Kris Klusman

When Northern Mason County started feeling the "Real Estate Pinch" it was well into our nations recession. Homes that were once valued at $315,000 quickly sold for $265,000. Acreage listings that had been bought in the height of the market have closed at under previously purchased prices. BUT in this recession there are a group of homeowners that have prospered from the economy. We are called the "Move on Up few".

Selling Real Estate is a tricky business, the ability to be successful is a moving target that Realtor's cope with in every market condition, and in this economy, we Realtors have found what works and what does not.

Buying Real Estate can also be tricky. One of the first questions that I ask my clients in our initial agent/client interview is: What is your Motivation for Selling/Buying? This question may come up a number of times during our home search and it is very easy to forget why you as a buyer are buying. One of my favorite answers came only two weeks ago. It was: Because we paid too much for the home we live in... My next question was: Then why do you want to buy an additional home? This young couples' answer was that they had overheard me trying to sell a "Move on Up"plan to their friends and they felt that with an additional child due this summer, they truly needed more space. This client knows the market conditions and is fully aware that they will take a loss on the sale of their current home. They have a stable job and a relatively good credit score, and their new plan is to come in with some funds to close the sale of their current home and purchase a larger home.

To end this blog sweetly, this young couple is bringing in $20,000 in cash (that they borrowed) to close the sale of their home without needing to accept a Short Sale. They are purchasing a home that is 8 years newer and on a larger lot. This new home has twice the square footage of their old home, and including the $20,000 loss they assumed on the sale of their previous home, they will actually owe the same amount of money as before this purchase and owe $300/month lower mortgage payments on this new home because of the amazing rates that are being offered today.

This system is called "Moving on up" and I can tell you honestly that this transaction would not have been possible two years ago... "when our market was so good"

Call and find out some facts about Real Estate. If you can tell us why you want to buy, Your local Realtor can show you how and what you can buy.

So it seems that one more attempt to bring revenue to our area has been forfeited. In the recent past the Northern Mason County area has drawn a bold line underneath its desire to stay remote. Now it seems Belfair may pay for its mistakes.

We live and work in this beautiful area at the southern most tip of the Hood Canal. Golf courses, activity trails, fishing, and a small town called Belfair. Not too long ago the presentation of a NASCAR facility was in planning to be built only a few miles from this town and that plan was not supported by its community. Then last year, there was a very successful revenue creating seasonal business that was underway to find a perminent location in our home area, and that too was rallied out of our town. We as a community have now madea third revenue creating error... that of the fallen project to incorporate the Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club shooting range in our county. We have argued so far beyond the practical means of a growing town that the highly desiredHighway Bypass no longer has a projection for completion (in fact the studies have been going on now for relatively 12+ years) and please don't forget the urban utilities that are required for our UGA, such as the water system and Sewer. It seems that adequate water is now available, but wait we don't have the revenue to upgrade the system to provide many more large commercial buildings or high density housing units.

To add to the fiasco, the topography of Belfair is such that the UGA (urban Growth Area) is mostly Wetlands, Steep Slopes, and areas that will not be accessed by utilities (like sewer) until the third addition to our sewer system is installed. Did I forget to mention that the construction of the 1st part of the sewer system has not begun? http://www.googlesyndicatedsearch.com/u/MasonCounty?q=mason+county+UGA

Belfair is my home www.northmasonchamber.com. This town has been a wonderful getaway since its beginning and will continue to be as long as we support its growth. In saying such we need to gather as a community and find ways to bring in the revenue creating businesses to out area. Perhaps the original locations are the issues surrounding the the protests, but I hope we all understand the ramifications of continually turning down business growth in our town. The North Mason School District is working to pass one of the most important bond/levy proposals it has ever faced. Our schools are not nice. The school buildings are in terrible physical condition, outdated, drastically outside the power consumption code and are not a good environment to teach students to be proud of their school system. The funding however is feared by our community. Not only by the homeowners but by the local small business owners. I know first hand how drastic our financial tax burden is. I owned a food service business in Belfair for nearly 10 years and our taxes total led nearly 30% of our gross income in 2007. The major reason for this tax drain is the lack of large income producing businesses in the Northern Mason County area. And to add the tax need of a new school is cumbersome.

So answers please..... It seems simple... And yet impossible. Gotta fix our UGA. Gotta fix our Utility Services. Gotta help support and direct businesses desiring to be a contributor to our community. Gotta create the desire for our town be better not just bigger. Lastly, support the ambition that our community members have when proposing additions to our town. Perhaps propose alternative locations or direction but never turn away from change. Be a part of what will make our area better.

Well the holidays are here and the winter weather has finally engulfed us. Snow in Belfair came and the bitter cold... well it is still with us.

Belfair is a unique area of Washington. We have so many amenities that make this place so beautiful and enjoyable. Belfair has lakes and the Hood Canal for water sports and waterfront living, A number of close Golf Courses, Hiking / Biking / equestrian and 4x4 trails, fly fishing lakes, Rivers and streams, Hunting wilderness and now snow. Its a good thing Belfair is home to six drive through espresso shops... its cold.

And though the weather keeps many buyers inside and off the roads we are seeing just an enormous number of views on our listings. I just pray the power stays on long enough for the buyers to give me a call or write me an e-mail regarding some of the homes we have in our market.

I just wanted to say.. thank you for your interest in our town. I wish you a happy holiday and if you search and find a home that perks your interest... I'll pick you up in an hour, and we'll swing up to a drive through and buy you a cup of coffee.

Did anyone else catch the news today about the potential Prime Rate drop that would make new loan rates as low as 4.5%?

That would change my personal mortgage from $2200/ month on a 30 yr fixed to $1650/ month... Bring it on and where do I sign up.

If you never thought you could afford to purchase a home its time to call your lender. Belfair area homes are being sold to first time home buyers at remarkable prices. 2 and 3 bedroom homes located close to town and a short drive to Puget Sound Navel Shipyard are closing at price ranges in the 130's.

There are a numeber of well priced homes that a "has been Renter" can afford. I am currently working on finding homes for three first time home buyers that have been renting for years. It only takes a few minutes with your Realtor and Mortgage Lender to know what you can afford and how much money you can invest and make in a market like this one.

Understanding the real estate system has seemed confusing for most. But by finding your professional Realtor, We can Help you make a good purchase.

This market... the Next Market.... Any Market....

Find a Professional. We make the difference.