SNAILS and your garden

So, look what I found on our sidewalk today! This is the first time I've seen a snail on our property, although my husband said he's seen a few. Slugs yes, snails no. I guess this is a reminder that it is time to get outdoors and clean up the garden, put down some slug and snail bait, plant some new flowers and think about some minor changes to the landscape. You may be one of those people like me who appreciates the look of the yard and yet doesn't have time to learn all about what plants are best in what exposure, so is intimidated about putting things in the ground. After the fact is usually when I find out it is not the best spot for that particular plant. I have a solution. Hire a professional! If you live in the greater King County area and would like to find someone to help, I have a solution for you. Consider hiring Samantha of Toad Hollow Designs. She will do a consultation (usually 2 hours) and will discuss your particular landscape needs and come up with some terrific ideas. I know Samantha and she is someone you can trust and who KNOWS HER PLANTS! Oh, and she doesn't charge an arm and a leg for her services! Here is her information:

What do you want to do?
· Renovate an existing landscape
· Create something from scratch
· Add easy care edibles
· Go Organic
· Attract beneficial wildlife
· Deter deer and slugs
· Identify the plants you have
· Incorporate more color
· Make use of materials on hand
· Learn pruning techniques

Other services:
· Speaking for groups
· Plant shopping
· Preparing home for sale
· Full-scale design

Toad Hollow Designs
Beautiful Landscape with Purpose
for People, Pets, and Wildlife
Samantha Zistatsis
Landscape Designer/Consultant
425-765-4767
toadhollow@integrity.com

Now do yourself a favor and give her a call!!!

Unemployment, interest rates and FEAR!!

There is so much fear nationwide about our unemployment rate. Go to http://www.data360.org/dsg.aspx?Data_Set_Group_Id=44 to look at a statistical chart listing unemployment rates from 1948 to March 2009. I know there are many ways to compile statistics and of course, it is 100% if it is YOU, but look at overall 8.5% nationally in March. And we here in the Seattle (9.2% and going down) area are faring much better than other parts of the country (like Detroit which is at 21% unemployment with the average price of homes at $18,513.) YIKES!!

There is much room for fear to creep in to our thinking. However, there are signs that the housing crisis is leveling off and beginning to improve. Personally, I am seeing more buyers getting off the fence. Interest rates are at a SUPER LOW rate of under 5% on a 30 year fixed loan. That number can change throughout any day and different companies offer different plans. If you would like to talk to a lender to see about refinancing out of your ARM or to get a better rate than you now have on your conventional loan, call me and I would be happy to refer you to some really good lenders, who will do all they can to treat you with integrity and offer the best rate possible.

If you are desiring to buy a new home, NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME!!! If you wait, interest rates will be going back up and so will housing prices. There is still a good selection of homes and you can negotiate a super price. And if you are a 1st time buyer (haven't owned a home in the past 3 years) you may qualify for up to an $8,000 tax refund if you close on your purchase before November 30th. Don't delay. CALL ME at 425-890-0124

What is the Annual Percentage Rate? (APR)

If you are in the market for a home right now you will see some amazing offers out there from the lenders on new construction. Really low rates, of say 3.875%, but then there is that small print where it lists the APR at 3.9883%. Or perhaps they will say that the interest rate does not include tax and insurance. Whoa, Nellie!! That can be a BIG chunk of change! You may be thinking that you are getting a great deal on your interest rate and can afford more house than you thought, when in reality, you can get sucked in and then when you have an emotional investment in that beautiful new house, you find out that you really can't afford that high of a payment!

Bottom line is that you need to be aware of all the somewhat sneaky ways that lenders appeal to your senses and though they are being honest about their rates, the average person doesn't have a clue how they package all the fees associated with the loan and can be shocked when they are in the middle of this process.

So, PAY ATTENTION, PLEASE! The APR on a loan is higher than the stated interest rate on your loan because the "points" (one point equals 1% of the loan amount) that you have to pay to buy down your interest rate to this low, low, low percentage costs money! And that is usually tacked onto your loan. Then there are loan origination fees that may or may not be tacked on. How about the pre-paid interest, which is the interest paid from the date that the loan closes to the end of the month. Most companies assume 15 days of interest when they calculate this, but some companies may use any number between 1 and 30! You will also have a loan-processing fee, underwriting fee, document preparation fee and PMI (private mortgage insurance.) Sometimes the loan-application fee and credit life insurance (pays off the mortgage in the event of the borrowers death) are also added in to the APR.

Be sure you find out just what you have to pay for to get that interest rate. And don't be fooled into thinking that the low percentage is really what you will end up with. Look at that APR number! Also be sure you find out how long your rate is "locked" for. It is possible that a 10 day rate lock may have a lower APR than the lender who offers a 60 day rate lock. This whole business is confusing!

Bottom line is to check with 2 or 3 lenders when you refinance or purchase that new home. Whether you are looking to buy a new home or resale, rates are the best they have been in decades! Back in the early 80's when people were paying up to 17% interest rate to buy a home, it was unreal! When you look back to those days and even the more recent 8-10% rates, it is certainly a perfect time NOW to buy your home. How long can interest rates stay at 5-6%??

Remember to think about how much it will cost in points to buy your rate down further and factor in how long you plan on staying in your home.

Be sure you call me with all your real estate needs. If there is information you need, I can help. And if there is something I'm not certain of, I will go to the experts to get the answer!

Where does WA rank in foreclosure rates in Feb. 2009?

Right in the middle! Number 25, showing a total of 3,021 homes. Number 1 is Nevada with 15,783 for the month. And Number 50 is Nebraska with only 13. These placings must be made per capita since Florida had 46,391 in February but ranked 4th. Unfortunately my information doesn't explain how the states arrived with their rank. If you look at Nevada's % change from February 2008, foreclosures are up 155.93%, where Florida is up 42.97%. Washington is up 36.08 from 2/08 to 2/09. And Nebraska is down 94.37%! For those of you that like statistics you might find all this interesting. We hear a lot about the worst states for foreclosures, so it is no surprise to find These top 5: Nevada, Arizona, California, Florida and Idaho. At the bottom are Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Nebraska.

In spite of the real estate market slowdown, I am seeing more people out looking at houses and just had papers signed around on one of my listings yesterday. So if you are thinking of selling your present home, give me a call. I would love to help!

Refinance now!

If you have an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) or are paying a high interest rate, now is the time to talk to a qualified and reputable lender and see about refinancing your home loan. The federal reserve has made more money available and interest rates are now really low. Read the following article and find out for yourself why you should consider refinancing. Be sure to consider how much of a difference this will make in your payments and factor in the cost of the new loan. Talk to your lender and if he/she can't help or you are unhappy with your lender for any reason, feel free to call me or send me an email. I am happy to make recommendations for some great lenders who I know you can trust. Call me at 425-890-0124 or email me at sandyyoung@cbbain.com

http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/41540657.html

Blog is back! And here is a recipe for CAKE IN A MUG

OK, so ignore my previous post. It looks like making a new post has kick-started things and all is well in my blog-a-sphere! Here is a recipe that I have not tried yet, but found it posted by a friend on my facebook page. Here goes:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional and of course we chose this option!)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract and mix again.Put your mug in the microwave and cook for3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little,and tip out onto a plate if desired. YUM!

Thanks Jenny!

Where are all my previous posts?

I'm confused! My blog is empty and I don't know what magical force in the universe has erased everything. If anyone has any ideas as to what has happened, please let me know!

Hailey Madison Myron has arrived!

Our daughter, Shauna, gave birth Friday morning to Hailey who was 6 lb. 6.5 oz. and 18 3/4" long. Isn't she a cutie pie???

Bellevue is growing

Did anyone notice the article in the Seattle PI last week titled "Bellevue condos still selling well"? Amazingly, the Bellevue Towers condo project, which are 42 and 43 stories tall, is going strong, even in our difficult economy. They have reportedly sold 180 of their 534 units. These aren't cheap units! They sell between approximately $500,000 to $9 million and the average unit is slightly over $1 million.

The population for downtown Bellevue is also growing, up 73% from the year 2000. Last year there were 5000 residents and the city is projecting that by 2010 it will increase to 9800, by 2020 to 10,989 and by 2030 they project 14,914 residents in the city. All you have to do is look at all the cranes in the downtown area to see that the Bellevue economy is booming!

If you are considering moving to downtown Bellevue, give me a call and I will help you find just the right match for your style and pocketbook.

RECIPE for Chicken Divan

This is easy and VERY tasty. Try it!

CHICKEN DIVAN

Cook in ¼ C. water until barely tender 1 lb. Broccoli (Fresh) cut into pieces

Place broccoli in buttered baking dish.

Place over broccoli 1 ½ to 2 lbs. Cooked chicken breasts,
cut into chunks (bake at 350, covered w/foil)
25-35 minutes

Mix and pour over top 1 can cream of chicken soup
½ C. mayonnaise
1 Tb. Lemon juice
½ tsp. Curry powder

Sprinkle over top 1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Sprinkle over top 1 C. bread crumbs
¼ C. melted butter or margarine

Bake at 350 until bubbly (about 30 minutes.) Fit for company! Serves 6

Looks like Buyers are GETTING OFF THE FENCE!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/395666_buyers12.html

How about this news article in today's Seattle PI! Finally someone is giving us some positive news about real estate in our area. Personally, I have had more calls from buyers since January 1st than I've had in a long time. I even had real buyers come to my open house on Sunday. It sure looks to me like people are ready to buy. Although there are those out of work, this area still has a fairly strong employment base. I'm looking for 2009 to be the beginning of a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say. Thank you Seattle PI for reporting some good news! I'm betting that we have hit bottom and will remain stable for awhile. If you are looking for a home here in the greater King County area, call me. I love the hunt! And I enjoy negotiating a good deal for you. (425)890-0124

Recipe for Nordy Bars

Here is the first of my recipes that I want to post for you to try. These cookies are similar to the old "7 Layer Cookie" recipe that many of us are familiar with. They freeze well! Yummy for a Christmas/New Year treat!

Nordy Bars

1/2 cup butter (1 cube)
1 (12 oz) pkg. butterscotch chips
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. miniature marshmallows
1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 c. chopped pecans (these may be omitted)

In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add butterscotch chips and brown sugar, stirring until they are melted. Remove pan from heat (let it cool a bit), stir in eggs. Add flour, baking powder and salt, mixing thoroughly. Stir in vanilla then set aside and cool (this part is important so your chocolate chips don't melt, but stay somewhat firm.) When cool, stir in chocolate chips, marshmallows and pecans (if desired.) Spread into greased 9x13 inch pan (or a couple 8x8s.) Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes (keep an eye on them & the longer time should make them less "uncooked".)Remove from oven and let cool thoroughly. Cut into squares.

Thirty Year Mortgage Rate is now at 5.47%

We have been spoiled over the past few years with low interest rates and now we find that interest rates on the most common U.S. mortgages fell to their lowest level in over four years. In 2004 rates hit a low of 5.40%. Now is a great time to buy!

If you qualify for an FHA loan, the minimum down has been 3%, but effective January 1st, the required down payment will be 3.5%. There are several homes for sale that will accept FHA financing. Usually the home reqires an appraisal by an FHA appraiser and any repairs must be made before closing. Sellers can contribute up to 6% of the sales price for closing costs and pre-paid items, however the seller cannot assist with the down payment. Gift funds (from parents, grandparents, etc.) can be used for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid items. If you are a first time buyer, it is time to jump in to home ownership! Give me a call today and I will help you through the entire process.

Getting in the Christmas spirit

IT'S TIME TO GET SOME HOUSES SOLD!

Interest Rates are low again!

This housing market is an interesting one! Interest rates have been up and down and if rates go up to 7% people are thinking it is just awful! But some of us remember the interest rates of old that were at 10 and 11%, so where we have been recently with rates is a good thing, as Martha would say.

So, where are we today on a 30 year conventional fixed loan? How about 5 1/4 to 5 1/2%? That is pretty darn good! So whether you are looking to buy or refinance, don't miss out on these low rates. They could change tomorrow, so remember that you want to lock in your rate when it gets to a low spot. If you want to buy a home, call me! There are some fabulous deals out there. Especially for those of you who invest in properties. Lots of distressed/foreclosed homes to choose from. And if you want to refinance, let me know. I have a few great lenders to recommend who will take excellent care of you. Just give me a call at 425-890-0124

Property Tax Exemptions

Now you know why your property tax assessment is so high, but did you know what it takes to qualify for a senior tax exemption? Here it is right off the King County website:

RCW 84.36.381 "grants property tax exemptions if your total annual income is $30,000 or less and if you are 61 years of age or older, or you are retired because of physical disability, or if you are a widow or widower at least 57 years of age whose spouse had an exemption at the time of his or her death."

That pretty well narrows it down! Not many of us are going to qualify for senior exemption, but if you do, it is well worth the effort to apply. Just go to: http://www.kingcounty.gov/property.aspx

If you want to dispute your assessment, you may be running out of time, as you have a limited time to appeal. Check out the above website and go to "disputes."

I hope this helps.

The tax assessor must have goofed!

I have had several calls lately from unhappy homeowners who can't understand why their property taxes are so high on their latest assessment notice. I'm sure everyone is unhappy! I am. I have been asked if I can come up with data that will prove their point to the assessor that prices are down, not up. I'm waiting to see if any of these people get any relief from the assessor's office! Unfortunately, the taxing process is a couple of years behind and that is why your assessed value is usually under what it's true value is. That has been a pretty true reflection of values with the houses that I market, or that are listed for sale. At least it WAS true. Now the assessed value is actually at or even above what some houses can sell for. That is thanks to our drop in housing values over the past year.

If you really consider this dilemma, you will see the difficulty that the assessor's office has in establishing value. They can't go out and inspect every house and have appraisals and market analyses. So, we must put up with a flawed system, but that doesn't mean that you can't appeal your case to the assessor and I wish you luck. If you do find that they listen and adjust your value downward, shoot me an email and let me know.

And I have to say that inspite of the discouragement of falling home prices for those trying to sell, it is about time that prices stop jumping up so high that many people are priced right out of home ownership. It looks like things are leveling out a bit, so maybe prices will begin to creep up but let's hope it's not at breakneck speed!

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

If you are, or know anyone who is, a first time home buyer, then this information is for you!

Back in April of 2008 the Housing and Economic Recovery Act decided to offer up to a $7,500 tax credit for first time homebuyers. This may not sound like much, but it does reduce your tax liability for the year you purchased your home by $7,500 and if, for instance, you paid $4,500 in taxes, you would receive a check from the government for the difference...$3,000! Not too bad. This offer expires at the end of June 2009, so there is a small window of opportunity for those of you who qualify. With all the bad news about our banking industry, some people are under the impression that there is no money to borrow. That just isn't true!! And now that zero down loans are gone forever, you are probably thinking you need 20% for a down payment. That is not necessarily so for first time buyers. FHA is still making plenty of loans and you only need 3% down.

And parents, if you want to help your kids be able to own their first home, then maybe you would like to gift some money to your son or daughter to make this possible. Talk to your tax adviser, but gifting money is easy and up to a certain amount there is no gift tax to pay.

I am placing a link here so you will have all the information you need about this $7,500 tax credit. I am calling it a flat $7,500 credit because though it is really 10% of purchase price up to $7,500, I haven't seen a home or condo here for $75,000 or less....unless we're talking mobile home! And finally, yes, that tax credit does need to be paid back, but only $500 per year for 15 years. Check it out, then give me a call so I can help you get into your first home! Maybe even by Christmas!!! (Sandy 425-890-0124)

http://www.realtor.org/gapublic.nsf/files/hbtaxcreditqa2008.pdf/$FILE/hbtaxcreditqa2008.pdf

Suncadia Lots for Sale

Fall is here and I want to encourage you to drive over Snoqualmie Pass and go to the new Suncadia Resort. Take the Roslyn/Bullfrog Road exit and drive until you get to the big roundabout. Follow the signs to get to the brand new Lodge. Stay for lunch! You can have a meal at either the Lodge or the Prospector Inn, which looks out over the 9th and 18th holes of the Palmer designed Prospector Course. Now is a great time to take in the fresh air and adopt the vacation mode. Check out all the new construction. There are condominiums for sale in the Lodge, as well as a variety of homes and home sites for sale.

If you are the type who would rather start from scratch and design your dream house, then talk to me! I have 2 lots that would be perfect for you. One is on the 2nd fairway of the Prospector Golf Course, which is a very short walk to the Lodge and all the amenities. The other lot is located on the Rope Rider Golf Course, right on a man-made lake! This one has architectural drawings completed for a 3600 to 4400 square foot house, depending on how you choose to configure it. Whether you are thinking of buying a vacation or main residence home, condo or lot in Suncadia, give me a call. I can help you!! There are some really good deals right now so don't delay. Can't you picture you and your family spending time in the winter months over there? Do you like to ski? Snowmobile? Cross Country Ski? Relax, read a book and watch the snow fall? Perfect. And remember when the snow is gone there is biking, hiking, fishing, golfing and just plain chilling out!

If you are getting sick and tired of all the traffic here on the Eastside, it may be time to get out of Dodge! Call me, I'd love to talk. (425)890-0124

So You Want to be a Real Estate Agent!

Just in case you are interested in knowing the costs and difficulties involved....

I am a Realtor®, so first off, I should explain that not all real estate agents are Realtors®. The Realtor Association is an entity that came into being to distinguish reputable real estate agents from the unethical and unscrupulous agents who were doing business, by developing a "code of ethics" in 1913. This organization not only requires that their members adhere to the Code of Ethics, but they provide lots of ongoing education for agents and act as our voice in government policy making. The reason I want to explain that is to show you what we receive for our $450 membership fee per year. I am a Realtor® and although I don't like paying that fee, I feel that being a Realtor® automatically adds to my credibility.

I hear complaints all the time about how much money real estate agents make and yet, when I look at the industry as a whole, we aren't doing so well!! Most agents (including me) have to share a portion of their commission with the brokerage that they work for, in addition to paying a desk fee. We have to be licensed and every two years we give a big check to Olympia to keep our license active. Oh, and then there are the 30 hours of ongoing education required to renew our license. That education is paid for by the agent. Of course, we need to be members of our local Multiple Listing Service, which requires a yearly fee. If we have listings, well, we need lockboxes ($95 per lockbox) and our Super Display Key (separate fee for having this key,) which allows us to retrieve the key to enter homes that we show.

We need a computer and if we intend to use a laptop at our office, it needs to have be a Windows XP (at least it does within Coldwell Banker Bain) so we can hook into our wireless office router. Then there are all the programs and websites that we need to be familiar with. I have a document that is single spaced on both sides of an 8x10" page full of login names and passwords. Way too many to try to remember. It has both business & personal sites, but mostly business. Newer agents can become overwhelmed with all the information that they need to sort through and become familiar with!!

I need my cell phone. I can't get by without it! And it provides internet access, has a GPS, is text message capable and keeps track of all my contact information including all my appointments. It syncs to my computer so I'm totally connected and current. Gotta have a Blue Tooth too, for when I'm in the car. Speaking of cars.....you've got to have a car that is reliable and big enough to transport clients in. Kept in good running condition!

Most competent agents have a website. I have a webpage within Coldwell Banker Bain, but I also pay about $40 a month for my website (http://www.sandyyoung.net/) Lucky for me this blog is free, but I wouldn't be surprised if one day I wake up to find that I will need to pay!

There are other programs that I have purchased and/or signed up for, including Top Producer, E-Neighborhoods, Tarasoft Titan and Proquest. Some I still use and some I have cancelled. Most require a monthly fee. With housing the way it is, I've had to cut some expenses.

I haven't even talked about the cost of advertising our listings. Some agents use their listings to promote themselves and then consider that to be advertising for their clients, when in reality it is advertising their name so they can get more business. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, but it does all cost BIG money!! Printed ads for houses don't work so well in selling homes these days since most folks are computer savy and can search easily online for their next home whether near or far! We do print flyers for our properties (I use Microsoft Publisher to create mine) and I like my flyers in color and on both sides of the page. That costs the agent money too. For me it is $.50 per side in color. There goes $.50 to $1.00 everytime someone drives up to pull a flyer.

When I have listings I need to provide shoe covers, a basket to put them in and a sign telling people to remove their shoes or wear covers. I need a flyer stand inside the house and oh, I need to put some of my business cards on display. (I had some double-sided full-color ones printed up to distinguish myself from the myriad of boring white cards.) The yard arm sign with the extra flyer box outside? Yup, I pay a fee for that to be installed and removed and it cost me about $800 for my "for sale" signs. I forgot, I also have 6 Open House A-Boards. They were several hundred dollars as well. I also had SOLD signs printed with my name on them. More money. You want "professional" pictures taken of your house? OK, there's another couple hundred (the photos I take are really pretty good, esp. compared to some of the stuff other agents use for their listings.....dark, wide-angle wowiness, drab for sure.) You want a slide show, or virtual tour? I like to provide that and as you might guess....more expense!

I mail out newsletters to over 200 addresses each month. Not a cheap endeavour! Postage costs money too. Any postcards that I send to advertise my listings. Yup, you are right, that comes out of my pocket.

Add the cost of my home office desk, file cabinet, old file storage boxes, file folders, binders, printer, fax, etc. etc. etc.

So, why AM I in this business??? I do love it! I really like people. I feel a great sense of accomplishment and reward when I can help people find the house of their dreams or get their current home sold. I have to admit that it is way more difficult in this current housing market! Lots of agents who have to support their families have had to find other jobs. It is tough to support a family with a commission job when the outgoing expenses are so high and there are few clients out there. I'm fortunate in that I am not the sole support of my husband and myself! I'm not doing so bad, but it would be nice to have my listings sell so I can actually get a paycheck!

Getting back to the huge income that we real estate agents make...HA! Sure, the ones who have been in business for many years and have listings coming out of their ears and more buyers than they can find time to help are doing pretty well. However, even they are struggling right now. If an agent is that busy, they certainly need a staff to help with all the work and you guessed it, the agent is responsible for paying for their staff! Lots of their "profit" gets eaten up just paying for help. And if they have lots of listings, they probably aren't selling and there is ongoing expense in trying to get those listings sold.

So, really, we are all in the same boat, whether we have a ton of clients or serve a few at a time. Money flies out the door! I plan on sticking around for a good long time, so I need to be wise with my money so I can fund the slower times in anticipation of the return of a strong housing market! And if you want to buy a house....call me! There are some GREAT deals out there.