Stumbled across this video today and found it a really interesting commentary on working with clients on the web. You can view it at the 1000 watt blog.

Interested to hear your thoughts on this video and what solutions we can find to address a very real problem.

Providing a "service" to the consumer is not the difficult part of a career in real estate. Sorting the "wheat from the chaff" is where most agents experience problems.

It's interesting, the most significant stumbling block many agents have in this business is also the greatest source of frustration for consumers.

On one hand we have the Consumers who would like to stay anonymous and use the services of agents for free until they are ready to make a choice on their own.

On the other we have Agents who are happy to provide free info (many times at their own financial peril), but would like to qualify each consumer so that they can direct their "service" to those that are ready and willing to accept it.

The problem? The very reason consumers want to remain anonymous is so they don't have to be "qualified" by agents. They want the power to choose which agent they want to work with, not the other way around. It can be a viscous circle that ends in frustration for both parties.

This disconnect is a large part of why agents and brokers are viewed negatively by some in the public.

Seems like agents and consumers have a mutual problem. What's your solution?

Finding the common middle ground is the key to building successful relationships with customers on the web.

  A few weeks back my son

and I took an afternoon off and headed out to the Cascade foothills.  We loaded up the pickup

and headed South towards Mt Rainier for a little Father/Son time. 

Just outside of Ashford we crossed the Nisqually River and I snapped this pic while driving by.

The Nisqually feeds Alder Lake and then runs through McKenna and Yelm on it's way to the delta and Puget Sound.  Up this high in the hills, the Nisqually runs in ribbons and has the signature color of a glacial fed river. 

After a few miles of bumpy gravel logging roads we arrived at our planned destination and got geared up for our big hike.  My son is only 4 years old so our "big hike" consisted of walking down an elk trail for a few hundred yards through a clear cut and then cutting into the woods for the return trip.  Once in the timber, we ran across a stubborn snow bank that apparently had designs on becoming it's own glacier.  The little man spent some time sliding down it like an otter until the light started to fade.

We headed back to the truck just in time to watch the sun set below the foothills.

One of the many benefits of living in the Puyallup area is the ability to visit the mountains, the Puget Sound, or Downtown Tacoma within an hour's travel time.  If you would like more information on Puyallup real estate, please visit our Puyallup page @ www.BrettSellsHouses.com

Overshadowed by the massive 800 Billion dollar bailout, the Hope for Homeowners program takes effect with little press coverage.

As part of the Economic and Housing Recovery Act of 2008, Hope for Homeowners is designed to keep struggling homeowners in their homes by offering a 30 year fixed FHA refinance option.  Eligible homeowners may have the option of refinancing their current loan @ 90% of the current appraised value of the home. 

Who Qualifies?

1. The home must be your primary residence and the homeowner can not own other real property.

2. You must have made at least 6 payments on your loan.  Qualifying loans must have been originated on or before January 1 2008

3. Unable to pay current mortgage payment without assistance

4. Mortgage payment is greater than 31% of your gross monthly income

5. No fraud convictions for 10 years.  You must have been truthful about your financial situation and not knowingly provided false information when you applied for the loan. 

The Downside?

1. The program is voluntary for your lender.  As lenders are required to accept a 10% loss on the home, accessibility to hope for homeowners will vary from lender to lender. 

2. FHA will share in your future equity.  Based on a sliding scale, you'll agree to anywhere from 100% to the minimum of 50% after 5 years.

3. Banks are still working on how to best implement the program and it may be several more months before they begin to utilize it. 

Information about Hope for Homeowners, for borrowers with a Countrywide mortgage can be found on BoA's website.

To learn more about Hope for Homeowners visit HUD's website.

Orting Real Estate | The Buttes Market Update

The Buttes is a gated community of homes located high above the valley floor just outside of Orting WA. A well designed development, most homes in The Buttes offer nice sized lots with fully fenced backyards and enjoy the privacy of substantial green belts.

The Buttes is one of the premier developments in the Orting Real Estate Market. It's a fantastic place to live for those wishing to enjoy a small town atmosphere within a reasonable commute of major employment centers.

Home sizes range from cozy 1200 sq ft ramblers to spacious 3000+ sq ft 2 story homes, with the bulk of the development offering homes in excess of 1800 sq ft. A wide array of builders have been active in The Buttes and the variety of finish levels and amenities vary greatly from home to home.

Currently we show 45 homes Active in The Buttes with an average list price of $311,678

Sales appear to be trending upward with 5 currently pending homes reported. This bucks the trend of 3 sales per month average over the last 6 months. Well priced homes are still moving well with 7 selling with less than 90 days on market.

As is the case in many of Pierce County's developments, those home sellers who choose to "test" a higher price than the market will bear and fail to react quickly to the market, are finding disappointment. Suffering lack of interest from buyers and few showings, these unlucky sellers are seeing lower prices and days on market in the 200 day range as a result.

Overall, Great buying opportunities continue to exist in The Buttes as well as the overall Orting Real Estate market as a whole.

If you would like to see more information and listings available in The Buttes, or Orting Real Estate, please visit our website @ WWW.BrettSellsHouses.com

Congratulations! You are on your way to Fort Lewis...Now where are you going to live?

Before we can make a recommendation, we'd like to know a bit more about you and your family. Because this blog post is really an open letter of sorts, we'll hit on a few of the most highly sought after locations near Fort Lewis.

1. Dupont- Located literally across the street from Fort Lewis, Dupont offers the shortest commute of any community in Pierce County. Dupont Real Estate offers clean, well maintained condos and single family homes in a friendly setting. Prices range from the low $200's for condos to the $500's for large single family homes.

2. Lacey- Offers a short commute across the Nisqually Delta and more local shopping and services than Dupont. New construction is king off the Hawks Prairie exit and fantastic deals are awaiting service members in search of it. Choose a home in a golf course community or a development nestled in the trees. Lacey Real Estate prices are similar to Dupont.

3. Puyallup- Puyallup offers a commute of 15 to 20 minutes from Fort Lewis. Puyallup offers historically strong schools, diverse housing choices and extensive shopping. Service members can take advantage of Puyallup's South Hill to find housing deals. Hampered by over building and traffic woes on Meridian, many homes in South Hill are truly deals. Find all the listed homes in the Puyallup Real Estate market. Puyallup Real Estate prices vary from the low $200's to multi million dollar homes.

4. Yelm-Located to the South of Fort Lewis, Yelm offers more rural housing options than the previous 3 choices. With a nice blend of new construction and homes on acreage, Yelm is a popular choice for many service members. Access to the Fort via the East gate provides roughly a 20 to 30 minute commute. Yelm offers shopping, dining and entertainment options. Housing in the Yelm Real Estate market runs from the high $100's on up to estates on acreage nearing the million dollar mark.

These are the top 4 picks our military clients have chosen over the past few years. If you would like more in depth information about Fort Lewis Real Estate, please feel free to give us a call or visit our website @ www.BrettSellsHouses.com