Leslie Bloss, Seattle Real Estate Professional

It could mean that you haven't prospected your neighbors enough. It could mean that the sellers have previous agents they are loyal to.

It could mean that you should go across the street and meet the agents! This could be very profitable because you may wish to hold an open house for them--particularly in this case since the agents listing the home live over 40 miles away!

And, if they are pretty successful agents--you may wish to invite them to join Active Rain!

Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you wish to view. You can also search by street address or the MLS number.

I poured beer last night at the Fremont Oktoberfest (our mugs were much smaller than the one shown because the idea is to go around and taste all kinds of beer). It is still on today until 6:00 pm and I will be there pouring again. This is a fundraiser for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce (of which I am a member). Even though it did rain some, the crowd was huge and everyone I saw was in a pretty good mood. If you are serious about your beer--they have over 80 kinds of beer. They also do have wine. I have found that there is an art to pouring--and I am starting to get the hang of it.

I did pass prospect a bit and found a young engineer that is actually going to want to find a home soon! Remember, to talk to people at these things--you can meet the most interesting people!

After my shift was over late last night I was starting to walk home and I was standing waiting for a red light to change. There was a young gal standing their sobbing and I asked if she was all right and she said "her boyfriend had just broken up with her." I asked if she was driving and she said "no, I am looking for a taxi." I asked her where she lived and it turned out it was only about three miles away so I told her I would take her home.

We actually had a very good talk and she was feeling quite a bit better by the time we got to where she lived. She said herself that she knows things will look better over time. She is a student and is a real contributor to society. I gave her my card and told her that if she ever needed someone to talk to please give me a call (that must come from my time as a crisis line worker). I am a good listener and it truly isn't a bother. Helping her was even more important to me than pouring the beer.

Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you wish to view. You can also search by street address or the MLS number.

It is that time again to come to the Wurst Festival. This year St. Benedict is celebrating their centennial, 1908 - 2008.

For those of you that are not familiar with the Wurst Festival is a "Octoberfest" type of celebration. This is their 26th year and started as a small fund-raiser for the school. Now days, the festival brings more than 10,000 visitors to the Wallingford neighborhood in one weekend. The Wurst Festival features "an array of delicious foods, games for kids of all ages, craft booths, homemade sweets, a book sale, a Biergarten and a raffle, plus live entertainment on an outdoor stage."

Regarding the food: "Of course there's bratwurst and sauerkraut, but also grilled salmon, sweet corn, baked potatoes with all the trimmings, pasta, Caesar salad, burgers and a kid's lunch at booths and in our covered outdoor restaurant. At the indoor cafe, folks can enjoy beverages with a homemade desserts. Or swing upstairs to have a snack with your beer in the Biergarten."

Activities: There are rides; more than 60 craft vendors; a raffle ticket to be purchased; the Book Shop; and games in our Fun Zone. You can sit and "watch the musicians and dancers on the outdoor stage or stick around after 9 p.m. and dance to the band in the Biergarten."

St. Benedict is at North 48th Street at Wallingford Avenue North between Interstate 5 and Aurora Avenue North.

The general hours are:

* Friday, 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Biergarten open until midnight).

* Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Biergarten open until midnight).

You can go online to get the entertainment schedule.

Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you wish to view. You can also search by street address or the MLS number.

Taxes are a big deal with Mom (as they are with most people these days). The other day she came up with the records of what her assessed values and taxes were since 1992. I thought I would share the numbers with you. Her home is a 4 bedrrom Craftsman that was built in 1913 and it is located in the Wallingford area.

Year Prop. Value Taxes

1992 140,600.00 1,734.70

1993 143,400.00 1,576.85

1994 143,400.00 1,628.10

1995 157,100.00 1,815.06

1996 157,100.00 2,076.61

1997 157,100.00 2,081.14

1998 157,100.00 1,958.12

1999 173,000.00 2,240.46

2000 210,000.00 2,645.98

2001 248,000.00 2,944.19

2002 326,000.00 3,581.23

3003 347,000.00 3,685.98

2004 347,000.00 3,725.42

2005 371,000.00 3,916.82

2006 406,000.00 4,057.03

2007 406,000.00 3,921.00

2008 448,000.00 4,036.91

2009 495,000.00

She got pretty annoyed after some of those large jumps and would like to see the taxes go down now that the price of homes have been coming down.

Queen Anne, Magnolia, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you wish to view. You can also search by street address or the MLS number.

I have information about the best programs for first time homebuyers These programs are for first time homebuyers or people who have not owned a home for at least 3 years. Here is a brief breakdown of four programs:

• House Key Plus -- allows for up to 10k in Down Payment Assistance (DPA) for people earning less than 81k in
• House Key Plus Seattle -- allows for up to 60k in DPA for people earning less than 43k (1 person) or 49k (2 people), must be in Seattle area
• Arch Eastside -- allows for up to 30k in DPA for people earning less than 43k (1 person) or 49k (2 people), must be on the Eastside

• USDA Rural Housing loan. Click here for a map of the eligible areas. Here are some of the highlights:

  • No down payment required, true 100% financing!
  • No private mortgage insurance
  • Great 30 year fixed rates, currently at 5.5%
  • No maximum loan amount
  • Credit scores 620 and above are streamlined (meaning there is no credit review by the USDA) but you can qualify with even lower scores
• The link to the website is www.wshfc.org

You must complete a free "Homebuyer" seminar and meet income guidelines. Please call me if you have any questions I would really enjoy helping you!

Seattle/Bellevue, Ballard, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Green Lake, Fremont, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.