Real Estate Barcamp next week in Bellevue (video)

It's a solar weekend!

Saturday is the Washington State Solar Tour presented by Solar Washington.

These tours are self-guided, 10 am to 4 pm.

Download a map and be amazed that rainy ol' Washington is actually a super solar opportunity!

Maps available from Solar Washington web site:

Anacortes/Guemes Island updated 9-27

Auburn updated 9-27

Bellingham/Whatcom updated 9-29

Chelan updated 9-15

Clallam updated 9-29

Clark County updated 9-15

Eastside - King County updated 9-28

Jefferson County updated 9-28

Kitsap County updated 9-28

Olympia updated 9-24

San Juan updated 9-28

Seattle updated 9-29

Skagit updated 9-28

Snohomish updated 9-29

Tacoma updated 9-27

Vashon Island updated 9-15

Whidbey Island updated 9-22

85 homes, 69 condos under $300,000 for sale in West Seattle (98106, 98116, 98126, 98136)

West Seattle Real Estate Roundup

I found 85 residential real estate listings for sale in West Seattle. I searched sip codes 98106, 98116, 98126, and 98136 only since 98146 is sometimes considered too far south (altho one of my best friends lives in that zip code).

I found 69 condominiums for sale within these same parameters.

I live in 98126 (High Point) but have lived in this part of town since 1997 and can help you sort the wheat from the chaffe. Email me, Tweet or call me with questions or tour information at 206.686.HOME (4663).

You have just over 60 days to close on your first home (or if you haven't owned a home in 3 years) and get the $8,000 tax credit.

This is a mix of traditional and green real estate for sale.

I am a Seattle real estate professional first, and a green real estate agent second. I can help any buyer/seller, but if you are looking to buy a green home, I have additional education and experience in this area that will really benefit your search for a healthy home.

Coming up: Northwest Children's Environmental Health Forum

Tukwila Community Center, October 1 - 2, 2009

What do we really know about how our children are affected by toxic exposures, especially during their critical developmental years?

And, who's minding the shop when it comes to protecting our kids from these chemicals?

The Northwest Children's Environmental Health Forum brings together a rare group of scientists and policy makers who are on the cutting edge of answering those questions. Conference participants hear from these local and national experts individually as well as on interactive, cross-topic panels, with generous Q&A time provided.

Day 1 (Thursday, October 1)

Hear from top scientists from around the country who are actively working in this field, as they share their research, debunk myths, and summarize their next steps. Topics include autism, food exposures, endocrine disruptors, climate change, cell phones and electromagnetic exposures, and emerging chemicals of concern.

Day 2 (Friday, October 2)

Get updated on local and national policy and legislation efforts to protect our children. Zero in on efforts being made to protect kids at home, in schools and child care centers, in healthcare settings, in communities, through the foods they eat, and through the toys they play with. Hear case studies from around the country, and interact with policy experts to identify future needed actions. All speakers are
actively engaged in policy reform efforts.

View the Program (updated September 24th) to see the outstanding lineup of speakers and topics, including many regional experts and the following national leaders:

Register here

Free webinar - Business case for clean energy: You've Tackled the Low Hanging Fruit, Now What?

Received notice about a free webinar from Sustainable Industries about greening your business operations. Some well known names are listed!

Register here

You've Tackled the Low Hanging Fruit, Now What?

Launched in conjunction with the Sustainable Industries Clean Energy Handbook for Business, this free exclusive Webinar, presented by Sustainable Industries and Lane Powell, aims to help business owners learn how to prioritize and finance energy efficiency upgrades. Learn about the many incentives available to business owners for energy improvements. Plus, learn how such improvements can help your company save money and contribute to a comprehensive sustainability plan.

Introduction by:

Brian Back, Publisher, Founding Editor Sustainable Industries Magazine: sustainableindustries.com

Moderated by:

Becky Brun, Editor Sustainable Industries Magazine: sustainableindustries.com

Featured Panelists:

Micah Allen, Manager Technology Assessment Service, Business Energy Advisor E Source: esource.com

Arthur Venables, Senior Manager Enterprise Energy Management Services E Source: esource.com

Platinum Sponsor:

Lane Powell, Attorneys & Counselors: lanepowell.com

Gold Sponsors:

Portland Development Commission: pdc.us Fluid Marketing Strategies: fluidms.com

Composting Food Waste at Home - Feed Your Potted Plants!

I've had my eye on one of these NatureMills since moving into a townhome and giving up my compost (worm) bin that I had tucked next to the side of my old house. Then the City of Seattle announced a home food waste collection service, that they would take away my food waste and compost (and then sell it back to me as Cedar Grove Compost). So I held off on getting one of these.

But today I received an email from them, that they have made some improvements to their design, which makes me want one again, so I can feed all of my potted plants!!

Here's what NatureMill has to say:

*****

We've listened to our customers. We've studied the reviews. We went back to the drawing board and made bold changes to satisfy just about everyone. Please join us in welcoming our 2010 "XE Series" of automatic composters:
* stronger motor to prevent jams
* more powerful filter
* new Energy Save mode
* dozens of other refinements

All of these improvements come without any price increase. The new XE Series is available now, in the Plus and PRO configurations as before.
For details see: naturemill.com/products .

Also: FREE shipping this month!
To promote our newest products, shipping is free all month, while supplies last.
(UPS ground shipping only within the USA.)

Offer valid until October 1, 2009. Some restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited. Not valid in conjunction with other promotions.

*****

I can't really afford to get one of these at the moment, and since I have food waste collection service from the city at least I don't feel guilty for letting the squash rot in my refrigerator drawer! But it is definitely at the top of my list the next time I have some extra money!

It's market garden day in Seattle

It's market garden day in Seattle. Wendy and her husband (behind the lens) and their Italian greyhound Sophia walk to the garden in their neighborhood to buy organic vegetables and fresh flowers for the week.



There are two kinds of community gardens in Seattle - a "p-patch" is a garden plot a resident can rent for their own gardening use for the year, a "market garden" plot is reserved for cultivation by low-income residents living in one of the Seattle Housing Authorities "garden" communities. Garden communities is a national term that was sourced from affordable housing communities that supported agriculture for the sustenance of its residents.

In Seattle you can buy a subscription every year to get a guaranteed weekly bag (or two) of vegetables on a certain day of the week based on that garden's harvest schedule. It can cost several hundred dollars for the year, all due in advance. If you can't find a family or two to split your CSA share with, going to the garden on its Farm Stand Day is a way to stock up in quantities and with the kinds of produce YOU will enjoy. Not everyone likes beets.
CSA = Community Supported Agriculture

The farm stand concept was tested lightly in 2008 and went into full effect beginning in July of 2009, at least in High Point in West Seattle. There are market gardens in several other communities in Seattle, Wendy was a strong supporter of the farm stand concept. She hates beets and has a limit as to how many vegetables she can eat and hates to waste food by letting it spoil.

Meet High Point's neighborhood farmer, Hien Nguyen
More about the produce grown in Seattle's market gardens
More about Seattle Market Gardens or volunteer
Get your own p-patch plot in a community garden near you

Interested in living within walking distance of a market garden? Check out these current High Point homes for sale. Wendy bills herself as the "Resident Green Agent" in High Point. She is a Built Green Certified Professional Real Estate Agent living in a Built Green Certified Home in a Built Green Certified Community. That is called a triple play! Wendy will talk more about what living "Built Green" is all about in a future episode.

Background info:
Wendy was a p-patch gardener from 2000 until 2005 and served on the Board of Directors of P-Patch Trust for three years, 2004-2007. She began to garden at home on her 1/4 acre lot until she and her husband sold the too-much-work house and land and moved to a townhome up the hill in the Built Green Certified Community of High Point. Now Wendy gardens in containers quite successfully, both edibles and ornamentals in addition to several native plant varieties.

See "Are you playing with a full deck?" for Wendy's experience in converting from a 1/4 acre lot with garden and native plants to a townhome successfully and happily.

This is Wendy's 2nd video blog (vlog) post. She and her husband Steve are still getting the hang of their equipment and editing software - and until they can learn to edit their clips together you will have to wait in suspense for their weekly visit to the West Seattle Farmers Market. She also is trying to learn how to think and speak at the same time (these cuts are first takes and not rehearsed outside of 4 am wakefulness) and Wendy's noticed she seems to scowl when she thinks. She hates how her face pulls in these videos. She has vowed to work on this - along with Natalie Coughlin, Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer currently competing on Dancing with the Stars, who also pulls her face when she concentrates, especially when underwater.

Now them's is fighting words!

I take exception to a recent post over on the "Blue Marble" tab at Mother Jones.
The question? "Is Buying Green a Moral Offset?"

Most definitely not! I find it interesting that there was even a study done on this subject. I guess I think the best of almost all people so I never would have even considered the question.

Maybe I am just naive. But I think some people like that part of me.

Green Spaces moves to video - Wendy's inaugural VLOG (video blog) post talks about her appreciation of native plants

In Wendy Hughes-Jelen's inaugural VIDEO blog post she shares her experience of growing up in the country, moving to the city as an adult, and THEN coming to appreciate the plants she took for granted as a kid.



She discovered that there are many parks and small green spaces where the native plants she loves thrive - often through restoration and stewardship efforts such as the Native Plant Stewardship training program of the Washington Native Plant Society. Wendy is a 2001 graduate of the WNPS stewardship program and helped restore a 3 acre green space next to Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle.

Visit www.WNPS.org for more information regarding native plant stewardship training.

Interested in raising your family in the woods of unincorporated Snohomish County?
As a real estate agent Wendy likes to tie in her educational blog posts with lifestyle opportunities and housing choices. View Residential and Vacant Land for sale within 2 miles of where Wendy grew up, near Echo Lake, midway between Woodinville and Monroe, Washington.

If you would like more information regarding any of this property for sale, please drop Wendy an email.

USDA Loosens Income Limits on No-PMI Loans by Guest Blogger Stephen Hochhalter of Sound Mortgage

I've been referring and working with Steve since 2006. He has many very happy clients, including myself!


Guest Blogger, Stephen Hochhalter, of Sound Mortgage

USDA Loosens Income Limits on No-PMI Loans

Zero-down programs are few and far between these days, but one stalwart just got an upgrade!

USDA Guaranteed Rural Development loans offer 100% financing with no monthly Private Mortgage Insurance. Seriously, did you hear me? I said NO monthly PMI. While there are some geographic limitations on this program, if you have your eye on a piece of property that would qualify, you need to take notice.

Although income restrictions for this program are determined based on the number of people living in a household, these limits were loosened beginning April 20. As a result, more buyers may now qualify and be able to afford higher value homes under this program.

Previously, the income limitations were based on the exact number of people living in the home. For example, the limit for two people was different from the limit for one person; the limit for three people was different from the limit for two people, etc.

As of April 20, however, the household income limitations are grouped into two categories: 1-4 Person Households and 5-8 Person Households. This is great news!

It means that higher income earners with fewer people in the household may be more likely to qualify.

In non high-cost counties, where 1-4 people reside in a home, the income limit will now be $70,750. In homes where 5-8 people reside, the limit is $93,400. While these figures serve as a guide, there are certain formulas to arrive at these numbers where people can earn more and still qualify.

Now just because you see the word "rural" in the program name, it doesn't mean we're talking farmland here. No, you don't have to raise cattle or chickens to qualify. Rural generally is defined as areas that are not densely populated and have fewer neighborhoods – but you might be surprised at how many neighborhoods qualify. To check if a property qualifies, email me or click the link below.

Is my property eligible for USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing financing?

I'm very excited about what this can represent to your business. More buyers will have the ability to buy a home without a down payment. Also, when it comes to USDA Rural Housing loans, the seller can pay closing costs up to 6%. When you combine these benefits with the available tax credit of up to $8,000 for first time home buyers, helping more people get into the home of their dreams is suddenly a lot easier.

If you have questions about this update, give Wendy or myself a call. We can show you how waiting for the lowest price could really cost you more in the long run.

Sincerely,
Stephen Hochhalter
425.228.5300
Sound Mortgage

Taking my creative expression - and coaching tendencies - to a whole new level

My reward for getting up hours before the sun rises.


I woke up again way too early with vlogging on my mind after my first attempt was botched by old technology and the wrong equipment. So I’ve stepped in to my home office and just logged 27 awesome topics, with notes of what to include in each one, to share with my readers - who will now become "watchers".



As you know, my blog is called "Green Spaces Real Estate", but the tagline is: Pacific Northwest Life and Living: Pocket parks and open spaces ~ OLAs and other pet places ~ Real estate and home graces. I specifically structured it to be a lifestyle blog so I could write about anything I am passionate about. I have been, for two and a half years. Going to video lets me teach SO much more.



Categories so far: Eat Local, "Open Spaces" Series, Off-Leash Area locations, Native Plants and their benefits, Grow your own food (p-patch locations), Great reading materials (books and mags), Green tip of the day, Walkable Communities. Most vlog posts will include a link to homes for sale in areas related to the video.I've been sharing information on my "green" blog since Earth Day April 2007. Starting this blog was in response to a session called "Real Estate 2.0" taught by Jillayne Schlicke at the 2007 Independent Brokers Association conference. And a request for a business plan by my former broker, Linda Lane.



Experiencing 2 real estate barcamps this year again catapults my business to a whole new level. Rhonda Porter, "The Mortgage Porter", has been a great example of consistency using technology to enhance her clients' home buying experience. She has encouraged me and been very open with her knowledge and I really appreciate and respect that. I need people like Rhonda in my life, I need mentors and people to look up to.



As is my tendency, I share what I learn with the people around me, including all of my colleagues at GreenWorks Realty, and my broker Ben Kaufman. It's as if I am trying to drag them all kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Since I have joined the firm and started talking about blogs and using social outlets to build meaningful relationships four of my colleagues have started blogs. I was grateful for the barcamp last week since it was an opportunity for my colleagues to go and hear first-ear about everything I have been trying to explain all year (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) Now I can rest and stop harping on it.



Admittedly sometimes I, and people I encounter and have lengthy and enjoyable conversations with, question my choice of profession. At the February real estate barcamp I was able to share all of the things I do for my business (barcamp focuses on using technology) and even the "experts", people who have been doing this sort of marketing for a long time and have been successful with it, can't figure out why it is that I am "doing all the right things" but still can't take my real estate business volume to a sustainable level. It’s a nagging issue that just causes financial stress in my household. But the activity of blogging and sharing with others is rewarding in and of itself, and I have made some great connections and tapped in to some opportunities to attend conferences for free as a “live blogger”.



And actually, I DO have some business as a direct result of being at the Built Green conference in March (for free as a live blogger, over $300 value) and chatting up the gentleman next to me, who once he asked what I did for a living switched chairs with his companion so we could talk. My $1,095,000 listing in Monroe, Woods Creek Preserve, is a result of this. And this 37.8 acre listing intended as a sustainable community also has its own blog. http://woodscreekpreserve.blogspot.com/ Now if it would only sell so my work translated in to some income. My sister Allison lives near my listing and I have employed her as "marketing support" having her check the flyer box for me so I don't have to make the one hour and 20 minute drive to check it myself. Because there is nothing more lame and annoying than an empty flyer box.



I have been told 4 times this summer that I should be a life coach, to include professional career advice along with how to live a greener lifestyle. I have met and become friends with two fabulous women this summer after they wandered in to my real estate office because of the name of the company (GreenWorks) with questions not necessarily related to real estate. We have had the most enjoyable and mutually enlightening conversations. The most recent challenge to my profession came about 2 weeks ago from a woman named Gwen, who is interested in working for a green company. I asked her if she *needed* an income. When she said yes, I said real estate sales wasn’t it, then, but I had a lot of other suggestions. Her homework was to get on to Facebook and friend me. I am still waiting for her but I expect it to happen!



As for blogging, I started a personal blog in 2005 (the "pink" blog http://pensandpixels.com/wendysworld/) in response to my friend Kristine's too-high Outlook security settings, where her computer refused to download photos attached to email messages. We were headed to Italy for our 8th anniversary and Christmes/New Year holiday and I wanted to share my experience and photographs with her and my other friends and family. I am grateful to her for being a motivating factor for me - we share a passion and appreciation for art history and I wanted her to see what I experienced through my eyes. I have had trouble keeping up my pink blog this past year since my husband Stephen and I are not traveling (due to finances) AND my green blog really is where my heart is. It has to be infinitely more interesting than my walk around the neighborhood with the dog.



I am a lifelong learner and I love sharing what I have learned and experienced with new people. If anyone can think of a way I can translate that into a sustainable profession, I am all ears. Maybe I should have a travel show?

Pacific NW | Future Shack: Architects building our tomorrow | Seattle Times Newspaper

AIA Seattle celebration showcases forward thinking for urban living, highlighting 11 projects that get it right.

Read Pacific NW Future Shack: Architects building our tomorrow Seattle Times Newspaper

Shared via AddThis

GreenLending Specialist™ Designation Program Launches Nationally

September 2009
STANWOOD, Wash. – PorterWorks, Inc.

A GreenLending Specialist ™ (GLS) is a lending professional, educated and certified through the GLS designation program. This individual has attended the comprehensive two-day training, successfully passed two exams, and adopted the principles set out in the GLS Code of Conduct.

For lenders, the GreenLending Specialist™ designation will provide credibility and access to thousands of like-minded green professionals such as: National Association of Home Builder (NAHB®) Certified Green Professionals (CGPs), National Association of Realtors® (NAR) GREEN designees, LEED APs, EcoBroker®s and hundreds of other regional and local green building professionals.

The course provides critical information for commercial, residential and construction lenders including: site, design, energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality; currently pertinent information on: rating systems; appraising, green lending and energy efficient mortgages, greening Multiple Listing Service providers; and useful marketing and educational tools for consumers and business partners.

The course is the brainchild of Dave Porter, who has been in the real estate and mortgage industry since 1979. Mr. Porter is President of PorterWorks, Inc. and is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, writer and consultant. Along with his wife, Anna, he is the visionary, developer and owner of Going Green at the Beach, a multi-certified, multi-award winning deep green demonstration home in Stanwood, Wash. In addition to a degree in Education, Mr. Porter holds five designations from the National Association of Home Builders.

Porter says there is a compelling environmental and economic business case for lenders to go green. McGraw-Hill reports that green construction could amount to as much as 140 billion dollars by 2013. With more than 100 million homes in need energy improvements, the green remodel opportunities are historic in scale. Porter states "This is urgent and important work and provides lenders an exceptional business opportunity if they heed the call." Going green can help "future-proof" lending organizations while helping protect our precious resources.

"There is clear evidence that green homes are selling faster and for more money. These homes are a safer investment for lenders due to improved collateral and reduced consumer cost to operate," states Porter.

Courses are being scheduled across the country. Lenders can find course dates and locations at www.greenlendingspecialist.com or can contact PorterWorks, Inc. 360 631 5631 to schedule an exclusive training.

For more information regarding Green Lending Specialist Designation contact:
Dave Porter
President, Porterworks
206 304 8228
dp@porterworks.com
http://twitter.com/greeneducator

Seattle’s Newest Condominium Development, The Pontedera, Is Offering Savings Of Over $26,000 To Qualified Buyers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Eric Pravitz, eric@homesightwa.org http://www.pontederacondos.com/

SEATTLE, WA – With the $8,000 Federal tax credit program for first time homebuyers expiring soon HomeSight, a local non-profit housing developer and mortgage lender, announces a new program that can save homebuyers over $26,000 in taxes. The Pontedera Condominiums, a beautiful new South Downtown development, already Seattle’s most affordable new condominium, becomes even more affordable with the Seattle Multifamily Property Tax Exemption Program. The Pontedera is the only new condominium building in Seattle approved by the City to make this offer to homebuyers.

The Property Tax Exemption Program is available to buyers with household incomes up to 120% of the area median. It provides the eligible buyer with an exemption on the property tax assessed on the home for up to 12 years. The buyer of a typical two bedroom condominium priced at $298,000 will save approximately $2,162 per year in property tax payments. Over the 12 year term of the exemption that will be a savings of $26,000. After adjusting for inflation the actual savings should be even bigger.

To be eligible for the Program a buyer of a one bedroom home can have a household income equal to the median income for the Seattle area. For the buyer of a two or three bedroom home their household income can be up to 120% of median. Median income in Seattle is currently $67,400 for a two person household. The benefits of the tax exemption are transferrable to a subsequent buyer as long as they meet the same eligibility criteria as the original buyer.

The value offered by HomeSight at the Pontedera is second to none in the City of Seattle. HomeSight’s Mortgage Lending staff has put together an assortment of incentives and assistance tailored to help nearly everyone interested in purchasing a new home realize the best value for their home purchase dollars. Working with their lending partners, HomeSight can offer fixed rate mortgages with the lowest rates available in Seattle.

HomeSight is a Washington State non-profit corporation that builds affordable, for-sale housing, and is Washington State’s first non-profit mortgage broker. Our nationally recognized free counseling program can help prospective buyers reduce their borrowing costs by improving their credit and savings prior to closing on the purchase of their new home. HomeSight is committed to providing value and creating opportunities for sustainable and secure home ownership through quality homes and responsible lending. HomeSight is a non-profit 501(c) 3 Community Development Corporation, U.S. Department of Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution, and a NeighborWorks® America chartered member.

Remember: It is Reduce then Reuse then Recycle

Here's an entry in the R3 category of Reuse (by way of Reduction)

Web site helps connect home-renovators with contractors' who have excess inventory

"Simple Energy-Efficient Tips That Save Money"

The Care2 make a difference network (online community) provides great current information that can help anyone crank up their "healthy and green living" a notch.

I found the following post to be really great information!

Read Simple Energy-Efficient Tips That Save Money posted by Ronnie Citron-Fink Sep 13, 2009 5:03 am

"Save green by going green with eco-mortgages"

From my Google alert "green homes"

"Incentive programs for making homes more energy efficient can help borrowers qualify for larger loans and save on closing costs."

Read "Save green by going green with eco-mortgages"

BY DEBORAH JIAN LEE, Associated Press
As it appeared in The Miami Herald.

Guest blogger - market update from Liesl Mordhorst

It’s Still a Buyer’s Market
If you were curious who had the upper hand nowadays in the real estate market, it appears it’s still the home buyers, according to real estate info service Zillow.

Buyers paid 3.3 percent, or nearly $7,039, below the final listing price on homes for sale during July.

Yes, nearly a quarter (22.8%) of all homes listed for sale on Zillow had at least one price reduction as of September 1.

The median home price reduction was 6.5 percent off the original listing price; homes listed for sale on Zillow during August were listed for a median 96 days, up from 91 in July.

Of course it wasn’t all bad news for home sellers; that 3.3 percent discount was less than the 3.5 percent ($7,630) discount in June, and down from the 4.6 percent ($10,260) reduction seen in January.

“The strong summer selling season in 2009 has led to a decreasing difference between the last listing price and final sale price, but most buyers are still getting some additional discount at selling time,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries.

“We expected list-to-sale price ratios to fall as the sales volume picked up during the summer, and the California markets are showing strong declines in the discount off the last listing price, relative to levels at the start of the year. This is fueled both by increased sales and high proportion of foreclosures re-sales, which are already priced relatively low.”

Florida homebuyers had the most room to negotiate in July, with buyers in the Vero Beach MSA paying 10.2 percent, or a median $23,500, less than the last listing price.

The opposite was true in El Centro, California, where home buyers paid 1.8 percent, or a median $2,150, more than the listing price.

Liesl Mordhorst
Home Financing Professional
Alpine Mortgage Services, Inc.
2150 N 107th St Ste 480
Seattle, WA 98133

liesl@alpinemtg.com
phone (206) 683-2382
fax (206) 529-3331
(800) 394-4464, ext 131

Learn more: Seattle City Light ~ Solar America Cities

The Seattle Renewable Energy Meetup Group has a great topic slated for its September meeting.

What: Seattle City Light and Solar America
When: September 24, 2009 7:00 PM
Where:First Presbyterian Chuch
1013 8th Ave Seattle, WA 98104

"We are thrilled to be able to present another stelllar topic this month. Our guest speaker will be Meg Gluckman, Seattle City Light’s Solar America Cities Coordinator.

Meg has experience designing and installing solar in the U.S. and in Central America, has worked with various renewable energy nonprofits and consultant companies. She has a BS in Environmental Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration in Sustainable Business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

Seattle’s Solar America City grant is helping to address barriers to widespread solar use in Seattle. Seattle City Light collaborates with a team of City departments and regional partners to increase solar energy education and outreach, address economic hurdles to solar, improve the interconnection process, integrate solar into city planning efforts, and to create new programs such as Community Solar.

At our monthly meeting September 24th, Meg will talk about both the concept of Community Solar and the annual Solar Home Tour happening the first weekend in October: Saturday October 3, 2009, 10am – 4pm.

We welcome everyone to our meeting, this will be another great one."
Sean Abbott
Organizer, Seattle Renewble Energy Meetup

Learn more here:http://alternativeenergy.meetup.com/11/calendar/11366083/

Washington Report: Fannie and Freddie

From this morning's Realty Times

Washington Report: Fannie and Freddie
-------------------------------------

A major financial industry trade group got Washington's attention last week when it called for the total elimination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- the giant, money-losing home loan companies now under federal control.

Full Story

Mission: Sustainable ~ Reality TV in Seattle

Just picked up word of this over Twitter from the neighborhood groups around my office I am following. This sounds like a great opportunity for some great education of your friends and family!

Mission: Sustainable
Real People. Real Makeovers. Real Impact.

Think Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and What Not to Wear for green lifestyles and you’ve got Mission: Sustainable. Prepare to witness the transformation of ordinary citizens who grasp their impact on the planet.

Each show will feature a new individual who has been nominated by friends and family for a sustainability makeover. Depending on the nominee’s lifestyle, three consultants will be chosen from our list of green experts to perform a makeover customized to the individual’s needs, desires, and walk of life.

Our green experts support the changes they propose with hard facts, measurable cost savings, and documented improvements to mind and body; these benefits will be verified by credible scientists, doctors, and financial experts.

Grab some organic popcorn, invite friends and family over, and watch how individual changes add up to a world of difference.

Read more about ReGeneration Productions, which has some really neat philosophies. Or you can nominate someone for a sustainability makeover.

Everyone Wants a Lower Price, But What About the Impact of Interest Rates?

I've been referring and working with Steve since 2006. He has many very happy clients, including myself!

Guest Blogger, Stephen Hochhalter, of Sound Mortgage

When shopping for a home, the natural tendency of any buyer is to want to pay the lowest price possible. It's important to keep in mind, however, that the sales price is not the only factor that determines what the monthly payment will be. In fact, the impact of higher interest rates can easily nullify any benefit of waiting for a lower price.

Why Should I Rush to Buy?
While you may have heard discussions in the media about the decline of property values in many markets, the rate of decline appears to be stabilizing. That being said, it would not be unreasonable for buyers to want to hold out for an additional decline of 10%, hoping to capture the best possible price. However, as property values have declined in many areas to 2003 levels or lower, waiting longer to pull the trigger could be a mistake. Many markets are reporting that lower property values have been bringing out investors and the result has been multiple offers on many properties. Properties priced correctly are not declining and, in fact, are creating a lot of interest.

Interest Rate Complacency
The problem is that many home buyers have been lulled into a sense of complacency because of extremely low interest rates. Since the Federal Reserve initiated its program of buying mortgage-backed securities, which control the rates people pay for their home loans, rates had been range bound, bouncing between 4.50% to 5.00% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan. But buyers shouldn't be confused by this. These rates are artificially low! Historically, interest rates have been above 6.00%. And any rate obtained below this number is a great deal, especially on homes with price tags from 2003!

Markets are Unforgiving
The last two weeks of May showed just how unforgiving the markets can be for people who choose to procrastinate. In just five days, interest rates from many lenders increased anywhere from .50% to 1.00% as fixed-income investors demanded more for their money. For anyone who was waiting for prices to drop even more, a 1.00% increase in interest rate would bring a higher monthly principal and interest payment on a home, even if the price of that same home had fallen an additional 10% in value. If a buyer is waiting for prices to fall even lower, be aware that while holding out for a lower price may help win the battle, they could lose the war in terms of monthly payments and overall affordability. With the Federal Reserve scheduled to end its buying of mortgage-backed securities this year, rates only stand to go higher for those that wait. In fact, interest rates are already on the rise and could go higher from here.

Clock is Ticking on Free Money
If someone is planning on purchasing their first home this year, they need to take possession before 12/01/2009 to be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000. In a survey conducted in March by Move.com, nearly 50% of home buyers are currently unaware that this free money exists in the marketplace. And since over 50% of all buyers are first-timers in today's market, this could impact a lot of buyers.

If you have questions about this update, give Wendy or myself a call. We can show you how waiting for the lowest price could really cost you more in the long run.

Sincerely,
Stephen Hochhalter
425.228.5300
Sound Mortgage

San Francisco, Portland and Seattle Consider Green Districts

The notably progressive major metropolitan centers of the American northwest (San Francisco, Portland and Seattle) all have drawn up plans to green over central parts of their cities. Moving beyond the concept of isolated LEED certified buildings, these cities are planning to maximize sustainability initiatives by introducing ways that adjacent buildings can use collaborative green technologies to become more efficient.

Read San Francisco, Portland and Seattle Consider Green Districts