Ruth Jones Online

Real Estate Market Report For week ending 2/13/2011         There were 18 newly listed single family homes in Lewis County last week.They ranged in price from $59,999 to $499,000.  Two were REO (foreclosure) Properties. Two were located in the Chehalis School District, four in the Centralia Schoo...

Spreadsheets are my thing.  I keep local stats from Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine and surrounding areas on a spreadsheet I titled "Ratios"  and update them monthly.  My primary goal is to keep myself updated and informed on our local market.  I use this spreadsheet to calculate and log the number...

Lewis County, WA Real Estate Market Update For week ending 2/6/2011       There were 26 newly listed single family homes in Lewis County last week.They ranged in price from $14,500 to $1,250,000.  Two were REO Properties and there where no short sales. Six were located in the Chehalis School Dist...

Whats an REO?  - Real Estate Owned. Property which is in the possession of a lender as a result of foreclosure or forfeiture. Whats a short sale? - A sale of real estate in which the sale proceeds fall short of the balance owed on the property's loan.       As we enter 2011 I am continuing to col...

I'm very excited to be a part of the Thurston County March for Babies this year.  I will be walking on the "Bennett Team" in honor of my grandson Bennett Olsen.  Bennett's journey to become the amazing little guy he is today, was.... to say the least, fairly eventful.  Starting life 8 weeks earl...

2010 Rates on 30-Year Fixed Mortgages.  Check out the 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages Since 1971 at http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/pmms30.htm Lowest year 2010,  with an annual average rate of 4.69% Highest year was 1981 with an annual average of 16.63% Don't miss out on the current historical low ra...

We often see sellers pull their home of the market during the holiday months.  Here are some important reasons why especially this year, keeping your home on the market may be the better choice.  Most important this winter...Interest rates are currently at records lows.  Buyers are realizing that...

Election day!  I am excited there is an Iphone app to follow the Washington State election results, and best part.....its free!  Can't wait to watch the results start coming in! I Hope everyone voted, if not, there is still time to make your vote count.   

Throughout 2010 I have kept a close eye on local area foreclosures numbers.  Specifically tracking the percent of foreclosure homes in our MLS inventories and the effects those numbers have on our local market for buyer and sellers.  Foreclosure can be very attractive for buyers hunting for a gr...

A look back... this time last year October 2009 closed sales          October 2010 Closed Sales      I welcome 2011 and look forward to a continued recovery of our local real estate market.  Bring it on! Data from NWMLS Photo credit to http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photo...