Seattle Area Information & Market News

Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah great kids’ activity

// There may be more variety at the Seattle Zoo but certainly there is a lot to do at the smaller Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah.  For kids who love to see unusual animals, explore wildlife facts, and especially see their favorite tiger or reindeer, it’s a winner.  The  location is good too, even though it’s admittedly out from the city of Seattle a half hour or more.  For families coming from Seattle a trip could be coordinated... 

Heating Bills a Thing of the Past?

// I’m pretty sure if the power company offered you a month off from paying your bill, you’d say yes. It might not happen tomorrow, but according to an article I just read in a Sierra Club magazine, in a few decades looks like large power bills will be a thing of the past. As we all know, it’s possible to build homes and offices that will not only be energy self-sufficient, but will produce zero carbon emmissions. In the... 

Seattle Parks Provide WiFi Hot Spots

// That’s what I love about Seattle, technology seamlessly integrated into life.  It’s no surprise with our city being billed “The most Educated City in America” because we have the highest rate of PhDsand higher degrees  per capita, and “The Smartest City in America” because we not only have more bookstores and independent bookstores per capita, but a truly impressive number of entrepreneurs making strides... 

Shoreline – Lake Forest Park Magical Strings Concert for the Holidays!

// On Sunday, November 29th the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council presents Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert. Now in it’s 31st year, Magical Strings will be performing at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m.  As many families and fans in the community have made this a holiday tradition, tickets will go fast.  Phil and Pam Boulding, the center of this musical whirl of Holiday sparkle, are magical at holiday time.  Yuletide... 

Questions About the Homebuyer Tax Credit

// Here are some frequently asked questions with regards to the revisions to the Homebuyer Tax Credit program  Must the new house cost more than the old house? 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 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... 

New Taxpayer Credit Signed Today

// Today, President Obama has signed  law legislation prolonging and expanding the  first-time homebuyer tax credit of $8,000. This is being considered a victory for consumers and the housing industry. The new legislation allows homebuyers to qualify for the tax credit until April 30, 2010 (as long as they have entered a binding contract by that time), and gives the homebuyer an additional 2 months  to close the transaction. In addition,... 

Intentional Living Seminar lights up Lake Forest Park

// Tuesday evening, as part of the “Lighten the Load and Light Up the Future” project in Lake Forest Park, Piper Lauri Salogga of Natural Balance (Seattle), spoke to a group on “Peace and Vitality, Living Intentionally in Your Home.” The lecture was supposed to go from 7 to 8:30, but at 9:30 participants were still eagerly questioning Piper, whose sparkling intensity won her instant fans.  At that moment, for everyone... 

5 Reasons Buyers Fail With Fixers

// "Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him." These days, it is all too easy for  inexperienced buyers to become obsessed with getting the “best deal”.   I’m talking about  the “weekend warrior” buyer- the one who watches countless hours of HGTV shows that make it seem plausible that someone could seek out, purchase, remodel and flip a home for 25% profit in 30 minutes,... 

The Truth about Appraisals

// Just about everybody has heard of an appraisal and knows what it is- an assessment of a home’s value based on empirical evidence like recent sales, replacement costs, and the subjective opinions of underpaid appraisers hurrying from one gig to the next.  What many Buyers don’t know is that, even though they get to pay for it,  the appraisal isn’t for them, it’s for their bank.  While it’s true that the bank wants you to know... 

Top 10 Reasons Your House Isn’t Selling (Part 1)

// Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that the past 18 months have seen record numbers of homes hit the Seattle real estate market.  And not just Seattle’s market, but all markets across the country. The combination of panic, desperation and fear has caused “For Sale” signs to spring up faster than Rush Limbaugh’s assistant when somebody yells “free cake”.  The good news is that the tide... 

Living in the Rainier Valley

// Life in the Rainier Valley A lot of Seattlites have never been to the Rainier Valley and they are missing a lot.  Nestled below Beacon Hill is one of the most intreging areas of urban improvement and a spectacular life.  Driving down the main thoroughfare from downtown Seattle, Martin Luther King Way S., you’ll see a considerable amount of new housing, condominiums, urban parks and rapidly changing demographics.  This is truly... 

Government Housing Stimulus Ends November 30, 2009

// Buyers If you’re a first time home buyer and want to buy a home, hurry before it’s too late.  Right now, the $8000 tax credit has not been extended yet, so lock that in if you plan to buy in the near term.  For a home that costs $300k, an $8k credit represents 2.7% of the cost of the home.  That’s more than people’s down payment during the real estate heyday! Sellers If you’re a seller and own a home in... 

What is a Buyer’s Agent and Why Do I Need One?

// WHAT IS A BUYER’S AGENT AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?   Q:  How do Buyers’ Agents Get Paid?   A:  Their services are free to the Buyer.   Q:  How does that work?   A:  When the Seller’s Agent signs a listing agreement with the Seller, they negotiate a commission.  They then offer a part of that commission, usually half, but it varies, to the Buyer’s Agent.  This is listed in the Agent part of the MLS.  So when... 

AMAZING lodge for sale in Chilliwack, BC

// I was up in the Vancouver BC area last week and my friend Laura Howren took me with her to see a property she just listed in Chilliwack. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the area, it’s a city in the Fraser Valley region in BC about an hour and a half away from Vancouver (home to the 2010 Winter Olympics!!) with an abundance of recreational activities…hiking, fishing, golfing, water sports, you name it. This log...