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Friday's Did You Know?
2007-03-30 00:00:00
The City of Bothell's original inhabitants were the Native American Simump Tribe. They called the region, not Bothell...but Squak which means a swampy lowland. As a matter of fact the Sammamish River was originally named Squak Slough....
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Septic Tank Care for Eastside Homes
2007-03-29 00:00:00
Greg Perry Not a glamorous subject. Sewers and septics. Yet without proper waste disposal, what would our home ownership experience look like? After we turn the flush lever, we don't even want to think about what happens....we just want it...
More About: Home , Tank , East , Care , Homes

425realty's Top 10 Most Offensive Buyer Turn Off's
2007-03-27 00:00:00
Top 10 We show LOTS of Eastside homes. LOTS! We're with your Buyer s, Mr. and Mrs. Seller. We see what they see and hear what they say to us afterward. Here's our Letterman style Top 10 Most Offensive Buyer Turn ...
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An Amazing Eastside Remodel
2007-03-26 00:00:00
By Greg Perry Every once in awhile I run across an absolutely stunning remodel of an older home. For me, it's fun to see older floor plans reworked and the latest amenities installed. This remodel is from my client (and...
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When Selling, what we can, and can't control.
2007-03-20 00:00:00
How long does it take to sell a home? There is no easy answer. Recognizing the key factors influencing the market can give you significant control over the time it takes to sell your home. The proper balance of these...
More About: Selling , What , Hat , When , Sell

What is a "good" credit score?
2007-03-18 00:00:00
As I have mentioned before, when I came out of high school I was a pro at quadratic equations and trigonometry but did not have the first clue what a credit score was. Though there is no formal effort by...
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A contest! It's about home....
2007-03-16 00:00:00
By Greg Perry Where will she loyally defend you against the ring of your doorbell? She's a guard-dog-in waiting. You just know it. She simply needs the right home to call her own A big yard, lots of windows and...
More About: Contest , Home , About , Test , Contes

Friday's Did You Know?
2007-03-16 00:00:00
Meydenbauer Bay in Bellevue used to be the off season home to William Schupp's whaling fleet. William Schupp was the head of the American Pacific Whaling Fleet and in 1917 decided to move the corporate headquarters to Bellevue. The fresh...
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Yes, Eastside real estate has a "bubble"!
2007-03-16 00:00:00
By Greg Perry No denying it, we definitely have a bubble. The NWMLS stats absolutely prove it. We have a real estate agent bubble on the East side. Since February 28 of 2001 and February 28 and 2007 the agents ranks...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , State , Real

February Eastside Real Estate Market Report
2007-03-15 00:00:00
By Greg Perry Here is the Eastside real estate report for NWMLS areas 500 (I 90 corridor/Issaquah), 510 (Mercer Island), 520 and 530 (Bellevue), 540 (Sammamish), 550 (Redmond/Carnation), 560 (Kirkland) and 600 (No. Kirkland to the Snohomish County line). Buyers...
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10 ways to make your best first impression!
2007-03-14 00:00:00
by Greg Perry In my years of experience assisting Sellers gain an edge in the marketplace, one of the easiest areas to make a difference is the presentation. Buyers generally make their decisions on the emotional appeal of the house....
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The Advantages of Home Ownership (pt4)
2007-03-06 15:02:01
Capital Gains Exclusion What are capital gains?  Well, Wikipedia says:  Under the U.S. Tax Code's section 1222, gain or loss from sale or exchange of a capital asset is a capital gain or loss. Per IRS Tax Topic 409, "Almost everything you own and use for personal or investment purposes is a capital asset. Examples are your home, household furnishings, and stocks or bonds held in your personal account." If a person sells a capital asset for more than he or she paid for it, the gain is taxable. However, for personal-use capital assets, such as a personal automobile, a capital loss is not deductible. NOW, check this out:  As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 of your gross profits from being taxed. If you are a couple you can exlude up to $500,000. You can excersize this tax right every 24 months without being penalized...so in theory can sell your home every two years and pocket all of the eq...
More About: Home , Owner , Ship , The A , Owners

Stopped at the street!
2007-03-04 21:00:08
By Greg Perry Inside, the house had been completely remodeled.  New, better than average cabinetry, and new appliances were installed.  New bathrooms with beautiful tile were installed, brand new vinyl windows and flooring replaced throughout. A wall had been removed to open up the floor plan and the home was completely re-insulated.  Of course, it had been completely re-painted and brand new 6 panel doors had replaced the dated slab doors throughout.  In short, a beautiful remodel of an older home. It's a home being sold by owner (FSBO).  I've met the owner, like him and his house.  We don't have a lot of MLS inventory in this price range.  He's offered to pay me a commission to sell it, so I drove my clients by for a look.  I could not talk them into going inside.  Why?  Here's what the impression is at the street. This house has a major problem. The house sits down a little from street level.  The color of the house...
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The five critical areas to squeeze out the last dollar Part 5 of 5
2007-03-04 09:00:10
Price it Right  Crit ical area #5 This is the most important area of all!  It is very important to price your home at a competitive value when you list it.  Markets are so competitive that over pricing by only a few thousand dollars could mena that your house will not sell.  It's been my experience that the Seller's first offer is their best offer.  Pricing your home right from the beginning will net your more in the end! An overpriced home: Lowers showings Brings lower offers Lowers agent response Limits financing Limits qualified buyers Nets less for the Seller. If you are unwilling to price at current market value, you would be better off not putting it on the market at this time.
More About: Dollar , Last , Part , Area

A river runs through it.....
2007-03-02 14:57:01
By Greg Perry In my first meeting with Marilyn, she told me her dream.  She's a self-professed hippie and loves to fly fish.  She ws tired of traffic and wanted a place with some land, close to fishing.  She decided to look on the Kitsap penninsula, and found a home that she loves, with a creek running through it. She's in heaven. My job was to sell her condo in Raquet Club estates in Bellevue.  Marilyn was a wonderful seller.  She cleaned, repainted, replace light fixtures and accomplished all my suggestions.  Marilyn's condo closed this week.  She recieved multiple offers on the sale and it was trouble free.  Have a blast on your "river" Marilyn.  I hope you catch lots of fish.
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Friday's Did You Know?
2007-03-02 14:57:01
The city of Redmond was founded in 1871 and originally named "Salmonberg" because of the huge amounts of Salmon found swimming in the Sammamish river. Can you name the two men identified as the first settlers of Redmond?  The first person with the right answer will win a $5.00 Starbucks gift card!
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Tips for you First Time Home Buyers
2007-03-02 02:56:01
By Ryan Jensen So you?ve decided it?s time to buy your own place. Whether you have just finished school, finally got that dream job, and just can?t live at home for a minute longer, you are ready to take that next big step in your life. Personally, working with first time home buyers is one of my favorite parts of this job. It?s fun to work with people that are as giddy and excited about the experience as though it were a first date. There are also lots of questions and concerns about how the process works. But let me tell you, being a first time home buyer is not as difficult as it used to be. If you have a steady job and decent credit, you may find the process a lot simpler than you would have thought. Here are a few tips for you as you prepare to buy your first place. 1)      Make sure your credit is in order. A lender will want to see that you are a responsible debtor. A good rule of thumb would be to have at least 3-4 trade lines (i.e. credit cards, auto ...
More About: Home Buyers , Tips , Time , Home , Buyer

When a Seller expects too much
2007-03-02 02:56:01
by Greg Perry In late 2005, I had a listing appointment with Mr. and Mrs. P.  They lived on a very nice golf course in South Snohomish County.  In our initial meeting, I gained immediate and deep rapport with Mr. and Mrs. P.  In fact, we were all in love with each other......that is until my second meeting with them when I shared my market conclusions.  You see, Mr. and Mrs. P thought their 3400 s/f home on that golf course was worth a million dollars.  I thought their market range, based on data and condition, would come in between $800,000 and $850,000.  You know, I'm good at communicating these things, but Mr. P took a disliking to me at that very moment.  How dare I suggest such a low price?  About that time, 2 homes came on the market in the area almost simultaneously.  We had been handed a gift.  I offered to take Mr. and Mrs P into these home so they could compare theirs with the competition.  At first, Mr P agreed, t...
More About: Seller , Elle , Expect , When , Sell

The Advantages of Home Ownership (pt 3)
2007-03-02 02:56:01
Deducting your mortgage interest. Owning your home provides a tax shelter.  We have clients looking to buy a home just for this benefit alone.  So often we ask why they are looking to buy, and we'll get the response "Because I am getting KILLED on my taxes!" As long as the balance of your mortgage is lower than the price of your home the interest you pay on your mortgage is fully deductible on your tax return.  Oh, and by the way...The interest is usually the largest portion of your mortgage payment! Benefit #3: Getting some back at tax time!
More About: Home , Owner , Ship , The A , Owners

Home Improvement Cost vs. Value (pt4)
2007-03-02 02:56:01
In our final home improvement cost vs. value article we break down some outdoor(ish) projects.  The window replacement represents the highest return on your home improvement dollar  (Unless you get screwed over by a window co. like my first experience...thats another story all together) and it will save you money with energy savings over the long term.  Since you've made it this far in the article series you should have all the tools you need to build your deck, and the roof is a very common expense when you go to sell an older home...its good to see the money should be coming back to you!  These numbers are compiled by Remodel Magazine from projects done to homes in the Seattle area.  Resale estimates are based on a sale scenario a year after project completion.  Window Replacement Project Description:  Replace ten 3x5' double-hung windows with vinyl or aluminum-clad, double-glazed, wood replacement windows.  Wrap the exterior trim as r...
More About: Home , Men , Cost , Improvement , Improve

Kirkland annexation meeting reminder!
2007-03-02 02:56:01
Kingsgate, Finn Hill and Juanita areas annexation meeting held by the City of Kirk land on Thursday March 1 at 7pm.  To see details click here.
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A rainy day dream kitchen.
2007-03-02 02:56:01
By Greg Perry It's one of those cold, rainy and dreary days here on the Eastside.  Not fit to be out in, but one of those great dream building days.  Here's some thoughts on a dream kitchen. A good kitchen is not only functional, but is also the social hub of most homes.  When I ask Buyers about their wish list for their new home, a large modern kitchen is normally at the top of their list.  What makes your dream kitchen?  Here are some ideas of the latest trends in kitchen layout and amenities: à       Deluxe cabinetry with all the bells and whistles.  Engineers and designers have come up with hundreds of interior pull out and swing out features that make functionality and storage a dream.  For the exterior, there are many door styles, specialty fillers, bookcases, wine racks, moldings, glass doors and hardwoods to choose from.  Glaze finishes are popular.  Closed grain hardwoods are popular, open grain woods ...
More About: Kitchen , Rain , Dream , Chen

So....how's the market?
2007-03-02 02:56:01
By Greg Perry One of my greatest sources of entertainment is to ask another real estate agent, or to overhear agents talk about the market.  Some agents are "glass 1/2 full" people and will always portray a positive spin, while others can't wait for the bottom to drop to fulfill a 10 year prophesy that "this market can't last, the bottom is just around the corner."  I think the truth mostly lies in the agent's personal experience at the time.  If they haven't sold anything for awhile, the market is slow, if they've had a couple recent sales, it's hot. We tend to want to categorize markets into Buyer's markets or Seller's markets.  I actually believe we have 3 markets:  Buyers, Sellers and Balanced.  If we have more inventory than Buyers, the Buyer has an advantage in negotiation.  If we have more Buyers than available houses, then the Seller has the negotiating advantage.  A balanced market has no advantage for ...
More About: Market , Mark , The Mark

Home Improvement Cost vs. Value (pt3)
2007-02-22 20:54:02
Additions. Here is the third installment of the cost vs. value series.  Today we take a look at expansion...the good kind, not the belt kind.  Adding on to a home can add value to it when it's done where it makes sense.  These two home improvement projects are quite the undertaking so most of you will hire out contractors.  If you are a DYI'er these projects could net you some SWEET tools if you negotiate with your wife properly (email me for tips).  Part tres of our series covers Family room and Master Suite additions.  These numbers are compiled by Remodel Magazine from projects done to homes in the Seattle area.  Resale estimates are based on a sale scenario a year after project completion.  To check out part 1 Kitchens click here, or for part 2 Bathrooms click here. Family Room Addition Project Description: In a style and location appropriate to the house, add a 16-by-25-foot room on a crawlspace foundation with wood siding and fiber...
More About: Home , Men , Cost , Improvement , Improve

Rental Scam!
2007-02-22 02:52:01
By Greg Perry Here's an article from our local MLS.  It seems a scammer has figured out how to profit on the rental market!  Internet exposure may be a double edged sword.  Yes the exposure is great, but there is no limit to the creative imagination of scammers!  Could a variation of this be used on a FSBO, or even an agent representing a Seller?  Be careful out there! From NWMLS:  A member was contacted a couple of weeks ago about a rental he had listed on the Internet in Dash Point. He received an email from "Rena Luna" who was being transferred here from Scotland by his company and he wanted the rental sight unseen. His company would send a check for the deposits ($3600.00) plus an additional amount for a decorator to furnish the place. Emails went on for about two weeks when he received a cashier?s check for $8500.00. The "renter" then decided he wanted the "decorator" fee -- $5,000 back -- he would decorate it himse...
More About: Rental , Scam , Rent

The Five Critical Areas to Squeeze Out The Last Dollar
2007-02-22 02:52:01
By Greg Perry    Your best opportunity for selling your property is within the first seven weeks.  There are many studies that show that the longer a property remains on the market, the less the Seller will net.  Here are 5 CRITICAL AREAS to look at to accomplish the goal. CRITICAL AREA #1     CURB APPEAL If a Buyer doesn't like what they see on the outside, they will not go inside.  Clean away all clutter.  Trim overgrown trees bushes away from the house, and especially open up the windows!  Walkways, driveways and sidewalks should be pressure washed.  People love their yards, so make sure the grass is mowed and edged.  Clean away all debris and remove parked cars.  Paint your front door.  Put on new door hardware if it's old and worn and lay out a new "welcome" mat!  The icing on the cake is clean flower beds free of weeds, with a fresh layer of bark or compost, and beautiful blooming...
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The Five Critical Areas to Squeeze Out the Last Dollar Part 3
2007-02-22 02:52:01
Critical Area #3        Paint and Floors By Greg Perry If you want your biggest bang for your money, paint!  Nothing tells the Buyer that a home as been well cared for better than new paint.  It freshens the environment both to the eye....and the Buyer thinks it smells clean.  You don't want your home on the market with chipped paint, exposed wood or faded and dirty walls.  Be aware of consumer trends in colors and paint for the next Buyer's taste, not yours!  We can assist you with colors to sell! Floors are another big area that Buyers rate your home on.  Replace worn, dirty, dated or unusually colored carpets and vinyl.  Don't try to sell your house with broken tiles or hardwoods that are in a worn, sorry state.  Speaking of hardwood floors, homeowners are pulling carpets and installing hardwoods at record rates.  A huge draw for a buyer is expansive hardwood floors.  If you are lucky enough to hav...
More About: Dollar , Last , Part , Part 3

The March of the Penguins
2007-02-22 02:52:01
Buffini & Company 2007 Turning Point Retreat The Emperor penguin is a small bird with short wings exclusively used for swimming, 4? legs and a body shaped like a bowling pin.  Every year the emperor penguin walks 70 miles in 7 days to their breeding grounds over some of the most inhospitable land in the world?What in the heck does that have to do with real estate?  Many things were covered in day one of the 2007 Buffini Turning Point retreat, but of them all, I came away with a renewed confidence that we are doing business the right way.  We do things that set us apart from the average agent, though sometimes it?s at the cost of instant gratification.  ?You can?t have the fruits without planting the roots?.  The Turning Point retreat is not about teaching agents how to overcome buyer or seller objections, or anything as shallow.  It's about teaching how to service your clients in a real estate transaction at such a high leve...
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Home Improvement Cost vs. Value (pt2)
2007-02-22 02:52:01
Earlier we looked at the home improvement cost vs. value for kitchens.  Now lets take a look at bathrooms.  Oh, the bathroom...the little room that could, and should!  A bathroom should be a place of comfort, pleasure.  A place to read, meditate or just get away from your significant other...among other things.  Being serious now? lets take a look at what kind of return you can expect when you pimp out the box with the porcelain throne.  These numbers were compiled by Remodel Magazine on projects done in the Seattle area.  Figures are based on a resale scenario one year after project completion. Bathroom Addition  Project Description: Add a full 6-by-8-foot bathroom to a house with one or one-and-a-half baths. Locate it within the house's footprint. Include cultured-marble vanity top, molded sink, tub/shower with ceramic tile surround, low-profile toilet, general and spot lighting, mirrored medicine cabinet, linen storage, vinyl wallpaper,...
More About: Home , Men , Cost , Improvement , Improve

The Five Critical Areas to Squeeze Out The Last Dollar Part 2
2007-02-22 02:52:01
Critical Area #2     Clean and Clutter by Greg Perry Once you get your Buyer into your house, they can be turned off be even the smallest amount odor or uncleanliness.  You'll be able to net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars more if your house is squeaky clean!    Eliminate the clutter.  You're going to move anyway so why not move out the excess now to open up your spaces so your house looks larger?  Many Sellers will arrange temporary storage for their excess.  Eliminate just about everything from your kitchen and bath counters.  Excess also means furniture.  Most people live with too many furniture items which tends to make rooms look smaller.  Remember you want your closets to look spacious, so remove the unnecessary and organize them.  Remove about 3/4 of those knick knacks you love and completely remove collections, ie. doll collections, train collections, etc.  We offer staging advice to our client...
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