Real Estate Information Archive

The program, sponsored by the base's Fleet and Family Service Center and Child and Youth Programs help kids in military families understand their parents' roles in servng their country.

Navy firefighters manned a learn-by-doing station and children got to use the extinguisher to put out flames coming from a grill-like device.  A nine year old was climbing the many stairs aboard the ship and exclaimed "I get seasick". Some completed a half mile run and some were working with the military dog handler.

Capping the ship's tour was a mock homecoming.  The children lined the deck waving to their parents pretending to be heading back to port.

"Camp Deployment" is in it's second year and helps families understand what happens when their loved one sail off.  Also the children see they aren't the only ones missing a parent that deploys. A sort of camaraderie.

The Everett Naval Station, the Jewel of the Military, proudly is home to the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Shoup.

Jones Soda

Seattle based Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air just announced a partnership with a local soft drink company, Jones Soda. 

Visit their web site, they have such a unique product, they solicit their labels from their customers. In 1995 they created WAZU Water (named for a local university), Washington State University, (WAZZU) NOT to be confused with the University of Washington (UDUB).  We do have strange nicknames, don't we.

Jones' soda has always been about interacting with the consumer and placing their product in botique and surf shops at the beginning, then branching out to convenience stores. Now they are branching out to stores such as Target, Safeway, Meijers, etc.   In addition to their natural cane sodas like cola, root beer, blue bubble gum, fufu berry and lemon drop; at holiday time they have unique flavors such as mashed potatoes & gravy and turkey! And yes, do taste authentic

Jones' has a "corner on the market" in Seattle. But what it all boils down to is customer service.

A University for Everett - Questionable

Those fighting to bring a University of Washington campus to Everett suffered a great setback yesterday.  The Senate Ways and Means Committee failed to act by a Tuesday deadline on competing bills to bring the University to Lake Stevens, Marysville or Everett, killing them in the Senate this session.

"We are not going to jump into any kind of decision prematurely," said the powerful chairwoman, Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton. "This is a decision we take very seriously and we don't want to blow it."

While she said she can wait until 2009 to decide on a site and classes, the launch of a college is still possible this session.

"It just makes it tougher," said Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett. "Nothing is impossible here."

Sells is focused on pushing through a bill to establish the college in Everett.

It appears there has been much discussion and many thousands of dollars spent on what location is best to house this university. The Legislature allotted $4 million last year to search out possible sites and begin designing an academic program for a new branch campus. This year, Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed spending $1.1 million on classes this year if a location is chosen.

Hopes were a location would have been decided this session and classes could start by September 2008 - that may be just a dream in the eyes of the beholder. Each municipality is fighting to have the campus built in their city.

Stay tuned for futher details. I'm one that hopes the Everett location wins. It just makes good sense. It would be located at our transportation hub, walking distance to the downtown core, easy freeway access, and is centrally located based on all the other locations. It would surely boost the downtown core renovation.

In my opinion, sometimes politics just gets in the way.

Nobody Know Washington Real Estate like a Washington REALTOR® (edit/delete)

Know The Facts - The foreclosure rates today are the same as they were 10 years ago.  Fewer than one percent of mortgages end in default in Washington state. As of mid-June, sub-prime, adjustable-rate loans represented 20 percent of loans nationally but just 6 percent of home loans in Washington.

You Ask Why - Home appreciation in Washington continues to be strong. Home prices have increased an average of 8% since the same time last year.  Interest rates continue to be low.  Our home market isn't keeping pace with the growth of the state's population, expected to increase 1.8 percent per year.  The state's population will increase by nearly one million over the present decade and reach 6.8 million by 2010 (Washington State Office of Financial Management).  The key to stability in real estate is balance - we currently have about a five month supply of standing inventory).  Six months is average.  We are not in a market where multiple offers pushes a home's value above what the market is going for - we are in a normal market.

The National Association of Realtors is working on FHA reform to modernize its effectiveness. 

We are working with our County and City officials to adopt policies that increase housing availability and more importantly, affordability.  We are making better use of our land by developing "up", i.e. Everett's downtown core is removating old buildings and/or building new buildings to create multi-use projects to include residential, apartments and retail all in one. The Everett Riverfront Project is one and the new Marina project is another.

As Washington REALTORS® our top priority is building communities that have a strong economy, attractive home choices, great schools and parks, safe neighborhoods and good transportation choices.*Washington Realtors Brochure.

As a Washington REALTOR® I am proud to be working and living in my State and honored to be President of the Snohomish County Camano Association of Realtors. Together we ARE WORKING FOR YOU.

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