(Renton, WA) On the south shore of Lake Washington is the town of Renton. The town offers a wide variety of shopping and recreation, including a nice collection of antique stores, centrally located for a quaint afternoon stroll of treasure hunting and nostalgia. Easy to get to by car or bus, the area also offers great places to get a bite to eat. Map: 1. Downtown Renton Antique Mall- 210 Wells Avenue S, Renton 98055 (425) 271-0511 Renton's Largest Antique Mall • Open 7 Days a Week 2. St. Charles Place Antiques & Restorations- 230 Wells Avenue S, Renton 98055 (425) 226-8427 9:30-6:00, Mon.-Sat. - European & American Antiques 3. Feathered Nest- 914 S 3rd St. Renton, WA 98055 (425) 430-5411 4. Cedar River Antique Mall - 916 S 3rd Street, Renton 98055 (425) 255-4900 10-5:30, Tues.-Sat.; 11-... 03/30/2008

Posted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, Regional - West, News & Media, Regional News, RentonRenton's new Mayor Dennis Law, delivered the State of the City Address on Wednesday, January 15th, 2008 to a crowded room of political leaders and concerned citizens at the Holiday Inn on Grady Way in downtown Renton.Renton's Vision is to be the center of opportunity in the Puget Sound Region where families and businesses thrive. Renton's Mission is to provide a healthy, welcoming atmosphere where citizens choose to live, raise families, and take pride in their community, to promote planned growth and economic vitality, to create a positive work environment and to meet service demands through innovation and commitment to excellence.Mayor Law focused on fiv... 03/20/2008

The Orchards Subdivision named "Neighborhood of the Week" by The Seattle TimesPosted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, Regional - West, Regional News, Renton, Neighborhood Profiles, Roads & TransportationThe Orchards is a subdivision in Renton's East Highlands neighborhood. It is nestled between Duvall to the East, Union Ave to the West and NE 4th (Cemetary Road) to the South.The article was written by Jolene Gensheimer as a special to The Seattle Times. It touched upon the fact that The Orchards subdivision is comprised of smaller communities that each have a unique atmosphere of their own with various types of housing that will meet the needs of almost any lifestyle. The Orchards has condos and townhomes as well as small and large single family ... 02/15/2008

Good afternoon: The Seattle market continues to be better than other markets around the rest of the nation.  However, things are still slow on the front lines. I've had a lot of requests from friends and acquaintances about refinancing their mortgage because of the Federal Reserve's actions lately.  Unfortunately, in most cases it hasn't made sense to refinance. There's either no net benefit (savings) or it's just not possible  given the strict underwriting guidelines.I find I'm really having to do my homework to see if it's possible to do a loan these days. I need to check what the value of a given property is along with a borrower's credit score, assets, loan-to-value,etc. etc. just to see if a loan is possible. In the Seattle area, we're seeing some price appreciation depending on th... 02/06/2008

I've been fielding a ton of requests by people I know wondering if they should refinance their mortgage right now. My answer to them is it depends.  Obviously, if a person has a fairly high rate on their mortgage (north of 7%) and can get a new mortgage somewhere in the mid 5's, it's worth taking a look at. Another scenario may involve someone wanting to refinance to a fixed rate mortgage from an ARM.  Especially if it's adjusted upward.I got an email from a business contact the other day and she was wanting to know if she should refinance. Her 30 year mortgage is currently at 5.875% and she owes roughly $157,000. With interest rates currently at 5.5% on a 30 year fixed, this refinance wouldn't save her more than $15/month on her payment and she would incur 2-3% in closing costs, prepai... 01/31/2008

Good morning: With the Federal Reserve poised to cut interest rates again this morning by 1/4-1/2%, I wanted to weigh in with my thoughts about how this is going to affect our world this year. First of all, some clarification is needed. When the Federal Reserve Board decides to cut interest rates, it's usually because they're worried about an economic slowdown.  Thus, they're trying to stimulate borrowing. When interest rates are cut, rates for variable, not fixed, loans get better.  This includes credit cards, lines of credit, etc. etc. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, and it's fixed period is up, it may adjust to your benefit.Notice that interest rate cuts don't impact mortgage rates directly. Mortgage rates are tied to the ten year treasury note. Generally, mortgage rates are... 01/30/2008

"Renton. Ahead of the Curve" TV Ad AirsPosted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, Regional - West, Videos, News & Media, Regional News, RentonThe Renton Community Marketing Campaign showcased the city and its brand "Renton. Ahead of the Curve" in a television commercial first aired during the NFC Wild Card game which the Seattle Seahawks won 35-14 over the Washington Redskins. The ad will also air during the Super Bowl XLII pre-game show. The ad Features John Keister, the contrite comedian who used to pan Renton for its blue collar image on KING-TV's "Almost Live." To read the press and download the ad click here. David EdwardsREALTORKeller Williams Realty Southeast SoundPhone: 425-890-8045E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.comWebsite: http://www.davidjedw... 01/29/2008

Real Estate Market Activity (As of January 15th  2008) Maple Valley/Black Diamond (MLS Area 320)Single Family HomesMonths of Inventory: 13Average Days On Market: 105Inventory of Active Listings: 444Average List Price: $463,547Average Sale Price: $353,443CondominiumsMonths of Inventory: 7Average Days On Market: 85Inventory of Active Listings: 7Average List Price: $303,544Average Sale Price: $229,500Kent (MLS 330)Single Family HomesMonths of Inventory: 12Average Days on Market: 106Inventory of Active Listings: 607Average List Price: $446,535Average Sale Price: $370,741Condominiums Months of Inventory: 8.8Average Days on Market: 79Inventory of Active Listings: 141Average List Price: $239,471Average Sale Price: $210,723Renton/Benson Highlands (MLS Area 340)Single Family HomesMonths of Inven... 01/15/2008

Good morning!  Are you in an adjustable rate mortgage? Is it set to adjust this year?  Don't panic.  The natural inclination is to want to refinance before your interest rate goes up. But I think it's important to weigh all sides before making your decision.It can be expensive to refinance. Beyond paying the loan originator's standard origination fee (I charge 1%), there are other costs which may include appraisal fee, title fee, escrow fee, prepaid interest, prepaid property taxes, and prepaid hazard insurance to name just a few.  The bottom line is all the assorted charges can often add 2-3% to your loan. If a lender is saying there are no points and /or fees, you're paying a higher rate. No one works for free.My message to you is if you want to refinance out of your ARM, choose to wo... 01/15/2008

A new agent asked this great question on Trulia Questions Real Estate Search site. Several of us answer questions to help folks with their general inquiries. Here is my answer: Congrats on entering a great business. Different companies have different models and levels of support. Being new to real estate you will need training and mentoring. You will need to learn the many intricacies of a real estate transaction. Some companies charge you more than 50% of your commission for that. Others have quite a bit of free training but it is worth exactly what you pay for it. I can tell you that a good mix of new agent business and sales training with an experienced mentor to help you through your first several transactions is critical to success. There are many large and small great ethical comp... 01/12/2008

Good morning!  The Bank of America/Countrywide merger announced yesterday didn't surprise me.  In fact, I think it had been in the works for a while now.  I think it's a good thing although there will be quite a bit of pain involved.Without BofA stepping in, Countrywide probably wouldn't have survived.  They had dug themselves too deep a hole. And I think a Countrywide failure would have really dealt the market a crippling blow. The last time there was a big failure in our business (America's Home Mortgage went under last summer), every other lender reacted and started tightening their lending guidlines.  If Countrywide had failed, I believe the reaction would have been similar to what happened last summer.With the Bank of America/Countrywide merger, the healing can begin for the mortga... 01/12/2008

Renton condos are abundant right now and at the time of this writing there are 193 Renton condos on the market for sale. Condo living can make a lot of sense to people because of low maintenance and no yard work. Fortunately my wife, Jan loves to mow the lawn. That's good for me - In the Talbot Hill area of Renton alone, near the Valley Medical Center, there are 11 condos for sale. This is a newer area mostly built no later then the mid 90's. Some of the Condo communities here include Talbot Park condos, Campen Springs condos, Ashburn condos and Summit Park condos. Many of these are 2004 construction and more recent.This can be a strategically smart location for many. These condos are close to all freeway access and offer many local amenities. Home sale prices in this area range from $2... 01/06/2008

Hello all:  Well, 2007 was a wild ride.  Who knew?  Starting with the failure of Merit Financial in Kirkland, WA. (my neck of the woods), and followed by 209 others according to www.ml-implode.com, I think we've maybe hit bottom.  There aren't too many more wholesale lenders who can bite the dust!Now the correction can begin. A longtime acquaintance at a title company told me that he thought that a real estate recovery might start happening in the Fall. I don't think he's too far from the mark.  Although the Pacific Northwest hasn't been hit as hard as the rest of the country, things were much slower in 2007 for us as well. Even though it would be nice to think a recovery will begin at the start of 2008, that's probably too optimistic.Obviously, the playing field has been changed.  In W... 12/27/2007

Okay... The stats are in for the year and... In the greater Maple Valley area, home prices are up about 8% from last year. Not bad, considering that the media is saying were in a "down market". Homes that show well, and are priced at market value are selling in under 30 days. If you're thinking of making a move, or have questions about the greater Seattle area market, give us a call: (206) 335-3689 Ryan WardRenton Real Estate AgentJohn L. Scott Real Estate(206) 335-3689 Your home SOLD in 30 days... Or, I'll pay the mortgage until it sells! 12/21/2007

Keller Williams Realty wins Stevie® Award for Real Estate Sales Organization of the Year Keller Williams Realty was recently honored with a Stevie Award in the Best Run Sales Organization category as the Real Estate Sales Organization of the Year at the second annual Selling Power Sales Excellence Awards in Las Vegas, Nev. The awards were jointly presented by Selling Power magazine, the leading sales management publication with 145,000 subscribers in 67 countries, and The Stevie® Awards, which have been hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” (the New York Post, April 27, 2005). More than 400 entries from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories this year. The Gary McNinch Team of Renton WA is proud to be a m... 12/16/2007

Posted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, Regional - West, Local Events Calendar, Regional News, RentonSummer has come to an end; and with the changing of the season, we close another chapter of outdoor events that have come to define summers in the Pacific Northwest.Nonetheless, when one door closes, another opens and with that, we are given an opportunity to enjoy the vast array of Autumn activities that are also unique to our region. If you are looking for things to do in Renton and the surrounding area, I have updated my Local Community Events Calendar found online at:http://www.davidjedwards.com/events-calendar.aspThere are literally hundreds of pacific northwest events on the calendar. Some of the most recent additions are listed below.Polar ... 12/14/2007

Posted by David Edwards under For Buyers, For Sellers, Regional - West, Local Events Calendar, Regional News, Renton, Neighborhood ProfilesIf you live in the Orchards Subdivision, please mark your calendar now. The Budget Ratification Meeting of the Orchards Master Homeowners Association will be held December 20th, 2007 at 7:00 PM at the Peachtree Lane Clubhouse, 600 Bremerton Place NE in Renton.Please remember:1. Parking is not available within Peachtree Lane.2. An invitation to The Orchards Master Association annual meeting will be sent in January where topics such as neighborhood opportunities and the border fence enhancements and funding will be discussed.You are strongly encouraged to attend this homeowner's meeting. A dues increase has been approved by the Board of Directors. The ... 12/13/2007

STEPS TO MAKING AN OPEN HOUSE SUCCESSFUL For many people, running an open house is an efficient way of getting the most exposure to sell a house, in the shortest amount of time. Whether you sell real estate part-time or full-time, open houses allow a great networking opportunity for real estate agents, real estate brokers, and buyers. There are pros and cons for open houses.Everyone agrees that open houses can only be helpful for so long. In most cases, an agent will have not more than two open houses per house. A rule of thumb is that if a house has not sold by the time the second open house rolls around, you might need to rethink their selling strategy.Often times the successful sale of a home is directly related to an open house. A good open house that is well planned and organized ... 12/11/2007

Some houses on the market sell before they even get a sign up in the front yard while others just sit there doing nothing. You've had your house on the market and right now, the market is hot. Why isn't your home selling? There could be several reasons that a house doesn't sell quickly. Here are some considerations: We have sought out real estate experts to prepare a special report called, "SELLING MISTAKES TO AVOID".  Don't fall into one of the many traps that other sellers have run up against. Find out some of the simple things you can do to prevent these mistakes. Open this report  now by simply filling out the form below which will provide you with immediate access to this report and all our specially prepared reports. Get you report clik here Thinking of Selling? Fairwood Realtor G... 12/11/2007

Fairwood Realtor Provides Free Report!MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE MOST MONEY WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME! If you want to get the most money when selling your home, position yourself for the best negotiation position possible.Many people think price is the most important factor, but, in many cases it's not. Price is not the only factor to consider when selling your home. Things like the length of escrow, contingency deadlines, and the strength of the buyer are in many times just as important. You can be leaving thousands of dollars on the table if you are taking detail into consideration. Find out how you can net the most money, in the shortest time, with the lease amount of hassles. To learn more click here   12/11/2007