Monthly Archives: January 2011

Tips for First Time Home Buyers

Posted on by
Reply

With low interest rates and current home prices, 2011 may be the year many first time home buyers decide to purchase homes. MSNBC recently published the article Top 10 Tips for Buying Your First Home. If you are a first time home buyer, definitely take these ten tips to heart.

The number one tip is to check your credit score. Please note that checking your credit report is a different process than checking your credit score. Both are important, however, if a home purchase is something you’d like to pursue.

Tips two and three involve setting a budget for your home purchase and making sure you can afford the house payments. Tip three suggests you pay yourself the difference between your current rent and what your potential house payment may be. What a terrific suggestion! It’s a great way to build a nest egg and experience how the increased housing costs will effect your ability to meet your monthly budget.

Tip four, Meet with a Lender, is a step that can be missed by first time home buyers. Take the time to get pre-qualified for a home loan. When you decide that you definitely want to purchase a home, meet again with your lender to become pre-approved for a mortgage. The pre-approval letter from your lender will strengthen the offer you present to a seller.

Tip five is Find a Reputable Realtor. Having a professional agent at your side, armed with knowledge specific to the area where you want to purchase a home, is imperative. Speak with agents at open houses; ask for agent referrals from friends, co-worker and family members. Spend the time to find the agent whose work style and communication style works best with yours.

Tips six and seven regard the home search itself. What’s more important to you– yard or no yard? Are you more interested in a condo or townhouse than a house? Do you need a garage? What neighborhoods fit your lifestyle best? Create your pros and cons list to guide your search. Compile a list of features that are must haves and what things you are willing to compromise on. The ability to compromise will make taking your dream of home ownership and making it a reality a smoother process.

You find the home you want to purchase. Tip eight, Make a Reasonable Offer, is important, especially if the home is “The House.” Your realtor will give you advice on what is reasonable and help you craft an offer that is best for the situation. Once your offer is accepted, don’t skimp on Tip 9. Get a home inspection done by a professional inspector.

Your offer has been accepted, the home inspected and you move forward with the purchase. Tip ten, Finalize the Details, is the home stretch. Go through the details with your realtor. A quote from tip ten: “A good realtor will have a checklist to make sure everything is accomplished in time for settlement.” Stay in close contact with both your realtor and lender during this time period.

If you have any questions about the home buying process, please make an appointment with an agent. It will be time well spent.

Informative Article about Mercer Island Real Estate

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s a link to an informative real estate article published recently by the Mercer Island Reporter. It covers Mercer Island specific stats, and the news is mostly positive. More Mercer Island home sales in 2010 (218) than in 2009 (189). The median home price is well above the Western Washington average, at $834,500. The Mercer Island community experienced over $85 Million worth of home sales during 2010.

The article also discusses the dilemma of getting buyers into unique homes. The beautiful home located at 6021 W Mercer Wy, which may look a bit unconventional from the street, is highlighted. Once potential buyers get out of their cars and approach the home, they are greeted by a peaceful Zen garden. The garden surrounds the home and is visible from almost every window. The kitchen/family room opens to the west-facing deck, which runs the length of the home, and offers filtered views of Lake Washington. “People just need to get inside,” listing broker Diane Rae Jones states in the article.

Sunday’s Recyle Event was a Success!

Posted on by
Reply

photo by Nancy LaVallee Wow! The Windermere R.E. / Mercer Island Recycling Event was incredibly successful. And it was such a success due to all people who participated: the folks from 1 Green Planet, the agents and staff of Windermere Mercer Island and YOU– the people who brought items to recycle. The flow of traffic from island residents was steady through out the event.  Neighbors and old friends hugged and chatted while their recyclables were off-loaded  from their vehicles by 1 Green Planet employees.

1 Green Planet is a newer non-profit, and their home base is Issaquah, WA. In the Mercer Island Patch article about the recycling event, Michael Szanyi, the CEO 1 Green Planet shared, “We offer free pick up of recyclable appliances and materials from business(es) and free drop off of those same items for the public. We try to give you no excuse not to recycle.”  The profits from the basic materials reclaimed from the recycled items, like metal and plastic, are used to support the costs they incur offering their recycling services.

In the same Mercer Island Patch article Reilly Schanno, marketing director for 1 Green Planet, stated that all  the recyclables they collect are recycled locally in Washington— nothing is sent overseas to be disposed of. In addition, their recycling efforts have grown so much that 1 Green Planet employed 7 new staff members last year.

Both of the trucks brought to the event by 1 Green Planet were filled up! It was rewarding to see so many things stay out of the landfill and know they are being recycled in a green manner. It was an honor to serve the community of Mercer Island and offer an event to help residents dispose of items, for free, they no longer need.

Because Sunday’s Recycling Event was so successful, Windermere Mercer Island and 1 Green Planet will team up for another recycling event during Summer 2011. Details will be shared here as summer nears.

Photo Courtesy of Nancy LaVallee

FREE Recycling Event: Sunday, Jan. 23rd, 9 am to 1 pm

Posted on by
3

Windermere R.E. / Mercer Island is hosting a free recycling event this Sunday, Jan. 23rd, from 9 am to 1 pm. The event will be held in the office parking lot, located at 2737 77th Ave S Mercer Island, WA 98040.

1 Green Planet will be on hand to take the items brought for recycling. Here is the list of items that will be accepted at this recycling event, free of charge:

• Appliances – washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.
• Electronics – televisions, stereos, etc.
• Scrap metal, machinery – circuit boards, etc.
• Computers (Secure data destruction) – PCs, laptops, printers,
monitors, etc.
• Batteries – car, computer, etc.
• Medical equipment
• Ink & toner
• Cell phones

Please stop by with your items that need to be recycled. We look forward to seeing you!

Windermere Foundation

Posted on by
1

The Windermere Foundation, created by Windermere Real Estate, provides assistance to low income and homeless families through out the West. This non-profit foundation was established in 1989, and originally served families in Washington state communities. Since it’s inception, Windermere Foundation has grown to help families in 10 states.

Every time a Windermere agent sells a home, a portion of the commission is applied toward the Windermere Foundation. These agent contributions, along with contributions by Windermere employees and public supporters, go a long way to help people in need. To date, over $21 million has been raised, which helped provide financial assistance for programs and organizations that provide shelter, clothing, children’s programs, emergency assistance and other services to low income and homeless families.

In 2010 $1,279,350.00 was raised for the Windermere Foundation ! This is a 7% increase, compared to 2009 contributions. Christine Wood recently shared the stories of a few families, referred by social workers from Children’s Hospital, who received help from Windermere Foundation during 2010. 

Are you a fan of glassbaby candle holders? The next time you purchase one please consider entering in the promotional code “Windermere” at check out.  10% of your purchase would then be donated to the Windermere Foundation.  

If you would like to learn more about the Windermere Foundation, please take a moment to view the Windermere Foundation Youtube Video. The Foundation also has its own Youtube Channel , which shares videos about specific projects being implemented through out the West.

Mercer Island Residents: Options for Recycling Christmas Trees

Posted on by
Reply

Did you use a cut tree in your holiday decor? There are a few options available to Mercer Island residents to recycle these cut live trees.

Until January 10th, the City of Mercer Island will accept cut live holiday trees at the city’s Maintenance Shop, located at 9601 SE 36th Street.  Residents can bring them by during daylight hours and the trees will be chipped to be used in city parks, trails and open spaces. In order to be chipped, the trees must not be flocked, plus stands and all ornaments must be removed. No artificial trees will be accepted at this collection site.

Cut holiday trees can also be placed in yard debris collection bins, if you receive that service from Allied Waste. The trees cannot be flocked, and all decoration (tinsel, ornaments and metal hangers) need to be removed. The trees also need to be cut into 4-foot lengths and tied into bundles less than 2 feet by 3 feet wide. The ties need to be biodegradable string or twine.