HOMEOWNER LIFELINE! If you are a home owner who has fallen behind on their mortgage payments or a notice of default has been filed you need Real Estate Investment Firm on your team.  As a seller of distressed property, you need to know first and foremost, you do have options available to you.  As soon as you contact us, we will analyze your unique situation and layout all of the options you have available.  Real Estate Investment Firm's core purpose and mission is to become the industry leader in helping people create true financial success through the acquisition of real estate.  We maximize efficiency and profitability for our clients through strategic systems and processes.  We are leaders, innovators, and educators.  We help clients implement the strategies that will ensure they rea... 11/18/2008

Are you unsure WITCH way to turn? There Is No Need To Worry!The Real Estate Market Does Not Have To Be A Scary Place!With two decades of experience, I know how to navigate the changing market successfully and profitably for my clients!  If I can help you get your home SOLD or assist with the purchase of a new home, give me a call at 425-466-1000   Happy Halloween from the Meier Family! Posted By:Tony MeierEastside & Seattle RealtorEastsideHomesBlog.comEastsideHomes.comSeattle's Eastside Real Estate Resourcetony@eastsidehomes.com   10/31/2008

Ever wanted to own a cabin in the woods?  Well, this cute little cottage set atop a hill in Redmond, Washington (near the famous Microsoft campus) will make you feel like you've left the city far behind. With a huge deck off the living room to enjoy the fall colors and the terratorial view this home exudes calm and tranquility. Thank you to the homeowners and Windermere agent Carol Junglov for the opportunity to stage this cozy cottage!            Staging provided by SISTERS Interior Redesign, 425.776.7890 Give all your listings the advantage of professional home staging.  Give us a call today for a complimentary staging quote. Diana Young, SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA.  www.sistersredesign.com, sisters@sistersredesign.com   10/29/2008

Here is a quick look at the average price per square foot of homes and condos in Redmond for the last two years. The chart starts off at $247.85 per square foot in October 2006, then peaks at $287.16 per square foot in the summer of 2007. As of September 2008 the price is $247.26 per square foot. If you would like to more about home price trends in a particular area, feel free to contact me. Posted By: Tony MeierEastside & Seattle RealtorEastsideHomesBlog.comEastsideHomes.comSeattle's Eastside Real Estate Resourcetony@eastsidehomes.com 10/27/2008

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move. 1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, you may have significant, unrealized gains. 2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.  3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your firs... 10/27/2008

Existing-home sales increased last month as buyers responded to improved housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – rose 5.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million units in September from a level of 4.91 million in August. Home sales are 1.4 percent higher than the 5.11 million-unit pace in September 2007. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said more markets are seeing year-over-year gains. “The sales turnaround which began in California several months ago is broadening now to Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Rhode Island,” he says. “The South was hampered by much lower home sales in Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.” NAR... 10/27/2008

The End of Google, Yahoo and MSN? "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."  George Hegel It's 1978, Communications 101 at the University of Washington. The history of communication is all of one chapter in a very large text book.  It begins with the first printing press, ends with network Television.  The next big technology wave was the coax cable.   I can still see my professor pacing the classroom with a two foot section of the flexible black rod, pointing it at us, bellowing "This is the future!"  He looked like a nun about to rap our knuckles. But 30 years ago, it was the future, and he wanted to make a point: Think Outside the Box. The Big Four.  You think I'm talking about Google, Yahoo, MSN and what's its name.  No, I'm going back in history to the beginnin... 10/08/2008

I am holding a Food Drive for Northwest Harvest in the River Trails neighborhood of Redmond Oct 10-24. I will be contacting all of my neighbors asking for can food donations. This is a great chance for me to meet people that live in my neighborhood and also give back to my local community.   If you would like to donate food or if you would like any additional information about the food drive please contact me: Randy Randolph 206-234-3647 rrandolph@kw.com Keller Williams Realty Kirkland www.insideoutbellabottga.com 10/06/2008

I just wanted to share a bit of happy news.  Late last year I sold a wonderful house to clients in the 55+ community of Trilogy in Redmond, WA.  I just heard that they, like all the residents I've ever spoken to in that community, love their home and the whole lifestyle that Trilogy offers.   Trilogy is a very active community.  One of the on-site sales agents likes to say that the "R" word doesn't ever enter their vocabulary and he is right...Trilogy is not a "retirement" community.  Instead it is a community for active adults who love the outdoors (miles of trails, a golf course, tennis courts) love to be active in clubs (over 60 of them exist at Trilogy including a travel club) love to take great courses (offered at the club house by UW) and love to remain active (fantastic health cl... 09/30/2008

     Redmond, WA home sale statistics -Residential            2- Bedrooms          3 Bedrooms          4 Bedrooms          5+ Bedrooms          All Bedrooms          Active     #Units 70 153 237 74 534       Average List Price $616,475 $580,576 $937,810 $1,247,940 $836,311       Average Market Time 121 88 94 105 97       Average Square Feet 1654 1997 3275 4281 2835            All Off Market     #Units 7 41 48 12 108            Pending     #Units 1 17 18 5 41       Average List Price $434,950 $483,468 $715,332 $767,970 $618,774       Average Market Time 0 41 92 94 69       Average Square Feet 1247 1970 3283 3260 2686            Sold     #Units 6 24 30 7 67       Dollar Value $3,489,800 $12,831,850 $22,616,570 $4,766,000 $43,704,220       Average List Price $592,457 $547,859 $780,181 $70... 09/08/2008

Not due until December, but according to the doctor...it's another girl! Peter and Jacquie went to the doctor again and the ultrasound said "It's a Girl!". That will give me three daughters and two grand daughters. Looks like the only way I'm getting boys is through marriage.  I have a stepson from my first marriage and son "in-laws".  But the births of me and mine are still running...all girls. My Mom had 5 girls and two boys.  Are there any statistics for balance?  Will men end up with 2-3 wives each if people keep having more girl babies than boy babies? Something to think about...:) I'm posting this under Redmond.  The baby will be born at Evergreen in Kirkland, but Peter and Jacquie set up their home in Redmond.  So I guess it's a Redmond WA baby.  08/26/2008

Comments from satisfied customers who fill out postcard survey is evidence of DVW's quality service                                                Redmond, WA-"Homeowners who think its normal for their dryer to take more than one cycle to dry clothes -- think again.  Lint accumulation or blockage in the vent is a known cause of dryers running inefficiently," says Peter Lui, Dryer Vent Wizard, (DVW), Dry Clothes, Safe Homes, NW Seattle, the largest chain of dryer vent specialists in the U.S.    "While consumers are becoming more aware of the need to conserve energy, they are still unaware that yearly dryer and dryer vent maintenance can help cut energy consumption and bills," says Lui.    The average home spends about $1900 on energy costs every year, according to research conducted by E... 08/23/2008

Staging® has become the "in" thing to do in real estate sales.  HGTV spends endless episodes on the subject, and many staging® companies and designers cropping up, as well as many real estate agents marketing themselves as staging® experts.  I'm in many houses with prospective buyers, and I can tell you first hand that what starts with good intentions of making a home more appealing, can easily backfire and become a distraction to potential buyers.  Staging® is truly an art, one that when done well subconsciously pulls potential buyers in by creating a warmth and feeling of comfort to the space.  The idea is not just to show a home "furnished", but to show buyer's its greatest potential. Some things I've seen recently as an attempt to stage® include a home with lawn chairs brought in to... 07/22/2008

Recently on Rain City Guide, a local area resident asked why we don't first add an additional 2X the land value and then value the structure value, when coming up with a listing or offer price. In the post itself, I explained the 10% rule for extras, including extra land.  That rule being that when you pull the nearby comps and value the property based on it being a "normal" sized lot for the neighborhhood, you can only add 10% of that value to the total to account for extra lot size, a pool, a tennis court and any other extras that don't value out such as additional square footage of the home, an addtional garage, bedroom or bathroom, etc. Earlier today I tested my theory using a local neighborhood with wide variances between the lot sizes that replicate the 3X land question and also a... 07/17/2008

Residential            2- Bedrooms          3 Bedrooms          4 Bedrooms          5+ Bedrooms          All Bedrooms          Active     #Units 64 157 253 71 545       Average List Price $637,663 $604,022 $923,106 $1,115,261 $822,700       Average Market Time 100 72 90 80 85       Average Square Feet 1732 2033 3279 3991 2831            All Off Market     #Units 17 36 64 10 127            Pending     #Units 5 15 29 3 52       Average List Price $567,190 $584,479 $816,425 $695,667 $718,586       Average Market Time 119 64 78 62 77       Average Square Feet 1882 2120 3252 3550 2811            Sold     #Units 12 21 35 7 75       Dollar Value $8,243,695 $11,185,000 $29,701,961 $7,157,450 $56,288,106       Average List Price $701,433 $546,314 $865,360 $1,043,771 $766,450       Average Sold ... 07/01/2008

NWMLS 550 Redmond / Carnation -- Inside the numbers By Greg PerryEastside Realtorwww.425Realty.com Here's a current and historical look at NWMLS Redmond Area 550.  Chart starts on 06/03 and progress in 6 month intervals until current.  Click the link for an expanded chart:Download 550_redmond_may_2008.pdf  Statistics and informaton compiled from but not published or verfied by the NWMLS. 06/20/2008

May 2008By Greg PerryEastside Realtor AREA 550 May-08 May-07 % Change Median Price $650,000 $654,950 -0.80% Inventory 452 281 60.90% Pending 96 93 3.20% Area 550 includes Redmond and goes east --- way east through Carnation and Fall City.  The biggest surprise in sales performance on the Eastside was here.  Area 550 was the only Eastside area that showed an increase in PENDING sales over last year.  This is the first time I've seen this since late 2nd quarter 2007. All price ranges below $900,000 are Balanced markets.  Big trouble starts at $1,000,000 in area 550 with the price range of $1,000,000 - $1,500,000 currently supporting 168 weeks of inventory.  $1.5mil - $2mil is not much better at 139 weeks.  Overall 550 has only 28.5 weeks of inventory.  Inventory is selling much faster in ... 06/13/2008

Here is this week’s installment featuring the pathetic photographic skills of my colleagues here in the Northwest. I am frequently asked what equipment I use to take photograph the homes I sell. I am a Canon shooter. I have invested several thousand in a good camera body, wide angle lens, several flash units and software to process the photos - which makes sure the homes I sell are shown in their best light. I also have 20 years experience as a Full-time Realtor with hundreds of hours behind a camera pointed at my listings. I have always had good equipment, and to an even greater extent today. One thing I have not done without for over a decade, can be obtained cheaply (as little as $20) and requires no specific skill to use, but can make a dramatic impact on how a home appears. Unfortu... 06/06/2008

Trilogy at Redmond Ridge is offering a Toyota Prius free with each new home purchase. Your Shea Green Certified home at Trilogy comes independently inspected by a third party and is guaranteed for efficient energy usage which could save you thousands on your energy bill over the next ten years. YOU GET A HYBRID CAR FREE for your garage. So, don't waste anymore energy--or time. Trilogy is one of the most beautiful locations in the Pacific Northwest for active adults. 05/30/2008

Annual English Hill Garage Sale June 6th & 7thBy: Tony Meier, Redmond RealtorAttention Bargian Hunters! All of English Hill will be on SALE! It's time again for the annual English Hill garage sale! This years event will be held on June 6th & 7th from 9 am to 4 pm. The English Hill Homeowners Association advertises this event in local newspapers, and hangs a banner sign.  This is a very popular garage sale, with neighborhoods all across the hill taking part. Each year several dozen families participate. The neighborhood is swarmed with cars filled with bargain hunters, looking for that special item. As with all sales, shop early for the greatest selection! For more information on English Hill visit - www.EnglishHillOnline.com Posted By:Tony MeierEastside & Seattle Realtor425-466-1000East... 05/30/2008