Lots of articles, lots of talk about the bailout - are you still confused as to whether you are eligible for help? Here is a quick summary for your reference. FHA Plan (This applies if you have FHA financing through any number of lenders) Lenders will modify interest rates or forgive a portion of your principal, to bring the ratio of mortgage payments (including HOA dues) to 38% of your income.To be eligible you must:  Have a loan on a primary residence that was made before Jan. 1, 2008. Contact loan servicers and cooperate on supplying need information. Be at least 90 days behind on payments. Not have filed for bankruptcy protection. Certify that a hardship, such as job loss or illness, has affected your ability to repay Certify that you did not purposely default to get a loan modifi... 11/12/2008

Here is a quick look at the average price per square foot of homes and condos in Woodinville for the last two years. The chart starts off at $249.26 per square foot in October 2006. While prices do appear to be trending down... strong sales in September 2008 brought the price is $258.49 per square foot!   If you would like to more about home price trends in a particular area, feel free to contact me. Posted By: Tony MeierEastside & Seattle RealtorEastsideHomesBlog.comEastsideHomes.comSeattle's Eastside Real Estate Resourcetony@eastsidehomes.com 10/27/2008

This quote comes from Warren Buffet in a recent Op-Ed piece in the October 17th New York Times Post. In the article Warren discusses the stock market and the history of booms and depressions and the value to be had if you invest in the recovery. He is referring to the stock market and makes a clear statement - we should buy American and he is. I agree - we should buy American. The same logic applies to real estate. It is clear that short term purchase and sales can be risky - no one can truly predict the short term, so if you want to buy a home for just a year - you may want to rent instead. However, fears regarding the long term value (5+ years) of real estate are not based upon the  actual facts. The local economy has been strong and has a diverse foundation in the service industry, t... 10/21/2008

The Northshore School District is transitioning to having everything on-line instead of relying on "student mail" to get information home to parents.    Not only is this a great way to save the district money - it enables you to always get the information you need - when you need it.  Bravo! What information is out there?There is a wealth of information out there for you if you take the time to explore the Northshore School District Website.  Here are a few examples: Community Extracurricular Activities for your Student (this replaces all those fliers that used to come home for activities not sponsored by the school but available to area students) Community Education & Parental Education to help you volunteer and/or help your student one-on-one  (Parent education, volunteer training, s... 10/20/2008

We all know that it is a buyer's market and that inventory is high.  The homes that are selling are the ones that are priced aggressively and are move-in ready - buyers can be selective.  But what about the homes that aren't selling?  The best deals aren't the foreclosure homes, they are the homes that have been sitting on the market for awhile, especially if they are there because they aren't "move-in ready". You know the ones - they need to be painted, they need new carpet, they need updated counter tops, etc.. The basic house house is good - but it needs a little bit of work.  These homes would have sold right away 2 years ago - because people wanted homes that just needed cosmetic work - so they could turn around and sell it for more.  But investors looking to flip a house - well th... 10/18/2008

Now is your chance to hear what is going on locally and have your voice heard at the county level!   Sims to host joint forum for King CountyUnincorporated Area Councils King County Executive Ron Sims will host a joint forum to meet with the six King County Unincorporated Area Councils (UACs).  The public is encouraged to join Executive Sims, other elected officials, King County department directors, and residents and members of the UACs as they discuss various issues facing their communities.  The Upper Bear Creek Community Council is co-hosting the event. The forum will take place:Tuesday, October 28, 20086:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (Social Hour:  6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Displays, brochures and other information about King County services will be available)) Avondale Bible Church Hall17010 Avo... 10/18/2008

A home is not just a home - it is a place where memories are created!  Here is a letter that my seller wrote to help tell buyers what they have enjoyed beyond the physical walls that you can see as you tour the home. Letter to Buyer As you consider making this home yours, we want to share some of the things we loved most about living in this home and neighborhood.  •    The kitchen is the hardest thing to leave. It has so much room and the Wolfe stove and double oven were especially stellar for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. •    The herb garden - the rosemary bushes made for great rosemary potatoes. The mint made fantastic mojitos. The sage was a lovely garnish for the turkey. •    The pocket door that could magically make the kitchen disappear so that everyone could enjoy dinner... 09/27/2008

            Here is the latest on the Hilltop Center in Woodinville(Woodinville-Duvall Road, just down from 156th st.) They have finished the Hilltop Center in Woodinville and it looks great.  Good parking, nice landscaping, and convenient turn lanes and bus stop.  Now all we need is more businesses to move. Here is the latest scoop 1 Tenant/Moved-in and open for business: French Nails (425) 487-9933 4 Tenants/Committed to Lease: Mercury Madness Coffee w/Drive Through A drop-off cleaner (business name not disclosed) A Mediterranean Grill (business name not disclosed) An Edward Jones Investment center.       No information as to when these tenants will move in and be open for business. Thinking about opening your own business?  There are 6 spaces available. Size ranging from 1,340 to 2,... 09/19/2008

Looking for a fun family event this weekend? Then don't miss the King County Harvest Celebration Farm Tour on Saturday 9/27 from 10-4:30.  Show your children where farmers grow our local foods, raise farm animals and steward rural and agricultural land in King County.  Each location has a variety of events and activities including corn mazes, hayrides, samples of produce, and much more.  To figure out which farm and which activities will be the most fun for your family please check out the Farm Tour Guide . There are two Woodinville Farms participating in this event BarnPlace (16708 140th Place NE, Woodinville, WA 98072) www.barnplace.com Hollywood Hill Vinards (14259 160th Place NE, Woodinville, WA 98072) www.hollywoodhillvineyards.com And many Farms on the Eastside that are an easy dr... 09/17/2008

Do you remember your first concert that you went to? I do, it was just two weeks ago. My wife (Dionne) and I bought tickets to the Gipsy Kings concert that was being held at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville.  Chateau Ste. Michelle celebrated their 25th anniversary of summer concerts and has now become one of the biggest concert gatherings in the Pacific Northwest. This was my very first concert and I got to experience it with my wife (Dionne). I had a picnic basket filled with tapas, bread, olives, prochiuto, smoked salmon, cheese, and two wine bottles to enjoy while watching the concert. As we went through security check they told me that I was not able to bring my camera and wine unless it's from Chateau Ste. Michelle. I bought Dionne a Riesling from Chateau Ste. Michelle, ... 09/08/2008

Woodinville Family Nights (Free)Friday September 19 from 6:00-8:00pmCarol Edwards Center (17401 133rd Ave NE, Woodinville) Don't miss the back to school celebration that will include fun, games and safety eduction for the whole family.  Including: Speaker Topic: Stranger Awareness Speaker Topic: Internet Safety Woodinville Fire & Life Safety will be there to share safety information and let the kids check out the latest fire trucks Woodinville Police will be there to share safety information and let kids check out the latest police cars King County Sheriff's Department will be providing FREE ID cards for children under 16. Woodinville family night programs are designed to bring the community together, provide educational information, and/or provide art and cultural experiences for famil... 08/31/2008

  Come join the fun this Sunday August 24th from 12-4pm as the community of Woodinville gets together for it's 6th annual community carnival.  This event is sponsored by The Woodinville Community Church and is FREE and open to everyone!!  The location is 17110 140th Ave NE, Wdvl (across from McDonalds & KFC).  Look forward to seeing everyone there!!    Flyer provided by sponsor Sandy Noll RealtorKeller Williams Realty Kirkland425-890-0878sandranoll@kw.comwww.letsachieveyourgoals.comhttp://youreastsidehomespecialist.activerain.com/ Your Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothell Home Expert 08/22/2008

It's just about time to return to school and the Northshore School District is hosting a Back-to-School Fair.  This fair is an opportunity for families to prepare for the coming school year. Families are invited to join in the Northshore Back-to-School Fair Aug. 20, 4-6:30 p.m Maywood Hills Elementary 19510 104th Ave NE Bothell, WA  98011  The fair will provide free haircuts, appointments for child immunizations, food, children's activities, and music Information will be available for assistance with school supplies, before- and after-school programs, district information, parental involvement, community resources, and the Northshore Family Center's classes. Children who feel welcomed and well prepared for school achieve at higher levels. Many thanks to the wonderful sponsors of  The Ba... 08/16/2008

It is hard not to believe that we are in a housing crisis when we hear that message from so many media sources and it is repeated by our friends and family.  But what really is going on locally - because housing is a local issue. How big of an issue is foreclosure locally?  Here is a great video clip from CNBC about the housing crisis and in specific, foreclosure rates nationally.   Did you note that Washington is not one of the states where foreclosures are dramatically impacting our real estate market? In the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett area, as of Q1 2008, there was only 1 foreclosure out of 517 homes.  That puts us 81st on the list of the top 100 metropolitan areas.  Not exactly a crisis (except to those who are personally impacted). So why does it still FEEL like we are in a housing ... 08/13/2008

1. There is a large selection of move-up houses and a smaller selection of entry level homes. 2. Patience is tolerated-you can take your time to look and think about your decision.  Making an offer contingent upon the sale of your home has become acceptable again. 3. You can make offers under list price and bidding wars are rare -buying is much less stressful right now. Sellers are considering all offers and unless a home is aggressively priced, multiple offers are not very common. 4. Favorable mortgage rates & programs-we are still at rates that are near 45-year lows. In addition, the Fed has increased loan program limits for FHA mortgages and loans backed by Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to $567,500 in King County. This enables more buyers to be able to purchase your home and allows you to... 08/13/2008

I received a call the other day from a real estate agent who wanted to find out about Cottage Lake Elementary in Woodinville because her buyer had heard negative comments about the school.  Wow.  The sale of a home was being directly impacted by negative rumors. So what did I tell her?  Cottage Lake Elementary is a Great School! Academics: I have had two children attend the school one K-6th and one K-2nd and both have had an excellent experience.  They were well prepared for the next level - one went on to junior high and was able to get straight A's taking all of the available honors classes - the other went on to the Northshore Elementary Advanced Program and also did well.  So I'd give that an A+ from an academic perspective.  Extra Curricular: There are plenty of extra curricular ac... 07/25/2008

  Flyer Created by Stacey Lange Hosted by:Michelle BlueStacey LangeTammy Miller To make it worth your while, we will have all three beautiful homes open on Saturday from 1-4.  All are North of the Woodinville-Duvall Road off of 236th Avenue.   There is something for everyone - and space for whatever you need!  Hope to see you there! Michelle BlueYour Guide to Woodinville Community, Neighborhoods, and Real Estate!www.WoodinvilleGuide.com 07/25/2008

Music in the Park at Cottage Lake is BACK! Bring your lawn chair, blanket, picnic dinner and the whole family to this free concert series held on Thursdays at Cottage Lake Park starting at 7pm. Here is the line up so you can plan your evenings (follow the links to the bands for more information, where available).  July 3rd: Back Burner - Country Western, Bluegrass July 10th: Ain't No Seventh Heaven - New Orleans style Dixieland July 17th: The Randy Oxford Band - Blues ballads & classic rock July 24th: Uptown, Lowdown Jazz & Swing - Jazz July 31st: Pan Leggo - Trinidad-Steel Drums August 7th: Not Easily Broken - True Bluegrass Sponsored by the Upper Bear Creek Community Council. Want an alternative - check out the Kenmore Concert Series at St. Edwards State Park. By Michelle BlueYour Gui... 07/07/2008

Don't miss this year's Tour of Gardens sponsored by The Woodinville Garden Club. This is a self guided tour of 5 local, private gardens. Per the Garden Club website "five private local gardens are featured that offer patrons a visual feast of color and texture, unique plant combinations and artistic embellishments". Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008Time: 10am-4pmTicket Cost: $15 (Includes description of gardens and directions) Tickets can be purchased at Molbak's(Woodinville), The Gardens at Cottage Creek(13300 Avondale Rd NE, Woodinville), Classic Nursery (Redmond),  Ravenna Gardens (Kirkland Park Place) or ordered by mail direction from the Woodinville Garden Club, P.O. Box 1764, Woodinville, WA 98072. More Information?  Garden Club Web Site     Eastside Business Journal Article Do you ne... 06/22/2008

Congratulations to the Woodinville High School Drama department! This group of enthusiastic and talanted students really impressed everyone and won 3 awards at the Benaroya Hall ceremony on Monday night (6/9/08).  The Woodinville High School won the following 5th Avenue Theatre Awards for its show "Good News" The Overall Production Prize Honors for Best Non-singing Actor Honors for Best Srage Crew To read more about this achievement check out the Woodinville Drama website. Woodinville High School - is part of the Award Winning Northshore School District. Read related articlesSeattle Times by Michelle BlueYour Guide to Woodinville Community, Neighborhoods & Real Estate!www.MichelleBlue.com 06/18/2008