Sandra White: Sandra White (John L Scott Real Estate)

Many people dream of moving to a small, quaint and rural town and running a B & B.  Seems the problem is that it is a lot of work, hard to find and keep good help, and sometimes there are too many vacancies.  Most owners are just plain tired.  It can take a long time to sell these often magnificent Victorian beauties as some of Port Townsend B & B owner's are finding out.  Here are some examples:

Old Consulate Inn:

Grand old house with an interesting history dating back to 1891, when it was used as the consulate headquarters, with 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and staff living quarters in the basement.  On the market for approx. 4 years, currently listed at $1,100,000.  Beautiful woodwork, nice rooms and grounds.  12,000 sq. ft. lot in great location near the Jefferson County Court House. 

Ann Starett Mansion:

Built in 1889 as a wedding gift for his bride by one of town's prominent citizens and local builder.  Amazing architecture and grand old house.  A B & B in the past, it is now operated as a boutique hotel (I am told there was once a wonderful and popular restaurant there)  with 10 bedrooms and 10 baths.  On the market for the past 5 years or so, it is now offered for $975,000 down from 1.7 mil. 

English Inn:

Out of the way a bit, on the edge of Uptown, and well hidden behind English Laurels. Built in 1885 with  6 bedrooms and 6.5 baths with a wonderful Old English Pub on the ground floor.  On the market for 1.5 years it is currently offered for $759,000.

Ravenscroft:

New in comparison to most of the historical homes above, this building is from 1989 and is keeping with the Uptown vintage construction.  Currently run as a B & B with 8 bedrooms, 9 baths and fabulous kitchen dining area the home has 6222 sq,ft, on a 12,000+ sq. ft. lot.  Currently offered at $995,000.

Inn At McCurdy House:

Wonderful view home in heart of Uptown, with only 3 bedrooms, 2 baths.  Recently purchased by current owners and back on the market with an asking price of $897,000 ( less than their purchase price less than 2 years ago.)

I am sure you will find this same type of inventory all over the Pacific Northwest.  Great time to act if you have the same dream.

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

Cindo de Mayo  is not as much fun here as it was in California.  There, people are always  happy for the excuse to have Margaritas, and act crazy.  Oh well, they would never have a Rhodie Festival with a bed race and a pet parade, like we have here in Port Townsend,  so there are trade-offs.

Here is what Wayne (Dyer) has for you today. 

If things are not working, ask yourself,"In what way am I creating this? In what way can I change?

Where I live we are surrounded by water and a fair amount of rain.  However, the state of Washington is planning to regulate its use in our area of Jefferson County to benefit the salmon habitat. 

The resulting limits on water usage could seriously  affect our small farms and some believe it is a plan to limit growth in the state.  There are local farm bureaus that are lobbying against the limits, and many public forums take place with the Department of Ecology and the Department of Natural Resources. There have been many realtors working to defeat the regulations.

Possible new rules would limit the number of  new wells, denying some land owners development of their own land, metering existing wells and  limiting the amount of water to a maximum of 500 gallons per day, or an average of 350 gallons per day. 

There has been talk of tripleing  setbacks from rivers,  streams and wetlands to the point where a five acre parcel would be unbuildable.

There is no way to please both sides in this issue.  Stay tuned!

More about the Puget Sound

• More than 5,700 acres of aquatic land (land under water) exceed contamination levels that are considered safe.
• Nearly 20 percent - or about 30,000 acres - of commercial shellfish beds have closed to harvest since 1980.
• Approximately 70 percent of Puget Sound near-shore estuary habitat (the land near the mouths of rivers) has been lost to residential, commercial and industrial development. These areas are vital nurseries for salmon and other marine life.

The Causes

Population growth and development have taken a toll on Puget Sound. Nearly four million people live in 115 cities and towns around the Sound, and more keep coming - 1.5 million more in the next twenty years. That's like adding a city the size of Portland. On the surface, Puget Sound still looks terrific; yet underneath there are alarming signals that the ecosystem is in trouble. We must take action now to prevent irreversible decline.

Among the many Puget Sound species listed as threatened or endangered are: orcas, otters, steelhead, salmon, bull trout, albatross, pelicans and sea turtles.

Today there are far fewer shorebirds - nearly a 50 percent decline in just the past two decades.

Thousands of acres of commercial shellfish beds are closed because the clams, mussels and oysters are unsafe for us to eat.

The state Department of Health keeps a list of Puget Sound beaches that are not safe for swimming because they are contaminated with bacteria.

And in Hood Canal, there are dead zones - areas without enough oxygen in the water to support life -- with signs that new dead zones are emerging in other parts of the Sound.

One-third of the households around Puget Sound rely on septic systems, many of them old or leaking, which send raw sewage into the Sound.

Every day, treated wastewater flushes into Puget Sound, along with toxic chemicals.

Two million acres of forest at the base of our mountains has been cut, paved and built up in less than one generation - that's an area as large as King and Pierce counties combined.

Our cities and suburbs are built so that less rainwater is absorbed where it falls, and more rainwater picks up chemicals and oil as it washes over roofs and roads into storm drains that empty into the Sound. This "stormwater runoff" is the number one cause of pollution in Puget Sound.

According to my company stats this is the foreclosure rate in the Pacific Northwest :

Number of Homes in foreclosure:

2008                                                             2009

WA  1/1194                                                   1/908

OR  1/984                                                     1/446

ID   1/774                                                     1/358

US 1/557                                                       1/440

We are a bit behind the rest of the country, so maybe our worst numbers are yet to come. 

Wayne Dywer Wisdom for May 4th:

You are in a partnership with all other human beings; not a contest to be judged better than some and worse than others.

I think real estate causes us to judge ourselves based more on production, than what we have contributed to the lives of others.    

I hope your Sunday is as beautiful as ours.  Here is Dr. Wayne Dyers proclamtion for today:

Every obstacle that comes along on this planet is either an opportunity to grow and transcend our form and think differently,  or to use it as an excuse to believe we are stuck. 

Now is really all there is, and the future is just another present moment to live when it arrives. 

My mother used to say" today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday"  Never understood what that meant as a child, but now I have her little wall plaque in my office where I will see it everyday.   So true.

Have a great Saturday.

 http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

Happening this weekend, May 2nd and 3rd at the fairgrounds in Port Townsend.  This is a great event for all homeowners, and those that want to be in the future.   Sponsored by the Jefferson County Homebuilder's Association with other sponsors including,

•  Puget Sound Energy
•  First Federal Bank
•  Built Green
•  Mountain Propane
•  Penquin Windows 

This event will help connect members of this small local trade organization with consumers, who will benefit from demonstrations, exhibits, booths, and seminars.  Promoting remodeling and new construction as well, with ideas on building green, power saving tips, passive solar exhibit.  Attendees will be able to see and feel products.  The event will provide networking for builders, suppliers, vendors and consumers.  

 Last year there were over 70 exhibitors with prizes including $500 Town Dollars*, and an Enclume Pot Rack. 

There will be a preview this evening for all vendors. 

Home building in this area is extremely important for many reasons, but here are some figures from Jefferson County Homebuilders website.

In 2007 288 new homes constructed in one area of the county produced the following; 915 new jobs, and 35.4 million in local taxes in the first year.  The ripple effect is another 505 jobs and $1.4 million in local taxes, and $18.2 in local income in year 1. 

 Information from National Association of Home Builders in  WA,DC

*Produced by downtown organization, good at most downtown stores. 

May Day!

I hope the weather is as beautiful in your town as it is in Port Townsend, WA this morning.  Here is your Wayne Dyer wisdon for this morning:

No one knows enough to be a pessimist.  No one! 

Hope you are full of optimism this morning....Have a beautiful  day.

Every year, Port Townsend home owners experience accidents in their house that could have been avoided. These, include electric and kitchen fires, gas leaks, smoke, and carbon monoxide injuries, scalding from hot water, and falling down stairs. Below are seven easy, cost effective ways for reducing your chances of facing such a household calamity.

1. Have you replaced your smoke detector (s) in the last 10 years?

As of 1997, 94% of all homes have smoke detectors. In fact, a working smoke detector can reduce your risk of dying in a house fire by nearly 50%. Batteries should be changed every 6 months and smoke detectors every 10 years.

2. Does your family have an escape plan if a fire should occur?

Only 16% households have developed and practiced a fire escape plan. Always have at least 2 ways out of every room and practice these routes every 6 months. Furthermore, plan an emergency meeting place outside of your home in the event of a fire.

3. Parents, do you have anti-scald valves on all faucets and vent locks or gates on all windows?

Water temperatures can vary by up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, scalding is a leading cause of burn related injuries among children. Remember to install safety gates on windows, screens alone are not strong enough to prevent falls.

4. Do you have a class ABC fire extinguisher mounted near an exit on every level of your home?

4. Do you have a class ABC fire extinguisher mounted near an exit on every level of your home?

Home fires are the leading cause of death in the US for people over the age of 1. That's why, in addition to smoke and fire detectors, fire extinguishers should be located on every level of your home.

5. Do you have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's) for receptacles near all water supplies and damp areas?

This includes all outlets in bathrooms, laundry areas, kitchens, or anywhere dampness meets electricity. GFCI's act like circuit breakers to eliminate shock hazards. They will shut down the circuit if an imbalance is detected.

6. Do your stairwells have bright lights at both the top and bottom, and are your basement steps painted with illuminating paint? 

More than 42% of falling deaths result from tripping on stairs and steps. Lighting the location of steps will go a long way toward preventing tripping. Also, don't forget to secure all rugs and carpeting on or near you steps with rubber backing or double stick tape.

7. Do all of your exterior doors have deadbolt locks on them?

Most burglars take the easy way into your home, either a door or a window. Deadbolts offer the greatest protection. Use a double cylinder bolt when there is glass in or near a door.

I just attended a company sponsored legal update class on the subject of Properly Advising Distressed property owners in Washington State (possibly facing foreclosure or short sale)

I mostly learned I want to stay away from that situation, but life being what it is, I am sure my turn will come.  I did quite a few short sales in the early part of my real estate career, and was not much fun then either.

 New legislation just passed (May be our state of WA only, check it out in your state)

•  Creates obligation to attempt to contact borrower prior to serving a Notice of Default in order to explore non-foreclosure options.
• Requires that the NOD cannot be served for at least 30 days after initial contact has been made, or when no contact has been made lender has done "due diligence" in attempting to make contact.
• Will apply only to loans made in a window between 1/1/03 and 12/31/07, (targeting presumably sub-prime purchasers.)  on owner occupied residential real property and excludes seller financing,
• Extends the period of time any tenant of subtenant may lawfully occupy the property from 20 days after foreclosure to 60 days.
• Creates a right for the borrower to bring a civil claim after foreclosure against the lender for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, violation of the Mortgage Brokerage License law or failure of the Trustee to comply with foreclosure process.
• Imposes on Trustee a duty of good faith to all persons having an interest in the property subject to foreclosure.

In short all of this gives homeowner an additional 90 days of occupancy and a remedy for improper conduct of lender.

Obamas plans to help homeowners include

• Home Affordable Loan Modification Program

         This program is for borrowers who are risk of default or already in default who are experiencing a    hardship.  Reduces the monthly payment by reducing interest rate as low  2% for 5 years. and in some cases extends the loan to 40 years.  Principal  forgiveness is permitted. This program in effect until 12/31/12

Eligibility:

1. Occupant of 1-4 unit property
2. Have an unpaid principal balance that is equal to or less than $729,750 (Higher limit for 2-4 units)
3. Have a loan that was originated on or before January 1, 2009
4. Have a mortgage payment(PITI & HOA dues)  that is more than 31% of gross mo. income
5. Have a mortgage payment that is not affordable due to something lika a change in finances

• Home Affordable Refinance Program

     Eligible borrowers may refinance loans that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac owned or guaranteed. (about   half of all outstanding mortgages).

1. Must be current in making loan payments, have loan to value ratios above 80%m but not more than 105%, have sufficient stable income, and meet other requirements. 
2. This program ends in June, 2010.