Negotiating an offer from a buyer…

By Tyler Freed January 31, 2011

A lot of people have various techniques or even designations for being a certified negotiator. I am going to tell you the technique that I use and find the most effective. The most important part is to remember that everyone wants to feel like they won, or they got a deal. How do you get to that point? The simple answer is giving both parties choices.

A great example of this is when you are representing a seller and the buyer comes in low on an offer and asks for closing costs. I always call the agent that sent the offer and thank them for sending in an offer. Next I try and figure out their buyer’s situation. Lastly and most importantly I determine what is going to help them make buying this home a better experience. Is it getting closing cost help? Having extra time to move? Whatever it is I discuss those things with the seller when putting together a counter offer.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller we have an offer in and this is what we now know about the buyers. They are relocating from out of state and are first time buyers. Let’s keep the closing date the same and the closing cost help the same and counter the price. (Assuming the buyers need extra time to move and are using their savings to put together a down payment.) Then you can explain the benefits of your counter offer to the seller in terms of how they countered with the buyers and their own needs in mind.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

So much happens in the kitchen — eating, preparing meals, entertaining, working, talking on the phone, organizing, and the list goes on. Since the kitchen is one of the primary hubs of the home, this year’s resolution could involve sprucing up the kitchen space by painting cabinets or changing out hardware.

Better Homes and Gardens offers 30 makeover ideas, ranging from integrating subtle to bold paint colors. The budget for the makeover can vary, depending on whether you do the work yourself or hire professional help. If you can live with your existing cabinets, simply changing the paint over ripping them out and installing new ones can save you thousands of dollars.

The way to the heart is through the stomach. Investing some time and dollars on the kitchen just might boost your personal and family’s sense of well being.

To learn more about updating your home visit: seattle-rentonhomes.com

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Architectural Digest

“If I want to be alone, some place I can write, I can read, I can pray, I can cry, I can do whatever I want — I go the bathroom.” – Alicia Keys

The master bathroom comes in all sizes and shapes. But one thing is for sure, the bathroom is a private retreat, no matter the degree to which you primp and preen.

Architectural Digest showcases bathrooms with glitz. Imagine soaking in a hot tub while taking in the sound and sense of the backyard garden. Or warming up by a fireplace and watching a show on your flat-screen.
The magazine’s slideshow features master bathrooms that are nothing short of luxury. Designer Mona Hajj installed a 1920s crystal chandelier in hers, and we’re reminded that crystal is not just for the dining table. To see what design you fancy, watch the AD slideshow.

visit seattle-rentonhomes.com for more real estate info.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Northwest MLS Brokers Report $17 Billion in Home Sales During 2009
KIRKLAND, Wash. (Jan. 26, 2010) – Members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service tallied more than 52,000 closed sales of single family homes and condominiums during 2009, about 3.7 percent fewer than the total for 2008. Last year’s completed transactions had a combined sales value of more than $17 billion.
In its annual statistical summary, Northwest MLS reported 45,222 sales of single family homes totaling more than $15.1 billion, plus 6,883 condo sales valued at nearly $1.9 billion. The report reflects activity of members in 19 counties encompassing nearly eighty percent of the state’s population. (NWMLS expanded services to two more counties, Ferry and Clallam, at year end.)
Although the number of sales nearly matched 2008 levels (down 3.7 percent), the dollar volume fell by double digits, dropping nearly 14.6 percent. Closed sales in 2008 totaled more than $19.9 billion, but fell to about $17.2 billion last year. Brokers attribute the drop to a combination of factors, including lower selling prices and higher volumes of distressed sales, such as short sales and foreclosures.
Among the 19 counties in the NWMLS recap report, San Juan claimed the highest median sales price for single family homes that sold there last year, at $443,500. King County followed with a median sales price of $380,000 for last year’s closed sales. System-wide, the median price (half sold for more, half for less) for single family homes that sold last year was $280,000.
For condos, the median selling price was $235,000 across the 19-county market area, down 7.3 percent from 2008 when the median price was $253,500. King County accounted for six of every 10 condo sales, and they sold for a median price of $254,000.
Among other highlights in the annual MLS summary:
• More than eight of every 10 transactions (83 percent) was a “co-op” sale, meaning it was listed by one office and sold by a different office.
• Single family homes accounted for nearly 87 percent of total sales area-wide, measured by units, and nearly 89 percent of total dollar volume.
• Member-brokers added 117,583 new listings of single family homes and condos to the inventory during 2009.
• Members represented an average of 39,212 home sellers (active listings) each month.
• Reported 802 sales of single family homes that fetched $1 million or more. The MLS map area for Bellevue/west of I-405 had the highest volume of million-dollar plus sales (120 closed sales). The highest priced home sale in the MLS system for 2009 was $15,560,000 for a home on Mercer Island.
• Reported 66 sales of condos that sold for $1 million or more; 392 condos sold for $500,000 or more. The highest priced condo sale last year was in downtown Seattle. It sold for $9,750,000.
-more-
page two (2000 Annual Highlights) Jan. 26, 2010
• Newly built homes sold by NWMLS members commanded a sales price about 12 percent higher than existing homes (resales): The median sales price of a pre-owned, 3-bedrooom home (built 2007 or earlier) ranged from $140,000 in Grays Harbor County to $512,000 in San Juan County. The median price of a 3-bedroom new home (built 2008 or 2009) ranged from $158,225 in Grant County to $655,000 in San Juan County.
• Comparing school districts, the most expensive single-family homes, based on last year’s closed sales, are located in the Mercer Island District, where the median sales price was $832,500. It was followed by the Bellevue School District, which had a median sales price of $569,000.
• In the four-county Puget Sound region (King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap), about 15.3 percent of single family homes sold for under $200,000 – more than double the 7.3 percent from 2008.
• Another indicator of activity, pending sales, showed a 16 percent increase in 2009 compared to 2008. Members reported 75,345 pending sales during 2009 (offers accepted, but not yet closed), up from 64,872 pendings for the previous year.
• The pace of sales as measured by “months supply” (an estimate of how long it would take for all inventory of active listings to sell at the current pace assuming no new inventory is added) showed improvement in many areas. In the four-county Puget Sound region, there was a 5.36 months supply at year-end; at the end of 2008 the months supply was at 7.9 months. System-wide, at the end of 2009 there was a 6.25 months supply, which compares to 8.66 months supply at the end of 2008. (Economists consider a supply of 3-to-6 months to be a balanced market, meaning the market favors neither buyers nor sellers.)
Northwest Multiple Listing Service, owned by its member brokers, is the largest full-service MLS in the Northwest. Its membership includes more than 24,000 brokers and agents. The organization, based in Kirkland, currently serves 21 counties in western and central Washington. Ferry and Clallam counties are now included in the monthly statistical reports.
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Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Winter weather can turn the world blue for anyone

Jan 18 2010, 2:22 PM
By Jobyna Nickum

“Grandma? I’m in trouble.”

Are there any words that a grandparent would hate to hear more? This is the opening notes of one of the newest, and cruelest, scams out there. Called the Grandparent Scam, we will discuss this more in a bit.

One thing that has not changed in my 18 years with the Enumclaw Senior Activity Center is the amazing talent of unethical people who prey on older adults with scams. When I think I have heard it all, something different pops up and I am newly amazed. In recent months, more and more seniors have come into the office to report mailers, phone calls and concerns regarding scams.

Whether the economy is booming or in a downturn, scammers think it is a great time to get their money the easy way to take it from unsuspecting older adults.

So what are the most used scams out there these days? According to the FBI Web site (www.fbi.gov), here are the most common fraud schemes.

• Jury duty scam: The FBI is warning the public about an ongoing scheme involving jury service. Please be aware that individuals identifying themselves as U.S. court employees have been contacting citizens by phone and advising them that they have been selected for jury duty. These individuals ask citizens to verify names and Social Security numbers and then ask for credit card numbers. If the request is refused, citizens are then threatened with fines.

Another type of “jury scam” occurs when someone receives a call from someone identifying themself as an officer of the court. The caller says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he’ll need information for “verification purposes” – your birth date, Social Security number, maybe even a credit card number. This is when you should hang up the phone. Jury scams have been around for years, but for some reason have made reappearance in recent months. As a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone; they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail. According to the Web site, “The scam’s bold simplicity may be what makes it so effective. Facing the unexpected threat of arrest, victims are caught off guard and may be quick to part with some information to defuse the situation.”

• Nigerian letter or “419” fraud: Those of us who spend a lot of time on the computer have seen this one more than once. Someone sends you an e-mail or letter and claims to be a Nigerian government official who is unable to get “millions of dollars out of the country” and needs someone’s help. I have to admit that I didn’t think anyone actually responded to these scams – but it was listed at the top of the list on the FBI Web site.

“While such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually,” according to the FBI site. “Some victims have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned against their will, in addition to losing large sums of money. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label ‘419 fraud.’” If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office or the US Postal Inspection Service. If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the Secret Service as soon as possible.

• Grandparents scam: This to me is the lowest of the low, in terms of scams. Targeted strictly at older adults, young adults call seniors across the United States and start the conversation with “Grandma? (or Grandpa?) I’m in trouble.” It could be the love in a grandparent’s heart, or poor hearing so they don’t really recognize the voice, but the next line in this “play” is the senior saying the grandchild’s name: “ Brian? Shari?” Now the scam artist has their first “in.”

“Yes, it’s Brian. I am up here in Canada and I got into some trouble. I need bail money.” Or money to tow their car, or money for some other reason. The request is usually to have the grandparent go to Western Union or MoneyGram and have money wired to Canada. We know of two seniors at this senior center who have been contacted to wire money to their “grandchildren.” One couple actually got money out of a savings account and a Walmart employee refused to type out the wire transfer upon hearing the story. The employee told the senior, “I think you are being scammed and you need to call your grandson first before I will type this money order for you.” Turns out it was a fraud.

Another senior was contacted on the phone and she asked her “grandson” why he was calling her “grandma.” That’s not what he usually called her. When the young man became very nasty and remarked that he was “upset and didn’t have time for games because he was under arrest in Canada,” she knew her grandson would never speak to her that way and hung up the phone. When the person called back she told them she was going to the police. If you do receive a “grandparent call,” be sure to report it to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and you can also report in online to the Canadian Consumer Fraud line: Phonebusters.

• Telemarketing fraud: The never-ending phone calls, usually right at dinner time. The product or service they might be selling you could be anything, but the pattern of the phone call does not change very much.

“You should act immediately, the offer won’t last long!” Or, “You’ve won something free but you must pay for the postage and shipping!” Or, “You can’t afford to miss this opportunity!”

• Mail offers: Oh my goodness! There are some seniors who receive three to five mailers a day telling them they have won anywhere from $50,000 to $300,000. These mailers come with official looking checks with lots of yellow highlighted words and bold, black print – and it all says “You have won.” “This check can be cashed.” The problem is the small print, which will usually say something along the lines of “once you have cashed this check, you have now signed up for…,” or “to cash this check we will need your Social Security number,” or “You won’t get the full $50,000 up front, but you might get $50.” But with cashing that check you have obligated yourself for something – guaranteed. And usually it is a lot of trouble. As we all know, there is nothing in this life for free!

We call one senior center participant Mr. Lucky, because he brings in at least five written letters every week. He might have won a Mercedes car, maybe half a million dollars. We all can’t wait to see what Mr. Lucky won that day. If it is only $30,000, we say he is living poor that day, for a measly 30 grand. But the best one he has received to date was the very long letter, at least six pages, stating that the organization had been tracking him down for years. He was one of a very special group “destined” to be wealthy and famous because of his “incredible intellect and other gifts.” This psychic could tell him how to tap into “untold wealth” that was just waiting for him and all he needed to do was – get ready readers, because this is really, really wild – “Take a coin, rub it on his chest, place it under his pillow on the night of the next full moon” and go to sleep with his wishes on his mind.” Really. Of course, for the kindness of this woman to bring this great mysterious gift to him, he only needed to send a check (not cash, but a check) for $38. We had a good laugh over this one! But the sad news is, there are those who will send the check in and who will place the coin under their pillow – and it is just one more case of fraud targeted at seniors.

• Medicare fraud: Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Never sign blank insurance forms.

While the world is mostly made up of kind, compassionate, ethical people, there will always be those who are out for the “easy” buck. Those who have no morals, no conscience. Those who will seek out the most trusting, who were raised to be considerate. And it is up to us to watch out for ourselves and each other.

During the horror and sadness of the Lakewood police shootings, there were scam artists allegedly collecting funds for the family, when in fact they weren’t a part of the official memorial fund and made off with some of the funds. There are no words for those people. It is my belief that there will be a special place in the afterlife for people like that.

Sometimes, the con artists are not strangers calling on the phone or sending things through the mail. Unfortunately, family members can “scam” their own aging relatives, taking advantage of them financially in later years by selling property, emptying bank accounts, etc., when an elderly relative becomes too frail and is dependent on a loved one for help. According to the Attorney General’s Office here in Washington, our state’s Adult Protective Services program received more than 13,000 reports of abuse, abandonment, neglect and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in 2006. Learn to recognize the signs of financial abuse: unauthorized ATM withdrawals, missing checks or forged signatures on checks or documents, loans against equity in property of life insurance policies, unpaid bills, new “best friends” or the sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives. Anyone suspecting the abuse of a vulnerable adult is urged to call the state’s toll-free phone number, 1-866-ENDHARM.

While we are talking about scams and frauds, it is important that I bring up the upcoming census. Every 10 years the United States conducts a census. This is a legitimate survey that helps our government and elected officials know about the makeup of the country to best serve our citizens. First, I need to make sure folks are not so frightened of scams and identify theft that they don’t give the information needed to complete the real U.S. census. But I want to make sure we don’t fall for the scam artist that will try to capitalize on the census – somehow, some way. According to the U.S. Census Web site, the Census Bureau does not conduct the 2010 census via e-mail or the Internet. You may receive an e-mail from the Census Bureau regarding your participation in a survey, however, the Census Bureau does not request detailed personal information through e-mail and will never send an e-mail requesting PIN codes, passwords, Social Security numbers or credit cards, banks or other financial accounts. If you receive an e-mail or find a Web site you suspect is falsely representing the Census Bureau, do not reply or click on any links within the e-mail. Do not open any attachments. Forward any e-mail or Web site URL to the Census Bureau at itso.fraud.reporting@census.gov.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

In December 2009 there were 170 homes on the market in Lakeland Hills. There were 33 homes that were in escrow, up 106%, and 27 homes that sold, up 35%. The average listing price was $398,000 and the average close price was $283,000. Average days on market was 138.

Here is a list of neighborhoods in Lakeland Hills:
Woodvue, Westwind, Viewridge, The Reserve, Verona, Eastpointe, Evergreen, Ashton, Cascadia, Ridgewood, Summit, Tuscany, Montiano, Aspenwood, Northlake, The Estates

Condos/Townhomes
Capri, Cararra, Foxwood, Heatherwood, Madera, Millpond, Palisades, Siena, Sorano, Waterford

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Get new listings sent to your inbox. Similar to Pandora Radio all listings viewed are compiled together and similar listings are sent directly to your inbox…for free.

Visit www.seattle-tacomahomes.com

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

New Year’s Baby arrives at Enumclaw hospital

Jan 07 2010, 9:29 AM

Three babies, including a set of twins, who made their arrivals at Enumclaw Regional Hospital a hair before midnight Dec. 31, 2009, couldn’t claim the honor of New Year’s baby. But Riley Jane Hamilton, who arrived at 3:43 a.m. Jan. 3, 2010, did.

The 5-pound, 7-ounce baby girl was born to Brittany and Zeb Hamilton of Orting. She joins an older brother, Kaden, who is almost 3 years old.

She was also welcomed by grandparents Dave and Suzanne Riggs of Orting and John Hamilton of Buckley and Penny Hamilton of Oregon and great-grandmother Jenny Sunick of Enumclaw.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

For Immediate Release

January 6, 2010

For More Information Contact:
Tyler Freed (206) 963-0424
tylerfreed@msn.com

New Homes Started in Enumclaw Display Signs of a Housing Recovery

Spurred on by the renewed $8,000 First Time Homebuyer tax credit, SDC Homes, Inc. will soon be breaking ground in the new Enumclaw neighborhood Suntop Farms II, located off Highway 410 and Watson Street North.

Soon after SDC announced the start of construction, the homes, starting at $199,950, began selling quickly. “Within a couple of weeks we had five of the 19 available homesites reserved by buyers,” noted Tyler Freed, Windermere, the site agent representing SDC Homes. “SDC has created remarkable floor plans that offer exceptional livability and a level of finish much higher than industry standard. Currently, we are offering eleven different floor plans including three different styles of ramblers.”

Suntop Farms II, located inside of the Elk Meadows community, brings SDC’s competitive pricing and top of the line homes to a very livable part of the Northwest. In a market where many builders have experienced setbacks, SDC Homes has soared to become the state’s second largest homebuilder. “SDC Homes is committed to creating a perfect match for today’s homebuyer. Their concentration on design, construction quality and a high level of customer service has helped SDC Homes reinvigorate the local new home market,” Freed continued. “With the Federal $8,000 tax credit back in place, the first quarter of this year should see continued growth.”

SDC Homes are available in many Western Washington communities including Renton, Bonney Lake, Port Orchard, Yelm, Lacey, and Federal Way.

For more information on SDC Homes at Suntop Farms II, or other nearby SDC neighborhoods, call Tyler Freed at (206) 963.0424 or visit www.sdchomebuilders.com.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

County fronts some money for fair and 4-H
By KEVIN HANSON
Enumclaw Courier Herald Editor, Editor
Dec 18 2009, 10:53 PM

The King County Fair, which appeared dead when no money was included in the county’s 2010 budget, has been given new life.

As part of a fourth-quarter appropriation, members of the King County Council last week announced they had allocated $50,000 for a 2010 fair and $109,000 for 4-H.

As part of the formal 2010 budget, 4-H had received no funding.

The county’s cash allocation is far below the $311,000 provided for 2009, when the city of Enumclaw agreed to put on the event under the name of Enumclaw’s King County Fair. Blessed with sunny skies, the July fair drew bigger-than-expected numbers and turned a small profit for the city.

The momentum that had been built, however, came crashing down when members of the county council put no money toward a 2010 fair. The city of Enumclaw called a halt to whatever plans it was making.

With the recent news, the city is in fair mode again, according to Parks and Recreation Director Larry Fetter. His department manages the Enumclaw Expo Center and put on the 2009 edition of the fair.

“We’ll do something, provided our council wants to go for it,” Fetter said, explaining nothing will happen without a formal agreement between Enumclaw and the county.

There are two options, Fetter said – a spring fair or an August fair.

The traditional fair days in July have been awarded to Creation Fest, a four-day, Christian-themed event of music and more.

Putting on a spring fair in April is the more likely option, Fetter said. The limited money means there would be less spent on advertising and entertainment than was spent in 2009, Fetter said, and there would be a greater need for local volunteers.

If the 4-H community doesn’t like a spring fair, “we could still do an August event,” Fetter said.

Members of 4-H and FFA have traditionally used the King County Fair as a qualifying event for the larger Puyallup Fair.

Despite the late notice, Fetter believes the city could still put together a fair that is small, but still possessing traditional fair attributes, like a carnival.

The key, he said, is to accept the $50,000 from the county and convince 4-H to contribute.

Beyond that, Fetter knows the council will want some assurance the fair can break even, at least.

“I would never put together a program that would lose money,” he said.

Enumclaw Courier Herald Editor, Editor Kevin Hanson can be reached at editor@courierherald.com or 360-802-8205.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed