Winter months bring frosty temperatures, gusty winds and slippery sleet and snow, sending people indoors to seek warmth and shelter.  The chill in the air may also send a few uninvited pest guests into your home, too. Most homeowners don't think about winter pests until they see signs of an infestation, at which point treatment becomes more difficult. The best way to keep pests out of your home in the cooler months is to take preventative action before you have a problem.   Pests such as rodents and cockroaches seek food, water and shelter in the winter - all of which can be found in the comfort of your home.  In fact, smoky brown cockroaches can sense a temperature decrease of only five degrees, and chilly temperatures are a signal to them that it is time to move indoors.  Unfortunatel... 01/24/2011

Living from one paycheck to the next may be the norm for many people. But homebuyers need a better strategy. If buying a home is your goal, then it needs to be your priority!! Most people need to sacrifice a little and stick to a budget in order to save for a home. A good budget plan begins one or two years before a buyer makes an offer. Here are four tips for renters who plan to become homeowners. 1. Build strong credit When it comes to securing a loan at the best mortgage rate, credit is king. The most important focus for all potential buyers should be improving their credit score! A low score can prevent someone from buying a home or at least from qualifying for an affordable mortgage rate.    If you are a potential buyer, request your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. So... 01/23/2011

Home ownership is perhaps the surest way to accumulate net worth that there is, and it is often the largest and most important part of the total portfolio of many middle-income Americans. The beauty of home ownership in this regard is that it tends to be a slow, almost inexorable wealth builder. In many ways, it operates more like a savings account than an investment. Each mortgage payment is like making a savings deposit, slowly building equity. Call today for your next home! www.daryldatus.com 360-801-6373 01/23/2011

Renewable Demand Response Making your homes renewable electricity consumption smarter. My dad (Fred Barrett-Allyn Tech Group) and partner (James Holbery-GridMobility) have combined software with engineering to create a lunch box sized unit to lower homeowners carbon foot print. Every month major power companies lose millions of dollars on over-generated power that is never used, so knowing this an Renewable Demand Response unit was created. The device is plugged into a hot water heater and will detect when you are not at home and there is an overage of power. The software will say hey the homeowner isn't here but the excess solar or coal power is high right now so let's charge up the hot water heater for later.  Article from TIMES Magazine   01/19/2011

Lakeland Village Golf Course  Nestled along the fairways of the 27-hole LakeLand Village Golf Course, is the relaxing atmosphere of "carefree golf course living" at GlenAllyn Condominum. LakeLand is proud to announce the construction of GlenAllyn Phase V. Our classy single-level GlenAllyn condominium floor plans have been designed to create a warm combination of both comfort and style, right down to the last detail. We place a special emphasis on providing finished interiors and exteriors, complete with well-planned landscaping. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the affordability, quality craftsmanship and country characteristics that make LakeLand Village and GlenAllyn Condominium units so special. you can read more about homes and the area arounf this beautiful community Lakeland Vill... 01/13/2011

As  we reflect on the 1st quarter, its nice to have a snow day here in the northwest! Many times I find myself doing and acting for others in their lives. Today I just wanted to reflect and enjoy my family and share that its very important to remember why we work so hard!! Have agreat week and 1st quarter! www.daryldatus.com   01/12/2011

LakeLand Village, Allyn, WA Homes for Sale and Sold~2010 Year in Review~ Quite an interesting year 2010 was....... wouldn't you agree?  I think it is safe to say, we are all quite happy to move forward into 2011 with the hopes that the economy will show some better signs of life as well as the real estate market amongst other things, will start to stabilize and pick up a bit more..... It is most definitely time for a full review of the latest and greatest happenings with homes for sale and sold, in LakeLand Village, Allyn, WA  for the year 2010.  Let's take a quick look at the year in review: There are currently 16 homes for sale in LakeLand Village.  That brings the inventory down to a pretty low amount even for this time of year.  Typically in the winter, LakeLand Village will averag... 01/10/2011

Earlier this year, a bill named H.R. 5297: Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 amended tax reporting rules for landlords.  Section 2101 establishes that, “a person receiving rental income from real estate shall be considered to be engaged in a trade or business of renting property”.  Previously unincorporated landlords were not considered a “business” and therefore complicated tax reporting rules that generally only applied to corporations did not apply; however now they do!While this bill expands government (the IRS specifically) and increases administrative costs to taxpayers to the tune of 3.3 billion dollars per year, its stated intent was to help small businesses.  Unfortunately landlords have got caught in a political crossfire and now have a significant new tax reporting burden.Here’... 12/29/2010

 No one likes to talk about it, but burglary is a scary thing. Thieves usually look for potential targets that are the easiest to break into. You can make your home much less attractive to them by taking a few simple steps to beef up home security. Most of these security measures are easy tasks and only require a few simple tools. A little free time is a small investment for your peace of mind. 1. Installing a quality lockset not only adds to your home's beauty, it also sends a message to would-be intruders.2. Deadbolts are an inexpensive and effective way of adding security to exterior doors, and make a great supplement to standard locksets.3. Adding a peephole allows you to see who's knocking before you open the door.4. To make your sliding patio doors more secure, cut a piece of clos... 12/27/2010

Do a little landscaping.Potential buyers will get their first impression of your home from its exterior. Sostand outside and take a few moments to look at your home objectively. Could thegrass use some cutting? Do the flowerbeds need a bit of TLC? Trimmedlandscaping indicates a home that is well cared for throughout.l Replace mulch.l Pressure wash the house.l Edge sidewalks.l Remove vegetation between concrete and bricks.l Trim tree limbs that are near the roof.l Cut the grass.l Prune hedges.l Freshen flowerbeds.l Clear away dead trees and debris.Tools: ExtensionLadders, Pressure WasherMake your home more welcoming.Before homebuyers even come into your home, they'll be greeted by the frontdoor. So think of it as another chance to make a good impression.l Install a new door.l Paint your ... 12/27/2010

  Lighting is essential to the look and function of any room. And today there are more options in lighting your home than ever before. To help you choose the best type of lighting for your needs, I've provided this simple list of lighting tips.Choose from:1. Accent, Table and Floor Lamps2. Lamp Shades3. Ceiling Fixtures--Pendants, Swags and Chandeliers4. Wall-Mounted Lights5. Bathroom Lighting6. Decorative Accent Lighting7. Outdoor Lights8. Recessed Lighting9. Landscape Lights10. Outdoor Utility LightsLighting Tips1. Accent, Table and Floor Lamps1. Accent lamps can be used in bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, entrances and any spot that may need extra lighting. Because they are generally under 20", they provide just the right amount of accent lighting.2. Table lamps are usually anywhere fr... 12/27/2010

If you've been active in the market for long, you know that the real estate pauses for no man, woman or life event. Nor does it pause for any season; while the market usually does a major slowdown around the winter holidays, the very most motivated buyers and sellers are still doing deals.  If your home is currently listed for sale, here are some tips for showing - and selling - your home during the season of peace, love and joyous overeating/overspending!1.  Don't, if you don't have to. During the holidays, the pool of qualified and active buyers shrinks - dramatically.  The cold, wet weather in some areas makes buyers hesitant to come out and view properties, and holiday travels cause others to put their house hunts on hold. Buyers also know that many sellers take their homes off the ... 12/02/2010

THE BIG ECONOMIC PICTURE (ALMOST)... We get lots of economic news this week, the sole exception being any reports on our beloved housing market. There's Retail Sales on Tuesday, expected to still be up, though at a slower pace. Wednesday has manufacturing, which continues its slow but steady recovery, as measured by the Empire State Index, Industrial Production, and Capacity Utilization. We get wholesale inflation with the Producer Price Index and inflation for the rest of us with the Consumer Price Index, both of which should show prices under control and deflation not a threat. We end with University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment, expected to reveal a lessening of fear over a double-dip recession. 09/27/2010

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE  Fannie Mae released a survey showing 70% of those polled in June and July feel now is a good time to buy a home. This is up from a 64% reading in January. At the same time, 83% of those surveyed think it's a bad time to sell, which isn't such a terrible thing, since there's still plenty of inventory for buyers to choose from. Another group of industry observers concluded that sales of existing homes hit bottom in July and will rebound in the fall. They based this on recent reports for purchase mortgage applications and pending home sales, which track signed purchase contracts for existing homes. The fact remains, homes are now more affordable for more people than they've been in years. And today's historically low mortgage rates make monthly payments muc... 09/20/2010

LakeLand Village Homes for Sale & Sold Market Report ~Allyn, WA~ August~ LakeLand Village~Homes for Sale~Homes Sold~Market Report~LakeLand Village for the month of August 2010~ Fall is in the air, the weather can't decide whether it wants to rain or not, be hot or cold and the days are slowly getting a little shorter......  The kids are getting ready to head back to school August 1st as well!  So what is the LakeLand Village Real Estate Market doing during this season transition? LakeLand Village had seen a steady rate of 2 homes sold per month on the average over the past year, but we seemed to have dropped to only one per month for the month of August as well as a few other months this year only showed one closing in LakeLand Village.   One home for sale accepted an offer and was plac... 08/30/2010

LakeLand Village Homes for Sale & Sold Market Report ~Allyn, WA~ June LakeLand Village~Homes for Sale~Homes Sold~Market Report~LakeLand Village for the month of June 2010~ Spring is in the air, the weather can't decide whether it wants to rain or not, the days are longer and brighter with the time change; we made it through the wet, rainy Memorial Day weekend - so it's GOT to get better - right?? We'res till waiting for the summer heat and it looks like we still are waiting for buyers to get out into the housing market and take advantage of the awesome values and homes for sale!   LakeLand Village has seen a steady rate of 2 homes sold per month on the average over the past year, but we seemed to have dropped to only one per month the last two months.... One home for sale accepted an of... 07/05/2010

LakeLand Village~Homes for Sale~Homes Sold~Market Report~LakeLand Village for the month of May Spring is in the air, the weather can't decide whether it wants to rain or not, the days are longer and brighter with the time change; we made it through the wet, rainy Memorial Day weekend - so it's GOT to get better - right?? So what's the real estate market doing this spring season for homes for sale in LakeLand Village ? Just as the weather seems to be fairly uunpredictable in the spring season, the real estate market seems to be following the same pattern in some areas.  Although LakeLand Village has seen a steady rate of 2 homes sold per month on the average over the past year. We had great hopes of having many buyers out and about to be able to take advantage of the  First Time home buy... 06/04/2010

Hot Dogs, Bratwurst, Hamburgers. Is there anything I forgot? Those who Sacrificed.   REMEMBER   Red, White and Blue In Memory of all who Have Sacrificed.   REMEMBER Hot Dogs, Bratwurst, Hamburgers, Beer, Soda and Chips. Honey, What're are the flowers for? "To say thanks to our fallen Veterans."   REMEMBER   The price of Hot Dogs...$2.25 The price of Gasoline...$3.09 The price for Beer...$6.69 The price for freedom...those who have fallen-Priceless.   REMEMBER You, who have fallen in Battle Gave all Your Tomorrows So we could have ours. REMEMBER   Kids, I'd like to introduce you To a Real "American Idol" A Fallen Veteran.   REMEMBER ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY   I will be observing Memorial Day at the Allyn Waterfront Park, Monday May 31, 2010 at 12:00. Where I will Remember and honor those who... 05/28/2010

Have you heard that planning for the future is a good thing, these tips will help guide you to secure future! 1. Compare property values and rents Financial statistics only go so far; the best measure of a property's market value is often the sale prices of nearby properties. The same holds true for area rents. A low price can often be justified by a reasonable rent; renters who can afford a high rent can afford to buy instead, so reasonably priced rent is a must. 2. Pay attention to tax laws Don't base your tax investment on current tax laws. The tax code is constantly changing, and a good investment is a good investment regardless of the tax code. The right property with the right financing is what you should look for as an investor. 3. Specialize in something you know Start in a mark... 05/26/2010

I find myself overwhelmed by the number and complexity of projects that I have and that need to be completed at work each day? I often feel the day flies by without your devoting the necessary attention to each assignment because other tasks keep landing on my desk.  Have you ever felt that way? You probably know that effective time management will help you get more done each day. It has important health benefits, too. By managing your time more wisely, you can minimize stress and improve your quality of life. But how do you get back on track when organizational skills don't come naturally? To get started, follow these tips from the Mayo Clinic: · Plan each day. Planning your day can help you accomplish more and feel more in control of your life. Write a to-do list, putting the most imp... 05/24/2010