Spring Break!

It's Spring Break Time in the South Sound! If you are staying close to home next week, here are a few fun activities to enjoy with your family.

1) Hands On Children’s Museum: Spring break camps for K-3rd graders. Explore ancient Egypt, have fun with Circus Science or visit the Wild World of Animals. See the Museum website for details and to register: http://www.hocm.org/page.php?id=133

2) Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day will be showing at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Bring your family to enjoy this adventure filled play. See website for show times: http://www.washingtoncenter.org/

3) SOCCER SOCCER SOCCER: Two great soccer camps to expand the skills of your budding soccer player:

Olympia High School Spring Break Soccer Camp for boys and girls in grades K-6, lead by head Coach Ty Johnson. To access information and registration form following the link: http://chinqually.org/gfile/75r4!-!HIIFKL!-!svyr5/ohs_soccer_camp_2011.pdf

Challenger British Soccer Camp: https://registration.challengersports.com/FindACamp/FindACampAcademy.asp?Method=CampSession&Key=0416514

4) Enjoy the mystery of flight? Visit our Thurston County treasure, The Olympic Flight Museum and explore the world of flight. Open Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. http://www.olympicflightmuseum.com/index.php

5) Basketball player in the family? Come join the fun at the Black Hills High school basketball camp. http://www.zvents.com/z/olympia-wa/all-area-boys-and-girls-spring-break-basketball-camp--events--174192185

6) Olympia Farmer’s Market Open April 7th for the 2011 Season: Come down to the Market and enjoy locally grown produce, hand-made items, great food and live music. http://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com/

7) Skiing? Yes! There is still time to hit the slopes and the late snowfall has made for great spring skiing. One of our favorites is White Pass and they are open every day of spring break! For snow report, conditions and hours of operation visit: http://www.skiwhitepass.com/

Whether you are sticking around the South Sound or travelling afar, we wish you a wonderful time with your family.

Coldwell Banker app for iPad

We invite you to take a look at the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Search app for iPad. It lets you search for your dream home across the globe, watch real estate videos from the #1 real estate channel on YouTube, Coldwell Banker On Location, get community ratings from Yelp! and much more. It's a real estate app like none other.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG3yP3juCdY&feature=player_profilepage


For other on-the-go searches, you can also check out our mobile website that is optimized to fit smart phone screens. Log on to www.cbolympia.com to start your home search today.

Children's Museum Benefit at Xtreme Golf

Local business, Xtreme Golf is hosting an event to benefit the Hands On Children's Museum. Saturday, March 26 from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. you can play fun, indoor virtual golf and support the Hands On Children's Museum. Play Pebble Beach, hit the driving range or practice your putting! Bring your own clubs! $25 per person per hour or try the Sports Package for 4 people which includes 3 hours of golfing, hot dog and beverage for $25 per person.

Seventy-five percent of the sales will be donated to the NEW Hands On Children's Museum. Join us in supporting two great local treasures.

Xtreme Golf
7135 Martin Way E.
Olympia, WA 98516
(360) 455-4450 - Call ahead for tee time

Reaching the Real Estate Finish Line

Guest Blog: Jodi Ashline, Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty may be reached at 352-7651 or email at jodiashline@gmail.com or tour Jodi's listings at http://www.jodiashline.com/

My last column got you started on your purchase by determining how much you could afford, getting loan pre-approval, finding the right agent to tour suitable homes. Now what? Get “comparables” from your representative for each appealing home, review property disclosures, and research restrictions.

Now you’re armed to make your offer,which should include contingencies regarding financing and inspections, as well as any special requests or repairs, and also a closing date and earnest money deposit. There may be some negotiation, but once both parties have agreed on the terms, you’ll have fully executed Purchase and Sale Agreement.

Now you’ll apply for financing, order an appraisal and inspections, and possibly renegotiate after those reports are complete. You’ll need to secure homeowners insurance and complete the loan process. You’ll want to have cash ready for your down payment and closing costs, and do a final “walk through” just before closing.

You and your agent will be able to review all the settlement documents in advance of the closing date, to be sure everything is correct and to dot the “i”s and cross the“t”s. You’re finally ready to make an appointment with the closing agent, get an Official Check from your bank for downpayment plus closing costs, and sign the papers giving you the coveted status of “homeowner!”

South Sound Commercial Real Estate Update

Looking back over 2010 we see a common theme through much of the commercial real estate landscape - affordability. Corporate profits are solid and larger companies have record amounts of cash on hand. At the end of the year, borrowing by small businesses jumped to the highest level in more than two years. You can bet with banks being more selective in lending, borrowing was for the solid growth prospects rather than simple survival needs. The presence of government programs to help banks shoulder the risk provided further impetus to help folks buy their own space.


While banks are getting healthier, we expect lending on purely investment properties will remain somewhat constricted. However, investors with cash or enough solid collateral will look for buying opportunities with bank-owned properties that are still emerging in our marketplace.

On the leasing side, smart businesses continue to look at this down cycle as the chance to invest in their future. Right-sizing, finding a more appropriate location, or revamping current space was occurring a lot last year.


For their part, building owners looking to ensure cash flows and make the best possible returns today were working to redefine what a win-win means today. In many cases this meant lower rent but a shorter term at that rate. In other situations, different concessions were made to keep rents up and a longer length of lease.

Going forward through 2011 there is quite a mix of positive and still challenging news. Keeping a weather eye on all indicators will help reveal where things are really headed. Trailing indicators, like jobs, are certainly important to the real estate markets in the near term, but the leading indicators are more important for longer range planning. Investments will start to be made as we progress through the year, but they are likely to come at a slower pace than prior post-recession recoveries. Interest rates continue to be favorable. Surveys of traders show that short-term rates are expected to remain flat through 2011 before finally trending up in the first half of 2012. Longer-term rates are bouncing up and down, as inflation and the lagging recovery tug and pull. Businesses planning to grow will look to lock-in with today’s lower rates.

On the challenging side, local unemployment is the great unknown. How far the Legislature and Governor cut the budget and jobs remains to be seen. Our market’s unemployment rate has come a long way off the high of 9% set just last February. Yet at 7.6% we still have a ways to go.

Another X factor in the market is the unknown flow of foreclosures still on the horizon. The residential market has seen a steady flow since mid-2008. The commercial side has only recently seen the volume pick up. We expect more properties to come back to lenders before the economic recovery takes firm hold. Prices, as ever, will be impacted by this extra supply.

Break Out the Green: St. Patricks Day Celebrations in the South Sound

1) Event: St Pats with The Straw Hat String Band at Ramblin Jack's, Thursday, March 17, 6:30p.m. Join The Straw Hat String Band for a raucous evening of Irish music and song while enjoying the great food and drink in the atmosphere of Ramblin' Jacks.

2) Event: Johnny Lewis Dance Band Celebrates Saint Patrick at Hallen Hall, Friday, March 18 6:00p.m. Celebrate Saint Patrick, the real man behind the legend, with a dinner dance featuring the famous Johnny Lewis Band. Evening includes a buffet dinner by Pellegrino's Catering. Proceeds benefit programs for homeless, impoverished, or uninsured men and women served by the Olympia Union Gospel Mission. Event will be held at Hallen Hall, 812 Bowker Street, Lacey, WA.

3) Event: Little Leprechaun Jump At Pump It Up Tacoma! Thursday, March 17 10:00-11:30 a.m. Ages 2-6 Will Jump, Do A Craft and Leave With A Lucky TREAT! JUMP-n-JACKPOT Family Jump Thursday March 17 5:30-7:30 p.m. Ages 2-12 Will Jump, (Ages 2-6 In One Arena/Ages 7-12 In The Other Arena) Eat (2 Slices of Pizza & Drink) & Play Family Bingo! Admission Includes Pizza For Kids. Additional drinks and pizza available. Socks and signed waiver are required. Ticket sales are final, no refunds.

4) Event: St. Patrick's Day at The Spar Tavern, Thursday, March 17, 6:00p.m. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the Spar tavern in Tacoma's Old Town with Tacoma's Irish band, mooncoyne. Thursday March 17 from 6-10 p.m. Help mooncoyne celebrate the release of their new cd: "Rolling Glory."

5) Event: St. Patrick's Day at The Valley Pub, Thursday, March 17 5:00p.m. Come and enjoy Corned Beef and Cabbage on Thursday, March 17, 2011 from 5pm to 7pm @ The Valley Pub 1206 Puyallup Avenue Tacoma, WA 98421 (253) 572-8321.

Source: TheOlympian.com

Thurston County Food Bank

Guest Blog: John Duerr, Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty

Community Food Drive To Benefit Thurston County Food Bank
Saturday, March 12th - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Copper Creek Coffee, 4120 Martin Way, Lacey
NE Corner of Sleater Kinney Rd. & Martin Way

Join me and Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty in this community wide event to benefit those in need. We have a long history of supporting our local Food Bank and are excited to be a part of this latest effort. The Thurston County Food Bank is one of the reasons I am proud to call Thurston County home. It is truly a great place to live, work and raise a family. Several local businesses are supporting this event and will have coupons and giveaways. ROXY radio will also be there. Bring food and join us this Saturday to support one of our best local treasures and aid those friends and neighbors that need us most.

Ready To Buy A Home?

Guest Blog Post: Jodi Ashline, Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, tour Jodi's listings at www.jodiashline.com or contact Jodi directly at jodiashline@gmail.com or 352-7651.


What’s the first question you ask yourself when you’re ready to buy a home? It should be, “How much can I afford?” Without that crucial piece of information, you can’t even begin your search. Figure your monthly income and debt payments and determine how much you can put down. Now, apply for pre-approval from a lender, to shop for the best interest rate and terms. You can choose fixed or adjustable rate, and a conventional or government or jumbo loan, among the most common types of mortgages. Now, what do you want out of your new home? Want a location within the city, right downtown, in the suburbs, or a rural setting? How many bedrooms and bathrooms, in a single family home or townhouse or condo? Now that you’ve figured out what you’re looking for and what you can afford, locate the neighborhoods that satisfy your requirements. An area real estate agent can give you information about schools, your work commute, and proximity to shopping and recreation. Find your agent through referrals and interviews to get the right “chemistry.” You can browse listings online, but the agent should be able to provide a list of suitable properties right away. Make appointments for tours and attend open houses if available. My upcoming blog will guide you through the next steps!

Local Housing Report: Positive Signs for 2011

This time of year many people ask us, “what’s going to happen in real estate this year?” While our "crystal ball" is not clear, we are seeing positive signs that our local housing market is improving.

At the start of the past few years, the market faced serious challenges: high unemployment, falling stock and housing prices, to name just a few. The housing market is not completely out of the woods, but there are a number of factors that point to a more positive 2011.

The net result is that we are seeing a palpable uptick in interest from buyers compared to a year ago. The fact that there is so much more buyer interest at the start of this year is really saying something about how buyers are viewing the market. In its recent nationwide survey of home buyers, the National Association of Realtors found that twice as many buyers in 2010 compared to just two years ago said the timing of their purchase was based on affordability. This is a big confidence signal – and it is coming without government stimulus. It takes more than affordability to create a sustainable recovery. Employment numbers and the broader economy must provide a healthy foundation. Both are trending in a positive direction for the first time in a long time.

Very few people would be satisfied with where the job market stands right now. Jobs might be the single biggest challenge on the demand side of the local housing market in 2011. With the legislature facing a budget deficit, hard choices will be made. However, our local job market is in much better shape than a year ago when the unemployment rate stood at 9%. Today it is 7.6%.

Look to the States’ larger markets to see how much the Legislature’s actions impact our local job market. Some encouraging news comes from healthy increases in retail and housing sales (and the taxes that go along with them). In Seattle, for instance, housing sales and prices were up in 2010. That is a very positive sign after several years of declines.

This is all good news, but there remains a note of caution on the supply side of the market. The number of foreclosures still on the horizon is unknown. Thurston County has seen a steady flow of about 30 foreclosures notices per week - about three times the "normal" number. While we expect that trend to continue through 2011, the steady volume over the last few years suggest that more is behind than in front of us.

Given the reality sellers have to keep a realistic eye on market value and price competitively. With a lot of homes for sale, buyers are taking time to be savvy shoppers. They are acting quickly on homes priced competitively and ignoring homes that are priced about above the competition.

Home Sellers - Are You Making Potential Buyers Sick?

The clients have seen the pictures of your home on-line. It looks right for them in so many ways. They’re very excited. The Realtor opens the door and….the smells of perfumed air fresheners hit them immediately. Quickly, the clients turn and head back to the car, deflated and no longer interested.

This reaction is becoming more prevalent, but the reasons for the reaction vary.

A growing number of people are finding that exposure to fragrances, including perfumes and scented products, adversely affects their health. Many of the fragrance chemicals consist of volatile organic compounds that are known to be respiratory irritants. For some people, the reaction is immediate and dramatic – bringing on migraines, nausea, fatigue, and/or allergy-like symptoms.

Results from a study by Drs. Stanley M. Caress and Anne Steinemann found that 30.5% of the general population reported they found scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside.

There are also those buyers who are not adversely affected by scents, but will be thinking, “what are they hiding?” Some buyers believe where there is smoke there is fire, and scents sometimes signal other problems.

In any market, but especially a buyer’s market, you don’t want to lose a potential buyer over something so easy to correct. So now you’re saying, “Wait a minute, I want my home to smell pleasant for showings; what can I do?”

First and foremost, clean your house – thoroughly. This is a good time to spend a little money on having a professional house cleaner come in and clean from top to bottom. Oftentimes, they will pick up on things that need attention, things you might not have noticed. (Think about the lengths you go to clean your car to sell it; you get out the toothbrush to scrub the wheels, vacuum in every crevice, wax the car, steam-clean the engine – why when selling your house would you assume a routine cleaning is all that’s necessary?)

Also, there are many options to freshen the air that are natural and non-toxic. Baking soda is known for its ability to absorb odor. Use it in your sink drains, in garbage cans, and sprinkle it on carpets before vacuuming. To rid closets or powder rooms of musty, stale odors, you can shake some baking soda into decorative containers and leave it out in the room to absorb odors.

Vinegar is another natural way to clear odors. Mix one part white vinegar with five parts water in a spray bottle, and spritz into a room to freshen the air. Another option is to pour full strength vinegar into one or two bowls in the room that has strong odors, and leave it there overnight. And for, no kidding, “all-out war”, simmer apple cider vinegar (full strength) on the stove for about a half-hour, making sure it doesn’t burn. You may want to clear out of the house for a time after that, but it will neutralize the heavy odors.

And after you have cleaned the air, you can add in pleasant or homey smells. When possible, open windows and let fresh air in; bake cookies (yes, it really works); heat some vanilla in the microwave or oven; simmer some apple cider with a couple of sticks of cinnamon; or simmer some citrus peels (lime/orange/lemon) in water.

Your home will be cleaner, fresher, and less toxic -- your family will be healthier, you will capture more prospective buyers, and the next owner of your home will thank you.

Guest Blog Post by Lou Ann Dunlap, a Real Estate Broker with Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty. She can be reached at 360-701-2085, or e-mail at louann.dunlap@cbolympia.com. You can view her website at http://www.louanndunlap.com/.