What fun things are we going to do?
Tomorrow, we will probably go to Seahurst Park and check out the minus tide.  By the way, did you see the massive … (3 comments)

98146: What Your Home Is NOT Worth - 06/19/09 05:46 PM
**WARNING FOR AGENTS: TOTALLY UNORIGINAL YET VERY USEFUL INFORMATION AHEAD**
I say the above only because I think it's pretty safe to say that most of us real-estate agents have the below information posted somewhere on our website.  It really is an excellent summary of what we as agents communicate to you, the seller, during the listing appointment, along with the area statistics and comps(and of course our wonderful marketing strategies) to help you arrive at a price for your home.
Whether you're in Week 1 or Year 2 of your property being on the market, taking a look at this … (0 comments)

98146: Prudential NW Realty Presents - Twilight Open House Season, Week 1! - 06/17/09 01:33 PM
For the next eight weeks or so, Prudential NW Realty Burien agents will be holding many of our listings open on Wednesdays from 3 - 6 pm.  Hopefully you will be seeing our signs all over the Burien/Highline/Normandy Park/Seatac/Tukwila/Des Moines area and beyond during that time. 
Our goal is to get as many people/agents through the homes as possible, and sell our listings!! I mean, that's what our sellers would want, right? 
So if you happen to see one of our signs as you're driving by on your way home from work, taking your kids to activities or whatever, and are … (0 comments)

98146: Superstition, Prayer and Frustrated Pleas to Sell Listings? Worked for These Guys... - 06/08/09 06:32 AM
Prayer
We have two agents in our office who, for about the last year and a half, have had what we've come to call, "career listings". You know, those certain listings that you really want to sell, but fear that in your heart of hearts never, ever will.
These poor ladies - every week at the office meeting they've had to endure questions from us, their peers: "So, how's your listing in ___?"
"It's still there..." is the usual reply.  We can all relate, can't we?
Well, this past weekend one of the agents(let's call her Sharon) walks in the door … (4 comments)

98146: Doctored Photos and Nonexistent Views - Buyers Resent the Deception - 06/03/09 05:22 PM
There's a phrase we sometimes like to use in our office that goes something along the lines of, "It's better to under-promise and over-deliver" than vice-versa.  Sometimes I wish we would remember this when taking photos and creating the marketing for our listings.
It's understandable to want to point out every single feature of the property and highlight their benefits.  It's our job as real estate agents and marketing specialists to do what we can to make the property as appealing to potential buyers and their agents as possible.
However, I believe that often times we can be guilty of not … (57 comments)

98146: It's Almost Here! Another Week, Another Farmer's Market! - 06/03/09 04:42 PM
Q.  Where can you buy these...
and these...
and a loaf of this...
and a bunch of these...? 
A.  Why, at the Burien Farmer's Market, of course!  And someone in particular would really like to know...
   Are you gonna be there or not?
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Thanks for stopping by my blog!You can reach me at 206-595-5866, or e-mail me: LisaBosques@PNWRealty.comOr visit my website:  www.98146online.comI am an Associate Broker and Marketing Specialist with Prudential Northwest Realty Associates.   I specialize in homes located in the Burien/North Highline/West Seattle area, and I am here to serve all of your Real Estate needs.  … (0 comments)

98146: Just Listed - Beautiful Hazel Valley Home - 06/02/09 06:17 PM
Address: 13204 2nd Avenue S.W., Burien, WA 98146
Listed at $279,750
This lovely home is a must-see. From the gorgeous new kitchen to the gleaming hardwoods, this 1942 home in Hazel Valley has been impeccably maintained and thoughtfully updated. Kitchen features new cork flooring, stainless steel appliances including a gas range, tile backsplash, new cabinets, butcher block countertops and more. Other features include a 40-year roof installed 3 years ago with underlay, new windows, newly rebuilt chimney, new insulation, custom paint, updated interior and exterior light fixtures, new washer & dryer, gas water heater and alarm system. The home is situated … (0 comments)

98146: Look What You Can Buy for Under $300,000 in the White Center/Arbor Heights/Shorewood Area - 04/07/09 11:25 AM
I've pulled up some active listings in the 98146 zip code which includes parts of Burien, Shorewood, Arbor Heights and White Center.  I selected homes with 3 or more bedrooms, because that seems to be what people want.  There are currently 32 homes in the area with 3 or more bedrooms for under $300,000.  That amounts to a nice selection of homes in this entry level price range.
Click here to view these homes, no registration is necessary.
Happy House Hunting!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog!You can reach me at 206-595-5866, or e-mail me: LisaBosques@PNWRealty.comOr visit my website:  … (0 comments)

98146: Burien Homes For Sale - Lots to Choose From for $250,000 & Under - 04/07/09 11:14 AM
Burien's new Town Square project is steadily moving along, and hopefully you'll be strolling through it by summer when the Farmer's Market gets underway.  Burien is a great place to live, and a wonderful place in which to invest in a home.
As of April 7, 2009 there are 17 3-bedroom homes on the market in Burien for under $250,000.  Many of these have 4 bedrooms and generous lot sizes.
To view 3 bedroom homes in Burien under $250,000, click this link, no registration is necessary:
http://www.lisabosques.pnwrealty.com/pnwra/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&selected=qck&point=47.33077504693251|-121.80065760796673|11&acc=46040
Happy house hunting!
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Thanks for stopping by my blog!You can reach me … (0 comments)

98146: Recycle Your Old Fridge For Free AND Get Paid! - 04/02/09 03:50 AM
Just opened my Val-Pak coupons today, and while sorting through them I found a coupon from Seattle City Light.  Did you know that Seattle City Light will recycle your pre-2001 refrigerator for free?
According to SCL, an old refrigerator uses 3 times more energy than a newer one.  So they are offering to not only pick up the fridge for free, but also PAY YOU $30 for it!
Luckily for me, I was about to ditch my old fridge, and the way I usually do it is I call a company called JAACO, who will pick up your old appliance for … (0 comments)

98146: The Inspection: A Poem - 03/27/09 06:02 AM
An agent at my office has been in the process of selling one of his listings, in which the buyers had an inspection and basically asked for every single item to be corrected, reasonable or not.
The seller has channelled her frustrations into writing a lovely poem, which I will share with you now. Enjoy!
 The Inspection
I want your house, this is true
But first, some things you'll have to do
I'm asking too much? Excuse me, ma'am
The BUYER has the upper hand.
So fix the chimney and find that leak
And stop what makes that pesky squeak
See … (2 comments)