Yes it is true and official.... Obama signs extended Tax Credit Into Law. And it's not just for First Time Home Buyers anymore. What's it about? Here's a quick run-down: The First Time Home Buyers Tax Creditpretty much remains the same - $8000 credit ($4000 if married filing separately) with a new deadline of April 30, 2010 to have a written binding contract in place to purchase a home that will close no later than July 1, 2010. The Expanded part is that now a current homeownercan sell or who has sold a home that has been used as their principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years can receive a $6500 credit ($3250 if married filing separate) for purchasing a new principal residence so long as they are in a written binding contract to purchase by April 30,2010. They too... 11/06/2009

Congress has extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit. The modifications in the column labeled"December 1 - April 30, 2010" become effective when President Obama signs the bill. All changes madeto the current credit become effective on that date, as well.FEATURE Jan 1 - November 30, 2009Rules as enactedFebruary 2009December 1 - April 30,2010 Rules as enactedNovember 2009FirsttimeBuyer -Amount of Credit$8000($4000 marriedfiling separate)$8000($4000 marriedfiling separate)FirsttimeBuyer -Definition for EligibilityMay not have had an interestin a principal residence for 3years prior to purchaseSameCurrent Homeowner -Amount of CreditNo Provision $6500($3250 marriedfiling separate)Effective Date -Current OwnerNo ProvisionDate of EnactmentCurrent Homeowner -Definition for EligibilityNo ... 11/06/2009

We've all had those long and dreary days, filled with miserable rain outside and miserable and whining kids, inside. "What's there to do?" they ask every five minutes. "Why can't we go outside?" "Will this rain ever stop?"  Well, rainy days may ruin some cheerful plans of outside activities, but it doesn't have to be dull, boring, or frustrating inside. With a few careful preparations ahead of time, you can plan on the next rainy day being a day the kids will remember. In fact, they may be wishing for more days of rain. · Play "I Spy" or "20 Questions". It's quite easy. Each person takes a turn and picks out something in the room. Then, without letting the others know what it is, the person says, "I spy" or "I have something in mind." Then, the others take turns trying to guess what the... 11/05/2009

Looks like Congress will be extending that homebuyer tax credit afterall. First time homebuyers, known to the IRS as people who haven't owned a home in the last three years, have been frantcly trying to get into contract on a house in time to get an $8,000 federal tax credit due to expire on Nov. 30. But some of them have had such a hard time outbidding cash buyers that they despaired of making the deadline. Well, they're in luck. The Senate just passed a cloture motion to end debate on this bill, 85-2. that will extend the tax credit to April 30, 2010. The bill should find it's way through floor votes in both Senate and the House by the end of tomorrow, if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has his way. But the bill will not just be extended, it will also be expanded. Get this- Homebuye... 11/02/2009

The amount of pending sales on homes for sale in the local Belfair WA area has kept a fairly steady pace throughout the last couple of months.  There are still a lot of choices available and some great buys. Buyers might want to jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible as we have also started seeing certain price ranges lacking in inventory and multiple offers on the ones available.  Let's take a look at specifics. The Belfair real estate market seemed to be a lot more active in the last month.... Let's take a look and see what fall has brought to the Belfair, WA real Estate market.  Homes for Sale in Belfair, WA- (These are homes only for sale that are actively listed with real estate agents). Active Listings : 90  Average Median Price : $383,871 Average Market Time : 203 Price range ... 11/02/2009

Hood Canal & Puget Sound Waterfront Homes for Sale~Market Report for October 31, 2009 What a beautiful summer it was along the Hood Canal & Puget Sound! And even though we have turned the corner into fall and approaching winter, the crisp days are spectacular with the leaves in full color.  A drive along the South Shore of Hood Canal and the North Shore of Hood Canal will refresh your memory of the beauty and pristine waters and homes for sale along the waterway.  The waters and area of Puget Sound are also just as beautiful. The grapes have been harvested on Stretch Island, the salmon have been jumping. Life along the shores of Puget Sound is settling into the winter pattern which offers a calmer, slower pace as we move into the holidays and the festivities. Let's take a look at what h... 11/02/2009

 I thought with this fall weather you the public would get a kick out of this -A thick slice of moist pumpkin bread Starbucks-style is the perfect companion for your morning cup of joe. Many other pumpkin bread recipes produce sad, squatty loaves - but not this clone. Here's a custom formula that makes enough batter to fill up a medium loaf pan. And when the bread is done, you'll slice the beefy loaf into eight thick square hunks of goodness that perfectly mimic the weight, color and flavor of the real thing. 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup canned pumpkin 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 2. Combine flour, baking soda,... 11/02/2009

Here is my son playing with the North Mason football C team.  They beat Sequim and Port Angeles to fininsh a successful season.     11/01/2009

  The resolution would extend the present loan limits for FHA, Fannie and Freddie through the 2010 calendar year at 125 percent of local median home sales prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in high-cost areas. The floor for FHA is $271,050; the floor for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conforming loan limits is $417,000. The resolution now goes to President Obama, and he is expected to sign it Saturday to avoid a government shutdown Its not over yet, we still need buyers to step up! 10/31/2009

A Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser for the Humane Society of Mason County will be held at the Theler Community Center in Belfair, Wa. on Friday, November 6th, from 5 to 8:00 p.m.   The cost for the Dinner will be $10.00 per person and Children under 5 will eat free.   Included with the Spaghetti is a traditional green salad, hot garlic bread, delectable cake, sodas, coffee and water.   In addition, "Wine and Beer" will be offered but at an extra cost.   Also, for your Entertainment, Singer/Songwriter Kel Schmitz, will be playing some oldies, Country, Folk and of course Original Songs.   I hope that all you pet owners, aficionados and devotees will support this worthy fundraiser.       10/27/2009

Existing-home sales bounced back strongly in September    with first-time buyers driving much of the activity, marking five gains in the past six months home sales - including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops - jumped 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 5.57 million units in September from a level of 5.10 million in August, and are 9.2 percent higher than the 5.10 million-unit pace in September 2008. Sales activity is at the highest level in over two years, since it hit 5.73 million in July 2007,stats are showing great gain for the fourth quarter ! 10/23/2009

Tall evergreens dip their branches down to the cool Hood Canal waters. An Eagle spies his first meal of the day. The gentle waters rock the anchored boats to and fro. A cloud drifts by to take a look. The skies melt into the waters and the crickets chirp. A salmon sounds with a splash,as the cat finds my lap. Life is simple here.There is day and there is night. The Seasons find their voices and all is well. Welcome to Belfair. Minutes from everything ...yet a world away. 10/21/2009

It has been a year of ups and downs with the real estate market. The bail out money has really helped mason county sales, over all the market seems to be stabilizing. As we head to winter the people that have bought homes are sure to enjoy them ,as we welcome our new neighbors, the hole town benenfits.   10/20/2009

Picture this, Real Estate is SLOWWW. Where do we start? With the first time buyers of course, we give them the confidence and incentives to buy. This stabilizes the bottom, and even encourages a little growth in the lower end of the market. I know in the Belfair Washington Real Estate Market, if you have a newer home under $200,000 3 beds, 2 bath with a decent lot, your home is gold. If you as a seller, know that there is support for the buyers of your home, you are going to price it with a little slack. You know that all buyers have seen everything that is out there, and when your home hits, it will attract a lot of attention. Would you tell a buyer to wait until after the credit expires? Could they save more than this $8,000 that they would be getting in the form of a credit. All of t... 10/19/2009

Mason County Commissioners recent decison will give Housing in Belfair a  Boost with the go ahead for engineers to move forward with Phase 1 of the Belfair Wastewater Treatment Plant. The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony this coming Columbus Day, Monday October 12, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church in Belfair. The new Belfair "Sewer" treatment plant is being touted by Emmet Dobey, Mason County Utilities and Waste management Director as "an economic development generator". The long awaited Belfair "Sewer" project will supposedly satisfy the Growth Management regulations and should open the door for future housing development in the Belfair UGA. Work is scheduled to begin November 1. If you're asking how much this "Sewer" project is going to cost the consumer,... 10/09/2009

Tommorrow, Oct 7, 2009,  is the Active Rain Workshop in Seattle and I am looking forward to attending. Not sure what to expect. But then a panic thought came to mind that I had not written anything for a few weeks and I went brain dead. You would think  with all the activity in business, community activities, honey do chores, weddings, parties, book clubs, yachting etc that I would have volumes of topics. NOPE. NADA. SPACE OUT!  So what do I write about today. YEP. Real Estate Market Statistics. HEY...I am a Real Estate Broker. We live by the numbers. I might add that there are some loyal readers of my statistical postings and they are anxiously awaiting for this valuable information. So I present to you in this post the Mason County Bi-weekly Real Estate Market Report. Thank you for re... 10/06/2009

Okay so I called it Silent Sunday and the Sunday theme was supposed to be speechless maybe not silent?? There was no way this Sunday was silent that's for sure!  SPeechless? YOU BET!!!     We rode into Anacortes about 8:30AM to get our usual parking spot in front of the Post Office. this year there were more Motorcycles already in town than the 3 previous years that we've been...   It was a picture perfect day too.... We wandered down to have breakfast at the cafe only to find a waiting line. Again an unusual thing! This was starting to look like there was going to be a busy day with a lot of motorocylces!   event...         Back to the bikes to watch them all roll in...... and boy did they roll in....      It was hard to get pictures - there were so many bikes coming into town... I was... 09/27/2009

How important is the name of your website? The way that this whole thing works can be super confusing. Do the key words in your WEBSITE name have anything to do with how Google ranks you? My market is Mason County Real Estate. Specifically Belfair Washington Real Estate. I want people interested in this to find me. I am getting ready to get my outside blog and I want to select an appropriate name for my website. However, my competition over the search engines, have names that have NOTHING to do with Belfair Washington Real Estate. I have always understood Geographical locations are super important in your name. Then why are these other folks kicking my butt on page rankings?   Websites is something that a some of you guys know about. There are even more of us that are clueless and would... 09/24/2009

Does your niche market reflect in your niche office? Virtual or not? To be or not to be..... There is a lot of discussion going on regarding whether to be a virtual office or having a standing physical office location. Everyone has a different opinion and strategy and of course I do have my own opinion! But my humble opinion is based on what has and is working for me.  Your office, whether it be virtual or physical, needs to fit your niche market and what works for you, your clients and prospective clients. I am all for keeping up with the times and do implement where and when what works for me. What works for me, may not work for you. I think you first need to know who you are trying to target. DO you have a niche? Or are you looking for that niche? Are you looking for "out of thin ai... 09/20/2009

Our journey to The Road to the Sun~Day two -Doesn't bring very much Progress -but it IS progress. Our first night of camping wasn't as bad as I expected. Except for the downhill slope we were sleeping on (nylon sleeping bags and a downhill slope do not mix), MY worry of the rattle snakes, the wind, and the bird that decided at 4AM it was time to really make some racket, I made it through the night!  Here's the link to the first leg of our trip if you want to catch up to how and why we ended up camping.... The neighbor campers were pretty impressed with the bundle of firewood my husband brought back on his bike (wish I'd taken a picture). There was actually a REAL bathroom too with running water (this was one of my pre-requisites with my husband-no bathroom - no campee for me). Thought t... 09/07/2009