Gig Harbor Undressed

Touring Theater Group comes to Gig Harbor

A touring theater group from Seattle will be at Gig Harbor’s Harbor Ridge Middle School next Thursday to do a performance on Cyber Bullying.  

Taproot Theatre’s Road Company—the touring part of a Seattle professional theatre—travels to schools around the Pacific Northwest during the school year, teaching them how to respond to—and even prevent—bullying and harassment. They have a touring show called “New Girl” that deals specifically with cyberbullying. The shows are guided by some of the leading bullying-prevention curricula in the United States (from Committee for Children), and combine engaging stories with effective lessons.  They’ll be performing “New Girl” at Harbor Ridge Middle School on March 4 at 1:30 p.m.

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I’m home!

I’ve spent the past 6 days at a conference in New Orleans.  Don’t mean to offend, but if I never go back there again it’ll be just fine with me.  I wrote a little jingle to the tune of “Back in the Saddle” by Gene Autry (I know I’m in Gig Harbor, not Seattle, but Seattle sounds a whole lot more like “the saddle” than Gig Harbor!):

I’m back in Seattle again,

back with my wife, my best friend!

Where the sky is blue and the water is too,

I’m back in Seattle again!

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Short sales in Gig Harbor

At one time, short sales and foreclosures in Gig Harbor didn’t seem like they’d be a big issue.  Now, they’re a very important part of the real estate industry.  Yet there’s still a lot of confusion about the difference and implications of the two.  Here’s a brief really brief summary of the short sale and foreclosures in Gig Harbor.

A short sale, in short, is anything but short.  What “short sale” means is that the owner is trying to sell the house for less than what is still owed to the bank.  Imagine someone bought a house for $400,000 in 2007, took out a $375,000 mortgage, and now needs to sell because their job is moving them out of state.  Their house is now only worth $340,000, so their sale will come up more than $30,000 “short” of what they owe the bank.  In short sales, owners may or may not be making their payments still…that’s not really the issue.  It’s simply a matter of owing more than the house is worth.

Foreclosures, on the other hand, are homes owned by the bank.  You’ll hear these called REO properties as well.  Foreclosure properties are generally easier to purchase, as you’re just dealing with the bank and they already know their numbers.  Short sales, however, can take months, several months actually, to complete.  You’re dealing directly with the owner as the seller, but the owner needs to get bank approval, and the bank needs to run through all of their checklists to ensure that the seller really can’t pay off the difference.  It’s not uncommon in a short sale for a buyer to make an offer, and find out 3 months down the road that the bank said “no.”

Short sales aren’t necessarily something to run away from, unless you’re in a time crunch (like trying to qualify for the tax credits).  You can get fantastic deals on short sales, you just have to be patient, and try to remain emotionally unattached.  It also helps to hire the right short sale coordinators (like me!) to walk you through the process.

Short sales are a part of the real estate landscape now, even in Gig Harbor.  Currently there are 72 homes and 6 condos in Gig Harbor listed as short sales in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).  Couple that with the 31 homes and 1 condo in Gig Harbor listed as “bank owned” and you’ve got over 17% of the total listed inventory.

If you’re looking to buy a home, either a primary home, vacation home, or investment property, in the Gig Harbor area and would like more information on short sales and bank owned homes, please give me a call.  If you feel you may need to short sell your home, I can give you guidance there as well.

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Choosing a Real Estate Company in Gig Harbor

When it comes time to sell your home in Gig Harbor, choosing among the many Gig Harbor real estate companies can be confusing.  I’m now in my 6th year as a Realtor associated with Keller Williams Realty, and I occasionally have clients and potential clients say they’re not familiar with KW.  Before you choose your real estate company, consider the following:

• Keller Williams International is recognized in the Swanepoel Report as the #1 trend setter for 2009.
• Keller Williams Realty received the highest overall satisfaction rating by J.D. Powers and Associates.
• Keller Williams Realty was recognized in December of 2009 as the #1 real estate franchise.
• Swanepoel’s own survey of over 10,000 agents ranked Keller Williams as the most recognized real estate franchise brand as voted by the industry.
• Keller Williams recently surpassed ReMax to become the 3^rd largest real estate company in the country.  As of this month, we have well over 70,000 agents and 650 offices located throughout the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada.

So why isn’t all of this verifiable data being touted more readily?  Because Keller Williams is agent-centric, not owner-centric.  In other words, we believe that agents make the company, rather than the company making the agent.  We don’t spend money on national (or local) advertising.  We let the individual agents run their own businesses.  The company’s belief is that if we have the best trained, most satisfied agents, then they’ll provide the most educated, most satisfying experience to our clients.

There are several great real estate agents in Gig Harbor, working for a variety of different real estate companies.  Ultimately, you’re hiring the agent, not the company.  But it is nice to know that when you hire a Keller Williams agent, you’re hiring someone with the backing of the nation’s 3rd largest company.  If you’re moving to another area, or have a home to sell in another area before moving to Gig Harbor, chances are we have a Keller Williams agent there who can help.  Just ask me and I’ll do the research to find the agent who is best suited to help you.

If you’d like more information on our company and our beliefs, just ask!

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Gig Harbor PD offers “Trust in Parenting” Course!

The Gig Harbor Police Department will be hosting a very valuable course titled “Trust in Parenting.”  Below is the document I was sent describing the event.

We are excited to announce we’ve scheduled a new “Trust in Parenting” course (formerly called “Upgrade Your POS”).  ”Trust in Parenting” is a 6-week course for couples who want to become better communicators and parents.  The course will cover practical knowledge and skills that directly effect how you communicate both as a parent and as a spouse.

The first class is on February 23, from 6:30-7:30pm.  We will hold the classes at the Boys and Girls Club in Gig Harbor.

We recommend you check out the new “Trust in Parenting” website to get more information on the course, and read the agenda for each class.

Free childcare is an option if you need, but you’ll need to contact Peggy Lowe at 253-530-1740 at least 2 days ahead of time.

You can sign up for the course online or call our offices at 253-851-0350.

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There’s more to Gig Harbor than El Pueblito

There, I said it out loud…”there’s more to Gig Harbor than El Pueblito.”  Gig Harbor isn’t known for our wide variety of restaurants, but we do have a few. My wife and I (and now our daughter too) have enjoyed a weekly date night at El Pueblito for about the past 7 years.  I’m not sure we’ve missed more than 10 weeks in that span.  I can’t remember the last family birthday not celebrated at El Pueblito.  It’s not just that they have the best Mexican food in Gig Harbor, it’s the service there too.  They know us.  They know our order.  When your water is low, it doesn’t matter if it’s the bus girl or the owner who sees it, they’ll fill it up.  Need more chips?  Any waiter, not just your waiter, will gladly fill them up.

But enough about El Pueblito.  We do eat other places from time to time.  But enough about us.  Where do you like to eat in Gig Harbor?  Let us know the best!

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Distracted in Gig Harbor

We’re all familiar with “Sleepless in Seattle,” but this new “Distracted in Gig Harbor” has caught me off guard.  Funny thing, this blog has been the source of nearly 80% of my real estate business over the past two years, and yet when business gets really cranking like it has the past few weeks, the blog is what gets ignored.

Well, no more!  I intend to block my time accordingly and get the Gig Harbor community information flowing again!  Well, maybe after this great weather passes!

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January Real Estate Stats for Gig Harbor

Since we’re half way through February, let’s take a look at the January real estate stats for Gig Harbor.  Overall, things were a bit slow.  Here’s the skinny:

Single Family Homes

• Units sold:                      20
• Median Price:               $326,000
• Current Inventory:    506

Condos

• Units sold:                     3
• Median Price:               $150,000
• Current Inventory:    68

So what do these numbers tell us about real estate in Gig Harbor?  One, it’s still very much a buyer’s market.  With 25 months of inventory for homes, and 22.6 months of inventory for condos, there’s still A LOT of choices for buyers.  It also shows that prices took a bit of a dip.  Mostly, however, I think that it shows that January was kind of a stinker month after several good months in a row! 

If you’ve got any questions about your home’s worth, inventory counts or sales in a particular neighborhood in Gig Harbor, or any other real estate related questions, please let me know!

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Valentine’s Day race in Gig Harbor!

If you’re into running or walking, there’s a brand new Valentine’s Day 4-mile race in Gig Harbor on Sunday!  The “You Knock My Socks Off” run will start at Route 16 Running on Kimball Drive and run along the fantastic new Cushman Trail. 

Lots of fun prizes and categories, including couples!  The race will begin at 8:30am.  For more information, you can visit Route 16’s website.

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For Sale By Owner homes in Gig Harbor

While not common, there are some “For Sale By Owner” homes for sale in Gig Harbor.  There are several reasons home owners attempt to sell their homes on their own rather than hiring a professional, with the main one being the hope of saving money on the commission.  I could go on about how FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sellers tend to net less money, but that’s not the point of this post.  The point is, if you are looking to buy real estate in Gig Harbor, there are options beyond just what is listed on the local websites.  Homes that are FSBO, homes that have expired from their listing agreements, and homes that were previously listed but cancelled for various reasons, although the sellers are still wanting to sell.

I spend a good deal of time each week researching homes for sale in Gig Harbor that aren’t on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) so that I’m prepared to find my buyers the absolute best home and so that I’m able to provide my sellers with the most accurate and current information on their competition.

One of the nicest homes that is being sold directly by the seller is just minutes from downtown Gig Harbor.  It is a new construction home in an amazing setting just above Gig Harbor Bay and Crescent Valley Drive.  Over 4000sf on 1.18 acres for $879,000!  Here’s how the seller describes the home:

“Superbly Built NEW HOME in idyllic Estate Setting. Large towering windows and cathedral ceilings boast the most majestic natural light for a home in the northwest! The Modern Kitchen is enhanced by solid slab granite countertops with all Stainless Steel Appliances, surrounded by exquisite Coco-Glazed Maple Cabinetry. The Master Suite was built with comfort in mind with a dual view fireplace, heated jetted tub and double walk-in Shower! A Striking Place to reside and entertain guests on a beautifully landscaped yard!”

I toured the house shortly after it was completed, and it’s truly one of the finest new construction homes for sale in Gig Harbor.  Great location, private gated entrance, gorgeous quality work.  Why don’t homes such as this sell, then?  Could be price, could be lack of exposure.  If you are looking for an elegant luxury home for sale in Gig Harbor, you will want to take a look at this one!  Give me a call if you’d like a private tour of the home.

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