Washington

• 3146 Portage Bay Place E #L, Seattle 98102:  1 bedroom/1 bath 850 square feet Seattle floating home on Portage Bay. It has one parking space attached which is a rare commodity for houseboats.  Listed for $399,000 and Sold for $350,000:  Built in 1940 and on the market for 30 days.  Here are the public remarks from the MLS:

                                 Floating Home at end of dock w/condo owned moorage. Irresistible price with assigned parking space & storage locker. Value in end dock location. Large sturdy log float, approx 42'x31' Possibilites to do a Re-build to 2 story 18' height. New roof (2+/- yrs) newer treated stringers... last 10 yrs. Cozy cottage style liveable but you will want to do major remodel. Small boat possibility. Community yard & friendly neighbors. Owner of 40 years is ready to move and is making an effort to de-clutter.

• 3146 Portage Bay Place E #M:  1 bedroom/ 1 bath Portage Bay floating home for sale.  Listed at $389,000 and sold in a bidding war for $400,000 .  This was a bank owned Seattle floating home.  Bank owned Seattle floating homes for sale (REO properties) are few and far between so this was an interesting house.  It had been on the market before and was pending but due to the DNR lease renewal pending, the buyers decided to walk allowing a new set of buyers to get a chance at this end of dock floating home.  Because of the sale falling through, the market time was increased at 339 days.   This one had some very Vegas-like touches and was definitely going to need some work, but what a great price for the end of the dock!  Here are the public remarks from the NWMLS listing:

                                  Portage Bay houseboat located at prime ind of dock location. 180 degree views! Relax outdoors on the dock or retreat indoor to the spacious great room with high vaulted ceilings. Cooks kitchen w/ concrete counter-top, gas range and Sub-Zero refrigerator. Master bedroom suite w/ large walk in closet, stone tiled shower with steam feature. Great opportunity to own a prime waterfront home at a reasonable price!

• 3310 Fuhrman Ave E, Seattle 98102:  2+ bedroom/2 bath, Seattle floating home with lots of extras - took a while to sell as it was nestled right between the University Bridge and the Ship Canal Bridge, but had  some amazing views from its end of dock position.  It was listed for $715,000 and sold for $600,000 in 316 days.  Here are the marketing remarks:

No Dues & Own Your Moorage For This Floating Home! Fabulous fee simple Lake Union oasis! Mixed use between residential & C140 Commercial waterfront property: live on the lake & run your biz here, too! 34+ feet of Lake Union End of dock (because it is the dock!!!) waterfrontage with a remodeled 2 bedroom floating home with companion float for kayaks, etc., an additional lakeside cottage, boat slip (+/- 35 feet), and an unheard of 2 off street parking spaces -PLUS a yard! Opportunity knocks!

• 2600 Fairview Av Ct E #HB13, Seattle 98122:  Mallard Cove! If you know about Mallard Cove then you know how coveted Mallard Cove houseboats for sale are!   Built in 1978, this 3/ bedrooms/ 2.25 baths, 1900 square feet, with a market time of 58 days floating home was listed for $995,000 and sold for $950,000. Extras include a fireplace, roof top deck, and the almighty parking.   Here are the public remarks for this beautiful Seattle floating home:

Imagine stepping off your living-room deck for a morning kayak adventure or evening boat cruise – this stunning 3bd, 2.75ba Mallard Cove floating home brings the waterfront to you with moorage included and rare, secured parking for 2 cars. Tie up every toy from yacht to paddle-board and step into the ultimate NW lifestyle. Beautifully remodeled in 2010 with new kitchen, baths, electrical, and plumbing. Three sun decks plus an enormous roof-top entertainment deck with 180° lake & mountain views.

In the "Good 'ol Days of Real Estate" it was said the business was all about "Location, Location, Location!" Today in the year 2012, as we recover from the Great Recession we know a more correct and contemporary rendering of that phrase is "Location, Condition and Price" will determine a proper Value for any particular person or purpose.

With Much of the For Sale inventory, being Short Sale Homes or, Bank Owned Homes we find with varying levels of problems in the "Condition" department. Common items requiring correction seen are: Carpets that are shot; Exterior-Siding decay; Roof is worn out with bad gutters; Kitchen is very dated, appliances are old and counter-tops are worn out. All items are easy enough to correct but, the seller of a short sale has no funds to take on the item(s).

How do these deficiencies affect the home's value? -- Answer: Big Time! For example: a home that needs a roof repair for $10,000 may see the price drop $15,000 to $20,000. Why? Most conventional home loans will require such an item to be repaired prior to closing, and tends to cause many buyers move on to another property to purchase.

When you undertake a home repair, it is important to use the Right Tool. Likewise, when purchasing a Fixer Home, it is important to use the Right Loan. For over 20 years there has been a U.S. Government sponsored home loan program called the FHA 203k Loan that can help with the purchase of these homes that are in need of repair. This is an excellent program and timely for today's conditions but, not very well known. In a nutshell, with a 203k loan you can both Purchase the home (owner occupied buyer); and borrow the funds to make renovations and repairs -- All In One Loan!

Recently both John and Kathryn took the opportunity take certification training in the FHA 203k home loan offered by ReBuildUSA. With support from the home improvement company Lowes, ReBuildUSA put together a Real Estate Broker Program, and a Home Lender program, to better help us in the industry have a deeper understanding of the wide range of options the 203k loan provides, and truly amazing benefits offered to today's home-buyer and our community. From the brief video below you will learn as we did, that the FHA 203k Renovation loan is so much more than the simple explanation we've provided above.

For another voice on this, here's a recent television interview:

Not long ago, one of our home buyers purchased a Short Sale home with the 203k loan. For a purchase price of $95,000; and repairs of about $12,000; the FHA Appraisal for their home loan came in at $145,000. Or, another way to do the math: for a 3.5% down payment = $3,745; Loan = $103,255; and the Instant Equity was approximately $38,000!!!

This is truly a great time to purchase a home, and the FHA 203k loan may be the very best loan going right now!

Please call us to find out more!

• 3146 Portage Bay Place E #L, Seattle 98102:  1 bedroom/1 bath 850 square feet Seattle floating home on Portage Bay. It has one parking space attached which is a rare commodity for houseboats.  Listed for $399,000 and Sold for $350,000:  Built in 1940 and on the market for 30 days.  Here are the public remarks from the MLS:

                                 Floating Home at end of dock w/condo owned moorage. Irresistible price with assigned parking space & storage locker. Value in end dock location. Large sturdy log float, approx 42'x31' Possibilites to do a Re-build to 2 story 18' height. New roof (2+/- yrs) newer treated stringers... last 10 yrs. Cozy cottage style liveable but you will want to do major remodel. Small boat possibility. Community yard & friendly neighbors. Owner of 40 years is ready to move and is making an effort to de-clutter.

• 3146 Portage Bay Place E #M:  1 bedroom/ 1 bath Portage Bay floating home for sale.  Listed at $389,000 and sold in a bidding war for $400,000 .  This was a bank owned Seattle floating home.  Bank owned Seattle floating homes for sale (REO properties) are few and far between so this was an interesting house.  It had been on the market before and was pending but due to the DNR lease renewal pending, the buyers decided to walk allowing a new set of buyers to get a chance at this end of dock floating home.  Because of the sale falling through, the market time was increased at 339 days.   This one had some very Vegas-like touches and was definitely going to need some work, but what a great price for the end of the dock!  Here are the public remarks from the NWMLS listing:

                                  Portage Bay houseboat located at prime ind of dock location. 180 degree views! Relax outdoors on the dock or retreat indoor to the spacious great room with high vaulted ceilings. Cooks kitchen w/ concrete counter-top, gas range and Sub-Zero refrigerator. Master bedroom suite w/ large walk in closet, stone tiled shower with steam feature. Great opportunity to own a prime waterfront home at a reasonable price!

• 3310 Fuhrman Ave E, Seattle 98102:  2+ bedroom/2 bath, Seattle floating home with lots of extras - took a while to sell as it was nestled right between the University Bridge and the Ship Canal Bridge, but had  some amazing views from its end of dock position.  It was listed for $715,000 and sold for $600,000 in 316 days.  Here are the marketing remarks:

No Dues & Own Your Moorage For This Floating Home! Fabulous fee simple Lake Union oasis! Mixed use between residential & C140 Commercial waterfront property: live on the lake & run your biz here, too! 34+ feet of Lake Union End of dock (because it is the dock!!!) waterfrontage with a remodeled 2 bedroom floating home with companion float for kayaks, etc., an additional lakeside cottage, boat slip (+/- 35 feet), and an unheard of 2 off street parking spaces -PLUS a yard! Opportunity knocks!

• 2600 Fairview Av Ct E #HB13, Seattle 98122:  Mallard Cove! If you know about Mallard Cove then you know how coveted Mallard Cove houseboats for sale are!   Built in 1978, this 3/ bedrooms/ 2.25 baths, 1900 square feet, with a market time of 58 days floating home was listed for $995,000 and sold for $950,000. Extras include a fireplace, roof top deck, and the almighty parking.   Here are the public remarks for this beautiful Seattle floating home:

Imagine stepping off your living-room deck for a morning kayak adventure or evening boat cruise – this stunning 3bd, 2.75ba Mallard Cove floating home brings the waterfront to you with moorage included and rare, secured parking for 2 cars. Tie up every toy from yacht to paddle-board and step into the ultimate NW lifestyle. Beautifully remodeled in 2010 with new kitchen, baths, electrical, and plumbing. Three sun decks plus an enormous roof-top entertainment deck with 180° lake & mountain views.

Millions of homeowners fell behind on their mortgage payments last year, and then proceeded to fall further behind every month.

These are tough times and there are no easy answers.

The fact is, major lenders, the federal government, and local agencies across the country have stepped up their efforts to stem the tide of foreclosures. More help is available than ever before.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, I am knowledgeable and adept at navigating among the full range of solutions for helping financially distressed homeowners to make a fresh start.

Looking to learn more? Check out my free report: "Tipping the Scales Toward Foreclosure? Resolve to Shed the Weight of an Unmanageable Mortgage in 2012."

And if you, or someone you care about is looking to tip the scales back into financial solvency, contact me today for a confidential consultation!

Sandy Wagner

Short Sale Specialist in Tacoma, WA and Gig Harbor, WA

Helping people find a way out of foreclosure

253.225.8322

www.sandywagnerhomes.com

When families are tapped out financially and faced with the uncertainty of not knowing how much longer they'll be able to stay in their home, the prospect of planning or having a positive outlook on the future seems out of the question.

Many financially strapped homeowners feel frozen in action and it's no wonder, but here's the most important point that you need to know:

Even though millions of homes have been lost to foreclosure, you and those you care about absolutely do not need to add to that statistic.

More help is available now than ever before.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, I am adept at navigating among the full range of solutions for helping financially distressed homeowners to make a fresh start.

If you, or someone you care about is looking to get out from under the cloud of unmanageable mortgage contact me today for a confidential consultation!

Sandy Wagner

Short Sale Specialist in Tacoma, WA and Gig Harbor, WA

Helping people find a way out of foreclosure

253.225.8322

www.sandywagnerhomes.com