Keep them straight

Looking at a bunch of houses? With digital photography making it easy and inexpensive to record images, be sure to take a digital camera along, first taking a picture of the listing sheet so you can remember which pictures go with which home, and then key elements of each home.

Work with your REALTOR to make a list of your "must-haves" before you visit the first house. For example, fireplace, master bath, walk-in closet, two (or three) car garage, dining room, open floor plan, eat-in kitchen, screened-in porch, large (or small) yard are typical "must-haves". You will also want to create a list of features that are important but not necessarily a "must-have" so that you can take notes in such a way that allows you to compare apples to apples later. Buying a home is an emotional experience. Doing this will help take some of the emotion out of the process.

Here is a list of items might want to include (rank each as either excellent, good, fair, needs repair soon, needs repair now).

• Kitchen

• Bathroom(s)

• Roof

• Windows

• Furnace

• Air conditioning

• Floors (rate by each level of home)

• Closet/storage space

• Plumbing

• Electrical (does it have 60, 100 or 200 amp service?)

• Basement

• Master bedroom

• Siding

• Garage

To reduce the number of homes you view, it is also a good idea to sit down with your REALTOR for a buyer's consultation before you start looking at properties. I do this with all of my clients. The consultation takes about 45 minutes but it takes weeks off the home search process.

David Edwards

Real Estate Agent & REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

• Community Reports – You can now take advantage of access to detailed statistics and amenity information about a ZIP code. Your have the option generating a report about one area or compare two different communities. Community reports provide the details you need to make clearer decisions about your next real estate purchase. Community Reports can be found at: http://www.davidjedwards.com/community_report.asp#
• School Reports – Your now have access to information about school areas according to ZIP code or street address. Your have the option of generating a report about one school area or compare two areas for information. The information provided is critical to determining your next real estate decision.  School Reports can be found at: http://www.davidjedwards.com/community_report.asp#
• Interactive Maps - Community and School Reports offer detailed and interactive maps. Icons are used to reflect different community amenities and schools. You can easily find school and service locations with these visual cues.
• Search Tool - An easy-to-use tool that enables ZIP code lookup based on state, county, and/or city for Community Reports. School Reports offers a choice between the ZIP code lookup or a street address search.
• Online Help - Key screens and sections provide a simple help icon. Your now have access to detailed procedures, definitions, and guidance.

Landscaping: Does it look like a park or a landfill? Landscaping not only includes the grass, bushes and any gardens, but also the hardscape – the sidewalk, deck and/or patio. People are spending more time outdoors now that Spring is upon us and you’re likely no different. Landscaping improvements can be costly, but is one area in which homeowners often tackle projects themselves. If you have the time, energy, and expertise you can save money by doing some landscaping improvements. But costs can add up here – be sure to factor that into your decision and/or bid.

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

What’s the condition of the home’s exterior? Does it need painting, or is it sided? Does it have painted brick that’s peeling? Is the aluminum siding chalking? Improving the exterior can be costly. Check the exterior walls carefully before putting in a bid.

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

Does the basement leak?

Basements are not very common in our area but if you’ve owned a home with a basement and you've been lucky enough to keep it dry, it’s hard to imagine the havoc a wet basement can bring to your life.

If you’ve ever lived in a house with a leaky basement or hate the thought of a foot of water surrounding your furnace, you’ll likely be sure to check that the basement doesn’t leak, or has a system that automatically removes water from it.

David Edwards

Real Estate Agent and REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp 

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

Take an inventory of what needs fixing.

Good news: With more houses on the market than in the past several years (676 active Renton Real Estate listings and 70 active Newcastle Real Estate listings), you’ll likely be able to look at more houses before making a decision to put in a bid.

Bad news: That means it can get quite confusing to remember the details of each. Develop a list of things you like in the house as you walk through each, and also make a list of things that might need fixing

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.com

Website: http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.asp

David J Edwards is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle Washington.

Open House!

If you are looking for a newly built home with unobstructed views of Lake Washington, the Cascade Foothills and the Renton Valley, you don’t want to miss this open house! The home is located at 8201 S 122nd St, Seattle WA 98178.

You are invited to visit between the hours of 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 3rd and Sunday March 4th.

The home is appointed with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, hard wood floors, a 36 inch see-through fireplace with a fan, a custom mantle and a central vacuum. It is wired for security; it has 9 inch ceilings on the main level as well as a den/library. You will find a designer 5 piece bath and walk-in closet off the master suite.

Directions: The home is located in South Seattle on the border between Renton and Seattle border. From Rainier Avenue, go south on 84th and then right on 122nd. The home is at the end of the street.

This 2,950 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath property is listed at $815,000. To learn more about the property and to view a virtual tour, feel free to visit my website at www.davidjedwards.com.

David Edwards

I was going to talk about the fact that Spring is in the air and then go on to identify some springtime home improvements you should start preparing for in today's blog post. That was until I saw the dusting of snow on my lawn as I poured my first cup of coffee this morning. I think that discussion can wait a few more days.

The higher elevations of our area received more than just a dusting of snow. My wife is a Teacher at Open Window School (OWS) (www.ows.org) in Bellevue. She had a two hour delayed start this morning. Like most schools, OWS will have to make up the lost time because they have already exhausted their reserve of additional snow days that were automatically built into the school's calendar.

The school sits atop Cougar Mountain and the weather is so unique compared to the surrounding region that they have their own weather center. You can check it out at http://www.ows.org/weatherstation/Current_Conditions.htm.

You may have seen reports from atop Cougar Mountain which is why I have to expose King 5 News for their weather reporting theatrics. Whenever they want to give the greater Seattle region a dramatic display of extreme weather conditions (usually on a slow news day), they send Jim Forman to the streets of Cougar Mountain after the sun goes down and the roads freeze so they can film vehicles sliding all over the place. At the same time, the rest of us in the lower elevations are sitting in our lawn chairs drinking the latest iced coffee extravaganza purchased "to go" at our local Starbucks facility in Renton or Newcastle. (Okay... that's an exaggeration but it's true that King 5 loves to report the weather from Cougar Mountain and if it's a car accident in Blaine, a mudslide in Enumclaw or a snowstorm atop Cougar Mountain, you can bet Jim Forman will be sent there.)

Don’t get me wrong... If my wife and I miss the paper and find ourselves in need of some news, we do prefer King 5 and a Jim Forman report is rarely a bore. And as for OWS, the unique and occasionally extreme weather helps give real world meaning to learning about elevation.

Here is a blurb from the OWS website...

Open Window School is a nurturing community for gifted children who love to learn. The students benefit from small classes that allow the talented teachers to offer an engaging and challenging curriculum that fosters academic excellence, cultivates innovation, stimulates problem solving and encourages independent thinking.

David Edwards

Setting the list price for your home involves evaluating Renton and Newcastle’s market conditions and financial factors. During this phase of the home selling process, your REALTOR® will help you set your list price based on:

A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained.

From experience, REALTORS® also know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is well maintained, they assume that what they can't see has probably also been well maintained. In readying your house for sale, consider:

how much should you spend to prepare your house for sale?

exterior and curb appeal

interior appeal

Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal.

How Much Should You Spend to Prepare Your House for Sale?

In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive polishes and touch-ups to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen.

Your REALTOR® should be familiar with buyers' expectations in the Renton and Newcastle areas so that he or she can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made and which improvements are most effective. Don't hesitate to ask for advice.

Maximizing Exterior and Curb Appeal

When preparing to put your home up for sale, your first concern is the home's exterior. If the outside, or "curb appeal" looks good, people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal to buyers:

Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered. 

Regularly trim hedges and weed lawns and flowerbeds.

Not all agents or brokers in Renton and Newcastle are REALTORS® - there is a difference.

As a prerequisite for selling real estate in Washington, real estate professionals must be licensed, either as an agent/salesperson or as a broker. Before a license is issued, minimum standards for education, examinations and experience must be met. After receiving a real estate license, most agents join our local board known as the Seattle King County Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the world's largest professional trade association. Only, then can they call themselves REALTORS®.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of NAR and who adheres to its strict Code of Ethics (which in many cases goes beyond Washington state law). In our area, it is the REALTOR® who shares information on the homes they are marketing, through our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) known as Northwest MLS. Working with a REALTOR® who belongs to an MLS will give you access to the greatest number of homes.

What Are an Agent’s Obligations to You?

A real estate agent is bound by certain legal obligations. Traditionally, these common-law obligations are to

•put the your interests above anyone else's

•keep your information confidential

•obey your lawful instructions

•report to you, anything that would be useful

•account to the your for any money involved

A REALTOR® is held to an even higher standard of conduct under the NAR’s Code of Ethics.

In recent years, laws in Washington have been passed setting up various duties for different types of agents. When you first start working with a REALTOR®, ask for a clear explanation of Washington’s current regulations, so that you will know where you stand on these important matters.

Seller’s Agents and Buyer's Agents

Suppose you sign an offer to buy a home for $450,000. You really want the property and there's a chance other offers are coming in, so you tell the agent that "We'll go up to $460,000 if we have to. But of course don't tell that to the seller."

If you're dealing with a seller's agent, he or she may be duty-bound to tell the seller that important fact. In Washington, the seller's agent doesn't have any duty of confidentiality towards you. Honest treatment might require that the agent warn you that "I must convey to the seller anything that would be useful so don't tell me anything you wouldn't tell the seller."

If you're dealing with seller's agents, it’s a good idea to keep confidential information to yourself.

These days many home buyers prefer to hire a buyer's agent, one who owes the full range of duties, including confidentiality and obedience, to the buyer. A buyer's agent is often paid by the seller, regardless of the agency relationship. This effectively renders the services of a buyer’s agent free of charge to the buyer.

Evaluating a Real Estate Agent

In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent. The first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR®. Here are other questions you should then ask the agent:
•Do you have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with the Washington State Department of Licensing.

•Do you belong to the Northwest MLS and/or a reliable online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in Western Washington.

•Is real estate your full-time career?

•What real estate designations do you hold?

•Which party do you represent - the buyer or the seller? This discussion is supposed to occur early on, at "first serious contact" with you. The agent should discuss Washington’s particular definitions of agency, so you'll know where you stand.

•When I commit to working with you, how will you help me accomplish my goals? Will the agent show you homes that meet your requirements and will he or she provide you with a list of the properties you’ve been shown?

To learn more about buying property with the assistance of a buyer’s agent, feel free to contact me directly. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Real Estate

425-890-8045

david@davidjedwards.com

http://www.davidjedwards.com

davidjedwards111.topproducerblogs.com

I am a full time REALTOR® that specializes in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle.

Examine your finances and shop around before you apply for a mortgage. Shopping for a mortgage is the first step toward owning a home and perhaps the most daunting, especially if you are not prepared.

Once a simple task that meant comparing fixed rates from among perhaps a dozen or fewer savings and loan companies, the mortgage hunt today is like finding your way through a maze.

There are dozens of loan types and hundreds of loan programs available through thousands of mortgage brokers, bankers, lenders, finance companies, credit unions and even stock brokerage firms. Pam will be able to walk you through the process and find a program that works for you.

Contrary to popular belief, finding a mortgage doesn't begin with an application.

Education is a better first choice. Mortgage information sources are as vast as the number of mortgages available: Web sites, topical newspaper articles, mortgage books, consumer seminars and workshops, financial planners, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders are all available to assist you along the way.

First and foremost, you must determine how your mortgage payment will fit your current budget and, to some extent, your future obligations 15 to 30 years down the road.

If you discover too late that you can't afford your mortgage, you'll not only face the possibility of losing the roof over your head, but you could also damage your ability to purchase a home in the future.

Step 1: Examine Your Finances

If you can afford to buy a home, you must then determine how much mortgage you can afford. Lenders are apt to put your loan application in the best light and qualify you for as much as they are willing to lend, which can be more than you can afford.

It's up to you to take stock of your income and expenses, both current and projected, to determine what you can comfortably manage each month. Along with your mortgage payment, don't forget related insurance, taxes, homeowner association dues and any other costs rolled into the mortgage payment.

Step 2: Shop for a Loan

When you are ready to shop for a loan you have two basic types of mortgage stores to shop from: direct lenders and mortgage brokers.

Direct lenders have money to lend. They make the final decision on your application. Lenders have a limited number of in-house loans available.

Mortgage brokers are intermediaries who, like you, have many lenders from which to choose. Brokers shop from many lenders, each with their own offering of loans.

If you have special financing needs and can't find a lender to suit them, an experienced broker may be able to ferret out the loan you need. Mortgage brokers, however, are paid with a slice of the amount you borrow - some more than others, so it pays to compare rates. Internet brokers today perhaps receive the smallest cut, sometimes none at all, and can prove to be a real bargain.

Along with shopping the source, you'll also have to shop for loan costs, including the interest rate, broker fees, points (a point is an amount paid to the lender and is charged at one percent of the amount you borrow), prepayment penalties, loan term, application fees, credit report fee, appraisal and a host of others.

Step 3: Apply for a Loan

The application process is the easy part - provided you've gathered the documents necessary to prove claims you make on the application.

The application will ask for information about your job tenure, employment stability, income, your assets (property, cars, bank accounts and investments) and your liabilities (auto loans, installment loans, mortgages, credit-card debt, household expenses and others).

The lender will run a credit check to determine your credit status, but you'll have to supply additional documentation including paycheck stubs, bank account statements, tax returns, investment earnings reports, rental agreements, divorce decrees, proof of insurance and other documentation. A lender that deems you creditworthy will likely hire a professional appraiser to make sure the value of the home you are about to buy is truly worth your loan amount.

To simplify the process, I recommend that you contact Pam Spring. She is a Mortgage Broker with Wells Fargo out of Bellevue and she is an expert in this field. Her e-mail is pamela.spring@wellsfargo.com and her phone number is 425-301-8319.

Pulled from my website article database at www.davidjedwards.com

David Edwards

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Southeast Sound

425-890-8045

david@davidjedwards.com

http://www.davidjedwards.com

Blog: davidjedwards111.topproducerblogs.com

I am a full time REALTOR® that specializes in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Renton and Newcastle.