Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Agent

Each month I publish a real estate market report for Kitsap County WA on my local blog, SOUNDBITEBLOG. It provides an analysis of the combined single-family home and condo market within Kitsap County, Washington for each particular month, including data for Bainbridge Island WA.

Included along with the relevant market statistics is my own personal take on the current markety dynamics/conditions.

In addition, I always provide engaging information that highlights our area and showcases all that Kitsap County WA has to offer.

This week, I share about the pending extension of the $8000 1st-Time Home Buyers Federal Tax Credit and where to find your 'Sushi' fix.

To access the latest market report, go to Kitsap County WA Real Estate Market Report for November 2009.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

According to an article today on Forbes.com, it appears that the $8000 Federal Housing Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers is very close to being extended!...

With everything else that's been going on out in Washington D.C. of late, i.e. massive debt to bailout Wall Street, dismal 'Cash for Clunkers' program, government take-over of Health Care, indecision on Afghanistan, etc., it's encouraging to see progress on legislation that is truly effective for a change, and makes a difference for taxpayers and the economy.

For additional coverage on this breaking story, go to the full article at SOUNDBITEBLOG (opens up into a separate window for your viewing ease)

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

Maybe it's just a bad dream, a horrible nightmare, or worse, another badly produced installment of 'Saw' or 'Friday the 13th'!

But's it's the Halloween season on the spooky Kitsap Peninsula, and another one of my transactions has fallen prey to the "Curse of the VA Appraisal!".....

What began as a seemingly normal and relatively smooth contract between my Sellers and some wonderful Buyers, has suddenly spiraled into the deepest, darkest recesses of VA Hell...

To read the rest of the spine-tingling tale of VA terror, follow this link to SOUNDBITEBLOG (opens up into a new window for your viewing pleasure)

UPDATE: I just received the following email from the Buyer's Lender that further re-states VA's extremely subjective and baseless requirement:

"Yes, I spoke to our underwriting manager and she said since the SAR (staff appraisal reviewer) ruled that the deck needed a rail in order to be in compliance with VA guidelines regarding Safe, Sound, and Sanitary conditions. I also spoke to the VA office in Denver and the gentleman I spoke with gave me pretty much the same answer. (except not so kind) I also asked both parties if this was documented anywhere and they said the section of the handbook addressing the Safe, Sound and Sanitary conditions would cover this issue."

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

Few things in life are better than watching your own kids participate in athletic competition.

Especially when their team wins!....

Alright, I know, winning isn't everything,.... but it sure beats losing!....

For the past several years, our youngest son, Luke, has played football. He was involved in our local Silverdale Pee Wee Football league for 3 years. In his last year, he was the starting quareterback.

When he played for Central Kitsap Junior High here in Silverdale WA, he was fortunate to earn the starting quarterback postion for both his 8th and 9th grade years.

Now in his first year at Central Kitsap High School, things are a bit different. The school is larger, there are more students, and sports are much more competitive. There are two teams - the Varsity Squad, and the Junior Varsity Squad. For the Varsity home games, everyone suits up and stands along the sidelines. But unless we're ahead by a gazillion points, the Senior and Junior starters are the only ones playing. At the Junior Varsity games, most of the remaining Juniors and Sophmores get the opportunity to rotate in.

And so it's been a year of change, struggle, and adjustment. Instead of being the primary 'Go-to-Guy' Luke has been relegated to the 3rd-string Sophmore dweeb back-up. In order to get more playing time, he's learned to play strong safety on defense. A few weeks ago, he scored his first high school touchdown when he recovered a blocked kick and ran it into the end zone.

Last week, while on defense, he intercepted a pass that set-up for a score. He later went in as quarterback and led the team down the field, where he threw his first high school touchdown pass!

Still, most of the time, he's either on defense, or watching someone else take the snaps.

We've had a number of great Father/Son conversations in the car on the way home after his games. I always try to say something encouraging and how proud I am of him. He's usually more concerned about whether or not I'm going to stop by Taco Bell.

Playing high school football is a lot like living life when you're grown up. It takes hard work to succeed. Things are rarely handed to you, you have to earn them through commitment and solid effort. Life isn't always fair. Sometimes you get passed over. Someone else gets promoted before you. You can become bitter and complain, or you can focus on becoming better. You learn the importance of contributing to the success of the team, rather than simply being concerned on what's in in for me.

But for now, I just enjoy watching my son play, and I'm proud of the man he's becoming.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional in Kitsap County WA. He's been married to a drop-dead gorgeous blonde for over 25 years, has four totally awesome kids, and a purebred Golden Lab named Sadie. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, and Crabbing in the Hood.