When Will the Real Estate Market Stabalize

This is an interesting fact: Nationally about 24%  of the homes on the market had a 1% drop in price compared to  15% of the homes dropping last month. The fact is that home prices were so high by 2006 , that it will take probably in my opinion till year 2015 to get some normalcy and back to a stable market.

 Terrie Cox, PC, GRI, CRS, CDPE, ABR, e-Pro, CLHMS
#31 Agent in the USA (2010) Ranked as high as 89 in the World
 Re/Max Equity Group – Licensed Oregon & Washington

 Direct: 888-888-8284    Office: 360-699-5100  Fax: 360-699-6100

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Lots of Unclaimed Money in Washington State

Finding any unclaimed funds can be exciting for someone especially when it’s unexpected and a surprise.  Today,with the help of all the information that is available on the internet, many people are discovering that it can be exciting and very profitable to search for any funds or other assets that one may be entitled to.

For people searching for unclaimed cash in Washington State, they need to know that certain websites and state government agencies handle lost money, and the process for claims involves very specific steps that need to be followed.
Unclaimed inheritance is one of the most common forms of missing money. If a relative dies and leaves behind a life insurance policy, an unknown bank account, a final paycheck, or some other asset, then his or her heirs may not know about the unclaimed Washington State funds. The lost money must be reported by the company or bank, or agency holding it, and the amount is then transferred to the State of Washington and the Department of Revenue.  There are, of course, other types of assets and funds that go unclaimed. A person can go to the State of Washington Website and search their records, by name, to see if they might be eligible to claim the funds or assets by going through a relatively simple process.

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The Vancouver 4th of July Celebration is Back !

Vancouver has celebrated July 4th at Fort Vancouver for 46 years, and in 2009, due to funding problems, the event was cancelled.  With the support of  Bank of America and other partners, businesses, corporations and individuals the event will be brought back this year with a few minor changes. Once again Business working for our community.
 
For the event to be economically sustainable, a small admission fee will be charged for those ages 13 and older, and all attendees will once again enjoy a renewed focus on family, community and having fun.  There will be a great spectacular fireworks show at Pearson Field.  Please plan to join the community by attending,  and tell everyone that the Vancouver July 4th Celebration is back !!

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Extending the Tax Credit Deadline

The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday, June 17th,  to extend the home buyer tax credit closing deadline to Sept. 30, giving an estimated 180,000 buyers who met the contract deadline of April 30 extra time to close the transaction. The extension was added to a bill to pay for jobless benefits, which still must pass.  It has been estimated that one-third of qualified applicants have been notified that they will be unable to close by the deadline. The Mortgage Bankers Association says delays are caused largely by the huge volume of transactions being processed.  The overall bill, once it passes the Senate, must be approved by the House. The Senate version would extend the time to close to Sept. 30, 2010.

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The Fabulous Front Porch

How many of us remember when everyone in the neighborhood came out of their houses, usually right after dinner,  and sat on the front porch to wave and talk to their neighbors as they walked up and down the sidewalk in the evenings and on Sundays?  Even people driving by would wave or even stop to talk to a neighbor rocking in the chair on their front porch. Those were the days when everyone in a neighborhood all knew each other and watched out for one another.  Ah, the good ole days.  But then along came rear yard patios, and bar-b-ques, and over time, the good ole front porch disappeared from our neighborhoods.  All neighborhood socializing became private, and you only went to the neighbors house if you were invited to come over for a bar-b-que or to go swimming or whatever, but neighbors became distant and they all became mostly strangers,  and the days of everyone knowing everyone in the neighborhood was gone forever.  Or was it?

Front porches are coming back big time.  Does that actually mean that people will start talking again with their neighbors?

Kids today have no idea of the fun everyone had, especially during the summer, when neighbors would invite neighborhood kids to come and run thru the sprinklers on a hot afternoon or hot evening.  The hot air and the sweet smelling flowers and fresh cut lawns made this a wonderful and unique growing up experience.

There is a front porch revival today that encompasses the whole country and people are wanting front porches restored on the older homes and built into the newer homes.   This renewed interest in having a front porch works right in with a want for compactly designed and pedestrian-friendly communities, the kind of neighborhood blocks where you chat with your neighbors. A row of front porches encourages those casual conversations.

Its called the New Urbanism.  Generally, porches are considered an asset today and buyers are looking for homes with front porches, whether its an older home or new one.  When you talk to people about neighborhoods, their favorite neighborhoods in the United States are comprised of front porches that are part of the design of the house.

Renovating a home’s front porch can definitely boost its chance of selling fast and at a better price.  The name of the game is to provide a warming, welcoming atmosphere on the front porch, as this is part of the first impressions a buyer will get coming into a home for sale.

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