Renting versus Buying

Do you realize how good our local economy is? We have the lowest rental vacancy rate in 3 years and rent rates have risen 7.8% in one year. In the greater Puget Sound area during the first four months of 2008, there were 7400 new jobs. You are probably aware that builders are having a difficult time selling their inventory and as a result there has been a substantial decrease in building permits issued. New construction sales are down 49% compared to last year.The inventory of homes for sale has increased by 10%. So where are you buyers?? First time buyers are paying more in rent, while the cost of a home to purchase has decreased. Seems like a smart time to search for your own home!

And those of you who want to sell your house and buy another, why are you waiting!? You might be thinking that you won't get as much for your house than you might get in the future. Of course! BUT you will also be paying less for your new home! Good deals are out there. Don't be scared off by our media! They like to quote NATIONAL statistics. Places like Sacramento and Las Vegas don't represent our housing market.

NOW IS STILL A GOOD TIME TO BUY OR SELL!! Need more convincing?? Give me a call at (425)890-0124 and let's talk.

The Generation Y First Time Buyers

What is Generation Y? Well, that would be the under 30 year old. The Seattle Times has a good article in today's paper about just what this generation is looking for in a home. Plus, this age group is quite knowledgable about the house buying process. After all, they have grown up with computers and know how to use them! The average age for purchasing their first home is 26, which is 3 years younger than the Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. And just what are they looking for? Surprisingly, they want simple, built green and a low maintenance small lot. They want to be free from all the upkeep that a mini-mansion requires. I wonder in 15 or 20 years, if they will opt up for the same type houses that they were raised in as kids. Check out the link below if you'd like to read the article for yourself!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2004463026_geny08.html

Rental properties

Do you have rental houses or condos? Are you tired of trying to manage it yourself? Coldwell Banker Bain have a property management division and rates are competitive. Most property management groups charge 10% and Coldwell Banker Bain has been charging 8%. Coldwell Banker Bain's rates will be going up to 10% as of June 1st, so if you want to get your properties managed, just call Dorothy Ennes at 425-452-0200 or email her at dorothyennes@cbbain.com

Put some distance between you and your renters! Give Dorothy a call and find out for yourself what Coldwell Banker Bain can do for you.

Closed Sales Statistics for King County, March 2008

How bad are things in the real estate market these days? Have you been inundated with all sorts of news reports full of gloom and doom? Here is the reality of the housing situation for King County. We are not faring as well as last year at this time, but it is not the end of the world for all of us in this area! Of course parts of California, Florida and Las Vegas are definitely in a world of hurt, but here King County, we should be thankful. There were 2286 homes sold during March 2007 and March 2008 saw 1503 sales. That is a decrease of 34% in volume. People are definately wary of buying or selling with all that has been in the news! The average price for a home in King County (averaging all areas of our county) was $566,834 for March 2007, compared to $539,733 for March 2008, represening approximately a 5% decrease in price. Will prices go down more? Wouldn't we all like to know the answer to that one! I still see people buying and selling and of course, prices need to reflect the current trends, so overpricing is a problem for sure. Even so, during March of '07 the length of time a home was listed before selling was 60 days on average. In March of '08 the time increased to 78 days, which is a 24% increase.

The bottom line is this.....if you have been sitting on the fence regarding making a move, now isn't as bad a time as you may have been led to believe! Sure, the market isn't what it was a year ago, but getting home prices to slow down a bit isn't a bad thing. Do we really want prices to keep going up and up and up??? Plenty of people can't afford to live in our area as it is and I sure would like for our grandkids to be able to afford a house of their own when they reach that point in life! I bet you feel the same.

If you are thinking about making a move, give me a call. I will help you with pricing your home correctly for a timely sale and would also love to hunt down that new piece of real estate that you can call "home."

The next pool shark!

I guess it's time for another photo or two of my grandkids. Saben turned three in March and we gave him his very own pool table since he enjoys playing with ours. As you can see, he knows what to do with a pool cue!

And then there is 8 month old Annika, enjoying helping her mom in the garden. What a treat it is to watch your grandkids grow and change!

Sales Tax Increase

Did you know that effective yesterday (April 1st, no joke) the sales and use tax in King County has increased by one-tenth of one percent? Last April 1st (2007) we had a one-tenth of one percent increase as a result of voter approval to expand metro bus service, and this year the increase will be used for chemical dependency or mental health treatment services. It seems insignificant until you realize that now some areas , including Issaquah, are at 9%!

DESTINATION BASED SALES TAX UPDATE

Thank you, Craig M, for leaving a comment regarding my previous post about Washington's new law! I have removed that previous post because I don't want to continue to give out misinformation. However, as of July 1, 2008 Washington state's new law will go into effect which will mean that if you order something from another part of the state, you will be required to pay the appropriate tax based on where you live (the destination of the item ordered, not the point of origination.) This will indeed make more work for all online "stores" in our state. WATCH OUT because I bet in time we will see a push to get retailers in every state to comply to this type of tax process, which would affect any order that is sent from one state to another. Ugg.

Here is a link for more information:

http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesAndRates/RetailSalesTax/DestinationBased/MoreSST.aspx

You can also go to a page where you are able to enter your address to make sure that those shippers are charging you the correct amount for tax. I really feel sorry for retailers in our state who now have added work in finding the tax rate every time they make a shipment. Life sure gets complicated!

http://gis.dor.wa.gov/content/findtaxesandrates/salesandusetaxrates/lookupataxrate/

Interactive Home Search

Would you like to see what houses are for sale in your neighborhood and what the asking price is? Are you looking for a new home and want to see what is available in the area and price range you are interested in? Then you need to go to my webpage on Coldwell Banker Bain!

http://www.cbbain.com/sandyyoung

Then simply go to the area of the map you would like to see using the blue box and click. This will bring up a new page where you can enter the information on the left hand side of the page to zero in on the criteria you want and VOILA! There you are! Enjoy!

SEARCH FOR YOUR NEXT HOME

Are you thinking about purchasing a new home? Why not go to my webpage with Coldwell Banker Bain and sign up for My Home Planner. That feature is in the top right hand corner and you simply enter your email address and create a password. This will take you to a page where you can do a search either by the map provided or by entering the city and neighborhoods you are interested in. The great thing about this is that when you sign up, you can select to receive notices via email when new houses hit the market and you can choose to be alerted daily or weekly. Try it out! Maybe you will find the house of your dreams. And please give me a call. I would love to have the opportunity to show you any properties you find interesting. Here is the link:

http://www.cbbain.com/agentdetail.aspx?ic=3150113

If you want to simply search without signing in, you can click on an area of interest on the interactive map and see what is listed. It's quick and easy!! Coldwell Banker Bain and Sandy Young....two names to remember!

SUNCADIA RESORT - Go visit!

Have you gone to Roslyn to check out the Suncadia Resort? You need to go! The brand new resort is now open and it is fabulous. It is located only 80 miles from Seattle (take the Roslyn/Bullfrog Road exit off I90) and just under an hour's drive from downtown Issaquah. I can arrange a tour for you, with lodging for your convenience! Do you golf? There are 2 public golf courses, the Prospector Course which was designed by Arnold Palmer, and the Rope Rider Course. Homesites are available on both courses. If you like the idea of having a private course available and living in a gated non-public community, then the Tumble Creek development was made for you! Prepare to pamper yourselves, as there is something for everyone. Miles and miles of bicycle trails are going in and will be groomed in the winter for not only crosscountry skiing, but also skating! Of course Snoqualmie Pass is close enough for downhill skiing if that is your passion. My husband and I own a lot on the 2nd fairway of the Prospector Course and it is a short walk to the Resort and driving range. If you call or email me I will personally arrange a time for you to look it over for yourselves, spend the night for a LOW price of $99, enjoy a free round of golf and talk to one of Suncadia's expert team members to fill you in on what is available and pricing that will suit your needs and desires. Call me NOW at 425-890-0124 or email me at sandyyoung@cbbain.com

NEW Conner Construction home in Talus

Today and tomorrow I am holding open the last NEW Conner home in the Aliante neighborhood of Talus. The Talus development is just off SR900 on Cougar Mountain a short distance from Issaquah. Pretty much across from Squak Mountain Nursery. Come and visit! I'm here today, Saturday, until 5 pm, and tomorrow, Sunday, from 1:00 until 4:00. This home has a daylight basement and is 4815 square feet. Plenty of room to spread out! There is a 3-car tandem garage with a shop area, beautiful hardwoods and carpeting, slab granite in the luxurious kitchen, built-in bookcase, and a guest suite on the lower level with a walk-in closet and full fath. Of course, if this is just too big, I can help you find something else to suit your needs.

Crozier Photography - AMAZING

OK! So, the big day was Saturday and you can check out some of our photographer's work in the previous post. John Crozier is amazing and his work reflects his creativity and inate sense of style and composition. I have seen lots of professional photographs and would absolutely recommend John over anyone!! He spent the entire day covering every detail of our daughter's wedding, from Shauna having her make up done at Nordstrom's, to the bridesmaid's and groomsmen's preparations and dressing, all through the day until the newly married couple were driven off from the reception. If you are looking for a photographer to cover a wedding, graduation photos, family pictures, or whatever, please do yourself a favor and call John! He will take care of you and you will be so glad you hired him. His work is itself a testimony to his dedication and ability. He is a professional and yet personable and so easy to work with! Here is a link to his website:

http://www.crozierphotography.com/

Shauna's Wedding

The slide show for Shauna and Pete's wedding is on the photographer's blog:

http://www.crozierphotography.com/wordpress/?p=266

Northwest Flower and Garden Show is coming

February 20th thru the 24th at the Convention Center in Seattle. Good news for those of you who have small yards or live in a condo or townhouse. Approximately 1/3 of the 110 free seminars at the show this year will focus on small-space gardening. Also, on display will be 13 container gardens and several patio displays. Of course, this is in addition to the typical landscaping ideas for larger yards. Plan on paying big bucks for admission...$19 at the door, but you will be dazzled with all the color, texture, fragrance and ideas! Sally Fields will be co-speaker at one of the free seminars entitled "Gardening For Good Health" on Saturday at 1:30 in room 6E, and if our daughter's wedding were not schedule for that day, I would surely be there to see the Flying Nun. Of course, you should register ahead for this seminar to be assured of a seat. Just click on this link to register: http://www.gardenshow.com/seattle/seminars/sally_field.asp

Be sure to bring your camera and capture all the delights of the flower show. You will find great tips to help you with your garden and there are a great many goodies to purchase, from bulbs to orchids and from ceramics to trellis'. ENJOY!!

Getting a mortgage loan...conforming, jumbo and what about subprime?

If you are interested in getting a loan to buy a house, don't believe all that you hear in the media. Now IS a good time to buy in the Seattle/King County market. But, what kind of loan can you get and what rate should you pay? That is where it can get confusing. Basically there are two types of loans....conforming and jumbo. A conforming loan is one for a house selling for $417,000 or less. A jumbo loan is for a house over $417,000 and has a higher interest rate than a conforming loan. It used to be about 1/8 to 1/4 percentage point higher but now it can be 1 to 1.5 points higher. (A point is simply 1% of the sales price of the house.) That can represent a pretty hefty increase in your house payment. Just try to find a house for less than $417,000 in our area! It is tough, and right now there is legislation being discussed that will raise increase that figure to somewhere in the ballpark of $700,000. That will be a big help!

Some of you may not qualify for a loan since the subprime lenders have gone away. A subprime loan is one which means the buyer has poor credit scores, little or no down payment and is unable to prove their income. Although there are still zero down loans out there, it is imperative that purchasers 1) verify their income through pay stubs and the latest tax return, 2) have SOME money saved, and 3) work to increase their FICO credit scores.

FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850, and lenders usually get a borrowers' scores from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and their rate and terms are based on the middle of the three scores. Anything 620 and below used to be considered subprime, which meant that getting a loan would be more difficult and expensive. At the height of the boom, some lenders lowered that bar to 580, which I'm sure helped to cause the bottom to fall out of the subprime loans! Today, 660 is often considered subprime, and any score below 680 is likely to result in higher rates and more difficult terms.

If your score is mediocre, say between 640 and 680, you need to have 10% down. If you have a good credit score, you can buy with a 5% down payment and if you have great credit and verified income, you still may be able to find a zero down loan that won't have interest rates that will kill you!

If you want more information on getting a loan, I have several lenders that I work with and trust. I would love to put you in touch with one of them. Give me a call, or send me an email.

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!