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This past Saturday was an incredibly beautiful Autumn day, just perfect for this most beloved Burien event called 'Boo in Burien'.  If you haven't taken the little ones in your life to this, you may want to make it a point to do so next year.  Kids have a blast as they walk up and down 152nd Street and surrounding streets in their costumes trick-or treating. (Although I really wonder if business owners are the ones having the most fun? It sure seems like it!:) 

Every time I visit downtown Burien I am pleasantly surprised by all of the activity that goes on.  There is such an interesting mix of businesses here now.  During 'Boo in Burien', along with the dozens of other events that take place during the year, you get an opportunity to step inside of places in which you may have had an interest in checking out, but haven't had the opportunity to do so.  I am looking forward to Burien Town Square and all of the people it will bring downtown. Hopefully businesses here, old and new, will thrive like never before. I have a feeling that Burien will become more vibrant than ever!  

If you have a chance to visit downtown Burien during any of the events that take place(or any other time), please do so.  I guarantee you will have a good time! 

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this...

My family and I are home this past Saturday night doing our thing, hanging out in front of our newly installed gas fireplace insert.  All of a sudden we start to smell a faint odor that we think is natural gas.  We are a little concerned and so we shut off the gas valve to the insert and continue to monitor the situation.  I go to take a bath, and when I step into the bathroom the strong smell of what I think is gas hits me like a baseball bat in the face.  I go and check the other rooms, and the master bedroom has the same dreadful odor.  Also, as you get closer to the floor the smell intensifies.  My son's room is fine, the office is fine, and the living room doesn't have that strong an odor either.  We are certain it's some sort of gas leak and immediately call the natural gas company, and they send someone out within the hour.

Once the guy from the gas company arrives, we take him to the rooms where the odor is the strongest.  He immediately proclaims, "This is not natural gas!"  Granted, to me it smells a little like natural gas, but it really smells more like 20 old ladies getting their hair permed in an airtight room.  I relay that thought to him and he completely agrees("Yes, yes, that's what my wife smells like when she comes home from getting her hair done!").  He proceeds to take out his electronic gas detector and his carbon monoxide detector and goes over practically every inch of the house including the attic.  He does not detect a gas leak anywhere.  He even went outside and cracked the gas meter, and let us smell what natural gas smelled like; then he held the detector up to it so that we could see that it was working.

So, the gas company guy's take on this is that we have a dead animal somewhere either in the crawlspace or the attic.  My husband is quite unconvinced of this, however, despite the evidence that it wasn't gas.  We have not experienced this situation since.

Has anyone had this situation, and would you have an idea as to what this might be? Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks for reading!

Yesterday I previewed the most incredible house.  As a Realtor, I see between 15 - 30 homes per week as part of keeping up with inventory and staying knowledgeable about the market for myself, my buyers and sellers.  Anyway, I suppose it was a good thing that I was an agent and not a buyer, because I just could not hide my excitement at seeing such a work of beauty in this modified 50's basement rambler on a hill with a view of Burien.  It was right up my alley.  From the crown moulding to the Swedish-finish hardwood floors, everything was done to perfection, and the simple yet elegant staging put me over the top.  This was definitely my House Of The Week, probably the nicest home in its price range in Burien, and it literally made my day.  

So, you may be asking, why don't I just buy it?  Well, because despite my occasional desire to sell my drafty but cute 40's rambler, I still see a future for it; I am determined to put it on the market only when it is truly ready, because it is indeed a diamond in the rough.  That will take a long time. 

But you know what?  Had I wanted to buy it, I could have...you know why?  Because this obviously is a different market than that of the last few years.  I wouldn't have to throw extra money at the seller.  I wouldn't have to hire an inspector before my offer is even reviewed in order to waive inspection.  I would even have an opportunity to negotiate for closing costs, points, a price reduction, the plasma tv.  And, dare I say it?  I would have a much better chance in this market of actually getting the first house I fall in love with; I wouldn't have to settle for the second, third, fourth or tenth.  I would be in the driver's seat - imagine that!  Those of you who have hunted for a home in the last few years can probably relate.   

So, buyers, what's holding you back?  The market has stabilized here, and while closed prices are still up in most areas of King County they are not rising at an astronomical rate like we've seen in the past.  And interest rates are still good.  Plus there are great first-time homebuyer options, and some options we haven't seen for a while are coming back.  Finally, sellers want to sell, and for the most part have come to terms with the fact that they must price their home reasonably (and make needed improvements) if they hope to stay in the competition.

Hopefully those of you who are in the market for a home will find the home of your dreams during this time at the price and terms you want; the market has finally swung your way, so take advantage of it!