Get Real Tacoma

I thought it might be interesting to take a look at two ends of the sold spectrum in the City if Tacoma.  I ran a search for homes that had SOLD for over $1,000,000 since January 1st, 2008. 

Here she is… Miss Tacoma… The Most Expensive House to Sell in 2008 (so far!)

Most Expensive House in Tacoma 2008 (so far!)

 This house was on Ventura Drive in Narrows area.  It has 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, and 5,240 Square Feet.  It has an inground pool with some pretty amazing views of the water, and an outdoor kitchen.

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Vacant Properties will not be Effected.

This is interesting:

“In connection with the streamlined modification program announced jointly by

The temporary halt on foreclosures is designed to allow affected borrowers facing foreclosure to retain their homes while Fannie Mae works with FHFA to implement the streamlined modification program scheduled to launch December 15, 2008. The foreclosure halt will apply to all portfolio mortgages and all MBS pool mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and to foreclosures of homes that are already in process with foreclosure sale dates scheduled during the halt period. Servicers and foreclosure attorneys (or trustees) must institute the halt on foreclosures for eligible homeowners no later than November 26, 2008.”

More info here and all over the internets…

Thanks to Pam Painter at Sumner Home Mortgage for emailing me that. If any of you would like a copy of the full memo email me at M@TheSkydivingAgent.com. 

Today I attended a Progressive Brokers Open in the South Hill neighborhood of Sunrise. These are not my usual stomping grounds, but since the Brokers Open was put on by my Real Estate BFF Craig, off I went!

A Brokers Open is an Open House for Real Estate Agents.  They are usually held during the week, often on Tuesdays.  Craig was having a “Progressive Brokers Open” which means 3 Agents in the same neighborhood with homes to sell did theirs at the same time to draw agents.  Read the rest of this entry »

Your accountant will probably tell you if you buy a house this year, you will have a $7,500 Tax Credit coming back from Uncle Sam. While they call it a “Tax Credit” you do have to pay it back over 15 years. I call that a no interest loan.

It goes like this, you buy a house. You’d better be a high roller, because It has to cost more than $75,000. You must be a first time homebuyer (or have not owned a home for 3 years and be buying again). You must close escrow by June 30th, 2009. When you file your tax return, you will have a credit of $7,500. So that means if you are already getting a $1,000 tax return, go ahead and make that a $8,500 return. Read the rest of this entry »

Exit133 is reporting RTSS or “Rebuilding Together South Sound”, is accepting applications from Homeowners who need some help with their homes. The deadline is December 1st, and the actual “Rebuilding Day” will be April 25th, 2009. They (and their network of affiliates) will provide free home repairs to homeowners in need.

To qualify for Rebuilding Day you must own your home, be low-income, reside in their service area (Pierce County, Federal Way, Auburn) and be elderly, disabled or a family with children. Read the rest of this entry »

 With Pierce County apparently claiming the dubious honor of #1 in the state for home foreclosures, I find it shocking that there isn’t a greater effort underway to educate homeowners about Washington State’s Free Homeowner Counseling Line. 

Just so you know, when a person falls behind in their payments and the forclosure process is started, it becomes a matter of public record.  This means that homeowners are baraged with mail, phone calls, sometimes even personal visits from people wanting to charge them money to get them out of their situation.

Depending on what kind of services are being offered, it might be just the help the homeowner needs.  Real Estate agents might be able to help them sell the home before it is foreclosed.  Bankruptcy attorneys may be able to help the homeowner keep their home.  Unfortunately some of the time, desperate homeowners are paying for help that is available to them for free.

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Here’s what selling in Downtown, and how much it sold for.  This is all a matter of public record- So don’t feel like you’re doing anything naughty when you look. They all sold within in the last 60 Days. 

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The Elmwood is located on 10th & Yakima in Stadium.  It’s a beautiful street surrounded by big houses and zillion dollar views.  It just dropped under 200k. 

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