It’s mid-May and our region’s Farmer’s Markets are opening for business.

Even though the region is home to a number of fabulous year-round markets, most locations are seasonal. Do you enjoy eating fresh and local? Our farmers markets support many local farmers as well as provide a great place to sell local jams, breads. meats, eggs and so much more. These markets are an important part of the local economy. It’s also great to know exactly where the food you eat and serve your family comes from and how it was grown.

The first farmers markets technically originated in Egypt over 5,000 years ago when farmers along the Nile brought their fresh produce to be sold. Today there are farmers markets all over the world with the smallest ones being no more than 3-4 vendors selling their fresh produce to the largest one in the world in Tokyo, Japan which has over 1,700 stalls! Today, most communities support farmers markets. With obesity in both adults and children at an all time high, it only makes sense to put more emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. Here are some top reasons why eating locally is better:

• Local food is fresher and tastes better than food that been trucked or flown in from thousands of miles away. Think you can’t taste the difference between lettuce picked yesterday and lettuce picked last week, factory-washed, and sealed in plastic? You can. Plus fresh local produce lasts longer.
• Those thousands of miles some food is shipped? That leads to a big carbon footprint for a little bunch of herbs. Look for farmers who follow organic and sustainable growing practices and energy use to minimize your food’s environmental impact.
• By buying foods grown and raised closer to where you live, you help maintain farmland and green space in your area.
• The fewer steps there are between your food’s source and your table the less chance there is of contamination. Also, when you know where your food comes from and who grows it, you know a lot more about that food.
• Money spent with local farmers stays close to home building the local economy.
• Knowing where your food is from connects you to the people who raise and grow it. Instead of having a single relationship–to a big supermarket–you develop smaller connections to more food sources: vendors at the farmers’ market, the local cheese shop, your favorite butcher, the co-op that sells local eggs, a local café that roasts coffee.

As my father always taught me, you are what you eat. High quality food that is freshly picked is loaded with so much nutritional value. Even though vitamins have their place, isn’t it better to get as many of our nutrients from the foods we eat?

Let’s all do our part to support our local farmers. It’s good for everyone!

Seattle Area Real Estate

Spring is in full swing! Many start planning moves in the Spring to avoid mid-school year disruptions. With the market conditions favorable to both buyers and sellers, now is the time to make YOUR plans. I would love to be part of YOUR team to make it happen.

For the first time in over 4 years, the year to year change in selling prices was positive, according to the NW MLS listing service in Kirkland. The gain was small but it shows we are moving in the right direction. Many believe we have reached the bottom of the down-turned real estate market. Some pockets are frenzied, which is never a good thing. Making a huge financial commitment is serious business and caution needs to be taken to make wise decisions for the long haul.

According to the data, the average price in April for a single family home was $250,000 while the average price for March was $234,487.

Tight inventory is creating a sellers market in some communities. According to the NW MLS statistics, inventory is down more than 27% overall and broken down by the county’s with the lowest inventory: Snohomish (down 46.2 percent), King (down 39.4 percent), and Pierce (down 28.6 percent). When sellers hear a sellers market, some begin to think that they can overprice their homes. This is not the case. Buyers understand what is and is not a good value in most cases, and will hesitate to pay over fair market value. Also, if a buyer decides to get into a bidding wars and pays more than fair value, there is a risk that the property will not appraise. If that occurs, the buyer has 3 choices: pay the difference out of their pocket, agree to only pay the appraised price and negotiate this with the seller or walk away. Please don’t overpay for a home. The market may be improving but it is still very fragile and no one really knows how any major event around the world could impact our economy.

Interest rates are predicted to stay at or near record territory for the remainder of the year and spring will bring increased inventory as well as new foreclosed homes that will be released for sale. Don’t panic. There should be plenty of time to take advantage of a market that for the first time in awhile is good for both buyers and sellers.

Contact me to set up a time to tour homes or a time for me to do a complimentary market analysis of your current home.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Happy May! Spring is the start of  a busy season for home buyers and home sellers. This Spring is no exception with the greater Seattle market heating up. Currently there are 50 Built Green homes on the market in Seattle. The highest priced property is in Leschi listed at $2.25 Million and the lowest priced built green property is a West Seattle townhome listed at $140,000.

There are so many reasons that a built green home makes good sense:

• Built green homes are energy efficient by using advanced framing and extra insulation, high efficiency water heaters, efficient household appliances, and air sealing

• Healthy Indoor Air Quality is a top priority. Carpet choices are important. Using low pile or low allergen carpet and pad improve air quality. Tacking rather than gluing the carpet adds benefits. Natural choices and using less carpet and more hard surfaces are also factored in. Many built green homes use low VOC paints. Ventilation is an important consideration in today’s well sealed homes. Balanced or slightly positive ventilation keeps outdoor pollutants from being drawn into the house.

• Built Green homes conserve natural resources by utilizing plastic lumber, engineered wood, fiber cement siding, and brick. The builders are also careful to recycle scrap building materials.

• Water Quality Protection is achieved by using porous paving, rainwater collection and low impact development.

With Built Green homes in our region so affordable, isn’t it time to consider buying green?

As one of Washington’s first EcoBrokers, I have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process. Contact me today to get started.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Roses. One of the most beautiful flowers in the world. Roses are symbolic of so many emotions. Different colors represent different sentiments.

It’s that time of year around the greater Seattle/Everett region. If you have not done so yet, it is time to prune back your roses by about 2/3rd, leaving the healthiest canes. Prune off dead or crowded canes so that air will circulate into the center of each plant to minimize fungus.

I am an advocate of organic gardening. Organic rose gardening places great emphasis on using natural methods to grow roses and control pests, rather than using man made or synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. Organic gardening is much safer for your children and pets, as they are less likely to come into contact with hazardous gardening products.

The first step in organic rose gardening starts when you prepare the soil prior to planting your roses. Instead of using industrially prepared fertilizers you should use naturally occurring products. For example, bone meal is a good source of phosphorus which is essential for promoting healthy roots and large abundant blooms. Other essential nutrients are released by tiny micro-organisms that live in the soil and break down dead plant matter. This plant matter can be provided by adding compost to the soil mix you use when planting your roses.

Every April I drag out my clean 32 gallon garbage can that has a tight fitting lid. I prepare my magic potion for my roses and I thought I would share the recipe with you. It will produce amazing results and give your roses the jump start they need and deserve:

SPRING ROSE TONIC

The American Rose Society recommends this tea as it releases a growth hormone that produces a healthier rose bush. To make the tea, add 10-12 cups of alfalfa meal to your 32 gallon garbage can, fill with water and then  add 2 cups of Epsom salts (Magnesium Sulfate) and 1/2 cup chelated iron.  Stir with a long stick or broom handle. Cover the can and stir each day. The tonic will begin to smell in about 3-6 days (depending on the weather and temperature). Once it smells, it is time to use. I get a plastic bucket and fill it for each of my roses. The recommended dose is 1/3 gallon on miniature roses and 1 gallon on large roses. One load of alfalfa meal will make 2 barrels, but add the iron and salt again.

With organic rose gardening it is even possible to make organic fungicides. For example, a 50/50 solution of milk and water will control powdery mildew. Another popular anti-fungal treatment is a mix known as the Cornell Formula. Every organic gardener has their own recipe, but they are all variations of mixing one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of horticultural oil with one gallon of water, which should be sprayed onto your rose plants every seven to ten days.

Make sure to use clean sharp pruners for spring pruning and for cutting during the season. Clean up any diseased leaves from around the base of the roses and feed your roses each month during the summer months with a natural rose food. I stop feeding my roses in September so that they can prepare for winter. After the season has ended, I remove all leaves from my roses and I do a fall prune of about 1/4-1/3rd of the rose. This needs to be done before a hard frost.

By giving your roses lots of love, you will have the most beautiful and happy roses in your neighborhood!!

Happy Gardening.

Seattle Area Real Estate

April around Seattle is beautiful. The cherry trees are in flower, bulbs are starting to bloom, the weather begins to feel a little like Spring, and it’s time to celebrate our Earth.

Earth Day started back in 1970 and capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center. Since 1970, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide tool to help bring attention to  and celebrate our wonderful planet and it’s fragility.

Earth Day 2012 has chosen it’s theme – “Mobilize the Earth”. Earth Day 2012 will focus on mobilizing the planet simply to say one thing: the Earth won’t wait. It seems that environmental issues have been put on the back burner as we are in the midst of a global recession.

Let me know about any events or activities you organize or hear of and I will post it on my Greening Seattle Facebook page to help spread the word.

How will you celebrate the earth this year? A Billion Acts of Green is a pledge to do something as an individual for our earth. Some of the top pledges this year are plant a garden, change to efficient light bulbs, plan an Earth Day event in local community, eliminate use of pesticides and toxic cleaning products, and eat more local food. As you can see from these top pledges, there is something every one of us can do.

Here are some links to Earthday events happening around the greater Seattle area:

Seattle Earth Day Events

Magnuson Series Earth Day Race

Newcastle Earth Day 2012

Washington Pacific Coast Cleanup

UW Earth Day 2012

Washington Park Arboretum Earth Day For The Whole Family

Green Home Tour

Earth Day Celebration at Seattle Center

Seattle Area Real Estate

According to the NW MLS, members reported 9,126 pending sales during March, a year-over-year increase of nearly 21 percent. That total surpassed the previous month by 1,503 transactions (up 19.7 percent). Inventory is shrinking, mortgage rates are great and buyer confidence is on the rise. Compared to a year ago, inventory is down 25.6 percent. Buyers are becoming more aggressive with their offers due to lack of inventory. Homes close to the core of job opportunities are seeing short on-market time – about 45% of new listings are selling within the first month. Multiple offers are occurring regularly in some neighborhoods in the core of the city, in particular homes priced under $400,000 – like a Ballard home listed in the high $300,000′s that received 5 offers and sold for considerable more than it’s list price.

This is not to say that prices are not good because they are and values continue to drop in many communities. It is still the perfect storm for buyers but sellers do have more power than I have seen since the housing market crashed.

To sum it up in a few words: buyers – don’t wait too long to take advantage of the best market I have seen in many years. Sellers – start planning if a move is on the horizon. Get your home spruced up and ready for the market and price your home realistically. Buyers are very savvy and understand the market. Overpricing a home is not wise.

Let me know if you need assistance. My 22 years of experience as a Broker is available to you.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Spring has sprung. And with it comes a positive prediction for home sellers in the greater Seattle area. With inventory down and homes without third party liens harder to find, this Spring is shaping up to be great for sellers in our region.

The sun is shining  and all of your homes flaws stand out. What do you need to do to prepare your home for the market? Can you do it in a sustainable way? Here are some tips, tricks and ideas from an Accredited Staging Professional and Real Estate Broker with over 22 years experience in the greater Seattle area.

• Does your house need interior paint? Consider using non-toxic paint. Interior house paints — whose ingredients can include solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — are among the main culprits that lead to poor indoor air quality. The smell of a freshly painted room may dissipate within days, but the off-gas release of that paint can contribute to the indoor air pollution for up to five more years. Here are some eco friendly options:

1. The first option is the so-called Zero-VOC paints. These paints provide the closest substitution to regular paints and are available in a wide range of colors in flat, satin and glossy finishes. They are easy to apply and durable. They are also sold in most major paint supply stores and home improvement centers. Keep in mind though, that with this alternative, lighter shades of paint produce fewer VOC emissions than darker/deeper colors.
2. The second option are clay paints. They are all natural but I don’t recommend them for most homes since once applied, the walls cannot be washed, scrubbed or wiped. Not very practical for most of us, IMO.
3. The third choice are milk paints. In addition to being completely biodegradable, milk paint also helps clean the air inside your home by absorbing carbon dioxide – an unexpected but nice side effect. This paint is sold in a powdered form that must be mixed before using. It is available in a very limited selection of colors and when dry, it may give your walls an uneven, mottled faux-finish look.

• The first impression is the most important. How is your curb appeal? It’s easy to spruce up your yard naturally. Weeds are easily pulled by hand when the ground is wet in the Spring. Apply a natural lawn food to green up your grass and keep it mowed and edged. Avoid toxic products like Roundup, Weed and Feed, and fake mulch. If you need to kill some pesky weeds, try agricultural strength vinegar. It works great! Do you need to add a few plants and shrubs? Consider your passive solar when doing so. Plan your landscaping to take advantage of the sun. Plant regional plants to cut down on watering. Ask yourself if your landscaping attracts beneficial wildlife. Create outdoor spaces using recycled products.
• Clutter has to go. With some planning, you can de-clutter your house in a sustainable way. The best way is to make a list with categories: donate, recycle, sell, throw away (as little as possible since it ends up in the landfill). Look at each room with a critical eye. What are all those stacks of magazines doing? Take them to your gym or office to share. If you can’t share them, at least recycle them. Where did all these clothes come from? Go through your clothes and take trendy ones to your local consignment store. Donate the rest to great local organizations like Children’s Hospital thrift stores located throughout our region. A good rule is if you have not used it in the past year, pass it on. Freecycle Network is a great way to share your stuff. Go through your cupboards and closets and do what I like to call, a pre-pack. Since you will be moving anyway, why not start packing now to give your cupboards and closets a more spacious look and feel. Stack boxes neatly along a wall of the garage or in some other spot that does not interfere with the flow of the house.
• Now it’s time for a deep cleaning. The dust, dirt and grime are probably at their peak after a long winter indoors. Many homeowners have good intentions when they don their rubber gloves and proceed to douse every surface with pine or lemon scented cleaners. But a truly clean home, one that’s fresh and free of toxins, should not have any chemical or artificial smell to it. Did you know that terpenes, chemicals used to give pine and lemon scented cleaners their smell, can react with ozone to produce toxic compounds, including formaldehyde? I could go on and on with data showing how many ordinary cleaning solutions contain lots of harmful ingredients that can damage the environment not to mention your health and the health of your family. So, what is one to do? Here are some safe and natural cleaning alternatives:

1. Baking Soda: A natural deodorizer and cleanser, sprinkle it on drains, bathtubs and kitchen counters, or mix it with water to form a scrubbing paste. You can also sprinkle it on carpets and upholstery, wait 15 minutes or so, then vacuum off for natural deodorizing. Baking soda even works as an oven cleaner – sprinkle the bottom of your oven with a little water, then generous amounts of baking soda. Let it sit overnight before wiping clean.
2. Vinegar: Use white vinegar to clean windows, mirrors and counters, or mix it with castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) and water as an excellent floor or bathroom cleaner. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda for a simple drain cleaner. Vinegar also cuts grease, and setting out a bowl in your kitchen will help absorb food odors.
3. Lemon Juice: You can use this like you would vinegar. Lemon juice works really well for removing hard water deposits and tarnish on silver.
4. Coarse Salt: A great option when you need a cleaner with scrubbing power. Mix salt and vinegar for an all purpose surface cleanser.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide: Use it to disinfect cutting boards or toothbrushes or to remove stubborn stains (like blood) and whiten laundry.
6. Vodka: Yes it is for making drinks but it’s also a great disinfectant that you can also use to freshen upholstery. Spritz it on lightly.
7. Essential Oils: You can mix natural antiseptic cleaners using water and a few drops of essential oils, like grapefruit seed extract, clove or tea tree. Tea tree oil is particularly effective against mold and mildew, something all of our region has to watch after such a rainy start to Spring. Filling a spray bottle with water and your favorite scented essential oil (I love lavender) is a simple recipe for air fresheners.

I hope these natural recipes and tips help you keep your home healthy and clean. Share your favorite natural cleaning tips and tricks. If I receive at least 5 tips, I will pick a winner from a hat and send them a $10 Starbucks card.

Seattle Area Real Estate

The new  enhanced HARP 2.0 is slated to be available March 19th. There are so many misconceptions about this new program floating around that I thought it was prudent to sift facts from fiction.

1. Does my loan have to be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to be able to refinance?  Yes, your loan has to be backed by either Fannie or Freddie to take advantage of the program. You can check to find out if your loan is backed by Fannie Mae here and Freddie Mac here.
2. Am I eligible for the HARP if I am behind on my mortgage payments? No, you must be current on your mortgage to refinance with HARP 2.0
3. Are the rates higher for the HARP refinance? Mortgage rates for the HARP mortgage program are the same as for a “traditional” refinance. There is no “premium” for using the HARP program.
4. If I refinanced already with HARP 1.0 can I refinance again with HARP 2.0? No, you can only use the HARP refinance once per home.
5. If my mortgage was secured after May 31, 2009, can I take advantage of the program? No, there are no “date exceptions” for HARP. If your loan was not securitized on, or before, May 31, 2009, you cannot use HARP.
6. Is there a loan-to-value restriction for HARP 2.0? No. All homes — regardless of how far underwater they are — are eligible for the HARP program. Only fixed rate loans get unlimited LTV treatment.
7. Will my home need an appraisal to get refinanced with HARP 2.0? Sort of. Although your home’s value doesn’t matter for the HARP mortgage program, lenders will run what’s called an “automated valuation model” (AVM) on your home. If the value meets reliability standards, no physical appraisal will be required. However, your lender may choose to commission a physical appraisal anyway — just to make sure your home is “standing”.
8. Do I have to use my current lender to refinance with HARP 2.0? No, you can do a HARP refinance with any participating mortgage lender.
9. Can I take advantage of HARP 2.0 if I have PMI on my current mortgage? You can refinance via HARP 2.0 even if your current mortgage has private mortgage insurance.
10. Can I do a cash-out refinance with HARP 2.0? No, the HARP mortgage program doesn’t allow cash out refinance. Only rate-and-term refinances are allowable.
11. My original mortgage was a stated income loan. Will my income be verified with a HARP refinance? No, your income will not be verified via the HARP refinance program unless your new principal + interest payment increases by more than 20 percent. If your new principal + interest payment increases by less than 20%, or falls, there is no income verification necessary.

Thank you to Dan Green of Waterstone Mortgage for clearing up some misconceptions and misinformation on the upcoming HARP 2.0.

Make sure that you find a reputable Mortgage Lender that understands how to work through this new program. Most lenders I have been talking to don’t understand it currently. The biggest misconception I have found so far is the Debt To Income requirements, which have been a sticking point for many self-employed home owners who are current on their mortgages but have not fit the traditional DTI ratios. This is great news for them! I hope that the program is for real. I plan to be at the front of the line.

Seattle Area Real Estate

Queen Anne real estate market has always been a hot one due to the highly desirable location and charming properties but it has never been hotter!  The combination of the attractive values and historically low mortgage rates is bringing a lot of buyers that were sidelined during the boom and really propelling the Queen Anne real estate market.  Why now?  Queen Anne has always been a highly sought – after neighborhood to the fact that it’s a well – established “suburban” close to Downtown and home to some of most beautifully preserved homes full of charm, character, and history that you won’t find in other neighborhoods.  Queen Anne is also home to some of the most prestigious streets and zip codes in Seattle.  My clients are I are noticing that pretty much any properties that are priced well are receiving multiple offers thus reinforcing the popularity of the Queen Anne real estate market.  My favorite part of Queen Anne is of course soaking in the beautiful Seattle skyline and the Puget Sound at the Kerry Park.

Queen Anne Real Estate Market

What is the “prime” Queen Anne real estate parameter?

-         10^th Ave W/Olympic Way W/W Olympic Pl to the west.

-        Taylor Ave N/5^th Ave N to the east.

-        Valley St. to the south.

-        W McGraw St. to the north.

I did a general search for that parameter and here are some interesting statistics:

-        Total of only 22 active listing of single family homes.

-        Of the 22 active listings, only 8 were priced at or under 800k (competitive price range).

-        Total of only 19 active condo listings priced at or under 500k.

There has never been a more opportunistic time to get into Queen Anne real estate market and own a piece of history and be part of the most prestigious community in Seattle.  Don’t get sidelined again and contact me for a complimentary consultant and get in the game TODAY!

Queen Anne Real Estate Market

ABOUT CHRISTY KIM

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.