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Kingston WA Real Estate Market Report for October 2011

The following is the current real estate market statistics for Residential Properties Only in Kingston WA (Area 162) for the past 6 months

KINGSTON WA FEATURED PROPERTY FOR OCTOBER 2011

Situated in a secluded 5-acre registered wildlife preserve, this stunning Kingston WA Timber Frame Home is the perfect marriage of home and habitat. Timber Frame design uses time-honored artistry where tall support posts grow up from the floor and connect overhead in a soaring harmonious series of beams, rafters, and braces joined with glove-like precision. Superior quality design, materials, and craftsmanship flow seamlessly from one room to the next . Efficient radiant floors provide consistent heating throughout the entire main level and Master Bath. The wood-burning River Rock fireplace rises up dramatically full length to the vaulted wood ceilings. The Luxury Master Bath also boasts a heated towel rack, and a large custom tiled surround soaking bath/multiple head shower area. The expansive gourmet kitchen will help to nurture your inner Julia Child with expansive granite counters and custom cabinetry. Entertain all of your friends on the full length aggregate patio, overlooking plushly cultured gardens, or simply indulge yourself for a quiet evening’s dip in your private hot tub. Escape to the peaceful serenity of the scenic Kitsap Peninsula and Pacific Northwest living at its finest!

8220 NE Husky Lane, Kingston WA 98346

MLS #280841 / Now Available for $569,950

Full Listing Details  //  Virtual Tour

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Keller Williams West Sound, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Tags: kingston wa luxury homes, kingston wa real estate, Kitsap County Homes, luxury homes in kitsap county wa, timber frame homes in wa

Even though there’s an abundance of attractively-priced short sale/foreclosure properties in Kitsap County WA, unfortunately, many of these properties are not available for FHA or VA financing. Add to that the challenges and typically excessive delays in waiting for bank approval, short sales and foreclosure properties are not always the best fit for 1st Time Home Buyers or VA Buyers.

Here in Kitsap County WA, we are a proud home to a very large military community comprised of Naval Base Kitsap, which includes Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bangor Subase, and the Undersea Warfare Systems Center in Keyport WA.

One residential area in Kitsap County WA that is very popular for our valued Active-Duty service members and their families is Lake Symington, out towards Seabeck WA.

Situated near Green Mountain (a popular destination for hikers and bikers), the peaceful Lake Symington WA area offers lake beach access, a community center, playground, basketball court, baseball diamond, and a salmon ladder.

The Lake Symington Community Club (LSCC) is the home owner’s association on the east side of Lake Symington. It is made up of Divisions 1 through 4 (Longhorn, Boundary, Holly, Redwing, Big Beef, Deerhorn, Elkhorn, Kellum, Canyon, Steelhead, This a Way and Overland) and Division 6. The association is responsible for upkeep on the dam, the fish ladder, the park on the east side, and the corral property. The association dues are only $40 per year, and are due June 1 each year. LSCC is an all-volunteer organization.

Lake Symington is only minutes from the scenic beauty and recreational benefits of The Hood Canal, including well-known Scenic Beach State Park and the Miami Beach public boat launch. Nearby Seabeck Marina is undergoing a complete rennovation and is slated for completion by November of 2012.

Here is this month’s FEATURED PROPERTY for the Lake Symington area:

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For additional information on 3425 That A Way Road NW in Bremerton WA, go HERE

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Windermere Real Estate, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Tags: Bremerton WA Real Estate, First Time Home Buyers, homes for sale in Kitsap County WA, Lake Symington WA, seabeck wa real estate, VA Home Buyers

The following is a brief overview of the combined single-family home & condo market within East Central Kitsap County WA, Washington (NWMLS Area 150) for the week of July 17, 2011, provided by Rich Jacobson of Windermere Real Estate, in Silverdale, WA.

• Properties currently active on the market:  132
• Properties closed in the last 180 days:  109
• Average Sales Price:  $ 226,029
• Average List Price:  $ 232,363
• Ratio of List Price to Sales Price: 97%
• Average Days on Market: 139
• Sales Pending this Week: 8

To view a map of Northwest MLS Area 150 (East Central Kitsap), go HERE.

5781 Gateway Lane NE, Bremerton WA 98311 / NWMLS #234537 / $259,950

This immaculately maintained home & yard is located in highly desirable Blueberry Meadows, just off McWilliams and Pine Roads in Central Kitsap County WA. The 4 BR 2.5 bath home w/designer color schemes and custom touches boasts an efficient gas fireplace in Living Room, slate tile floor in the Dining Area and Main Bath, a custom-made bannister and window seat. A large deck offers ample room for Summer BBQ’s. The property backs up to extensive greenbelt for added privacy, and has a tree fort for your adventurers. A Storage shed provides room for all your gardening tools. A walking path leads to nearby Pinecrest Elementary School (award-winning CK Schools). Convenient to Waaga Way, shopping, and area bases.

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For more information on this property, go to 5781 Gateway Lane Bremerton WA 98311

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional with Windermere Real Estate, providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Tags: central kitsap wa market stats, East Bremerton WA, home in Kitsap County WA, Kitsap County WA real estate, Silverdale WA Real Estate

Top Tips for 1st-Time Home Buyers in Kitsap County WA – Tip No. 2

HAVE YOUR HOME INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL LICENSED HOME INSPECTOR

One of the most satisfying aspects of being a licensed professional real estate broker here in Kitsap County WA is helping 1st-Time Buyers to achieve their dreams of homeownership.

In the beginning, I typically spend a good deal of time educating my First-Time Buyers on the entire home-buying process, from start-to-finish, just so they can fully understand what’s involved and eliminate any surprises.

A few years back, I wrote a fun, informative series of articles entitled “Adventures in 1st-time Home Buying.“

I always counsel my Buyer clients to have a Home Inspection prior to closing. Here in WA State, most contracts include a Home Inspection Contingency (NWMLS Form 35) which makes the purchase subject to conducting a thorough home inspection.

Here’s the Home Inspection process in a nutshell:

Normally, the Buyer has  up to ten (10) days after mutual contract acceptance, to have the home inspected and to then petition the Sellers to remedy/repair any items/conditions they feel need to be corrected/resolved as a result. The Sellers usually have up to three (3) days to respond to the Buyers request. If the Home Inspector feels that additional inspections are warranted, the Buyer can request an extension to conduct further investigation, but at their own expense.

The Sellers have several options in responding to the Buyers requests: 1) They can agree to fix all of the items requested by the Buyer; 2) They can select which items they want to repair/resolve; 3) They can refuse to fix anything. The Buyers, in turn, have up to three (3) days to respond back. They can agree to the Sellers terms, counter with amended terms, or simply back out of the contract.

Having your home fully inspected by a licensed professional Home Inspector is one of the wisest investments you will make in the home-buying process. Here in Kitsap County WA, most home inspections cost an average of $300 to $500, depending on the size of the home. This usually includes a full pest inspection as well.

A thorough home inspection normally includes a visual inspection of all exterior/interior structural components,  and functional inspection of all appliances, and mechanical, plumbing, electrical systems/components.

Make sure that when you have your home inspected that you contract with a professional State licensed Home Inspector. Even thought your Uncle Jimmy Joe Bob may have worked construction back in the day, or your sister’s cousin’s son Vinnie used to work at Home Depot, you owe to yourself to have someone who is knowledgeable, experienced, and qualified. This is one of the biggest purchase/investments you are likely to make. The relatively small amount of money you will spend on a home inspection is worth every cent.

Here in Kitsap County WA, I strongly recommend two local home inspectors:

Chuck Fair of Fair Home Inspections

Scott DeSchryver of Lighthouse Home Inspection LLC

Both Chuck and Scott focus on serving their clients and representing their best interests throughout the entire inspection process. Both are very thorough and provide a highly detailed inspection report when completed.

In the greater Seattle area, I highly recommend:

Charles Buell of Buell Home Inspections

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate broker providing Knowledgeable Empowerment and Relentless Representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, HomesByHarbors, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Tags: 1st time home buyers, Bremerton WA Real Estate, First Time Home Buyers, home inspection, Kitsap County WA real estate, Poulsbo Real Estate, seabeck wa real estate, Silverdale WA Real Estate

Remember the horror movie, “The Blair Witch Project?”

While shooting a documentary, three student filmmakers mysteriously disappear in the woods of rural Maryland. A year later, their documentary footage is found.

Most people hate it or love it. Either it scares you so bad you pee your pants, or it leaves you nauseous with a splitting headache! Regardless, The Blair Witch Project only cost a meager $35K to produce, but grossed nearly $250M! Proving that even the most amateurish, low budget productions can achieve tremendous success.

One of the fastest growing social networks on the Internet is YouTube. The popularity of this platform clearly demonstrates the significant rise of consumer interest in video and the rapid growth of its use for business sales and marketing.

Fortunately, as is typical when certain media trends skyrocket, a greater variety of cost-effective associated technologies becomes available. Such is the case with digital video recording, editing, and publishing.

Enter The Flip Video Recorder!

Available in 4 basic models and priced from $149 to $279, the Flip Video Recorder offers up to 4 hours of quick and easy video recording, allowing even the most technically-challenged to achieve some measure of success!

As simple as it is to record, it’s just as easy to download videos to your computer by using a ‘flip-out’ USB connector. Each model comes with FlipShare pre-loaded software that allows you to quickly edit your videos and seamlessly upload them to popular websites like YouTube.

Video Tip: Poor Man’s Tripod – To help reduce the amount of vibration and shake, find a bolt that screws into the base of the Flip recorder. Cut a length of string nearly as tall as you, and tie one end to the base of the bolt. On the other end, tie a large flat washer. When shooting video from a stationary position, simply step on the flat washer and pull up on the string until tensioned. This will allow you to capture smoother footage, even when you pan a scene. Plus, it fits into your pocket a whole lot easier!

The applications for using video in real estate are virtually limitless:

Neighborhood Reviews, virtual tours for listings, highlight area shops and businesses, feature local parks and attractions, market reports, local expert interviews, real estate advice, etc..

A short video is the ideal solution for Out-of-State clients who want more than a basic photo gallery. A video provides them with a greater sense of floor-plan flow and the surrounding context of neighborhood/area.

Video can allow prospective clients the opportunity to become better acquainted with you before meeting in person, further reinforcing their level of comfort and trust with you.

While you shouldn’t plan on winning an Oscar anytime soon, using the Flip Video Recorder can be one of the more effective tools you can utilize to communicate valued information to prospective clients and further distinguish yourself as the knowledgeable real estate professional for your market.

Check-out a couple of my favorite real estate video RockStars:

The Clark County WA RE Expert Dale Chumbley

The Vancouver BC Penthouse Expert Ian Watt

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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