Is a 1031 Exchange Right for You?

Section 1031 of the IRS Code offers real estate investors a valuable tool to defer or avoid capital gains tax on real estate transactions along with the opportunity to build wealth and save taxes. A 1031 exchange lets you dispose of investment property, use all of your equity to acquire replacement investment property and defer the capital gains tax that would ordinarily be paid.

1031 exchanges are primarily designed for people interested in investment properties, not for typical home sellers and buyers looking to purchase a residence. Replacement property acquired in an exchange must be of "like-kind" or similar to the property being sold. The following are examples of properties that could be eligible for a 1031 exchange:

Single Family Rental Multi-Family Rentals Farms/Ranches Raw Land Retail Offices Motels/Hotels Golf Course Industrial Leases of 30 years or more

Examples of properties that are NOT eligible for a 1031 exchange are primary residences and real estate in foreign countries. If you would like to explore how a 1031 exchange could work for you, we'd be happy to give you more information. Please feel free to contact us by phone or email.

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today!"

Making the Most of the Space in Your Home

Friends come by to visit you, not your house. Your home can be a flexible extension and reflection of your lifestyle and personality, not a fixed collection of rooms that can only be used for their originally-intended purpose.

If space is limited, consider making some rooms do double duty. Here are some tips for thinking differently and making the most of the space in your home:

* If you don't put on formal dinner parties, consider turning an unused dining room into a home office. When friends come over for an meal, cushions around a coffee table in front of the fireplace can become an informal ‘dining room.'

* Repurpose furniture into special ‘rooms.' A drop-front secretary with shelves, drawers and a work surface can turn your living room into a craft center by day but can be closed up for entertaining in the evening.

* Many people regard their bedroom as a sanctuary and retreat. Consider adding built-in or freestanding shelves and an easy chair with a floor lamp to turn one corner of your bedroom into a quiet ‘library.'

Please let us know by phone or email if we can provide additional ideas for making the most of the space in your home. If you are considering making a move to a larger space, we can help you find a home that suits your lifestyle.

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team
"Start Packing Today!"

Wenatchee World: Today's Real Estate Articles 4/27/08

Developer selling off riverfront land
By Travis Hay
World staff writerPosted April 25, 2008

"WENATCHEE - One of the major players in the city's multi-million- dollar riverfront makeover wants to sell 4.7 acres that had been earmarked for condominiums.

Malaga developer Ken Blodgett put his land on Piere Street between Fifth and Ninth streets on the market about a month ago. The pricetag: $3.5 million, according to Ron Stephenson with Windermere Real Estate.

Wednesday morning Wenatchee Mayor Dennis Johnson said Blodgett's land is for sale.Stephenson, who is handling the sale of the property, said there has been interest in the property."

Click below for the entire article:

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/NEWS04/863140739/1005/SPORTS

The Davidson Team Moves To Premier One Properties!!!

We are very excited to announce that our real estate license will now hang at North Central Washington's Premier brokerage...Premier One Properties!

We look forward to meeting our new colleagues and making new friends, sharing our new office with clients, and continuing to serve the real estate needs of North Central Washington with integrity, professionalism and knowledge.

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team - Blaine & Erin Davidson
Premier One Properties
Phone: 509-293-2214
E-mail: info@WenatcheeHouses.com
Website: http://www.WenatcheeHouses.com
"Start Packing Today!"

2007 Realtor Rookie of the Year - Association of Realtors NCW

Affordable Housing Symposium Tonight

Join city officials, community members and housing industry professionals tonight at the Wenatchee Convention Center from 7-8:30PM for your first look at an independant consulting firm's recommendations for making housing more afforable for low to middle income residents in North Central Washington.

It's that time of year: Apple Blossom!

The excitement is brewing...chairs have been lining the streets for weeks saving spots for the parades, festival discussion comes up in every conversation, the food fair and carnival attractions have started setting up this week...the community is buzzing!

For all your Apple Blossom Festival information, schedule, photos and much more, visit the official website below:

http://www.appleblossom.org

Have a fun Apple Blossom!

The Davidson Team

4 Tips for Taking Care of Granite, Marble, Tile & Grout

Stone countertops and ceramic tile have become quite popular over the past several years. Their attractive good looks add an upscale touch as well as resale value. But stone and tile aren’t as durable as you might think. If not cared for properly, replacing or resurfacing can be an expensive proposition. Here are 4 tips to help keep your stone and tile surfaces looking their best while protecting your investment: 1. Keep stone and tile surfaces clean. Use warm soapy water and rinse well with clean water. Avoid cleaning stone surfaces with cleaners that contain bleach which can compromise sealants used to protect the surface. 2. Reapply a surface sealant every six months. Sealants help keep spills and food from being absorbed into the surface and causing stains. Look for professional-grade stone and tile cleaners and sealants at specialty stores or large hardware stores. They’re easy to use and apply. 3. Wipe up acidic spills immediately. Foods or liquids containing acids can quickly etch any stone or tile surface, creating rough spots that can only be removed by having the surface professionally resurfaced and polished. Tomatoes, citrus fruits, wine, and vinegar can quickly ruin your gleaming surface.

4. Clean tile grout regularly with a laundry bleach pen. Use an old toothbrush for stubborn stains. Chipped or broken areas can be cleaned out using a grout removal tool. New grout is easy to apply. Just ask how at your local hardware or tile store

Please call or email if we can provide names of nearby specialty stores specializing in tile and stone. We always have time to help you, your family and friends with your real estate needs.

Wenatchee World: Today's Real Estate Articles 4/16/08

NCW not seeing big slowdowns
Experts say local economic buffers will keep recession at bay
By Christine Pratt
World staff writer
Posted April 15, 2008

"WENATCHEE - Who says a recession is going on?

An influx of newcomers and vigorous local employment are keeping North Central Washington's economy strong, despite the impending doom reported nationwide.It may cool a bit, local experts say, but it's not likely to crash. "Wenatchee has, for the most part, avoided the booms and busts, and that's probably the situation we'll be in this time, also," said Ken Martin, president of Cashmere Valley Bank, recently.Wenatchee's position as the region's retail and medical hub helps smooth out the peaks and valleys of the economic cycle, Martin said."

Click below for the whole story!

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS04/552972449/1002

NCW shines as U.S. declines
Posted April 15, 2008
Economic growth

"Nationwide: The economy is shriveling. Recession is looming. Gross Domestic Product grew by a feeble 0.6 percent from October to December 2007. Analysts expect equally anemic growth from January to March of this year. Figures will be released later this month.North Central Washington: Agriculture, the motor of the NCW economy, is running strong. Wheat prices are at historic highs. Tree fruit prices are strong. This year's cherry and apple crops could set records for volume. Fruit exports are holding steady at about 30 percent of the region's harvest and could be helped by the falling dollar. New world markets are opening."

Click below for the entire article!

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS04/588291467

City may have set precedent for development
Builder allowed to cut landscape buffer in half
By Travis HayWorld staff writer
Posted April 15, 2008

"WENATCHEE - A City Council decision could impact the looks of the waterfront as the construction of condominiums continues adjacent to Walla Walla Point Park

In a unanimous decision, council members Thursday upheld a city Planning Commission recommendation that allowed condo developer Randy Zielinski a 10-foot landscape buffer in an area where the city zoning code mandates at least a 20-foot buffer, because his development is adjacent to a park. The Planning Commission recommended allowing the 10-foot encroachment into the required 20-foot buffer in February.

The Chelan County PUD appealed the ruling and argued against the commission's recommendation at the City Council meeting."

Click below for the entire article!

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS04/18653626

Congratulations Ridge to River Winners!

2008's Ridge to River (http://www.r2r.org/) Ironman/women champs are:

Torin Koos, Leavenworth: This is Torin's third win in a row!

Cora Sturzl, Malaga: Cora's first win.

Click below for more extensive final results.

http://www.r2r.org/Ridge%20_to%20River%20Final%20Results.pdf

Congratulations!

Event of the Week: The Velveteen Rabbit

For those of you who have kids or are a kid at heart, don't miss the Enchantment Theatre Co's adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit tomorrow (Saturday, April 12th) at the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. Click below for full details:

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/ARTS01/209336544/1001

How to Make the Most of Your Home Office

More and more people are working from home. From small-business owners to corporate telecommuters, more and more people are dedicating areas within their homes as full-time home offices. Here are some tips to help you design and equip an office in your home, no matter how small it might be:

* Size isn’t everything. Perfectly functional offices can be built into unused walk-in closets or even armoires or other furniture. While not everyone needs a large office in which to meet people or hold meetings, every office needs to have room for the basic tools necessary to running a business or doing a job.

* Organization is the key. Make the most of the space you have by using storage boxes or baskets of a uniform size to store papers, catalogs, magazines and supplies. By being the same size, they’ll better fit on shelves or on your desk with a minimum of wasted space.

* Make the most of today’s technology. A modern laptop has as much computing power as last year’s desktop tower. Thin LCD monitors take up much less space than bulky CRT tube monitors. Wi-Fi lets you connect to the Internet with a minimum of wiring. And VOIP telephones use your Internet connection to communicate at a fixed price every month with no long-distance charges.

* Treat your body right. Get an ergonomic chair and adjust it so your elbows are bent at a 90º angle when typing and be sure you’re not looking down at your monitor. Use high intensity task lighting to direct light where you need it.

Please let us know by phone or email if we can provide additional tips for getting the most out of your home office or provide you with any other real estate related information.

Wenatchee gets first look at consultant's recommendations for affordable housing

An interesting article in today's Wenatchee World bids the question, "How badly does this city need more affordable housing and what can be done about it?"

Wenatchee gets first look at consultant's recommendations for affordable housing
City will use findings and community input to pursue firm's suggestions

By Christine Pratt
World staff writer
Posted April 04, 2008

"WENATCHEE - How badly does this city need more affordable housing and what can be done about it?

Community members, housing industry pros and city officials will get their first look April 24 at an independent consulting firm's recommendations to make it easier for low- to middle-income residents to buy homes.

The firm, California-based David Paul Rosen, will present its findings at the city-hosted Affordable Housing Symposium at the Wenatchee Convention Center. Officials from Rosen will moderate the symposium.

The city is paying Rosen $24,500 to study the local need for affordable housing and recommend how the city can fulfill the need, Monica Libbey, the city's housing and community planner said.
"We have a genuine intent of increasing the supply of housing that's affordable for all," Libbey said by phone Thursday."

Click below for the entire article!

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/NEWS04/257552116/1001

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 4/2/08

BBQ Garlic Anise Leg of Lamb

1 leg of lamb
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons ground anise seed
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
4 tablespoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons freshly ground pepper

Two hours before cooking, combine all ingredients in bowl to make paste and rub paste over lamb. Set on countertop to marinate at room temperature.

Grill lamb on low indirect heat until nice crust appears. If meat is not medium rare (130 degrees)—depending on size of lamb—transfer to over at 300 and drizzle additional olive oil over lamb. Continue roasting until medium rare (130 degrees). Let stand for 10 minutes and then carve.

Design Your Closets for Maximum Utility

Not so long ago, closets were simply a small room with a wooden dowel and shelf. Today, closets can be so much more. A well-designed closet can help you organize your home. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the closets in your home:

* Use modern adjustable shelving systems which let you custom-design your closet for your individual needs. Easily installed, these modular systems are available at home centers or storage specialty shops. Many shops will help you to custom design a system for your particular closet and exact needs.

* Besides storing clothes, closets can also be used to organize materials for ironing, gift wrapping, sewing or even office machines and supplies.

* Extra-long shelf brackets can be used to build a work surface into your closet that can be used for folding clothes, crafts, wrapping or other projects.

* If you’re remodeling or redecorating, consider moving an unused bureau into a closet to add additional drawer space.

Please let us know by phone or email if we can provide names of nearby stores specializing in closet design and organizing or help you with any of your real estate needs.