"Homes First" , a little-known local nonprofit organization has been helping to create affordable housing in Thurston County since 1990.
I've recently had the opportunity of hosting a "Homes First" presentation (thank you to Jeanne Marie Thomas) at a Womenade fundraising meeting at my home, and was astounded at what "Home First" has accomplished in our community.
The organization is acquiring, renovating and preserving affordable rental housing for low income families and individuals and people with special needs. The properties are either purchased, leased, and sometimes gifted to the organization, who, in turn, rents them to needy applicants at low rates. The income from rents goes right back to maintaining the properties, help fund additional projects and keep the organization staffed.
The rents alone are not nearly enough to keep this valuable program running. The generous assistance of city, county and federal sources, as well as private donations, are essential to guaranteeing the success of this organization.
There are currently over 40 low income rental units that are owned and managed by "Homes First". These units are completely integrated into residential neighborhoods, and I was surprised to learn that there is a "Homes First" owned property just a couple of blocks from my home.
Thanks to the generous ladies of Womenade, I was able to hand over a donation of $300.00 to"Homes First". This worthy organization has accomplished a great deal, but depends on financial and volunteer support. If you would like to volunteer, donate, or know someone who is in need of affordable housing, please call "Homes First" at (360)236-0920
Combined Fund Drive #:316512
Sandy Nelson, Olympia Realtor
in other parts of the world. 
Throughout Europe there is no unified Association of Realtors, and most European counties don't have an MLS system. In Germany many sellers list with multiple real estate brokers and often reserve the right to sell the home privately as well.
How would you like to list under these circumstances?
Buyers can only buy homes from the listing agents the homes are listed with and will end up looking at homes with various agents. Because the real estate market in Europe is less dynamic than in the U.S., it's not uncommon for homes to be listed for a year or more before they sell. Selling homes is also a lot more discreet. Signage, yardarms, directionals and flyer boxes are all but unheard of. Many homes for sale have no signs at all, while a few might have a small sign in a window.
Lockboxes? Open Houses? - Unheard of!
If this sounds difficult for the agents, it's no walk in the woods for buyers either. Many agents will require that buyers sign an agreement to pay the agent commission if they buy the home, before they give out any substantial information on a listing. Buyers will be charged between 3% and 4% commission, plus the tax on the commission. In addition they will have to pay a notary 1% of the purchase price to handle the sale documentation.
While american consumers think that the requirements to become a Realtor are a too low, in many countries one only needs a business license to be a real estate agent - no state licensing, no schooling, no testing.
By keeping the real estate market fairly open, yet regulated and by encouraging cooperation and client service, the U.S. has created a real estate business environment that is well balanced, dynamic and easy for all parties involved.
Sandy Nelson
Olympia Realtor®, GRI, ASP, Built Green
360-789-7505
www.SandyNelsonRealEstate.com
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All the real estate information on the Internet can not compare to the real time, on-the-ground expertise of a local, skilled Realtor ®. Among all the South Sound real estate resources available, the most powerful tool is my phone number.
Planning a home purchase or the sale of your home will be much more enjoyable when you work with a friendly and knowledgeable professional. I'm dedicated to helping you make informed decisions and providing you with exceptional skill and service.
Service is a word we use a lot in the real estate industry. My efforts as a Realtor do not produce a tangible commodity, so the work I do can be labeled as providing a service.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "service" as a "contribution to the welfare of others".
One could certainly argue that finding someone a roof over their head is a contribution to their well-being, but, in my opinion, true service goes a bit deeper. It's a mindset of giving and consideration. It's not a coincidence that religious ceremonies are called "service", or that our military members who are willing to risk their lives and sacrifice comforts are "in the service". Without some altruistic efforts from the heart, claiming service is just "lip service".
http://www.stservicemovie.com/
Watch this amazing story about a store bagger and how he took the call to service at heart, and in the process changed his environment and the people he came in contact with.
Johnny's idea was clever, but how can we, as Realtors make such a difference? It really doesn't matter what the profession is, people who make others feel special are remembered and cherished. Paying attention to the little things, going out of our way to help, remembering birthdays and anniversaries, staying in touch with cards or phone calls...those are just a few easy things that will have a positive impact on others.
Here's my thought of the day:
Success has nothing to do with what we gain in life, or accomplish for ourselves. It's what we do for others. - Danny Thomas
Sandy Nelson
Olympia Realtor®, GRI, ASP, Built Green
360-789-7505
www.SandyNelsonRealEstate.com
What do these structures have in common?
You'll probably note the brick facade and the verdigris copper pyramid hip type roof. People from the greater Olympia area will quickly recognize that these structures all resemble the Old Brew House.
These buildings are all located in the small city of Tumwater, and if you drive around Tumwater and pay attention, you'll discover many more buildings with the same style. They all pay homage to the original historic Tumwater landmark: The Old Brew House.
The Brew Houses is a five-story Italianate building, constructed from Chehalis brick and Tenino sandstone. The Old Brewhouse is the oldest industrial property in the South Puget Sound region. It was the home of the famous Olympia Brewing Company and is listed on the National Historic Register.
Since the Olympia Brewing Company closed its doors, the property has gone through several owners and is currently owned by Well B Ng LLC, All American Bottled Water Corporation.
The structure is in a sad state of disrepair and is unsafe for occupation.
I became enchanted with the building on my first visit to Olympia years before I moved here. It reminded me of the many dilapidated castles and villas one can find in Italy. Situated on the shores of where the Deschutes River flows into Capitol Lake, the iconic Brew House is visible to thousands of drivers on Interstate 5 every day.
The Brew House is a significant landmark and is on the list of "Washington State's Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties".
I can visualize a dozen uses for a structure of this iconic stature. Its close proximity to the freeway, to the cities of Olympia and Tumwater, as well as its position on the lake abutting Tumwater Falls Park, could make this a top destination point for tourists and locals alike. It could be used as a convention center, a spa retreat, as hotel, an apartment building, or a mixed shopping and dining venue.
In the mean time the building is being infiltrated by curious explorers who are attracted by abandoned buildings and post their adventures on this site:
http://www.uer.ca/forum_showthread.asp?fid=3&threadid=43474
The cities of Tumwater and Olympia have a great opportunity and a special duty to preserve this historic gem. In return the restored Brew House would enrich the region with a unique attraction and an economic opportunity. With no preservation program and no plans for its future, the old building will decay and eventually disappear. The only thing left to remind us of its existence would be the buildings that echo its design.
Learn more about the Brew House here:
http://www.trpc.org/programs/historic+preservation/historic+properties/oldbrewhouse.htm
http://brewerygems.com/olympia.htm
Sandy Nelson
Olympia Realtor®, associate Broker, GRI, ASP, Built Green
360-789-7505
www.SandyNelsonRealEstate.com
If you're familiar with driving through Olympia's South Capitol Neighborhood, you may have noticed the new neighborhood welcome sign.
The sign project, two years in the making, was finally concluded by the end of 2008. In December the neighborhood received the first of two welcome signs. Funded by a City of Olympia neighborhood grant, designed by yours truly, Sandy Nelson, manufactured by Esco Pacific Signs and installed by Mark Jobson and Bob Thomas. This sign is a monument to the South Capitol Neighborhood's special character and friendliness. The sign is located on the green space between Capitol Way and Washington St. We hope to have another sign greeting visitors travelling south through our neighborhood at Maple Park by the end of 2009.
Sandy Nelson
Olympia Realtor®, Associate Broker, GRI, ASP, Built Green
360-789-7505
www.SandyNelsonRealEstate.com
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As a your full service Realtor and Accredited Staging Professional in the Olympia, Lacey, Yelm, Dupont and Fort Lewis area, I specialize in single family residential property and military relocation.
Who wouldn't want to own their own little piece of this beautiful place?
See pictures of the beautiful Olympia area and local neighborhoods here
You'll want to talk to me when it comes time for buying or selling a home in the greater Olympia area. I'm truly passionate about real estate, and I know what you want: You want a professional who is competent in her field, dedicated to your needs and passionate about her work. You don't just want marketing; you want superior marketing that gives your property an edge over the other properties listed on the market. You want your interests protected with warranties and guarantees. Everybody offers service; you want exceptional service, where every detail is attended to. You want a clear understanding of what you can expect. If you needed an operation, want the best surgeon. If you were sued, you would seek the sharpest attorney; so when it comes to real estate, a major investment, you'll want to turn to me and my team. Quality doesn't just happen by chance. It's accomplished by high expectations, intelligent planning, tireless effort and skillful execution. My services are designed to make your needs the focus of my actions. If you are, or ever have been in the military, you'll appreciate that I have been affiliated with the US military for over 20 years. And as such, you'll understand how familiar this makes me with relocation issues. I appreciate the service of our military and their family members and want to put myself at their service for all their housing and relocation needs.
I practice my profession with the support of two full time Realtor team members, who make up the "Key Group". As a "Key client" you enjoy the benefit of having three professionals with a wide range of expertise and training at your service at all times. Our designations include ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute), ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist).
What else do you get with me? You get a person who believes in giving back to the community. I try to accomplish that by serving on my neighborhood association board, supporting Habitat for Humanity and by being actively involved with the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life event. 
My Mission:
Memberships, Designations and Affiliations:
"Sandra is a woman of integrity and is unfailingly professional."
-Yvonne Pawelek, Ft. Lewis
" We enjoyed working with Sandy so much! Sandy's professionalism, attention to details, and understanding of real estate market are all outstanding"
-Jennie and Hirsch Diamant, Olympia
"...Her style effectively blends friendliness with professional objectivity and she approaches her work with enthusiasm and commitment."
- Ulla Torres, Lakewood
"You were so great working with our kids and both of them have said that over and over. How lucky to have you as a friend and to have you be a real estate expert."
-Diane Laslie, Olympia
"Sandy, thank you so much for all your hard work and help. You made buying our new home one of the easiest and best experiences we could have anticipated."
-Lilian and James Getchman, McCleary
"Sandy was instrumental in helping us buy our home. She listened to what we wanted and as a result we were able to narrow our search significantly and find exactly what we were looking for within a week.
Sandy's presence throughout the buying process was very reassuring and her advice was always genuine and spot on. We never got the impression that she was 'out to sell' but more so that she was there to ensure that we made decisions that were in our best interest.
Sandy made the purchase of our first home relatively effortless and quite fun. We have had no qualms in recommending her to our friends and will definately rely on her real estate expertise in the future."
-Jay and Prim Jeyasingam, Lacey
"I flew into town and only had a short week to look for houses. Sandy had the patience to show me pretty much ALL the houses between Dupont, Lacey and Olympia! 50 houses! Need I say more? Never grumpy, never grouchy that, even after a week, I hadn't found a house yet that I liked. On my last day I finally found a home that was suitable for our family. I signed the offer, left town and Sandy did everything else! We did not have to worry at all, and that alone took a huge load off my shoulders. I will recommend her to my friends anytime."
- Susanna Haynie, Olympia
"We have purchased several homes in the past, and experienced a variety of real estate agents, ranging from the poor to the exceptional. Sandy definitely fits into the latter of these two categories. Sandy is a consummate professional - she tirelessly searched for a property for us, and didn't waste our time looking at listings she knew would not interest us. When she did find us that perfect property, she continued to work closely with us, and even attended our closing to ensure we understood the process. When we decide to sell and/or purchase a property in the future, Sandy will by the first call we make."
-Brian and Yvette Jones, Olympia
...Our loan representative referred us to Sandy Nelson. From the first time we talked, she was genuinely excited to help us, especially since we were a military family using a VA loan, which she had lots of previous experience navigating.
From the first time we met, we found Sandy to be very in-tuned with what we were looking for and very anxious to help us...
Though we didn't work for weeks or months finding our first home, we would have never found it if it wasn't for Sandy. She is so pleasant to work with and has truly become a friend for life. What we love about Sandy is that she's there for you after you find your home, she doesn't just close the sale and forget all about you. She was there on moving day, providing our friends and family with food and drinks, and she's always so thoughtful. We recently celebrated our first year anniversary in our new home and there was Sandy, giving us flowers to celebrate the ocassion right along with us.
I strongly encourge all of my friends and co-workers to contact Sandy if they're looking for a great real estate professional they can trust. She definitley made our first home buying experience a very pleasant one. We'll always be thankful to her and consider her a friend!
- Gina and Jerry Hobbs, Lacey
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