If you dream of a home with character, do we have a gem for you! This new-to-market charmer is located in an isolated part of town and has a view to die for. The dead silent surroundings will give you all the privacy you need. Six bedrooms is ample space for a growing family, or plenty of room for unexpected house guests. If you happen to live alone, don’t worry, there have been reports of voices in the night, so there’s always someone to talk to.
Recent upgrades include a new roof, although further soundproofing may be needed to contain the occasional screams and clanging chains. This home comes with a full arsenal of security provisions, including trap doors, secret passageways, and a soundproof panic room. If you love to cook, the kitchen comes equipped with its own walk in freezer and meat hooks for artisan style butchery. Bone-appetite! Don’t worry about furnishing this period home, all the furniture is included, as the family that lived here before could not take their possessions to the next world. The grounds are extensive and include an ancient burial ground.
Consult your closest medium to schedule an appointment. Act fast; people are dying to get in this place. Open house on October 31, dusk to dawn.
Financial setbacks like the loss of a job or large medical bills can make it tough to make ends meet. If you find yourself behind on your mortgage payments, it helps to be proactive. It’s also good to know that federal and local agencies, even banks, are working to help those who are behind on their mortgages from going into foreclosure.
If you are behind on your mortgage, here are 5 steps you can take.
1) Call your lender as soon as possible.
As uncomfortable as that call can be, the problem will not go away by avoiding your lender. If you are having trouble making your payments, the sooner you contact your lender, the more options you will have. Some homeowners postpone communicating with their lender for so long, that foreclosure becomes the only option. Don’t let that happen to you.
2) Talk to a housing counselor.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a list of approved nonprofit housing counselors, who will provide free counseling for homeowners who are behind on their mortgages. They’ll go over options and suggest next steps. Call HUD at 888-995-4673 or visit the HUD site to find a counselor in your area.
3) See if you can lower your mortgage payment.
You might be able to refinance or do a loan modification to make your monthly payment more affordable. There are a number of programs available depending on your circumstances. A HUD housing counselor or your lender can help you explore your options.
4) Find out if you qualify for a short sale.
A short sale is an alternative to foreclosure when a homeowner needs to sell and can no longer afford to make mortgage payments. The lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed to pay off a loan, rather than going forward with a lengthy and costly foreclosure process.
Although every homeowner’s situation is unique, the basic criteria for qualifying for a short sale are:
You need to sell your home.
You owe more on your mortgage than your home is worth.
You have a personal financial hardship that will prevent you from making future payments. (Examples of hardship include loss of job, divorce, death of a spouse and medical emergency or illness.)
In most instances, a short sale makes more sense than foreclosure. In general, when you want to obtain a loan to purchase a property in the future, more opportunities will be available to you if you do a short sale. Find out more about how short sales work.
5) See if you qualify for cash incentives tied to a short sale.
Several programs offer cash incentives to homeowners to do a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure.
The federal government’s Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program might provide $3,000 in relocation assistance to homeowners who do short sales.
Lenders, including Chase and Bank of America, have paid significant cash incentives to encourage sellers to do a short sale and avoid foreclosure. In the past few months, we have had homeowners receive checks from their lender at closing in amounts that range up to $35,000. And these large incentives are not restricted to owners of high-end properties. The owner of a short sale property that recently sold for $164,000 received a check for $25,000. The checks are given for relocation assistance and can be used however the homeowner sees fit. There are no restrictions.
It’s important to note that the seller incentive is determined by the investor, so not every lender is paying incentives. However, if you are considering a short sale, it’s a good time to find out if you qualify.
Richard Eastern is a Windermere broker in Bellevue, WA and co-founder of Washington Property Solutions, a short sales negotiating company. Since 2003 he has helped more than 700 homeowners sell their homes. A Bellevue native and a University of Washington grad, Richard is an avid sports fan and a devoted Little League and basketball coach. You can learn more about Richard here or atwww.washortsales.com.
It’s almost that time of year again; time for cuddles and hot cocoa by the fireplace. It’s also almost time to debate whether to trade in the heels and cocktails on a chilly Friday night for Netflix in bed. We’re going to make that decision a piece of cake for you. Plot twist: sweaters aren’t just for humans *gasp* they’re also for beds. Go get a cable knit blanket and let your lovely bed revel in the sweater weather with you. Next, definitely invest in a real down comforter because it really is that much better than a featherless comforter. You’ll feel even more luxurious than you already do if you skip the top sheet and go European style.
Once you’ve got the basics down, add a super fluffy rug right next to your bed so your feet have something soft to land on each morning. It’ll be like walking on clouds, which is a much nicer wake-up call than a cold floor. Next: lighting. No one feels über comfy if they’re being blinded by their bright overhead flight, so go out and find a pleasant lamp to put on your bedside table. If you’re into a fairy tale feel, you must string lights above your bed to add a twinkle of magic. Last but not least, pillows, pillows, pillows. Some say you shouldn’t do more than two on each side, we say the more the merrier. And just like that, voila; you’re very own Wonderland.
When Patrick and Kat went to close on their first home together, he had a surprise up his sleeve. Patrick had enlisted the help of their Windermere Real Estate agent, Becky Ruark, to help him propose! Now they’re making their house a home with their newest addition. #YourStoryIsOurStory
Why do we love golf tournaments so much? Maybe it’s because it gives us an opportunity to be in the outdoors while enjoying beautiful scenery. Or maybe it’s because it gives us a chance to be a part of a team and connect with others away from the office. And sometimes, it allows us to unleash our lighter-side by dressing up in fun outfits. Whatever the reasons, these events are a terrific way to raise money for a good cause. The weather may not always cooperate, but that doesn’t stop anyone from getting their tee on. Rain or shine, the event must go on!
Several Windermere offices either hosted or sponsored golf tournaments this year. These are just a few of the events:
Snohomish Golf Tournament
In its 21st year, the annual tournament was held on July 21 at the Legion Park Golf Course in Everett, Washington. Organized by the Snohomish group of Windermere offices, participants from the community, as well as Windermere agents from Alderwood, Arlington, Edmonds, Everett-South, Kirkland-Northeast, Lynnwood, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mukilteo, and Seattle-Mount Baker, all came out for the day. The event raised nearly $25,000 for the Windermere Foundation, and proceeds benefitted Housing Hope’s ChildHope Program.
Windermere Stellar Golf Tournament
On July 27, at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon, the Windermere Stellar offices hosted their 6th annual golf tournament to benefit the Windermere Foundation. With a field of 144 golfers, 12 hole sponsors, and eight other sponsors, the event raised nearly $51,000 this year, for a grand total of $225,000 over the last six years. Monies raised go towards providing grants to organizations serving low-income and homeless families.
Windermere Legends Golf Tournament
The annual Windermere Legends Golf Tournament benefits the Windermere Foundation and The Don Deasy Memorial Leadership 1000 Scholarship Fund. Each year, scholarships are awarded to Quincy High School graduates (Don’s Washington hometown) who demonstrate high potential and financial need, and who have been accepted to the University of Washington. This year’s event took place on September 3, at The Golf Club at Newcastle, and raised a little over $25,000.
Windermere Real Estate’s Chip in for Charity Golf Tournament
On September 28, 23 teams came out from 11 Windermere offices in the greater Seattle area for a beautiful day of golf at the Sand Point Country Club. The event also featured a silent auction and dinner, raising more than $20,000 for Seattle Public School programs that serve low-income students.
Thanks to these golf tournaments, as well as a variety of other fundraising events, the Windermere Foundation is able to support non-profit agencies that provide services to low-income and homeless families throughout the Western U.S. To date, that total amounts to over $30 million in donations. To learn more about the Windermere Foundation or to make a donation, please visit Windermere.com/foundation.
This Halloween skip the knife and save a pumpkin! Last year we saw this new trend take off and turns out it’s still just as popular this year. Do something different than the typical Halloween jack-o-lantern and try a more sophisticated pumpkin with a flourish of your personal style. We’ve scoured the internet for our favorite bloggers/Instagrammers to bring you the ultimate no carve pumpkin ideas. So, without further ado, here they are!
Floral Fun – Use a drill or nail wide enough to poke holes through for stems of flowers and cover pumpkin in them. Use flowers with your favorite fall colors: yellows, oranges, and reds. For a more dainty look, use white daisies.
Bold & Sparkly – Paint with traditional acrylic paint and allow it to dry overnight, then put glue all over the stem and sprinkle glitter on it (or wherever else). Sparkles and gold accents will add glam to your fall décor and make you wish pumpkins were always in season.
Dia de los Muertos Style – Begin by painting the whole pumpkin white, then allow it to dry overnight. Next draw a skull face with a pencil, and then go over it in paint.
Monogram – Add your initial to your pumpkin with glitter or thumbtacks. If you are putting it outside, another idea is to put your house number on it.
Different types of paint – Use chalk paint for vintage looking pumpkins with muted tones or glow in the dark paint for extra spookiness.
Make it unique – This could easily be our favorite. Are you a wine connoisseur? A Seahawks fanatic? Forever have the wanderlust itch? Put your passions on your pumpkin to reach the pinnacle of customization.
Not only are no carve pumpkins quick and easy, they’re super chic too. Spray paint your pumpkins gold, silver, black, and white, add stripes or polka dots or turn it into a doughnut. Whatever direction you go with with it, your 2015 pumpkin game = strong.
October is a great month to check off your fall home maintenance tasks. As our regions transition into fall, you may have a lot of weekend projects you’re trying to get done before peak holiday season begins. In many regions, this is a great month to finish up outdoor projects before snow or inclement weather begins. Below are some other important tasks to consider this month. If you can’t get to them all, or are unable to do them yourself, be sure to look for a qualified professional on Porch!
Inside the home
Insulate exposed pipes that may freeze in the winter. Pay special attention to plumbing and pipes in the garage, crawlspace and basement.
Clean range hood filters, wash fan blades and housing. It’s a good habit to clean these several times a year and remove flammable grease.
Deep clean the refrigerator and vacuum the condenser coils.It’s a healthy habit to regularly remove old food and clean the fridge, inside and out. Vacuum the condenser coils if you can reach them as this will make your appliance operate more efficiently. Read our cleaning tips here.
Test the sump pump. If your basement relies upon a sump pump during the wet seasons, be sure to test it on a regular basis.
Replace weatherstripping and caulking on doors and windows.A home can quickly lose heat in the winterthrough air leaks, resulting in a higher energy bill. Check exterior doors and windows to ensure they are properly sealed.
Clean air conditioning filters. Cleaning the filters can help extend the life of this machine. While you’re at it, be sure to cover up your air conditioning unit prior to the winter season.
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This monthly task is very important for the safety of your family. Before the season of candles, decorations, fireplace usage and cooking, be sure your alarms are working and that you have theright type of fire extinguishers for your home.
Clean out the fireplace. If you have a wood burning fireplace, you should have a professional chimney sweep annually inspect and remove creosote inside the chimney. A professional can also inspect the outside of the chimney to make sure everything is in good working order.
Outside the home
Shut off and blow out your sprinkler system, drain garden hoses and winterize outdoor faucets. Before your nighttime temperatures dip into the below freezing levels, you’ll want to winterize your exterior irrigation systems. Have the sprinkler system blown out by a professional who know how to do this safely. Drain the water from garden hoses and install inexpensive bibs or covers to your exterior faucets.
Aerate the lawn and remove leaves. Lawns can absorb water, air and nutrients with the help of an aerating machine. These can be rented or you can have a landscaping company do this for you. Remember to rake leaves when they are dry and easy to pick up. Wet, soggy leaves can stifle your lawn and prohibit growth. Here are some ideas about what to do with all of your leaves.
Clean and store BBQ and outdoor furniture for the winter. Your summer equipment and furniture will look much nicer next spring if you take the time toclean them and store them properly over the winter. Clean the grill, consider placing wood furniture legs up on bricks, clean off outdoor fabrics, and store things out of direct rain.
Clean roof and remove moss, leaves and branches. At least once a year you’ll want to remove debris from the roof. Organic materials like leaves and branches can encourage mold and moss growth. This moss can eventually push up shingles and lead to damage to the roof system. Apply moss treatment if necessary. Never climb a wet or steep roof; consider hiring a pro to avoid a dangerous fall.
Clean gutters and downspouts, clear blockages. Check the exterior ground to ensure downspouts are draining properly and that ground isn’t flooding.
Install or check heat tapes if your roofing and gutter system requires it. Heat tapes can prevent dangerous icicles from forming in the winter and can even help prevent ice dams. Check with a professional about the right system for your roof and to ensure correct electrical connections.
Replace outdoor light bulbs if necessary. Nights are getting darker earlier, and if your walkway or stairs aren’t properly lit you could be in for a fall. Use the right type of bulb for outdoor use.
Cut back tree limbs and branches that contact your house or power lines. If you live in a region of fall or winter wind storms, or even ice storms, you’ll want to make sure that nearby branches or trees are safe from falling on your home. It’s always a good idea to consult an arborist to make sure the tree is healthy.
Porch.com is the free home network that connects homeowners and renters with the right home service professionals.
Nearly two years ago, in honor of the Windermere Foundation’s 25th anniversary, Windermere owners, agents, and staff came together and set a goal. That goal was to reach $30 million in total donations by the end of 2015. At that point, we were at $26 million in donations, so this meant raising $4 million in two years – nearly double what we had ever raised before.
We’re extremely proud and excited to announce that we have reached that goal – over three months early! This accomplishment was achieved thanks to the dogged determination of our franchise owners, agents, and staff who increased their giving, held more fundraisers, and brought new donors into the fold.
The mission of the Windermere Foundation is to support non-profit agencies that provide services to low-income and homeless families. So, just imagine how many more families these funds will help. How many more kids will be able to eat school lunches. How many more families will have milk in the fridge and food on the table. And how many more people will have their most basic needs met – and the dignity that goes with it.
If at any point during the past 26 years you’ve bought or sold a home using a Windermere agent, you too are a part of the Windermere Foundation, and you too have helped make a positive difference in the lives of your neighbors in need. On behalf of everyone at Windermere, thank for that, and thank you for helping us reach our goal.
To learn more about the Windermere Foundation or to make a donation, please visit Windermere.com/foundation.
Bob and Gail have lived in the same house for 40 years. You'd think that a small one-level home with no yard or a condo would be their next step. Not for these two! They've dreamed of living in a big home on acreage. We just closed today on their dream home, which consists of 3,600+ square feet on 6 acres. They are excited to buy a riding mower and get to work in the yard. Just goes to show you, it's never too late to live your dream! Of course their agent, Erin Mitchell Hoppe, had to buy them matching John Deere baseball caps. #YourStoryIsOurStory
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Richard Eastern is a Windermere broker in Bellevue, WA and co-founder of 
