sandy nelson: Going Solar
- 10/04/07 05:04 PM
...is fortunately becoming more and more popular in the US. On Saturday the 6th of October the National Solar Tour, now in its 12th year, will showcase the use of solar power.
One of the many tour locations is Olympia, where residences, as well as commercial buildings that use clean sources of energy and energy efficient design are open for visits by the public. Most locations will have docents on site to explain the special sustainable energy features. Among the places to visit in Olympia is the Batdorf&Bronson Coffee Roastery, the Olympia Farmer's Market and Dee Williams' 84 sq. ft. "little house".
For … (25 comments)
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sandy nelson: Do you speak Military
- 10/03/07 12:13 PM
Every industry has its acronyms, but it seems the military more so than any other.
Not everybody would be able to clearly decode the following message:
"I'm a NCO at USAREUR and due to ETS next spring. My DEROS is in March. When I get back to CONUS I plan to return to my HOR, which is Olympia, WA. I'm currently on TDY at Ft. Lewis and would like to meet with you tomorrow at 1600 hrs. to go over property listings that are within my current BAH range."
Translation Chart:
NCO - Non-Commissioned Officer
USAREUR - US Army Europe (headquartered in Heidelberg)
ETS - Estimated Time of Separation
DEROS - Date of Estimated … (30 comments)
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sandy nelson: Flipping Properties in Washington
- 09/20/07 01:13 PM
Unbeknownst to many in our industry or the general public, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries slipped a bill about contractor registration into this year's legislative session that was approved and signed into law effective July 22nd, 2007.
Oddly enough, in an August 2007 information brief, the Department of Labor and Industries announces the "proposed bill" and invites the public to comment at a planned hearing on the "draft rules" in early November 2007. I can't wait to attend that meeting. I guess better late than never.
In case the reader is wondering what the hubbub on contractor registration is about, here is the language that … (19 comments)
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sandy nelson: Record Foreclosure Rates - The true picture
- 09/15/07 04:28 PM
According to national media reporting, the average national foreclosure start rate is at record levels. This is blamed mostly on irresponsible sub-prime mortgage lending practices. A detailed picture shows that in most of the states the foreclosure start rates have actually declined.According to the Mortgage Bankers Association the extreme conditions in four states severely skew the national average. These state are: California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. Home prices in these states have dropped significantly and inventory is at an all time high.
This situation leaves home sellers anxious to sell at any price and home buyers uncertain whether to wait until prices … (10 comments)
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sandy nelson: Charming and Neat as a Pin
- 08/11/07 02:06 PM
Click on the image for an online property flyer.
This charming home is located between Olympia and Tumwater. Pioneer Park and the Briggs YMCA are just a short walk up the road. The exterior of the home is deceptively plain. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find Pergo flooring, upgraded carpet, ceramic tile in the bathrooms, french doors and many more special details inside this home. In the backyard you have two decks, one is covered for shade on hot summer days. Sit out on the back deck and watch the neighboring horses come up to the fence.
This well cared-for house … (0 comments)
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sandy nelson: Curious about Ft. Lewis?
- 08/10/07 04:52 PM
If you'd like to get a glimpse of what Ft. Lewis is like, take the virtual tour of Washington's largest Army installation. Ft. Lewis has repeatedly been voted "most desirable Army post". It's no wonder when you realize the many amenities available at Ft. Lewis; from the first rate Madigan Army Medical Center, the housing choices, the shopping and dining facilities, to the out-door recreation opportunities.
Find your way around Ft. Lewis with the help of this map.
Ft. Lewis is divided into Main Post and North Fort Lewis. The two parts of the installation are divided by Interstate-5. If arriving in Washington by plane, … (7 comments)
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sandy nelson: The best place to live
- 08/08/07 03:22 PM
... and you'll see why Olympia is considered the best place to live in Washington.
Olympia is located on the southern tip of Puget Sound and offers great views of the Olympic Mountains, as well as Mt. Rainier. It is located right along the I-5 corridor and lies between Seattle and Portland. Housing in and around Olympia is plentiful and still affordable. As the Capitol City, Olympia offers good employment opportunities, lots of public art, fountains, parks, theatres, art galleries and restaurants, yet it retains its small town charm.
Take the virtual tour and see for yourself why Olympia is such a great place to live. … (9 comments)
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sandy nelson: Cell phone towers - detrimental to real estate values?
- 08/05/07 07:13 AM
According to BBC News, a major UK study recently found that
..."In the trial, many of those who blame masts for their symptoms reported greater distress when they thought the signal was on, suggesting the problem has a psychological basis."
..."However, the Environmental Health Perspectives study stressed people were nonetheless suffering "real symptoms".
Concern about the possible health risks of cell phone towers is so wide-spread that the American Cancer Society had dedicated a web page to the subject.
Whether the health risks of cell phone towers are real, or not, fact is, quite a few people are concerned, and given the … (5 comments)
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sandy nelson: Calendar of Events
- 08/02/07 05:39 PM
Do you have kids at home from school, or company staying with you, and you're wondering what to do and where to take them? Here is a list of events, attractions and things to do in the Olympia area during the summer.
Pioneer Farm Museum and Ohop Indian Village: http://www.pioneerfarmmuseum.org/FramesSite/PFOIVFrames.html Experience life in the 1880's by visiting the historic Washington home stead. Children can milk a cow, try their hands in the metal smith shop, ride in the horse drawn wagon and much more. In the Indian village tour guides will explain life for the Ohop Indians before the first contact with Europeans. … (7 comments)
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sandy nelson: Should Realtors attend Closings?
- 07/30/07 04:13 PM
I have heard some of my fellow Realtors say they don't attend their clients'closings because they fear their buyers might not want them to know any financial details. I've heard brokers caution agents to stay away from closings to reduce liability.
I don't get it. Walking buyers through a real estate transaction is like a doctor's exam. I'm going to see them naked. (financially speaking, of course). Liability? We are exposed to liability whatever we do. The key is to be cautious. I will refer all questions in regard to the HUD, or title to the closing agent, or title officer.
I … (54 comments)
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sandy nelson: German speaking Realtor - Olympia, Ft. Lewis, McChord
- 07/30/07 03:31 PM
When I first moved to Olympia, WA, I was happy to learn just how many German people live in this area. With the two large military installations, Ft. Lewis and Mc Chord AFB nearby, many of the military wives come from Germany (I'm one of them). I started a German conversation group in 2002 that meets once a month on Saturday afternoons at a local German cafe. It's a great opportunity to speak German, swap magazines and catch up on what's going on in the "old country".
It's not surprising that so many Germans make this part of the country their home. Our local climate is very similar … (8 comments)
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sandy nelson: Relocating to Ft. Lewis?
- 07/29/07 09:30 AM
Over the coming year Ft. Lewis will receive an entire new Brigade. This Brigade is being assembled as a phased stand-up, with individual troops coming from units all over the US and outside CONUS. Although additional housing as been added on post, there will still be a significant need for off-post housing.
I'm a full service Realtor in the Ft. Lewis area and one of my specialties is assisting with military relocations. I'm an Army veteran myself and I'm the spouse of a retired Army officer. My daughter is currently serving in the Air Force, and my Realtor team partner is a retired First … (3 comments)
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sandy nelson: Better photos with little effort
- 07/27/07 08:04 PM
Unless you contract out for photo services, taking pictures is part of a Realtor's or Stager's job functions. Good pictures are a significant element in marketing a home. Who hasn't heard "A picture is worth a thousand words"?
Some pictures speak volumes; like a listing photo of a house covered in snow and still on the MLS in July. It says "This Realtor doesn't really care about the listing". I bet I can find more than one snowy picture in our MLS right now (not to worry, none of the photos used here are from the MLS). If a listing gets stale, refresh it with new pictures every … (44 comments)
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sandy nelson: Thurston County Market News
- 07/26/07 01:17 PM
Home sellers sigh about having to lower their sales prices. Current local home inventory is 35% up from last year and the number of buyers has dramatically diminished due to the shake-up of the sub-prime lending market. The average number of days a home is on the market is currently at 85 days YTD, compared to an average of 66 days in 2006.
Sounds too depressing?
How does this sound?
Closed home sale prices are up over 6% from last year. There are currently 97 single family homes for under $200,000 on the market in Thurston county (excludes manufactured homes). Big outfits, such as Great Wolf Lodge and … (4 comments)
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sandy nelson: Dishonesty or Coincidence?
- 07/25/07 10:55 AM
How strange that a property that has been on the market for over 50 days without a single price reduction just happens to get another offer coming in the day I'm ready to submit an offer for less than asking price. What are the odds of that happening more than once?
As Realtors we have a primary obligation to protect and promote the interests of our clients, but we are also obligated to treat all parties honestly.
I'm obligated to counsel my buyers that the listing agent is presenting a second offer. My buyers are just as apt to wonder about such a … (10 comments)
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sandy nelson: Dorm Room Staging
- 07/24/07 10:47 AM
I visited my daughter, who is currently stationed with the Air Force in Italy, in May. I had to check out how she lived, where she worked, who her supervisors and colleagues are etc... I was pleasantly surprised at the nice Air Force facilities, compared to what I've seen with the Army. What the Army calls "gym", the Air Force call "fitness studio". hat the Army calls "barracks", the Air Force calls "dorms". And those dorms are nice. Each airman (yes, even females are called "airman") has his/her own room and shares a kitchen and a bath room with a dorm mate. … (12 comments)
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sandy nelson: Good Economic News
- 07/23/07 05:06 AM
It's not just the rain that makes things flourish here. Forbes Magazine recently ranked Washington as having one of the best business climates in the country. The state has gone from a budget deficit just a few years ago to a $1.2 billion in reserves. According to a news article in "The Olympian" newspaper, welfare rolls at 1.8% are the lowest the state has experienced in 40 years. Unemployment is at 4.6%, which is one of the lowest unemployment rates in 30 years. These positive economic indicators are good news for investors, local businesses and the people of Washington.
Sandy NelsonRealtor for Olympia Area Real Estatewww.sandynelsonrealestate.com
… (4 comments)
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sandy nelson: Historic Neighborhoods
- 07/21/07 08:43 AM
I live in Olympia's South Capitol Neighborhood, which is a nationally recognized historic district. As such, any remodeling plans have to be approved not just by the city, but also by the Olympia Heritage Commission. Many home buyers will not be aware of this requirement until they submit their permit requests and then may possibly get turned down. If you're a Realtor with clients who fall in love with the charm of a historic home, but have plans to add on a sun-room, tear out the steep spindled staircase or pave the back yard, please have them check with the Heritage Commission's … (7 comments)
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sandy nelson: Lack of low income housing
- 07/18/07 04:20 AM
With real estate prices at a premium, developers, builders and home owners naturally seek to maximize on their investments. Providing low-income housing is not usually a motivating cause for the private sector. The lack of low-income housing, or transitional housing, however, impacts the entire community. Here in Thurston County, the number of homeless is estimated at around 800 people. There are less than 300 temporary shelter beds available. The rest of the homeless population most likely camps out. I don't know enough about the causes of homelessness and the circumstances of the individuals. It would seem to me that in a state … (3 comments)
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