First Impressions

First impressions are vital in determining how much a buyer is willing to offer for your home. If they first see a broken gutter or peeling paint, they will cast a wary eye over the rest of your home and may not even give you an offer. Take a few minutes to look at your home like a buyer would. What do you see? Here is a First Impression Checklist to help you in the sale of your home:

- Mow your grass, trim the bushes and shrubs

- Clean and/or paint your front porch area

- Secure any handrailings

- Wash and shine your windows

- Put away toys and clutter, outside and inside

- Flowers and plants inside always make a nice impression

- Repair/replace the roof, gutters, and downspouts if needed

Being objective with your own home is sometimes difficult because of your personal attachment. Call me or email The Davidson Team if you have any questions or want a second opinion. Also, you can find other helpful buying and selling information here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/buyersandsellers.php.

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today"

Clean Selling

There's nothing like a good thorough cleaning to make your house show well and get top dollar when you're ready to sell. Use these tips to put your best foot forward:

Clean and shiny kitchens and bathrooms are a MUST!

Steam clean your carpets.

Organize your closets, clearing out clutter.

Remove all clutter and store excess furniture to make your home look bigger.

Wash windows and treatments.

Wash walls and touch up the paint.

A shiny and fresh smelling home is inviting and makes prospective buyers feel good about your home. The better they feel, the better your offers will be!

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today!"

Easy checklist for your move

It's easy for important tasks to get lost in the shuffle during a move. Here's a list to help keep you on track:

- Reserve a moving van/make a reservation with professional movers.
- Sign up utilities, cable, phone et al for your new home (don't forget to cancel your current services)
- Obtain referrals for doctors, dentists, and specialists if you are moving out of the area.
- Collect medical and dental records for family members and pets or have them released to your new practitioners.
- Make sure any necessary prescriptions have been filled.
- Set up new checking and savings accounts and safe-deposit boxes.
- Lightly water any plants you plan to bring to your new home.
- Back up your computer files.
- Empty the fuel from lawnmowers or other equipment you're bringing with you.
- Have your car(s) serviced for the move.
- Pack a box of necessary items you'll need when you first arrive (toothpaste/toothbrush, blankets, cleaners, etc.
- Conduct a last-minute walk through, make sure everything is turned off.

We hope you find this checklist useful in your move. If we can help you in any way, visit The Davidson Team at www.WenatcheeHouses.com for buying and selling tips, MLS property searches, town and community information and more!

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today!"

Wenatchee World: Today's Real Estate Articles 5/24/08

Wenatchee home prices 3rd strongest in the nation
By Christine PrattWorld staff writer
Posted May 24, 2008

"WENATCHEE - Home prices here were the third strongest in the nation through March, even as prices elsewhere in the country dipped sharply, a new federal report shows.

Home prices in Wenatchee increased just over 8 percent in the 12-month period that ended in March, according to the quarterly housing price index, released Thursday by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

Wenatchee ranked third to the Houma, Bayou Cane and Thibodaux areas of Louisiana, with 11.2-percent appreciation, and Grand Junction, Colo., with 9-percent appreciation, the index shows.

Yakima was the only other Washington metro area that made the list of top 20 strongest markets. It placed 17th with a year-over-year appreciation of almost 5.7 percent.

The local rankings come as home prices nationwide dropped an average of 3.1 percent over the last 12 months ending in March - the largest decline in the index's 17-year history, according to a news release."

Click below to view the entire article.

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/NEWS04/630617522/1001

Eliminate Undue Stress

is completely normal to be nervous and even second-guess your decision when you're moving. It's an emotional time and a major commitment. Keep these things in mind during the process and your stress level should be manageable:

* Everyone gets nervous or tentative during a move. It's a big commitment.
* Get pre-approved for a loan. It may take 30 to 45 days to obtain financing, and this will shorten the time frame.
* Use The Davidson Team as a resource. Part of our job is to make the entire process hastle free, answer questions and give you the information you need to be confident with your decision. We'll get you neighborhood information, information on school districts, where the closest bank is, etc....just ask us.
* Keep cash aside for emergencies and unexpected expenses during and right after the move.
* Have fun! Ask some friends to help you with some of your preparations, order some pizzas and make it a good time.
* Make sure to have time where you're NOT thinking about the move. You have to get away from it sometimes.
* Arrange to have phone and utilities disconnected at your old house and connected in your new home the day you move in.

When you're ready to buy, call us. We'll help the process go smoothly so you can concentrate on packing and preparing for your new home and neighborhood. Visit The Davidson Team at www.WenatcheeHouses.com for buying and selling tips, MLS property searches, town and community information and more.

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today!"

Wenatchee World: Today's Real Estate Articles 5/19/08

Apartment today, condo tomorrow

Area condo conversions a sign of housing crunch
By Christine Pratt
World staff writer
Posted May 19, 2008

"WENATCHEE - The region's influx of retiring baby boomers and a lack of affordable housing for first-time buyers have sparked local entrepreneurs to convert old apartment buildings into condo units.

Statistics that would document the rate of conversion aren't readily available. But real estate agents say they've noticed a trend. "What instigates it is the lack of affordable housing and the fact that our lifestyles are kind of wanting to have more free time and less large yards to take care of," said local agent Jaimie Wallace. "This is a newer thing, but it's been popular in the Seattle area."

Click below for the entire article.

http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20080519/BIZ/443929855

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team
"Start Packing Today!"

Seattle Times Article: 5/14/08

Slide in existing-home sales in state steepest in Central Puget Sound area

By Elizabeth RhodesSeattle Times business reporter

"Washington's home sales are down, and the dip is more pronounced in the Central Puget Sound region, which has the lion's share of the state's housing transactions.

Compared with the same period a year ago, sales of existing homes were off more than a third in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, the Washington Center for Real Estate Research reported Tuesday. The research does not include new homes.

The trend was generally repeated in prices, with the median price of resale homes dropping more in Central Puget Sound - except for King County - than in the state as a whole, the research center at Washington State University, found.

In the first three months of this year, existing home sales dropped 31.8 percent in King County, 35.6 percent in Pierce, and 34.8 percent in Snohomish County, compared with a year earlier. The statewide average was 29.7 percent."

Click below for entire article and information and Chelan and Douglas counties.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004412172_realestate14.html

New Home Vs. Existing Home

Possibly the first decision you make as a home buyer is whether you want a brand new home or an existing home. Here are some points to consider with each:

New home:
- Customizable - you can choose floors, colors, various upgrades.
- Usually more energy-efficient than older homes.
- "Modern" floor plans including more bathrooms, larger closets, larger family room, etc.
- Warranty from the home builder. Resale home:
- Location, location, location.

Existing home:
- Usually closer to metro areas.
- Comfort and sense of community in an established neighborhood.
- Opportunity to remodel and make the home unique.
- Existing features (landscaping, etc.)

Visit The Davidson Team at www.WenatcheeHouses.com for buying and selling tips, MLS property searches, town and community information and more!

The Davidson Team
"Start Packing Today!"

Wenatchee World: Today's Real Estate Articles 5/15/08

Housing group gets $250,000 from cityBy Christine PrattWorld staff writerPosted May 14, 2008

"WENATCHEE - The city will contribute $250,000 Thursday to a grassroots organization formed last year to create affordable housing for low-income families.

Wenatchee Mayor Dennis Johnson said that he'll deliver the check tomorrow to the group PATH - Preserving Affordability Trust for Housing.

"This really has a good basis conceptually," Johnson said of PATH. "It takes a long time for a group to start generating adequate funding. We felt this would give them good start."

PATH will use the money to help low-income buyers afford their first homes by separating the cost of the house from the land underneath it, said Marty Stierlen, spokeswoman for the Columbia Valley Housing Association, which has partnered with PATH.

The buyer must qualify for a bank loan to finance the house only. PATH will use the donated funds to buy the land. Savings to the buyer could be as much as $40,000 to $50,000, Stierlen said."

Click below for the entire article!

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/NEWS04/778481521/0/FRONTPAGE
Developer selling off trailer park propertyKamkon bought land for $2.2 million in 2006, now asking for $12 millionBy Travis HayWorld staff writerPosted May 15, 2008

WENATCHEE - The owner of the Ninth Street Trailer Park, land that's a key part of Wenatchee's riverfront makeover, appears to be selling the property.The land was set to be developed into condominiums as part of the city's riverfront development plan. Wenatchee Mayor Dennis Johnson said he found out Monday that the property was up for sale for $12 million.

"I was definitely taken by surprise when I found out," Johnson said Wednesday afternoon. "It was my belief all along that the area was ready for development ... I expected with the market being the way it is that it might be developed in phases now instead of all at once, but I didn't expect the project to be stopped altogether."

Kamkon Development bought the 12.5 acres for roughly $2.2 million in 2006, according to Chelan County Assessor's Office records. The sale of the land is being handled by Century Pacific, a Seattle-based company, according to Century Pacific's Web site. The Web site states the asking price for the land is $12 million."

Click below for the entire article?

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/NEWS04/22121896/1001

Don't forget these things...

When we begin looking for a home, we often forget issues outside the home that may impact our lifestyle. Here are some things to keep in mind:

* Is there a playground, pool or park nearby?
* Are there any fees involved?
* How close is the home to a hospital, police or fire department?
* How big is the garage or driveway?
* Is there sufficient parking for guests when you entertain?
* Commute times, traffic jams, gas prices and public transportation access.
* Proximity to schools

No home is perfect. Just be realistic and decide what's important to you. While you may have to compromise on some items, there are a lot of homes out there and you'll find a home that is a nice fit and will make you happy. Also, make sure you choose a home that you can reasonably maintain, that fits your lifestyle and that you want to keep for a while.

When you're ready to buy, The Davidson Team will be happy to help you in any way! Visit www.WenatcheeHouses.com buying and selling tips, MLS property searches, town and community information.

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team
"Start Packing Today!"

When you're thinking about making a move...

When you're thinking about making a move, consider:

* How much money you want to spend.* What type of home you would like.* Where you would like to live.* When you want to move.* How much you qualify for and what financing works best.

Getting pre-qualified by a lender is a good idea in the beginning stage. This will help you determine your choices of homes and neighborhoods and keep your expectations realistic. When you start your search, get pre-approved for a loan as soon as possible. This will involve a credit check and employment verification, and once this is done all that needs to be done is for the lender to appraise the home. Why is pre-approval so important? Pre-approval strengthens your position. A seller typically chooses an offer that is pre-approved over someone whose financial picture is still in question.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or has a real estate need or question, visit our website at www.WenatcheeHouses.com for buying and selling tips, MLS property searches, town and community information and more!

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today!"

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 5/9/08

Beef-and-Lamb Burger with Irish Porter Cheddar and Cornichon-Garlic Remoulade
(4 Servings)

4 cornichons, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons parsley, coarsely chopped
2 garlic clove
½ cup mayo
1 ¼ tablespoon whole grain mustard
¾ pound ground beef (no leaner than 80%)
½ pound ground lamb
4 Kaiser buns
4 think slices of Irish Porter cheddar
Tomato slices, onion and cucumber for garnish
Olive oil
Kosher salt & pepper

1. Light grill.
2. Chop cornichons, parsley and garlic in processor. Then blend in mayo and mustard.
3. In large bowl, gently mix the ground beef with the ground lamb and season generously with salt and pepper. For mixture into 4 1-inch-thick patties and make slightly indentation in center of each with thumb.
4. Very lightly brush both sides of Kaiser buns with olive oil and toast inside on grill for roughly 1 minute. Flip and toast other side for 30 seconds. Transfer to plates and spread remoulade on bottom half of buns.
5. Grill the burgers over high heat until lightly charred on each side (roughly 4 minutes for medium). Transfer burgers to buns and let rest 5 minutes. Top burger with tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. Serve and enjoy!

How much is your down payment?

Perhaps the most challenging part of buying a home is coming up with the down payment, unless you have built up equity in your current home. How much home you can afford depends on the amount of your down payment and how much you have been pre-approved to borrow. Funds for a down payment can come from:

* Savings* Investments such as stocks and bonds* Gifts from relatives* Company bonuses* Equity in your current home* Equity in other assets* Life insurance policies

How much is your current home worth? The Davidson Team is happy to provide you with a market valuation so you will know exactly what it's worth and exactly how much equity you have for a down payment on your next home. Click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/home_worth.php for our complimentary Over-the-Net home valuation. Or, call us today to schedule an thorough, in-home valution today!

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team

"Start Packing Today!"

Crime rate dips in Chelan, Douglas counties

By Jaime Adame, World staff writer
Posted May 05, 2008

"WENATCHEE - The crime rate has dipped to the lowest point this decade throughout Chelan and Douglas counties, according to 2007 data released today by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs .

The data includes information about so-called index crimes reported to local police agencies, which then report the data to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Index crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault in the violent crime category.

Arson, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft are included as property crimes."

Click below for the entire story!

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS04/67052898/1001

Warm regards,

The Davidson Team
"Start Packing Today!"

Making An Offer

When you find the right home and make an offer, the seller has 3 options:

1. Accept it2. Reject it (if it doesn't meet listing specs)3. Counter it with a different price and terms

The Davidson Team can help you negotiate so you get the right home at a price you're happy with. In a market with strong demand, a seller may not counter an offer but merely choose the highest offer. When making an offer, keep these things in mind:

1. Get pre-approved, not just pre qualified2. Keep contingencies to a minimum (only necessary ones like inspection, financing, etc.)3. Have a substantial earnest money deposit, to show the seller you're serious.

We're happy to help you with any questions you might have about the buying process and help you find your new home. Visit The Davidson Team at www.WenatcheeHouses.com for buying and selling tips, MLS property searches, town and community information and much more!

Warm regards,

Blaine & Erin Davidson
"Start Packing Today!"

Apple Blossom Events: Friday

Friday's events

Wenatchee Valley Mall Golf Tournament: 8 a.m., Highlander Golf Club
Tony Valentine Band: Noon, Memorial Park
Janie & Joe: 1:30 p.m., Memorial Park
Super Tonic: 3 p.m., Memorial Park
Darnell Scott & Desert Blues: 4:30 p.m., Memorial Park
Michael Carlos Band: 6 p.m., Memorial Park
Classy Chassis Parade: 6:30 p.m., Eastmont County Park
"Jesus Christ Superstar": 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee
Fathappy: 8 p.m., Memorial Park
Appleland Promenaders Square Dance: 8 p.m., Vale Elementary School, Cashmere