About Allyn's Lakeland Village

I have yet to find the "fun" in short sales. I love being a Realtor and I enjoy the opportunities that arise everyday, with one exception...The Short Sale.

Why is it so hard to give these companies offers. The one I am in the middle of right now keeps hanging up on me. I was so frustrated trying to find the right number I finally googled the question.

You won't believe what I found...Active Rain. Yes, there was -Active Rain with a post including the exact number I needed from someone else who had needed it to. What a life saver. I love how we so freely share information here. There is always someone willing to help. I will have to look him up and make sure he knows what a help he was for me today!

So , I have the number and I have faxed off the offer. Again and again and again. I now have it memorized. Convenient I guess?

Active Rain can you take it one step further next time and just approve the Short Sale!

There is a lot involved with running your own business. Some are more challenging than others. One business that is often considered is the little local grocery store. They can be a great avenue for those not particularly advanced in their business knowledge but are willing to put in the hard work it takes to get up and running. This can be a great family business.

I stumbled upon an article that I thought pointed out some of the basics to look for when considering a grocery store purchase.The financial criteria used to evaluate a prospective purchase in this business should include the industry's standard cost factors. If the cost of goods, for example, is below 70% of the gross revenue figure, the store owner is either very smart about purchasing, is able to collect above-average markups, or both. Another reason for a gross profit above 30% might be that some of the revenue represents sales of, for example, sandwiches and soups made to order, with cost of goods factors in the 30% to 40% range.

Occupancy cost--rent, utilities, maintenance, and insurance--should not exceed 7% of gross sales, if the company is to be profitable. And if payroll costs are more than 20% of gross revenues, it may be a sign the owner is not putting in the long hours commonly worked by most operators in this business. That also might suggest that he, or she is not collecting earnings of 10% or more--the minimum figure that many operators hope to achieve. For more detailed information click on buying a grocery store.

If you are considering a grocery store purchase you can contact Dinah at TheNorthwestLife.com we have opportunities available. Please remember that when considering a Business purchase it is important to keep it low key. Many owners do not want the general public aware that they are selling. Contact your Agent for more specifics.

I found these facts really interesting. Have you ever wondered why places were named what they were named? Sometimes we see the names stay the same and the meanings change. For instance King County was not named for Martin Luther King Jr. But now the County's seal bears his image. Where did you home town get it's name?

Shelton was named for David Shelton, who homesteaded the area in 1853. A former fur trapper, Indian fighter, and gold prospector, Shelton was a member of the first territorial legislature and succeeded in having his home area organized as Sawamish County. At a later session he sponsored a bill to change the county name to Mason.

Allyn was named for Judge Frank Allyn of Tacoma, who was involved in the formation of the town about 1889.

Belfairwas originally called Clifton, as were several other WA towns. To avoid confusion, it was renamed in 1925 by Mrs. Murray, the postmistress, who submitted the name Belfair from a book that she was then reading.

Dewatto is a Hood Canal community that bears an adaptation of the Indian place name du-a-to,meaning "home of evil spirits who make men crazy." In Indian legend, spirits emerged from the bowels of the earth in the Dewatto Bay area and attempted to enter the bodies of normal warriors.

Grapeview was platted in 1891 as Detroit. The town was later renamed, as it faces the vineyards of the Isle of Grapes (Stretch Island)

The island community of Harstine Islandwas named for Lt. Henry J. Harstine, of the Wilkes expedition.

Hoodsport took its name from Hood Canal, which was named for Lord Samuel Hood by the Vancouver expedition.

Kamilche is a corruption of an Indian word meaning "valley."

Lilliwaup took its name from an Indian word meaning "inlet." Matlockwas first called Mason. It was renamed in the late 1890s by early settler James Hodkinson for his home town in England.

Oakland was the original county seat. It was named in 1852 by pioneer settler William T. Morrow for a scattering of oak trees in the area.

Potlatchis named for its location at the site of a former Skokomish Indian potlatch house.

Squaxin Island, the reservation on it, and the present tribal name are derived from the Indians' original name for themselves.

Stretch Islandis a small island in Case Inlet. It was named by the Wilkes Expedition for gunner's mate Samuel Stretch. In 1878 Walter Eckert established a vineyard on the island. The place became known locally as the Isle of Grapes.

Tahuya derives its name from Indian words meaning "that done," in reference to some now unknown event at that place.

Union was originally a logging center on Hood Canal, and the town was named Union City in 1858. The latter word was dropped by the post office in 1904, and by the town fathers some years later.

Victor was named in 1892, but the source of the name is unknown.
(From Washington State Placenames, by James W. Phillips, Univ. of WA Press.)

I wanted to share with you an exciting program that is being offered by our local power company. If you are anything like me, my power bill last year after the snow storms was a bit of a shocker. How would you feel if you did not get a bill at all but recieved a credit instead?

Senior Power Supply Analyst Matt Samuelson reported that there are seven customers participating in PUD 3's "net metering" program. Six of the customers are producing electricity with solar panels while another is experimenting with a small wind turbine. If these customers produce more electricity from their renewable energy systems than they consume in any given month, they are provided a credit toward future consumption.

In addition, participants may benefit from the Washington State Renewable Energy System Cost Recovery Incentive Program, which is administered by the state Department of Revenue. Four of the seven net metering customers participated in the program for F.Y. 08-09, generating approximately 9,000 kWh of electricity, for a combined compensation of $1,350.

While the payments are made by PUD 3, the utility is credited for its outlay by a corresponding decrease in PUD excise taxes. More details on the program may be found at the link below.

http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/Pubs/SpecialNotices/2009/sn_09_RenewableEnergy.pdf

As a Realtor I would like to know how important solar and wind energy is to you. Would you consider a home with solar power over one that does not have the option? Please feel free to share your comments. Your opinion may make a big difference in the housing you see offered in your neighborhood in the future.

The debate over Health care today is not about health care. While many on both sides are able to paint a grim picture of the outcome if we do not fix the issue, one way or another. This is not the issue.

We can all agree that things are not going the way that they should. That costs are out of control and that no one should be denied needed care.

But this argument is as much about health care as the civil war was about slavery. Neither side is fighting for or against anyone to have or not have medical care.

The battle is over rights. Just as it was during the civil war and if you think about it any war.

The real decision or choice is how much power are you personally willing to hand over to the government for safe keeping? Do you trust them? Who are they?

The Government that is frequently called "them" and "they" is "You and me." We elect them and we can unelect them. When we complain about the "system" we are admitting failure on our part to act.

It is a big job. This is a large nation with an enormous debt and choices made today will carry through for generations to come. For as long as we have a Nation of the people, by the people and for the people we will be personally charting our Nations course.

So lets ask the question. Do you want to be personally responsible for John Doe's health care? Do you want to find the money to provide it? Do you want to make the call deciding what is next for Mr. Doe? Do you want that responsibility?

Or do you want to put the power back in Mr. Doe's hands. Let him decide the next step either with the advice from his doctors or not. Isn't it his call?

When it comes down to it we are really in a battle to retain our rights. To be the one who makes the call in our own lives. To have the powers that were granted to us in the constitution. The only thing proposed to be denied are the rights of the American People.

Just as in the Civil War we are in the fight for our Nation, our rights, and the continuance of democracy. Do not allow those in power to let you think this is about health care. It is about retaining a right you have or letting another hold all the power. Once you hand over your rights, It will be a battle to get them back.

Lets make the call now. Lets fight to retain our rights as American citizens and not be fooled by the talk of politicians. Lets see this issue for what it is and what it is capable of stealing. You may not realize it until it is past, so take a good hard look now.

Is the debate really about your health care or about your rights? Your voice is free...share it!