Just listed!  This 1,356 square foot home is on just shy five acres, two bedroom, one and three-quarter bath with a two car attached garage and shop for $279,000!    MLS#14104

I get so excited when it comes to my family’s history in the Stanwood Camano area.  I love to read about how our community was formed, and how it continues to change.  My family came here in 1889 as farmers.  I have original pictures, in original frames of Nels and Kristi Lien, who emigrated from Namsos Norway.  What a treasure.  When browsing the history links today, I came across this short but sweet history of Stanwood.  My family is mentioned as the Lien Bros. Packing Co.  As I continue to be a part of the development of our community by selling real estate and being involved with the community, I know my family would be proud!   For more Stanwood history click here.

“House flipping” is when a buyer purchases bargain-priced residential properties and quickly resells them at a profit.  With the market strongly favoring the buyer these days, house flipping involves more risks than in the past boom years, but the more determined investor can still make very good money at it.

Savvy investors must do their homework first by calculating a reasonable sales price, expected length of time on the market, and any repair costs they should expect from their investment property. A trusted REALTOR® can help them decide on the most profitable cosmetic improvements to make to the home for best resale results. 

The upside to flipping in the current marketplace is the growing number of homes available at bargain-basement prices coupled with historically low mortgage interest rates.   

The challenge of today’s market is getting your investment property sold in a timely fashion and for a profit. Your REALTOR® can give you a wealth of information on buying and selling a home for profit.

For solid advice on all aspects of buying or selling Real Estate, please call Steve Love or Julie Pettyjohn at Windermere Real Estate/CIR 425-530-0799  or send us an e-mail at stevelove@windermere.com.

According to Trendgraphix stats, the number of pendings in December 09 compared to the number of pendings in December of 08 is up 133.3%.   Solds are up 53.8%.  There are currently 33 homes pending right now on Camano Island.  Last year there were 6.  The average list price of all homes currently pending is $285K according to the NWMLS stats, the lowest being 85K and the highest 780K.  For more expert market information, please contact me at jamie@windermere.com or call 425.268.7291.

Good News…Camano Island closed more sales in November than we have since November of 2008!  This is a trend we think will continue.

In spite of today’s serious economic problems, the housing market is improving, according to a report by Housing Predictor, a real estate research firm.  Positive signs of new growth are already evident and should appear in a majority of the nation’s housing markets by mid 2010.  Many housing markets have hit their bottom from an economic point of view, and will see an upward trend in home sales soon.

The nation’s consumer spending, comprising 70 percent of the economy, remains relatively strong, despite the higher costs of gasoline and food, the report also noted.    Home sales in several markets are already improving from previous lows, including markets in California, Florida and Michigan – three states that have been hit hardest these past two years. 

Lower home prices and price cuts by lenders selling foreclosed properties are the main reason for the rise in sales, states the report.  An increasing number of prospective buyers are recognizing a good opportunity and are taking action while both the prices and interest rates are still low.

If you are thinking of buying a new home, now is a great time to take the leap!

For solid advice on all aspects of buying or selling Real Estate, please call Steve Love or Julie Pettyjohn at Windermere Real Estate/CIR 425-530-0799  or send us an e-maiil at stevelove@windermere.com. 

We slurp soup when we are ill.  Or when the day is dark and gloomy, we hunker down and make soup.  Why?  It’s good for us, and gives us comfort.  That is exactly what our real estate market has needed….a good soup recipe.

2010 is bringing a new “energy” to our business.  Pending sales almost doubled in November compared to November 2008.  The market is back in a big way.  Think of our market as the perfect soup recipe.  What is your favorite soup?  Clam chowder?  Chicken noodle?  Whatever it is, it wouldn’t be good without all the ingredients to make the soup perfect.  Too much salt, and it’s not edible.  No chicken, well, then it wouldn’t be chicken soup.

The current housing market is the perfect soup for buyers and sellers.  There are three main ingredients that make it yummy.  Here is the recipe:

Market Soup

First ingredient: Low prices.  If you are a seller, you may say “this is not good for me.”  But think of it this way….if prices were not low, there would be no buyers.  And if you are looking to move into another home (most people are; they need a place to live!), you are going to find a GREAT buy on your next home.

Second ingredient: Low interest rates.  Hovering around 5% right now.  Wow! Almost free money!

Third Ingredient:  Tax Credit.   $8,000 for first time homebuyers, and $6,500 for repeat homebuyers.  (more info at: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/).  Since the beginning of this tax credit, we have seen a rise in interest in the first time home buyer market.  Clients have been using the money for  down payments or to simply upgrade their new home.

Directions: Combine all ingredients, heat up, and stir.  Enjoy.

What is your favorite soup?  Think about it.  And jump.  The perfect recipe doesn’t come around often.

Check out this great little video that explains the tax credit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyB72M0ae4I