http://windermere-tacoma.com/en-usTue, 16 Nov 2010 12:27:00 GMT10GDRSSFeeds v1.0http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/16/5-mistakes-homebuyers-make<h2 style="font-size: 10pt" itxtvisited="1">Even in this market, buyers can get tripped up. Here are a few don'ts for first-timers and buyers re-entering the scene.</h2> <div sizset="112" sizcache="5" itxtvisited="1">Homebuyers are an increasingly rare breed. Many who were eager to buy a house raced to take advantage of federal homebuyer tax credits. When those government perks expired in April, home sales essentially went into deep freeze, plummeting to levels not seen in more than a decade, according to the latest numbers from the National Association of Realtors.</div> <div sizset="112" sizcache="5" itxtvisited="1">&nbsp;<br /> Still, NAR projects that nearly 4 million existing homes will sell this year. First-time buyers, without the burden of a home to sell, could benefit from the foul market and record-low mortgage rates.</div> <div sizset="112" sizcache="5" itxtvisited="1">&nbsp;</div> <div itxtvisited="1">But woe to the overconfident buyer. Here are five common missteps that first-time homebuyers make:</div> <div><strong itxtvisited="1"><br /> 1. Snubbing the real-estate agent<br /> </strong><br itxtvisited="1" /> With so many websites offering plenty of data on listings, who needs an agent? Most people, actually.</div> <div itxtvisited="1">Finding a house and figuring out comps &#239;&#191;&#189; the price of comparable homes on the market &#239;&#191;&#189; is the easy part. Managing the nuances of offers, inspections, financing and all the other pivotal steps to buying a home is where many new buyers tend to get tripped up, says Shii Ann Huang, an associate broker with The Corcoran Group Inc. in New York.<br /> </div> <p itxtvisited="1">When buyers hire agents to act as their representative, the agents are obligated to put the buyers' interests first, even if their commission is paid by the seller and based on the sale price.</p> <div itxtvisited="1">Skeptical? That's all the more reason to find an agent on your terms. Ask friends and acquaintances for referrals and interview two or three candidates before deciding.</div> <div itxtvisited="1"><br /> <span style="color: #0000ff"><a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=25881815&amp;GT1=35006">Click here</a><a href="http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=25881815&amp;GT1=35006"></span> </a>to read the rest of the article at msn.com</div> <div class="parent chrome8 single1 insert float2" itxtvisited="1"> <div class="child c1 first" itxtvisited="1"> <form id="frmHomeValuation" class="form1" onsubmit="javascript:REOmniture(this, 'HomeValues', this.action);" method="get" action="http://g.msn.com/0USRE/19?cat=HomeValues" target="_self"> &nbsp; </form> </div> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/16/5-mistakes-homebuyers-make" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/16/5-mistakes-homebuyers-make#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/16/5-mistakes-homebuyers-makeTue, 16 Nov 2010 12:27:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/09/10-cheap-ways-to-increase-your-homes-value<p>We all know there are many home improvements that will increase the value of your home, but which ones are worth it? After all, to spend $20,000 to finish the basement may not add $20,000 to the final sale price of the home. So which improvements are worth it? Well, here are 10 cheap improvements guaranteed to get a high return on investment.</p> <ol> <li> <div>Paint. Yes, it’s that simple. Paint usually costs under $50, but can make a dramatic improvement to your home’s appeal. So, strip off the old wallpaper and sand off the walls for fresh coat of paint. Keep in mind though, that if you’re looking to sell your home soon, neutral colors are better for potential buyers.</div> </li> <li> <div>Yard work. Yes people are coming to see your house when you want to sell it, but curb appeal makes a huge difference on first impressions. Mowing, weeding, and growing some basic plants are all cheap but time consuming projects that will contribute to a better package deal for buyers.</div> </li> <li> <div>Replace bathroom fixtures. Bathroom and kitchen fixtures may work fine over a long period of time, but the finish will corrode and lose its shiny coat. So replacing these knobs will naturally give the bathroom or kitchen a more updated look.</div> </li> <li> <div>Refinish the kitchen cabinets. Replacing kitchen cabinets can be pricey, but striping the finish and painting or refinishing it can give a new look without the cost of new cabinetry.</div> </li> <li> <div>Powerwash the outside of your home. Keep the outside clean and add a coat of paint if needed.</div> </li> <li> <div>Build a deck. Decks are also relatively simple projects that don’t require outside help or immediate completion, so free up a few weekends to improve the outer look of your home.</div> </li> <li> <div>Don’t install a pool to increase the value of your home. Pools actually decrease the value of your home, so be sure you’re getting a lot of personal value out of it before putting one in.</div> </li> <li> <div>Replace laminate with tile. Compared to many other materials, tile is relatively cheap and easy to install yourself.</div> </li> <li> <div>Install decorative moulding. Have cracks and imperfections around corners and edges in each room? Get thick moulding to cover those spaces while adding a bit of character to the room.</div> </li> <li> <div>Install organizers. Messy basement? Maybe too much stuff piled into the garage? Build simple shelves and organizers for neat storage. This way, buyers will focus on how much space the home has, instead of how much stuff is in it.<br /> <br /> <span class="article_date">By Jenny Zhang</span><br /> </div> </li> </ol><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/09/10-cheap-ways-to-increase-your-homes-value" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/09/10-cheap-ways-to-increase-your-homes-value#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/09/10-cheap-ways-to-increase-your-homes-valueTue, 09 Nov 2010 17:35:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/04/weatherizing-your-home-protecting-your-investment-through-the-harsh-winter-monthsIt seems the winter is settling in early through much of the West Coast this year, with October frost and early winter warnings. Last week <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013042975_forecast01m.html"><font color="#1f2e65">The Seattle Times</font></a> reported, "This year will bring the most intense La Ni&#241;a conditions since 1955...&nbsp; Meteorologists say more rain, colder temperatures and bigger snowstorms are likely."&nbsp; Whether the meteorologists are right this year or not, now is the time to do some home repair so you can enjoy the winter inside your warm house. <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Weatherizing your home should be more than just packing in your patio furniture, checking your furnace and cleaning out your rain gutters, though these make a big difference in preparing your home and avoiding December disasters. Weatherizing your home - especially in light of harsh warnings - will protect your investment from preventable damage, save money on energy costs and, most importantly, keep your home safe and warm for you and your loved ones throughout the winter season. Here is a useful checklist to manage your weatherization project.</div> <div><br /> &nbsp;<a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://blog.windermere.com/weatherizing-your-home-protecting-your-investment-through-the-harsh-winter-months/">Click here </a>to continue reading.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/04/weatherizing-your-home-protecting-your-investment-through-the-harsh-winter-months" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/04/weatherizing-your-home-protecting-your-investment-through-the-harsh-winter-months#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/11/04/weatherizing-your-home-protecting-your-investment-through-the-harsh-winter-monthsThu, 04 Nov 2010 13:52:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/09/08/location-costs-to-look-at-before-moving<div><span style="color: #222222">Whether you are moving by choice or necessity, you need to think about <u>ALL</u> the potential costs of your destination. When calculating a move there are expenses that we don't always think about or get forgotten until it's too late.<strong> </strong> <div>&nbsp;</div> </span><strong><span style="color: #222222">Transportation</span></strong></div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><span style="color: #222222">Remember to look into the cost of gas or the cost and time for public transportation. If you are looking into public transportation remember to schedule extra time for commutes as they make many stops and yours might not be the first. Although your potential home is closer to work, it may not be close to grocery stores, the gym or medical offices.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><span style="color: #222222">Transportation costs shouldn't exceed 15% of your housing costs. </span></p> <p style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><strong><span style="color: #222222">Taxes</span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><span style="color: #222222">When comparing one area to another tax rates will vary and are very important to calculate. Property taxes are different on each house; you should also look at sales tax and local income tax. You may contact the city hall and ask if they have personal property taxes on items like cars, boats and other recreational vehicles.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><strong><span style="color: #222222">Insurance and Utilities</span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><span style="color: #222222">Call your insurance agent and ask them for prices of car insurance and home insurance for the area you are moving to. Your agent can inform you if you will need any additional hazard insurance. The cost for utilities will vary depending on the region. The best way to get estimates for utilities is to ask the previous owners for copies of the bill or call the local utility companies for estimates. </span></p> <p style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><strong><span style="color: #222222">Other Costs</span></strong></p> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; background: #f5f2ea"><span style="color: #222222">Other expenses that vary are going to be medicines, groceries, and schools. Remember the cost of living changes with regions.</span> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em>by</em> <a title="Posts by Lana Devney" href="http://windermeremoseslake.com/author/ldevney/"><u>Lana Devney</u></a> </div> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/09/08/location-costs-to-look-at-before-moving" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/09/08/location-costs-to-look-at-before-moving#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/09/08/location-costs-to-look-at-before-movingWed, 08 Sep 2010 13:59:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/19/5-deal-breakers-that-can-blind-side-home-buyers<div>Purchasing a home can be a complex endeavor for even the most well prepared home buyer.&nbsp; You've diligently saved for your down payment, followed the market, researched agents&nbsp;and now you are ready to make an offer on your dream home.&nbsp; Don't let these 5 "Deal Breakers" come between you and your new home.</div> <div> <div style="color: #0000ff">[<a href="http://blog.windermere.com/5-deal-breakers-that-can-blind-side-home-buyers/" rel="bookmark"><font color="#1f2e65">continue reading</font></a> ]</div> </a></div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/19/5-deal-breakers-that-can-blind-side-home-buyers" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/19/5-deal-breakers-that-can-blind-side-home-buyers#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/19/5-deal-breakers-that-can-blind-side-home-buyersThu, 19 Aug 2010 16:48:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/09/strongest-housing-markets-by-2014-wa-1-state-tacoma-2-city<div>In a recent <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/housing-markets-that-will-be-strongest-by-2014" rel="nofollow"><font color="#0054a6">study</font></a> by Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes, they looked at 384 market areas to determine which markets would fair best over the next few years.&nbsp; Fiserv and Moody's Economy.com base the housing forecast on factors that include income growth, demographic trends, unemployment rates,<span style="color: #000000">&nbsp;<a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Foreclosures"><font color="#0054a6">foreclosure</font></a> </span>rates, and construction costs. The Bremerton / Silverdale area was ranked #1 in the entire country with a growth rate of 44%!&nbsp; Tacoma was ranked #2 in Washington, with a 33.1% growth rate.&nbsp; </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/housing-markets-that-will-be-strongest-by-2014">Click here </a>to read the entire Aug. 4, 2010 article by Venessa Wong, Bloomberg Businessweek.</div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/09/strongest-housing-markets-by-2014-wa-1-state-tacoma-2-city" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/09/strongest-housing-markets-by-2014-wa-1-state-tacoma-2-city#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/09/strongest-housing-markets-by-2014-wa-1-state-tacoma-2-cityMon, 09 Aug 2010 16:18:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/04/the-future-of-home-ownership<p class="post_author">Homeownership has been pushed by the past two presidents and certainly contributed to the financial meltdown that we experienced in 2008 and are still recovering from.&nbsp; I thought that this month's blog should look at homeownership from where we were, to where we are and looking forward to what the future holds.&nbsp; Many agents have been telling me that fear is holding back buyers and, in some cases, sellers in today's market. Clients have many questions relative to the future of housing in general, as well as effecting their own situations.</p> <p class="std_text">If we look back in history, we note that home ownership rates averaged about 63 to 64 percent from 1965 to the early 1990's.&nbsp; It was then that George W Bush started to push the goal of increased ownership and this was echoed by President Clinton.&nbsp; With the lax lending standards that came into play at that time, we saw ownership rates skyrocket to about 70 percent.</p> <p class="std_text">So where are we today? The official rate is 67.1 percent, which is still far higher than the historical average and back at levels not seen since 2001.&nbsp; One thing remains clear and that is that we will certainly see this rate reduce as we continue to see increasing foreclosures.</p> <div class="std_text">There are a number of factors, however, that suggest that homeownership rates, although headed lower and back to historic norms, should not overcorrect.&nbsp; These are as follows:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://blog.windermere.com/the-future-of-homeownership/"><em>Click here</em></a><em>&nbsp;to read the rest of this article by Matthew Gardner</em>.&nbsp; </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/04/the-future-of-home-ownership" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/04/the-future-of-home-ownership#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/08/04/the-future-of-home-ownershipWed, 04 Aug 2010 16:02:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/22/remodeling-when-to-skimp-or-splurge<p>Remodeling spending looks like it's on the upswing. The Harvard Center for Joint Housing Studies, which tracks this kind of stuff, expects a <a href="http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/media/lira/index.html"><u>rise in remodeling spending</u></a> by the end of the year and predicts a double-digit increase by the first quarter of 2011.</p> <p>The average cost of a project? $6,200. But some remodels are more resaleable than others. As a realtor, I see it all the time. Just this month I've seen a bad choice of paint colors, inappropriate lighting, a poor choice of finishes, and even a bedroom built out "in the wrong place".</p> <div>However, the good news is that some things are pretty consistently easy to resell. If you're considering a remodel, here's what you should skimp (and splurge) on:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/ask-agent/remodeling-when-to-skimp-or-splurge/2313/?tag=col1;blog-river"><em style="color: #0000ff">Click here </em></a>to read the rest of this article by Alison Rogers&nbsp;on MoneyWatch.com</em></div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/22/remodeling-when-to-skimp-or-splurge" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/22/remodeling-when-to-skimp-or-splurge#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/22/remodeling-when-to-skimp-or-splurgeThu, 22 Jul 2010 18:05:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/16/vacation-homes-looking-better-all-the-time<p>Whether you’re in the market for a lakeside cottage, a mountain cabin, a ski chalet or an island retreat, the vacation home market is warming up. &nbsp;If you have strong credit scores, this could be the right time to take the plunge.</p> <p>According to a January 10, 2010 article in <em>The NY Times</em>, “Lenders now appear willing to finance second homes, but borrowers must be patient, eminently qualified and strategic about their house choices.”&nbsp; In general, you need a strong credit score and a substantial down payment to qualify for a mortgage on a vacation home. </p> <p><strong>Vacation home sales on the rise</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><br /> </span>According to the National Association of Realtors, vacation home sales recovered in 2009. NAR’s 2010 “Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey” indicates that in 2009, vacation home sales rose 7.9 percent nationally to 553,000, up from 513,000 in 2008. Around one in ten residential home purchases in 2009 were vacation homes, about the same share of the market as in 2008. In addition:</p> <ul> <li>Half of all vacation homes purchased were in the South, 21 percent were in the West, 17 percent were in the Midwest and 12 percent were in the Northeast.</li> <li>Seven out of ten vacation homes purchased were detached single-family homes.</li> <li>The overwhelming majority of vacation homes were more than 100 miles from their owner’s primary residence.</li> <li>The median price of a vacation home increased by 12.7 percent from 2008, possibly because more vacation home sales were occurring in higher-priced markets.</li> </ul> <p>In short, the numbers for 2009 are a good indication that the vacation home market picture is looking brighter all the time.</p> <p><em>by Noelle Bortfeld</em>.</p><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/16/vacation-homes-looking-better-all-the-time" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/16/vacation-homes-looking-better-all-the-time#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/16/vacation-homes-looking-better-all-the-timeFri, 16 Jul 2010 15:57:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/07/housing-activity-remains-sluggish<div><br /> Not even the lowest interest rates in decades could entice wary house-hunters last month. Home sales in western and central Washington remained sluggish with pending sales lagging year-ago levels, but not all the numbers were down.<br /> <br /> June's pending sales outgained the total for May by 5.8 percent, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Closed sales were up from both a year ago and the previous month. </div> <p>Brokers also applauded congressional approval of legislation to extend the tax credit deadline on contracts signed by the April 30 deadline. That measure, which President Barack Obama signed on July 2, pushes the deadline to Sept. 30. <br /> <br /> Pierce County saw 1,494 new listings during June and 925 closings, with an average price of $245,510.<br /> <br /> Mason County recorded 155 new listings and 55 closings, with an average price of $177,784.<br /> <br /> Lewis County had 149 new listings and 60 closings, with an average price of $169.489.<br /> <br /> Thurston County saw 525 new listings and 296 closings, with an average price of $252,888.</p><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/07/housing-activity-remains-sluggish" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/07/housing-activity-remains-sluggish#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/07/housing-activity-remains-sluggishWed, 07 Jul 2010 17:59:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/02/an-automatic-co-pilot-to-estimate-your-homes-value<p>Recently I was in the process of refinancing my home. With rates being as low as they are, I figured I&#239;&#191;&#189;d better seize the opportunity. As part of process, the home needed to be appraised.</p> <p>My lender asked me what I though my house might be worth. Not really knowing, where do you think I looked? Yep, I logged into Zillow and looked at their AVM to see their estimate of my home&#239;&#191;&#189;s value.</p> <p><strong>AVM stands for Automatic Valuation Model. </strong>It&#239;&#191;&#189;s basically a system that pulls together different sets of data to generate an estimated value. There are many AVMs out there that will estimate the value of your home.</p> <p>With AVMs growing in popularity as a way to estimate your home&#239;&#191;&#189;s value, how can you find out how accurate they are? Zillow actually provides <u><span style="color: #0000ff"><a href="http://www.zillow.com/howto/DataCoverageZestimateAccuracy.htm" target="_blank"><u>data about their accuracy in several cities</u></a><a href="http://www.zillow.com/howto/DataCoverageZestimateAccuracy.htm" target="_blank">.</span></u></a> For example, in Seattle (where I live) the variance is 10.6%; in Portland, the variance is 14.0%; in Phoenix the variance is 12.8% and in Las Vegas the variance is 31.8%.</p> <p>Another method to get a good idea of what your home is worth is a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA. A CMA is an estimate of the home&#239;&#191;&#189;s value compared with other similar homes in the same or similar areas and is often provided by a real estate professional. This method differs from an appraisal in that property currently for sale may be taken into consideration (because these other properties are actually competition for your home).</p> <p>Because I was refinancing and not a buying or selling, I felt pretty safe with the 10.6% variance and so did my lender.</p> <p>I like to think an AVM is like an automatic co-pilot. My good friend who flies for Alaska told me that the 737&#239;&#191;&#189;s can pretty much land themselves. When I asked him what if the unexpected happens he said, &#239;&#191;&#189;Well, that is why I&#239;&#191;&#189;m in that cockpit, with all my hours of experience in the cockpit I can take over and bring the plane down safely.&#239;&#191;&#189; Automatic copilots are great when all conditions are normal, but when things &nbsp;happen unexpectedly, the pilot has the experience and ability to keep it all together.</p> <div>AVM&#239;&#191;&#189;s are great to get an idea of the ball park figure for your home, but when you are really ready to buy or sell I recommend talking to a professional who lives in the community that you are thinking about. In fact Zillow feels the same way<span style="color: #0000ff">&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/About-the-Zestimate-for-Real-Estate-Pros-(Video)" target="_blank"><u>watch this video</u></a>).</span> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em>by Michael Fanning</em></div> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/02/an-automatic-co-pilot-to-estimate-your-homes-value" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/02/an-automatic-co-pilot-to-estimate-your-homes-value#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/07/02/an-automatic-co-pilot-to-estimate-your-homes-valueFri, 02 Jul 2010 13:17:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/18/first-1million-home-sells-in-tacoma-since-august-2009<div>A sign that things are picking up?&nbsp; Just picked this&nbsp;up from the News Tribune's Biz Buzz:<br /> </div> <div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; text-align: left; border-left: medium none; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none; text-decoration: none" nodeindex="1">&nbsp;</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; text-align: left; border-left: medium none; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none; text-decoration: none" nodeindex="1">A $1 million home sold recently in Tacoma for the first time in almost a year.</div> <p style="border-bottom: medium none; text-align: left; border-left: medium none; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none; text-decoration: none" sizcache="0" nodeindex="2">Garrett Pessemier, a Realtor at Windemere Real Estate in University Place was the listing agent for the home, which is on 39<sup nodeindex="1"><font size="2">th</font></sup> Street in the North Tacoma/Proctor district.<br /> <br /> To&nbsp;read more <a href="http://blog.thenewstribune.com/business/2010/06/18/first-1-million-home-sells-since-august-2009/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>click here</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/18/first-1million-home-sells-in-tacoma-since-august-2009" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/18/first-1million-home-sells-in-tacoma-since-august-2009#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/18/first-1million-home-sells-in-tacoma-since-august-2009Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:08:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/14/sort-and-save-your-vision-of-home<p>When I first moved into my new place, I was naively excited for making it exactly the way I wanted...immediately. New paint, new furniture and all of it would be so stylish. Then I realized I have a mortgage payment due soon and even though I want a new chair, I need to buy groceries.</p> <p>Lately, I've been channeling my energy to shop for new furniture and decor on a few websites that let you find, save and share your favorite items from across the web in one place. You can even group your saved items by each room to keep things really organized. Each of these sites also have fun community features and giveaways so it may be personal preference which one you like best. I recommend:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/zd/help/getStarted.html" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/zd/help/getStarted.html"></a><strong><font color="#1f2e65">Kaboodle.com</font></strong> </a></font></strong></a>- in addition to saving your favorites, the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/styleboards?so=popularity&amp;br=a:Home+%26+Beyond;"><font style="text-decoration: underline" color="#1f2e65">styleboards</font></a> feature lets you drag and drop items onto a digital bulletin board. </li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.stylehive.com/tag/home+design" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><a href="http://www.stylehive.com/tag/home+design"></a><strong><font color="#1f2e65">Stylehive.com</font></strong> </a></font></strong></a>- fabulous for the fashionistas out there. </li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong><font style="text-decoration: underline" color="#1f2e65"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><strong><font color="#1f2e65"><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/" target="_blank"><strong><font style="text-decoration: underline" color="#1f2e65">Thisnext.com</font></strong></a></font></strong></font></strong></font></strong></span></font></strong><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/" target="_blank"><strong> </strong></a></font></strong></span></font></strong></span></font></strong>- a very clean and simple interface makes this site easy to use. </li> </ul> <p><strong>Bonus: sort and save inspiration by room</strong><br /> On <a href="http://houzz.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#1f2e65"><strong style="text-decoration: underline">Houzz.com</strong></font></a> you can create and save "ideabooks"&nbsp;of various rooms around your home. Ideabooks are basically photo slideshows featuring inspiring interior design images added all the time by users. Ideabooks often have fun themes like "<a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/11818/list/Feeling--Wonderfully--Blue" target="_blank"><font style="text-decoration: underline" color="#1f2e65">Feeling (wonderfully) Blue</font></a>" and "<a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/48793/list/Get-Your-Outdoor-Party-On" target="_blank"><font style="text-decoration: underline" color="#1f2e65">Get Your Outdoor Party On</font></a>". &nbsp;You can look through other users' ideabooks and save their photos to create your own.</p> <p><strong>How do you create your vision?</strong></p> <p><em>Post written by <a href="http://blog.windermere.com/author/katygarsi/"><font color="#1f2e65">Katherine Garsi</font></a></em></p><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/14/sort-and-save-your-vision-of-home" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/14/sort-and-save-your-vision-of-home#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/06/14/sort-and-save-your-vision-of-homeMon, 14 Jun 2010 15:09:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/28/life-after-the-homebuyer-tax-credit<p class="post_author"><em>by</em> <a title="Posts by Matthew Gardner" href="http://blog.windermere.com/author/gardner/"><u>Matthew Gardner</u></a> </p> <div class="std_text"> <p>Much has been said about the expiration of the homebuyer tax that occurred at the end of last month. Everything from a move to extend it through 2010 (a very bad idea in my opinion, but one that didn’t stop the state of California from extending their own $10,000 credit through this year), to arguments saying that all we are doing is stealing future demand. So what will actually happen?</p> <p>Certainly, if we look at the U.S. as a whole, it is clear that the expiration of this credit has been followed by a substantial slowdown in market activity as evidenced by mortgage purchase applications declining by 9.5 percent in the first week of May. With more than a year of the federal government’s involvement in stabilizing the U.S. real estate market, we are now re-entering the free market system. I am sure that as we readjust to a market without assistance, I do expect to see turbulence hit some markets across the U.S.</p> <p>So what will be the effect on local markets?</p> <p>Any recovery will be localized and not broad based. Data in the Seattle area for example, for the first two weeks in May is still showing improving numbers for pending sales over the same period last year, suggesting that we appear to be somewhat resilient and were not wholly dependent on the credit.</p> <p>If you’ve been thinking about buying, I believe you may start to see stability in transactional prices and list prices coming more into line as seller’s expectations are becoming more realistic. This stability has led to improving sales and I anticipate this continuing through the summer.</p> <p>That being said, there is an issue on the horizon though that is worthy of mention. It is starting to look as if we are getting low on overall supply in the more affordable price ranges, especially in neighborhoods close to our job centers. This is an issue as it may stave off increased transactional activity as buyers fail to find houses that they can afford. This in turn may leave us with increasing supplies of higher priced product and sellers fighting for fewer buyers. Time will tell.</p> <p>I believe that the tax credit worked and did function to stabilize the housing market at a crucial time. I, myself, am happy that it was allowed to expire as markets need to find their own balance. If we did steal from future demand we will not really know this until later in the summer when the peak buying season is behind us. I do, however, remain firm in my belief that, if we see the job growth that I am predicting, we will continue to see sales move along at a reasonable pace through 2010 – tax credit or no tax credit.</p> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/28/life-after-the-homebuyer-tax-credit" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/28/life-after-the-homebuyer-tax-credit#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/28/life-after-the-homebuyer-tax-creditFri, 28 May 2010 14:28:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/11/whats-so-special-about-tacoma<a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/10/1181193/tacoma-is-more-than-a-slogan-for.html"> <div><br /> </div> <p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="color: #000000">Why do people choose to&nbsp;live or work in Tacoma ? </span></span></p> <div><span style="color: #000000"><span style="color: #000000">Over the years, we&nbsp; have tried to answer this question through city slogans.&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #000000"><span style="color: #000000">To get beyond slogans, &nbsp;a couple hundred local citizens were asked&nbsp;why they choose Tacoma. Three primary themes arose: authenticity, community and affordability.<br /> </span></span> <div>&nbsp;</div> </a><a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/10/1181193/tacoma-is-more-than-a-slogan-for.html">Click here</a>&nbsp;for the complete News Tribune article, giving the history of city slogans, and sample responses&nbsp;when asked&nbsp;why we choose this place. </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/11/whats-so-special-about-tacoma" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/11/whats-so-special-about-tacoma#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/05/11/whats-so-special-about-tacomaThu, 13 May 2010 10:43:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/28/what-is-making-home-affordable-all-about-<div>The Making Home Affordable Program is part of the Obama Administration's broad, comprehensive strategy to get the economy and the housing market back on track. The Making Home Affordable Program offers strong options for homeowners: (1) refinancing mortgage loans through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), (2) modifying first and second mortgage loans through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and the Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) and (3) offering other alternatives to foreclosure through the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA).</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>To learn more about the Making Home Affordable Program <a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/borrower-faqs.html">click here</a>.&nbsp; </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/28/what-is-making-home-affordable-all-about-" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/28/what-is-making-home-affordable-all-about-#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/28/what-is-making-home-affordable-all-about-Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:44:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/19/loan-rates-expected-to-riseEconomists and Fed officials have been predicting higher mortgage rates for several months, as the Fed winds down credit programs that artificially spurred cheaper loans. <p sizset="79" sizcache="4">The Fed had been buying up a lot of mortgage-backed securities, but they recently <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/news/economy/fed_mortgages/index.htm?postversion=2010022315"><font color="#004276">stopped</font></a>, which has already started to impact mortgage rates.</p> <p sizset="80" sizcache="4">The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached <a href="http://moremoney.blogs.money.cnn.com/2010/04/09/mortgage-rates-climb-upward/"><font color="#004276">an 8-month high</font></a> last week, averaging 5.21%, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates. Several times in 2009, mortgage rates dipped below 5%, considered to be record lows, thanks to the Federal Reserve's help.</p> <p>"Throughout most of the last year we were right below or right above 5%, which really is an extremely low rate, historically," said Michael Fratantoni, Mortgage Bankers' Association vice president of research and economics.</p> <p>MBA has been predicting mortgage rates would rise, maybe even reaching around 5.8% by the end of this year, Fratantoni said. And experts predict the rates will range around 6% in 2011.</p> <p>Mortgage rates can really impact consumers by limiting what they can pay for a home. </p> <p>Take the $165,000 median home price of existing homes sold in February. A buyer with a 20% down payment would pay just over $725 a month in mortgage payments for a 30-year fixed loan at today's rate. </p> <div>Raise that rate by a half point, and the same buyer would only be able to afford a home worth $156,000 to keep payments near the $725 a month level.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em>This is an excerpt from an article written by&nbsp;Jennifer Liberto at CNNmoney.com.&nbsp; </em><a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/12/news/economy/credit_card_rates/index.htm"><em>Click here </em></a><em>for the complete article.</em></div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/19/loan-rates-expected-to-rise" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/19/loan-rates-expected-to-rise#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/04/19/loan-rates-expected-to-riseMon, 19 Apr 2010 17:53:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/03/01/cnn-moneycom-article-says-tacoma-is-a-best-recovery-bet<div>This 2/25/10 article says that nationally,&nbsp;the average home price &nbsp;is forecast to slip about 6% over the next two years. But&nbsp; Tacoma is one of&nbsp; 8 cities&nbsp;that is&nbsp;predicted to post gains by September 2011.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/real_estate/1002/gallery.Housing_recovery_bets/index.html">Click here to read the article</a></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/03/01/cnn-moneycom-article-says-tacoma-is-a-best-recovery-bet" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/03/01/cnn-moneycom-article-says-tacoma-is-a-best-recovery-bet#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/03/01/cnn-moneycom-article-says-tacoma-is-a-best-recovery-betMon, 01 Mar 2010 17:43:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-real-estate-article-fixating-on-price-may-cost-you-the-deal<div>Sellers who won't budge from a specific dollar figure may sell themselves short. </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Buyers who drop out of a transaction because the seller's counter-offer shocks them may be quitting before they have really started negotiating.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>When a buyer makes an offer to purchase a&nbsp; property, the purchase price is only one of 5 key elements that&nbsp;together determine the value of that offer.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Value Elements in an Offer:<br /> </strong></div> <div>1. Purchase Price</div> <div>2. Closing Date<br /> 3. Inclusions and Exclusions</div> <div>4. Terms and Conditions</div> <div>5. Intent and Sincerity</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>To read the entire&nbsp;article&nbsp;and learn&nbsp;how these 5 value elements affect your transaction, and how a professional Realtor&#174; can help them work for you, <a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/info/news/the-offer-theres-more-to-it-than-price;_ylt=A9G_UeA2yIRLSTEADwykF7kF">click here</a>.</div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-real-estate-article-fixating-on-price-may-cost-you-the-deal" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-real-estate-article-fixating-on-price-may-cost-you-the-deal#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-real-estate-article-fixating-on-price-may-cost-you-the-dealWed, 24 Feb 2010 13:50:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/03/why-use-a-realtor-<div class="landing_section_blurb">Did you know that "Real Estate Agent" is not a synonym for Realtor&#174;?&nbsp;</div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">&nbsp;</div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">Only real estate licensees who are members of the National Association of Realtors&#174; (NAR) can use the Realtor&#174; &nbsp;title, and display the trademarked Realtor&#174; logo on their marketing and Sales literature.&nbsp; </div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">&nbsp;</div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">As members of the largest professional&nbsp;association in the country, Realtors&#174; are required to adhere to the NAR's strict&nbsp;Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public.&nbsp; </div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">&nbsp;&nbsp; </div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">Only REALTORS&#174;, who are members of the National Association of REALTORS&#174;, follow a time-tested Code of Ethics, where other real estate licensees may not.</div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">&nbsp;</div> <div><u><a href="http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/codeofethics-consumerquestions"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="color: #0000ff"><u>Learn what the Code of Ethics means for consumers:</u> <div>&nbsp;</div> <br /> </span></span></a></u></div> <div> <div class="landing_section_blurb">Buying or selling your home may be the biggest financial transaction you make in your lifetime.&nbsp; Ensure you get the professional care it deserves by making sure your agent is a Realtor&#174;.</div> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/03/why-use-a-realtor-" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/03/why-use-a-realtor-#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/02/03/why-use-a-realtor-Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:45:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/25/7-reasons-why-todays-bad-real-estate-market-may-be-a-good-time-to-buy-or-sell<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"></p> <div>&nbsp;<br /> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri">1) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Calibri">HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT<span style="color: black">S EXTENDED AND EXPANDED (<a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html">Click here </a>to learn more)</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri">2) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri">&nbsp;&nbsp;LOWER INTEREST RATES</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri">3) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri">&nbsp;&nbsp;LOWER HOME PRICES &nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri">4) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri">&nbsp;&nbsp;INCREASED SALES ACTIVITY</span><span style="font-family: Calibri"> <span style="color: black"><br /> </span><span style="color: navy">5) </span><span style="color: black">&nbsp;&nbsp;FHA MORTGAGES NOW AVAILABLE FOR HIGHER PRICED HOMES</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri">6)</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; font-family: Calibri"> <span style="color: black">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri">ZERO DOWNPAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Arial">It really is a good time to ACT: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol">&#183;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri">I</span><span style="font-family: Calibri">n many cases a home bought in our current market is 40% to 50% LESS expensive than during the recent boom year<span style="color: black">s due to lower interest rates and prices - e</span>specially when one adds in the tax credit benefits<span style="color: navy">.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol">&#183;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri">When the "BAD" market goes away, so will most of the advantages described above.</span></p> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/25/7-reasons-why-todays-bad-real-estate-market-may-be-a-good-time-to-buy-or-sell" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/25/7-reasons-why-todays-bad-real-estate-market-may-be-a-good-time-to-buy-or-sell#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/25/7-reasons-why-todays-bad-real-estate-market-may-be-a-good-time-to-buy-or-sellMon, 25 Jan 2010 17:52:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/19/extended-home-buyer-tax-credit<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">Are you or someone you know&nbsp;considering a move this year?&nbsp; Make sure you know about the new tax credit you may be eligible for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"><strong></strong> <div> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">The Home Buyer Tax Credit has been Extended and Expanded:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial">As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol">&#183;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">Extends the First-Time Home buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol">&#183;<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial">Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_credit">Click here&nbsp;</a>&nbsp; </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" color="black" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial"><font style="font-family: " face="Times New Roman" color="black" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: "><o:p style="font-family: ">to learn more about the extended home buyer tax credit and whether you qualify.</o:p></span></font><font style="font-family: " face="Times New Roman" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: "><br style="font-family: " /> </span></font></span></o:p></span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"><br /> </span></font></p> </div> </div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/19/extended-home-buyer-tax-credit" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/19/extended-home-buyer-tax-credit#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/19/extended-home-buyer-tax-creditTue, 19 Jan 2010 15:01:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/smartmoneycom-says-tacoma-expected-to-fare-best-in-2010<div>Here is more encouraging news for the Tacoma real estate market:&nbsp; </div> <div>SmartMoney.com's 12/28/09 article, "5 Markets Expected to Fare Best in 2010",&nbsp;foresees&nbsp;that Tacoma will be one of the few places for home price increase in 2010.</div> <div><br /> <a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/real-estate/5-markets-expected-to-fare-best-in-2010/">Click here to read the article.</a></div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/smartmoneycom-says-tacoma-expected-to-fare-best-in-2010" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/smartmoneycom-says-tacoma-expected-to-fare-best-in-2010#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/smartmoneycom-says-tacoma-expected-to-fare-best-in-2010Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:25:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/usnewscom-says-tacoma-1-to-rebound<div>Want some encouraging news about the future for Tacoma's real estate market?&nbsp; This USNews.com article,&nbsp; "10 Hard-Hit Housing Markets That Are Ready to Rebound", rates Tacoma #1!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2009/10/01/10-hard-hit-housing-markets-that-are-ready-to-rebound.html"> <div style="color: #0000ff">Click here to read the article.</div> </a></div><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/usnewscom-says-tacoma-1-to-rebound" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/usnewscom-says-tacoma-1-to-rebound#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2010/01/12/usnewscom-says-tacoma-1-to-reboundTue, 12 Jan 2010 15:19:00 GMThttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2008/11/07/article-from-forbescom<span class="mainarttitle"><strong><span style="font-weight: bold">Real Estate Markets Most Likely To Rebound</span></strong></span><br /> Dorothy Pomerantz <span class="mainartdate">10.29.08, 4:00 PM ET</span> <o:p></o:p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">If you're a homeowner seeing <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/11/07/afx5663853.html?partner=lingospot" style="cursor: pointer" href="http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/11/07/afx5663853.html?partner=lingospot" _old_href="http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/11/07/afx5663853.html?partner=lingospot"><font title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/11/07/afx5663853.html?partner=lingospot" color="black"><span title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/11/07/afx5663853.html?partner=lingospot" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none">property values</span></font></a> plummet, look to the commercial real estate market for solace. It might tell you which areas will recover fastest--and which will likely remain weak.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Urban Land Institute recently asked 700 real estate professionals to name the best (and worst) places to invest in commercial real estate in the coming year. Those surveyed included private developers, Realtors and Real Estate Investment Trust executives. <font color="red"><span style="color: red">Their answers also apply to the residential market</span></font>, since the single-family-home sector typically follows the economy. As wages go up and there are more jobs, more people can buy homes, pushing prices up. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The best cities in which to invest are those that are considered gateways to international investment, have vital downtowns where people can forgo cars, and don't have a glut of condos or office space.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">These traits landed <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_6.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_6.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Seattle</a> the No. 1 spot on the list. No city scored above a 6.15 on a scale of one to nine (one being an abysmal place to invest and nine being excellent). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Seattle</span></font></st1:place></st1:City> is "a diversified market, has a good base of business and is becoming a 24-hour city," says Stephen Blank, senior resident fellow, finance, of the Urban Land Institute. "It's going to be in a good position to come back."<o:p></o:p></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Although the city is suffering from the loss of Washington Mutual and the downsizing of Starbucks, Boeing and Microsoft are still relatively strong. Apartment vacancies are low and there aren't too many new buildings going up, meaning the market won't be oversupplied. The same is true in the retail space.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_5.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_5.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">San Francisco</a> comes in second with a 6.12. The City by the Bay learned from the tech crash of 2001 not to overbuild. There is a reasonable supply of office and apartment space, which should limit vacancies. <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5662323.html?partner=lingospot" style="cursor: pointer" href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5662323.html?partner=lingospot" _old_href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5662323.html?partner=lingospot"><font title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5662323.html?partner=lingospot" color="black"><span title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5662323.html?partner=lingospot" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none">San Francisco</span></font></a>'s port is also expected to help the city during the downturn as Americans continue to rely on Asian imports.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_4.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_4.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Washington, D.C.</a>, <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_3.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_3.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">New York</a> and <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_2.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_2.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Los Angeles</a> round out the top five.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Of course, there's no guarantee that an improved commercial market will lead to an improved home market. However, investors have a better chance of seeing home prices rise in fundamentally strong markets like <st1:City w:st="on">Seattle</st1:City> than in struggling cities like <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_11.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_11.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Detroit</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">It landed at the bottom of the list, scoring a 2.24. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Detroit</st1:place></st1:City> has been reliant on the car industry, which is rapidly shrinking. Other businesses are unlikely to fill the void in the next few years, which means the city will be hit hard by further economic struggles. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_9.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_9.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">New Orleans</a> also lands near the bottom with a score of 3.33. The city has been losing businesses to <st1:City w:st="on">Houston</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on">Dallas</st1:City> and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City> since <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/05/ap5654101.html?partner=lingospot" style="cursor: pointer" href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/05/ap5654101.html?partner=lingospot" _old_href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/05/ap5654101.html?partner=lingospot"><font title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/05/ap5654101.html?partner=lingospot" face="Arial" size="2"><span title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/05/ap5654101.html?partner=lingospot" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">Hurricane Katrina</span></font></a> hit in 2005.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The other cities at the bottom of the list-- <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_7.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_7.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Columbus, Ohio</a>, <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_8.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_8.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Milwaukee, Wis.</a>, and <a title="blocked::http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_10.html?thisspeed=25000" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate_slide_10.html?thisspeed=25000" target="_blank">Cleveland</a>--suffer from dying industries and lack of tourist appeal. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Recent attempts to turn downtown <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Milwaukee</st1:place></st1:City> into a thriving 24-hour city haven't been enough to protect it from the coming downturn. Increasingly picky investors are expected to favor higher-quality port cities over <st1:place w:st="on">Midwest</st1:place> towns.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt">And while <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:City> has the potential to become a major shipping hub for goods traveling cross-country, that revitalization may have to wait for a stronger economy and a government focused on improving the nation's roads. <font color="black"><span style="color: black">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></font>&nbsp;<font color="black"><span style="color: black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p><P><a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2008/11/07/article-from-forbescom" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2008/11/07/article-from-forbescom#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Windermere Paragonhttp://windermere-tacoma.com/blog/2008/11/07/article-from-forbescomFri, 07 Nov 2008 16:52:00 GMT