Wow, $30,000 for Federal Way 1st Time Home Buyers

There have always been occassional funds put together for special interest groups and sometimes for certain geographically areas to help 1st time home buyers but in most cases, they don't translate into anything other than a 2nd mortgage loan that is none to easy to qualify for.

However, for a short time, the City of Federal Way has a fund for 1st time homebuyers that are purchasing a pre-foreclosure, a short sale or a foreclosed (bank owned) home. They may grant up to 20% for a down payment, up to $30,000. There are no monthly payments and no interest! If you sell your home in less than 15 years, you will pay back the city at the time of the sale but if you own for 15+ years, there is no payback required!

This is by far one of the most generous and easy to qualify for down payment assistance plan I have ever seen! If you know someone that could benefit from this, pass it along!

Seattle has Nation's Best Economy

Here's an encouraging article from today's Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

A study by a Florida research firm says that the Seattle area’s economy is the best in the country.
According to Policom Corp., an independent economic research firm that specializes in analyzing local and state economies, out of the nation’s 366 metropolitan statistical areas, Seattle-Tacoma Bellevue rates No. 1, moving up from last year’s No. 12 ranking. In 2006, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ranked No. 51 in the country. The company uses 23 different economic factors to create its rankings.

According to Policom, the highest-ranked areas have had rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time. The lowest ranked areas have been in volatile decline for an extended period of time and Policom has created economic strength rankings since 1996.

Here are the nation’s top 10 markets of all 366 markets:

2010 Ten Strongest Among 366 Metropolitan Areas
1. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue.
2. Washington, D.C.-Arlington, Va.-Alexandria, W.V.
3. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.
4. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas.
5. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif.
6. Salt Lake City, Utah.
7. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa.
8. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif.
9. Madison, Wisc.
10. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas.

Tacoma Neighborhood makes it to Hollywood

I have several friends and clients that have wonderful homes in Tacoma and now it's official! Their neighborhood has made it to Hollywood. See this feature article from www.ThisOldHouse.com;

The McKinley Hill Neighborhood, Tacoma, Washington
McKinley Hill, located on the highest point of Tacoma, started out as home to clerks and managers from the Northern Pacific Railroad, which terminated just down the hill at what's now one of the Pacific Northwest's largest transportation hubs. In 1905, the construction of a streetcar line here spurred the building of some of the city's finest homes, built with fine details by master craftsmen working in the city's bustling furniture and shipbuilding industries. The neighborhood went into urban decline in the 1960s and '70s. But it's now gaining favor among young families and singles looking for an older city neighborhood—its modest Main Street has pubs, restaurants, and boutique shops—that still has a little grit and character.

The Houses
Most homes here were built between 1885 and 1929. Styles include well-appointed Craftsmans, Cape Cods, American Foursquares, Folk Victorians, and Tudor Revivals. Prices range from $150,000 to $290,000.

Why Buy Now?
McKinley offers some of the lowest home prices in the Puget Sound region. And its proximity to trains and a light rail system that will soon reach nearby Seattle and the airport is making it an attractive option for commuters. A new preservation nonprofit called Historic Tacoma, formed three years ago, is currently focused on McKinley Hill. Their recent efforts have included restoring the neighborhood's historic 34th Street Bridge, which connects McKinley to downtown Tacoma.

Among the best for: Bargains, City Life, Easy Commute, Families, First-Time Buyers, Fixer-Uppers, Gardening, Singles, Walkability, Waterfront

Shower Drain Clogged?

So our shower drain reached the pinnacle of clogged this weekend. It's been slow for a long time and we've tried Liquid Plummer, poking around with a wire hanger and even getting a plumbing snake to send way down through the pipe. Nothing much really came up though. This morning after one shower, it was done for. 2 hours later, I still couldn't take my turn because it just wasn't draining at all. I had decided to call a plumber, but in one last move of desperation (I wanted a shower NOW!) I took the toilet plunger to it. A couple of good plunges did the trick! Whatever the clog, it freed up and everything drained in a few seconds. I don't know if this is plumber recommended or if there is any risk to your plumbing but for now, I get to shower. I will check in with a friend of mine who is a plumber and see if that was an OK thing to do. I'll keep you posted...

Chiropractics, for People AND Dogs?

Having never been exposed to chiropractics (prior to last year), I really had no information on which to base an opinion, except knowing that some are believers in chiropractics and some are not...

For me, the pivotal moment came when my sweet and mild rescued (retired racer) greyound, Cassie woke up one Sunday at 4AM, screaming in agony. Usually a dog of very few canine verbalizations... Cassie was making noise and it was clear she was in extreme pain. She stood, trembling and crying... the most pitiful and heart rending sound... After exhausting herself from standing, she tried to lie down, only to find it impossible and let out another screech of agony. A visit to the emergency weekend animal hospital resulted in heavy medications that didn't even touch the pain until I quadrupled the dose. 14 hours went by before finally, poor Cassie was able to lie down for a couple of hours. First thing Mon AM, I took her to the regular vet and they confirmed with x-rays... apparent disc herniation for which there is no cure. Only continuous heavy pain medications and muscle relaxers (with long term negative impact on the kidneys) or possibly, a $5000 surgery that may or may not take some pressure off the nerves could potentially make her life livable for a little longer. Bottom line was, they recommended thinking about euthanasia. Not the kind of choices any of use would want to make for ourselves or anyone in our family, canine or otherwise!

Throughout that day, I talked to several people, trying to find other options/ideas. My mom had one idea... she had recently been seeing a chiropractor for help with carpal tunnel (which was news to me) and she thought she recalled someone bringin in their dog. She gave me the name of chiropractor and in desperation I immediately stopped by to see if I could meet Dr. Ball and ask if he sees dogs. Indeed the answer was, Absolutely, bring her in now! Wow, I was shocked...! Not only does he think he can help but he was making this an immediate priority! I hesitated breifly, thinking this must cost a fortune and timing was particularly bad given that I had exhausted my ready cash by the emergency vet visit, a minor car accident that had just required a big deductable and the follow up vet visit and meds. I asked how much this would cost and could I potentially pay some now and the rest in the following weeks. Imagine my further shock when the Dr said, don't worry... we see dogs for free and just ask that you submit a $10 donation to PAWS through us on each visit. What?!!! Unbelievable!

As I brought Cassie in, she was moving very stiffly, back arched in an unnatural and tense position and little whimpers along the way, all in spite of being heavily sedated by the drugs given her earlier by the vet. Dr. Ball knew exactly how to connect with and treat a dog and she was immediately at ease with him. After a few short minutes, he confirmed the critical area and was able to adjust Cassie's spine. (Fractionally moving the disks so that they were no longer clamped down on a nerve bundle.) It was immediately apparent that this was exactly what was needed. The tension and arch went out of Cassie's spine, she looked up at him and I swear she smiled! We walked out of the clinic with a perky gait to her step that I thought I'd never see again.

Over the next 2 weeks, I brought her in several more times. Cassie regained all of her original range of motion and activities and though the disc's themselves are still degraded and prone to the possibility of again pinching the nerve, she is living a very normal life! If and when it happens again, I will know exactly what to do.

Thank you Dr. Ball for saving sweet Cassie from a life of pain and drugs or worse!!

See Dr. Ball's blog

Seattle Positioned for Economic Rebound?

Here's an interesting article published in Wall Stree Journal a few days ago...

Which Cities Will See Biggest Rebound?

Which cities are likely to be the hottest post-economic downturn destinations for young, brilliant, and highly mobile workers? The Wall Street Journal surveyed six trend-spotting experts and they chose cities based on economic diversity, lifestyle and their own personal prejudices.

Here’s the top-10 list:
1. Washington, D.C. (tie)
1. Seattle
2. New York
3. Portland, Ore.
4. Austin, Texas
5. San Jose, Calif.
6. Denver
7. Durham, N.C.
8. Dallas
9. Chicago
10. Boston

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Sue Shellenbarger (09/30/2009)

Top 7 Ways to Prep Your Home for Sale

Spending a few hours beautifying your home can go a long way toward a quick sale at top dollar.

1. Create front yard "curb appeal". Make sure the front yard appears clean and tidy and has nice contrast of color if possible. Think green grass and fresh beauty bark along with a potted planter or two of seasonal flowers. Remove or prune any shrubs and trees so there is no contact with the siding or decks.
2. Walk through your house with "buyers eyes" (or have someone do this for you). Look for ways to capitalize on a warm and inviting feeling. Plan to remove anything that may look old, run down or cluttered. Also, have someone perform the "sniff test" to detect areas that may have a smell detectable by sensative noses. Try to remove the smells rather than cover them up.
3. Your front entryway is the first place people stop long enough to notice small details. Make sure your front door and entry are spotless. No peeling paint, spider webs or gifts left by the cat...
4. Create space; begin to pack away things you can live without. Especially displays or decorations of a personal nature (family photo collages, collectables etc). Place high wattage light bulbs in every fixture. Considering storing away extra chairs/tables/furnishings so each room has a spacious feel.
5. Kitchens and baths are the most scrutinized rooms. Make these rooms shine by removing clutter (especially on countertops), caulking around sinks and tubs, cleaning/polishing fixtures and fixing any dripping faucets.
6. Walls and Floors: Touch up any obvious wall damage or stains. Repaint any rooms that are an unsightly or overly custom color. (Portray your home as a nuetral slate for personalization rather than a highly customized or personalized feel that may not be a fit with all prospective buyers.) Clean carpets and hard flooring.
7. Buyers will be interested in storage space throughout your home. Make sure your closets are clean, organized and clutter free. Pack away clothing and other items currently not in use to give these areas a spacious feel. It's OK to store boxes and extra furnishings neatly in your garage.

A note about other improvements; before you spend $$$ on things not mentioned above, ask your friendly neighborhood realtor if those improvements will be impacting enough to warrant the cost. rebecca@myplacetocallhome.com