Nicole's Blog

I hear from a lot of people that "homes just aren't selling for what they used to" and that some are holding back on selling until our real estate market has turned around. I understand their concerns and if it does not make financial sense to move your family right now, then by all means wait until you are.

Until we get to that point why not put a little bit of money and elbow grease into your home so when it does make sense to sell, you make a big profit off of replacing the worn carpet or repainting throughout the house. "For people on a budget, finding the most effective way to continue to increase the value of their home depends in part on the size of the property and its age, contractors and architects say" (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2008147515_renovate31.html).

Just in time- The Remodeling Expo at the Washington State Convention Center is a showcase for the latest and best products and services available to those remodeling their present home or building a new home. January is the time of year to line up all your home projects. Experts in fields such as kitchen and bath remodeling, new home construction, decks, sunrooms, heating and cooling, home security, flooring, windows, roofing and siding are at the Remodeling Expo to make your dream home a reality.

Here are hom improvements suggestions for every budget:

Up to $1,000

• Paint, which can cost less than $30 a gallon.

• Tear out or prune overgrown shrubs. Plant fast-growing trees.

• Replace an outdated bathroom medicine cabinet or paint kitchen cupboards.

Up to $10,000

• Add a deck or create a simple patio.

• Fix up a small bathroom with new vanity, mirrors and toilet.

• Upgrade the kitchen with granite counter tops, new floors and cabinets.

About $20,000

• Complete renovation of a master bathroom.

• Upgrade the doors and windows.

• Make a larger patio, add more plants, get a "trophy tree."

Right now is a great time to get those home improvement projects started because materials are at low prices and contractors too are selling their services for very low prices- they just want to work!- so take advantage of this time, re-paint your home, and reap the rewards when this market flips and we are back on top again!

Luke 1:14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Even during these hard times, we all have so much to be grateful for. This week we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My heart is so full with the love of my family and my love of the Lord.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!!

Winter Storm Watch: Use Care on Icy Roads

Shoreline Plows and Sanding Equipment Are on the Job

With winter heralding its arrival with a big show of weather, Shoreline offers tips for staying safe and preparing for further winter storms. Be sure to check the National Weather Service (NWS) website for weather forecasts and updates. 

Road Closures

· 3rd Avenue NW at NW 205th Street

Snow Removal

One of the concerns for Shoreline, like most of the Puget Sound area, is that there is still ice on many side streets that is now being covered by snow. This is because the snow froze during the previous storm before plows could clear it. Snow plows’ rubber blades do not remove ice.

“The important thing to understand is that this weather is not a normal snow storm. Last weekend we were hit with a light snow followed by a chill snap that immediately froze the melting snow, making it impossible to remove the ice with the plows. The rubber blades simply bounce on the roadway when ice hardens. We haven’t experienced weather like this since 1990," explains Public Works Maintenance Supervisor Brian Breeden.

“All available sanding equipment is out running the routes. We have gone through 135 tons of sand throughout the City since last Saturday night and expect to go through an even larger amount by week’s end,” Breeden continues.

While it’s snowing, Shoreline crews concentrate on getting and keeping primary routes (like Aurora) plowed. Once the snow stops and the primary routes are clear, crews move to the secondary routes and then neighborhood roads. Following the plows are the sanders to provide traction on the ice. Snow plows’ rubber blades do not remove ice. For specifics, visit Shoreline's Snow Removal page.

Be Prepared

The City of Shoreline encourages residents and businesses to prepare for continued cold weather. Information to help you plan and prepare for all types of emergencies is available on the Emergency Management page. Also check the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) for emergency reports and information from around the Puget Sound area.

Important reminders:

· Protect pets from cold and wind chill

· Protect against frozen pipes and radiators

· Make sure your emergency supply kit is within reach and fully stocked. Be sure to store three gallons of water per day per person.

· Test your battery-operated radio and flashlights; buy back-up batteries.

· If you have an electric garage door opener, locate and know how to use the manual override.

· Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units use oxygen and create carbon monoxide that can cause suffocation.

· Review the Power Outage Safety Guide before the power goes out.

· Check on neighbors who may need help being prepared for a storm, such as the elderly or people with special needs. Be sure they have emergency supplies.

· Stock your emergency car kit, especially with a battery-operated radio, water, blankets, and non-perishable foods.

At the Seattle Pacific University campus 12/18/2008. A group of friends and family who were snowed in spent the day walking around campus and playing in the snow.

Spending the day with good friends and family beats trying to drive in the snow and getting stuck or stranded somewhere. Ces la vie!

Merry Christmas, everyone and be safe out there!!

"Five or 10 years from now, when the financial crisis has ended and housing prices are up smartly once more, we will look in the rearview mirror and realize that we missed a golden age for first-time home buyers," wrote Ron Lieber in a Dec. 6, 2008 New York Times article, "It May Be Time to Think About Buying a House" (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/business/yourmoney/06money.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1229457603-LS0V5Gv8TOBUtcrsylfGzQ).

Now more than ever, is a great time for would-be buyers to really consider if right now is the right time to buy. Purchasing a home is not right unless your family finances are in order, but it would be most advantagous if that were true for you now. Home prices are down giving you lots of choices for properties you may not have the ability to buy in any other market. Along with greatly discounted home prices, mortgage rates are at all-time lows making it even more affordable for would-be buyers to buy.

The Egerer & Weidauer home team has helped many first-time home-buyers search and purchase their first dream homes. We would love to help you too! "If you're hoping for a recovery in the housing market, you ought to be cheering on the first-time home buyers. When they purchase homes, their sellers are free to move on or move up, stimulating further sales." With every first-time buyer that we have worked with, we've told them that they are helping with the market correction. If you want to be too, give us a call and we will help you on the path to home-ownership!

 206.661.7256     www.jeremyandnicolesellhomes.com     360.990.4083

Here's a sampling of the kind of house or condo available at different price points. These homes sold recently in the Shoreline area:

Have questions about Shoreline area homes? Would you like to be one of the lucky buyers like the ones above? The Egerer & Weidauer home team proudly serves the Shoreline homeowners and would love to help you with your home buying or selling needs!

206.661.7256     www.jeremyandnicolesellhomes.com     360.990.4083

This Christmas season, bring your stamped letter to Macy's addressed to: Santa At The North Pole, and drop it into their special Santa letterbox. Macy's will count them up, and for each letter received, they will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation up to $1,000,000. Then they will send them to the post office for delivery to Santa, and together, we can help collect a million reasons to believe- in the beautiful charity that is in all of our hearts.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and remember the real reason of the season!

According to a recent report from Global Insight, an economic and financial analysis forecasting firm, current housing statistics indicate that now is the right to time to buy.

They claim that the U.S. housing market as a whole is undervalued by 3.8 percent. Global Insight analyzed 330 metropolitan areas in the United States and found that 241 metro areas experienced price declines in the third quarter of 2008 in comparison to 150 metro areas in the second quarter (http:www.globalinsight.com/PressRelease/PressReleaseDetail15180.htm)

The markets that were hardest hit were in areas that were most overvalued three years ago. This study, a combined effort by HIS Global Insight and National City Corporation represented 78 percent of all existing housing units in the United States.

Low intrest rates and increased affordability make today's market a buyer's dream!