Port Angeles Washington Real Estate News & Listings Presented By Strait Realty

9999 Owls Nest, Sequim, WA 98382

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:07:00 GMT

Highland Heights Subdivision.... located on Bell Hill Provides for a Premiere location to build your Dream Home. Minutes from town, panoramic views of the(saltwater) Straits, Vancouver Island, San Juans and Mt Baker. Fantastic terraced 1 acre parcel with level building site...This is truly a one of a kindlocation...Must See to Appreciate....:-)

9999 O'Brien Meadows, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:07:00 GMT

Panoramic Mountain views on 1.75 acres located in O'Brien Meadows Estates. PUD Water & Power have been brought to the property. Recently (07/02/09)cleared access Rd to building site at rear of property. Build your dream home and enjoy the great mountain views. Very nice private country setting while onlya 7-10 Min. Drive to PA. Come take a look, I think you'll love what you see. The potential is yours to realize.

Port Angeles Real Estate - A Few Tips On Buying A Home. By Steve Edwards, Real Estate Professional

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:49:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate

The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home in Port Angeles!

But before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if your are already ready for home buying.

Do you prefer or even enjoy moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, appliances, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much trouble with regular maintenance and repairs?

If your answers to these queries are yes, then you may not be ready to delve into the Port Angeles home buying experience. You may have a lot of good reasons for buying a Port Angeles home but you should also have to consider your reasons for not wanting to.

Remember than buying home is not just the biggest financial decision you will ever make but also the strongest emotional choice in your life, so be prepared to make wise decisions when you are in this process.

Buying a Port Angeles home always seems to be a great idea, but it is important that ownership of a certain property comes with a great deal of responsibilities too.

Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to invest money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home, make sure you're ready.

The first things that comes into our mind when we think about home owning, is the wonderful things that is connected to it. It is true that there are a lot of good reasons for buying a Port Angeles home. So here are some of the good advantages of home buying.

Financial security is a very great deal of advantage when it comes to owning your own home. If the Port Angeles housing prices goes up, your home can provide you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.

Flexibility is another thing, when owning your Port Angeles house you will be able to decide all the aspects that comes with it. You can decorate or renovate your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.

And of course stability, having your own home will make you feel at ease and less burden than renting one.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values, relocating information …Please visit my website www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have. Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099 or mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Real Estate Investing! By Steve Edwards - Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:13:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Real estate investing is really an art and, like any art, it takes time to master the art of real estate investing. The key, of course, is to buy at a lower price and sell at higher price and make a profit even after paying all the costs involved in the two (buy/sell) transactions. Generally, people are of the opinion that Port Angeles real estate investing makes sense only when the rates are on the rise. However, real estate investing for profits is possible just about any time (and as I just said, real estate investing is an art).

Here is a list of tricks that can make real estate investing profitable for you:

1) Look for public auctions, divorce settlements and Port Angeles foreclosures (bank/FHA/VA): Since quick settlement is the preference here (and not price), you might get a property at a price that is much lower than the prevailing market rate. You can then make arrangements to sell it at the market rate over a short period of time. However, make sure that the Port Angeles property is worth the price you are paying.

2) Looking for old listings: The old listings that are still unsold may provide you with good real estate investing opportunities. Just get hold of an old newspaper and call up the Port Angeles sellers. They might have given up hope of selling that property at all and with a bit of negotiation you can get the Port Angeles property for a real low price.

3) The hidden treasure: A really old (and dirty) looking house may scare off Port Angeles buyers. But this might be your chance for real estate investing within the Port Angeles area that can yield good profits. So, explore such properties and check if spending a bit on them can make them shine. You can get these at very low prices and make a big profit in a short time.

4) Team up with local Port Angeles attorneys: There are a number of attorneys who handle property sales on behalf of sellers or in special circumstances (like the death of the property owner). They might sometimes be looking to dispose off the property rather quickly and hence at a low price. Be the first one to grab such real estate investing opportunities and enjoy the profits.

5) Keep tab on the Port Angeles newspaper announcements: Property sell offs due to deaths, divorce settlements, immediate cash requirements and other reason are frequently announced in local papers. Keep track of such real estate investing avenues.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Purchasing REO Property Within the Port Angeles Real Estate Market. By Steve Edwards - Realtor

Mon, 31 May 2010 18:10:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Considering the purchase of Foreclosure property?

Here are some steps to follow to help you achieve your goal.

The Port Angeles real estate market is being bombarded weekly with new Foreclosures ... as well .... in every area in the USA. How can you find them? Simple, call a few Port Angeles real estate agents and ask them to send you daily listings that meet your criteria, don’t be vague, be as detailed as possible and within a realistic price range. In other words if you qualify for a $100,000 loan don’t focus on $ 1,000,000 homes, odds are you will never get an offer accepted and if you did we are talking about hundreds of offers. That takes time and energy and you will probably end up losing your Port Angeles real estate agent.

Once you start receiving the list contact the different Port Angeles real estate agents and see who gives you the best serves. I recommend that you stick to one agent, why? Because you will need a lot of hand holding and you are looking for an advocate, someone that will go the extra mile. Every property you like, you will need Market Reports CMA’s, information, etc. In addition you will need to be looking at property weekly with your agent. It is important for both of you to see eye to eye. Remember you are looking for the diamond in the rough and believe me they are out there you just have to look.

The most pressing piece that many folks ignore is that you have to, no way around it make offers every week. The more offers the better; your Port Angeles real estate agent will guide you with the right wording to avoid having to commit to all accepted offers. The bottom line is that if you don’t make offers it’s impossible to make a deal.

Your Port Angeles broker will help you put together a well packaged offer. Make sure you provide the pre-approval letter, proof of funds, etc. The better you look on paper the easier it will be. If you can close in 10 days, put it in the contract. Every detail helps the bank decide in your favor.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Build A New House Or Buy An Existing One? Use Your Head And Your Heart. By Steve Edwards Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sun, 09 May 2010 12:34:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

I am living in living in the third Port Angeles house I have purchased during my 23 years of home ownership. To some that may seem like a lot of houses, to others it may seem like I’ve just started. The simple fact is we Americans move a lot… 11 or 12 times in a lifetime depending on whom you consult. Chances are you are going to purchase a house during quite a few of those moves and somewhere along the line you may have the opportunity to build a new home.

Should you?

Everyone has fantasized at some point about his or her dream house. You may want closets big enough to live in; a bathroom that doubles as a spa; a kitchen in which you could produce programs for the Food Network But, as in most fantasies, there is usually some epic journey required to achieve the goal. And building your dream house follows that plot line all too closely.

But isn’t it the dream that makes the quest worthwhile? Yes, if you can weather the storms and battles along the way. And the determination to keep moving forward is usually a function of a strong will and a big heart. But it helps to use your head before you set off on your personal version of “The Lord of the Rings.”

It is likely that you have options when you begin the process of buying a Port Angeles home. There may be existing homes in the area that are affordable and that meet your needs. But there are always things about any Port Angeles property or house that don’t exactly meet with your approval. The basement may not be finished or the yard may be too small or the interior décor may have to be entirely redone. It is virtually impossible to buy an existing home without making compromises.

Building new allows you to imagine, design and build the home that accommodates needs and amenities that are important to you… within a budget of course. And that is one thing that must be considered. A new Port Angeles home will be more expensive, on a cost per foot basis, than an existing one. That is due to the cost of land, the price of building materials and labor expense. You might also find that taxes are high as a new area is developed and the municipal authorities factor in the required infrastructure for a growing population and the need for services like education, law enforcement and recreation. You may find yourself subsidizing some of these costs as an area develops.

The ongoing costs associated with an existing Port Angeles house are more predictable. However, there will likely be more maintenance expense than for a new house and energy costs tend to be higher with older properties because newer homes are more energy efficient.

Commuting costs may be an issue. Developers must go further and further out to find enough land to accommodate a new subdivision. That may mean higher costs for commuting to work and to access other businesses and venues that may be closer to the nearest major population center. You should consider this from both a monetary perspective and to determine if you are comfortable with an additional investment of time.

If your new Port Angeles house is built in a subdivision there may be ongoing fees required. In addition, there may be covenants that are designed to protect property values that may apply serious restrictions on your ability to enhance your home and/or your property down the road.

A new home needs new landscaping. This may be included in the price of the home but there will likely be a limit to what is covered under the agreement. To landscape the Port Angeles property in a way that is truly satisfying may require an additional outlay.

Beware of construction delays! Building contractors are notorious for setting deadlines they miss and making promises they can’t keep. Make sure you do some thorough research about the builder and his track record before you commit. Weather is always unpredictable and may have an effect but that should be factored in from the start.

A new Port Angeles subdivision can be a hornet’s nest of building activity. If you move into your home early in the process be prepared for hammering, sawing, trucks, mud and general chaos for quite a while as the subdivision progresses. This is a lifestyle issue and is a temporary inconvenience. But some have found this level of activity disconcerting and disruptive especially when they are settling into their “dream home” and trying to savor the experience.

If you build new be prepared to stay for a while. With new construction all around you it would be difficult to compete with the rest of the properties available for others who want to build a house from the ground up. You would have to make it worth their while and that usually means a compromise in price.

All this being said (and trust me there is more that could be said) there is nothing quite as satisfying as showcasing the house to family and friends that you designed and built and that reflects your unique vision and personality. If you survive the journey, you will likely have turned your fantasy into reality.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Building Tips For New Homebuyers living in Port Angeles Washington. By Steve Edwards Realtor

Sun, 09 May 2010 12:16:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

The life-changing event of purchasing a new home in Port Angeles WA. can be both exciting and overwhelming. With homebuyer horror stories of houses plagued with mold, leaky roofs or worse, it's no wonder some Port Angeles homebuyers get cold feet. Prospective homebuyers can save themselves from headaches by working with their local Port Angeles builder on these useful construction do's and don'ts:

1.) Help prevent mold before it starts. Ask your Port Angeles home builder to use vapor retarders in addition to insulation in your home's walls. Smart vapor retarders like CertainTeed's MemBrain allow wall cavities to "breathe" so excess moisture within the wall can escape. This helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Other vapor retarders can trap moisture in your walls, creating an environment that supports mold growth.

2.) Work with your Port Angeles home builder to ensure that no mechanical equipment, ductwork or plumbing is built into exterior walls, vented attics or vented crawlspaces.

3.) Take control of your Port Angeles home's temperature and acoustics by ensuring your contractor insulates with the correct R-value for your region. Regional R-values can be found online at www.certainteed.com.

4.) Windows are often the largest single source of heat loss and heat gain in a home. Select vinyl windows with low-E glass and a high-performance glazing system that reduces heat transmission through the glass.

5.) Know what's under your roof. For instance, waterproofing shingle underlayments go under asphalt roof shingles to further protect your Port Angeles home's interior from winter leaks caused by ice dams and wind-driven rain.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

290 E Anderson, Sequim, WA 98382

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:05:05 GMT

Very nice country home ... with a fantastic country feel...3 blocks from community beach access..... 10-15 Min+/- to either Sequim or PA This fantastic home with unmatched character rests upon an Awesome 1/2 acre of landscaped yard. backyard fenced landscaped W/ Fruit trees etc. Dear stop by for a visit on a regular basis.. This is a great 3 bd - 2ba home ... all meticulously maintained and ready to move into.... Please ... Come see for yourself...:)

4118 Fairmont Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98363

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:08:31 GMT

What an incredible Craftsman style home in very good condition. 4 bd's - 1 ba ....Hardwood floors etc. You'll find this home impressive, warm and cozy... Large Living Room & Kitchen.....Lots of room for your children or pet's to play ... Almost 2/3 of an acre .... Huge yard! ... Much of it very private. Lots of outbuilding storage etc. Incredible Mountain View from front Yard...:) This is one fantastic opportunity for someone ... I hope it's you!

2018 Westview, Port Angeles, WA 98363

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:16:13 GMT

Absolutely on of the best priced homes on the market today....This is almost a no brainer...:) Built in 2003 in like new condition 3bd, 2ba, with fantastic open space feel w/ fantastic propane fireplace in living room along with incredible skylights above. This is a light and bright home. beautifully designed. Low maint. landscaping along with a great neighborhood makes this one sweet opportunity.... Don't miss out!

Prepare Your Home for Sale: Kitchen Makeover Ideas. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Advisor

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Money spent updating your kitchen rewards you better than money spent on any other upgrades to your Port Angeles home. When it comes to kitchens, buyers continue to demand improvement in efficiency and style, and they love remodeled kitchens and new appliances.

Even if you Port Angeles home costs less than the newer homes in your area, Port Angeles buyers view the model homes and hold the ideal in mind while home shopping.

Newer homes place kitchens open to the family room and often have wide views of the outside. Newer Port Angeles homes also boast larger kitchens with more than one preparation area because cooking has become a social activity, and new homes often include a bar or buffet for entertaining. Cooks want to be in the middle of family activities so they can enjoy companionship.

Buyers look for a kitchen with large open areas that allow guests enough room to mingle, along with workspace for kids doing homework or even a small kitchen workspace for paying bills or making phone calls.

Present your kitchen as an organized, clutter-free, versatile space that will help your Port Angeles home buyers feel they could be productive and happy working and interacting in the heart of their new home.

You don't need to completely makeover your kitchen to sell your home. Packing and storing extra kitchen pots, pans, and utensils generates a more spacious presentation. You may also wish to invest in an attractive portable kitchen island to use as a prop for a kitchen with an open center and insufficient counter space.

Consider easy, low-cost changes that instantly upgrade a kitchen without major remodeling. These include the following ideas:

1.) Replace your faucet with a fancier model.
2.) Change your cabinet hardware.
3.) Paint cabinet faces.
4.) Replace or paint ugly laminate countertops. (Use Marine-grade paint.)
5.) Add warmth during cold seasons with a gorgeous rug next to the sink counter.

No matter your makeover budget, prepare your port Angeles home for sale with little changes like clearing the countertops and adding new dish towels and a bowl of fruit can make your kitchen entice a buyer to say, "This is my new home.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Preparing for an Appraisal - Plan For It. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Expert

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:23:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

A critical part of selling a Port Angeles home is the appraisal. Here’s how to plan for it.

You have a contract to sell your Port Angeles home and now the appraiser is coming. The appraisal needs to come in at a good price in order for your buyer to get his loan. What should you do?

The Appraiser Says

Appraisers typically tell people not to do anything special before they come. They tell the owner they see lots of houses and they can look past a little clutter and dust. “Don’t be nervous,” they counsel. Appraisers are sincere people. I’m sure they mean what they say.

I Say

On the other hand, appraisers are human. They respond to cleanliness and order and to good maintenance the same way buyers do. If you’ve let your hair down, get your home back into “show” condition before the appraiser comes.

Everything you know about a tidy approach to your home, well mulched flower beds, door knobs that are attached firmly and work smoothly, lack of finger prints, lack of clutter, and all the rest applies. Take a look at a “Uniform Residential Appraisal Report” form if you doubt me. The age of the home and the “effective age” are asked for under the “General Description.” Don’t you think how well your home appears to be cared for affects the number that appears under “effective age?”

The Uniform Appraisal Report requires information about materials (and their condition) used for floors, walls, trim and finishing elements, bathroom floors and wainscots, and for interior doors. Appraisers train themselves to notice these details. If yours are dusted, polished, and free of scratches and fingerprints, don’t you think you might be giving your appraisal a nudge in the right direction?

The Report also asks about kitchen equipment (refrigerator, range and oven, disposal, dishwasher, fan and hood, microwave, and washer and dryer). Do you think it’d be a good idea to have them clean and purring?

The Report asks about amenities such as fireplaces, patios, decks, porches, fences, pools, and sheds. If an appraiser is going to take special note of such things, shouldn’t they be swept, cleaned, and have paint in good condition? Also, clean out the gutters if they need it. If it should be raining on the day your appraisal is done, you want your house to handle the rain water well.

Let me share the “comments” section of an appraisal which got the owners what they wanted. I think it’ll give you a good feel for what you need to do. “The subject is well maintained and no physical, functional or external inadequacies were noted. Marketability is enhanced by hardwood flooring throughout a majority of the home, an updated kitchen, fresh interior and exterior paint, transom windows, built-ins, a front porch, a rear patio, a large storage shed, 4 fireplaces, etc.”

The appraiser is a human being. Make sure you do everything you can to appeal to them and you’ll get a good appraisal. Goodluck .... I wish you the best....:)

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Picture Perfect: the Profit is in the Plan. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:10:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

As far as Port Angeles home improvements go, landscaping is a solid investment - in fact, a well designed outdoor project can offer a better return than most of those inside the house. Good landscaping can add between seven and 15 per cent value to your home and has a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent, so shell out now ...... and ..... get it back when you sell....:)

Many Port Angeles realtors will tell you that a well designed landscape will help you sell your house faster. With today's explosion of subdivisions, where many of the homes look similar from the outside, landscaping can set your home apart from a neighborhood of clones.

But the key to a profitable landscape is the design, so start with a plan. A poorly designed layout could end up costing you more time and money: without proper planning, that lovely deck you've laid may crack in next winter's frost. So before you go running into the yard with your pick and shovel, get out your paper and pencil.

First consider what you want to use the area for. If you want to have an outdoor kitchen area or pool ....... then your design will look quite different from someone looking for a vegetable garden or a private refuge. There are plenty of garden magazines on the market; study them to get a good idea of what you like and don't like. Even if you aren't planning on doing the whole yard now, plan what you'd like to see eventually. Otherwise you may find yourself ripping up this year's hard work because it interferes with next year's project.

Plan for your level of maintenance. Think about whether you want a garden that requires a lot of work or something a little easier to deal with. After you put all this work into the design you don't want to watch it go to waste. If you don't have time to maintain it yourself you might want to hire someone to take care of it for you, but look into those costs before you start planting.

Which brings us to the ever popular topic of budgets - it's important to start out with an idea of how much you have to spend, because it's easy to get carried away out there and there's no shortage of lovely plants, features and furniture to sink your hard-earned cash into. Be realistic: you might not be able to put in both the pool and the outdoor kitchen this year, but you've got your plan. You know it's coming.

The next step is to sketch out your yard. Divide it into sections and map out what you would like where. Call your utility company and map areas with underground wires and pipes. Identify areas that have special needs (drainage issues, acidic soil, shade and full sun). Next, add the feature that need to be "landscaped", like patios, fences, fountains, pools and walkways. Depending on the complexity of your design you may want to consider involving a professional, at least to look at your design. If you are undertaking any structural projects it might be wise to have the plans vetted by an engineer. In any case, consult local building codes and do your research. You want to ensure that your landscaping is appropriate for your particular location and climate concerns.

When deciding on plants, refer back to your sketch to match your greenery with its preferred light and soil conditions. Use marking paint or chalk to mark out planned features and bedding areas in your yard. This will give you a basic idea of whether your design works spatially. You may need to play with the width of the beds or paths to make the plan more visually appealing.

Before you plant, lay your plants out in their place and take a good look. Does the layout look crowded? Try to visualize the final size of the plant. Make sure you leave them enough room, even if your garden feels a little sparse to begin with. It's better to have a little room between them now rather than ending up with some plants being overpowered by others when they are full-grown.

And now you're ready to go! It may seem like a lot of work to get started, but a well planned design will ensure that you maximize your investment and create a beautiful space that you (or the next Port Angeles home owners) will enjoy for years to come.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Pre-Approval Letter – How To Use It To Get Your Dream Home. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:42:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

When Port Angeles house hunting, many buyers make the mistake of waiting to contact a lender until after they have located their dream home. As a buyer, you will be in a much stronger position with a seller if you are pre-approved.

Pre-Approval Letter

To effectively house hunt in Port Angeles, you must know the amount you can borrow from a lender. There is nothing worse than find your dream home, but failing to qualify for the amount you need for a loan. Avoid this by asking your lender to pull your credit information and to let you know what needs to be done to get a pre-approval letter. If you are going to have problems with getting a loan, it is better to know about it as early as possible.

Sometimes Port Angeles Home buyers resist contacting lenders because it’s not the enjoyable part of home buying and they’re afraid an extra credit check will reduce their credit score. This resistance is penny wise and pound foolish. Buyers who get their loan arrangements lined up at the beginning of the Port Angeles house buying process are really doing themselves a favor.

Much of the country is experiencing a hot, sellers’ market. It is not unusual for a seller to get more than one offer on the same day. If that happens to you, your pre-approved status can give you an edge over the competition. In fact, it can make a seller choose you over another bidder.

Presenting Your Letter to a Seller

When you tell the seller you want to buy their property, give them a copy of your pre-approval letter. They will probably recognize the value of the letter, but don’t depend on this assumption. Make sure the seller realizes the loan is already approved.

As you give the seller the letter, explain to them that you are serious about making the transaction go smoothly and, for that reason, you have already been through most of the loan application process. Point out that the lender has pulled your credit info and you’ve provided copies of W-2s, pay stubs, and all the other things the lender needed to decide that you do qualify for a loan. Tell the seller that the only remaining thing to do is to give the lender a copy of the contract that you and the seller sign, and the property needs to appraise for an appropriate amount.

Taking this approach puts you in a very strong position. The seller knows you are not just wishing; you are capable of buying his property. One of a seller’s worst nightmares is signing a contract with someone, taking his property off the market, wasting time and then finding out that the would-be buyer cannot get a loan. On the other hand, you and your pre-approval letter are dreams come true.

Put on your shining armor and get pre-approved by a lender. Once you have the letter in hand, get out there and find your dream home.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Budget for Closing Costs – Prepaid Loan Interest and Home Insurance Premiums. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:33:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Entering into escrow on a Port Angeles home can be both exciting and stressful. The excitement comes from knowing you are close to moving into the new home. The stress comes from issues that will arise.

Budget for Closing Costs – Prepaid Loan Interest and Home Insurance Premiums

As part of any closing, you need to go through certain steps to make sure you are both getting what you think you have purchased as well as paying for it. Each of these steps has an associated cost, known as closing costs, and you have to pay them before you can take possession of the Port Angeles home for sale. If you do not, the deal will not close and you will lose the home.

When going through escrow, costs associated with closing can accumulate quickly. Here is a closer look.

Prepaid loan interest is an ugly little surprise for many first time homebuyers. The lender will often require you to pay the interest that accumulates between the day the loan is funded and the day you are actually scheduled to make your first loan payment. Many people mistakenly believe they have roughly a month before they have to start paying. This is rarely the case, and the sudden requirement to pay a hundreds or thousands of dollars can be a nightmare. If at all possible, you should try to get the lender to fund the loan as close as possible to the actual closing date, even on it. Try to avoid closing the loan on a Monday. The lender will have to fund the loan the previous work week, which means interest will be growing.

Homeowners insurance is something you are going to need and most people expect as much when buying a Port Angeles home. If you are not informed, however, you will be surprised at closing when you find out you have to pay the full premium for the first year of the policy. Depending on the value of your purchase, this can add a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars onto your closing costs. Again, it is important to budget for this cost when putting funds together prior to purchasing a Port Angeles home.

If you are going to purchase a home, you are going to have to pay these two items at closing. Make sure you budget for them to avoid running into cash flow problems.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Budget for Closing Costs – Prepaid Loan Interest and Home Insurance Premiums. By Steve Edwards

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:31:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Budget for Closing Costs – Prepaid Loan Interest and Home Insurance Premiums

As part of any closing, you need to go through certain steps to make sure you are both getting what you think you have purchased as well as paying for it. Each of these steps has an associated cost, known as closing costs, and you have to pay them before you can take possession of the Port Angeles home. If you do not, the deal will not close and you will lose the home.

When going through escrow, costs associated with closing can accumulate quickly. Here is a closer look.

If you are going to purchase a home, you are going to have to pay these two items at closing. Make sure you budget for them to avoid running into cash flow problems.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Budget for Closing Costs – Property Taxes, Legal Fees and Such. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:18:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

You probably spent a good bit of time getting disciplined to save money for your Port Angeles home purchase. You need to carry this financial discipline through the escrow period or you could run into problems.

Budget for Closing Costs – Property Taxes, Legal Fees and Such

When you decided it was time to purchase a Port Angeles home, you went through a number of steps to get your finances in order. You probably reviewed your credit report, cut down on credit card balances and reigned in your spending. A monthly budget was probably also an item you stuck to, probably with some aggravation. Once you have an offer for a home accepted, it is important that you keep budgeting for the closing costs associated with the purchase. Here are a couple of odd little fees that can show up and drive you nuts if you are not careful.

Being required to pay property taxes can be a nasty little surprise. After all, you do not even own the home yet! The requirement, however, comes because of the nature of how property taxes are paid. They are not paid every month, so the seller has prepaid the taxes beyond the period they will own the home. They will want that money back! You can negotiate this point as part of the purchase, but you need to be aware it is out there.

In addition to the above, there are a lot of small fees associated with closing. They can run from several hundred dollars paid to the escrow company to $20 or so for notary fees and so on. If you do not keep an eye out, they can add up quickly to a few thousand dollars.

Closing on a home can be aggravating with all the costs you have to pay. It will all be worth it when you walk into your new home the first time.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Avoid Port Angeles Home Foreclosure - Facing Foreclosure? Some Options That May Help You

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:50:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

If you are facing a Port Angeles foreclosure, there may be options to negotiate a workout program with your lender. To get help with a foreclosure you have to start by talking to your lender. Help is available if you are willing to workout a reasonable repayment plan with your lender, while this can sometimes be difficult, you may be able to save your home. They really do not want your Port Angeles house back. Let us cover some options that may be available to you if you are facing a foreclosure.

The continuing flow of creditors and collections agencies called you can be over whelming, while it may seem hopeless, you may have options. Starting with the most important, your home, the others may have to wait and be fixed later.

Lenders usually will offer several options to a Port Angeles homeowner that is in default on their contractual obligations of a mortgage payment. They would much rather workout a program that is best suited for all parties involved then to come and take your Port Angeles house. They are in the business of lender money, not managing properties. This is true even more today, with foreclosures at record highs, banks have been overloaded with homes that they must not manage and maintain until they are able to sell them to someone else.

The time that you have to negotiate a deal, is often very limited. In most states, a borrower that is in default 60 or more days is just about out of time. This period varies from state to state so make sure that you have checked your local laws. Lenders can and will take legal action to foreclosure on your home if you are not talking to them.

Here are some possible solutions that you can offer to the lender to avoid foreclosure. While not all will be satisfactory to the lender, you can at least make the offer and let them tell you.

Reduced Payments
Lenders may be willing to take a reduced payment for a specific period, this will allow you to remain in the home and catch up the default amount over time. Some lenders will not allow you to do this, but it never hurts to try.

Short Sale
Lenders may let you sell the property for less then what they are owed on the loan. More and more lenders are allowing this type of transaction as they have realized that it costs them much more to pursue the foreclosure then if they just settle and take what they can get.

Payment Deferment
Some lenders may allow you to defer a payment or two, they tack the payments on the end of the loan and allow you time to catch up and stay current. This option is only just now beginning to become available as lenders are doing whatever they can to help avoid the foreclosure process.

While this article only covers a few options that may be available, check with your lender and try to work something out, it may keep you from losing your Port Angeles home in the process. Keep in mind that a foreclosure will cost you money, even if you just walk away. The impact on your credit is substantial and will hinder your borrowing power for years to come.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Avoid Foreclosure: An Option That Many Do Not Know About. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:29:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Looking down the barrel of a foreclosure, if you are among one of the over 1.4 million homeowners facing this same issue, there may be a creative technique to save your Port Angeles home and salvage your equity so that you can fight again. The last thing that you want to do is give your home back to the lender.

If your financial hardship has left you in a position whereby you are not able to pay your mortgage payment, whatever the reason may be, then you cannot afford to live in your home. Foreclosures are growing dilemma for many homeowners in the Untied States today; foreclosures are at an all time high. Alan Greenspan has made comments that the US may be heading for a recession in 2008.

Some lenders out there have not been playing fair, and some even to the point of unethical practices. These unethical practices are a primary reason that foreclosures are at an all time high and not expected to slow any to soon from what most experts have said.

On the bright side of things, you may have an option that may allow you to keep your Port Angeles home, even if the foreclosure process is already under way. Something that has been around for many years, and you may possibly utilize to save your home and equity. You may need to wait a year or two in order to cash out the equity on the property, but it is better then the alternative.

This option is referred to as a Lease Purchase Agreement, find a tenant to lease your home from you, with an option to purchase the home at the end to the agreed period or time; usually 12 to 24 months. You set a price for them to buy the house when the agreement is signed; this will allow you to set the price so you can save the equity and by some time to recover. With a tenant that has the option to buy your Port Angeles home you may be able to:

1) First and foremost is the avoidance of a foreclosure

2) Since renters are paying less today due to the high foreclosure rates, this may be a way to increase the monthly rent, due in light of the purchase agreement

3) A one-time payment, up-front as a non-refundable deposit, this is usually 1% - 3% of the sales price. The best part of this is that even if they decide not to buy your home, you still keep the money

4) Quickly locate a buyer for your property, most times faster then trying to sell you home in the traditional manner

5) Someone else will be paying the mortgage payment, and potentially a few hundred dollars a month more

Lease Purchase Agreements usually work well in any real estate market; these agreements referred to as a "lease option" as well. This is a very valuable strategy to keep in mind, especially during a time when the real estate market is in distress.

While there may be many other reasons to take advantage of a lease option, they are defiantly an excellent way to avoid foreclosure, and salvage your home from the bank. In a foreclosure, your credit will be destroyed for years to come, and the additional financial repercussions can take a tool on your personal life.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Avoid Home Buying Blues at Closing. By Steve Edwards, Port Angeles Real Estate Agent

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:09:00 GMT

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Buying a Port Angeles home is a stressful and emotional affair. You can avoid the home buying blues by keeping your cool at closing.

I've just come from a settlement table at which a friend bought a new Port Angeles home. It's beautiful, convenient and just what she wanted. However, at the settlement table she and a relative whom she clearly loves got into a tiff with each other. What should have been a happy occasion was almost spoiled. Thank heavens they got themselves together and the situation was saved, but arguments and hurt feelings are frequent at settlement tables and on moving day. It doesn't have to be that way.

The Trauma of Change

Changing one's Port Angeles home is right up there with the big changes in life - birth, death, divorce, and retirement. Most of us recognize the trauma of the first three. Many of us recognize the need to prepare mentally and emotionally for retirement. Few of us realize how badly buying and moving into a new home frays our nerves and shortens our tempers. It can have serious consequences. I've seen deals blow up, and almost blow up, because of it. (Sometimes the protagonists are the buyer and seller.)

Mitigating Moves

There are a number of things you can do to ensure that the day you buy or sell your Port Angeles Real Estate is calm, sane and happy. Let's consider some of them. Some are easy. Some harder. You're apt to think of some which will be unique to you and your family.

First of all, simply realizing that these are flash points and discussing it with family members is a good starting point. There are many decisions to be made and much work to be done. Life is about to change for everyone who is a party to the process. It helps to just acknowledge that you'll need to work together so that it's a good experience for everyone in the end. Remember the expression, "I need to take a deep breath and get my equilibrium back." Clue in family members when you feel the tension rise.

Get a good night's sleep the night before the settlement. Have a good, unrushed breakfast. Have someone you know well look after small children and pets until after settlement; you don't need distractions during a large financial transaction.

At settlement, ask questions about anything you don't understand. Use a quiet, neutral voice. Don't sound like you are accusing someone of something. Simply ask for information and clarity. Don't feel rushed. Take the time to understand. Many of the arguments I've seen at the settlement table happened because someone assumed something and didn't ask about it. They just pitched into an irritated tirade. Not a good idea.

What if your questions turn up an unexpected and unacceptable answer? Let it be known that you expected it to be handled another way and why. Listen to any explanation calmly. Evaluate it. Does the other person have a valid point? How much difference does it make to you? Remember, it isn't necessary to have everything exactly as you'd like in order to have the transaction go well for you. Keep the big picture in mind. You don't have to be right about everything, nor do you have to win every point in order to be pleased with the final outcome.

Whether you call it settlement or closing, the final meeting will be stressful even if absolutely everything goes perfectly. Make sure you get through it by minimizing the stress.

Thank you for your time!

Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent