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Week 3: Our numbers dwindled at the meeting(actually, how would I know? I wasn't even there).

Week 4: After Thanksgiving, we are still committed to losing the weight, and have collectively declared that we are back on track!  

I am looking around at everyone, and there are a few people who stand out.  I am very impressed with their dedication and determination; I am currently looking to them as role models.  When I see someone work hard, it inspires me to work harder as well.  There's no denying the influence of peers. 

Heck, I might even ask them to move in with me. Or maybe they could staff a "Choc-Anon" hotline.  

Anyway, to help keep me on track, I started using a pedometer.  They say that 10,000 steps is equal to 3 miles, and I say that's a fair amount of exercise for one day.  I wore it in IKEA, and that alone was 7,000 steps!

Mine is no ordinary pedometer, either.  It is a 'Pedometer Pet'(Pikachu, to be exact).  If I don't walk, I don't earn steps.  Steps can be converted to 'watts' which you give to Pikachu every once in a while as a prize.  If he doesn't get his watts, he grows very sick, then very angry, and finally he runs away.  The point is to keep him happy; by doing so, you will also keep your body happy.

Hopefully I'll lose some weight in time for my 'Week 5' blog.  Thanks for reading! 

www.98146online.com 

Every day when I drive through downtown Burien, I see the construction that's going on and think to myself:

"This has been, is, and will be such a pain in the butt for years to come! I AM SICK OF ALL THE TRAFFIC! Not to mention my flat tire last month from all the metal debris in the road!".

All of the construction that's going on is part of Burien's beautification and modernization. I should be happy. I live pretty close to downtown Burien, so this will no doubt have an effect on my property values, and quite possibly even my standard of living.

The most anticipated project that's going on is the construction of the first phase of Burien Town Square.

Up until now I haven't been able to get myself over to the sales office to look at the model unit. Today I finally went over there to check out what the commotion is all about. I really did not know a whole lot about the project, except for the prices of the units.

When I walked up to the architectural model of the new Town Square, I must say I actually had a little bit of an emotional reaction. Even though we have all been excited(and perhaps a little apprehensive) about the new project, seeing the model hit me on a personal level. For the first time I realized just how huge this project is, and just how much of an impact it most certainly will have on this city that I love so much. When you really think about it, it's a bit overwhelming.

As long as I can remember, Burien has always felt like small town suburbia to me, but in a good way. That's why I'm so pleased with the way this project has been marketed. The very name "Burien Town Square" evokes that same feeling that I've always had about Burien, which is small-town friendliness. As upscale as this project is, they could have tried to dump a cosmopolitan Seattle image on us along the lines of The Pointe at Burien, Loft, or something trendier, like 4-151(4th and 151st SW). So I am happy for that.  It's no wonder that 50% of the homes that have already sold as presales have been to current Burien residents, and that's a good sign. 

When I previewed the model unit I was not disappointed. Many high-end finishes come standard in the units, and the 1 bed w/den unit that I looked at had a nice floor plan and a great deck.  All floor plans will be available at all levels, so there are many options for the buyer.  Add a 10-year tax abatement to the mix - this place is starting to grow on me.

For more info, please visit: 

http://www.burientownsquare.com

If you click on 'News' you will find all press related to this project plus some other informative articles about the Seattle condo market in general.

Check it out! 

www.98146online.com 

Should North Highline be annexed by Burien or Seattle?

Sometime next year, voters who reside within North Highline's boundaries will decide their future.  How will the annexation affect property taxes, municipal resources, schools, businesses, and property values? Are you thinking about buying property in this area?

At the end of this post I'll provide some links which will hopefully provide plenty of valuable information and opinions regarding the matter.  Whatever your stance, if you live in the North Highline area it is important that you know the pros and cons of annexation to Burien or Seattle, and how it will impact you.  

Having lived in Burien and West Seattle(Arbor Heights, which is about a mile from Burien) most of my life, I, for one, see North Highline as being a part of Burien.  I don't really have a tangible reason for my opinion, other than the fact that North Highline schools are part of the Highline School District, not Seattle School District, and that North Highline communities just feel like part of Burien.  Well, except for White Center; to me that feels like part of Seattle, but we'll take it anyway!

I also feel that North Highline communities would fare better by being a part of Burien.  While Burien decision makers never had a reputation for being forward-thinking, things have changed here.  Seattle has a tendency to ignore parts of their city.  Ever notice how much bumpier the roads are in West Seattle? Maybe I'm biased because I l-o-v-e LOVE Burien so much, but I can't imagine that Burien would let any of its communities fall by the wayside.  

North Highline communites such as Boulevard Park, Beverly Park and North Burien(!) have something else in common besides schools; they also have many homes that sit on larger lots. Sounds like this would be prime territory for Seattle's high density housing slobberfest initiative.  I suppose smaller lot sizes and more townhomes would mean more listings for me, but I quite like the character of these neighborhoods just the way they are.

I'm also concerned about what will happen to business owners if Seattle annexes North Highline.  Part of White Center's appeal is that there is such diversity among the businesses there. Having owned a business in Seattle and relocating to Burien, I can tell you that running a business in Seattle costs nearly 5 times what it costs to run a business in Burien and certainly more than business owners are paying now being unincorporated.  It would be sad indeed to suddenly lose stable business owners, most of whom have been running their business for years.(Starbucks in White Center = Harbinger of Doom?) We'll just have to wait and see.

Wow, when I started this post I was going to stay unbiased; I see that the train has run right off of the tracks! I'll just add the links below and leave it at that.  Thanks for reading! 

On Friday I spent the day doing errands with my husband.  We  decided to stop and visit a couple of friends in Seattle.  First, we dropped in on Johnny and Taiko at their new sake shop called Sake Nomi, in Pioneer Square.  They have a passion for Japanese sake, and it shows in the implementation of their business, with no detail being left out.   They have great products and a warm yet urban, organic atmosphere, and they are having a great time running their business.

Next, we went to visit our friend Yoko, who works at a Japanese gift shop and art gallery in Capitol Hill.  In addition to her work, she is an accomplished artist herself; the purpose of our visit was mainly to see her new installment of handcrafted felt animals. She had a very successful opening reception, and was very excited to have sold  some of her work.

As my husband and I were heading home, we were talking about Johnny, Taiko, Yoko and many of our other friends who, like us, have found a niche for themselves away from the structure(and security) of a traditional job. Our discussions with our friends don't usually involve such topics as commute times, daycares or workplace issues; Most of the time we are actually brainstorming ways to make more money! 

So this Thanksgiving, I am grateful that my husband and I do not have to participate in the rat race.  (I'm a Realtor, my husband does graphic art, and we run a wholesale and internet tea business.) As hard as we work, I feel like we have it easy compared to others who have to commute an hour or more, some to their high-stress careers.  I don't think I would be able to cut it. 

• I still have both of my parents
• I have a wonderful husband and son                                   
• I have a warm home(thanks to newly installed gas heat)
• I have a car that runs well
• I get to walk my son to school every day
• I live 3 minutes from work
• We have 'enough'
• I love my career and my business
• I love my office and get along great with everyone I work with
  
• I have many wonderful friends, and...
•  that I have found the Active Rain Community!

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

www.98146online.com

For the second time in two weeks, I've been witness to what I think is alarming behavior on the part of a few home buyers.  I'd like to address it right away so that no one else feels tempted to do this.

I am referring to people who enter homes when neither the seller nor the agent is on the property, and the door has been left open or unlocked.

Granted, it goes without saying that sellers should not be leaving their doors open or unlocked in the first place. But sometimes there is no known reason for the door being open or unlocked.  It could have been left that way accidentally.  Or worse, it may be open in the wake of a burglary or other type of crime.  

A couple of Sundays ago, I arrived at my Open House at a home in West Seattle.  The home was occupied, but the seller was not going to be there during the open.  When I entered the home, I heard people talking.  I alerted them that I was a Realtor, and that I was there to hold the house open(I had never met the sellers; it was another agent's listing). 

As I approached the back bedroom, a young family was standing in the middle of the room.  They informed me that they were just driving by and saw the house and the Open Sunday 1-4 sign, and had walked around the back of the house.  They had tried the door, and since it was open they decided to come in and have a look around.   They could immediately tell by the shocked and bewildered look on my face that this was not a cool thing to do.  Apparently the seller had taken off moments before, and had left the back door open because he knew that I was coming.

Then, just yesterday, I get a call from someone who had some questions about one of my listings. I asked him if he had been by the property. He admitted to me that he had actually been inside because when he arrived the front door had been wide open.  He wasn't going to go in, he said, but then he saw some other people come out of the house.  They said, "go on in, the door's open!", so this guy went on in. 

Now, this is very worrisome to me.  I can't tell you why the door was open.  I go by the listing frequently to check on it but it happened regardless.  Due to the home being in a state of disrepair and having no electricity, I worry about people's safety, and about my seller's liability.  I also don't want anything to happen to the house or the tools and materials that are inside.

So I would like to ask that when you find yourself at a listing with the door ajar and no one around, that you do a quick gut check.  Most likely, your intuition is probably telling you not to go inside.  In this case, it's best to listen to that inner voice, for your own safety. 

Then, if you wouldn't mind, please take a moment to look at the yard sign and give the listing agent a quick call to alert him or her that the door is open.  We would be so very grateful!

Thanks for reading! 

www.98146online.com

What a difference a week makes...after our first week of having a Biggest Loser competition in our office, as a group we lost 112 pounds.  In contrast, this week we lost 30.  Actually, I'm stretching it a bit by using the word "we".  I personally gained a pound, so I can't say I made a positive contribution. As it turns out, I was not the only one who gained weight.  

During our weekly group meeting,  the people who lost weight were as pumped up as ever, and the rest of us were guilt-ridden.  I had to temper news of my weight gain with, "but I'm climbing lots of stairs, and I can just feel my butt getting smaller!" Others relayed stories of falling off the wagon by going to McDonald's, having a few too many beers at the poker tournament, and baking dozens of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for an Open House.  Who are we kidding?  By the time I got to the Open House I had about 8 cookies left. 

The local heating company brought donuts again.  Someone in Admin likes to cut them in half so that, well, if someone wants a donut they can have only half, and feel half as guilty.  The first week of the contest, the donuts barely got touched until after 3:30, when the children of agents start to pop into the office.  Today? It's as if our contest never existed.  Only one week into it, and we're not even policing each other anymore.  I guess it's probably due to the whole 'Pot and Kettle' thing.

The great thing about this competition is that for every pound lost, we must bring food that equals what we lost in pounds.  I brought in two 2-lb cans of spaghetti sauce in last week.  At the meeting I asked if I get one of my cans back since I gained a pound.  Apparently we still need to bring food according to whatever we lost or gained.  That was a pretty good decision, in hindsight.  The food bank might actually make more off of those of us who gain weight.

I really do blame the time change for my relapse.  But I'm the only one who can get myself back on track. I don't know how others in my office feel, or what struggles they went through this week.  But in my desire not to be left behind, I will strive to take this challenge day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute with a positive attitude.  I'm happy that just as much in business as in this competition, I have my colleagues as support, and I can offer support to them as well.  

If I can get back on track with my business when I falter, why not my diet? Oh, excuse me, I meant to say "livit"- after all, it's all about the attitude!

As an office, we have decided that it is time to lose some excess poundage once and for all.  So a few people have organized a "Biggest Loser" competition in our office.  Out of about 90 people, 32 people have paid their $12 and have signed up for the 12 week program.

Here's how it works:

• Each person pays $12 into the pot to enter the program.  In return, we receive a binder full of different weight loss programs, tips for losing weight and other health articles.  The first page of the binder is where we write down our goals, and why we want to lose weight.  The second page tracks our week to week weight loss in pounds and percentage of body weight lost.
• You can choose to be on whatever diet program you wish.
• As a group we meet every Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. to weigh in and discuss the previous week's successes and challenges.
• By the end of the next day we learn who has won the weigh-in;  a small token prize is given to each week's Biggest Loser.
• For every pound we lose, we must bring in a non-perishable food item of the same weight to what is called a "Food Shrine", which gives us a visual of how much weight we have collectively lost. At the end of the program all food will be donated to the local food bank.
• Whoever loses the biggest percentage of body weight on January 14th will win the pot of money in addition to having lost all of that weight!

I am happy to report that our first week was a success!  Our office goal is to lose 740 pounds - this week alone(Halloween week no less) we have collectively lost 112 pounds! Hopefully after this challenge we will no longer qualify to be on the next hot reality series, "Fat Realtor"...

I must say that having the office participate in a collective diet has been good for us.  The free donuts from the local heating company now go virtually uneaten(and the agents who aren't on a diet usually end up getting their favorite donut now) and people are more conscious of the kinds of food that they bring in to the office to share.  And, of course I must mention that we are now all policing each other ("Excuse me, what did you just put in your mouth?") I don't know how much I like that, but it's keeping me somewhat more accountable for what I eat.

I'll post more about this after the next weigh-in; wish us luck! And, by the way, if you would like more information on how we are doing this, don't hesitate to contact me directly.  I think that this would be a benefit and good team builder for any office.

1. Interest rates are low.

2. Buyers are in a better position to negotiate.

3.Our market (Puget Sound market anyway) is experiencing a 'price correction', which is great for buyers!

4. There are currently LOTS of homes to choose from.

5. The market has brought new construction prices closer to those of existing homes.

6. Here in the Pacific Northwest, prices are projected to only go up.

7. Homes are less expensive now than they will be in the Spring. (And who knows where interest rates will be then?)

8. For new construction, there are now all kinds of builders incentives and warranties that may not exist in a seller's market.

9. Sellers are much more willing to negotiate.

10. It's a good time to move up or make a lifestyle change.

11. Avoid the hassle of remodeling your current home(just make sure that if you sell it that you list it for a realistic price).

12. Money is becoming more available since the summer's mortgage "crunch".

13. For new construction, there are now more options, upgrades and flexibility.

14. You may be able to find a home that's more energy-efficient...and

15. As with stocks,  you can always shop for the lowest price but you will never find it.  Why not just negotiate it?

I read a quote the other day that said something to the effect of, "Today's crises have always turned out to be golden opportunities in retrospect." 

If you're trying to time the market, please reconsider.  I know people who've been trying to do that for a year, two years, and prices have only gone up; even if they go down now, they'll never be where they were 2 years ago.

If you have the desire to buy a home, especially if you're a first-time home buyer, there's no time like the present! 

Every once in a while I find that working in the office isn't particularly productive for me.  When I find myself chatting it up with other agents for long periods of time and otherwise using my time in an unproductive way, it's a sure sign that I'm bored and need to get my face out in front of people.  

Oddly enough, I find that it's easier to work among the din of a coffeeshop atmosphere; for some reason it's less of a distraction to me than being at the office.  So I pack up my laptop, my bookkeeping or other work and head out to a neighborhood coffee shop, usually an independent one that offers free wi-fi.  

For me, doing this is beneficial in many ways:

• Hanging out at a local, independent coffee shop(preferably one that's in your marketing area) keeps me in the loop regarding who the local leaders are, and what local issues are impacting the community.  I can stay abreast of when community meetings and activities are, and get involved in something that interests me.  This has the added benefit of being good for my business.
• Once I get to know the proprietors, they usually let me leave my marketing materials in the flyer area. I create materials that focus on that particular area/neighborhood.
• Being in a new surrounding gives me a boost of creativity.  It helps me to get out of any rut that I'm in, and drives me to look at challenging situtions in a new way.
• There is nothing better than meeting with new people and finding a comfortable, familiar spot in which to work and hang out.  As long as it doesn't get as comfortable as the office sometimes does!
  

http://www.wififreespot.com

http://seattle.wifimug.org/ 

Get out there and have fun!