Colleen & Company ~The Broker's Blog

Colleen Fischesser & Co RE/MAX Select~ Serving South King County since 1990

Sometimes You've Just Got to Get Away!

Ok, if I'm going to be honest, this get-away was one brought about by guilt much more than a need to escape. My in-laws were visiting from Ohio and we thought it was time to show them more than our great town of Maple Valley or the immediate Seattle area.

So we loaded up the car and headed North West to the Olympic Pennisula and the historic town of Port Townsend. The trip took us a bit longer than planned as traffic on 101 was less than brisk (next time we'll take the Edmonds/Kingston ferry and see if that's any better). If you've never been, Port Townsend is a charming town, rich in history with lots to see and do.

We visited Fort Warden, the location where the film "An Officer and a Gentleman" was filmed on a foggy morning. We shopped until our feet were ready to fall off, stayed in a Castle (Really a big, old Mansion) and had some of the best food I've enjoyed in some time. (Peppered pear salad for lunch.....crab ravioli in a roasted red pepper coulis for dinner..YUM!)

Batteries are recharged, in-laws have returned home and I'm looking forward to seeing what else this year has in store for me. 

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

5 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • August 22 2010 09:18PM

Waterfront Cabin on Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley

Maple Valley Waterfront Property Lake Wilderness

Time stands still at the water's edge of this cabin on Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley. Tucked beneath towering fir & cedars, this cozy retreat, originally built in 1948 , was used over the years as a vacation retreat. It is a rustic reminder of simpler times when the Resort at Lake Wilderness was in full swing and busy Seattlites visited the area to "get away" from the bustle of the city. 

The city of Maple Valley website offers a historical view of the resort:

"An expanded Gaffney's Grove resort opened in 1939, capable of accommodating 9,000 visitors daily. This premier lake resort featured baseball fields, tennis courts, dance pavilions, a skating rink, and two swimming beaches with slides, trapezes, and diving towers." 

Currently the structure has no hot water or heat source other than the wood-cookstove, but the tongue-n-groove paneling, ceiling and vintage linoleum create a warm atmosphere from which to enjoy views of the lake. Both front and back yards are fairly level with the front yard sloping slightly toward the lake and the dock. The property is served by an individual on-site well and septic. There is water and sewer in the street for future hook-up or building down the road.

The cabin is being offered at $239,950.

Additional information may be viewed here.

For more information, or to schedule a showing, call 425.432.5400 or email us.

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

5 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • August 20 2010 09:09PM

Is It Time for an Equity Check-Up?

With the recent local real estate market challenges, do you know how much equity you have in your Maple Valley home right now? And if you have no interest in moving, should you even care? Webster's defines equity as it pertains to real estate as :

"... the difference between the current market value of the property and the amount the owner still owes on the mortgage. Thus, it is the amount, if any, the owner would receive after selling a property and paying off the mortgage"
Even if you have no interest in moving or need to sell there are a few very good reasons why your home's equity value is something you should evaluate every year:

1. Life happens.

Could you sell right now if you had to? If you lost your job or got sick? Information is power! Although the market is continually fluctuating, the big drop has happened and your value today should not fluctuate hugely for several years. If you were to find yourself in a sticky spot you'll know:
  • Can I sell now or am I upside down in value?
  • If I sold right now, what would we net from the sale?
  • If I have to short sale, how short would I be?

2. Mortgage Management

You have to know what you have before you know what you can do with it! Market fluctuations aside, every month we chip away a bit more at our mortgage, depositing more and more equity over time. Once you know what your home is worth in today's market, you can evaluate your mortgage rate and terms...are they still the best option for you and your family's future? . Rates are amazingly low right now.
  • Should you refi?
  • Can you refi?
  • Should you loan mod?
  • Can you loan mod?

3. It Provides a Good Overview of your Financial Health

Home equity, whether positive or negative, is a major factor in determining our overall net worth. By having this information you can begin to take action towards correcting or enhancing your future financial strategy.

4. It's Easier Than Ever!

When it comes to learning your value (without paying for an appraisal), you have a few options. I'm listing them here in order of most accurate:
  • You can use an online automated service such a Zillow.com. These systems often give a broad range and have been wildly off (on the low and high side) as they don't take into consideration comparable home conditions and other factors which may influence a home buyer's decision (proximity to power lines, road noise just to name a few).
  • You can request an online market assessment here which will take into consideration the information you provide, property tax record information along with knowledge of local market trends and statistics to give you a range of value dependent on home's condition.
  • You can have a real estate professional visit the property for an interior viewing and then based on that give you Comparative Market Analysis of your property. This is the most accurate way to determine value however many owners would prefer to go the online direction initially. If you do go this route, make sure you call someone familiar with the area. I've seen out of area agents submitting wildly differing Broker Price Opinions on my short sale listings
For many of us, the equity in our home is a large part of our retirement plan and financial future. Just as you check in now and then on your retirement accounts, or credit scores knowing the equity value in your real estate investment is a smart move....and besides, it's easy and free!

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE VALUE OF YOUR

HOME TODAY, CLICK HERE!

 

 

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

6 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • August 10 2010 07:37PM

Maple Valley Business Spotlight-Taylor Creek Nursery

Although I'd potted a few of my patio planters about 7 weeks ago,I've been waiting for Summer to finally arrive before doing them all. Ok it's August for petesake, and I can't wait any longer.....well, that and a looming outdoor party spurred me to action. Even if we only get a few weeks enjoyment from it, I was bound and determined to get some color into the yard. It wasn't easy finding a good selection of annuals, Home Depot, Fred Meyer and a few of the other big box stores didn't have much selection.

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So last weekend, I drug my husband with me to Taylor Creek Nursery, out near Hobart on 216th Ave Se. I've visited many times but this was my first trip this Summer. To my delight, there was a great selection to choose from. The owner is very helpful with questions and (what I appreciate) leaves you alone to peruse to your heart's content. I could have stayed all day and wandered through the green houses and paths, learning about new trees and shrubs, but I had pots to plant!

 

 

This is the Lemon Tree I REALLY want!

So I loaded up on Geraniums, Impatients, New Guinnea Impatients, Begonias and a few other annuals just to make the patio pop a little with color. 

Now I just have to convince my husband that we really really need that lemon tree!

 

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

4 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • August 09 2010 09:08PM

Dear Nightmare Transaction

Dear Nightmare Transaction,

I can't really say when you started to go "bad" and show your dark side. Maybe it was when the original selling agent, who had a relationship with the buyer, decided to leave the business and you forced me to step in mid-stream. Maybe it was when the 3rd party negotiator decided he had delivered lender's approval on the short sale (which could have triggered timeframes) when in reality we only had approval on the 1st loan, not the 2nd.You were tricky, but I caught that...nice try!

I have to hand it to you though, you really started to flex your darkside powers with that bankruptcy threat.  You know, when the seller decided to file bankruptcy one week before closing (on attorney's advice). Making it so tenuous and mysterious was a pretty hefty threat and,  I'll admit, made us all pretty anxious. Was it really necessary though to make us wonder for so long? It's a simple question...DID the seller file bankruptcy or NOT? Thanks for making us wait 5 long days for that answer.

I also didn't appreciate when you worried the underwriter in the 11th hour. Both parties had signed, our clock was ticking and for you to make us wait until 5 minutes before the funding deadline before realizing you were up against the "A TEAM" (who doesn't back down) and had better give up is certainly a mark against you.... and it will not be forgotten.

In plain language, you were a JERK! -probably one of the nastiest I've seen in my twenty years of real estate sales. 

That being said, I'd like to say "Thank You".

Yes, thank you.

You see, I believe that it is transactions like you that make me better at what I do.

  • The challenges you chose to put in our path were defeated and dodged by some very experienced, dedicated and dogmatic professionals.
  • You reminded me that I should be grateful for the "easy" files that only have one or two little blips throughout the closing process
  • The difficulties you presented forced me to look at who I work with, who I refer business to and how I communicate with my clients. (and remember I work with some of the best in the business and am grateful for that too!)

Without a doubt, I am a better equipped  to face the next nasty transaction that tries to push back against a successful outcome.

So in closing, thanks for bringing your best.

I'm glad you lost.

But more importantly, I'm glad my client is now a happy homeowner with an $8000 tax credit soon coming his way.

Until next time,

 

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

43 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • June 29 2010 10:48PM

Are Fireworks Allowed in Maple Valley?

Despite a mild weather forecast for this 4th of July weekend, I know there are many local Maple Valley families planning celebrations; bbq's, picnics and for some, fireworks! If you live in outside the city limits (Unincorporated King County), fireworks are permissible ONLY on July 4th and can only be discharged between the hours of 9am and 11pm. Within the City limits of Maple Valley fireworks are also ok but only on the 4th. 

The neighboring cities of Covington, Black Diamond, Kent and Enumclaw all also permit fireworks on July 4th, but Renton and Issaquah have banned fireworks use.

Have fun, but please be safe!

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

3 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • June 29 2010 08:36PM

Maple Valley's Lake Lucerne

Maple Valley is blessed with several small, peaceful, picturesque lakes within it's community.

 Lake Lucerne, a sister to Pipe Lake (connected through a small channel) is located  in the South Western portion of Maple Valley and is an oasis of peace and quiet in the heart of the City.

The surface area of the lake is 16 acres and at it's deepest-37 feet. On average I believe the depth is around 17-18 feet.

 

Private homes surround the water, and there is no public boat launch or fishing area. Lake Lucerne is also a no-motor boat lake. Any given afternoon you're likely to see fishermen in their canoes or paddlers soaking in the surrounding evergreens and scenery.

The Lake holds many memories for local families as it was once a weekend vacation destination for many Seattle families. Small cabins once dotted the shores and many existing properties still have artifcats of days gone by.

I just love the history of Maple Valley and all the special stories I learn about families who settled here years ago as well as those just now discovering this special community.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

4 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • June 16 2010 09:52PM

Just Sold-Maple Valley's Maple Woods Community

Just Sold in Maple Woods!

We successfully negotiated a short sale on this 5 Bedroom home in the Maple Woods community of Maple Valley, WA. From the time the offer was received to short sale approval was approximately 5 weeks. Short sales are a viable option to foreclosure for many families who have to sell but have no equity.

 

Thank you to Cheryl Crutcher of Keller Williams who represented the buyers and Merry Smith of First American Title for yet another VERY smooth closing!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

4 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • June 14 2010 09:41PM

How Long Will A Short Sale Take?

If you want to do a short sale in the Sacramento area, Elizabeth Weintraub is the pro to call! Not only has she written a book on the subject, but every week she helps more and more homeowners avoid foreclosure through the short sale process. In addition to being a high producing Realtor, Elizabeth is a very prolific blogger.

Recently she wrote a blog post entitled "The Number one Short Sale Question". (For her, the number one question she's asked is if a home seller should stop making payments.

When talking with sellers in Maple Valley and throughout South King County about helping them Short Sale their house, the number one question I seem to get is "How long is this going to take"?  

Sellers who are serious about short selling, are looking to the future....anxious for the time to move on and start over with a clean slate. For many owners, getting the short sale process completed is akin to removing a huge monkey from their backs. I've had several owners thank me profusely for helping them through the process.

My answer to their question is almost always the same...."It depends". There are so many variables with a short sale transaction that there's one answer which applies to each property. Here are some of the things which affect timing of the short sale process:

  1. How many liens are against the property (In most cases there is a first and a second mortgage which must be negotiated, but sometimes there are other liens-such as utilities, or judgments which must be worked out as well before title can transfer to a new buyer.
  2. Who are the lenders on the mortgage(s)? Many lenders have added staff and are getting much better at streamlining these packages. But others are still completely in the dark. WHO your Lender and Investor (not necessarily the same two entities) can make the process move quickly or at a snail's pace.
  3. How cooperative will you be in providing me with requested paperwork? Many sellers who begin the process, are tired a few months down the road. When I get close being issued an approval letter, the Negotiator will often request updated financials. Or if I'm hammering a Lender to waive deficiency rights, sometimes I'll request my client to write a new, updated hardship letter.  The longer it takes to receive this information, the longer the process takes.
  4. How Committed is the Buyer? It's not unusual for short sales to close with the second, or even third buyer in the transaction. This can interrupt the process, depending on stage of negotiations and lender involved.
  5. What's the Experience Level of the Listing Agent? There are so many inexperienced agents in the market right now, attempting short sales when they have never successfully negotiated one in their entire career. On the other hand, there are some slick-willy "mega agents" who approach Short Sales with the Spaghetti Strategy (list as many as we can, throw them in a bunch against "the wall" and see how many stick).  These agents are the ones to avoid at all costs if you're looking to buy a short sale....the process will be beyond frustrating!

I've gotten short sales approved in 3 weeks and others in 4 months. Sometimes getting the approval isn't the longest part...it's just the major piece in the short sale puzzle.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

6 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • May 30 2010 11:52AM

Here and There...

For whatever reason I've been noticing patterns and themes in my life lately. At first I was worried it might be some strange mental or medical condition ala "Rainman", but I finally decided to credit age and wisdom, both of which shape and illuminate one's perspective.

I attended a real estate seminar last week, hosted by the wonderful Michelle Coolidge of Cobalt Mortgage. The speaker was Bill Hart a Coach from Building Champions. One of the very first slides on Bill's power point presentation read in big bold letters:

"What Got You Here, Is Not Going to Get You There"

I hadn't heard the saying before but loved it and recognized it's truth with respect to my industry.

Then this morning as I was leaving my bedroom, my eye landed on a stack of books on my nightstand. There on top was Smart Talk by Lou Tice. The sub-title "5 Steps to Get You From Here to There".  

Getting from here to there....what got you here isn't going to get you there.

The world of real estate, as many of us have known it, has changed dramatically....especially when it comes to marketing and advertising. (Have you picked up a real estate magazine lately? They are pretty slim these days). Fortunately, I tend to be a forward thinker and had, years ago, embraced most of the technologies Bill Hart was suggesting; real pro website, blogging, facebook, twitter, CRM database management, along with many, many more online strategies. 

Agents who don't embrace social networking, internet marketing and other online resources aren't going to be here down the road. Period. The competition will drown them through successful closings and the results clients expect and deserve.

And those of us who are willing to adapt and embrace new technolgies and resources will be much better positioned to successfully help our clients...you know, those folks that just want to get from here to there.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle Washington area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond &  Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is  committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind on Payments? We May Be Able to Help!

Find out what your home is worth today?

Find My  Dream Home!


 

7 comments • So King County~ Colleen Fischesser & Co Specializing in Maple Valley since 1990! • May 23 2010 07:24PM