Most of the people I know do not actually enjoy grocery shopping, it's just something they have to do. I guess that makes me somewhat unique because I like grocery stores. I especially like ethnic grocery stores because of the wide array of unusual merchandise. There are many to choose from in Kent, and I have visited most of them at one time or another. Even when I visit cities in other states, I'll try to seek out their ethnic enclaves and wander around their markets like a kid in a candy store.
I do most of the cooking in my home and like to try new recipes. I have a large collection of cook books, many of which feature ethnic cooking using ingredients not found in the large local supermarkets. Although I have noticed lately some markets are adding ethnic sections to better serve the changing population. Part of my interest in trying new recipes is hunting down the proper foods and spices to complete the dish. It's just an interesting experience and I learn something new with each visit.
I was in Kent's largest Hispanic grocery store this weekend picking up some ingredients for Posole. The La Huerta International Market is owned by Juan and Rossy Murguia. They opened this store in 2005 with an investment of $50,000. Over time it has expanded to over 5400 square feet and now could be considered a mega-market for Hispanic foods. As these pictures illustrate, this store is a shopping event. Every aisle features neatly stacked canned and packaged goods on display. The store has a well-stocked meat department with a butcher available for special orders. Towards the back of the store you'll find the bakery with fresh baked goods. La Huerta even has it's own restaurant if you don't feel like cooking it yourself.
La Huerta has two locations, one in Kent and one in Tacoma. The next time you're in the area, make it a point to stop by and immerse yourself in this Hispanic wonder.
La Huerta # 1
405 E. Smith Street, Kent, WA 98030 253 520-0198
La Huerta # 2
5605-A Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98408 253 474-1645
Greg Saffell
(206) 617-2247
REMAX Performance Plus
Information About Kent WA Real Estate
Discovering wonderful ethnic foods in Kent
A couple of years ago I scheduled a listing appointment with a woman who was referred to me by a neighbor. My neighbor said that her friend was elderly and that she was thinking about selling her home and moving to an apartment. I had a brief telephone conversation with the woman about her plans, prepared for my appointment and arrived on time.
The modest home was on a busy street in a reasonably nice neighborhood but needed some obvious sprucing up. I could tell right away that the woman was a little nervous having me there so I kept talking about our mutual friend and what a nice neighbor she was. After touring the home we sat down at the kitchen table and enjoyed a pleasurable conversation unrelated to real estate.
Of course we finally got around to the business at hand and I slowly explained the process of selling her home. She was horrified by the paperwork and daunted by the complicated tasks at hand. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. She said " Greg, when my husband and I bought this home nearly fifty years ago, there was one sheet of paper to sign. We both signed at the bottom and made all our payments directly to the real estate company until we paid off the mortgage".
"It's too bad it's not still that way", I said, "but I will explain every document to you so that you understand the entire process, and you will not be asked to sign any document until you know what you're signing". That seemed to satisfy her and together we worked toward an eventual smooth closing.
I really enjoyed being in this situation and having the opportunity to help educate her on the listing and selling process and disarm her fears of the burdensome paperwork involved. We might become too familiar with all these documents and assume that they are readily assimilated by others, which is obviously not the case. This sale was more fun and rewarding than most because she made me aware of my responsibly to help my clients understand this complicated endeavor and just enjoy the rewards of being a teacher.
Shortly after this experience I was fortunate to take the SRES course ( Seniors Real Estate Specialist ) and now enjoy working with the senior market regularly. This one quiet woman taught me an important lesson, always take the time to explain.
Greg Saffell
(206) 617-2247
REMAX Performance Plus
Information About Kent WA Real Estate
There are a few nice homes on the market in Kent, Wa in the $250,000 range. I doubt there is anything for that price available in Beverly Hills, Ca, but there is a nice home you can rent in that town for $250,000 a month.
Real estate investor/mogul Jeff Greene has put his 25 acre estate in Beverly Hills up for lease. Mr Greene purchased the property for $35 million in 2006 and has spent an additional $15 million on renovations. The 43,000 square foot main house enjoys 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a 6,000 square foot ballroom and a 24 car garage. The surrounding vineyard produces over 400 cases of wine a year. I doubt renters will be lining up but this would make a nice west coast second home for another investor/mogul.
Call me if you're interested and I will put you in touch with Mr. Greene's representative, after you have been qualified of course.
Greg Saffell
(206) 617-2247
REMAX Performance Plus
Not too many of us are familiar with IRS Form 4506-T, but we should be. I was just reading an article about the use and misuse of this form over the years. As real estate agents, we need to stay informed so that we can advise our clients on important matters.
IRS Form 4506-T authorizes loan officers to get electronic transcripts from the Internal Revenue Service covering multiple years of your clients Federal income tax filings. At one time this form was used mainly for self-employed individuals or those with unusual incomes. But now, Fannie Mae recently directed lenders to obtain two sets of electronic transcripts for all borrowers, regardless of income sources- a 4506-T up front and another at closing. This new rule was implemented to help spot fraudulent income claims and limit loan loses.
Earlier in the decade controversy erupted in the mortgage industry because some lenders were requiring closing agents to instruct applicants to sign Form 4506-T but not date them or fill in the transcript years being requested. This countermanded IRS instructions on the proper use of the form and gave lenders and investors the ability to check incomes whenever they chose, even long after closing.
Fannie Mae and most major lenders are tightening standards and double chec
king everything. When it comes to checking your income, they want to verify it twice. All agents should be aware of the importance of this form and get used to seeing it twice during the mortgage cycle.
To become more familiar with the form and to point out the importance of filling it our properly to your clients, you can print out a copy at Form 4506-T
Greg Saffell
(206) 617-2247
REMAX Performance Plus
As I left for an appointment this morning I was hit with these bright colorful leaves. What a remarkable time of the year. Color is everywhere as the leaves turn yellow, orange, red and all hues in between. We enjoyed a long warm summer in the Kent, Wa area this year, and this colorful display is a nice transition to the cooler weather surly to arrive soon. As I drove from my home in Kent to downtown Seattle it was difficult to stay focused on the road ahead with all the colorful distractions. Rain crept in a little later pummeling the trees and thinning the leaves while the wind scattered them in all directions. Natures beauty never ceases
to impress.
Greg Saffell
(206) 617-2247
REMAX Performance Plus
Information About Kent WA Real Estate
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Representing buyers and sellers in Kent and surrounding communities. Well educated and competent with an easy going style.
The city of Kent Washington is located west of the Cascade mountain range and is the fourth largest city in King County. It is located directly between Seattle and Tacoma and covers approximately 29 square miles. Kent's culturally rich population is nearing 90,000.
Kent was the second city in King County to incorporate (1890). Kent began as an agricultural area originally growing hops estimated at over a million pounds a year. Much later the Kent valley was known as the "lettuce capital of the world". The verdant valley was subject to flooding until the Howard Hanson dam was constructed in 1963. Over the years agriculture has given way to commercial and industrial development which has led the city in new directions of commerce.
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For now, I'm going to use this section to post links to sites of interest to residents and visitors to the Kent, Wa area. Just click on anything that looks interesting.
I tried to sell my home myself. It was on the market for over nine months. I knew I had to get help and a friend recommended Greg. His assistance and advice in preparing the home to sell surely worked. The home sold in ten days.
John G.
I was being transferred to Olympia, Washington from my home in Renton. Greg sold my current home in just over a month. He also found my terrific new home near Olympia in record time. Olympia is quite a distance from Renton, but he was there with me all the way.
Carol J.
I had lived in my home for over seven years but needed to find something larger. Greg provided the guidance I needed to sell my home quickly. Some complications arose during the process that he handled very efficiently. I love my new home and would recommend Greg to anyone.
Jennifer G.
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