6 Seller Secrets for Summer

Each year, it seems the housing market takes on a different tone -- and whether it's going to be a sellers' market with inflated prices and bidding wars, or a buyers' market with tons of choices and low prices -- there's no denying that the 2014 housing season is upon us. So what does it have in store? Well, if you're thinking of listing your home, that's an important question.

Here are six market insights that will give you a head start!

Right Now = A Great Time To Sell

The winter home selling season was crippled by the polar vortex, especially in the east and northeast, so there's pent-up demand from buyers who've been waiting for better weather to brave the house hunt. Mortgage rates are still at historic lows, so buyers ARE poised to buy and ready to hit the streets.

Know Your Numbers: 60 percent
Sixty percent of all homes in 2014 will be bought and sold from May to August. Putting your home on the market at the beginning of the selling season will help your chances of snagging a winning offer before buyers turn their attention back to school starting in September.

Price It Right
Many metros in the country have seen double-digit price increases in the past year. But this last quarter, prices started to slow nationally-- and pricing is a critical component to getting your house sold. With this fluctuating market, you need to look at comps of similar homes in your area, and recency matters: make sure you're looking back no more than 60 days. The sale price of homes that sold recently paints a much better picture of what to expect than the price of homes that sold six months ago (or of homes that have yet to sell).

Bidding Wars Aren't Back (Phew!)
Bidding wars were common in the summer of 2013, but we're hearing less about them right now. So don't bank on fielding two or three offers at once. There is, however, a good chance that you'll still get the one that will be a win/win for both you and the buyer.

It Pays To Be Ahead Of The Curve
Trying to get a jump on the competition? Right now we're on the cusp of prime selling and buying season, and if you list soon, you'll have less competition than you would if you put your house on the market in May or June, when more homes will flood the market. Since it's still early, your home can have its 'moment in the spotlight' more than it will when inventory increases - and the buyers who are braving the cold to house shop are clearly motivated.

Make It Pop Off The Computer (Or Smartphone) Screen!
In this new mobile era, a huge percentage of buyers use apps to start their home search. And that percentage is expected to rise this year as more buyers take advantage of easy access to the wealth of information online. Get in on this trend by making sure your home pops on those computer screens. Great homes with mediocre quality photos will be quickly discarded and ultimately get less showings. Sellers should insist that their agent take the time to beef up their online listing so the quality of the home jumps off the screen and gets buyers' attention.

Information brought to you by: huffingtonpost.com

Farmers Markets Near You!

SO. King/Pierce County

Auburn International                                                          Maple Valley

Sundays                                                                            Saturdays

10am-3pm                                                                        June 21st-Oct 4th

June 8th-Sept. 21st                                                           25700 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Rd.

23 A St. SW

DesMoines Waterfront                                                      Proctor

Saturdays                                                                         Saturdays

10am-4pm                                                                        10am-1pm

June 7th-Oct 25th                                                             Year Round

227th & Dock St.                                                              N. 27th St & Proctor St.

Gig Harbors                                                                       Puyallup

Sundays                                                                             Saturdays

11am-4pm                                                                         9am-2pm

June 1st-Sept 28th                                                             April 12th-Oct 11th

3207 Harborview Dr.                                                        330 S Meridian/Pioneer Park

Federal Way                                                                     Renton

Saturdays                                                                          Tuesdays

9am-3pm                                                                          3pm-7pm

May 10-Oct 25th                                                              June 3rd-Sept 30th

1701 S 320th St                                                                233 Burnett Ave S

                                                           

Kent                                                                                  South Tacoma

Saturdays                                                                           Sundays

9am-2pm                                                                           11am-3pm

June 7th-Sept 27th                                                             June 1st-Sept. 28th

Downtown                                                                         3873 S 66th St

2nd and W. Smith St.

 More Locations at PugetSoundFresh.Org

White Rogers Recalls Home Heating Thermostats!

Spring Gardening Tips

March

• Prepare garden for planting by adding manure or compost. Start compost bin for spring mulching. Fertilize if needed.
• Remove debris and dead plant material from yard to prevent disease. Pull weeds to prevent seeding.
• Plant spring vegetable garden and berries. Consider disease resistant varieties.
• Protect any transplants in the yard.
• Consider building raised beds if you have drainage problems.

April

• Prune trees and shrubs. Thin out spring-bloomers.
• Fertilize your hard, spring blooming bulbs, ornamentals and berry plants. Spray for insects as needed.
• Plant annuals; consider drought-tolerant flowers. 

May

• Weed and do pest control as needed.
• Trim back spring-blooming perennials after they finish blooming. Plant more perennial seeds and plants. Sow hardly annual seeds. 
• Continue to mow lawn regularly. Keep lawn food away from plants.
• Lake soaker hoses or drip lines to conserve water. Plant bedding flowers in moist soil, keep them well watered.
• Mulching discourages weeds and helps conserve water. 

How to Help The OSO Victims

Below is a list of verified ways to help those affected by the Oso mudslide. Be careful if you are approached to give money to organizations you haven't heard of. State officials warn that scam artists might try to take advantage of the situation by posing as legitimate charities. The Secretary of State has more advice on donating wisely on its website.

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Where to donate

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• Red Cross: If you wish to help victims of the Oso mudslide, cash donations are preferred. The American Red Cross is no longer collecting items. Go to the Red Cross of Snohomish County atwww.redcross.org/snoco to donate. People also can text "RedCross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• United Way has established a community-wide recovery fund to assist those affected by the mudslide. Information on how to donate is at www.uwsc.org. Checks may be sent to: United Way of Snohomish County, Attn: Finance Dept., 3120 McDougall Ave., Ste. 200, Everett, WA 98201.
• The Salvation Army is collecting donations for local disaster relief efforts. Donate by phone at 800-725-2769, online atwww.salvationarmynw.org or by mail to the Salvation Army, Northwest Divisional Headquarters, 111 Queen Anne Avenue N. #300, Seattle, WA, 98109. Designate your gift as "disaster relief."
• The Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation is a local organization that is giving 100 percent of donations directly to those affected. The Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington treated several victims in the aftermath of the mudslide. Donate at this site or by phone at 360-435-2133, ext. 7805. You can drop off/mail donations to 330 S. Stillaguamish Ave. in Arlington or donate to the fund through an account at any Union Bank.
• The Coastal Community Bank is accepting donations for slide victims at all branches: Darrington, Camano Island, Everett, Monroe, Stanwood, Sultan, Silver Lake, Smokey Point, Snohomish and Whidbey Island.
• A special Mudslide Relief Campaign has been organized by theCommunity Fund Drive, state government's workplace giving program that invites state and higher education employees to give to the charity of their choice. For information, go to www.cfd.wa.gov.

Other fundraisers

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• The Darrington Community Center welcomes any donations brought into the center, which is located at 570 Sauk Ave. 360-436-1217.
• Arlington and Bothell Helping Hands locations are currently accepting donations, including clothes, food and toys. Every little bit helps. 18722 59th Ave NE Arlington, WA 98223. 360-435-2214
• The Orcas Island Booster Club is raising money with "Step Up To The Plate For Darrington." The fundraiser was organized by Orcas Island student athletes who play against Darrington.
• KeyBank Stanwood is raising money for Amanda Skorjanc, a teller, and her 6-month-old baby, who were both seriously injured and are hospitalized. They lost their home, belongings and car. KeyBank has opened a contribution account to benefit Amanda and her family. Call 360-629-6489 to donate.
• Gas cards for the long commutes many Darrington residents now face can be donated by mailing checks with "gas card" on the memo line to PO Box 90 Darrington WA 98241. KING 5 is promoting the effort.
• The Everett Silvertips will be collecting donations for mudslide relief through the United Way of Snohomish County at their playoff game versus the Seattle Thunderbirds at 7:35 p.m. Friday. If you buy a ticket here, $6 will go to the fund. You can also donate at the game.
• The Darrington Food Bank is accepting donations but would like people to call ahead of time so they can coordinate drop off and storage of donations. 360-436-1833.
• The Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue K9 Team is taking donations through their website or mailed to 5506 Old Machias Rd. Snohomish, WA 98290.
• The Granite Falls High School ASB Leadership Class has been collecting monetary donations for the American Red Cross to help support those who have been affected by the disaster. These will be collected at the front office of the high school. Please contact Debbie Lindahl at 360-691-7713.
• The city of Darrington has said that people looking to donate by mail can send a check made out to "North Counties Relief Fund" at Coastal Community Bank. PO Box 90, Darrington, WA 98241.
• The art club at Arlington High School is selling "Hold on to Hope" shirts on Friday.
• The Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation is accepting donations for Oso Landslide relief. Take or send a donation to Union Bank, PO Box 278 Arlington or drop by any Union Bank in Smokey Point, Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Monroe, Everett and Standwood.

Businesses pitching in

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• Cabela's is hosting a barbecue fundraiser at its Tulalip store on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The store is at 9810 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.
• Pilchuck Espresso in Granite Falls will donate all of its sales on Monday, March 31 to North County Family Services to distribute to mudslide victims. The donation will be made through Coastal Community Bank in Darrington. The coffee stand is scheduled to be open 4 a.m.-6 p.m. that day. 19027 Highway 92, Granite Falls, WA 98252.
• On Tuesday, April 1, Tuscano's Italian Kitchen in Monroe will be having a disaster relief fundraiser. The waitstaff will beb donating all of their tips and Tuscano's will be contributing the night's profits to several local charities. 5-9 p.m. 14919 North Kelsey St., Monroe, WA.
• The Arlington Domino's Pizza plans to donate 100 percent of sales from Thursday to the victim relief fund. 3704 172nd St. NE, 360-659-1120.
• Fred Meyer and QFC locations in Snohomish County have changed their checkstand coin boxes to benefit the American Red Cross for the next two weeks. QFC customers can also donate through checkstand scan cards.
• On Friday, volunteers outside of the Lake Stevens Albertsons will be collecting non-perishable food, gift cards, cash donations for funeral expenses, towels, hygiene supplies, garbage bags, duct tape, pet supplies, hay and horse feed. 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Lowe's has activated its American Red Cross customer donation program in all Washington stores to provide a convenient place for customers to make financial donations. The program will be in effect until April 27.
• There is an ongoing fundraiser at the Stump Bar & Grill, 19711 Smokey Point Blvd., Arlington, WA 98223. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 100 percent of food sales go to Oso.
• Haggen will donate 1 percent of its sales to the Red Cross relief effort on Friday at its Arlington, Stanwood and Burlington stores. The company will also be collecting for the Red Cross at its stores all month.

Events

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• A benefit dinner and silent auction are planned April 27 at Nature's Connection Place in Arlington. Organizers are looking for donations via businesses, help with the event and food donations. Email530slidebenefit@gmail.com for more information.
• The Spring Fling Fashion Show in Darrington now will be a fundraiser for the slide victims. The event is set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. April 12 and is $5 per person. Darrington youth will model fashions alongside an auction. Snacks and nonalcoholic drinks will be served. For tickets, call 425-320-6996.
• A benefit Saturday night at Sidekicks in Everett will feature live music and an auction. The event is at 8 p.m. More info here and at 425-244-3247.
• SNOPAC 911 is holding a fundraising event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Everett Police Department South Precinct, 1121 SE Everett Mall Way. They will be collecting cash donations and gas cards. They will continue to collect gas cards at the same location until April 4. All proceeds and gas cards will be given to the American Red Cross. Call 425-407-3911 for more information.
• Olympic Place Retirement and Assisted Living is planning a spaghetti feed from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Proceeds are expected to go to the American Red Cross and the families affected by the mudslide. Tickets cost $8. 20909 Olympic Place, Arlington.
• An art auction and concert are planned for 1 p.m. April 6 at Heart of Anacortes, Fourth and O avenues in Anacortes. Call 360-293-3515 for more information.
• A benefit concert is planned from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday at The Krosswalk, 322 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington. Jesse Taylor will perform from 8 to 10 p.m. and karaoke will follow. Donations of clothing, blankets, linens, small appliances, electronics and nonperishable food will be accepted. Concert is $5. All proceeds go to the Oso Family Relief Fund at Arlington Union bank.
• Sound Harley-Davidson and Puget Sound Harley Owners Group are hosting a benefit BBQ for the Red Cross on Saturday from noon-3 p.m. Checks are encouraged and can be made out to the Red Cross. Cash donations will also be accepted. 16212 Smokey Point Blvd., Marysville, WA 98271. 360-454-5000.
• The Pazzaz Hair Design salon on N. Olympic Avenue downtown is giving money from each haircut to victims. 360-435-2975.
• The Marysville YMCA is having a family bike ride with proceedings benefiting Oso on Saturday, April 9. Register here.
• On Saturday, March 29, a portion of beer and chili sales at Birdsview Brewing Co. in Concrete will be donated. The proceeds will be split between the Darrington Food Bank and the Darrington Community Center. Live music at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a BBQ at 5 p.m. Challenger Ridge Winery will be on site selling their wine and donating a portion of the proceeds. Canned food, blankets and clothing will be collected.

Information brought to you by: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140327/NEWS01/303289999

Ryan Lewis's Seattle Mansion!

As most of you may know Seattle's very own Macklemore, American Rapper, and his producer Ryan Lewis. Over the years the success has evidently caught up to them because Ryan Lewis just made a top notch purchase in Magnolia Seattle!

$3.3 Million!

Features

7,610 Sq. Ft.

1 acre

150 Ft. of Beach Front Access

Wine Cellar

4 Bedrooms

3.75 Bathrooms

Deck

5 Fireplaces

Buying After Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, or Short Sale

Are you a home buyer who has experienced an adverse credit event? You may have options to purchase a home after all! After reestablishing credit and waiting a determined period of time you may qualify for a mortgage. The waiting times will depend in the situation. The guidelines have recently changed allowing more buyers to purchase a home. 

Worst Things to Do Before Buying

The 5 Worst Things You Can Do Before Buying a Home

1. Go Credit Crazy- It is almost a cliché statement in the mortgage industry; but it is still worth repeating; do not go buy a truckload of furniture until after your loan closes. Avoid obtaining credit for any major expense like a car, boat, or yes even a new bedroom set. Be careful even with the minor expenses. Talk to your loan officer before making any purchases that could directly affect the closing of your transaction.
2. Shuffle Dollars and Cents- As a part of the Pre-approval process, lenders will scour your most recent bank statements. After that they do not just forget about you. They will take another look at bank records and assets in the underwriting process. You will have to explain any deposits or withdrawals.
3. Get Behind on Your Bills- Have a late payment hit your credit report before closing and it can devastate your deal. Payment history comprises about a third of your credit score. One late 30 day late payment can clip your credit score 60-110 points. That will make a major difference if your credit score is on the fence. Many lenders will require at least 12 consecutive months of on-time payments in order to qualify for a home loan. 
4. Co-Sign on a Loan- Co-signing a loan is arguably a bad financial move whenever you make it. But it is especially risky during the mortgage lending process. It means that you are financially liable for someone else’s debt. Lenders will still need to factor in the new monthly obligation into your overall affordability profile. 
5. Change Employment- Losing your job is going to be a big problem. Even job-hopping can present some major hurdles. Lenders are likely to slam on the brakes if you take in a new job in a different field or if you decide to start your own business. The bottom line is any change to your employment is significant. Keep your loan officer in the loop and ask questions when in doubt. 

The 7 Most Interesting Facts About The 2014 Winter Olympics

Here are the top 7 interesting facts you need to know entering the final week of the Olympics.

1. The United States is on pace for its worst winter Olympics since 1988.

US athletes are tied for the most medals with Netherlands, but this could be their worst medal count since 1988 where the USA ranked 9th. There's still plenty of time though to change their fortunes.

2. The Netherlands have as many medals in speed skating as every other nation has in all sports combined.

Dutch speed skaters have won 16 medals in the oval. That would be tied for first in the total medal count with United States and Russia.

3. The Dutch are doing this with a tiny delegation.

Every country has more than 6 medals in Sochi and has over 100 athletes at the Games. Russia, US, and Canada have 233, 230, 221 athletes and respectively The Netherlands have 41. That's quite the difference!

4. The Sochi Olympics will likely be the most global Winter Olympics ever.

There have been 26 different flags flown during medal ceremonies in Sochi, the same total during the entire 2006 and 2010 Winter Games, With 56 medal events down and 42 more to go it seems that Sochi will go down as the global games.

5. Germany leads in gold medals and could make a strange kind of history.

German athletes have won the most golds in Sochi but the country ranks 6th in the overall medal count. In the 90 year history of the Winter Olympics, no gold medal leader has ever finished worse than 3rd in the overall medal count.

6. Poland won as many gold medals on Saturday (2) as it had in every previous Winter Olympics combined. 

In addition to that fact, Poland has 4 golds from Sochi. From 1976 to 2006, Poland won 4 total medals at the Winter Games.

7. Russia needs a strong second week to make history.

Russia's 16 medals are tied for the second most with the United States and one behind the Netherlands' 17. No host nation has ever won the most medals at an Olympics since Norway in 1994. Canada was the last host nation to win the official medal count taking the crown with 14 golds.




Information brought to you by Usa Today

The Top Ten Cities of 2014

Whether it is the warm weather, job opportunities or the cheap cost of living; these are the top 10 cities Americans are moving to according to Penske Truck Rental's annual list for 2014

1. Atlanta, GA:  Even though it was hit hard by the rescission Atlanta has been in the #1 slot for the past 4 years. Home to Coca-Cola, Home Depot and a dozen other top 500 companies the job opportunities are endless. It is also cheap, about less than half the cost of Manhattan. 

Income: $66,300

Home Price: $166,000

Home Price Growth: 5.3%

2. Tampa, FL: Beaches, boating and baseball are among the top reasons people come to Tampa. It is home to several spring training camps for baseball and MacDill Air Force Base. 

Income: $56,800

Home Price: $129,000

Home Price Growth: 6.5%

3. Dallas, TX: Fast growing Dallas is the 9th biggest city in the country. It is home to many tech companies such as Texas Instruments and AT&T. It is being referred to as the "Silicon Prairie."

Income: $69,000

Home Price: $208,000

Home Price Growth: 4%

4. Orlando, FL: When the economy is strong and vacations are much needed, Orlando flourishes. Home to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World tourism jobs attract many newcomers. It is about 10% less cost wise than Miami which is more attractive to buyers. 

Income: $58,500

Home Price: $153,000

Home Price Growth: 2.9%

5. Phoenix, AZ: Phoenix was the hardest hit cities in the nation when the housing bubble burst. Not sun-seeking home buyers are scooping up homes at bargain basement prices. Among the top employers in the area are Wal-Mart, Intel, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. 

Income: $62,200

Home Price: $187,000

Home Price Growth: 4.3%

6. Houston, TX: The oil and gas industry has kept Houston's economy humming. ExxonMobil is opening a facility next year that is expected to employ about 10,000 workers which will bring in a lot of home buyers. 

Income: $66,200

Home Price: $190,000

Home Price Growth: 3.9%

7. Seattle, WA: It may have plenty of gray, rainy days but is also has some great coffee, music, and most importantly jobs. Home to Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, and Starbucks, Seattle has become an economic powerhouse attracting all types of workers. 

Income: $86,700

Home Price: $343,000

Home Price Growth: 5.2%

8. Chicago, IL: With parks, museums, and an active night life, the "Windy City: offers some of New York's vitality but at a much lower cost. People moving from Chicago to Manhattan will spend 25% less on groceries and 70% less on housing. 

Income: $73,400

Home Price: $210,000

Home Price Growth: 2.7%

9. Denver, CO: Outdoorsy Denver consistently ranks as one of the healthiest and most active places in the nation. With the Rocky Mountains, skiers, mountain bikers and hikers all flock to the "Mile High City." The economy is strong with unemployment falling to 5.8% which is well under the national rate. 

Income: $77,800

Home Price: $263,000

Home Price Growth:  2.7%

10. Las Vegas, NV: Gaming, tourism and conventions dominate Vegas's economy and for better or worse so does real-estate. Home to many hospitality workers, entertainers and retirees the city was the poster child of foreclosure crisis and is just now making a major comeback. 

Income: $63,100

Home Price: $175,000

Home Price Growth: 5.4%

Information brought to you by: CNN Money