Lakewood, WA

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

In getting ready to work with a large project in Lakewood, I have been doing some research on the area and it's history. The history is rich and interesting even though Lakewood has only been incorporated since 1996. Noteable residents of Lakewood have been a part of much of what has happened in all of Pierce county.

There are also many historical sites now open to the public as parks and more such as Lakewold park, and Fort Steilacoom park. The many lakes almost all have public access as well, so residents of the Lakewood area can enjoy year round lake lifestyle whether they live on the lakes themselves or not. The lakes are known for water skiing and fishing or simply a great place to have an leisurely afternoon on the water. Even many of the buildings we pass daily in Lakewood have historical significance ( such as Hollywood video) as many of the buildings either were designed by an early visionary architect, or are based on matching his design.

I learned alot from this video, for instance, did you know that Lakewood is home to one of the oldest Golf and Country clubs in the US? Also did you know that Lakewood also boasts one of the ONLY hunt clubs in Western US? The information on Lakewood's past and it's development along with interesting information like this make this video worthwhile to watch.

If you are relocating to Lakewood I would suggest you watch to see the rich heritage of the area you are moving to. If you already live in the area you will simply find it interesting.

To watch go to http://vimeo.com/6744332 and take a look

To find out more about Lakewood, history and the city now and goings on with in I would suggest you also visit http://www.cityoflakewood.us/

There you will even find a schedule and phone # to make an appointment for coffee with the Mayor and much much more.

--Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma, 253 353 2662. www.teammomentumrealestate.com

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662- www.teammomentumrealestate.com

If you are living in or near Lakewood WA or considering living there, one of the restaurants you will want to visit is the Old Country Buffet ( or Old country Bee as they call themselves) You need to visit, not for the fine dining, it's not fine dining, but for a nice clean all you can eat restaurant with lots of variety. You will find it located right in Lakewood Town Center.

What I like about it most is that no matter who you are there will be things you can eat there. They have a huge salad bar, a taco bar, a dessert bar, and several areas with all different sides and main meat dishes. I like to go there with the kids since other than the line at the register, which moves quickly, there is no waiting for food. There is also no complaining because they "don't like this kind of food" which happens often when I make one family member happy @ other restaurants, here they can pick out the kind of food they want.

We went there last Friday after a very full week where I had had little time to pay attention to them, let alone make decent meals. We had a very fun time. Sam got among other things pepperoni pizza, corn, salad, jojo potatoes and mac and cheese. Chlo'e got steak, chicken and mac and cheese and a taco. Joeleah ate corn, chicken, pizza, and breaded shrimp. I had a large salad and breaded okra and breaded shrimp. The kids had fun making sodas with every flavor in them. They also had chocolate milk. Those of you who know me know why the pop is such a treat to them)

Then of course there is dessert, which of course I tell them all before we go in, they must have dinner before dessert.

Then as we come in we are greeted by a sign....

They point it out and ask if that means they have to follow my rules about dessert. I say yes. My rules trump a sign at a restaurant. They do eat dinner first and I am proud to say don't over eat dessert.

Sam has a small dish of chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream and Joeleah has chocolate icecream her brother gets for her.

Chlo'e gets a little icecream and a little cake. I opt for a small cheese cake and a little apple cobbler with vanilla icecream.

All in all it's a great night at dinner. With a buffet there is the added benefit that it is socially acceptable for you to get up several times during a meal, this is a plus when dining with a 3 year old who seems unable to sit still through any meal even at home ( at least she stays dressed when we eat out!) This is also a plus when eating out with a 9 week old who has his fussy time right at dinner time, we can get up and walk around to calm him with out anyone looking at us funny.

This is really a family friendly restaurant. We feed me and Sam ( he's 12) and Chlo'e and Joeleah ( Peter's meals are of course one of the few things not offered on the buffet) for about $35. We can hardly have fast food for that little and this definatly trumps that.

We have also come here before on the weekends for breakfast, they have a great omlet station set up then and lots of great breakfast items, this too is well priced, about $6 for an adult.

Going to the Old Country Buffet reminds me of being a child. My family often ate at a similar restaurant when I was growing up. ( I am the oldest of 5 kids,) I am pretty sure my parents liked "their" buffet restaurant for many of the same reasons I like Old Country Buffet....of course "mine" is nicer than the buffet I visited as a child.

Old Country Buffet is one of the benefits of living in Lakewood and shopping the lakewood town center. A fun weekend day could be breakfast @ OCB and then shopping @ the town center. We had almost as much fun eating dinner at OCB and then shopping for an hour @ the towncenter, specifically Micheals and Ross dress for less.

--Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma.--253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Moving to Lakewood? Give our team a call we would love to help you with your relocation.

Sunday was our first sampling for the Pierce County Lakes Algae Watch Project. I volunteer with this project in order to protect the safety and usability of the lake my family lives on - Lake Steilacoom in Lakewood, WA - and also to show my kids that science is useful and fun. I never thought that when I was growing up!

On Sunday after dinner we laid out all the sampling equipment provided by the Pierce County Health Department, reviewed the instructions, packed everything into the van and drove to the Edgewater Park boat launch. Edgewater Park on Lake Steilacoom is the official water sampling spot for the project.

My son Lukas helped me read the water temperature from the thermometer and Sophia was in charge of stacking the water sample bottles back into the cooler once they were filled. We all worked together to complete the forms describing the lake usage, water color, and particle count.

It was interesting to be part of the data collection for this experiment and the kids took it quite seriously - probably because it was 'real'. Of course we don't know how this water quality sample will fit in with the other samples taken from other lakes across Pierce County, WA, but we hope this does a small but useful part in helping identify and prevent the toxic algae blooms that Lake Steilacoom and other Pierce County lakes occasionally experience. We will continue to sample the water every two weeks throughout the summer.

If you want to remain updated on the activities of the Toxic Algae Watch Project, you can check back here of follow me on Twitter.

As a Realtor who enjoys selling lakefront properties as well as a homeowner who enjoys living on a lake, I am excited about a new research study that my son Lukas and I will be participating in. We will be testing the water quality in the lake we live on - Lake Steilacoom - in Lakewood, WA. The Pierce County Health Department is coordinating the effort, in which the water quality of 10 Pierce County Lakes, including American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Spanaway Lake, Harts Lake, Ohop Lake, and 5 others, will be tested twice a month until September. Tonight was our initial volunteers' meeting, where we reviewed the instructions for how to conduct the sampling, and were issued our official sampling equipment. My son was especially impressed with the giant thermometer (for testing the water temperature) and the Secchi Disk we will use to check the quality at different depths. I think this will be a fun experience for my budding scientist son, and I hope it will help determine long term solutions to protect our natural resources as well.

For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Housing
Office of Single Family Housing

Why You Need a Home Inspection

Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your lifetime, so you should be sure that the home you want to buy is in good condition. A home inspection is an evaluation of a home's condition by a trained expert. During a home inspection, a qualified inspector takes an in-depth and impartial look at the property you plan to buy. The inspector will:

• Evaluate the physical condition: the structure, construction and mechanical systems.
• Identify items that should be repaired or replaced.
• Estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment, structure and finishes.

After the inspection is complete, you will receive a written report of the findings from the home inspector, usually within five to seven days.

This brochure is primarily for homebuyers that buy their homes with the help of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance programs. All homebuyers can benefit from the information in this brochure to understand the difference between home inspections and appraisals, the benefits of home inspections, how to find a qualified inspector, and the importance of radon testing.

Home Inspections Are Not Appraisals

A property appraisal is a document that provides an estimate of a property's market value. Lenders require appraisals on properties prior to loan approval to ensure that the mortgage loan amount is not more than the value of the property. Appraisals are for lenders; home inspections are for buyers.

FHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), requires lenders to obtain appraisals of properties securing FHA-insured loans. FHA requires appraisals for three reasons:

• To estimate the market value of the property.
• To make sure that the property meets FHA minimum property requirements/standards (health and safety).
• To make sure that the property is marketable.

The FHA appraisal process will note property deficiencies that are readily observable and found not in compliance with HUD's minimum property requirements/standards (Handbook 4905.1 REV-1 and Handbook 4910.1). These deficiencies may not be the same as those items noted in a home inspection report.

About FHA Home Inspections

FHA helps individuals and families become homeowners by providing lenders with mortgage insurance for certain loans.

FHA does not guarantee the value or condition of your future home, and FHA does not perform home inspections. If you find problems with your new home after closing, FHA cannot give or lend you money for repairs, nor can it buy the home back from you.

That's why it is so important for you, the buyer, to get an independent home inspection. Ask a qualified home inspector to thoroughly examine the physical condition of your future home and give you the information you need to make a wise decision.

The Bottom Line: Spending Hundreds May Save Thousands

When you make a written offer on a home, you should insist that the contract state that the offer is contingent on a home inspection conducted by a qualified inspector. You will have to pay for the inspection yourself, but it could keep you from buying a house that will cost you far more in repairs down the road. If you are satisfied with the results of the inspection, then your offer can proceed.

Finding a Qualified Home Inspector

As the homebuyer, it is your responsibility to carefully select a qualified inspector and pay for the inspection.

The following sources may help you find a qualified home inspector:

• State regulatory authorities. Some states require licensing of home inspectors.
• Professional organizations. Professional organizations may require home inspectors to pass tests and meet minimum qualifications before becoming a member.
• Phone book yellow pages. Look under "Building Inspection Service" or "Home Inspection Service."
• The Internet. Search for "Building Inspection Service" or "Home Inspection Service."
• Your real estate agent. Most real estate professionals have a list of home inspectors they recommend.

Radon Gas Testing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General of the United States have recommended that all houses should be tested for radon. For more information on radon testing, call the National Radon Information Line at 1-800-SOS-Radon or 1-800-767-7236. As with a home inspection, if you decide to test for radon, you may do so before signing your contract, or you may do so after signing the contract as long as your contract states the sale of the home depends on your satisfaction with the results of the radon test.

Information Resources

HUD has resources available for information about homebuying and homeownership. You may find the following services helpful.

Internet
www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov
HUD's website contains comprehensive information about home inspections, homebuying, homeownership, selling a home, making home improvements, and other housing-related topics- in English and Spanish.

National Lead Information Clearinghouse
Many homes built before 1978 have lead paint, and some of these have lead hazards. To protect your family, it is recommended that you get a lead-based inspection and/or risk assessment. For more information, contact the National Lead Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD.

HUD-Approved Housing Counseling
HUD supports a network of approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling services across the nation. For a complete list of HUD-approved agencies in your area, call the toll-free HUD housing counseling referral line 1-800-569-4287 or visit the HUD website at www.hud.gov.

HUD-Approved Lenders
A searchable database of HUD-approved lenders, including banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions, is available on the HUD website at www.hud.gov.

http://www.fhahomeloanstacoma.com Tacoma's #1 Mortgage Expert - Kevin Tinsley All Tech Mortgage
(253) 472-1500