escrow redondo washington: Why Isn't Escrow Taking My Check!? - 08/01/14 07:39 AM
Although the Collect Funds Law has been around Washington State for a number of years, I still get alot of pushback from customers trying to save a few bucks by not wiring their funds to closing.
Because of all the fraud that exists, many companies will not close a real estate transaction without a wire transfer, which makes complete sense.  I will accept a cashiers check, but it has to clear before I can complete the closing on your transaction.
This means that the check has to route "in state" and for Washington State, that means that the routing numbers need … (2 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Did you know that Washington is a community property state? - 08/01/14 02:32 AM
Did you Know that Washington is a Community Property State? This means that you can't buy real estate in Washington State without addressing the spousal interest.  Be sure to ask the buyers what their marital status is and write it in after their names on line #2 of the Purchase & Sale Agreement.  
This is especially true If there is institutional financing involved.  If the buyers have all cash and really don't want to deal with it, then title will create a special exception to their policy of title insurance, "Right, Title & Interest of the buyers spouse" which will likely be no fun to clear … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Exploring the Quinault Rainforest - 08/01/14 02:23 AM
Exploring the Quinault Rainforest The Quinault Lodge, nestled in the Quinault Rain Forest on the Olympic Peninsula is a favorite place of mine.  Have you been yet?  They have a rainforest tour that is well worth the money, even if you have been there many times before.  Ranger Rodger will tell you stories about the area and the local culture that will amaze you!

 
… (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Spokane Business Honored with Hire-A-Vet Award - 06/27/12 01:23 AM
Employment Security Department/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 27, 2012/#12-029
Spokane business honored with Hire-A-Vet Award SPOKANE – Two state cabinet officials visited Spokane today to honor Haskins Steel for its track record of hiring military veterans.
Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause and John Lee, director of the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs, presented a Hire-A-Vet Award to the company’s general manager, Craig Dias.
“It would be hard to find a business more deserving of this award than Haskins Steel,” Trause said.
In accepting the award, Dias acknowledged the contribution veterans have made to the company.
“Today, veterans are among the best-trained … (3 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Washington States Department of Revenue Wins a National Award - 04/05/12 10:07 AM
Revenue wins national award for its implementation of taxpayer amnesty
Washington, D.C., April 5, 2012 – The Washington State Department of Revenue has won a national award for what judges said was its swift and taxpayer-friendly implementation of a 2011 taxpayer amnesty.
The Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) today named the agency co-winner of its 2012 Taxpayer Service and Education award in recognition of how it launched the three-month amnesty period only seven weeks after the Washington State Legislature authorized it in a one-day special session.
“We put a great deal of thought and work into making Washington’s first-ever tax … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: February's Drop In Unemployment Rate May Shorten Unemployment Benefits - 03/21/12 03:22 AM
                 
February’s drop in unemployment rate
may shorten unemployment benefits
 
OLYMPIA – Washington gained an estimated 4,200 jobs in February, adding to the state’s gradual climb up the employment ladder, according to the state’s Employment Security Department.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to an estimated 8.2 percent in February, down from a revised rate of 8.4 percent in January.  It was the lowest unemployment rate since January 2009, when it was 7.7 percent.
As a result of the improved unemployment rate, the maximum weeks of unemployment benefits in Washington will likely be reduced from 99 down to 73 … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Are you Reading Your Short Sale Approval Letters Carefully? - 10/25/11 08:41 AM
Are you Reading Your Short Sale Approval Letters Carefully? Several Banks now include an Arms Length Affidavit with their short sale approval letters which require the parties to certify "That the sale of the property is between parties who are unrelated and unaffiliated by family, marriage or commercial enterprise".One Affidavit has the buyer certifying that they will not re-sell the property within 120 days without having substantially refurbished or added value to the property and goes on to require that the closing agent will not act as the closing agent of subsequent transactions involving the property within one year of closing the short sale.The … (2 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Claim Your Cash.org Returns a Record Number of Refunds in Washington State - 09/13/11 10:40 AM
Revenue returns unclaimed property to a record number of claimants
OLYMPIA – Sept. 13, 2011 – The Washington State Department of Revenue returned unclaimed property to a record 108,441 claimants in Fiscal Year 2011, thanks in part to a sharp increase in the number of businesses reporting unclaimed property to the state.
The number of individuals who claimed property during the fiscal year ending June 30 was more than 10,000 higher than the 98,362 claims paid in Fiscal Year 2010. These individuals claimed $46.5 million in Fiscal Year 2011.
Revenue Director Suzan DelBene said the number of businesses reporting unclaimed property … (4 comments)

escrow redondo washington: I Have Been Inspired - And Why Not?? - 05/15/11 04:33 AM
I Have Been Inspired-And Why Not?
This little girl is my daughters niece in California.  At the Federal Way Chamber's May luncheon, I won a prize from the Relay for Life group and decided to start a team.  Cyndi Jacobson, another escrow officer assisted with creating the team name:  WRECK Cancer, which stands for "WE IN THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY KICK".  I do believe in contributing or giving back and I am going to do something about it.  I started losing friends from cancer about 10 years ago and we all know, love and are thankful for our cancer survivors.After attending the Team Captains … (6 comments)

escrow redondo washington: More Help Wanted: Job Openings Up 31% in Washington State - 04/21/11 05:44 AM
More help wanted: Job openings up 31 percent
OLYMPIA - Washington's recession-ravaged job market is on the road to recovery, according to the Employment Security Department's fall 2010 job-vacancy survey released today.
Job openings were up 31 percent last fall compared to a year earlier, growing to an estimated 41,889 vacant positions.
Employment Security conducts the job-vacancy survey twice a year, in the spring and fall. Estimated openings increased by 8 percent between the spring 2010 and fall 2010 surveys.
"The increase in job openings is a sign that employers are gaining confidence, and that's good for our economic recovery," said … (2 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Washington State will not interrupt UE Benefits if the Feds shut down - 04/08/11 11:22 AM
Federal government shutdown will not interrupt unemployment benefits or WorkSource job services
 OLYMPIA - Officials with the Washington State Employment Security Department are assuring unemployed workers that unemployment benefits will continue to be paid even if the federal government shuts down.
In addition, WorkSource offices will remain open to provide job-search, training and career development services.  There are about three dozen full-service centers across Washington, plus several dozen affiliates that provide a smaller array of services.
Although Employment Security and WorkSource operations are supported mostly with federal funding, Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause said, "We have funds on hand to maintain … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Do you want to win a Northwest Multi City Vacation Getaway for Two? - 04/08/11 07:29 AM
Do you want to win a Northwest Multi City Vacation Getaway for Two? 
I sure do.  The lucky winner receives:
Round trip tickets on the Victoria Clipper plus a champagne continental breakfast aboard One night accommodation at Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina Transportation via Cruise Victoria motor coach to the Butchart Gardens Admission for two to The Butchart Gardens including high tea Pacific Coach Lines transportation and BC Ferry between Victoria and Vancouver, BC One night stay at Delta Vancouver Suites in Vancouver, BC Tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Vancouver Trolley Tour Amtrak Cascades transportation between Seattle, WA … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: How to Check The US Terrorist Funds List - Just in Case you Suspect Some Funky Business In Your Transaction - 04/06/11 11:14 AM
What are the chances...?That your buyer or seller is on the US Terrorist funds list? Every transaction in this Country is checked against the names on this 500 plus page listing at the Office of Foreign Assets Control.  This office was created to track down & locate funds that are earmarked for terrorist activities or that belong to "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons".  I recall that after 9/11, while working for Fidelity National Title in Seattle the memo's were pouring in about this.  10 years later and nothing has changed - Are you interested in checking out this list?  Here it is, save … (4 comments)

escrow redondo washington: No Fooling: You May Have Unclaimed Property! - 03/31/11 06:11 AM
No Fooling: You May Have Unclaimed Property
OLYMPIA - April 1, 2011 - It's time to check the Department of Revenue's unclaimed property database again even if you didn't find anything last time.
"No fooling. Your odds of finding unclaimed cash are better than ever," Department Director Suzan DelBene said.
That's because the Department has added 623,000 names and $91.5 million to its huge online database at www.claimyourcash.org after businesses reported new unclaimed property late last year.
While the Department was able to pay $44.5 million to more than 98,000 claimants during Fiscal Year 2010, the database has grown to about … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Booth Escrow is now accepting Escrows on Mobile Title Transfer Only's - 03/20/11 07:32 AM
Booth Escrow is now accepting Mobile Home Only Escrows!
As a closer who has worked for title companies for the last 28 years, I have always referred these transactions out to independent escrow companies, which I have continued to do since I opened.  Hey - wait a minute:  I AM an independent escrow company now!
I get a number of phone calls each month on this topic and since about 19 independent escrow companies have closed their doors in the South Sound area, I need to fill the need.
So give me a call and I would be happy to assist … (2 comments)

escrow redondo washington: We Celebrated Fat Tuesday in New Orleans this year! - 03/20/11 07:24 AM
We Celebrated Fat Tuesday in New Orleans this year!
This has been on my list of things to do since I was about 18.  We spent months planning the trip - where we wanted to stay - close to everything, but not in the middle of what I expected to be chaos.It was sensational!  7 nights, many parades, a jillion beads, the best food and so many friendly local people.    We enjoyed a dining experience at Emerils Delmonico on St. Charles one night and then walked outside to enjoy the parades with the locals.  Beakfast at Brennons was a treat too, not to mention Aligator Cheesecake … (5 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Washington State Reports Job Gains in February - 03/15/11 12:42 PM

Job gains continued in February
 OLYMPIA - Washington added an estimated 800 jobs in February and the unemployment rate dipped to 9.1 percent from January's revised rate of 9.2 percent.
The big gainer in February was the construction industry, which added an estimated 3,900 jobs. Other industries that grew last month were government, up 1,700; and leisure and hospitality, up 1,600.
Growth in the public sector is attributed primarily to military jobs and higher education.
Jobs were lost in retail trade, down 1,500; wholesale trade, down 1,400; financial activities, down 1,300; professional and business services, down 1,300; and transportation, warehousing … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: M.A.R.S. is in Effect. Does it Affect You? - 02/11/11 08:46 AM
M.A.R.S. is in Effect.  Does it Affect you?
By now we have all heard about this new Rule by the Federal Trade Commission and everyone has different takes on it.  I have talked with Agents that are not concerned - I have talked with Agents that are very concerned. 
Richard Zaretsky, a Florida Real Estate Attorney has written this article on M.A.R.S. via Active Rain.
Kevin Hardin, CMB, CMC, CMPS with Thomson Law in Arizona has also written a good article that breaks down this new law.
Of course, we each need to check with our own independent legal counsel on this matter.
Enjoy … (0 comments)

escrow redondo washington: The Science of Sound in Satsop - 02/11/11 08:42 AM
The Science of Sound in Satsop
Part of Satsops unused nuclear power plant has just been leased by Ron Sauro, president of NWAA Labs for the purposes of testing sound absorption and transamission properties of building materials such as windows, doors and acoustical materials used in wall structures, ceilings and floors, cubicles and even materials used on rockets. 
Gail Greenwood Ayers writes about this lease in the new South Sound Magazine and Jeff Hobson offers a pretty nice photo.
Thanks for reading!
Julie
… (2 comments)

escrow redondo washington: Do You Know Who is Closing Your Bank Owned Sale? - 02/11/11 08:38 AM
Do You Know Who is Closing Your Bank Owned Sale?
More and more out of state escrows are jumping in to close the sales of REO's due to arrangements with the banks.
Be sure that the individual is either:
1)  A licensed escrow officer in Washington State
2)  An escrow closer working for a title company that is licensed in Washington State
3)  An attorney licensed in Washington State
More and more out of state individuals are closing or attempting to handle the closing of REO properties.  Washington State's Department of Financial Institutions has very clear language that requires that the individuals be licensed in Washington State.  Unfortunately, … (4 comments)