Residential Real Estate in SW Washington State

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Archives for December 2010

Charming Rambler on Shy Acre

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Eastern exposure for morning sunlight. This rambler sits on .93 acres and the large front yard has a circular driveway for easy access and plenty of room for all your gardening ideas.

This charming rambler, tucked away in a beautiful country setting in the Tahoma School District, is offered for the first time by the original owners.

Formal living room, dining room and separate family room with corner wood-burning stove. Vaulted ceilings add spaciousness! Large island kitchen with eat-in area includes center island, pantry and sliding glass door access to oversized deck overlooking the back of your .94 acre property. Private master suite includes tile counters and jetted corner tub!

Stay cool in the summer, warm in the winter with central air conditioning and heat pump. Home includes generator wiring, security system and is wired for speakers.

If you’ve always wanted a large yard for play and barbeque, room for gardens, and room for animals, that’s also located with easy access to major highways, this is the place! Come see it!

[srp_profile lat=”47.438753″ lng=”-122.005699″ address=”18127 252nd Ave SE” city=”Maple Valley” state=”WA” zip_code=”98092″]

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(courtesy of Cindy Lowden, RE/MAX Select R.E.)

Merry Christmas 2010!

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 I thought it might be nice to share our Christmas newsletter this way, as it’s sometimes fun to share a bit of family life as well as just business events. — Merry Christmas and may you also have a blessed New Year — full of happiness, surrounded by loved ones, and prosperity too, of course! Here’s praying that 2011 settles down economically a bit!

 

 

 

What an amazing whirlwind it’s been since Thanksgiving, starting with hosting the annual everybody come home Thanksgiving tradition, and then the very early birth of our fourth grandchild, little Clara Joy, born December 4th – nine weeks early.

At 3 pounds, 15 ounces and almost 18” long , she’s actually a pretty big “preemie,” but her development still has a ways to go before she can go home sometime in January. Her Mom and Dad (our daughter-in-law Erin and son Aaron) are both doing well, although feeling a bit overwhelmed by daily demands.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to periodically go to Hillsboro to be with big sisters Sophia and Madeline as they adjust to the hectic schedule of hospital visits combined with school and activities. Sophia is turning into a champion member of her swim team while Madeline is coming into her own at preschool. What a smart little cookie she is. Kindergarten can’t come too soon!

Our next newest grandchild, little Tyler, is now a busy busy! 15-month-old toddler that just wins everyone’s hearts. He’s definitely an engaging little bud, with a huge smile, never ending baby vocabulary, and feet that go just as fast as they can before they lose traction or balance, plopping him down on his little bottom.

With Jen, Steve & Tyler in Port Coquitlam, BC, and Erin, Aaron, Sophia, Madeline & Clara in Hillsboro, OR, we sure wish all the grands lived closer! Being Gramma and Grampa is FUN!

In our own household, Galen is now within reach of his AA degree in Construction at Green River Community College. It’s tough finding work in housing construction at the moment, but he’s picking up piece work now and then, while looking for something full time.

Bill’s job at Microsoft came to an abrupt end in July, so he and Galen are pounding the pavement (& keyboards) together along with challenging each other weekly to see who can put in the most job applications. We’re hoping jobs for both of them come along … SOON!

I’m still hard at work peddling houses through RE/MAX. The housing market is challenging, but I’ve been blessed with a fairly steady stream of business for the last few months. (Thank heavens!) In addition to transaction work, my days are filled with prospecting for business through blogging and Facebook, etc., along with an ever-increasing variety of community involvement.

All in all, we’re hanging in there through this blasted economic downturn — working as hard as we can and praying for jobs and business — just like most everyone else. We know that 2011 will be an easier year!

May your Christmas and onward into the New Year continue to be blessed with much happiness and laughter! We hope to see you or talk to you soon!

Sending Best Wishes to Dana Babb and Paws-Abilities!

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Over the years, we’ve taken our dogs to what I consider to be the premier dog training facility in our area: Paws-Abilities. I’ve referred literally dozens of clients to Dana Babb, the owner, whenever doggy training of any sort was needed – behavior issues, puppy manners, agility classes, companion classes, and so on. Some folks just bond with dogs and know how to get the best from them; others, like me, are loyal followers hoping to glean another nugget of technique on why my dog does what he/she does and what the heck I’m supposed to do about it.

One of my favorite techniques was learned while we had a very stubborn … and busy! … dalmation named Gateway. Oh my, Gateway was one of those training challenged dogs. Think Marley and Me, except covered with spots! Anyway, Gateway had a habit of jumping our six-foot cedar fence. And she was really really good at it. It was amazing how she could go up and over the thing with a leap, a slight catch with her back feet on one of the runners, and then over she’d go.

We were in classes with Dana and Larry at Paws-Abilities at the time and I was totally frustrated with trying to get this dog to STOP! Gateway wouldn’t stop going over the fence and the neighbors were calling because there she’d be. Running all over the neighborhood wagging her tail and just generally happy to be out of her own very lovely and large back yard.

Larry’s solution: teach her to jump. Say what??? “Teach her to jump. That way she’ll only jump on command.” The weirdest thing was … it worked! Once Gateway had mastered jumping hurdles she never again jumped the fence. These guys know dogs!

Over the years and especially after Larry’s passing, Dana and I have become trusted advisors to one another. She calls when she has a real estate need. I call when I have a doggy issue.

Yesterday I received a call from Dana explaining that the dog center needed a new location and looking for some advice and thoughts both about leasing a new facility and valuing her home. Bless her, Dana will be undertaking a challenge now as a service dog trainer in the Wounded Warrior Project and Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis‐McChord. I couldn’t be more delighted for her, although it means that Paws-Abilities will be moving along to new heights! She’s hoping to begin offering classes again sometime in the future, but for now will be focusing on being part of this very rewarding and needed program.

Best wishes, Dana! Visit Paws-Abilities to keep tabs on training opportunities. They’ll be open again soon!

Congratulations Margaret & Jim on Your New Home!

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Delivering keys to new homeowners today produced BIG smiles and a few hugs all around.

Congratulations Jim and Margaret!!!

Thanks again to a flawless team:

  • Marilyn Brown at First American Title & Escrow — I’m so glad we can count on you.
  • Beth Jensen at Cobalt Mortgage — Right on time and delivered as promised; the buyers and I were thrilled!
  • Dave Jagosh — Your inspection services were JUST right!