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Archives for November 2010

Time to Downsize?

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I must admit that this time of the year … when family is due for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays are looming too … I give a wee bit of thought to the idea of downsizing. Just small enough so that I don’t have to spend a day scrubbing the place down. All those rooms! Of course, three bedrooms isn’t a lot of space, but still. I’m just that lazy sometimes.

There’s been a lot of hype lately about downsizing. I see it on the news and “home” shows constantly. Give away the stuff (and I have a lot of it), learn to live with less, enjoy the freedom, etc.

This morning I got a bit sidetracked surfing the news sites. And came across this video on one of my local stations:

Now, I’ve seen some itty bitty places, but this one takes the cake! Can you imagine living in a home that’s built on a mere 300 square feet!? It’s really quite intriguing!

I’m not too sure that I could downsize to quite this level. And to think that it cost a mere $500,000 to build! Maybe I’d better think twice about cleaning all these rooms …

Hey Buyer! Motivated Seller Here! Price Reduced AGAIN!

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Quiet & Peaceful perfectly describes this idyllic property located in Ravensdale. The current owner says deer and elk come by to visit now and then, along with other forest creatures!

Of course, with 2.28 fully-fenced & gated acres, you’ll have plenty of room for your own raise critters, to garden, park your toys, or just enjoy the lovely waterfall and pond.

This 1536 sq ft home features a gigantic living room & dining room—both with bay windows, nicely appointed kitchen and laundry, plus three bedrooms. While there’s the true master bedroom, located at one end of the home featuring a private 5-piece master bath, complete with soaking tub, double sinks & shower, the 2nd bedroom opens to another five-piece bath with yet two more sinks, shower and huge oval soaking tub! Could be two master suites in this home!

All of the windows and carpeting were recently updated and the owner just installed a Gen-Tran to guard against possible power outages. In addition to the detached 2-car garage, the owner recently built a roofed and concrete based shelter that could be used as additional parking–great for a boat or RV (he uses it for an outdoor exercise space). 

Plus, there’s an outbuilding/loafing shed(?) is currently used for rough storage, with one end as a wonderful roofed and floored dog kennel, complete with dog runs. This building is a bit rough on one end, but certainly usable!

A previous owner had horses and the property has still has some cross-fencing. With just a little renovation, you’ll have great pasture areas!

Title Elimination is complete, plus the home is on a permanent foundation complete with tie downs and concrete pads. Act soon and you’ll be in your new home in 45 days!!

Drop by the virtual tour by clicking the button below, and then call for your own personal tour of this fabulous property. You’ll love it!

[srp_profile lat=”47.3579522″ lng=”-121.913761″ address=”32216 SE Kent-Kangley Road” city=”Ravensdale” state=”WA” zip_code=”98051″]

 

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We’ll Miss You, Dave

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I am incredibly saddened by the passing of Dave Niehaus, the announcer who called the Mariners’ baseball games in Seattle for over 30 years.

A game just wasn’t complete without Dave’s commentary. His occasional enthusiastic outbursts  “My Oh My” and “Fly Fly Away!” punctuated the very best games and best plays. So often we went to games with radio headphones so that we could listen to his calls. In fact, there were many a game watched from home where we turned down the TV and turned up the radio to listen to him.

My children all love baseball–partly because Dave Niehaus made it come alive for them. We celebrated so many wins and so many near impossible plays with him … and Niehaus knew just how to heighten the excitement.

Oh, we’ll greatly miss you, Dave. Baseball in Seattle will never be the same again.

Another Rewarding Closing for First Time Homebuyers!

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It’s just SO rewarding to hand the keys over to first time homebuyers! Especially one that’s been five children in the making!

Last night I had the pleasure of giving the keys to a buyer moving into their very first … very own … brand new, built-just-for-them, house. And it was really cool! Imagine having five children and never owning your own place. Raising the crowd in a two-bedroom rental. For years! Saving, saving, saving, so there was a downpayment.

And then having home prices and interest rates drop significantly enough so that you can afford a five bedroom, plus den, plus bonus room, three-and-a-half bathroom brand new home! The excitement was so thick one could have cut it with a knife!

Not that the purchase wasn’t without tremendous trials, topped off with the fact that, at the last minute the courier taking their closing documents to the County for recording had a breakdown on the side of the freeway … so recording really didn’t occur yesterday! Thankfully the builder allowed this very deserving family to begin moving in last night. And recording occurred first thing this morning!

But their calm, collected attitude of “We’ll get there if it’s to be” kept their dream alive, right down to the key exchange. Unfortunately, with all the starts and stops of yesterday’s closing, it was dark and only the wife was able to be there — flying on air!

Congratulations Reggie and Janine! You’ve earned this many many times over! We have to get together for pictures now!