Windermere and the Web

As we all know, the Web has changed the way people search for homes. Statistics clearly show that more and more people are researching properties online than ever before. Successful real estate companies are committed to finding ways of making it faster and easier for consumers to conduct their research and to collaborate with their chosen Real Estate professional.

Today, Windermere.com receives the most traffic of any real estate brokerage site in the West, with about 3.5 million total visits a month. At the touch of a button, consumers can view more than 400,000 homes in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Washington and British Columbia. Windermere.com includes homes listed by Windermere as well as all other real estate companies. These listings are updated as often as every 30 minutes, so consumers can get up-to-the-minute access to every home available.Windermere strives to make the process of buying and selling a home a great experience. Part of that means creating innovative online tools that help people get the information they want.

Here’s a quick look at what you can find on Windermere.com, and how they're working to make life easier for Buyers and Sellers.

PropertyPoint™Now featuring Google Maps™

Take a “virtual drive” to the perfect listing! Windermere’s PropertyPoint™ map search is the easiest way to find the largest number of listings available. PropertyPoint is an interactive map search that allows buyers to pinpoint a particular location, then get detailed information about homes for sale in that area. The newest version of PropertyPoint makes searching even simpler, with Google Maps™, the world’s most popular mapping software. Just click and zoom your way to instant results. You can search by city, state, zip code, price or amenities, such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Plus, you can now access property details, from photos to listing details, all on one screen. Windermere’s PropertyPoint map shows you homes for sale from every real estate company, not just Windermere, so you can count on getting the most complete listings available anywhere.

Photo Gallery More photos + bigger photos = listings that get noticed!

Photos are the most important thing to buyers who are searching for a home online, and the more photos, the better. Windermere’s Photo Gallery offers multiple interior and exterior images, allowing buyers to visualize the home before deciding to spend valuable time visiting in person. With Photo Gallery, you can check out the gourmet kitchen, the master bedroom and the backyard with the click of a button. And the newest version of Photo Gallery now offers super-size images that are nearly four times larger than before. If you’re selling a home, the Windermere Photo Gallery offers a distinct advantage. With multiple high-quality photos in the largest format available, your home will stand out from the crowd.

MyWindermere: Newest listings e-mailed to you daily!

Searching for homes on Windermere.com is one of the best ways to obtain property information. But did you know you can make this process even easier and faster, and personalize it to your needs? MyWindermere is an online tool that allows you to save home searches, keep your favorites and get new listings e-mailed to you daily or weekly. You can create multiple custom-saved searches—no more filling out the search form every time you’d like to see if new homes are on the market. Plus, you can receive automatic e-mail notification when new listings come on the market that meet your criteria. You can save your favorite listings so you can refer to them later or share them with a friend. MyWindermere also includes a useful client-agent collaboration feature that allows you to associate your account to your Windermere agent, so they can learn your tastes and requirements for your next home.Want the listings sent to your phone or wireless device? Windermere.com now features RSS feeds that let you pull the latest listings no matter where you are! MyWindermere makes searching for the perfect home fast and easy.To give MyWindermere a try, go to Windermere.com and click on “MyWindermere.” Follow the instructions for creating a new account, and start getting personalized listings today!

Google™ and Windermere Real Estate Working Together = More online exposure

Windermere and Google™ are collaborating to increase exposure for Windermere listings. When you list your home with Windermere, they provide information about your property to Google’s database, where your home is exposed to Google’s millions of users—many of whom specifically search for real estate.Windermere and Google share a commitment to delivering the most relevant and complete information available to consumers. This commitment offers clients the best opportunity to maximize the growing potential of the real estate online space.

Rich Jacobson, Your Windermere Real Estate Agent for Kitsap County

"Raindrops keep falling on My Head" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

Okay, so we get a bad rap for the amount of annual rainfall we get here in the Pacific Northwest. I guess you could say that our ActiveRain is pretty darn active! (Well, why do you think it's so green around here, huh?)

However, while we do experience a rather significant amount of precipitation compared to other parts of the country, it's usually only wet here during the rainy season - November 1st through October 31st.

Seriously though, we're getting hammered today. One weatherman stated this morning that we will get more rain just today than New York will get all month long. (YIKES! Where's that timeshare in Cabo when you need it?)

A forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Seattle says a once-in-ten years storm is hitting Western Washington. The storm that began yesterday afternoon will leave two-to-six inches of rain (Then why is my dang water bill so stinkin' high?)

Yesterday's storm, the third to hit Washington in recent days, was driven by the "Pineapple Express," a flow of warm, moist air from the subtropics. Nearly 3 inches of rain have fallen in Seattle since Thursday, the Weather Service said. (Why couldn't they send us some sun instead?)

After having one of the driest summers on record, we're trying to make up for it all in one week! According to another report, in the western Washington lowlands we're expecting 2-6" of rain; upwards of 5-10" in the Cascades; and perhaps over 9-10" in the Olympics (of course, wouldn't you know it, Silverdale is by the Olympics!)

Just for perspective, we usually get about 6" for the entire month of November, and most of Seattle's Top 10 wettest days ever are around 3". (The record being 5.02" set in October of 2003.)

So I guess our bad rap is deserved, at least for today anyway. Maybe I should call the local Ford dealer and see if they make pontoons for my Expedition? If you've ever wondered why we have so much waterfront real estate here in Washington State, now you know!

Rich Jacobson, Your Rain-Soaked Real Estate Agent in Kitsap County WA

Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying: "Do I Need Money to Buy a House?"

Welcome once again to Real Estate in Kitsap County. My name is Rich Jacobson, a licensed professional real estate agent in Silverdale, out on the Kitsap Peninsula in scenic Washington State.

This is the fifth installment in an on-going series of posts dedicated to helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their purchasing goals. We have been identifying and discussing, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process.

In our last discussion, we talked about the importance of committing to your real estate agent and entering into a Buyer Agency Agreement. This time I want to take a moment and discuss,
"What does it cost to buy My First Home?"

One of the questions I am commonly asked by 1st Time Buyers is, "What "out-of-pocket" expenses do I need to plan for when buying a home? That's a really great question. There are many loan programs out there today that require very little, if any, outlay of cash. But there are a couple of instances in the home-buying process where you will need to have some amount of "hard cash" available to succeed in your purchasing goals.

Depending on what kind of loan product you are using to purchase your house, you may need to bring in money at closing to cover some of your loan expenses. In some cases, you may be able to negotiate with the Sellers for them to pay a portion of your closing costs. As we discussed in Part One, your Mortgage Specialist is the one who is best equipped to provide you and your real estate agent with what your estimated closing costs will be, and then together, you can develop a successful purchasing strategy based on that information.

Aside from that, there are typically two additional expenses in a real estate transaction that you will need to pay for "out-of-pocket" prior to closing - your earnest money and the home inspection.

EARNEST MONEY

Earnest money accomplishes a number of things:

1) It conveys the seriousness of your intention to purchase the property.
2) In some instances, it can help to demonstrate your financial ability to satisfy the contract and strengthen your position as a solid, qualified buyer.
3) It provides remedial damages for the Seller in the event that you breach the contract (backing out of the contract for a reason not stipulated in the contract)

The actual amount of earnest money will vary with each particular market. In many instances, it will represent between 1 to 2 percent of your offer price. If you are involved in a competing, multiple bid situation, an increased amount of earnest money may make the difference in you being the successful bidder. If your offer is accepted, your earnest money will be deposited into a trust account or with the escrow company, shortly after acceptance. At closing, this money is then applied to your closing costs, or, if your closing costs have been covered, it is refunded to you. What I find helpful is to explain to my Buyers that Earnest Money is money you would normally be spending anyway, and is applied to your closing costs.

HOME INSPECTION

Some of the best and wisest money you can spend in a home purchase process is for the home inspection. Cut corners anywhere else you want, but not when it comes to your home inspection. A good, knowledgeable home inspector is worth every cent you pay them. You may have a relative or friend that has construction experience, but you owe it to yourself to use the services of an experienced, certified professional.

Inspection requirements may vary from state-to-state, but most involve a complete inspection and assessment of all structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems/components. In some states, a full pest inspection is included as part of the home inspection, or is conducted and paid for separately. Additional inspections may be required, depending on the property, such as septic or well. Sometimes these additional inspections are required by contract to be paid for by the Sellers or can be negotiated into the contract.

A thorough home inspection will cost approximately $300 to $400 and will take at least 2 hours to complete, depending on the size of the home. Ask your real estate agent to provide you with a list of local inspectors. Call each one and interview them. Ask them about their level of experience, the inspection fees they charge, what those fees cover, and what kind of documented report they provide at the conclusion of their inspection. Then you will be better equipped to make an intelligent, informed choice of which inspector will work for you.

The more informed you are, the better you will be positioned to successfully achieve Your 1st Time Home Buying Adventure!

Rich Jacobson, Your Kitsap County Real Estate Agent

"The Price is Right!" (or is it?)

Early on in my real estate career, I used to get really upset whenever a competing agent would get the listing by simply agreeing to market the home at whatever price the Sellers demanded. I figured that any schmuck could pull their real estate license out of a Cracker Jacks Box and tell the Sellers whatever convincing song and dance they wanted to hear. And so, there I was, left out in the cold, watching someone else's sign go up in their yard, clinging to my detailed market analysis, the data clearly substantiating the fact that they were listing their house for significantly more than what the market would bear. The weeks and months would go by. Price reduction after price reduction. Finally, the house would sell, and usually at or near the price I had originally suggested.

Even when I provided potential Sellers with excellent information and statistics on the pitfalls of overpricing, the alluring $$$ of the silver-tongued agent overruled my efforts. And once again, the weeks and months went by. Reduction after reduction. And the house finally sold, just below what I had recommended.

Well, it doesn’t usually take me very long to learn or adapt new methods. However, it did require that I was willing to suck in a little pride and ego regarding my very detailed and comprehensive market analysis, regardless of how accurate it may be.

The next time, I shared my analysis with the Sellers and asked for their input. If their number was not the same as my number, I would try to strike a compromise somewhere in between. I would agree to take on the listing with the understanding that if it was not under contract within a certain timeframe, that they would be willing to reduce the price. Moreover, I would still counsel them on the dangers of overpricing.

Fortunately, these days, the majority of my clients come by referral, so there typically are not many objections to my comparative marketing analysis. In a slower market, the importance of accurate market value pricing becomes a much more critical issue. All the more reason when you choose an agent to represent you, not to base your decision solely on how much they tell you they can sell your house for, but ask them “how” they plan to market it effectively, and sell it within a reasonable timeframe.

Rich Jacobson, Your Silverdale WA Real Estate Agent

hismove.com/blog -- Christian Real Estate Network: The CREN Blog has a new URL!

hismove.com/blog -- Christian Real Estate Network: The CREN Blog has a new URL!

Adentures in 1st Time Home Buying: "Exchanging Your Vows"

Welcome once again to Real Estate in Kitsap County. My name is Rich Jacobson, a licensed professional real estate agent out on the Kitsap Peninsula in scenic Washington State.

This is the fourth installment in an on-going series of posts dedicated to helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their purchasing goals. We have been identifying and discussing, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process.

So far in this process, you've selected your Mortgage Lender; determined the loan product you will use; and identified the associated price range of homes to fit your budget. Then, you interviewed several candidates and have chosen a great Real Estate Agent to work on your behalf. This week, we'll discover what to expect during the first meeting with your agent.

"Exchanging Your Vows"

One of the most important and fundamental purposes of the initial meeting with your Real Estate Agent should be to discuss and sign a Buyer's Agency Agreement. This is a contract that accomplishes several purposes:

· It empowers Your Agent to legally represent you in the purchasing process.

· It demonstrates your commitment to your Agent and the value you place on the services they will provide.

· It equally conveys Your Agent's commitment to you; to professionally serve your best interests; and to fulfill all the duties, obligations, and responsibilities of a licensed real estate agent.

Make sure that your agent provides you with a copy of the Buyer's Agency Agreement and explains it completely. You may not feel comfortable signing this agreement during your very first meeting with your agent, but you should make it a goal to sign it as early on in the process as possible.

Your agent should also provide you with a copy of "The Law of Real Estate Agency." This pamphlet will share the various relationships that can exist in a real estate transaction, and the duties/responsibilities of licensed agents in each of those relationships.

Next, your agent should talk you through the entire home buying process, start to finish. Most agents utilize good visuals during this process to make the information easier to understand and digest. Be sure to ask any and all questions during this time.

Now comes the time for you to discuss your home buying wants and needs. Hopefully, you've had time to discuss this at length prior to this first meeting. The more detailed and specific you can be on what you want and need in a home, the better equipped your Agent will be in finding just the right home. Depending on your budget, and what is currently available on the market, you may need to pare down your wants list somewhat, and focus more on your expressed needs.

Your Agent may take time this time to show you how the Multiple Listing Service works and create a custom search just for you based on your specific requirements. With the detailed information you have provided, you can begin to identify potential properties to go tour.

During this initial meeting, be sure to share with your Agent the best methods of communicating with you during the course of the home buying process. Is it best to contact you on your cell phones? Can they call you at work? What e-mail addresses are best for sending you new listings from the MLS database? This information is especially helpful if you are an out-of-town buyer.

Now you should be ready to actually go out and look at some homes, the next exciting step in your 1st Time Home Buying Adventure!

Rich Jacobson, http://www.kitsaplife.com/

VA Appraisers: "The Luck of the Draw!"

Here in Kitsap County, Washington, we are fortunate to have a very large military community. With the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bangor Submarine Base, our area is home to many active-duty families and retired veterans. As a professional realtor, I have had the good fortune and joy of working with many of these hard-working, dedicated patriots and their families (check out my website for recent testimonials).

Many of my active military or veteran clients use VA loans for their home financing. I purchased my first two homes using VA loans. It can be an excellent financing product to use, requiring very little out-of-pocket expense, and with competitive rates. However, one of the potential difficulties with VA loans can be the appraisal process. It's something that I always take time to educate my Buyers about fully.

As a Buyer, once your agent assists you in finding just the perfect house, and your offer is accepted, you will hire a licensed inspector to conduct a full home & pest inspection, and identify any items that the Sellers will hopefully agree to correct.

After the inspection results are negotiated to the satisfaction of both parties, you will enter the "pending" stage of the transaction. At this point, your Mortgage lender will contact VA, and they, in turn, will order an appraisal to determine if the property can be valued at the price that you have agreed to pay for it.

In our area, our mortgage partners rarely know who the appraiser will be in a given transaction. It's a Russian roulette. Sometimes the appraisers are fair and reasonable, other times they can be extremely picky. Usually, they tend to be primarily concerned with structure and systems. They evaluate the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, heating/cooling, etc.. But sometimes, depending on who does the appraisal, they can be critical of other aspects of the home.

Many Buyers assume that since the home inspection was done, and the Sellers agreed to repair the things they requested, that everything is pretty much a "done deal" until closing.

Unfortunately, there may be some additional items that the VA appraiser will call out that need to be remedied or repaired prior to closing. An experienced real estate agent will wisely counsel their Buyers not to assume anything and to wait until the appraisal results come back from VA.

Hopefully, the appraiser will not find any problems or issues that were not identified during the home inspection. If that's the case, then the rest of your home buying experience should move along fairly smooth to closing, and you will successfully achieve the Next Adventure in Life!

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"So You Don't Like Your Real Estate Agent?"

Okay, so you've been working with your realtor, Agent Jones, for a couple weeks now and you just don't feel like the relationship is working out very well. What should you do?

As licensed, professional real estate agents, we work very hard and diligently at representing our client's best interests. We take our duties and obligations to you very seriously. And as much as we may try, we can't always be all things to all people. Every once in a great while we enter into a relationship with our clients where things just don't seem to click, regardless of how hard we work at it.

But there may also be some other reasons why you're dissatisfied with your agent. What are your options?

If you don't feel comfortable about discussing your feelings and issues directly with your agent, then contact their Managing Broker. Just convey your thoughts and concerns openly. The Broker is responsible for supervising agents and is usually trained at mediating these kinds of situations. If a resolve cannot be worked out with Agent Jones, then the Broker might be able to recommend another agent in the office that would be more compatible to your needs and personalities.

Don't just automatically "jump ship" at the first sign of a problem. Communicate. Share your feelings with your agent. If that doesn't work, talk to their Managing Broker.

Then, hopefully, the situation will be resolved to your satisfaction, and you'll be on your way to successfully achieving "The Next Adventure in Life!"

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"Feelin' Crabby?" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

One of my favorites things I enjoy about living on the Kitsap Peninsula here in Washington, is taking my boat out on the Hood Canal, part of the extensive Puget Sound waterway. The Hood Canal is a long, deep, narrow strip of water wedged in between the Kitsap Peninsula and the picturesque Olympic Peninsula. The Olympic Mountain range rises up rather dramatically from the edge of the water. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

One of the many benefits of boating on the Hood Canal is going crabbing. The Dungeness crab is the prized catch in these waters. The season typically opens the first week of July and runs through Labor Day weekend. The Washington Department of Fish & Game is extremely active in monitoring sports fishing in our state, so you better be in compliance with all current rules and regulations! (WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife)

We launch our boat out at Miami Beach in Seabeck. We learned through experience to be mindful of the tide schedule. If you go out too close to low tide, you will have a rough time getting your boat down the ramp. So we usually launch an hour or two before the peak of high tide. (WA Tide Schedules)

Once on the water, we head over towards Dabob Bay, just around the Toandoes Peninsula, and prepare to lower our crab pots. You can purchase crabbing gear from the Sportsman Warehouse in Silverdale. You can figure on spending a minimum of $80 per rig, including the crap pot (cage), buoy & flag, 100' of weighted line, bait box, and weights. Being bottom-dwellers, crabs will eat just about anything, but they seem to be partial to salmon guts. Several of our area supermarkets save the guts when they clean the fish, and sell them for crab bait.

We lower the crab pots (usually in about 60 to 80 feet of water) and head over to Pleasant Harbor, a quaint little port nestled on the Olympic side. They have a convenience store, pizza parlor, and deck overlooking the harbor. We'll grab some cold drinks, pork-out on pizza, and catch some rays as we wait a couple hours in hopeful expectation that our pots will fill up.

We head back and pull up our crab pots, carefully extracting the prized booty. We prefer to clean the crabs while we're out on the water. It makes for less clean-up later and allows you to put more edible crab into the pot when cooking. We also bring back salt water with us, to use for boiling the crab in.

Some people prefer to use fresh water and add a crab boil spice pouch. I have found that boiling the crab in saltwater gives it a really great natural flavor. There is a difference of opinion on how long to boil the crab. I have found that 12 to 15 minutes is more than enough time. I'll drain the water, and put the crab into a big stainless bowl, covering it with ice to cool it quickly. Some people like to dip their crab in melted butter, but I prefer to eat it right out of the shell.

There are few things better in life than spending a few relaxing hours out on the Canal, bringing home some fresh crab, and porking out!

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"Razor Clamming" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

Another of my favorite leisure pastimes here in scenic Washington State is razor clamming out on the coast (Razor Clamming in WA).

On several select weekends of the year (normally late Fall through early Spring) the Washington Department of Fish and Game opens various coastal beaches for people to chase the illusive razor clam (WA Dept. of Fish & Game).

Now let me tell you right up front, this is hard work. These suckers head south fast, but the rewards of catching them are well worth it! The State normally opens the beaches 4 to 5 times a year, typically scheduling the digs to start on a Friday, and going through Sunday. The specific times allowed for digging usually coincides with low or minus (extra low) tides.

It's a good 3-hour drive from the Kitsap Peninsula to the coastline beaches. We prefer those areas where you are allowed to drive up right onto the beach. You can park your car or truck and walk just a short distance out the where they're digging (Coastal Beaches).

The purists use clam shovels which require a very specific way to extract the clams. I myself prefer the handy "clam gun." As you're walking along the beach, close to the point where the water comes up, you take a walking stick or shovel handle and pound the sand. You will notice a small round hole opens up. This is what is called a "show." It indicates where the clam is. With clam guns, you simply center the wide barrel of the clam gun over the show, and shove it downward quickly. Once the barrel is covered in sand, you plug the suction hole on the handle, and pull up. Once the gun is completely out of the sand, uncover the suction hole, and the sand will begin to fall out of the barrel, hopefully revealing your prized catch! (How to dig razor clams)

You are currently allowed 15 clams per licensed persons. It usually takes us a good hour or two to get everyone's limit. By that time, we're pretty pooped anyway.

Cleaning your razor clams is another very involved process. Bu trust me, when everything is said and done, there are few things more delicious than eating fried razor clams! After they're cleaned, we dip ours in flour, then beaten egg, then Ritz cracker crumbs. You leave them out for an hour or so before cooking. Then fry them up, cooking them on both sides until brown. I especially enjoy razor clams in the morning, reheated with scrambled eggs. Yum!

Just another one of the fun and different leisure pastimes available here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

How to Prepare Your Home for Market: A Pre-Sale Inspection

Most of the Sellers I have had the pleasure of representing have had tremendous “pride of ownership” in their home. Most of them have lived in their residence for a long period of time (these days, 5 years is a long time!).

When you live in a home for an extended period, you begin to loose your objectivity about the house. The longer you live there, the less you see the imperfections, however slight or significant they may be.

One of the things I typically counsel my Sellers is to have a pre-marketing home inspection performed on their house. This helps to identify any issues prior to putting the house up for sale. If something significant arises, my Sellers then have adequate time to make repairs, using their own choice of contractor or repairperson, negotiating a good price, and making sure the corrections are done right. This is a much better approach than waiting for the Buyer’s inspector to find the same issue; the Buyer getting to select the contractor; the Seller paying for this contractor; and rushing to get the work completed before closing.

When we put the house up for sale, we put a copy of the inspection report in the home book, and detail any repairs that were made, along with copies of the receipts from the contractor/repairperson.

For the minimal cost of hiring a licensed, professional inspector, Sellers can eliminate a lot of the hassle and stress that many times occurs in the home selling process.

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"Ferry Cross the Mercy!" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

If you do a Google search for "Ferry," the 1st ranked site you'll find is the "Official Washington State Ferries" homepage.

The history of the WA State Ferry System is a fascinating one, originating in the early 1900's with several private steamboat operators, known as the "Mosquito Fleet," to the present State-run operations we have today.

The WA State Ferry System is the largest ferry system in the United States, serving eight counties within Washington and the Province of British Columbia in Canada. WSF’s existing system has 10 routes and 20 terminals that are served by 28 vessels. In fiscal year 1999, WSF carried over 11 million vehicles and 26 million people—over one million more walk-on and vehicle passengers and 500,000 more vehicles and drivers than in fiscal year 1997.

The largest ferry in the fleet is the Jumbo Mark II Class, like the M/V Wenatchee. It's over 460 feet long, 90 feet wide, and carries a maximum of 202 vehicles and 2500 passengers.

Every weekday morning, more than 75,000 Puget Sound residents commute to work or school on board a Washington State Ferry. The WSF provides a helpful "Commuter Center" website that keeps riders well-informed and updated, complete with current wait times and location web cams.

Tourism makes up another large segment of ferry ridership. Whether it's just a short relaxing half day getaway, a weekend escape, or a prolonged vacation, Washington State Ferries are a wonderful mode of transportation to consider. They make some of Washington's most picturesque and historic destinations easily accessible.

If you ever plan a trip to the Puget Sound area, make sure you include a ferry ride in your plans!

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com
Bremerton WA Real Estate Agent

"Happy as Clams!" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

One of the favored pastimes here in beautiful Washington State is clam digging. The WA Dept. of Fish & Game has an excellent website full of helpful facts, resources, and regulations on harvesting shellfish.

There are many different varities of clams to be found along the shores and tidelands of Washington.

Some clams, like the Littleneck, are ideal for steaming and serving with drawn butter.
Several types of clams, like the Cockle, make good ingredients in chowder.
The larger varieities, like the Geoduck (pronounced Gooie) are big enough to fillet and fry.

I posted an earlier blog on Razor Clams, one of my preferred choices for taste.

One of the primary considerations for a successful clam dig is the local tides. The best time to dig is when there is a low or minus tide. Be sure to consult a local tide schedule before venturing out.
You also want to pay special attention to what is referred to as "Red Tides." These are instances where certain environmental conditions can lead to an increased level of toxins in shellfish. The WA Health Dept. monitors these levels very closely and posts on-line bulletins to warn when these toxins reach unsafe levels.

The WDFW has a great FAQ about clams & oysters on their website. In addition, Don Wiss offers some helpful Clam Facts on his website.

Life in Washington State has some many interesting and enjoyable activities and pastimes to offer. It truly is a great place to call home!

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

Poulsbo "Little Norway" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

Just west across the Puget Sound from Seattle, on the Kitsap Peninsula, nestled beside the shores of Liberty Bay, is the quaint town of Poulsbo, lovingly referred to as "Little Norway."

In the late 1880's the area was settled by several immigrant families who had traveled over from Norway. The location reminded them of the mountains and fjords back home. One of the families were from Paulsbo, Norway. For many years, Norwegian was the only language that was spoken in the region. As the village grew, the townspeople submitted there request for a post office. The Post Master misspelled the name, and it's been called Poulsbo ever since.

The port of Poulsbo was the site of one of the largest codfish processing plants in the Northwest and also a leading producer of Lutefisk. Today, you can still taste this Scandanavian tradition the 3rd Saturday of October at the First Lutheran Church's Annual Lutefisk Dinner.

The Mosquito Fleet (referred to in my earlier post) sailed from Seattle to Poulsbo for over 60 years. Today, Liberty Bay is currently host to three very popular marinas. Each Summer, on July 3rd, a barge is brought into the harbor loaded with festive fireworks. Sailboats and yachts from all over the region anchor in the bay to watch the display.

Perhaps the most popular attraction in Poulsbo is the old downtown Front Street area, dressed to a "T" in Scandanavian decor, overflowing with local shops, curios, artisan displays, bakeries, and restaurants. The Bayside Broiler has great views of the harbor as you partake of a delicious meal, and JJ's has awesome clam chowder.

If you find your travel plans taking you through Seattle, it's just a short ferry ride across to Poulsbo, the "Little Norway" of the Pacific Northwest.

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

Windermere Community Service Day 2006

Each year the three offices of Windermere Real Estate/West Sound, Inc., located in Silverdale, Bremerton, and Poulsbo, Washington participates in the Windermere Community Service Day.

Every year since 1984, Windermere real estate offices have skipped work for a day to complete neighborhood improvement projects, giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play. We clean, landscape and repair parks, playgrounds, schools, shelters and community buildings. Each office selects a project that best serves its community needs

This year I was a member of our Service Day Committee. Representatives from all three offices met well in advance of the event to identify our project site; determine the various tasks to be completed; and the materials that would be needed, typically donated by area businesses.

Our project for 2006 was Ross Field in Silverdale. This multi-use recreational field sees a lot of action throughout the year, hosting local Little League Baseball, Pee Wee Football, and other local youth sporting events. As a father of 4, my family and I have spent a lot of time at Ross Field and we recognize the value of having good sports facilities.

Our primary tasks were: primer and paint 8 baseball dugouts; replace the roof on a storage building; repair & paint 8 sets of bleachers; install 150 ft. of galvanized fencing; extensive weeding and laying down beauty bark.

Several of our local title & escrow companies helped out by offering food and refreshments.

With over 75 volunteers, including agents, managing brokers, office staff, family members and friends, we started our work at 9AM, taking a short break for lunch, and ending at around 3PM. Afterwards, we all enjoyed a friendly game of softball.

As real estate professionals, our business is rooted in our communities. And an investment in our neighborhoods gives us all a better place to call home.

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying, Part One"

Welcome to "Real Estate in Kitsap County." My name is Rich Jacobson, a licensed professional real estate agent on the Kitsap Peninsula in scenic Washington State. This blog was originally posted on the ActiveRain Community.

This is the first in an on-going series of posts dedicated to helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their purchasing goals. Each time, we will identify and discuss, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process.

Today’s topic: Mortgage Lending and Loan Pre-Approval

The first step in your home-buying adventure should be to find an experienced mortgage loan specialist. Before you start the home-search process, you need to know if you're in a position to purchase a house, and at what price. A seasoned mortgage professional will be able to review your current financial status and determine if buying a house is a realistic and prudent goal for you. Sometimes, people need to pay-off some outstanding debts first, or repair a past credit problem. A qualified loan specialist can help you to formulate a game plan for working through these issues.

The next step is to help you select a loan product this best suited for your specific needs. Years ago, buying a home required a substantial cash down payment. Now days, there are many very creative programs available, specifically for 1st time buyers, making it easier than ever to qualify for a home purchase.

Once your mortgage specialist has reviewed and verified all of your financial information, and you’ve selected a particular loan, he can determine a suggested price range to fit within your budget. This price range will serve to drive your home-searching process. Many times a loan pre-approval letter can be provided by your lender, helping to better portray you as a strong, qualified Buyer.

Here are some helpful suggestions:

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  Identify, interview, and evaluate at least 3 different lending sources. Obtain recommendations from your real estate agent or friends.
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  Ask lots of questions. Mark Flanders with Olympic Northwest Mortgage says there are 3 key elements to finding a good loan specialist: They need to be knowledgeable and willing to take the time to educate 1st time buyers. They need to have the ability to empathize with people, understanding their individual needs and issues. And there needs to be a relational chemistry between the Buyers and their mortgage specialist.
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  Use a local lender. It makes sense to work with someone who knows the nuances of your particular market and can respond quickly to any issues that may arise. It's also easier for area agents and title/escrow offices to coordinate the transaction with local lenders.
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  Don't shop for lenders based solely on the interest rates they quote. Just because someone offers you the lowest rate doesn't always make them the best choice.

One suggestion worth mentioning at this point. Access the ActiveRain website, go to the Home page, and click on the state where you will be buying your 1st home. Next, click on the specific county. Many times the particular town or city you are interested in will be listed, along with the profiles and contact information of mortgage specialists located in those areas. This would be an excellent starting point for networking with potential lenders.

Having a knowledgeable mortgage specialist as part of your team will help you to successfully achieve your home-buying adventure!

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying, Part 2"

Welcome once again to "Real Estate in Kitsap County." My name is Rich Jacobson, a licensed professional real estate agent out on the Kitsap Peninsula in scenic Washington State. This blog was previously posted on the ActiveRain Community.

This is the second installment in an on-going series of posts dedicated to helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their purchasing goals. We have been identifying and discussing, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process. In the last post, we talked about Mortgage Lenders and Loan Pre-Approval.

Today’s topic is Choosing Your Real Estate Agent - Side A

One of the most satisfying aspects of my career in real estate is helping people achieve success in their home buying adventure. This is especially true with 1st Time Home Buyers.

However, before we begin, let me first stress the importance of having a real estate agent to represent you, particularly if you are a 1st Time Buyer. As we will discuss further, you owe it to yourself to have someone who is dedicated solely to representing Your best interests.

With that said, the following is a list of traits to look for when choosing your agent:

Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent

Advocate: You will hear a lot about real estate agency law. Professional agents take representation very seriously. The process is not about us, or our commissions, it is all about You, the Buyer. We exist solely to represent Your best interests, period! Listing Agents are under contract with the Sellers. They represent the Sellers. A Buyer’s Agent owes their fiduciary or statutory duties and obligations to you and you alone. When you meet with a prospective agent, ask them to explain agency law. Ask them whom they would represent in the purchase transaction. A great agent is passionate about working for their Buyer’s best interests.

Knowledgeable: A great agent is a knowledgeable agent. They understand local, state, and Federal laws concerning real estate. They are proficient with purchase & sale contracts, and can explain all the various forms and addendums to you. They know the local market they serve intimately. And, if for some reason, they don't have the information you need, they know where to get it quickly.

Ethical: Licensed real estate professionals are held to a very high standard, the National Association of REALTOR® Code of Ethics. While there may be a few exceptions, most agents genuinely strive to maintain these ethical practices in their daily business. They don't just talk about being ethical, it's who and what they are.

Accessible: Great agents will make themselves easily accessible and available to their clients. This doesn't necessarily mean that they have no life and you can call them 24/7 with your questions. But it does mean that they will make you feel as though you're their only client! If they aren't available to take your call, they'll actually return your messages promptly and on the same day! Great agents also make good use of new technologies to provide greater accessibility for their clients.

Communicator: A great agent constantly communicates relevant information to their clients. This is especially critical for 1st Time Buyers. They can never have too much information. Your agent should provide you with good information and often.

Well, that completes Side A. Look for the remaining 5 Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent in my next post, coming soon! And then you'll be better equipped to successfully achieve "the Next Adventure in Life!"

Rich Jacobson, www.KitsapLife.com

"In The Navy!" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

As I have mentioned in some previous posts, the Kitsap Peninsula is proud to be home to a very large military community who faithfully serve at various locations in the surrounding area that make up Naval Base Kitsap.

Naval Base Kitsap is comprised of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the Bangor Submarine Base, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, and various surface ships and submarines homeported at Bremerton and Bangor.

SUBASE Bangor was originally one of the sites for shipping ammunition to the Pacific theater during World War II. Construction of the current base began in 1974 and was officially activated in February of 1977 as the homeport for the first squadron of TRIDENT submarines. Since that time, SUBASE Bangor has won numerous awards including "Best Base in the Navy."

I know SUBASE Bangor firsthand. Our house is only a few minutes away from the south gate of the base. In addition, when I served in the Navy back in the late 70's, I was stationed onboard the USS George Washington (SSBN-598), the world's first nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Shortly after we pulled out of dry dock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, we transited up to SUBASE Bangor to on load missiles. I spent several wonderful months back then, enjoying the beauty of Hood Canal as we were tied to the pier at SUBASE Bangor.

SUBASE Bangor is an amazing self-contained, city-within-a-city. In addition to single and family housing units, you'll find a McDonalds, Subway, a movie theater, bowling alley, grocery store, gas station, chapel, and more.

I am grateful to live in a community that is made up of dedicated service men and women who are stationed here, along with their families. Their devoted patriotism makes the Kitsap Peninsula a wonderful place to call home.

Rich Jacobson, http://www.kitsaplife.com/

"Adventures in 1st Time Home Buying, Part 3

Welcome to Real Estate in Kitsap County. My name is Rich Jacobson, a licensed professional real estate agent out on the Kitsap Peninsula in scenic Washington State. This is a blog that I previously posted on the ActiveRain Community.

This is the third installment in an on-going series of posts dedicated to helping 1st Time Home Buyers successfully achieve their purchasing goals. We have been identifying and discussing, in chronological order, key events in the home buying process. In the last post, we began a dialogue about Choosing Your Real Estate Agent, and we were identifying the Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent. Last week we discussed the first 5 traits of a great real estate agent: Advocate; Knowledgeable; Ethical; Accessible; and Communicator.

Here then, are the remaining 5 traits:

Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent

Highly Recommended: They say that you're only as good as your last transaction. As you interview prospective agents, ask them to provide you with recent testimonials from past clients, including the client's contact phone numbers or e-mail address. Great agents will always have lots of great clients who say great things about them!

Empathetic: A great agent is genuinely sensitive to your needs. They are patient and understanding. They recognize the emotions, fears, and anxieties that usually accompany a first-time home purchase. Their constant and confident assurances provide a much-needed anchor throughout the entire transaction.

Willing to educate: As a professional real estate agent, you can never share too much information. This is especially true with 1st Time Home Buyers. The first time you meet with your chosen agent; have them walk you through the entire home-buying transaction, step-by-step. This will help to ensure that there are no surprises along the way and you can anticipate the various events as they occur.

Tech Savvy: Great agents stay current with emerging technologies, and willingly adapt them to better improve their business and services. Does your prospective agent have a dedicated website? Is the information it contains up-to-date and relevant to your process? Does it provide you with the necessary tools to easily search for area listings?

Continuing Education: A great agent has never "arrived," but is committed to constantly learning new things. They are consistently engaged in on-going education and training opportunities. Many top agents have earned numerous designations such as ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), or GRI (Graduate of Realtors Institute), or CRS (Certified Residential Specialist). These designations often indicate further study, more experience, and greater degrees of knowledge.

So there's your Top Ten Traits of a Great Real Estate Agent.

Now you're asking yourself, where can I find this great agent? Allow me to suggest a starting point. Go to www.ActiveRain.com. It's a really great real estate networking website. Go to the Home Page, and find the map of the United States and click on the respective State you will be buying in. Then, find the specific county in that state, and under that, the particular city or town of interest. Real estate professionals who are active members of ActiveRain have provided their personal profiles along with all their pertinent contact information. This would be an excellent place to begin networking with potential agents
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Next time, we'll discuss in greater detail your first meeting with your real estate agent and all the things you will need to accomplish prior to actually looking for your 1st home. The more you prepare ahead of time, the greater your chances of successfully achieving your 1st Time Home Buying Adventure!

Rich Jacobson, http://www.kitsaplife.com/

Silverdale, Washington: Life on the Kitsap Peninsula

I've done my fair share of traveling around the world, but of all the places I have been, nothing compares to living amidst the majestic beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Silverdale, Washington, is strategically located in the center of the Kitsap Peninsula, surrounded by the waters of Puget Sound. It provides the perfect launching point for adventuresome trips into the heart of the Olympic National Forest, along the rugged Washington coastline, or a brief ferryboat ride into the cultural explosion known as Seattle.

Lt. Charles Wilkes led the first known expedition to the area in 1841. Loggers and farmers came along shortly thereafter. Silverdale grew quickly into a popular port of commerce for the large Farmers Cooperative that was formed in 1887, sending produce over to Seattle by the ships of the Mosquito Fleet.

But it wasn't until 1971 that truly significant growth in the Silverdale area occurred. The United States Navy announced plans to construct their Trident Submarine Base at nearby Bangor, along the shore of Hood Canal. This new base would add a considerably larger military presence to the existing Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in neighboring Bremerton.

A few years later, the Kitsap Mall was opened, providing a much needed full-scale retail complex to the region. Since that time, a flood of national retail chains have flocked to the area, making Silverdale an even more popular shopping desitination.

The nearby waters of Hood Canal offer a wide variety of recreational activities from salmon fishing and crabbing, to harvesting oysters and clams. Public campgrounds and boat launches are in plentiful supply, making even the most remote areas accessible. Pleasant Harbor, located on the Olympic side of the canal, offers several marinas, a country store, pizza restaurant, and a romantic getaway, "Houseboats for Two."

Depending on which direction you’re traveling in Silverdale, you can normally view the majestic Olympic Mountain Range to the west as it rises dramatically from the waters edge, or the snowcapped peak of Mount Rainer off to the east.

Silverdale is served by the Central Kitsap School District, one of the leading districts in the state. In 2005, Central Kitsap High School was rated in the top 2% of secondary schools by Newsweek Magazine. Over 12,000 K thru 12th grade students attend schools which serve a 110 square mile area.

Even with its Northwest location, the weather in Silverdale will surprise many. During Winter, the temperature hardly ever gets below freezing, making snowfall a rarity. The Summer months are spectacular, posting consistent 70 to 90 degree weather.

Nearby communities include Poulsbo (The Little Norway), Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Kingston.

Living in Silverdale, Washington, has so much to offer, you'll truly feel as though you're on vacation all year round!

Rich Jacobson, http://www.kitsaplife.com/