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Gig Harbor, WA Real Estate News

By Debra Ostrus
(Spaces Streamlined Home Staging, Organization & Redesign)
Home Staging Tips for Gig Harbor Wa In this market, sellers are reluctant to put any money at all into preparing their houses for buyers. If offers are what they desire, a small investment in time and dollars may ultimately be just what's needed to make a sale. Staging for a welcoming and inviting first impression is the perfect place to start. Here are some help full home staging tips that you could use. Imagine you are searching for that special house, a warm and cozy home for your family to live in and take comfort from at the end of a long hard day. Your agent calls and says he's found a great house for you, it has the right number of bedrooms, a big kitchen, and even the home office you need for your business. Would you like to go and take a look at it? Your heart beats a little fa...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Sandy Wagner | RE/MAX Professionals | 253.225.8322 13225 Emerald Dr NW, Gig Harbor, WA Beautiful view home in Gig Harbor, WA with sweeping view of Henderson Bay and Mt. Rainier. 3BR/3BA Single Family House offered at $385,000 Year Built 1976 Sq Footage 3,837 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 0.350 acres HOA/Maint $8 per month DESCRIPTION Now is your chance to own a view home in Gig Harbor. Take in sweeping, wide open view of Henderson Bay and Mt. Rainier from 2-story window wall. Gorgeous landscape invites you to enter through double clear window entry doors to large view dining room and entertaining-sized living room with large brick fireplace for cozy nights. Updated kitchen with dramatic slate counter, designer tile backsplash and stainles...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Craig's list Rental Scam   January 28, 2010. Northwest MLS has been notified of a scam involving the placement of active residential listings on Craig's list as rentals. The perpetrator is posting the address, listing photos, and marketing remarks in these false ads. When a consumer inquires about the property, the scam artist responds and states that he is in West Africa for a prayer crusade and asks the consumer to fill out a rental application, which seeks personal information from the consumer. NWMLS encourages all listing agents to check www.craigslist.org to ensure that your listings are not being falsely advertised as rental properties. Contact your local authorities and notify Craig's list if your listings are involved in a rental scam.  
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
    Here's the latest in the stats for Pierce County      Sales Statistics for PIERCE County WA Realist's most recent sale date for this county is 01/28/2010    Single Family Residence  Time Period Number of Sales Median Sale Price   Dec 2009 732 $215,389   Dec 2008 511 $235,275   Nov 2009 808 $222,300   Nov 2008 459 $237,000   2009 YTD 8,232 $229,000   2008 8,395 $257,000     Condominium  Time Period Number of Sales Median Sale Price   Dec 2009 57 $170,000   Dec 2008 64 $212,374   Nov 2009 74 $192,500   Nov 2008 55 $194,000   2009 YTD 706 $184,990   2008 940 $200,000      Sandy Wagner - RE/MAX Professionals Short Sale Specialist - Helping people find a way out of foreclosure 253.225.8322 www.sandywagnerhomes.com        
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By Carole Holmaas
(Windermere Real Estate Gig Harbor)
Gig Harbor home prices down 7%...but still less than county When the News Tribune reported last month the average price for a home in Pierce County had fallen 12% from 2008, following a drop of 9% a year earlier, I decided to compare average Gig Harbor home prices with the county's average. Normally the median sales price (half the sales above and half below) is used for comparisons locally, as well as nationally. In January I reported that the median was actually up 1% year-over-year for December but down 4% from two years earlier. Gig Harbor home prices did take a hit when you assess the entire year-dropping 7%-- and an even larger 11% punch from 2007 to 2008. However, even combined, the figures were still better than Pierce County as a whole. The table below compares Gig Harbor zip c...
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By Carole Holmaas
(Windermere Real Estate Gig Harbor)
Gig Harbor home prices continue to climb out of hole Gig Harbor home prices are continuing to sustain moderately higher sales prices as 2009 closes out. December is the fifth of the last six months to show improvement year over year. Gig Harbor is defined as the Gig Harbor peninsula and Fox Island. Gig Harbor home prices are up 1% over 2008, comparing the months of December only. The 4-county Puget Sound area however experienced a 7% decrease in sales price. Another plus--sales of Gig Harbor homes have been better than 2008 for the last half year now-in each of those six months.    While December sales improved by 7% over November-which is not the norm-they were up dramatically 41% over 2008 and 160% over 2007. The 4-county Puget Sound area reported 54.7% more sales than last year, but ...
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By Carole Holmaas
(Windermere Real Estate Gig Harbor)
Gig Harbor waterfront homes sell at 2005 prices Gig Harbor waterfront homes sold at a much faster clip this past year but median sales prices compare remarkably close to 2005-no where near the 2006-2007 peak. 2009's price for Key Peninsula and Gig Harbor waterfront homes was $683,000. This closely parallels the decline in sales of all homes in the area Sales in 2008 were depressingly slow-only 22-the worst year for sales of Gig Harbor waterfront homes for the nearly three decades I've been recording waterfront market statistics. This year's 51 sales are a 128% improvement but it is still the second worse year of the past 15. The ups and downs in median prices for Gig Harbor waterfront homes over the past six years: 2004        488,000 2005        680,000           40%▲ 2006        850,0...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Sandy Wagner | RE/MAX Professionals | 253.225.8322 13225 Emerald Dr NW, Gig Harbor, WA Beautiful view home in Gig Harbor, WA with sweeping view of Henderson Bay and Mt. Rainier. 3BR/3BA Single Family House offered at $425,000 Year Built 1976 Sq Footage 3,837 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 0.350 acres HOA/Maint $8 per month DESCRIPTION Now is your chance to own a view home in Gig Harbor. Take in sweeping, wide open view of Henderson Bay and Mt. Rainier from 2-story window wall. Gorgeous landscape invites you to enter through double clear window entry doors to large view dining room and entertaining-sized living room with large brick fireplace for cozy nights. Updated kitchen with dramatic slate counter, designer tile backsplash and stainles...
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By Carole Holmaas
(Windermere Real Estate Gig Harbor)
Gig Harbor home prices continue to climb out of hole Gig Harbor home prices are continuing to sustain moderately higher sales prices as 2009 closes out. December is the fifth of the last six months to show improvement year over year. Gig Harbor is defined as the Gig Harbor peninsula and Fox Island. Gig Harbor home prices are up 1% over 2008, comparing the months of December only. The 4-county Puget Sound area however experienced a 7% decrease in sales price. Another plus--sales of Gig Harbor homes have been better than 2008 for the last half year now-in each of those six months.    While December sales improved by 7% over November-which is not the norm-they were up dramatically 41% over 2008 and 160% over 2007. The 4-county Puget Sound area reported 54.7% more sales than last year, but ...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Is spring around the corner? With the better weather (we will eventually have) comes outdoor living. Here are some tips to brighten up your decks.   Step 1: Clean away dirt and gray weathered wood with an acid-free, biodegradable deck cleaner, like Wolman? Deck Brite? (Formerly Deck & Fence Brightener?)Deck Brite is tough on ground-in dirt, mildew and algae stains, yet it's gentle to handle and safe to use near grass, plants or shrubs. Its fast- acting foaming action loosens and lifts dirt, stains and weathered-gray discoloration in 10 minutes or less. And unlike chlorine bleach, which can actually degrade the structure of the wood, Deck Brite's oxygen bleach formula cleans and restores the wood to its original, like-new look without whitening or damaging the wood surface. Protective fi...
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By Sue Rand, ...Helping You Make the Move that's Right for You!
(Windermere/Gig Harbor)
Tacoma is #1 Best Real Estate Market in 2010 According to MSN Real Estate, Moody's has named Tacoma the city where home prices will peform the best in 2010.  Five cities were chosen - the other four are Memphis, Pittsburgh, Charleston, and Seattle.  That's great news for us in the Puget Sound area.  And for anyone who is considering moving here soon.   Not only are we surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty and recreational activities, but our economy seems to be fairly strong as well.  (I'm sure not everyone who has been laid off or lost their homes would agree, but apparently we have fared better than other large cities.) The basis for Tacoma's #1 Best Real Estate Market in 2010 ranking consists of a few factors: 1)  Our market is not saturated with homes for sale 2)  Over the pa...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Here are a couple of pictures my husband took while down along the harbor a couple of mornings ago. BTW, he took them with his phone. Gig Harbor, Washington is the most beautiful place to live, even in the winter!! What you're seeing is a little fog lying on the water by the public boat dock.     If you know of anyone who would love to move to Gig Harbor, Washington or Tacoma, Washington, please send them to my website. I love this area and am always thrilled to show it off.
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
      What's at the end of the rainbow? I've been working on a short sale, in Gig Harbor, WA   (one of many) where I am the listing agent. As soon as I get a short sale listing I fax the Authorization to Release Information to the lenders. I then will give it 48 hours and call back to make sure the authorization is in the file. In the case of Bank of America, the one currently high on my frustration list. I started faxing them the Authorization to Release Information (in my name so I could speak with them on behalf of the sellers/borrowers) December 9. They have told me repeatedly that it was in Loan Modification and not Short Sale and the seller had to call and switch it, which they have done on three different occasions, always being told it was taken care of. I will then call back ev...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Since I live in this community, in Gig Harbor, Washington, I am often asked about the market here. People living in Gig Harbor tend to take the temperature of the economy here by what is happening in the Canterwood Golf and Country Club community. It actually has picked up a bit since the last time I looked. This information is for solds only, but you can see how many actives, pending, etc. there are. Active: 52  Pending: 2  Sold: 20  Other: 45  Total: 119    Bedrooms  Bathrooms  Square Feet  List Price  Selling Price  DOM  Minimum  2   2.00   1,780   $265,000   $265,000   4   Average  4   3.41   3,986   $786,679   $620,605   220   Median  4   3.50   3,927   $699,999   $580,000   180   Maximum  7   7.00   10,450   $1,800,000   $1,210,000   1155   Total Dollar Value           $12,412,100...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
This chart is just for properties sold in the last 3 months.     Property Type  Residential     Areas  5-Fox Island, 6-Gig Harbor South, 7-Artondale, 8-Gig Harbor North, 1-Gig Harbor, 2-Purdy, 3-Rosedale Status  Sold (9/8/2009 or after)    Active: 0  Pending: 0  Sold: 192  Other: 0  Total: 192        Bedrooms  Bathrooms  Square Feet  List Price  Selling Price  DOM  Minimum  1   1.00   936   $133,000   $133,000   2   Average  3   2.58   2,665   $439,538   $420,687   115   Median  3   2.50   2,455   $397,000   $380,000   80   Maximum  7   6.50   7,800   $1,495,000   $1,210,000   738   Total Dollar Value           $80,771,961        Average DOM Breakdown and Average % of List Price received on Solds by Market time:      0-30 Days   31-60 Days   61-90 Days   91-120 Days   120+ Days   No. of...
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By Carole Holmaas
(Windermere Real Estate Gig Harbor)
Short sales small percent of Gig Harbor home sales  National media hypes short sales and bank-owned properties as a large part of the market, but in Gig Harbor they represent a smaller portion of Gig Harbor home sales than the casual observer might think. Key Peninsula is not as fortunate but still better than many parts of the country. 22.6% of Gig Harbor home sales in the past six months have been bank-owned or short sales and 41% in Key Peninsula. This compares to figures as high as 80% of all sales in Las Vegas and 50% in Phoenix and Southern California and parts of Florida. North Las Vegas currently has one in 50 homes in some stage of foreclosure, and in parts of Phoenix it is one in 20 homes, and some areas of southern California it is one in 50 homes. In Washington State one in ...
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By Sandy Wagner, Short Sale Specialist Tacoma, WA, and Gig Harbor,
(RE/MAX Professionals 253.225.8322)
Sandy Wagner | RE/MAX Professionals | 253.225.8322 12972 Gopher Hill Pl SE,, Gig Harbor, WA Beautiful Country Setting 4BR/2.5BA Single Family House offered at $322,500 Year Built 1993 Sq Footage 2,000 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 3.830 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION This picturesque country setting could be a Rockwell Painting. Travel down a country road tucked into the Olalla Valley & discover this quaint farm. Starting with a wrap-around porch & double entry doors open to hardwood floors; 4 bedrm, 2 1/2 baths, country kitchen w/cast iron stove in family room & the dining room is surrounded by windows. The acreage is almost all flat with towering fir trees & lots of pasture. Leave it as a gentleman's farm or add more fencing &...
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By Carole Holmaas
(Windermere Real Estate Gig Harbor)
Gig Harbor home sales and prices up big in November Gig Harbor home sales more than doubled from 2008 and median prices are up for the third month in a row. November sales not only bested 2008 but, surprisingly, they also beat 2007 numbers. November represents three out of the last five months with more sales than either 2008 or 2007. This trend is going the right way for homeowners. These figures include both single family and condominiums and encompass Gig Harbor and Fox Island zip codes 98332, 98333, and 98335. The statistics are stronger than Pierce County as a whole, which show sales up 73% year-over-year, but a dip in median sales price of 3.5%.   The $406,250 median sales price is an increase of 30% compared to the same month last year ($313,000) and 6% better than October. But i...
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By Sue Rand, ...Helping You Make the Move that's Right for You!
(Windermere/Gig Harbor)
"I want to buy a bank-owned home in Gig Harbor." This is quite often what current buyers tell me.  Their assumption is that the only "real deal" out there is a home that has gone back to the bank. So let's take a look at home sales last month in Gig Harbor, WA.  Out of 42 single family home sales, 7 were bank-owned.  I checked assessed value of each home and calculated how much over or under it sold for.  Not that assessed value is an accurate price indicator, but it's a decent place to start the comparison. The 35 non-bank-owned homes that sold in November ranged in price from $230,000 to $1,075,000. Assessed values of these homes ranged from 217,600 to $1,050,100.  Only 13 of the 35 sold for more than assessed value, the rest (22) sold for below assessed value.  How much over and how ...
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By Sue Rand, ...Helping You Make the Move that's Right for You!
(Windermere/Gig Harbor)
How much do you spend on utility bills?  Do you even know?  The US Dept. of Energy estimates that consumers spend 6-12% of their income on utilities.  Here are some ways to conserve energy - and decrease the amount you spend on electricity, water, and heat bills. 1.  Switch to CFL (compact fluorescent bulbs).  Yes, you've heard this before.  They're more expensive to purchase, but do you know that since they last 10 times longer than incandescant bulbs, they can save up to $60 in electricity costs per bulb?!  That's significant.... 2.  Of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off.  If you're not ready or willing to unplug them all while not in use, consider purchasing a device that will cut energy consumption for you, such as a Sma...
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