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"The Maple Valley Specialist!" Colleen Fischesser Broker/Owner 425-432-5400

Good News (Almost) For 1st Time Buyers in Maple Valley

Ready to Buy in Maple Valley?Home buyers in Maple Valley and across the Country got one step closer to getting the first home buyer's tax credit extended past the November 30 deadline.

The Senate has approved the Homebuyer Tax Credit and we now await a vote in the House of Representatives.

Industry experts feel it's likely the bill will pass and then will be signed into law by President Obama.

I haven't read the bill, but according to a release by the Washington Association of Realtors, the $8000 credit would be extended to April 2010 (sooner than the June date which had been floating around) and will also include a $6500 credit for buyers who have lived in their homes for at least 5 years.Whether they will need to purchase that home as a primary residence or be able to use the credit for investment properties remains to be seen.

Stay tuned!

Property Taxes Due November 2!

Many of us are so busy worrying about whether we'll remember to set our clocks back on Saturday night, that King County's property tax deadline may accidentally be forgotten. Normally, property taxes are due on October 31, but because this date falls on the weekend, homeowners who either own their properties outright or have opted out of escrow impound accounts will need to make their payment online or have their mail postmarked no later than Monday, November 2 in order to avoid a penalty.

Payments can be made out to King County Treasurer and mailed to:

500 Fourth Avenue, Room 600 / Seattle, WA 98104

If you've misplaced your coupon or are unsure what your 2nd half balance is, you can look up your tax account here.

Make sure you include your property tax id number on your check. The County website also has an option for e-check/online payment, but only if the payment is being made by Monday.

Late payments can only be mailed.

As Mark Twain once said:

"I shall never use profanity except in discussing house rent and taxes."

With home values having declined significantly since the assessment period for which we are now paying, my guess is there will be more than a few tax payers grumbling a la Mr. Twain.

South King County Sept '09 YTD Home Sales Report by Community

Single family homes in South King County Communities which have sold & closed through September 30 numbered 2885 and over $8.75 million in volume.

The combined average sales price was $307,915, which was 97.1% of the $317,110 Average List Price.*

*These numbers reflect Single family home sales listed and sold through NWMLS and do not represent private party sales.

Maple Valley Home Sales & Market Report-10/26/09

Homes sales within the Tahoma School District continue to favor the under $400,000 price ranges as first time home buyers jockey for the November tax credit finish line.

Of the 127 Pending Sales in Escrow, 82% are under $400,000.

Here's a Monday Market Snapshot of Residential Single Family Homes within Tahoma School District boundaries listed and/or Sold through NWMLS

ACTIVE LISTINGS: 277 AVERAGE LIST PRICE: $424,703 HIGH: $3,375,000 LOW: $99,000

PENDING SALES: 127 AVERAGE LIST PRICE: $331,414 HIGH: $1,049,000 LOW: 124,900

SOLD: 529 AVERAGE LIST PRICE: $362,814 HIGH: $3,800,000 LOW: 65,000

It will be interesting to see with all the short sales pending, what the final SOLD numbers will look like at year's end.

Time will tell!

So Why WOULD a Seller Choose Short Sale Over Foreclosure?

Until the process of short sales is streamlined and made to be more uniform, it will continue to be a frustrating experience for most parties involved; the home seller, the home buyer, the real estate agents involved, closing parties. They require more time and tenacity than most "regular sales" on the part of all who are trying to keep the home from going to foreclosure. I'm asked on a regular basis why a homeowner would put him or herself through this stressful process, rather than just walking away and letting the bank have the house back. The other day I found this video on the RE/MAX International youtube channel. I will let this seller explain it. She does it far better than I ever could.