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Port Townsend, WA Real Estate News

By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Our city council is discussing banning sandwich board signs in town.  I wonder, how will I do an open house without them?  I was taking a walk downtown yesterday morning before the stores were open and I took a look at the sandwich board signs and was a bit surprised.  There were more, but you get the idea.  They are spread out on various corners, and all are wonderful locally owned business who have to attract the foot traffic from the ferries, but when you really start thinking about how many there are, it begins to look a bit tacky.  Most of our store owners are really hurting, and we have a Downtown organization that is very active in promoting the area.  We even have a small cruise ship that stops one week-end a month in the summer. It is full of very interesting and innovative sh...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
DOGS-A-FOOT         One of the most popular lunch sites in Port Townsend, Dogs A Foot has been going strong for 22 years, most of it at current location on Water Street near city hall.    It is the harbinger of spring in PT when it opens and the beginning of our winter when it closes.  This winter we all said goodbye to the owners, John and Sai Sheehan who were leaving for Thailand for the winter.  All hot dogs were free that last closing day.  John and his wife had sold the business and planned to retire.  They had been putting the trailer which houses the stand into storage and spending their winters in Thailand.  I had heard the sale fell through, and this morning on my walk I saw John outside, setting up and getting ready for business.  I asked him if the business was for sale again...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Housing is a very important industry in Washington State,  with new housing construction creating a big impact on the state's economy.   There is the job creation directly from building new homes, plus all the linked suppliers of goods and services.  There is also the real estate brokerage involved, plus jobs in maintenance, repairs, additions, alterations, homeowner expenditures.  In my county of Jefferson building permits in 2008 were 1/2 the number in 2007.  Statewide the 2008 total building permits were down approximately 34% over 2007.  I agree with the BIAW (Building Industry Association of Washington) that  we cannot afford the  new regulations being considered by the state legislature.    According to the BIAW our builder's are highly over-regulated, which is accounting for a co...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
  The  Association of University Women and the University Women's Foundation of Jefferson County are sponsoring their 12th annual Kitchen Tour in Port Townsend.  The money raised will go to support education and scholerships.  This year it will be held in the community of Kala Point from 10 am to 4pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity to get some ideas on great kitchens, as well as get a better look at a wonderful area of Port Townsend.  Ten private homes will open their kitchens to paying guests ($14 or $18 on Sat.)  with hotesses to give you the details.  This is a great opportunity for realtors with listings in the area for open house tours.  I believe our office has 5-6 on tour tomorrow.  Check it out if you are in the area. Raffle Prizes include:         s
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
9th Annual JeffCo EXPOApril 25, 2009 - April 26, 2009STARTS: 9:30 a.m.LOCATION: Jefferson County Fairgrounds 4x4/ATV events, Car Shows, Bike Show, Armwrestling Tournament,Performance Horse Shows, vendors,Food, Mechanical Bull Riding.  Sounds like fun for everyone.  We have the Jefferson County Fairgrounds here in town which is used for a lot of events.  There are corrals and stadiums, and lots of buildings for 4H events and of course the county fair.    
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
My career began in Palm Springs, CA which is a small resort town.  Lots of second homes and sellers you never see, just unload their properties for them. I started in 1980.  Thats a whole nother story.    Then on to So. Orange County in CA where the emphasis was on investment.  Not is this the right home for my family, but how much can I make when I sell!  Oh yeah, and how soon after closing can I start my law suit. Port Townsend been a refreshing change for me.  In the 10 years I have been involved in selling here, I have heard of only 1 lawsuit threatened, and not sure if there have been any in my office the whole time I have been here.  I have dodged that bullet for 30 years, maybe because I am a goodie two shoes and like to make sure there are no grey areas.  All of the clients I h...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
The Buy-To-Let market place is booming. More and more people are investing in a second property as a long term investment plan. As attractive as the proposition sounds, there are a number of potential pitfalls that need to be taken into consideration. Use the steps below to ensure that your Buy-To-Let investment is a success. #1 Choose The Right Property The location is extremely important. Make sure that speak to a number of local letting agents to determine the supply and demand in the area. Look at such things as whether there are local employers or a university. You can get the details of letting agents near you by contacting The Association of Residential Letting Agents. #2 Choose The Right Mortgage You will need to check with your lender to how much you eligible to borrow. Most l...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Population 14,683 9,069 6,468,424 Population Growth 12.8% 8.4% 9.4% Population Density Population Density Population Density: "Residents per square mile"  247 1,329 96 Median Age 48 years 48 years 37 years Median Income $42,727 $38,550 $52,967 Cost of Living Index Cost of LIving Index 100 = National Average, 110 = 10% more expensive  109 108 110 Demographics DemographicsZIP Code 98368Port TownsendWA Male 47.8% 46.7% 49.9% Female 52.1% 53.3% 50% Married 42.8% 46.9% 42.1% Single 57.1% 53% 57.8% Families (w/ Kids) 14.8% 14.1% 24% Housing HousingZIP Code 98368Port TownsendWA Median Home Age 22 years 29 years 28 years Median Home Cost $348,300 $348,300 $342,261 Home Appreciation 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% Homes Owned 64.9% 60.7% 60% Homes Rented 24.7% 31.4% 32.3% Homes Vacant 10.2% 7.8% 7.6% Economy Ec...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
One of the best things about my company (my office branch is privately owned and it is a great office) John L Scott, is the John L Scott Foundation.  The company is centered in Seattle with offices in WA, OR and Idaho.  As I recall its about 3000+ offices but could be way off. The John L Scott Foundation collects and donated money to  children's hospitals throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Founded in 1997, in honor of John L Scott who founded the company over 75 years ago.  In 2008 through the fundraising events and efforts and donations of agents throughout the company the foundation raised and donated $8.9 million.  In my own office most of us donate $10 per transaction.    Some events are bigger than others, such as a home tour of million dollar plus homes in the Seattle area.  It a...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
I did  make it to a Tea Party, in the small town of Port Angeles, famous for the Border Guards who caught the terrorist with explosives for LAX.  It is about 1 hour drive for me here in Port Townsend, WA. It is the port that takes you to Victora, in BC.   We are on the Olympic Penisula, very remote, very beautiful and very liberal. The whole event was peaceful and fun.  Signs were amazingly creative and from the heart.  No astroturf here.  I loved meeting new people with like minds, and it energized me out of the political funk  I have experienced since the election.  I have been irritated with our own party for being to blame for a lot of this spending and irresponsibility.  Now it is time to move forward and take some action.  Feels good, just like when you are in a slump in real est...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
I took a great trip to Russia last year at this time, and what an interesting experience!  As always, I felt so lucky to be an Americn with all the blessings we enjoy. We had a wonderful guide who majored in economics and history at his university in St. Petersberg, and his English was excellent.  I asked him a lot of questions, and he was very forthright and open about life in Russia.  Real Estate is very expensive in Moscow and St. Petersberg.  Just to give you an idea of prices, his brother had just purchased one bedroom, nothing more, no living room, kitchen or bath, and paid $60,000.  The interest rates were running around 13% at that time, and the term was about 10 to 15 years.  He mentioned people were having a hard time qualifying for a loan because they had only recently starte...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Course Schedule: Click here to view the 2009 WA Real Estate Practices flyer Course Overview:This course provides an overview of real estate relationships and processes as practiced in the state of Washington. The following overview describes the basic content of the 30 clock hour course. Agency Relationships: Participants will learn about a variety of agency relationships, how agency relationships are formed, requirements and regulations associated with agency relationships, and principles of ethical behavior. Listing Agreements: Participants will explore listing agreements and proper completion of the documents, issues of title, listing requirements and regulations, Fair Housing laws, the Residential Seller Property Condition Disclosure in Washington, and commissions. Evaluating and Pr...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Wow, just in time for Easter we are having lots of blossoms and new growth in Port Townsend...After spending most of my life in Southern CA I have learned to love the change of the seasons.  (Only possible to love it here because all of our seasons are very mild.)  The Northwest has an abundance of trees, flowers and wildlife, all of which was not part of the landscape where I came from.  This is truly a gardner's paradise.  So it is a good trade off for the constant warm weather and never ending sunshine where I came from, not to mention the advantages to your complexion.     Today a lot of our citizens will be going to the festivities at Fort Worden, and most will be attending a church service at one of the many churches in our little town.  All denominations to choose from, truly an ...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
With daily news stories about the housing market, you may be wondering what your home is worth. Or maybe you are considering one of the following: •·         Downsizing·          Relocating•·         Moving up to accommodate your growing family•·         Appealing a property tax assessment Whatever the case may be, I can help you assess your home's value. We'll start by creating a CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis. A CMA is a comparison of recently sold or listed homes that are similar to yours in terms of square footage, number of rooms, location, style, and amenities. From this comparison, we'll be able to determine a price at which we could expect to sell your home in a reasonable amount of time. This price is called the Fair Market Value.
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
The first step is cleaning up. Rake dead leaves and remove other winter debris. Remove any perennials that didn't survive the winter and cut back dead foliage on living plants. Compost the trimmings. It's never too early to start weeding. Weeds that appear in the early spring have shorter roots and are therefore easier to pull and will prevent more substantial weeding later in the season. Once your garden is cleaned up, it's time to work on your soil. When the weather is warm enough that your soil breaks up easily, i.e. it's not still frozen or dormant, use mulch or manure to amend. If your soil needs lime, allow two weeks for it to spread and distribute before planting anything in it. When your soil is ready, and the weather allows, you can start planting spring flowers and vegetables....
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
Craftsman Style Home with carriage guest house. This spacious NW style home has Hardwood floors & 10 Ft. wood ceilings and is warm, large and comfortable. Living room w/fireplace. Great open kitchen, center island, breakfast bar, plus a huge walk-in pantry. DR w/ Fr doors to 2 decks. Main floor den/office. Master and 3 BR upstairs. Large garage, Sunny landscaped yard surrounded by tall trees. Wonderful family neighborhood with trails. Add. 10,000 sq. Ft. lot also available for sale. MLS# 28099682 http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
If you are thinking of purchasing a new home or refinancing soon, your credit score will play a large role in not only whether or not you qualify but also how high your payments will be. Credit awareness is your first step. To review your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com. If you find any errors, work to fix them as soon as you can. Your credit score is determined by several factors: Do you pay on time? Do you owe money on your credit cards? Have you used credit recently? Are you applying for numerous new cards? What kinds of credit have you used? Essentially, lenders are looking for a consistent pattern of on-time payments. If you don't already pay all your bills on time, now is the time to start.  Your score is also affected by your debt to income ratio. So you can work ...
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
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By Sandra White, Experienced Residential Resale Broker
(John L Scott Real Estate)
The bay was originally named "Port Townshend" by Captain George Vancouver (for his friend the Marquis of Townshend) in 1792, Port Townsend was immediately recognized as a good, safe harbor although strong south winds and poor holding ground often make small craft anchorage problematic off the town's waterfront. The bay is now home to Naval Magazine Indian Island, the US Navy's primary munitions handling dock on the Pacific coast. The official settlement of the city of the same name took place on the 24th of April, 1851. American Indian tribes located in what is now Jefferson County in the mid-19th century included the Chemakum (or Chimacum), Hoh (a group of the Quileute), Klallam (or Clallam), Quinault and Twana (the Kilcid band - Anglicized: Quilcene). Port Townsend is also called the ...
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