Category Archives: Real Estate

The Power of Color in Your Home

Real Estate
Color has the power to alter a room and also affect our mood. For example, blue is shown to slow your pulse rate and lower body temperature, which makes it a popular color for bedrooms. Green is also a good choice for a bedroom as it has a soothing effect. Yellow creates feelings of happiness and optimism while orange adds energy and warmth.
When selling your home, it is best to stick to neutral shades. Tans, grays and whites are always good starting points, although adding a grayish blue or greenish tan are also good neutrals to work with. Adding bright pops of color in accessories, like pillows, is an easy way to add personality without overwhelming a room.

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Your Move…

Real Estate
Buyers today are experiencing a wide range of emotions. They are excited about purchasing a new home, afraid of paying too much and confused by all the reports about the real estate market, some positive and some negative.
Affordability is high, interest rates are low and sales activity is starting to heat up, so now is the time to start looking. Don’t be afraid to make your move. I am here to guide you throughout the entire process and help you find the home that fits you best.

Contact me to help you start the process.

Historic Graham’s Restaurant For Sale

Real Estate
Unique opportunity to own the iconic Graham’s restaurant in Glacier, a fixture in the county! Enjoy business from locals as well as skiers, snowboarders, hikers and others. Great opportunity to continue a long standing tradition in Glacier in historic building built in the early 1900’s. Offers indoor and outdoor dining, beer garden and hop garden. In addition to the restaurant business, Graham’s is also a very well known music venue for bands, famous and local. Recipes are included, so all you have to do is walk in and be the next caretaker of this excellent business!
Click here for details and additional photos.

Open House April 16

Real Estate
Stop by my open house at 8807 Benson Road in Lynden on Saturday, April 16 from 11am to 1pm!
Solid 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home with spacious living room featuring gas fireplace, built in shelves and mantel, kitchen with appliances included, spacious family room, extra large covered patio, detached garage and territorial views. Opportunity to live right on the edge of town with easy access to conveniences, town walk and biking, yet with open feel. $199,900
Click here for details of home and additional photos.

Some Good News!

Real Estate
The latest report from NWMLS notes the housing market is doing “surprisingly well” without a stimulus. NWMLS director OB Jacobi says, “Considering that this time last year there was a rush of buyers trying to beat the tax credit deadline, to have the number of sales off just slightly points towards a strengthening market.”
A comparison to two years ago reveals a double digit jump in pending sales and area-wide, the volume is up nearly 33 percent from 5701 pending sales in March of 2009 to 7570 pending sales for March 2011. “The glass is starting to look more half full than half empty,” Jacobi comments.

Contact me to discuss the real estate market or to talk about buying or selling.

International Buyers

Real Estate
In 2010, approximately 300,000 Realtors worked with an international buyer or seller, up from 250,000 in 2009. Overall the United States is experiencing increasing interest from buyers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Canada and other countries. According to the 2011 National Association of Realtors President Ron Phipps, “Foreign buyers understand the value of owning a home in this country and can rely on Realtors to help guide them through the process.” Courtesy of Realtor.org

On a more local note, our unique location close to the Canadian border and the value of the Canadian dollar is creating a lot of interest in our listings from prospective Canadian buyers.

Loan Options in Other Countries

Real Estate
In the United States a 30 year fixed rate mortgage is very common, but it is not in the rest of the world.

Canada, Germany and the Netherlands: In these countries, rollover mortgages are popular. A rollover loan essentially requires the borrower to renew the mortgage at market interest rates at regular intervals, such as every five or 10 years. You can also refinance using another lender, but prepayment penalties are the rule, at least during the fixed-rate period. Throughout Europe, adjustable-rate loans are popular because their interest rates are considerably lower than fixed-rate loans. Also, hybrid mortgages play a larger role.

Many Dutch mortgages also are interest-only, which means you only pay interest for the life of the loan, which leaves the balance unchanged and ownership in the lender’s hands. If never actually gaining an ownership share of your home sounds crazy, consider that these products are popular because tax benefits encourage them.

Spain: Spanish mortgages often are part fixed-rate and part variable-rate. You can take out two notes secured by one property. Unlike our first and second mortgages, these are two pieces of a first mortgage. One is at an adjustable rate and one a fixed rate.

Japan: About half of Japanese mortgages are “convertible”: After a fixed period, the borrower chooses between an adjustable interest rate and another fixed-rate period.
Click here for the full article by Marilyn Lewis of MSN Real Estate

6 Must-do’s For Buyers

Real Estate
As a home buyer, you can help the process go smoother by completing the following 6 things to do before buying a home.
1. Stregthen your credit score
2. Figure out how much you can afford
3. Save for a down payment and closing costs
4. Build a healthy savings account
5. Get preapproved for a mortgage
6. Buy a house you like
Click here for the full article on msn.com by Dana Dratch.

Contact me with any questions you have.