Monthly Archives: July 2008

Covington Rambler for Lease

This charming 3 Bedroom 2 Bath rambler is available for lease and is move-in ready! Located close to all the latest amenities in Covington; Red Robin, Home Depot, Kohls and coming soon…Costco! The floorplan is open and bright with vaulted ceilings & skylight. Fully fenced rear yard, attached 2 car garage. Terms: $1650/mo 12 month lease. First + Security Deposit. $50 non-refundable application fee per adult. Pets subj to restrictions. Email for more information This home has been leased. To view available rentals click here

Maple Valley Bank-Owned Listing Report

By Colleen

This information is for Single Family Homes in the greater Maple Valley area and represents only listings published through NWMLS, and does not take into consideration private or auction sales. Currently On the Market: 11 Average List Price: $343,936 Highest List Price: $729,900 Lowest List Price: $140,000 It’s often the perception of consumers that Banks will take deep discounts when negotiating to get these listings off their books. While that is sometimes the case, more often, the discount has been made when the bank first took over the property in foreclosure. Here’s a look at recent Bank-Owned sales in our area and List to Sales price ratios: Number Sold: 8 The Lowest: Listing at $253,000 Sold for $245,000- a difference of about 3% The Highest: Listing at $488,000 Sold for $470,000- a difference of about 3.68% All eight of the homes sold within the last six months, closed between 94.77 to 97.74% of Listing Price. In other words, if you have your eye on a Bank-Owned home, thinking you may get it for ten or twenty percent off asking price, I think you should have a “plan B”-just in case! Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple

Buying a Bank-Owned Home in Maple Valley

By Colleen Fischesser

Sometimes Bank-owned properties (or those which have gone through foreclosure and are now owned and available for sale by the Bank/Lender/Asset Management Co) are a “good deal” and sometimes they aren’t. Here are a few tips if you’re looking at Bank-owned properties in our local market: If you’re looking to purchase a bank-owned property in Maple Valley, enlist the help of a professional who knows this market , can help you determine whether the deal you think you’re getting is really as good as you think. An experienced professional can also help you navigate the Bank-owned purchase process. These companies will often have their own forms and “quirky” requirements. Make sure you understand all the implications before signing on the dotted line Do your due-diligence, talk with the neighbors, find out about all “the skeletons“, if any, before you buy. Sometimes the bank will have conducted an inspection of the property but there are things even an inspector cannot find….for instance flooding in the back yard, past leaks or plumbing problems now undetectable. Hire your own inspector! Even if he/she finds nothing, it will be money well spent on future peace of mind. Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select

Maple Valley Lakefront Homes

By Colleen Fischesser

One of the best things about living in the Pacific Northwest, aside from the abundant greenery is the beauty of the many natural lakes in the area. Those of us who live in the greater Maple Valley area , which is approximately 20 miles South East of Seattle, are fortunate to have several lakes available for public use. Lake Sawyer is the fourth largest lake in King County and allows motor boats; definitely a popular choice with water skiers and wake boarders and also boasts some of the best bass fishing (if tales are true) in the area! There are several other smaller, non-motor boat lakes: Lake Lucerne, Pipe Lake, Lake Wilderness, Lake Retreat, Shadow Lake and Spring Lake (if I’ve forgotten any, please let me know) which fall within the coveted Tahoma School District. Lake Wilderness is open to the public for swimming and fishing and the Cherokee Bay community and Cedar Downs neigbhorhood both enjoy a community waterfront park on Pipe Lake. The others are primarily available only to those lucky enough to own waterfront real estate. Traditionally lakefront property has been a solid investment due to the principle of supply and. demand. Here is a lakefront snapshot of waterfront properties within the Tahoma School District Boundaries: 8 ACTIVE PROPERTIES CURRENTLY

Maple Valley New Listing-4 BR Townhome $319,950

By Colleen Fischesser

Just listed in Division III of Valley Green, this Schneider Homes built Townhome is a unique 4 Bedroom plan with approximately 1600 square feet of living space. Located on semi cul-de-sac, the home has an attached 2 car garage and backs to trees and protected open space. The original owners have made recent updates which include extensive laminate flooring, air-conditioning and a large entertainment-sized outdoor deck. Take the virtual tour or call for more information 425-432-5400. Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley Washington area. .She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400 Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved Colleen Fischesser

Horse Property For Lease Tahoma Schools

By Colleen

This 4 Bedroom home is situated on 1.76 acres near Spring Lake in Renton but falls within the Tahoma School District boundaries. Owner is willing to consider dogs and cats with a deposit and horses with no additional deposit required. Property features two pastures and run-in sheds. Home was built in 1990 and has tile flooring, Oak Kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace. Offered at $2200/month. Terms: 12 month lease, first and security deposit equal to one month’s rent. Additional Pet deposits required. Call to see today: 425-413-0998 RE/MAX Select RE Property Management

What’s Selling in Maple Valley?

By Colleen Fischesser

Is anything? The answer is a resounding YES! However a close look at the numbers reveals that homes priced between three and four hundred thousand account for more than half of all pending sales. Currently of the 379 active Residential Single Family listings in the Maple Valley market, homes priced between 300,000 and 400,000 represent 35% of the inventory. However homes in the same price range represent 65% of the total number of pending sales. (A pending sale is one which is either subject to inspection or in escrow but not yet closed) The reasoning behind this trend could be two-fold. One, there is a large number of New Construction listings in this price range-homes which have recently undergone significant price slashes, thus appealing to investment conscious buyers; and two, tighter lending requirements mean buyers have to have higher down-payments and are unable to purchase higher priced listings. Eventually, this should have a trickle up effect on the 500+ market. Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the Maple Valley Washington area. .She may

Mortgage Interest Rates to Rise?

By Colleen

It’s something not many people are talking about; especially with the sluggish housing market. But some industry gurus believe it’s very likely the Fed will have to raise interest rates to curtail the rising price of gas and produce. I’ve been following Dr. Mark Dotzour, Chief Economist and Director of Research at Texas A&M University’s forecasting for several months now. Back in February, respected editor of Realty Times, Blanche Evans, wrote about Dotzour’s prediction that interest rates could “soar”. Unfortunately, what he says makes sense. A news article on the Real Estate Center’s website quotes Dotzour as recently saying “Trucking firms, auto dealers, airlines and retailers are all suffering heavily from the high cost of energy,” Dotzour said. “At some point, the Fed will have to increase rates and increase them quickly.” I’m not a financial professional (disclaimer there….did you pick up on that?) and am about as far from an economist as you can get, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that prices are increasing (outside of the housing industry) rather quickly and it would seem something is eventually going to have to be done to reverse that trend. Is the sky falling? No. But if

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Monthly Archives: July 2008

Covington Rambler for Lease

Maple Valley Bank-Owned Listing Report

Buying a Bank-Owned Home in Maple Valley

Maple Valley Lakefront Homes

Maple Valley New Listing-4 BR Townhome $319,950

Horse Property For Lease Tahoma Schools

What’s Selling in Maple Valley?

Mortgage Interest Rates to Rise?