Allyn, WA

While I was in town today I saw a sign that read wastefree holidays. It was advertising a website that anyone living and working in King, Kitsap, Thurston or the City of Tacoma should take a look at.The site offers links to business owners that are offering discounts on items such as lodging, cruises, museum passes, and gifts in general that are experiences not just stuff.

I love the idea. It seems every year I spend a lot of money on storage solutions to find space for the gifts. Then there is hollering at the kids to pick up all the stuff I just bought them, that is now on the floor. Most of the time I think that the stuff is not memorable either. I asked my 11 year old what her favorite gift that she got last year was, and after a long pause I finally asked-" Do you remember what you got for Christmas last year?" She didn't, but I do- I am still paying for some of it.

So go check out this site, and maybe make some memories this holiday season. Fill your hearts with joy instead of filling your house with stuff!

I have been reviewing some of the local market statistics - LakeLand Village amongst others I pull specifically every Monday (Hood Canal & Puget Sound Waterfront Homes and our general area of residential homes in Grapeview, Belfair, and Allyn are others I use)....

I think it is important for you the consumer to be aware of these market reports as well. An informed buyer and seller tends to fair better than one who is not. This is one of the reasons that all of my clients receive as much information and knowledge from me on a consistant basis on the CURRENT market happenings so that they can make informed and educated decisions in meeting their goals for real estate. This applies to both Buyer and Sellers. The more information and knowledge you and your agent share weekly, will help you in both the selling and buying arena.

It looks as though LakeLand Village has not had much more movement than it did at the end of October. There are 33 Active listings - one up from the end of October. The average price for active listings is $354,529. The average $$'s per square foot is $166.78.

There are still 5 pending sales working through to closing and 2 contingent properties as well (contingent properties means that the buyers have to sell their home before completing the purchase of a new home). The average price for these is $289,388.66. The average $$'s per square foot for contingent and pending properties is $154.49 combined. (side note - compare the DIFFERENCE in the active average price and the active $$'s per square foot and the PENDING figures.... this tells a story!)These are very important numbers as they tell us what Buyers are purchasing right NOW.

(***AND BUYERS ~~THERE ARE MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. INTEREST RATES ARE LOW; LENDERS DO HAVE MONEY TO LOAN- GET INFORMED AND EDUCATED TO MEET YOUR GOALS! Don't believe everything you hear - remember our parents always told us that? GO GET THE FACTS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS- GO TO THE SOURCE!!!***)

Comparing these numbers along with sold averages in the last six months tell the tale of what is being sought after. Sellers should be using these numbers to make sure they are COMPETITIVE with comparable properties in the neighborhood; Not higher, not equal too - but BETTER PRICED that is the meaning of being COMPETITIVE in this type of market. Give the Buyers incentive (just like a sale at the grocery store!) to choose your home. A home is worth what a Buyer is willing to pay for it....

Solds - there has been no (0) closed sales in LakeLand Village since October but that should change as the currently pending properties are finalized.

These numbers are the FACTS of the market in your neighborhood. Use a professional real estate agent to help you evaluate and navigate through the current real estate market to get your real estate goals accomplished.

I use market statistics every day in my business - if you are a buyer or seller, you should be reviewing and using these numbers as well. If you do not understand or need more information contact your agent if you do not have an agent to speak with, give me a call or drop me a line - I am hear to help you as a professional LOCAL real estate agent.

If you know of someone who may need my services or would like more information, please drop me a line or give me a call - I am a local real estate expert! ~~~ Valerie ~~~

Do any of you have trouble starting a remodeling project, let alone finishing it? I have been there too. It seems like one more trip to Home Depot will put you over the edge. They always cost more than you think, and take longer than you can imagine.

I have found one way that works for me to speed up completion time..."the shopping trip " My husband currently has our laundry room in about 500 pieces. We went to to Home Depot today for yet another "I still need"... and on the way I stopped at Victoria's Secret, JC Penney's, Bath and Body Works( I threw that one in for good measure,) PAC SUN, and Macy's. My husband suddenly discovered the urgent need for the laundry room to be completed, and my wash is in, as I write this blog. Now I have a COMPLETED remodel, clean clothes,new stuff, a healthy national economy, and a grateful husband(that I stopped shopping), in just one day!

As the holidays move closer, I can't stop remembering a very special moment and a very special picture. I have a picture - a very special picture, to share that means so much to my husband and I and of course what would a picture be without a story behind it...!!

This is all of our children...seems simple enough for a picture right? Other than it being my children what would be so special about it?? Well there's a catch to it and a special story as well.

4 years ago our home burned down. Very few things salvageable... All of the pictures that were on the wall of the kids when they were little were gone. We lost many but there was one that had meant the world to me.... The four of them together in their older years. I had never had a picture of all of them together and their effort to get the picture done for my husband and I was tremendous because they all live in different directions and getting all together at once can be quite difficult.The picture was lost to the fire.

They would ask me what I wanted for Christmas each year after the fire and each year I would tell them a picture of the four of them together. They tried for 2 years to get that picture to no avail. Each year their schedules just never seemed to mesh, or the camera broke, or the photgrapher didn't show. So it hadn't happened. (sigh...)

Last year I started harping on them earlier than normal and before they asked me, so they would have ample time to try and get one together. As Christmas got closer they would ask "what do you want for Christmas Mom?" and I would always tell them "A picture of you all together." It got down to the week of Christmas and I hadn't heard of any "gossip" or had any telltale signs of this picture happening. I was getting worried - I sooo wanted this picture of them.

My husband knew how much this picture meant to me as well and I knew that if he had a hand in it I would know if the picture were happening (my husband hates keeping secrets! He is as excited as a child when it comes to surprises and just can't keep that glint out of his eye.) I hadn't heard one slip up about a picture being taken from any of them or my husband... (sigh...)

Two days before Christmas, I was at the office - all my children were sort of in the area together, one up from Portland, one from Eastern Wa, and the other two close by. I had planned on going home early when all the signs of a picture being taken started to show! My husband calling and asking me what time I was coming home? My partner Heath telling me I should be somewhere at noon, my kids calling me all asking me what I was doing and what time I was coming home! AH HA! They were at it.

My smile was huge! BUT there was no way they would get the picture back in time for Christmas.... That's ok - I'll have a box with an IOU in it that it's on its way or an empty frame with a note! My husband in his "innocence" ended up telling me they were getting their picture taken- that I couldn't come home. I waited. And Waited. And finally the all clear signal. No tell tale signs when I got home that they had even all been together never mind a picture.

There's something else you must know as well before we get to the rest of the story. I recently acquired my OWN MOTORCYLE. - one of the "rules" of being a Harley owner is you do not touch someone else's bike without permission- let alone ride it!!!" My husband one day let my son ride MY BIKE and I had a FIT!!! Never let them live it down....And I ranted and raved to ALL MY KIDS...they all knew from then on - DO NOT TOUCH MOM'S BIKE!! It became a joke around the house as well...as I held my chin high and told them to stay away from Princess (my bike), she is my pride and joy! Told them to get their own bike. Mine is off limits!

Christmas morning. They hand me a gift wrapped box - very light, sounds empty (I figured there would be a note in it because the picture has not been developed). I slowly open it with their anxious,excited, proud little faces sitting at my side... I turn the frame over and there's the picture DEVELOPED and ALL OF THEM TOGETHER! Tears... tears and more tears.... it was the most beautiful thing to see and have..All my babies together again but wait..... I look closer and there are our innocent kids (I use the word loosely) sitting on my other pride and joy -MY BIKE! !!!!!!

They did it at first as a joke from a suggestion from my son.They were not sure if I would get mad or not and I have to tell you - they could not have come up anything more meaningful than that bike to have their picture taken on. It meant more to my husband and I than I can ever explain to anyone. Even my husband was choked up because he had no idea how special this picture would be with our four most precious babies together and my most precious bike underneath their butts! It couldn't have been any more perfect!

Okay kids! This year I want a picture of all four of my GRANDBABIES TOGETHER! GET WORKING!! AND STAY OFF MY BIKE! Ok they can sit on it JUST for the picture......

You may recall my blog last week when I described my husband's idea of a romantic weekend -just the two of us at Home Depot, followed by the dump.

Below is a picture that I took when I came home after running a few errands today. The disturbing part is that my daughter, who I now playfully refer to as Cinderella, was in a cheerful mood. This is a rare occurrence for my 14 year- old leading me to believe that she too, now has an affection for Home Depot!

The only question left is who is next!