Okay, This Really Is a Good Deal

There is a home here in Shelton that overlooks Hammersley Inlet, and in fact from the deck in front you can see not only the Inlet, but down to Oakland Bay, and of course see the Olympic Mountains in the background. The present owners love to sit on their deck and watch the shipping traffic go by, or just enjoy the changing moods of the mountains. They have a room that is just inside the door leading out to the deck that is a little bonus room, and they've set up their coffee bar there, and when it's a little chilly can sit and still enjoy the view.  The couple who live here enjoy their home immensely and are sad that they have reached a stage in life where they have to consider moving on to something simpler. You see there is also about an acre and a half of property to take care of, with a stream running through it and a trout pond, too. And lots of rhododendrums -- 150 of them, of 50 varieties that bloom for 5 months of the year.

 The picture above is seen by looking down on one of the homes below, and out to Hammersley Inlet, and below is a shot of the Olympic Mountains on a clear day. Of course right now the snow is not as abundant as in this picture.

When you live in the Shelton area, you live in the Gateway to the Olympics, and are only an hour and a half away from the Pacific ocean. It's a good place to live, or to vacation. The present owners think that people may like their small home as a vacation home. The home is just a bit over 1000 sq ft, so it is not very big.  But it has 2 bedrooms, and 2 bonus rooms, a small living room, and a pretty kitchen with eating space. The kitchen has Italian tile floors, by the way, and is quite charming. There is a garden room attached to the house.  And there is a single car car port, and the driveway is circular.  Further more there is a Windsong park model on the property that has served as a guest house.  This little guest home has 1 bedroom, a sleeping loft, a living area, a bathroom and kitchen and sits away from the main house for privacy. It also has a deck. Here is a picture of the house from a couple of different angles.  You'll need an appointment to see the inside.

The house and acreage started out at a price of $161,950 but because the owners really need to start making plans for changing their lifestyle to meet the new requirements of age, they have lowered the price to $149,950.  This is a really good deal.  They are hoping that people who will love the house like they do will buy it. It has been a peaceful retreat for them, and they have had so many guests who come and share this place with them. By the way, here is a picture of the Windsong guest home. 

 You can see more pictures of this property HERE.  Share this around and lets see if we can help this couple find a buyer or buyers who will appreciate the home that they have loved for so many years.
It is MLS# 348110.  Tell your real estate broker to call for an appointment to see it soon! 

Western WA Weather

This picture is a pretty accurate depiction of what it looks like right now in our area. We are having one of those days when it is very pretty with sunshine and blue skies, then clouds move in and it rains, then it's back to sunshine again. There is a bit of wind going on out there now, too. But when I consider what the rest of the country is going through, I am so very, very grateful to live here in beautiful Western Washington.  We have this wonderful temperate climate that is really not often too hot, and not often too cold. Yes, we get our gray skies and rain maybe more than most people would want, but we also have lots of green growing trees and shrubs, too.

On another note, I'd sure like to have a buyer come along for a property I have listed out on Walker-Park Road here in Shelton. This property is about 1.60 acres, and has an older home that has been very well maintained. The grounds are well looked after, too. The owners have added a Park Model to their property for guests. If you are not familiar with these wonderful little homes, you should look them up on the Internet. They are not only very cute, but they are very comfortable, which means that their guests like to come and stay. They are willing to sell this beautiful property for only $161,950.  It is listed as NWMLS# 348110, if you wan to look it up and see more information and pictures. You can also see more here.

Falling Prices on Vacant Lots

Wow!  The prices on vacant lots keeps falling. I have 5 lots that I am listing, and the sellers are willing to lower their asking prices to try to entice buyers. I noticed that other agents are having the same experience, and just today saw a waterfront listing in Fawn Lake come up at only $50,000.  It already has a septic, too. I have another lot in Fawn Lake, not on the waterfront, that has power, water and septic, and the sellers have brought the price down to $39,950, and I was surprised when they said to list it at that price. And a lot in the Lake Limerick community that started at $65,000 is now down to $35,000.

So, if anyone is in the market for a vacant lot, now is the time to buy one. You can match up with a home builder like HiLine or Adair and they will help you do a building contract loan, and you can end up with a new home.  As I said, it's a good time to do something like this. 

Interest Rates, and Why We Care

The interest rate on a loan can make a huge difference in the price of the home you can buy. This is how the Interest Rate affects your purchasing power with a monthly payment of $1200:

3.79% $257,849.22 (4/23/2012)  4.50%    $236,833.39  5.00%      $223,537.94  6.00% $200,149.94  7.00% $180,369.08  8.00% $163,540.19  9.00% $149,138.24 10.00% $136,740.98 11.00% $126,007.62 12.00% $116,661.10 So, if you are planning to purchase a home, it's a good idea to do so while the interest rates are low.

Another truly beautiful day here in Shelton WA. We are enjoying it a lot in our office. A good place to live when there is weather like this is the Fawn Lake community here in our area. There are about seven parks around Fawn Lake so that everyone who lives there can easily get to the lake to play, or fish. One thing I've noticed is that more people are getting those pontoon boats. You know, the things that look like floating docks. I see people riding around on the lake sitting in lawn chairs, sipping their drinks, and taking it easy. Here is a picture of the lake.  It is about 70 acres in size, and is a non-power boat lake.  This is a gated community, so if you want to see it you have to find someone to let you in -- like one of us real estate agents.

There is a vacant lot for sale right now that is ready for someone to build their home. It already has power, water and septic on the property. This lot is worth about $65,000 but the sellers only want $39,950 for it. It is located on Barberry Place. 

One of the parks in the Fawn Lake community has a Cabana, and a fenced off swimming area, with a swimming dock. This park is located very close to the land bridge that crosses the lake.

The people who live in the Fawn Lake Association have some fun times together in this park. And today is a great day to be part of this community, and take advantage of this beautiful day.