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| 9/2009 WE'RE BAAACK!!! With homes around the Woodinville, Kirkland, Bothell and surrounding areas selling at record highs, sellers are beginning to see what we have been telling them for the last few months...It's not only a good time to buy - but a great time to sell! In my office our sales rose 250% for August 09 compared to August 08. Interest rates still hovering around the 5% mark. First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit still available. Thinking of buying or selling? 5/20/2009 Yes, it is Historic Times for Homebuyers! Interest rates are at 4.75%! My first Mortgage was a deal in 1997 at 11.5% and I was happy to get it! What this low rate equates to is a 25% increase in purchase power for buyers! The $8,000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit has to be used by Dec 1, 2009. That means that since deals have to be closed on that date, we should be writing offers now - especially for those deals that are taking forever (short sales). In our area, First Time Homebuyer inventory is shrinking to the 4 month level - it's beginning to become a buyers market! Potential buyers can buy with as little as 3.5% down with an FHA loan and gift money is allowed. FHA Funding is Fabulous! If you are thinking of buying, it's time to get off the fence!!! Call me and set up your Home Buying Tour Today! 2/23/2009 
This is my son Kitty Scooter. He was adopted by our Mama Kity when he was around 4 weeks old. She had a litter of kittens just a bit older than him, so when my Mom found him meowing loudly in the field behind her house, she brought him over. They took to each other immediately, it was love at first sight. Scooter was the pick of the litter and we didn't have the heart to give him away with the rest of the kittens. He still Meow's very loudly and it does become annoying. Last Friday Scooter and his Mama went out to play and Mama never returned. He looks for her all over the house and has been meowing constantly, it's heart breaking. Our neighbors have reported seeing a Bobcat in the woods behind our house and there are coyotes too - so we have little hope. But we do have our precious little Scooter - and he doesn't get to go outside anymore! 2/19/2009 My New Best Friend...  Really....
How did I get along without this? I get all my updates from my Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Active Rain & MySpace not to mention... I can type in my Grocery List in an application called MemoPad. My Calendar is always handy. My Sprint Navigation in case my Garmin Nuvi poops out on me. http://activerain.com/blogsview/936470/My-GPS-sucks A camera in case I don't happen to have mine with me. Also a mini video camera...havent used it yet though.... Mine is RED...!!!!!!!!! The MLS can even set up an E-KEY for it.... Did I mention that Sprint has a Simply Everything Plan for $99/month - which includes unlimited calling, unlimited web access, unlimited texting - there's even a TV application - yes, unlimited watching! (if you can stand the little screen!) Simply Everything is a great deal for me! What will they think up next....? Should my Darling Husband be worried???? (LOL Probably not!) If you have been thinking you need a new phone and you haven't jumped on the Blackberry Bandwagon yet, it's time.... Do it!!! Thursday January 22, 2009 So I open my email this morning from Sonny Kwan. It says "You've Been Tagged, and You Are Welcome -Sorry!" I'm supposed to tell 7 things about me that others may or may not know, and link to 7 of my friends. Give ME a chance to talk about myself??? Haha. Ready - Set - Here I go! 1) I worked at Denny's Restaurant as a hostess. For about 3 weeks in August of 1985. It was a fun job, it just didn't pay enough. I left it there work at Kamas Realty in Bellevue, WA. Some of the original Kamas people run John L. Scott franchises in Kent and Renton. 2) I am a SeaFair Fanatic! Seafair is a summer festival in Seattle held the first weekend in August. It includes Hydroplane races on Lake Washington, the Blue Angels spectacular airshow, there is a huge parade called the Torchlight parade, where the SeaFair Pirates blow off cannons and pretend to scare the crowd. Navy ships also come in to port - Seattle is filled with servicemen and you can take tours of the ships. It is crazy in Seattle and so much fun!  
3) I am a 4th generation descendant of a Coal Miner family from Roslyn, WA. Although it is a small logging & former coal mining town with a population of only 800, Roslyn is famous for being featured as Cicely, Alaska in the the 90's TV show "Northern Exposure" and for the 1979 movie starring Dick Van Dyke called "The Runner Stumbles". 
4) I have lived in Woodinville, WA for 2 years. Woodinville is Wine Country - boasting over 40 wineries. Just to name a few -Chateau St. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Brian Carter Cellars, Silver Lake and Washington Wineries, all produce quality wines. 5) I love Starburst Jelly Beans. (Beans are a food group, right?) No holiday goes by without one of my family members presenting me with a gift of my beloved "Beans"... btw, Starburst Jelly beans are NOT like Jelly Bellies - they are way better! 6) I like to shop Second Hand Stores, Consignment Shops and Garage Sales! My wedding dress was purchased from a consignment shop on Park Lane in Kirkland called Champagne Taste. It was brand new - with the Tags, and in the current bridal catalog for way more than I paid for it ($200) and I looked like a Million Bucks! The bonus was that the owner allowed us to use it as a dressing area for our wedding- which was on the beach nearby! 7) Wow I made it to SEVEN! I love SEVEN - I was married to my darling husband Andy on 7/7/7. We have a combined total of SEVEN Children. At the time we were married, we had two SEVEN year old boys. My pastor has a daughter whose name is SEVEN. I think my lucky number is SEVEN???? Here is Andy and I with our Lucky SEVEN! 
Links to 7 friends? Yeah right! I won't have seven friends if I do that! Hope you enjoyed this blog edition - Tag - You Are Next! Saturday January 17, 2009 Is this YOUR Smiley Face? This is exactly why you should always twirl once in front of the mirror before leaving the house!  Is your house properly presented when listed? The 3 p's of selling your house are Product, Presentation & Price. If your listing doesn't get a twirl, what does your potential buyer see? Be picture perfect and ready for market on Day ONE! You may be missing something, like a smile? Monday, January 5, 2009
January 3, 2009  Who ever would have thought that the Seattle area would come to a standstill for over 2 weeks due to SNOW! My laugh of the morning is a Tweet from a friend who posted, "Never thought I would be so excited to see a garbage truck, and it is not even on my street!" So true, so true!
Here is my list of 2008 Christmas memories!
1. White Christmas - We were stuck in our driveway with over 2 feet of compact snow and ice. Andy (my darling hubby) crashed into the back of our Subaru with the Expedition trying to get out! Our power was off and on intermittantly, which made cooking a turkey a sli  ght challenge. Two of our seven children were unable to make it - the rest were trapped! 2. We are upcoming Rockstars now that we own Rock Band! Both bo  ys have their own Fender Stratocaster's and of course, I am the lead singer! 3. My Mother in law made me the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen.
4. We got our Christmas tree at the gas station on the corner. A noble for $25! I think we'll go there again next year.
5. My husband did a full on 360 (on purpose) in the middle of I-405 at 10 pm in the snow - because he could. That action led to more derelict driving in the snow. My son wants to know why I don't know how to "drift"...
6. We listen  ed to Andy's new John Denver CD all week. I love JD, brings me back cozy childhood memories. 7. I took a bite out of the hottest Jalepeno pepper I have ever encountered. It was so hot that I burned all the way down to my tummy! After a hearty laugh, the waiter brought me a glass of milk - which surprisingly took the hot away immediately.
8. I worked a weekend for my Dad at his seasonal liquidation sale and brought my 9 year old son Johnny with me. Turned into a great working/learning/mother-son thing. Customers loved having him ring up their sale, taking their money and counting their change. He was a hard worker, a good salesman and a tough manager! He earned his own money, made his Christmas list - shopped and wrapped all of his gifts and was proud of what he had done. (te  ar!) He now proclaims himself the Store Manager - he even sent me on a 15 minute break :)
9. Memorable evening spent with my in-laws. MIL played the organ, FIL played both a small guitar and a harmonica, and we all sang Christmas Carols. (See I told you we are Rockstars!)
10. Never got my Christmas cards mailed out. Drat! 11. Rang in the New Year with my darling husband and our dear friends Steve & Peggy Markey at an Irish Pub in Kirkland.
12. Spent New Years Day with my Fabulous parents on their 37th Wedding Anniversary.  It's been a memorable year for the Nelsons, and we have put it in the books for later. I am so excited about what this new year holds for us that I'm having a hard time sleeping. Or maybe it was the back-up alarm on the garbage truck that kept me awake.....oh and it snowed again last night!
Sleepless in Snowy Seattle posted by Teresa Nelson January 3, 2009
Should I sell now - or what am I waiting for?Inventory Levels. How many people have you heard that are waiting until spring to list their home? Perhaps you know of someone who had their house previously listed, but cancelled only so they could relist again in the spring. By listing NOW you will avoid all the potential competition that will glut the market in March, April & May! Interest Rates. A 1% drop in interest rates is equal to a 10% savings in the sales price of a home. This is causing a surge in buyer activity. Many people are finally beginning to see this buying opportunity as what it is – an opportune time to Buy Their Dream Home! Who knows how long these great rates will stick around for? Motivated Buyers First time home buyers area able to take advantage of the $7,500 tax credit, which expires mid 2009. According to my own tracking reports, people have been sitting at home on their computers, looking at internet listings. They are already shopping for your house now! Take advantage of smaller inventory levels, historically low interest rates and those buyers who have been waiting for this moment! What are you waiting for? Call me today for your free Market Evaluation.
The Bailout - Who is Eligible for Help?November 15, 2008Lots of articles, lots of talk about the bailout -are you still confused as to whether you are eligible for help?
Here is a quick summary for your reference:
FHA Plan (This applies if you have FHA financing through any number of lenders) Lenders will modify interest rates or forgive a portion of your principal, to bring the ratio of mortgage payments (including HOA dues) to 38% of your income.To be eligible you must:
Have a loan on a primary residence that was made before Jan. 1, 2008.
Contact loan servicers and cooperate on supplying need information.
Be at least 90 days behind on payments.
Not have filed for bankruptcy protection.
Certify that a hardship, such as job loss or illness, has affected your ability to repay
Certify that you did not purposely default to get a loan modification.
CitiBank - They are projecting to rework approximately 130,000 loans. You are eligible for consideration if your mortgage related payments exceed 40% of your income. They are calling loan holders in targeted areas of the country, but Washington isn't one of them so you will need to call them to see if you can be considered.
JP Morgan Chase (owns all of the WaMu loans now) Their loan modification efforts are targeted at option ARMs that are accumulating interest, which will be replaced with fixed-rate loans that are more stable for borrowers and seen as far less likely to default. J.P. Morgan said it wouldn't begin the foreclosure process on borrowers during the next 90 days, as it opens loan-counseling centers and takes other steps to launch the program.
Wachovia Corp. Has initiated a loan-refinancing program targeted at option Arms from the loans it acquired as part of its purchase/takeover of Golden West Financial Corp and Wells Fargo & Co.
Bank of America They have two loan-modification pools targets 265,000 borrowers with all types of mortgages. The other was hashed out with 14 state attorneys generals and involves 400,000 subprime and option-ARM customers serviced by the big lender Countrywide Financial Corp., which Bank of America purchased July 1.
What options do you have if you are having trouble making your payments - but you don't qualify per the above?
Hope for Homeowners- This program provides, new 30-year fixed rate mortgages that are FHA insured - which means you might be able to refinance into a more affordable mortgage). To be eligible for this the home must be your primary residence (and you don't have a 2nd home/investment property), you loan was originated before 1/1/08 and you have made at least 6 payments, you are not able to pay your existing mortgage without help, your total mortgage payments are more than 31% of your monthly income, an you certify that you haven't been convicted of fraud in the past 10 years or provide false information to get the loan in the first place. Hope for Homeowner Website
Credit Counseling - There are a variety of agencies out there that can help walk you through the options specific to you.The Department of Housing & Urband Development Approved Credit Counseling Agencies in Washington (free or low cost)
Talk to your Loan Servicer - Call the number on your statement and find out who owns your loan. Then call the lender directly. They are much more likely to talk to you right now.
Short Sale - This is where the lender agrees to take less than the balance of the loan to avoid foreclosure. In order to be successful with this, it is critical that you work with an agent who has an experienced team to deal with this. Generally lenders are only willing to do short sales on primary residences - not 2nd homes & investments.
Deed in lieu of Foreclosure - Talk to your lender - this is where you transfer title in return for the cancellation of your debt. Although you lose what equity you might have, it isn't as damaging on your credit as foreclosure.
Bankruptcy - When all else fails, this is something to consider.
If you think you need help Do Not Wait! If a loan is modified prior to it becoming delinquent, it will be counted as current and so it shouldn't affect your credit rating.
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