TACOMA~FEDERAL WAY~AUBURN~KENT~WA 206-679-4768 Julianna Hind, REALTOR(R)

Here is some great footage of area flooding posted on You Tube. I am hearing there are areas gettting bad again today (Sunday) Further south areas of the Pacific Northwest are having a lot of issues, as well as the Snoqualmie areas North of us. I guess we are lucky it has'nt been as bad here as in some places.

Maple Valley, WA

The Tahoma School District is gathering cell phones for soliders, continuing a drive which began at Tahoma Junior High. Used, old, and even broken cell phones and chargers acen be dropped of at any Tahoma School.

This is a great way to recycle unused phones and accessories. For more information about the nationally sponsored program, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com . This is a great cause, and proceeds help soliders serving abroad by providing them calling cards and phones.

Let's recycle and help our troups!

Julianna

I have some thoughts on short sales... Are they slick and shady... or smart and savvy? I think in the end, it depends... the thing I can say with a good amount of certainty, is they are not going away in 2009...

Please note: I am not an attorney, and home sellers thinking about selling their home as a short sale should seek professional legal council.

Are agents that price short sales well below market value of other homes in the market slick? Many think so! Especially when that low price is not what is the actual selling price on the home.

It is important for a buyer to understand that making an offer to purchase a short sale is a whole different ballgame than navigating the regular market...and just because a home is listed at 20-50% or less than others does not necessarily mean that is the price they will get. However, short sales are unfortunately a necessary reality, and the strategy of pricing low is in one sense, no different than putting a product on ebay and letting bidders know that "the reserve is not yet met." In most cases, the Real Estate Agent may not know what price the bank will accept, and neither will the bank, until they look at the offers. An Agent with a short sale may want to back up their low price listing with proof, perhaps a CMA to show similar homes that needed severe price reductions in order to sell in a short amount of time, Short sales cannot be priced the same as homes that are taking 6 months to sell... because a short sale might have a deadline of only a few weeks before the home goes into foreclosure, so it's gotta move fast... get offers in, get lender approval, and then sold. A homeowner faced with a short sale and possibly being responsible for taxes OR foreclosure... may still choose to sell at a lower price...or not... accept the offer... and let it go into foreclosure. In the end, the general consensus is that a homeowners credit will be effected to a lesser degree by a short sale than a foreclosure, the bank has the mortgage loan satisfied in the end without a lengthy and expensive process, and a savvy buyer willing to throw her offer into the bidding has purchased a home. Once again, sellers of distressed homes should always seek legal advise from their attorney.

My opinion, my WISH... is that there would be a way to conduct short sales, foreclosures and REO's so that they do not impact the regular market. Take them OUT of the regular MLS. I am heartsick for sellers who have struggled to make payments and need to sell, and are up against a deluge of shortsales and foreclosures affecting their asking price. I have wondered if this ALSO contributes to the slow market, as buyers chase after short sales, do not get the purchase, and then continue to pursue other homes on the market. Buyers are told it is their market, but need to realize it is a complex one. It comes down to education in the end... about whether or not a short sale is a good opportunity and the possible risk involved. One thing I tell my buyers... NEVER fall in love with a short sale!

Best wishes in 2009... may we see less shorts and more homes sold with manageable financing so people can indeed live their dreams!

Julianna Hind, Keller Williams Realty Auburn

http://www.tahoma-home.com

Did you catch the Rose Parade? It has long been a tradition of mine to watch the parade every year. As a girl growing up in California, I loved touring the parade grounds and seeing the beautifully colored floats, with designs and creativity in abundance ... the fragance was glorious. I really loved the NAR's float this year (As Seen on TV) which featured the "Swiss Family Robinson's" quest for home ownership!

Home ownership brings pride, togetherness, and common goal. This is demonstrated in the original book, by Johann David Wyss, and by this fabulous float!

Congratulations to my fellow NAR members for creating such a beautiful celebration!

Julianna Hind, Real Estate and Design Professional

www.juliannahind.com