Solar Christmas Lights? Great idea!

We are always looking for ways to save a few dollars and conserve energy in the West. On the tails of the newer LED light which do both, retailers are now offering solar powered LED lights to decorate our homes for the holidays. Great idea, don't you think?

Read more on Houselogic.com : http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/lighting/solar-christmas-lights/#ixzz1fhFuGr8z

To Buy or Not to Buy

    Owning real estate and what you do with it and how you manage it while you own it has a critical impact on its value.  Owning property gives you  more control of your potential profit than any other asset.  You have no control over the performance of other investments such as stocks and bonds.  Leverage is what owing property provides to you unlike any other investment.
    An example to ponder is this. Let's say you purchase a property for $150,000.00 and make a 20% down payment ($30,000.00).  After one year, the property appreciates by 4%.  The rate of value increase applies to the entire $150,000.00. The 4% appreciation equals  $6000.00.  Another way to see it is this.  The truth is the only money you have invested are the down payment funds, ( $ 30,000.00).  A $6000.00 return on a $ 30,000.00 investment calculates out to a  20% rate of return. At any time, that is considered very good.
    Investment experts still agree that with the combo of very low interest rates and a large inventory to choose from, prices at rock bottom, we are in still in the best real estate investment environment in decades.

What Happens between Signing and Closing of Escrow

Ticor Title has clearly explained the process of what happens between the signing of documents and the actual closing.  Click here for the full story.

Gig Harbor Hosts 911 Artifact

Gig Harbor Museum Hosts 911 Artifact - Temporary Show

Fantastic Horse Property

Short Sales Update

I am pleased to report that short sales seem to be getting easier, or we, the brokers, are getting better at it. Either way, it is definitely a more viable way for buyers to purchase a home than previously. The Short Sale has earned itself a troublesome reputation to overcome. Most, but not all banks are better prepared to handle a short sale offer and they have adopted a more cooperative stance in negotiations. As a review, the short sale is between the seller and their lender. The purchase is between the seller and the buyer. Personally, having been on both sides, both as the seller's agent and buyer's agent recently, I believe the short sale properties are a much more viable alternative for buyers who have some flexibility in their move in dates.

Lot with Community Beach $ 22,000.00