On Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 9:45 a.m. the State of Washington is holding an Earthquake Drill. The purpose of this drill is to increase awareness of the potential for Earthquakes in the Northwest. During the drill people should practice Drop, Cover and Hold. What does that mean? If an earthquake starts you should Drop to the floor under a protective object, Cover your head to protect yourself from falling objects and Hold on until the shaking is over. (When I lived in California, I counted to 100. If I made it, everything was cool.) If and after you have survived the shaker, according to State Criteria, is to survey the damage and evacuate if necessary. Some people believe getting in a door frame will provide sufficient protection but I have heard that the shaking may cause the door ... 04/20/2010

Hood Canal & Puget Sound Waterfront Homes for Sale~Market Report for January 2010 through March 25, 2010 It is definitely nice to say goodby to winter and hello to spring and summer all around! It was an interesting winter along the  Hood Canal & Puget Sound! Things are starting to come to life along the waterfront as spring blossoms.  Buyers are starting to peak their heads out and into some of the homes for sale along the North Shore, South Shore of Hood Canal as well as Case Inlet/Puget Sound, summer is surely around the corner! A drive along the South Shore of Hood Canal, the North Shore of Hood Canal and Case Inlet/Puget Sound will refresh your memory of the beauty and pristine waters and homes for sale along the water along with the ever-changing scenery that goes along with the c... 03/27/2010

According to U.S.News and World Reports the next hot market will be right here in Washington State. Actually in Mason County's back yard. The Bremerton, Silverdale area of Kitsap County is expected to pick up and Realtors are already seeing positive signs. Moody's Economy.com expects home prices in the Bremerton/Silverdale area to increase by an average of 5.2 percent annually from the fourth quarter of 2008 through the same period of 2018. This is great news for Home Owners and Sellers but even better news for Buyers. Not only is there tax incentives for first time buyers as well as repeat buyers, but they have a chance to get in before the market heats up again. Inventory is still offering many choices and Sellers are still ready to make a deal. 03/24/2010

Real Estate Sales and Market report for Mason County, Washington for the period of January 16 through January 31, 2010 reports 41 Total Closed Sales in the amount of $6,213,474. (Note: The month of January 2010 is a much better start from January 2009. It appears that Mason County real estate is showing signs of improvement.)   Area A, (Shelton, Arcadia, Kamilche) recorded sales counts of 15 closed sales totaling $2,124,250. Area B, (Hartstene/Agate area) placed 11 sales on the board in the amount of  $1,665,650. Area C, (Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview) reported 11 sales totaling $1,879,400 Area D, (Hoodsport/Union) posted 4 sales for the period in the amount of $544,174.   Single Family Resale Homes, on less than 5 acres, accounted for 23 of the total sales. Two New Single Family homes wer... 02/11/2010

  Real Estate Sales and Market report for Mason County, Washington for the period of January 1 through January 15, 2010 reports 41 Total Closed Sales in the amount of $5,659,771.   Area A, (Shelton, Arcadia, Kamilche) recorded sales counts of 12 closed sales totaling $1,670,500. Area B, (Hartstene/Agate area) placed 9 sales on the board in the amount of  $1,348,350. Area C, (Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview) reported 12 sales totaling $1,914,021. Area D, (Hoodsport/Union) posted 8 sales for the period in the amount of $726,900   Single Family Resale Homes, on less than 5 acres, accounted for 14 of the total sales. Four New Single Family homes were sold. There were no Multi-family units sold and 3 Single Family Resale Home, on more than 5 acres, sold.   Commercial properties sold - 1, Condomini... 01/28/2010

  If your in a Rural Market are you numbers similiar to the following? (We are a Rural Real Estate Market located in Washington State. There is only 1 incorporated city in the County. The rest of the County is dotted with small Villages bordering the Puget Sound and Hood Canal. County Pop: approx. 50,000) Here is a look at the Mason County, Washington Real Estate Quarterly sales data for the year ending 2009:   At the end of the 1st Quarter of 2009 there were 145 total real estate sales in the amount of $21,032,084. The average price for a single family resale for all areas of the county was $170,401 with a Median price of $145,650.   The 2nd Quarter showed improvement with total sales coming in at 277 in the amount of $41,053,084. The average price was $179,563, Median - $159,000.   Th... 01/27/2010

Hood Canal & Puget Sound Waterfront Homes for Sale~How was the year in review? 2009 was a very tough year all around - the economy overall and the housing market in general, so what went on with Hood Canal & Puget Sound Waterfront Home Sales?  Surprisingly enough there were 23 homes sold along the shores of Hood Canal and Puget Sound in 2009.  I decided to take a look at 2009 and compare it to 2008, 2007 and 2006 to see how much of a difference there was in price, homes sold, and the time on the market.  Waterfront homes as a general rule, tend to be more for recreational, part-time summer use, but there has been an increase in the number of waterfront homes that are lived in full time along the Shores of Hood Canal and Puget Sound.  When reviewing Puget Sound Waterfront homes for sale,... 01/18/2010

The facts~90 Day FHA "Flip" Housing Waiver Rules Straight from HUD~ Seems this is the topic of the week and a very exciting one at that!  I have read and seen a lot of blogs regarding the 90 Day FHA "Flip" housing Waiver, but I became confused with some of the information as well as I had more questions.... so I decided to go right to the horses mouth and find out the facts. Below is a link to the actual HUD document that explains all of the rules involved with the waiver of the 90 day FHA "Flip" rule.  We are all looking for and working towards a more solid real estate market as well as economy and possibly this will help alleviate some of the heavy inventory of homes for sale in the local real estate markets.  Of course as with anything - only time will tell!  Without further ado........ 01/17/2010

As 2009 winds down, we are all looking forward to a Successful, Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year!  With that said, which kind of driver are you when it comes to driving your business? Are you focusing on the rear-view mirror more than you are focusing on looking forward through the windshield? "Focus on looking forward through the windshield to achieve your goals; use the rear-view mirror to reflect upon what is behind you" is something one of my friends is always telling me. He is always reminding me that we need to "see" where we are going all the while using the rear-view mirror for an occasional look at where we have been and what could be creeping up on us; Knowing that we can't change that part, but use the past as knowledge and experience. Our true attention needs to remain... 12/30/2009

"Smile, you're on surveillance camera" is the brand new sign at the end of a brand new gravel driveway for an area elderly couple who has been plagued by burglary recently.   Some 75 Community volunteers turned out at the elderly couple's home this past weekend to help clean up and install security protection throughout the property.   Mason County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Trout and his partner Trevor Clark spearheaded the activity along with volunteers from Fire District 2, the North Mason Chamber of Commerce, the Washington State Patrol, and Local Boy Scouts, area Church groups, service club and others.   This is a wonderful example of a Community's determination to the right thing by lending a hand and helping those in need. Deputy Trout said "We're showing the bad guys that we're not g... 12/10/2009

Unless your water pipes freeze at night while your family is asleep (and this is often the case), you may recognize that your pipes are beginning to freeze by a reduction in water pressure. At this point, action should be taken immediately. If the pipes are allowed to freeze completely, blocking the flow of water, the pipes are likely to burst. Water expands as it turns into ice, and there is only so much room in the pipe. When the water expands beyond what the pipe can handle, the pipe may burst. If you can catch the situation before the pipes freeze completely, you are in luck. Turn the water on and leave it on. The flowing water will help thaw the frozen obstruction in the pipe. If you were not so lucky, more extreme measures must be taken. Before thawing frozen pipes, check to see i... 12/08/2009

Real Estate Sales and Market report for Mason County, Washington for the period of Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, 2009 reports 38 Total Closed Sales in the amount of $9,067,791.   Area A, (Shelton, Arcadia, Kamilche) recorded sales counts of 12 closed sales totaling $2,617,268. Area B, (Hartstene/Agate area) placed 7 sales on the board in the amount of  $3,794,500. Area C, (Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview) reported 15 sales totaling $2,054,132. Area D, (Hoodsport/Union) showed only 4 sales for the period in the amount of $601,900.   Single Family Resale Homes, on less than 5 acres, accounted for 17 of the total sales. No New Single Family homes were sold. There were 2 Multi-family units sold and once again there were no Single Family Resale Homes, on more than 5 acres, SOLD.   Commercial properties... 11/30/2009

Short, simple and sweet, courtesy of the Washington Association of Realtors, the following  short video is an explanation in a nutshell. I just learned something new as well - did you know that you might be able to qualify for the expansion credit part (up to $6500.00 tax credit) if you lease your current primary residence and purchase a new one?? Yep - Listen.......    I would be more than happy to answer questions you might have about our local Belfair, Allyn, Hood Canal and Puget Sound Real Estate Market, as well as area information. Remember, all real estate is local so it is important to talk with an agent who KNOWS your market area! If you would like more information about selling or buying a home in Belfair, Allyn, Hood Canal, Grapeview or the surrounding area, give me call, drop... 11/27/2009

Tips for SellersThe key to selling your home quickly and at the right price is in preparing it appropriately. Here are some tips to help you get started. Give home a though cleaning. Oil door hinges, tighten door knobs. Have carpets professionally cleaned, or replaced if damaged. Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Replace all burned out light bulbs. Repair defective light switch. Get rid of clutter both inside and out. Cut and edge grass. Trim hedges and weed gardens. Paint, fix or wash railings, steps, storm windows, screens and doors. Clean out the gutters. Wash the windows. Tidy up the garage. Paint, wash and fix garage doors and windows. Here are some helpful tips for showing your home. Keep pets out of the house. Either take them with you or keep them pennedin the yard or g... 11/25/2009

Great Place to be, the south some of the best fishing and the people are great too!http://www.daryldatus.comhttp  11/22/2009

Do think it is important for Real Estate Agents and Offices to know where their real estate buyers are coming from? Answer is obviously "Yes" and for numerous reasons. However, that's subject for another time. Many home sellers, in our market, believe that most of the real estate buyers come to our region from Metropolitan areas like Seattle, Tacoma or from States like California. But they might be surprised by the actual data. In 2009 there have been 864 sales in the Mason County, Washington Real Estate Market. Washington State buyers represented 814 of those sales while 50 of the sales came from out of State buyers. Where, within the State of Washington, did Mason County buyers come from? Here is the breakdown by zip-code:  536 buyers were "Local"... From Mason County zip code...985xx... 11/17/2009

The Real Estate sales report for Mason County, Wa.for the period of Oct 16 through Oct 31, 2009 reports 51 Total Closed Sales in the amount of $7,256,241.   Area A, (Shelton, Arcadia, Kamilche) and Area D, (Hoodsport/Union) both had a sales count of 16 closed sales. Area A totaled $2,173,491 in sales and Area D came in at   $2,331,500 in total real estate sales. Meanwhile Area B,(Hartstene/Agate area) the sales were continue to improve with a reported 13 closed sales in the amount of $1,463,750. Area C, (Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview), dropped a bit with 12 sales totaling $1,287,500.   Single Family Resale Homes, on less than 5 acres, accounted for 22 of the total home sales. New Single Family homes were up a bit producing 4 sales and there were 2 Mulit-family units sold. There were no Sin... 11/16/2009

RED SHIRT FRIDAY..... This came to me in an email.  I do not know who the originator is so I can't give credit where credit is due other thanking the person who sent it to me... Brian McLellan thank you for serving and forwarding this on to me. Whoever the originator is and this "man" thank you for the story and sharing it.... Also - it came in a very nice format, but I have no idea how to change the font and stuff so here it is in its raw format...    If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below a man's story and how it went for him. RED SHIRT "Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Clas... 11/12/2009

Congress to extend the tax creditNearly 5000 REALTORS® in Washington (morethan 27% of our members) helped convinceCongress that the home buyer tax credit iscritical to the nation's economic recovery.Washington REALTORS® was recognized by theNational Association of REALTORS® because ithad the fifth largest state associationresponse rate to the Call for Action in thecountry.This victory helps the economy, helps putmore Washington residents into homes andhelps generate transactions for our members.This is a major benefit of being  a memberof the REALTOR organization.Great job and more work to come. 11/08/2009

As winter is upon us, it seems we are waiting for the appraisar,or Obama to sign something,or the check in the mail, or fill out our taxes, or vacation, I guess what I am saying is lets not forget to take care of ourselves, whether its a snow day, down time or just not answering our email and phones for a while, We need our breaks more than ever! 11/06/2009