http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart Seattle Real Estate, an International Marketplace Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:59:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en According to an article in the Seattle Times this weekend, Puget Sound has experienced an increase in residential vacancy rates in the last twelve months, moving  from 4 to 7.2%.  With an the increase in inventory the market has to adjust to the increased pressure to lower rents.  The article is a good ... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/12/14/residential-rental-vacancy-rates-are-rising For more information on this landmark legislation, read these articles: President Obama Signs Bill Expanding Homebuyer Tax Credit Unemployment rate rises above 10% ; Obama signs jobless benefit extension http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/11/06/extension-of-unemployment-insurance-compensation-includes-tax-credit-for-home-buyers In the Pacific Northwest we have a long history of trading throughout the Pacific Rim.  In August of 1896 the Miiki Maru steamed into Elliot Bay with a cargo of teas, silk camphor soy oil and paper, among other things, from Japan.  The Miiki Maru left with lumber, flour, cotton ... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/11/06/wa-realtors-visit-japan-in-2010 Zillow is emerging as a powerhouse of unfettered opinion in the housing sector, based on their love for housing market data.  Regional recovery is still mixed so we are going to need more than optimism to believe that this market is beginning to stabilize.  Zillow Chief Economist Stan Humphries has ... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/10/24/financial-markets-cap-trade-and-health-care-in-the-us-part-1 I've attached a list that I was given for your review.  The list was described to me as potential costs that might be included in the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) of a mortgage. Do you see anything that shoudn't be there?  Or should be added? APR_fees http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/10/16/what-costs-can-be-included-in-the-apr Here's a note that came out of the HUD newsletter on October 1st: The National Housing Act requires that elderly homeowners seeking an FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage – a “reverse mortgage” – must receive counseling “provided by counselors who meet qualification standards..”    A final rule published in the September 2nd, ... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/10/10/reverse-mortgage-counselors-qualified I just found an interesting site that brings environmental issues together for us. Grist is located in Seattle but has writers and pulls from news on a global basis.  Sign up for their news letter.... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/09/11/top-environmental-news-from-around-the-world Do just what a good GC would do on a very custom job:  1. Break the project into known and unknown scopes.   a. Known – for example 42 electrical outlets at $75 each, 5 doors at $200 each. These are items that you can see and there isn’t any reason    to believe ... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/09/04/how-can-we-estimate-the-cost-of-a-remodel-that-we-would-like-to-do-ourselves You deserve to know a little about the  law that governs real estate agency in Washington State.  The Law of Real Estate Agency is required to be given to every potenial client considering entering into an agency relationship with a real estate licensee in our state. http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/09/02/the-law-of-real-estate-agency Here's a little gorilla marketing for a wonderful building lot (never been used) right on the Washington Park Arboretum.  It is just over 10,000 SF and is accessed from a quiet loop of Arboretum Place E. and E. Garfield.  The neighborhood is an enclave of well-built homes with easy access to both the ... http://www.blog.nwhome.us/johnstewart/2009/08/28/exquisite-building-lot-on-the-washington-park-arboretum