With many thanks to our CW Title & Escrow partners, here are a few tips about important dates in February. You may be needing some tax tips, or are getting ready to move into your new home. Don’t forget Valentine’s Day!
Tiny Houses
I certainly don’t have to tell you how intriguing and just downright cute so many tiny houses are. Every now and then one catches my eye and I think … wow, maybe we should add this to our backyard! I mean, after all, that would’ve solved the “how do we share our space with a grown child?” and the “my aging best friend is running out of money and needs a place to live!” quandries.
Every locale has rules about what you can build where and this post doesn’t begin to address that issue. Be sure to check out what zoning, permitting, rights and restrictions you have in your area before attempting to install one of these on your property. In the meantime, here are links to couple of tiny houses that I think are absolutely amazing!
The first two are Ana White videos. If you’ve not seen her work and videos before, be sure to subscribe to her feed on YouTube, or visit her website at Ana-White.com. There are plans for furniture, how to build a Tiny House, and so on!
Country Living also has quite a number of Tiny House posts. This is one of my favorites:
One more, then I’ll let you do your own Google search for Tiny Houses. There are pages and pages of plans, ideas, considerations, etc.
Here’s a cutie posted by TreeHugger:
Enjoy!
Where Did Americans Move in 2016?
This is a fascinating chart and oh so very true! Last year I assisted three out-of-state buyers in their move to our area. Although, come to think of it, there were two more that moved cross-country to the east coast as well. We’re a mobile sort of society, that’s for sure!
Some Highlights:
- For the 5th year in a row, the Northeast saw a concentration of “High Outbound” activity.
- For the first time ever, South Dakota held the top spot for “High Inbound” states.
- Much of America’s outbound activity can be attributed to Boomers relocating to warmer climates after retiring.
Snow/Ice/Wind Storm of January 2012
I was a bit (well, a lot) skeptical about whether we’d end up with a storm of the magnitude the weather folks were predicting early last week. We were to get 12-18” of snow. Uh huh … right!
In my area of south King County, we’d had a number of just wet little snow blizzards that melted about the time the flakes hit the ground. What I didn’t know, was that the worst of the storm was just laughing at me … waiting for me to go back into the house to finish my skeptical blog post.
For my area of the Auburn east hill, snow was late to arrive, but when it did, it was daggone serious. Now, remember you east coasters … we’re talking about the Seattle area here. We don’t get much in the way of snow. We may get a few inches here and there, close the schools for a day, and then melt off. There’s little snow equipment in the area, we live up/down on hills and the snow we do get is typically very very wet. None of that dry fluffy stuff that’s fun to ski … just Seattle “concrete.”
This time around was no exception. After fits and starts, snow really started to fall on Wednesday and it was wet wet wet sticky stuff. Great for making snow sculptures. That sort of thing.
Thursday morning around 7am, the power went out. A quick look outside said that it had snowed a bit more. With accumulations around 8 inches or so after it’d melted off a bit. Bummer—I wanted SNOW!—and an adventure! At my house, situated on a small community well, septic systems, electric heat, it was going to be a cold few hours – outside was around 28 degrees or so.
But, expecting the best and dressing in layers, we were prepared! Flashlights, generator, a full fridge and pantry full of food, bottles of drinking water and a bathtub full of water for the necessary stuff. Bring it on. We were ready.
HAHAHAHAHAAAA
Fast forward to late Thursday … it’s raining. That’s what was predicted. It was going to rain off all of our accumulations. No problem. What the weather folks didn’t know, is that the rain was freezing. Encapsulating everything and accumulating a deadly layer of ice on top of the snow. And it just kept on accumulating. By the time the rain stopped and turn back to snow on Friday, we’d gathered about an inch of solid ice on top of our snow layer. Stuff is falling off the trees everywhere. (Nothing like laying in bed listening … creeeekkkk, screee, schuuuuuckkkkk, CRASH!) Outside, it’s a winter wonderland with ice coating everything.
But then the snow kept on coming … again! Now there was about two inches of snow on top of the ice! Yikes! I had no idea. Friday morning I decided to let the dogs out front to avoid the broken tree mess in our back yard … and immediately after stepping off the porch all four legs splayed out on both dogs. Getting purchase and standing back up was a challenge for them.
By late Friday we were able to actually make it out of our driveway and back to the world and what a mess it was. Downed trees, downed wires, cars in ditches; it was total destruction. No wonder we had no power. Lines were down on both sides of our private road, huge trees laying everywhere.
But real estate calls just kept on coming. My cell phone kept ringing with people looking for houses. So on Saturday I decided to go ahead and make a showing appointment and give it a go. Yikes, what a further mess. Now our feeder road was totally blocked off, with power line trucks guarding the road so no one could get in or out. Lots of yellow caution tape. (Yay!! Maybe they were working on restoring power!) With lots of talking, we were allowed to carefully go around all of the barriers and trees and off to my showing. Only to be stood up by the Buyers. Sigh … but it was a fun adventure!
Here’s a shot of my favorite shade tree during the ice storm … and after. What you can’t see here is the line of tree trunks that are now just sticks. There’s gonna be a lot of tree removal again this year. I’m thinking that Mother Nature decided pruning was necessary so decided to help us get a start at it. We were very very fortunate – no real damage, but sure a lot of destruction. (And I was mighty glad to take a hot shower on Sunday when the power was restored!)
The Winter Storm Watch Continues
My husband, the amateur weatherman, has been obsessively following the build-up to the “Megastorm” of decades, currently predicted for our greater Seattle region. We’ve been watching for days, experiencing a bit of snow here, and a bit of snow there. At our home in east Auburn, so far we’ve accumulated a couple of inches, which largely went away today even through additional flurries of wet heavy snow.
I grew up in Seattle and remember a few good-sized snow storms from my childhood; even one or two while raising our own children. This storm, however, is expected to dump somewhere between 12- and 18-inches in our yard, according to the “Futurecast” radar displayed on one of our local news sites, KIRO7. That’s a significant amount of snow. Significant!
According to AccuWeather, the history of great Seattle snowstorms is as follows:
- Jan. 5-9, 1880: Est. 36.0″ with 6-foot drifts
- Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 1916: 33.4″
- Jan. 26-31, 1969: 30.7″
- Jan. 12-15, 1950: 26.8″
- Dec. 23-27, 1965: 14.9″
- Dec. 30-31, 1968: 13.0″
- Jan. 23-26, 1972: 12.6″
- Jan. 25-26, 1950: 12.4″
- Dec. 26-27, 1974: 9.8″
- Nov. 20-22, 1985: 9.4″
- Nov. 27, 1985: 7.6″
Twelve-to-eighteen inches. I’m expecting the roof to be fine, but I’m thinking the tarp-type carport under which we park our riding lawnmower and various “stuffs” to probably take a hit. We’ve brought pellets for the stove into the garage. The chickens are safely ensconced in their coop with plenty of food and water. The dogs are oblivious, but will love it. The cat? Well, we may have to hand-carry him out now and then to visit the kitty potty.
Twelve-to-eighteen inches, followed by rain. It should be exciting!
Real Estate is About to Come to a Screeching Halt in Auburn, WA!!!
Truly! Snow is coming! The world will come to an end in Auburn in three days!
At least so say the weather stations.
The greater Puget Sound metropolitan area is a unique place when it snows. We’re hilly around here and our typical warm ocean breezes prevent us from getting much in the way of significant snowfall, which means most of the cities and towns in our area have a minimal amount of snow equipment to deal with the mess. We don’t dump a lot of sand or salt on the roads. Some … but not a lot.
Oh sure, once a year or so we get dumped on with a couple or three inches, but then it rains away within the next day or so. I know, I know – you Seattle’ites remember the recent great snowfall of ‘ought eight’ when we had 6+ inches on the ground for a week or so.
It was darned cold out there and the stuff was packed hard on our road. (We happen to live almost at the bottom and no way were we getting out of here.) It was exhilarating! Snowball fights. The dogs romped through the yard like puppies. BIIIGGG snow creatures adorned the yard.
I remember that the Mayor of Seattle got into all sorts of trouble for not arranging to have side streets and a few major hills plowed (as if he could do much about it with the few plows available), and so on. It was chaos out there.
But I love the snow. Snuggling inside with hot cocoa and a good book.
So … just a word to the wise: Beware!! Real estate .. and everything else involving cars … is coming to a screeching halt if we get 1/2” of snow on Sunday. …….
……
……
… of course, then it’ll all start back up again in a day or two and we’ll be raring to go back to work.
Enjoy!
Another Truly Amazing and Unique House!
Everyone now and then a house just captures imagination. Such is definitely the case for this unique house located in Wales, UK. This “hobbit” house was built completely by the owner, for an amazing sum of less than $5,000. It reminds me of the fairy tale houses of childhood stories.
Just imagine how much fun it would be to live in such a place!
Now, of course, I’m totally curious about how well our local building inspectors might appreciate the framing techniques used here:
An overview from the inside of the rafters:
And the windows are perfect too!
The kitchen from the overlooking bedroom balcony:
With many thanks for posting photos and information, please visit the owner’s site at www.simondale.net. SOOO cool!
A Special Thank You to Past Clients & Associates
I’m especially honored in 2011 to have been chosen as a Five Star Professional in their real estate category. I’m new to this one, so please forgive me as I carry on for a moment about this special award.
It’s my understanding that this award is the result of polling of both the homeowners and other professionals involved (such as escrow, title and mortgage folks) for closed transactions for 2011. I understand that they asked for specific opinions about the folks with whom they dealt, looking for the highest standards of customer service, knowledge, and professionalism.
As you know, for me, customer service is number one on my agenda. After all, a real estate transaction is all about you … my treasured clients. I want you to know that I care about your purchase or your sale more than anything else. I want you to know that I have your back … and that I’m working hard to be sure that whatever it is you strive for in your sale or purchase … I’m there too!
So thank you again. Your recommendation means the world to me and I treasure your confidence in my services.
As I understand it, the list of agents that made the cut for 2011 appears in Seattle Magazine’s December 2011 issue. There are a lot of agents featured, but these best of the best are only a fraction of the agents that practice in the greater Seattle area. (I need to get to a news stand and buy one of these copies!)
I’m honored. Thank you.
Time to Publicly be “Thankful”
Thanksgiving is almost here .. almost! Just a few days away.
In our family, that means the kids come to our home with grandchildren in tow (“I’m” the grandma now), with special treats tucked in baskets, games to play and visiting to be done. We’ll spend 2-3 days chasing the little ones around while they decide that “gramma” and “grampa” live on a farm (NOT), have lots of good hot cocoa and whipped cream, hugs, and stories. They’ll likely ride the “tractor,” (read that as the riding lawnmower), chase the dogs, pick up the eggs from the chickens, feed the neighbor’s horses, and try to prevent the cat from bringing his latest mousing finds into the house.
Then there’re the evenings to sit with a quiet glass of wine with the grown children after the crowd of little ones go to bed. (When did my children grow up and become real people with whom a glass of wine is such a treat? They’re all adults now with families of their own.)
It’s a hectic, chaotic, blessed time.
I’m so thankful!
This upcoming 4th Thursday of November is just the accepted, public time to express thankfulness. Underneath it all, I’m thankful every day for the life we lead. It’s full of stress, but it’s full of laughter as well. It’s full of real estate clients that express hope when they have a real estate need, frustration when things go sideways, gratefulness when things get back on track, and delight when the transaction finally closes. Their trust is a huge responsibility … and I’m thankful to be someone to whom they look to lead them through the quagmire of real estate purchases and sales.
I’m tremendously thankful.
In our family, we’ll all hold hands around the dinner table for a moment on Thanksgiving afternoon and express our thankfulness to each other.
Now it’s time to virtually hold hands with all of you – clients, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. I’m thankful to have each of you in my life.
Farmer’s Markets are “Springing” Up All Over!
It’s Spring, which means Farmer’s Markets are “Springing” Up All Over!
I love shopping at local Farmer’s Markets. Just mingling amongst all the fresh produce, the local crafts, and flowers is inspiring. I always come away with the zeal to go home and weed. Or something equally as dirty.
Not to mention, of course, my reusuable shopping bag, full of goodies. Veggies, lettuces, fruits…even an occasional quart of fresh fresh milk. Yummy. We eat really well for a few days after my trip.
Near my home in Auburn, Washington are a few Farmer’s markets worth mentioning. I missed all of the grand openings this year, but I definitely stop by a couple of times a month for goodies!
Here’s the info you’ll need to visit. Click the heading for additional information.
Auburn International Farmers Market
June 12 to September 25
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Auburn Sound Transit Plaza, 23 A St SW
The Auburn International Farmers Market boasts more than 40 vendors offering a variety of fresh locally grown farm-based foods, hand-crafted items, and concession stand that are restaurant-based but feature a home-cooked taste. The 2011 weekly market starts June 12 and runs through September 25. The market will again include free performances, guest chef demonstrations with farm-fresh ingredients, children’s activities, and classes on health, nutrition, and gardening. AIFM 2011 Special Events June 12 Opening Day ceremonies begin at 8:30am June 19 – Sound Transit and Metro Appreciation Day July 10 – Kids Day July 24 – The Dog Days of Summer | Complete with the annual Parade of Market Dogs August 7 – National Farmers Market Week | Vendor Recognition Day September 11 Remembrance Day September 18 – Senior Appreciation Day
Kent Farmers Market, sponsored by the Kent Lions Club
Saturdays, June 4 to September 24
Town Square Plaza — 2nd Avenue &b Smith Street
When in Auburn and Kent, Take some time to visit each of these local sources for fresh foods and produce. After all, Farmer’s Markets are “Springing” Up All Over!