Kitsap Real Estate

An Old-Fashioned Bridge in Manette

2008-04-03T03:05:00.000-07:00

The Manette Bridge played a significant role in the building and expansion of Bremerton. Built during the Great Depression, the Manette Bridge is the oldest of two bridges that connect East Bremerton to West Bremerton.

In this photo, Manette is to the right, West Bremerton on the left side. The Port Washington Narrows goes north toward Silverdale. The Olympic Mountains are in the distance. (Much appreciation to Capt. Alan R. Beam, USN, ret., for the photo. Thanks, Dad!)

Prior to the building of the bridge, Mosquito Fleet ferries made the crossing each day to allow families from East Bremerton to go to their jobs in West Bremerton. If a laborer missed the last ferry, he would have to make an extremely long commute around the north end of the inlet, through Chico, Silverdale, and Tracyton.

Construction on the bridge began in October 1929, and continued until opening day in June of 1930. The bridge was originally a toll bridge, charging $.25 per car and $.05 a passenger. The toll continued until 1939.

Shortly after the toll was lifted, it became clear that the little two-lane bridge would not support the growing traffic burden, and talk of a second bridge began. This resulted in the building of the Port Washington Narrows Bridge, commonly known as the Wheaton Way Bridge, in 1958 as a toll bridge.

At that time, the toll was placed back on the Manete Bridge. Why pay the toll on the Wheaton Way Bridge if you could cross the Manette Bridge for free? The tolls were lifted in 1972 when both bridges were paid for.

Today, residents of the charming neighborhood of Manette use the bridge to cross to West Bremerton, Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton, and the Washington State Ferry Terminal to commute to Seattle. Unfortunately, the charming Manette Bridge is currently considered unsafe. The bridge is scheduled for demolition when a new bridge is constructed, beginning in 2010.

For more information on the neighborhood of Manette, including a list of homes for sale in Manette, Bremerton, stop by Realty Station. Or visit our website for more on Bremerton and Kitsap County real estate.

Military Appreciation Day at Kitsap Mall

2008-03-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

Military Appreciation Day at Kitsap Mall is scheduled for next Saturday, March 29, 2008. This annual event, sponsored by Kitsap Mall, the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, and local military installations, is a salute to our military men and women as well as their families.

Local businesses will be on hand offering demonstrations of their products, as well as discounts and specials. Many military divisions will also be showcased. Entertainment includes NJROTC drill units, Navy EOD divers, Navy Working Dogs, and performances by Navy Band Northwest. Other local entertainers will be the Clan Heather Dancers and Halau Hula O Healani.

For elementary kids, the Marine Security Force will hold a special mini-boot camp, featuring a climbing wall and giant slide.

The event is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Displays will be both inside and outside Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.

Famous Dave's Opens in Silverdale

2008-03-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Famous Dave's, the largest barbecue franchise in the nation, has opened a restaurant in Silverdale! The grand opening was today, March 17, 2008, at 3276 NW Plaza Road, between Pier One Imports and Target.

I first became familiar with Famous Dave's when my friend and past client Tara S. heard we were moving to Kansas for a year. She said we absolutely HAD to go check out this barbecue joint next to the Kansas City Speedway. Turns out, we stumbled across it when we went to Nebraska Furniture Mart, and I have to say it is some of the best barbecue I have ever had, a big compliment coming from someone born in Georgia.

Famous Dave's has "five ways to get sauced", including their Georgia Mustard sauce and the Texas Pit sauce. I haven't been brave enough to try their Devil's Spit sauce yet, and I doubt that I ever will. I'll let hubby try that one out!

They serve pork ribs, barbecue brisket and barbecue chicken, with sides that include Wilbur beans, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. The service at other Famous Dave restaurants has been exceptional, even if the lines can be long at peak times.

I am definitely looking forward to dinner at Famous Dave's later this week!

Update: The phone number to Famous Dave's is 360-307-9999. They do not take reservations, but you can call ahead to find out how busy they are.

FREE Over-the-Counter Meds for Military

2008-03-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

I've been a navy spouse for eight years now, and was a navy brat for more than, well, I won't tell my age. I like to think I am a pretty well-informed military spouse, but I had no idea how easy it was to get over-the-counter meds free from the Bremerton Naval Hospital until recently!

I had heard that you could get certain meds free, but I always assumed that it would be a huge pain in the rear to do so, like so many "benefits" of the military are. But my good friend, Barbara A., told me to go check out the drive-through refill pharmacy at Jackson Park, near the Bremerton Naval Hospital.

Sure enough! It only took ten minutes, and I didn't even have to get out of my car. A really cool thing, especially since I am on crutches right now and had my three year old son in the car.

Take the second right turn off of Austin Drive into the Jackson Park navy housing complex, and the refill pharmacy is immediately on your right. As you pull in to the drive-through window, you will see a box of forms on the driver's side. Grab a form for each of your family members, and fill it out as you wait in line or pull back into a parking spot to fill it out if the line is short.

Military is allowed 3 unique products per family member in any 30 day period. I got adult acetamenaphine, children's liquid acetamenophine, cough suppresant, antacid, and a cream for hubby's athletes foot (welcome to hot days on deployment in the gulf in bad shoes and socks!). All free!

Do understand that these are not name-brand products, but they have the same ingredients and work just as well. When you realize how much it would have cost me to buy these items in a drug store, it was definitely worth the drive and a few minutes of my time. And, they are open on Saturdays!

PS I thought I was the only navy spouse who didn't know about this, but then I ran into my friends and past clients Chris and Tammy K. at Wal-mart, and they were surprised that it was so easy too!

This post is worth $100!!!!

2008-02-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I certainly got your attention, didn't I?

Yes, seriously, you can make $100 for doing a few simple things that many of us should be doing anyway - saving and investing. Perhaps there is another, less risky, short-term way to do that than investing and buying a home in Bremerton, in Kitsap County. Even if you do own investment property, never put all your eggs in one basket.

In Suze Orman's new book Women and Money, Orman and TD Ameritrade offer Orman's readers the chance to open a brokerage account at TD Ameritrade and TD Ameritrade will put $100 extra in their account at the end of one year. The investor must agree to invest at least $50 a month into the account and the money can not be withdrawn until the year is over.

So, save $600 this year, and get another $100 in addition to the "competitive" interest you will receive anyway. That's quite a nice return, don't you think?

For more details, go to Suze Orman's website at http://www.saveyourself.com/. You can also find more information in her book Women and Money, beginning on page 85. It's worth $100 to you!

What Can Your BAH Buy You?

2008-01-13T01:27:00.000-08:00

Buying with BAH

“We want to buy a house, and we’re probably going to use our VA loan. Can you tell us how much we can afford? We’d like to keep our payments below our BAH.”

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard young military couples (and a few singles) tell me this. It’s a good goal, but I have to tell you that, depending on your expectations for a home, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish this goal. Don’t get me wrong, it does happen, but it usually takes some re-prioritizing and perhaps settling a little.

Allow me to explain…..

The Basic Allowance for Housing was put in place to pay rent for military service members who either can not or choose not to live in military housing. That’s right, I said rent. BAH was not designed to allow military personnel to purchase a home without taking any money out of their regular pay.

Also, different paygrades are given enough BAH to rent a home that is specific to the lifestyle that the military imagines that particular paygrade to have. For example, an E-3 with dependents are given enough to rent a two-bedroom apartment. An E-5 with dependents is given enough to rent a two or three bedroom townhouse. An E-7 should get enough to rent a single family home.

The same generalization applies to Officers and Warrant Officers too. The lower paygrades will have enough to rent attached family homes, while the higher paygrades will have enough to rent a single family home.

And remember, that is to rent a house, not to buy. Right now in Kitsap County, you can rent more hosue than you can buy for the same amount of money. In other words, you can afford to rent a nicer house than you can afford to buy.

With all that said, if you expect to buy a house and not pay more than your BAH, you will not be buying your dream home right away. Compromises will have to be made. And yes, you will probably end up taking money out of your pocket, as it were.

It all depends on what you are looking for, and what you can give up and what you absolutely can’t live without.

Sit down with your lender and your real estate agent and decide what you are willing and able to pay, and what you expect to get for the money. Do this before you start looking at houses – it will save you a lot of heartache.

Recycle your Christmas Tree in Kitsap County

2007-12-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

The Christmas hoopla is over. Time to take the lights down, pack away the ornaments, put away the inflatable "Frosty" lawn spectacle (or, in my family's case, the Home Depot and Lowe's cars currently racing across our front lawn), and make your home look a little less glitzy.

Now, what to do with the tree? Let's face it -- we live in the Pacific Northwest. Most of us have real Christmas trees. Some of us even cut our own. Seems a shame to waste them.

Don't! Recycle those trees instead! Kitsap County makes it so easy. Trees are accepted for recycling at most facilities until at least January 15, 2008.

First, remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, etc. from the tree. Only clean trees will be accepted for recycling. remember that next year before asking to have your trees "flocked." Flocked trees are not accepted, and neither are garlands or wreaths.

Next, drop your tree of at any of these locations. Best to call and confirm hours of operation, if possible.

Bremerton: Public Works Department at 100 Oyster Bay Avenue in West Bremerton, or the Water Utility Building at 3027 Olympus Drive in East Bremerton.

Silverdale and Central Kitsap: Silverdale Recycling and Garbage at 8843 Dickey Road, up Newberry Hill.

Poulsbo: Poulsbo Recycle Center at 710 Iverson, downtown Poulsbo.

Port Orchard: Olalla Recycling and Garbage at 2850 SE Burley-Olalla Road. Also, the Olympic View Transfer Station at 9300 SW Barney White Road near the airport.

For all of Kitsap County: Please consider donating your tree as well as a $10 donation to Boy Scout Troop 1506! They will dispose of the tree for you! You can drop your tree at the front door of the Scout Hall in Tracyton and leave your donation in the mail slot. This way, you don't need to worry about hours of operation, and it is so convenient to help out the Scouts!

At Realty Station, we plan to recycle our Christmas trees. The giving season doesn't have to end at Christmas -- keep recycling all year.

A great way to check out my latest listings!

2007-12-22T02:09:00.000-08:00

Kitsap Real Estate is changing. From Bremerton to Seabeck, Port Orchard to Poulsbo, Silverdale to Kingston, the way we Realtors do business is steadily becoming more and more influenced by the internet. At Realty Station our goal is to stay ahead of the times!

Many people these days do not begin their home search with a Realtor. Up to 82% of today's homebuyers begin their search on the internet. Why then are so many agents only running print ads, or worse, putting up a sign and waiting for something to happen?

My team depends heavily on internet marketing to find buyers to purchase our clients homes. One of the ways we do that is by giving each home it's own website, with a domain name specific to that home.

To see examples, check out my latest listings:

http://www.2950delphicourt.com/

http://www.2145easthighlands.com/

http://www.4065coniferpark.com/

This enables to post easily on websites such as Craigslist.com. It allows us to track the number of hits on our sellers individual sites, which tells us how well our marketing effort are working. It also enables us to gauge whether or not the home's price is correct. For example, if we are having lots of website hits, but few showings and no offers, we are overpriced.

Good photos and a well-staged home are essential to internet marketing, especially when we devote so much time and attention to our client's websites. That home needs to outshine all the others, by being cleaner, bigger, brighter, etc.

Consider getting a private, personal website for your home when it is time to sell. We'd be happy to help you! Call Realty Station at 360-377-5699, or call me at 360-689-6836.

KitsapWithKids: Ways to Spend the Winter

2007-12-22T01:41:00.000-08:00

Kart Trax Now Open!!!

Every boys' dream has arrived in East Bremerton! Little girls will even like this place!

Go-karts that go up to 24 miles an hour, a race track, a bounce house, and video games are all part of this awesome new franchise. The cars aren't cheap, but they are fun....

You buy a membership card (current price is $5 per card), then put money on the card and use it like a debit card. Makes it easy to control the spending of the kids and daddies!

This place is perfect for teens and tweens on a school day afternoon or a weekend evening. During the day, bring the smaller kids for some fun. The bounce house has room for up to six children at a time. Children have to be 42 inches tall to drive a race car of their own, but children under 42 inches can ride with a responsible guardian driving.

Be warned -- Kart Trax had not had their grand opening as of six days ago, and the facility still needed some fine tuning as well as final construction. However, the race course was not crowded, and the staff was friendly. We're anxious to see it when it's totally finished!

Be sure to call and check prices and hours of operation, and watch your smaller children closely while visiting this facility.

My family had a great time at Kart Trax. My husband took my three year old at two in the afternoon and they had the place to themselves. Hubby drove son around the race track several times, and let him go jump in the bounce house several times. They even played air hockey! I see Kart Trax becoming a regular hang out for them.

Be sure to check back often for more KitsapWithKids postings. Even though this is supposed to be the Kitsap Real Estate blogsite, I want to give as much to my friends, clients and community as I possibly can. Make sure you check out the Kitsap Moms Meetup link over to the right....

KitsapWithKids: Ways to Spend the Winter

2007-12-17T01:44:00.000-08:00

Remember rollerskating to Jesse's Girl, by Rick Springfield? Rollerskating backwards to "Another One Bites the Dust", by Queen? Going 'Around the World' at the local rollerskating rink? Well, it's time to relive those days...

In East Bremerton, you can do just that. Check out Skateland! If you are expecting a new, beautiful, well-lit rink, this is not the place for you. But, to go back to 1979, you need to see this place! Skateland is located on Fuson Road, just off Highway 303 across from Lowe's.

Skateland in Bremerton offers roller skating leagues, free skates, adult skates, even birthday parties. The owners often work on the premises, and the place seems to run much better when they are around. People are just happy at Skateland.

Lockers are available, and skates can be rented. There is a food stand with typical roller skating rink fare. One word of caution: the front doors are often left open, so do not leave your children unattended, especially younger children.

For an afternoon of cheap fun, Skateland is a cool place to be.

DON'T send a Christmas card to "A Wounded Soldier..."

2007-12-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

It's a nice idea, really. I was about to send one myself, until my husband, currently stationed aboard the USS John C. Stennis, stopped me.

"That's nice, honey, but it'll never reach anyone."

At first I didn't believe him, but then we watched the news last night. It was covered on at least ABC News and Fox News. The information has also appeared in the Associated Press and the New York Times.

Any mail not addressed to a specific soldier, whether they are currently stationed on a military base overseas, in the US or at a medical center, will not be delivered. According to officials at Walter Reed Medical Center, this has been a problem for years. The mail to "A Wounded Soldier" has either been returned to sender, or destroyed.

The fear is that terrorists will send contaminated mail to our soldiers. An understandable fear, in my opinion.

Have we gone overboard in protecting ourselves? Is this a violation of rights? How are we going to support our troops with rules like this "protecting" them?

There are so many ways that you can choose to show your love and support for our servicemembers. The group Soldier's Angels allows citizens to adopt a soldier. Freedom Is Not Free is a unique charity directed by current and former members of the military, the "Purple Heart Board". Finally, Salute America's Heroes does some simple yet effective support gestures, such as selling armbands for our vets and heroes.

Please, don't be upset because your Christmas Cards may not get to the wounded soldier that you wanted to receive it. Be thrilled that the government is doing their best to protect our military, and find another way to show your gratitude. It's so easy, there are so many choices, and they really need our support!

Military: Scholarships Available for Military Kids

2007-12-05T00:46:00.000-08:00

Your eligible child can receive scholarship money for winning an essay contest sponsored by military commissaries!

Every commissary that receives an entry from an eligible applicant will give away $1,500 in scholarship funds through the 2008 “Scholarships for Military Children” program.

Applicants must be under 21 and planning to attend or currently attending college, or under 23 and currently attending college. Scholars must have a 3.0 GPA based on a 4.0 scale, and must be in the DEERS system, meaning he or she must hold a current military ID card.

Scholarship funds are available to unmarried children of active-duty, retired, Reserve and Guard service members. Children of deceased service members are eligible as well. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited college or university as a full-time student for the fall 2008 term.

The question for this year’s essay is “Every able-bodied citizen should be required to serve a two-year period of time in the military. Why or why not?” Applications can be found at any military commissary or by clicking here.

Kitsap County is Recovering from Floods

2007-12-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

Kitsap County residents had a rough day yesterday. However, today is much better for most of the people in our area. However, there are many homes that flooded, some badly. Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers.

Some roads in the county are still closed. Many of the closed roads were shut down due to mudslides. Some are still closed because of water across the roadway.

Click here to see an interactive map provided by Google which shows road closures. It is the best site currently available, although it does need to be updated. Just leave plenty of time to get wherever you need to go, and be patient.

Also, schools are scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, on a normal schedule. However, to be safe, please check your school district website to be certain.

Be safe!

Flood: School Closings and Delays

2007-12-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Several school districts are closed for tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 4.

All public school in the Central Kitsap School District are CLOSED, and all after school activities are cancelled.

All public schools in the North Mason School District are CLOSED.

As of midnight, public schools in North Kitsap School District are two hours DELAYED. There is no a.m. kindergarten or preschool. All other classes will begin two hours late. Continue to monitor for updates.

Again as of midnight, public schools in Bremerton and South Kitsap are on schedule. However, continue to monitor for schedule changes.

Kings West private school in Bremerton is CLOSED.

Olympic College in Bremerton will hold classes as normal. However, Olympic College campuses in Shelton and in Poulsbo will not open until 10 a.m.

Again, to know for sure, please call your child's school, or check the official school website.

Flood Update (5:05 p.m.)

2007-12-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

Our drive home from East Bremerton to Ridgetop in Silverdale wasn't too bad. Our only challenge was the road closure northbound on Highway 303 at Central Valley road. Lots of water on the road, had to get off at Central Valley and take the back way through Island Lake.
The good news is that one southbound lane on Highway 3 through Gorst is now open. However, many roads in Kitsap are still closed, or have closed recently.
Bond Road, also known as Highway 307, is closed due to a mudslide. Also, the Hood Canal bridge is closed. The bridge over Chico Creek has washed out, as well as the bridges over the Tahuya and Union Rivers.
The rain has lessened, at lest for the time being. We'll see if the clearing skies continue....

Flood Update (3:31 pm)

2007-12-03T15:27:00.000-08:00

The Annapolis (Port Orchard) to Bremerton foot ferry is closed.
Port Townsend ferries are shut down completely.
The Kingston to Edmonds ferry run is down to only one boat, so plan for a very long wait, probably upwards of two hours.
The Highway through Gorst is still closed. The Washington State patrol said that the best way to get to Port Orchard from Bremerton is to wait until after high tide. No, I'm not kidding. That's actually what they said.
Unfortunately, high tide was shortly before noon.
The coast guard just went past a beach here in East Bremerton. Wonder where they are going and what they are doing?

Kitsap County is Flooding (3:03 p.m.)

2007-12-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

This never happens. We have rain, but not like this!

Kitsap County is now in a state of emergency. Major flooding and road closures are causing traffic problems all over the county. Transportation departments are doing what they can.

As of noon, there is no way to get from Bremerton to Port Orchard except to go all the way out to Lake Symington, then go south on Lake Tahuya Road, then go past Mission, Panther and Tiger lakes, through Belfair, then go south near the airport on either Lake Flora Road or Sunnyslope. A very long trip...

Both exits to Newberry Hill Road are closed. Anderson Hill road is closed. Downtown Poulsbo is having major issues. Central Valley overpass at Waaga Way is closed.

Stay away from old downtown Bremerton if you can. the ferry backup has stopped most traffic.

If your spouse is on a ship at Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton, tell him to stay there for now.

Check the websites for the various school districts. If I had a school-aged child, I would plan to pick them up if possible. Buses are delayed...

Best advice? STAY HOME!!!!

I will update with further developments later....

Toys for Tots Takes Over Kitsap Fairgrounds

2007-12-02T23:31:00.000-08:00

On December 15 from 10 am to 2 pm, low income families can go to the Kitsap Pavilion at the Kitsap Fairgrounds and get a bag of toys for their children.

Volunteers from Toys for Tots have spent the last several weeks wrapping holiday gifts for children of financially challenged families. The Toys for Tots Holiday Giveaway is the culmination of a year of hard work for all of them.

To receive your child’s bag of toys, parents must bring picture identification of themselves, and a utility bill showing that they live in the area. Last year parents were also required to bring their child’s social security card and their child’s DSHS or Quest card, but that has not been confirmed for this year.

If you may qualify, head over to the fairgrounds on Saturday, Dec. 15. If not, spread some extra holiday cheer by donating new, unused toy. Donations will be collected until after Christmas and saved for next years Toys for Tots campaign.

Remember that you can bring your Toys for Tots donation to Realty Station. We would be happy to deliver it for you!

KitsapWithKids: Ways to Spend the Winter

2007-11-30T22:13:00.000-08:00

Dr. Seuss Comes Alive

in Port Orchard

Western Washington Center for the Arts is performing a wonderful musical adaptation of several Dr. Seuss books. This show is sure to please children of all ages, and parents as well!

"Seussical" the musical, once played on Broadway, is a charming menagerie of many different classic children's books including The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Green Eggs and Ham, plus 13 other literary creations.

Through December 16, WWCA will present the show on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 5 pm. The musical is being performed at the WWCA Playhouse at 521 Bay Street in Port Orchard. Tickets cost between $10 and $15.

For more information, call 360-769-7469.

KitsapWithKids: Ways to Spend the Winter

2007-11-26T03:33:00.000-08:00

I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest for 16 of the last 20 years of my life. I should be used to the winter weather by now. Problem is, it isn’t just winter weather. It’s winter, spring and fall weather. It’s nine-months-of-the-year weather. It’s cold-and-damp, what-will-we-do-inside-again-today weather.

Don’t get me wrong, summer more than makes up for the wet months. It’s glorious and beautiful and, well, perfect. But ugh, the gray skies that come in October!

Well, in the past, I just (excuse the pun) weathered through the weather. However, now I have a three-year-old. How do I entertain him without going crazy on those weekend afternoons when the sky is drizzling and we’ve been home a little too long?

Thus, begins the new series “KitsapWithKids: Ways to Spend the Winter”. I will highlight different things to do with children here in Kitsap County and in surrounding areas. I will try to post something every few days, and hopefully that will keep many of you busy during the worst days of winter.

Some of these ideas will be for on-going entertainment opportunities, like cinemas, indoor pools and gyms. Other posts will be about local kid-friendly events. This series is aimed at children of different ages, so it includes families with infants and toddlers as well as families with teenagers.

If you have a suggestion for a feature for KitsapWithKids, please let me know. And keep checking back for new ideas. Have a safe and sane winter!

KitsapWithKids: Ways to Spend the Winter

2007-11-26T03:08:00.000-08:00

Chuck E. Cheese in Silverdale

The first in a series of ways to spend rainy, cold, winter afternoons with your kids in Kitsap County.

Silverdale is the retail hub of Kitsap County. It is also the home to the county’s newest indoor attraction for kids. Chuck E. Cheese has arrived in Kitsap County!

Chuck E. Cheese is well-known as the place kids go to run around and play video games while noshing on pizza and breadsticks. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad can have a salad and pizza of their own, while sipping on a beer.

Or, skip the food altogether! Buy a Chuck E. cup, and spend the afternoon drinking fruit punch and feeding tokens to all the machines. For very little cash, you and your little ones could spend hours at Chuck E. Cheese on a nasty day.

Be sure to sign up for the CEC Club. Through the Chuck E. Cheese website, you can sign up and receive monthly specials via email. Great coupons are always available in the local paper, but the coupons that arrive through the CEC Club can’t be beat!

Remember, this is an awesome place for ALL ages, even babies! The infants and crawling babies with our meetup group are usually fascinated by the lights and all the kids, and one crawler I know will sit for hours watching the huge TV featuring Chuck E. Cheese or the disco balls hung from the ceiling. And be on alert, Chuck E. has been known to make an appearance and give out free tokens and tickets!

Tip: To avoid the crowds but still tire out the little ones, be at the door when they open at 10 am, and plan to leave at lunchtime. That way, you can let them go wild, eat at Chuck E. Cheese if you choose, then get the kids to nap when you get home after lunch!

Click here to sign up for the Chuck E. Cheese Club!

Military: Grants for Military Spouse's Education

2007-11-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

Military spouses often have special challenges finding and maintaining a career when following a spouse between different duty stations. Many career fields are not “portable”, and those that are often require special training. Child care and cost of education becomes an issue.

Many military spouses who maintain a career often sacrifice high-paying jobs to follow their active duty sailor or soldier every time they a relocated, which can happen as often as every six months to two years. Military husbands and wives find it difficult, if not impossible, to train for a new career in high-demand, easily-transferable fields, due to the cost of education, tuition, books, and child care. Many military spouses just give up, accepting the fact that they will not have a career of their own until after their spouse retires from active duty.

However, help is now available in the form of financial grants for military spouses. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative is designed for spouses who move frequently and meet income requirements. The grants are backed by $35 million from the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor.

Participants must be married to an E1 – E5 active duty service member, or an active duty junior officer O1-O3. Eligible spouses need to have either a high school diploma or their GED.

Spouses are eligible for up to $3,000 per year in grant money for training in the health care, education and information technology fields, among others. The program will begin in January of 2008, and is being unveiled at 18 military installations across the country.

In Washington State, participating bases include Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, and Naval Base Kitsap. For more information, call Robin Moeller at the Fleet and Family Services Center at Naval Base Kitsap at 360.396.1768.

To see if you qualify, or for a list of other participating military installations, see the Military Spouse Support Center at http://www.military.com/spouse/cf/0,,cf_CAA_111407,00.html.

Kitsap Homes: Charming four bedroom for sale!

2007-11-21T00:48:00.000-08:00

Wonderful Craftsman-style home with four bedrooms, one and three-quarter baths in Manette! Large one-story home with finished basement has more thn 2,000 square feet. Only $250,000!

Views of the city, sound, and ferries from the covered deck in this home with charm of yesteryear.

Relax in your living room with coved and coffered ceilings and original red oak hardwood floors.

Watch the ferry come in while making jam in your kitchen with fruit picked from your yard.

Cuddle by the fire in the lower family room.

Easy commute to ferries, Harrison, shipyard. Free home warranty, seller will help with closing costs.

Local news - SCHEFFER AND BEAM ATTEND ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2007-11-21T00:31:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS - Janice Beam and Marlene Scheffer of Realty Station recently joined Realtors from around the country for the 2007 National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo in Las Vegas.

The annual convention, called "the premier event of the real estate industry", presented more than 200 programs to help real estate agents thrive in a changing market. Beam and Scheffer attended seminars on practical solutions for today's home sellers and buyers, marketing ideas, and new technology.

Beam and Scheffer also had many opportunities to network with other real estate professionals, expanding their already well-established referral network.

"I find the information at these conventions vital to our success as real estate agents," Beam said. "By being on the forefront of the changes in our industry, we will be ready to help our clients with any of their real estate needs."

For example, Scheffer has a blog about real estate in Kitsap County, and she feels that the convention has helped her offer her subscribers a better level of service as well as more information through her blog. You can view the blog at http://www.kitsaphomes.blogspot.com/.

Beam and Scheffer are already planning their trip to next year's convention in Orlando, Florida.

Realty Station is a full service real estate company in East Bremerton. Realty Station offers seller representation, buyer representation, and property management services in all of Kitsap County as well as parts of Mason and Pierce counties. Beam and Scheffer can be reached by calling Realty Station at 360.377.5699.

Title and Escrow Junk Fees? You bet!

2007-11-10T01:57:00.000-08:00

I had a rude awakening yesterday...

I was at the closing table at a local escrow company, an escrow company that has served me well over the past ten years. The escrow company and title company are owned under the same umbrella. In other words, the title and escrow company are, in essence, the same.

My job at the escrow table is to sit and observe. I do not interrupt or comment usually, unless I see something obviously wrong. If something is wrong, I know who to contact to get it fixed as quickly as possible, so my clients can continue to close on time.

I typically do not have many issues at the closing table, because I always request the closing statement be sent over to my office prior to the signing date. If anything is amiss, I can fix it before it becomes an issue.

As I was glancing over the closing statement for a final review, a charge jumped out at me, a charge that had not been on the closing estimate the day before.

"Excuse me, can you explain what a 'Reconveyance Verification Fee' is?"

The escrow officer explained that it is a fee that their headquarters charges to have someone verify that the bank holding the seller's loan actually reconveys the title, or clears the loan.

Umm, what? Isn't that what the title and escrow companies are for? The title and escrow companies are responsible for granting clear title. That's why the seller and the buyer both purchase title insurance. If the original loan is not reconveyed, how could they grant clear title?

It's called a junk fee. Many lenders and mortgage brokers have been doing it for years. Granted, some of those fees are paid to third parties, and someone has to pay them. That is why those fees gets passed on to the buyer. However, in this case, the escrow company is collecting the money and passing it on to their headquarters. So technically, they don't keep it and can therefore collect it.

Taking that a step farther, couldn't they do that with their franchise fees? Postage stamps? Employee wages? They don't get to keep those either!

I can not stand junk fees! If it is a cost of doing business, just up the one fee and get it over with. Tell me what it's going to cost. If you do a good job, I won't have a problem paying your fee, but don't nickel and dime me, or my clients, to death!

Military: USS John C. Stennis Education Fair

2007-11-07T21:58:00.000-08:00

This is the chance to advance in your career and begin planning for your career after retirement!

Use your GI Bill benefits to get your degree while still receiving your military pay check!

The USS Stennis is sponsoring an education fair, featuring more than 25 colleges and universities from around the country offering a variety of degrees in different areas of concentration. The fair is free to members of the active duty military community.

The fair will be held on Wednesday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1000 to 1400 in Navy lingo) on board the USS Stennis barge. For more information, call 360-476-4282.

Start planning now for your time after military service has ended. It's never too early!

Military: Give Life to a Military Service Member!

2007-11-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

You have the ability to save the life of a wounded service member or a member of their family!

By donating blood through the ASBP, you support our military and their families. All blood donated through ASBP goes directly to military men and women, both at home and abroad, as well as their families. Whole blood and blood platelets are needed daily for transfusions for our injured combat troops, cancer patients, transplant patients and many more.

As a transplant recipient and the spouse of a naval officer, I can not emphasize enough the blessing of receiving those blood donations. I have no idea who my blood came from during those eight hours of surgery, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. By encouraging others to donate, perhaps I can return the favor.

Donating whole blood takes less than an hour of your time, and could save a life. The ASBP will be in our Kitsap County several times before the New Year. December 6, the ASBP will be accepting donations at Naval Base Kitsap - Keyport, Building 105. December 12, they will be at Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor. Although they will be located at the Trident Training Facility, access to dependents, retirees and contractors can be arranged through the TTF Security Desk.

The ASBP will also be taking blood donations at the Bremerton Naval Hospital on December 18. As long as donors have base access, they may donate blood at this event.

Military service members, dependent family members, retirees and their family members, and civilian government contractors are encouraged to give blood. To see if you are an eligible donor, please go to http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/.

For more information, call 253-968-1903. And thank you for supporting our heroes!

Dangers of Overpricing Your Home

2007-11-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

Many Sellers have the mistaken idea that they should price their home a little higher than they expect to get for the sale of their home. Please, do NOT fall into this trap! In today's market, homes need to be priced aggressively in order to attract ready, willing and able Buyers right away, in order to get the highest net return.

If you overprice your home, many Buyers won't even look at your home, thinking it is out of their price range.

Those Buyers who do look at your home are shopping by comparison, and looking at your home may convince them to make a bid on a different property.

Since an appraisal is often required when financing a property, it's futile to price a property for more than its worth. When the appraised value of your home comes in too low, it may jeopardize the sale of your home.

Properties left on the market for an extended period of time become "shopworn", causing many potential Buyers to believe there is something wrong with the property.

Overpricing tends to dampen the other real estate agents' attitudes, making your home less likely to be shown.

Overpricing lengthens market time and invariably results in a lower selling price than would have been otherwise obtained. When Sellers overprice their homes, especially in today's market, they often end up lowering the price of the home to attract more traffic to the home. They may have to lower the price of the house several times before they have it priced properly, to be competitive with other similar homes in their area. By letting the home sit on the market longer, they rob themselves of a higher net.

Market Time vs. Selling Price

0-4 weeks 98.1%
4-12 weeks 96.4%
13-24 weeks 94.9%
24+ weeks 91.1% or less

When it is time to sell your home, be sure to hire a qualified real estate agent and have them do a market analysis or price point for your home. Ask them questions, find out how they arrived at their sales price, look at other comparable homes that are for sale or that have sold recently. And above all, please, listen to your agent's recommendations. Price it right to get it sold!

I am an Organ Recipient...

2007-11-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

Several things have happened to me in my life recently that make me feel pushed to tell my story. It is a tragic story, a terrible story, it's an unfair story, and yet, it is beautiful.....

When I was nine years old, in 1980, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Nurses and doctors told me that I could lead a healthy, full life, then they would turn away and shake their heads in pity. I had no idea what a horrible, thieving disease diabetes was.

Before I was 25 years old, I had lost half of five of my toes, had suffered severe, painful nerve damage in my feet and stomach, had several laser surgeries on my eyes to try to prevent blindness, and had been told to never have children (think 'Steel Magnolias'). They were 'watching' my kidneys.

When I was 25, I also lost a child. She was not a planned baby, but she would have been loved. But it was not to be. And it was all because of the diabetes. Then, when I was 33, I found doctors who would work with me to allow me to have a child as safely as possible. It was my life's dream, to have a baby of my own. I still don't know why it was so important to me, but it was.

Adam was born on April 12, 2004. He was very early, but he was perfect. He still is. He is a bright child, and has brought me joy and light that I never imagined I could have. My husband and I have been very blessed. But it was a difficult experience, and the pregnancy left my kidneys severely damaged.

I went on kidney dialysis in January of 2007. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am very high-energy. I am a Type AAA personality. I need to be perfect, I procrasinate, I want professionalism at all times. I go until I fall into bed. I like it this way. Being on dialysis was difficult, but not impossible. But I also knew it would not last.

Because of all the severe diabetic complications, I was convinced that I would not live to see Adam graduate from kindergarten. Doctors say I was probably right.

We were living in San Diego at the time. On April 10th, we went to Disney to celebrate Adam's third birthday. We had a great time! As Adam was meeting Lightening McQueen on the 11th, we got the call. There was a donor, and we were to come back to San Diego to check into the hospital. I was going to get a double transplant.

On Adam's birthday, I received a new kidney, so I would no longer be on dialysis. And I received a new pancreas, and would no longer be diabetic. This has changed my life.

Adam and I now share a special day. It is Adam's birthday, and my rebirthday. Everything has gone perfectly, and I don't ever remember feeling this good. Ever.

I think of my donor often. I don't know her name, know very little about her. But I know that her family must have suffered, and still suffer. To give me the gift of life, she died. The guilt I feel over that is incredible, but at the same time I remember that she would have died anyway, and perhaps, just perhaps, the decision made by her family to donate and save other lives, gives them some hope. Some feeling of control over an uncontrollable situation.

These are not my organs, and this is no longer my life. I will do better this time. I will give back. I will do for others. I will treasure every moment. I will not sit quietly when others suffer. I will love my family. I will love my son and husband with every fiber of my being. I will never take my life for granted.

I grieve for this woman who gave me my life back. I grieve for this mother who gave my son his mother back. I grieve for this family, who saved my life. And I grieve for the families who will never receive this gift.

I am an organ recipient. I am also an organ donor. My organs will never be used to replace bad organs for someone else. But perhaps they will take my organs and learn from them. I will donate to science, and perhaps that will save someone else's life someday.

Take nothing for granted, and always be thankful. And don't forget to mark that little box on your driver's license.

If you aren't an organ donor, please reconsider.

Silverdale Kohl's Grand Opening

2007-10-31T23:59:00.003-07:00

The newest addition to the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale is getting ready to open its doors to the public!

Kohl's Department Store will have its Grand Opening on November 14, 2007. Kohl's offers quality name-brand items at great values. The store carries everything from fashion, jewelry and cosmetics to kitchen decor and toys.

According to a recent news article, the store opening will add approximately 150 jobs to the area. The store is located at 10315 Silverdale Way, Silverdale, as one of the anchor stores of Kitsap Mall. Other stores at Kitsap Mall include Sears, Macys, JC Penney, Barnes and Noble and World Market.

Kitsap Mall is about 5 minutes south of Bangor Submarine Base, and 15 to 20 minutes north of Bremerton Naval Station and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Military: Free Class on VA Loans Offered to Military

2007-10-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

Be prepared when you buy your first home!

Military home buyers are invited to a free seminar on using a VA loan to purchase a home. The class will be held on the Bangor Submarine Base on November 6, 2007, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The class is free to active duty and retired military and their families, as well as reserve service members.

The class will cover various topics regarding VA loans, including the general process of buying a home, benefits of a VA loan, steps to obtaining a VA loan, and avoiding common first-time homebuyer pitfalls.

For example, you can use your VA loan more than once. Also, there is no such person as a VA inspector. Credit, eligibility, and negotiating are also discussed.

This information is offered by Kym Mason of Mason Mortgage and Marlene Scheffer and Terry Wimmer of Realty Station. The instructors are real estate professionals experienced in VA loans. Marlene Scheffer and Terry Wimmer are military spouses and have first-hand experience purchasing homes with a VA loan.

To register or for information on base access, please call Terry at Realty Station at 360-377-5699.

Kitsap Kids: Kitsap Moms Meetup

2007-10-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

Want to meet more moms and help your young child make new friends? Want to have fun with your child or children as well as other moms in similar situations?

Kitsap Moms Meetup has several playgroups and events in and around the Kitsap County area. Some of our past events include meetups at local bookstores, the play area at Kitsap Mall, a trip to Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Silverdale Waterfront Park, Island Lake Park,a trip to the Seattle Aquarium, and a pumpkin patch and farm tour. We also have a weekly playgroup each Tuesday and Friday. Baby Playdays, for children under age 2, are scheduled for Wednesday mornings. Many more events are planned soon, including a trip to the Zone in Poulsbo, a MyGym playday, another morning at Chuck E. Cheese, and a Halloween party! We will be holding monthly moms night outs, field trips for the entire family outside of Kitsap County, and other special events so join now!

A Meetup group is a group of people with similar interests who get together to share experiences, support each other, offer advice and have fun! Kitsap Moms Meetup is intended for all moms and primary caregivers (including grandparents, foster moms, and nannies) with children under the age of six, who would like to get together to allow the kids to play and the moms to have fun!

Check us out at www.moms.meetup.com/1967. You must join Meetups to have access to our webpage, but it is a free service, and well worth it! If you have questions, feel free to call me, as always...

Kitsap Moms Meetup - where Kitsap Moms and Kitsap Kids come to play! www.moms.meetup.com/1967

Protect Your Identity and Credit by Protecting Your SSN

2007-10-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Having been in real estate for more than ten years, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects caused by identity theft. One of my clients, looking to buy his family's first home in Silverdale, was referred to one of my mortgage lenders. Everything looked good during the pre-qualification, but when they pulled his credit report, there were so many charges, open accounts, delinquent accounts, past due notices, etc. His credit score was horrible.
The problem was, none of those accounts were his. They did not belong to his wife, either. And try as they might, they could not convince the credit companies holding the accounts that the accounts were not his. The credit reporting agencies said they could not help, because the credit companies holding the accounts were able to 'prove' that the accounts were his.
He still has no idea who stole his identity, or how they did it, but it has been four years and he has still not recovered his credit enough to be able to buy a home.
One main component in protecting your credit is protecting your social security number. By law, consumers are not obligated to give their social security numbers to anyone except their employers, their banks, and the IRS. Banks include not just your savings and checking accounts, but any accounts or loans you hold or apply for, including your mortgage account.
Remember, when you give your social security number to one person at a company, everyone in the company that has access to the database system, including accountants, customer service people, admin assistants, and sometimes even receptionists, have access to your social security number. And unfortunately, not all of them are honest, law-abiding citizens.
You are not legally obligated to give your social security number to anyone else. Do not put it on your checks. If a cashier ever asks for your SSN to in order to accept a check, refuse. They can not require it. Offer them your drivers license number instead.
Even utility companies can not legally require you to reveal your SSN. They will tell you that they can not open an account without it (as they did me), but that is not true. They use the number as a personal identification number, so ask if they can use another number instead.
They will tell you that they can not open the account without it, and they may stick to that story. It is up to you to convince them, and if you can't see if there are other options. I could not get the electric company to open an account for us without it, so I ended up being forced to give them my number. Otherwise, we wouldn't have electricity. However, the other utility companies (water, sewer, garbage, etc.) allowed me to open the account without it.
By limiting which companies held my SSN, I took one more step in protecting my identity and my credit. I suggest you do the same.

A True Moving Story

2007-10-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

My husband told me of a conversation he had with one of his fellow service members on the USS John C. Stennis. I met this man and his wife a few weeks ago, very nice couple that I am looking forward to getting to know better.
This couple had moved here recently, and had packed their personal vehicle differently this time than the last time they moved....
Several years ago, they moved from the Norfolk, VA area. Their belongings were stored for a time before they arrived at their new duty station. When they arrived at their destination, their belongings did not. When they called the navy to find out when their household goods were to arrive, they were told about a "problem". Apparently, a levy had broken near where their goods were being stored, and had flooded the storage lockers. Everything was gone, everything!
People think that the navy pays for everything when service members move. Far from the truth, in the case of damage. The navy offers service members extra insurance, but if the service member chooses not to purchase it, then service members need to have receipts. If not, the military pays for replacement value at 2X depreciation.
In other words, if you have a tv that you bought 7 years ago for $700 and you don't have the receipt, you're doing good to get $50 for it.
This couple lost everything. The husband said that they actually did have receipts for many of their items. But, guess where their receipts were? Yup, in their personal goods shipment. Flooded, in a warehouse. Gone.
Moral of the story: When you move, be sure to pack your personal inventory list, pictures of your personal inventory, and most importantly, pack your receipts in the car and transport them with you!
For more moving tips, feel free to contact us for a free brochure.

Military: VA loans and the military home buyer

2007-10-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

In the past several years, FHA and VA loans have become unpopular. Withe so many other options, options that were often "easier" for loan officers to get and process, federally-insured loans largely fell by the wayside. Now, the mortgage industry has tightened their guidelines significantly, and all those 100% loans are all-but-impossible to get in todays mortgage market.

Well, guess what? 100% financing is still available for some home-buyers, specifically those who can qualify for an FHA or VA loan.

I'll address buying a home with an FHA loan in a later post. For now, I'd like to discuss many of the myths and misconceptions held about using your VA loan to buy a home.

First, you do have to be a veteran, retired or active duty military. Many members of the reserves will qualify as well.

Second, you do not get your VA loan directly from the VA. You will need to apply for a VA loan with a loan officer at a mortgage company, just like you would for any other mortgage. The VA guarantees the loans for the lender in case of loss, they do not actually grant the loan.

Third, there is no such thing as a VA inspector. There is a VA appraiser. The appraisers job is to be certain that the house really is worth what the bank is giving you for your loan. The appraiser works for the VA, not for the borrower or buyer. The VA appraiser usually willl not look in, let alone go under, crawl spaces. The VA appraiser will not usually climb up into an attic. The VA appraiser will not usually remove the front of an electrical panel to check the wiring in back. Buyers need to hire their own home inspector, apart from the appraiser.

Fourth, you can use your VA eligibility more than once. The funding fee structure varies slightly the second time you use it, but you can use it again. You can actually use your VA loan many times, as long as your eligibility has been restored.

Fifth, and most importantly, please be sure that your real estate agent has experience helping clients buy homes using VA loans, both professionally and personally, if possible. Be sure your lender has also had numerous successful experiences using VA loans.

Our office actually teaches classes to all eligible service memebrs, retired and active duty, in how to use the VA loan to buy a home. We have had such a successful response to the class, that we are offering the classes on a monthly basis. Feel free to contact us if you would like more information. Realty Station can be reached at 360-377-5699.

My assistant/partner Terry and I are well-versed in VA loans, being Navy spouses and having used VA loans to buy our homes. We enjoy helping other military families make successful home investments!

Refinancing an Adjustable Rate Mortgage

2007-10-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

A client/friend called me the other day. She was in a rather panicked state. She had bought her home (with another Realtor, I might add) and had used an Adjustable Rate Mortgage at the time. Her interest rate was set to begin increasing soon, and she was afraid that her monthly payment was going to go through the roof. She was so afraid of the higher payment that she was actually considering selling.

We took a more detailed look at her deed of trust and adjustable rider, both of which your Realtor can get for you from your county courthouse. Her rates were indeed about to begin increasing, but not by several hundred dollars per month as she had suspected. Instead, her payment would go up no more than $60 a month for the first year. They rate would only adjust once a year, as many rates do. They were to be adjusted in February of next year.

Since the interest rates for a fixed rate mortgage are so good, she was still interested in refinancing. However, again, when we looked closer at her mortgage documents, she would have been hit with a prepayment penalty if she refinanced prior to April.

Looking at her options, we decided that she would wait until April to refinance her home. At that time, we'll sit down together and look at the options her mortgage officer gives her, so I can help her make the best decision for the financial well-being of her family.

Moral: Read the fine print!

Kitsap Homes: Charming Craftsman Home!

2007-10-10T00:02:00.000-07:00

Darling Craftsman-style home in East Bremerton for sale! Two bedroom, two story home with one car attached garage. Old world charm with large lot, almost 1/3 acre. Fruit trees, huge deck for entertaining, incredible back yard. All appliances included, including newer washer and dryer.
Short sale, bring all offers! Priced at only $175,000!

Kitsap Homes: 3 bed, 1.5 bath in CK, SOLD!!!

2007-09-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

Three bedroom, one and a half bath two-story townhome in Central Kitsap for only $174,964! Great price for a home this size in a great school district! This home includes a one-car garage, fenced backyard, newer kitchen appliances, a washer and dryer, fresh interior paint, newer roof, built-in dishwasher, and community playground. Very close to major military bases, schools, shopping, and fairgrounds. Wonderful first home!

This home is sold, and scheduled to close October 27, 2007.

Foreclosures loom?

2007-09-07T02:48:00.000-07:00

I had another conversation with a potential seller who is in over her head. This is the third situation like this in three days.

This couple bought two years ago, when the market was at its high point. Sellers couldn't get their "For Sale" signs up in the yard before they had multiple offers at their door. Buyers paid well for their homes, with an 80/20 mortgage. In other words, they used 100% financing, putting no down payment on the house.

Unfortunately, two years later this couple (like many others) hit hard times, and are behind in payments. She was afraid they were going to lose the house.

As Realtors, they encourage us to keep a cheery face, a smile pasted on. "The market is great, everything is fine."

Well, the market isn't great if you are a Seller who bought your house in the last three years. This is especially true if you pulled money out of your house, got a home equity loan, or used 100% financing.

However, Sellers are always selling, and Buyers are always buying. Even during the double-digit interest rates of the early 80's, people still sold and bought homes. So, the market is not as gloomy as the media makes it out to be. There are still ways to help these people!

One of the things we are going to do is check to see if the new FHA program will help them keep their home. Next, I will check with some lender-friends of mine to see if they have any tricks up their sleeves. Then, I will try to negotiate with their lender for them, to see if we can work out any payment arrangement.

If those attempts produce no results for us, then we will look at selling the house. At this point, if they can not keep the house, then we need to do everything we can to avoid foreclosure, sell the house and preserve their credit. In a couple of years, when they are financially steady and back on their feet, then we can get them into another house as long as they follow the plan we will outline for them.

Yes, Trustee's Sales and Foreclosures are on the rise. But Sellers shouldn't just give up and walk away from their homes! They need to contact a Realtor who is familiar with the foreclosure process, who is experienced with short sales, who is prepared to market the property heavily, both online and through print and word of mouth advertising. If you know someone who is facing this situation, don't let them give up!