It occurs to me that there are some definite differences between the big box real estate companies that you always see in the media and the smaller firms that are in the market.  The big firms make you fit into their box and some make you qualify with them before they will even take you out to see houses.  Oh and you have to sign an agreement to only use them.  They are great in the neighborhoods that they operate in as they are promoted as “neighborhood experts” but what happens if you don’t exactly know where you want to live and want to see other areas.  Hmmm, could be a problem.  The other issue is just because your friend, relative, neighbor is an excellent realtor for the big box real estate company where you are, does that mean that the person on the other side of the country is equally as good.  There are no guarantees as to the competence of realtors in a big box real estate company.  So it is imperative that buyers get a hold of “Buyers Realtors” in the community that they are looking, to find someone that is willing to work for you before you move.

What are “Buyers Realtors”?  These are agents/brokers, states like to mix these terms so I’ll call them realtors, who work mainly with people looking to buy a home.  Most of the big box real estate buyers realtors are again neighborhood experts that know everything within their neighborhoods.  But, cross over into another neighborhood or city and most won’t know as much as someone that works in that area.  The smaller company buyers realtors will go wherever they need to and may not know as much minutia about an area but will know about or be able to direct you to the website that can give you the information.  Ever wonder about schools, gyms, parks, in different areas?  All of this information is available and a good buyers realtor will get it to you.  There have been an occasions when someone doesn’t know the different communities and aren’t really sure where to live but they work in downtown Seattle, for instance.  What happens then?  Think a neighbor expert will know where you want to live?  Well certainly…in their area.  What if it’s not convenient or you want to use mass transit and it is not where you want to be?

Here are some things that buyers should consider: First, who’s going to know more about a variety of areas in the general vicinity of where they work?; Secondly, how soon is the relocation planned for; Thirdly, who is able to give you insights into the different areas that you are interested in; and Finally, who wants to assist you.  Many of the websites out there are good for looking up properties and most will have a realtor attached to them, that will contact you.  Don’t be afraid of talking to someone about what you want.  It is one of the biggest purchases that you make in life so get someone that can help you find the home that you really want.  As I said earlier, find someone to work with before you move.  In this way, you will find out how much they know and what their ability is to look outside their office area.  Depending on the realtor, you may even be able to eliminate some areas without even being there yet with the information that you get from them.  If you like to get paper resources, some firms will send you “relocation packs”  which are filled with some information about the areas that you might want to consider.

Good hunting!

Please let me know if I can assist you.

There could not have been a better day for our Corn Patch adventure in Snohomish. The maze seemed to go on for ever, the patch full of pumpkins to choose from was wide and there were red wagons to pull over the ruts and between the rows.  We loaded up with four pumpkins including a big one, all for $16.  Of course, everyone over 2 also was charged $9 each to get in, but it was declared worth it by all!

There were rubber duck races, round cage rollies, pony rides, pot banging stations (presumably to scare away the ghosties), trout fishing, a jumping place, a wonderful train that went on and on, around and around, until some of the moms on board were seen to put their heads onto their arms in despair of ever getting onto their own two feet again (the driver really seemed to be enjoying himself).  There was fantastic roasted corn, hot apple cider, hot dogs, and other goodies to munch.

Highly recommended, you still have Sunday!

It’s well and good to learn from a lecture. But rarely is a lecture life-changing.

Washington is called the evergreen state. We love our trees, the great outdoors and our planet. We are a hardy people. And we have two universities (colleges) that are in the top 10 for sustainable practices and learning.

The University of Washington is ranked number 1 in the country. Every building completed since 2006 has earned LEED Gold. All appliances bought are Energy Star rated. And the hydro-powered campus runs 3 farms, an extensive recycling program, and the conservation-research hotbed Pack Forest. The university is located on a fresh water lake in Seattle that had problems with algae bloom from residential sewage run-off.  The city of Seattle, like many cities with overburdened treatment centers, encouraged the University to reduce water use on campus. As an incentive, the city offered a rebate of $120 per water fixture that the university replace with new water saving equipment. So they retrofitted their plumbing to save water, conserve energy and be “green.”

Forty percent of UW’s food budget is spent on local items, according to the green report card. They use mostly cage free eggs and natural milk. The school composts their food waste, which keeps it out of the landfills. The Bothell campus uses goats to control weeds on their grounds.

All campus community members participating in the U-PASS program receive unlimited public transit passes and discounts on carpool permits and the car-sharing program. Student government runs a nonprofit bike repair shop, and 88 percent of students and 62 percent of employees commute via environmentally preferable means.

The Evergreen State College is ranked number 9 nationally. This non-traditional college breaks the mold in so many ways. Our middle son attended this college to obtain his Bachelor of Science degree and he received graduate level education with exceptional professors.

The Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2020. Though it’s campus is currently one-third coal powered, students pay a self-imposed fee of $1 each academic quarter to buy renewable energy credits to offset the college’s electricity consumption.

Evergreen’s Organic Farm is located on a 5 acre section of campus. The plot includes the farmhouse, Demeter’s Gardens, Community Gardens, the Biodiesel facility, the compost facility, the workroom, tool shed, greenhouses and the 38,000 square foot production area of the Organic Farm.  The Organic Farm crew works all year round to plan, plant, maintain and harvest the various crops grown.  The Compost Facility is used to turn farm waste into compost for fertilizing the production area of the farm.  During the growing season the Organic Farm’s produce is sold at the Organic Farm Stand on Red Square at Evergreen, at The Organic Farm during business hours and through our Community Supported Agriculture Program.  Excess produce and plant starts are donated to the Thurston County Food Bank.

The school has an extensive composting project as well as a comprehensive recycling program.

According to The Evergreen State Paper Policy, it  is committed to using environmentally benign products and technologies whenever possible.

Ride Share and alternative forms of transportation are part of Evergreen’s sustainability. Student fees pay for and allow all students at Evergreen to ride the bus in and around Olympia and Thurston County an unlimited number of times each quarter by showing their student ID. By registering in a database of Evergreen commuters, the ride share program allows students, faculty and staff to match their schedules with people who live close by and facilitates contact to set up new carpools.

Ban the Bottle is a campus-wide initiative to raise awareness in The Evergreen State College community about the negative impacts of plastic bottles on social, environmental and economical health as well as alternative, safer options for drinking water. The long-term goal of this initiative is to discontinue the purchase of plastic bottled water on campus and provide re-useable water canteens and to install bottle fill stations across campus.  Evergreen has switched all of their disposable ware to compostable products. They have also eliminated trays, saving countless gallons of water. The school supports local farmers and producers, using organic whenever possible.

Students can opt to live in the sustainability house,  made up of a community of students committed to a living an environmentally conscious, socially just, and sustainable lifestyle. Residents of the Sustainability House complete 5 hours of sustainability-related service each month to the campus and house community.

The lessons students learn from these sustainable practices will be carried throughout their lives and potentially impact the world.

Seattle Area Real Estate

I love Fall. The cooler weather feels so refreshing and everything is so green here in the Pacific Northwest. But it means that the wet, cold winter is not far behind. There is much to do around our homes and gardens to prepare for Winter, and this year is suppose to be colder and wetter than normal.

Here are some tips for this month to get ready:

In The Garden:

• Clean up and winterize
• Prune fruit trees
• Divide and add new perennials and prune back existing ones
• Plant ground covers, shrubs and trees
• Choose and plant crocus, daffodil, and tulip bulbs
• Transplant from now through March
• Rake leaves. If the leaves are clean and free of disease like powdery mildew, they can be used as mulch around plants like roses and tender perennials.

Fruits and Veggies:

• Compost garden wastes as you tidy for Winter
• Sow a green manure crop such as crimson clover, vetch, or field peas, in empty spaces. When plowed under next Spring, it will suppress weeds and add nitrogen and organic matter to the soil.

For The Lawn:

• Thatch, aerate and install sod.
• If your lawn was planted with very little organic matter, top-dress with a light layer of compost.
• Turn off irrigation system.

Around The House:

• Winterize fountains and water features.
•  Bring in the indoor plants that have summered outside. Groom and check for unwanted pests. Stop fertilizing for the coming winter months.
• Sharpen shovels and tools. It’s a great planting month!
• Start decorating for Halloween. Boo! Carve those pumpkins.
• Warm up your home with cozy throws, glowing candles, and other autumn decor.
• Mix up a pot of your favorite chili or soup and invite friends or family over for an impromptu dinner.
• Keep an extra Soggy Dog towel on the back step to wipe those wet paws.

Click here for additional gardening tips from Washington State University Cooperative Extension publication “The Gardener”.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Sammamish Washington

Came in 15th on the Top 100 cities population 46,700

If you’re looking for the Pacific Northwest ideal–snow-capped mountains and scenic lakes–Sammamish might be for you. Puget Sound and ski resorts are both an hour from this affluent Seattle suburb. High-tech employers in the area include Boeing, Amazon, and Microsoft, which is headquartered just 15 minutes away. Incorporated just over a decade ago, Sammamish still doesn’t have a real center where the community can gather. But local officials are working on a new downtown with retail, recreation, and town services.

Newcastle Washington:

Last but certainly not least was Newcastle Washington at 18th of the Top 1oo cities of the Best places to live with a population of  10,200.

The volunteer spirit is alive and well in this former coal-mining town 13 miles from Seattle. Despite serious budget cuts that threatened the city’s summer 2011 events, local businesses and citizens offered time and cash to keep the community’s concerts and fireworks afloat. There’s a 350-acre golf course here, not to mention 12 parks; the 3,115-acre Cougar Mountain Wildland Park is right next door. Newcastle residents can jump on a trail in the city and end up in the “Issaquah Alps.” Tech employers such as Microsoft are almost as easily accessible

Wow! Where did the summer (oh, did we have one) go? It’s mid August and a new school year is just around the corner. Stores are full of back to school supplies and clothes. Times are tough – budgets are stretched thin. It’s easy to want to grab the most inexpensive supplies. Here are some ideas to make your child’s school year healthier for them and the planet.

Classroom Supplies:

• Buy cardboard or canvas binders, which are biodegradable, instead of plastic ones.

• Get your kids recycled pencils and paper. There’s even paper made out of elephant poop!

• Opt for crayons instead of markers, and white glue instead of epoxy.

• Teach kids to reuse scrap paper for drafting homework and working out math problems.

• When the teacher asks for classroom contributions, send in all-natural non-toxic items, such as antibacterial hand sanitizer, natural cleaning supplies and recycled paper tissues.

• Lobby for the school to become a paper-free school, with all information passed along via email.

Getting to and from School:

Many parents drive their kids to school and pick them up. While quick, convenient and often necessary, cars also pollute the environment. But there are ways to minimize the effects and save a few dollars in the process.

• Instead of idling in front of the school, emitting fumes and wasting gas, shut off the engine.

• Get together with friends and your kids’ classmates and carpool.

• Leave the car in the driveway and walk or bike the kids to school.

School Lunches:

• Avoid sandwich bags and plastic wrap that will end up in landfills. Put food in reusable tupperware whenever possible.

• Steer clear of packaged food that comes in individual servings. Buy items like yogurt or crackers in bulk and transport them to school in serving-size containers.

• Although straws are small, they can add up in landfills. Stainless steel straws are a little-known alternative, and are available online and in eco-friendly stores.

• When possible, use leftovers for lunches. This is a great way to avoid wasting food that may end up spoiling in your fridge.

• Pack lunches with organic and local foods and foods without added preservatives and hormones whenever possible. These foods travel shorter distances to get to you and contain fewer unhealthy additives.

• Encourage others to only use recyclable containers. Help create waste-free lunch days at school.

• Invest in a reusable water bottle to avoid packaged beverages and the waste they produce.

Clothes and Bags:

• Avoid backpacks made of nylon or new plastics, especially PVC (vinyl), and look instead for bags made from recycled materials or natural materials, such as hemp.
• Green clothing is also getting easier and easier to find, and while pricing used to make green clothing options out of the reach of most families, organic, sustainable and recycled clothing options are now often priced the same as conventional clothing. Major retailers including Wal-Mart and Target sell organic cotton clothing.
• Organic cotton makes a big difference by reducing reliance on pesticides and insecticides. Conventional cotton is grown on just 2.4 percent of land suitable for farming worldwide, but it consumes about 25 percent of all insecticides and 10 percent of pesticides used annually. Recycled cotton and polyester clothing is also cropping up in stores, and it’s a great way to maximize the use of materials and divert waste from landfills.
• Swaps and second-hand shops are also a great place to stock up on essentials, such as t-shirts, jeans, and more. Buying second-hand will help you save money, swaps let you trade up from the clothing your kids have outgrown, and both options help divert clothing from landfills and reduce demand for new clothing. Check out Buffalo Exchange in Seattle.

Check out the Sustainable Schools Coalition  in Seattle. They are working hard to put into action practices that will help the environment while saving money for Seattle Public schools.

And finally, when our tax dollars are paying for building new schools throughout our region, make your voice heard. Make sure the building is being done with sustainability in mind. A perfect example is the new Finn Hill Junior High in Kirkland. When students rush into the new Finn Hill Junior High in Kirkland, Wash., on the first day of school this fall, they will be greeted by the “Finn Hill Family,” a collection of glass figurines designed by a local artist. LEDs inside each sculpture will be wired to controls that measure the electricity, heat and water use of a particular classroom cluster.  The more energy and water students conserve, the brighter their figurines will shine. This spring, builders are installing a ventilation system that recaptures waste heat as well as tightly sealed walls of insulated panels and a rooftop photovoltaic array. Architects at the Seattle firm Mahlum designed the project to be 65 percent more energy efficient than typical schools in the area, making the case to taxpayers that investments made now will save in operating costs over the building’s 40-to 50-year lifetime.

Finn Hill Junior High sits at the vanguard of a green schools building boom driven by federal stimulus spending, local school bonds and education leaders looking to slash energy costs. As the recession-racked construction industry continues to suffer the burst of the housing bubble, green school projects offer a bright spot for builders and designers. Data research company McGraw-Hill Construction estimates that such projects totaled $16 billion last year – up from $9 billion in 2008. That’s more than a third of all school construction activity.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Are you guys taking full advantage of this gorgeous sunny weather in Seattle yet?  Seattle festivals and events in August are continuing the tradition of jam packed summer fun!  All of this really makes it up for the long winter here.  From local favorites to tourist’s annual favorites that bring them out to Seattle every summer, there is something for everyone to do this weekend! 

All of these festivals and events listed are happening in the first two weeks of August from 5^th to the 14^th.  The big fan favorite, the BLUE ANGELS are performing their air shows again this year!  Few of the individual Counties are hosting their own fair as well.  Lot of exciting and fun things going on!  Follow me on my journey to introduce and navigate through all the festivals that are happening in Seattle and all around the Sound this summer.  Enjoy the sun and your neighbors, but do not stay home!

ALL SEATTLE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN AUGUST

Seattle Real Estate

ABOUT CHRISTY KIM

Way to go Seahawks and Sounders! Solar on the event center. The solar installation will cover about 80% of the event center’s roof.

The project will consist of 3,750 individual solar panels manufactured in the United States by Solyndra—which produces a unique thin-film technology that captures both direct and reflected sunlight across a unique 360-degree cylinder-type surface. The panels will take advantage of the facility’s new white “cool roof” which conserves energy by reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the roof surface and lowering the need for building cooling.

The panels are projected to generate over 830,000 kWh of electricity annually, the equivalent of powering 95 Seattle area homes for a year. The system is expected to be fully operational in late summer 2011.

The Event Center solar array is the latest in a series of “green” investments in professional sports venues made by Seattle Seahawks chairman Paul G. Allen.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Researchers Eli Beracha and Ken Johnson made that conclusion after analyzing data for 23 different Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).

The study used an eight-year holding period for comparative purposes and factored in costs associated with homeownership, tax benefits and home price appreciation, and considered returns on similar risk portfolios. The net result is that home price gains would need to average only 3.25% annually to beat renting, according to Beracha and Johnson.

After crunching the numbers, Beracha and Johnson concluded buying a home may beat renting for the first time in several years.

Two key factors prompted their conclusion. First, rents are expected to rise, perhaps as much as 7 percent in each of the next two years. Second, home prices have dropped enough — about 32 percent from their 2006 peak – to create a buying opportunity.

In corroborating the analysis, CNNMoney compared 10 metro areas and determined it makes sense to buy in half of them: Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee, Pittsburg and Seattle. In the other five cities, Boston, Dallas, Honolulu, Houston, and New York, it is more advantageous to rent. (See chart.)

Authors of the CNNMoney analysis noted Seattle’s home prices have grown quickly over past 25 years, but since the late stages of the boom during the 2000s, “prices have fallen 26% from its peak, according to Fiserv, making purchases more attractive.” Research shows by early 2011, prices had fallen to about 26 times the annual rents.

“Seattle’s price rises have been robust historically and for someone looking for a home today, gains would only have to near the metro area’s normal growth rate for buyers to come out richer than renters in eight years,” stated the CNNMoney report.

Of the 23 cities Beracha and Johnson looked at, Seattle is the best place to buy right now. When renters invest in portfolios that include stocks, the appreciation rate required over the next eight years there is 4.84 percent and the area’s historical average is 6.06 percent.

Seattle Area Real Estate