Bakery For Sale! Wedding Cakes!

Do you like to bake? Do you make fabulous wedding cakes? Have you ever thought about owning your own bakery? Well, this may be your opportunity! I know of a bakery owner in Seattle that would love to talk to you. Madeleine's European Bakery is selling their business. The owners have a great reputation, make the best wedding cakes and other desserts. Check out their website: http://www.mecakes.com/

If you are interested, give me a call and I will give you more information and put you in touch with the owner. The price is reasonable and you have the opportunity to rent the space and yet own all your own equipment.

Have you heard of Cohousing?

If not, you might want to read the article that was in Saturday's Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2004145874_cohousing27.html

Although it sounds something like the communes of the 60's, it is a more rational solution to the need for people to live in a friendly and helpful community. These are usually folks who believe that living in a smaller space is better than having excess and they own their own home, whether attached or detatched depends on the community. Amazingly, according to the artilce, the Seattle area has about 15 (out of 90 nationwide) already established or forming communities and is one of the top cohousing centers in the nation. Who knew!? The article features a couple in their 80's who were instrumental in planning Jackson Place and eagerly moved in in 2001 after it was completed. This type of living isn't just for the older folks, but younger familes and singles all are part of these communities. Doesn't this sound like a great thing for people who move away from their parents? It gives their children surrogate grandparents, right next door!

If you are interested in learning more, whether for right now or sometime in your future, you may want to attend an informational meeting on February 20th from 1 to 3 pm at Jackson Place Cohousing, 800 Haiwatha Pl. S, Seattle. Questions? Go to: www.seattlecohousing.org

Perhaps you and your friends will discover a new way of living, as you develop your very own community!

KING COUNTY December 2007 Statistics

Residential sales volume for December 2007 decreased 6% from November 2007
All Sales (vs. Year- to date 2006)
- Residential sales volume: off 10% to $18.8 billion
- Residential transactions: off 17% to 37,672
- Mobile home sales on land: off 5% to $71 million
- Plexes (2-5 units) sales: off 25% to $411 million
- Land sales: off 13% to $1 billion
- Commercial volume: up 35% to $8.2 billion
- Average residence: $496,347, up 9%

Existing home transactions sold decreased 13% in December 2007 from November 2007 Existing Home Sales (vs. Year- to date 2006)
- Units sold: off 24%; volume: off 16% to $11.2 billion
- 20,157 units sold this year vs. 26,427, lowest since 1995
- Average price up 11% to $556,490
- Half homes (median) sold for less than $449,000, up 10%
- Average $/SF for homes sold at $299.17 (all sales), up 7%
- Best range: $300,001 - $350,000, with 224.9 monthly
- Second best absorption rate: $500,001 - $600,000, with 220.9 per month

New single family homes units sold in December 2007 up 24% from November 2007 New Single Family Homes (vs. Year- to date 2006)
- Average sale price: $670,460, up 13%
- Median sale price: $553,925, up 13%
- New homes represent 18% of volume and 15% of units recorded
- 3,680 sold vs. 4,993 last year, off 26% volume: off 17% to $2.5 billion
- Average $/SF: $260.74, up 1% (48% of sales with data)
- Best ranges: $500,001 - $600,000 - $750,000, each with 49.3 per month
- Next best range: $750,000 - $1,000,000, with absorption of 49.1 monthly

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of volunteering to help with the Brides Against Breast Cancer Tour of Gowns at the Doubletree Hotel at SeaTac. What is this all about? You can click on the following link to learn more: http://bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/ The overall purpose of this foundation is to take donated used and new wedding gowns and tour the country to offer them for sale at a HUGE discount to prospective brides. Money taken in is then used to grant wishes to those who are dealing with metastatic breast cancer. Sort of like the Make a Wish Foundation, but this is directed to people with breast cancer.

I am a survivor (18 years!!) so when a friend asked me if I could volunteer to help with fitting gowns, I jumped at the chance. The big trucks will roll up to the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue Friday and Saturday (18th and 19th) and I plan on helping again on Friday. It is great fun, for a good cause. AND a bonus is to see all those beautiful gowns and accessories! Check out the website and see how you might help.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS

Are you aware that I specialize in working with first time home buyers? I enjoy helping anyone who is in need of buying or selling their home, rentals or land, but I am especially sensitive and trained to assist those who are thinking about making their first home purchase.

I thought I should just share this with you so that you can keep me in mind if you know of anyone who needs the services of an expert! Please do send them my way. You may want to begin by pointing them to my website: www.sandyyoung.net and telling them to click on my link for First Time Buyers on the left side of the home page. I have prepared some important information that they will need to know as they begin their adventure into home ownership. Thanks for your referrals....please keep them coming!

Shauna is ENGAGED!

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Our daughter, Shauna, became engaged early in December and she and Pete (Myron) are planning a February 23rd wedding. We are all busy, busy, with all the details and looking forward to a great wedding celebration! Who says you need 6 months to a year to plan a wedding? Don't believe them. Shauna and Pete are making decisions, moving on to the next decision and don't have all that extra time to second guess themselves. We are looking forward to having Pete officially in the family!

Six Reasons to Buy NOW!

Washington has a strong vibrant real estate market. Purchasing a home in Washington is an excellent long term investment. Here are 6 reasons why:

1) The Emerald City has experienced strong price appreciation over the last six quarters, and that's expected to continue in the new year. Third quarter median home sale prices increased by 6% compared to the third quarter of 2006. Forbes Magazine, November 2007

2) Washington State's population will increase by nearly one million over the present decade and reach 6.8 million by 2010. About two thirds of the growth is due to immigration, the rest is a result of the growth of families. Washington State Office of Financial Management

3) The number of building permits issued in the tri-county area has declined by 6% for the first three quarters of 2007, compared to the same time period for 2006. John Murphy, Director of Operations, New Home Trends

4) Unemployment in Washington has been below 5% for nine straight months and is in the running for the lowest annual average since modern records began in 1976. Washington added over 57,000 new jobs in the last year. The majority of these jobs are in the Puget Sound area.
National Association of Realtors

5) Mortgage Interest Rates are near historic lows. Based on market indicators, rates are not likely to stay this low for long. James Wirth, Landover Mortgage

6) Current conditions mean this market is in the "Buy Zone" and is the perfect buyers market. Looking at the housing market graphically over the past 25 years, it's evident there are periods when conditions make it the perfect time to buy a home, and this is one of them. NWMLS

Christmas 2007

Here is the crowd! From the left, Kyle, Kari, Shauna, Pete (in his ultra dorky Christmas vest,) Jason, Annika, Yours Truly and Saben. Pete is Shauna's fiance and he fits right in with our zany and fun-loving family. I trust you all had a fabulous Christmas and here's to a wonderful 2008 for each of you!

Saben, our two year old grandson, with his grandpa, getting a few tips from the expert.

Now a bit about real estate! You know that's what I do and I'd like to ask each of you to please remember me when you hear of someone looking to buy or sell. Whether it is a condo, house or vacant land, I promise to take the best care of your friends and relatives. And I won't hound them should they not require my services. Perhaps you have friends who would enjoy my Service For Life! newsletter which I send out monthly. Simply give me their name and address and I will add them to the list. If you weren't already aware, I specialize in first time buyers, so if you have a child, niece, nephew, grandchild or friend who is looking to purchase their first house, send them my way! I love educating first time buyers about the process and helping them every step along the way towards home ownership. Thanks to those of you who have referred friends, neighbors and family to me in 2007!!

Golf, golf and more golf

I know, it's cold outside and wet. Not the ideal time to be out golfing. So, why not click on the YouTube link on the right (with the picture of the little boy) and be amazed! This little tyke has gone through some tough times for his young age, but what an utterly talented guy he is! He has a natural golf swing. I'm jealous!! And when did you buy your current set of clubs?? If you haven't purchased a new set recently, you might just want to think about getting some good quality clubs with graphite shafts suited to your age and strength. And those hybrids!! You've gotta love those! Nothing feels quite like setting foot on that first tee with your new clubs, after whacking a few buckets of balls, full of confidence, knowing all is right in the world, everyone watching as you prepare to hit that ball straight down the fairway.....and then.....all that nervous energy translates into a shanked shot and questioning why you ever thought new clubs could cure all your ills!! Not to worry! It's just first tee jitters. Shake it off and hike those 10 paces to your ball and try again. Those expensive new clubs can't help you with the jitters, but in time you will be glad you upgraded when you see improvement with each trip to the golf course. Ahhh, makes me want to bundle up and hit the greens!

A nice Christmas tradition

I just got home from the Issaquah Village Theater where Brohn Journey performed for a sold-out crowd. Some of you may not have heard of Brohn Journey, so I will tell you...he's a harpist. Yup, you are right! He plays a harp. Now you may think that sounds boring, but it's not. For the past MANY years a friend of mine has invited several of her lady friends to join her for dinner at her house and then we all caravan out to the Issaquah Village Theater (or other locations in the past) to listen to Brohn Journey's Christmas concert. His wife has a fabulous soprano voice and sings several songs as he plays. He has several people playing a variety of instruments as well. You really should look at his website: http://www.bronnjourney.com/

If not this Christmas season, plan to go next year!! Not only is he talented, but he's FUNNY! Or buy one of his CD's. You will be glad you did.

Just for fun, here is a photo of my 10 pound shih tzu, Frodo. Where's Frodo???

OK, so here's another one.

And don't forget to scroll down to my earlier entry!

My First Blog!

I guess I've finally arrived! My hope is that this will be a fun and easy way to share information with you and that you will likewise share information that I as well as others can have access to. It looks like the first snow of the season has come and gone, so life will be normal this week after all....rain!

I already posted this on my website but in case any of you haven't seen it there I wanted to place it right here for you. It just goes to show that the experts are not always as credible as we think!! Enjoy....

PAST QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA REAL ESTATE AND FINANCIAL EXPERTS


1) “The price of houses seems to have reached a plateau, and there is reasonable expectancy that prices will decline.” (Time Magazine, December 1, 1947)
2) “Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today’s average price is around $8000, out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers.” (Science Digest, April 1948)
3) “If you bought your house since the war, you have made your deal at the top of the market. The days when you couldn’t lose on a home purchase are no longer with us.” (House Beautiful, November 1948)
4) “The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. They typical new house today costs $28,000.” (Business Week, September 4, 1969)
5) “Be suspicious of the ‘common wisdom’ that tells you to buy now because continuing inflation will force home prices and rents higher and higher.” (NES Journal, December 1970)
6) “The median price of a home today is approaching $50,000. Housing experts predict that in the future price rises won’t be that great.” (National Business, June 1977)
7) “The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to a close.” (Money Magazine, January 1981)
8) “…In California for example, it is not unusual to find families of average means buying $100,000 houses. I’m confident prices have passed their peak.” (John Wesley English and Gary Emerson Cardiff, THE COMING REAL ESTATE CRASH, 1980)
9) “The golden age of risk free run-ups in home prices is gone.” (Money Magazine, March 1985)
10) “If you are looking to buy, be careful. Rising home values are not a sure thing anymore.” (Miami Herald, October 25, 1985)
11) “Most economists agree, a home will become little more than a roof and a tax deduction, certainly not the lucrative investment it was through much of the 1980s.” (Money Magazine, 1986)
12) “We’re starting to go back to the time when you bought a home not for its potential money making abilities, but rather as a nesting spot.” (Los Angeles Times, January 31, 1993)
13) “Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment.” (Kiplinger’s Personal Financial Magazine, November 1993)
14) “A home is where a bad investment is.” (San Francisco Examiner, November 17, 1996)
15) “Your house is a roof over your head. It is not an investment.” (Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong, 2000)