"All Things Edmonds" Blog

We've all heard the mantra about being thankful and giving of your time, talent and resources during the holiday season. And it's true; we should. And not just in November and December but at all times.

But if this is the first time you've done something, consider giving back by thinking locally.  Here are some ways to give during Thanksgiving in Edmonds, WA:

• Annie’s Community Kitchen provides free meals from 5 to 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Edmonds Lutheran Church, 23525 84th Ave. W., Edmonds WA 98027, and needs volunteers to help prepare, serve and organize food, wash dishes and collect donated food. More info: 425-744-8090.
• Edmonds Community College Foundation, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood, WA 98036, supports access, success, and excellence for students, faculty, and staff at Edmonds Community College. Cash and vehicle donations are needed. More info: 425-640-1274 or www.foundation.edcc.edu.
• Edmonds Food Bank, 828 Caspers St., Edmonds, WA 98020, is located at Edmonds United Methodist Church. Food and cash donations are needed. Donations are accepted through the north door of the church from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. More info: 425-778-5833.
• Need some help with dinner this year?  Thanksgiving at Westgate Chapel in Edmonds is open to anyone who would otherwise spend the holiday alone or not have enough money to feed their family. This will be the 15th year that Westgate has put on this dinner. Organizers encourage attendees to arrive one hour early for hors d’ouvres and family photos. Westgate Chapel is located at 22901 Edmonds Way.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Casey

Here's a 3-minute cartoon video on closing costs and how they work. When inquiring about home mortgages, be sure to ask your lender for a "Good Faith Estimate" which outlines your likely costs when buying a home - be it a condo, townhouse, or detached single family house.

Drop me a line if you have questions (none are too dumb to ask!) or want a referral to some very trustworthy people.

Hey buyers, do you qualify for down payment assistance? Real estate prices - and especially those in areas like Edmonds - are still pretty healthy. In fact, the average home price in Edmonds for 2009 so far is $389,500.

The homebuyer downpayment assistance program is available to teachers, public employees, veterans, folks with disabilities, and more. Check out this 3-minute video for an overview and let me know if you have any questions.

EDMONDS, WA -- Edmonds lost a city community leader in Councilmember Peggy Pritchard Olson today. Until as late as last week, she was still at her job at the City Council working on behalf of the people of Edmonds.  A complete story of her passing was written up in the Seattle Times today.

- Casey

If you're thinking about how best to time the market to get the best price on a home, here's a thought: DON'T.

The overwhelming consensus is that our interest rates of 5% or so won't - and can't - last forever. They WILL go up. Once the economy rebounds and people starting getting their jobs back, growth will increase putting pressures on inflation, which increases interest rates. 

Here's a simple 3-minute cartoon video explanation as to how increased interest rates will affect your buying power.

This animated video can help you decide to buy vs. rent. It's a straightforward look at some of the pro's and con's of buying and selling. There are so many advantages - from tax deductions, to zero or reduced capital gains tax on certain profits of a future sale of your home, to simply having ownership in a community - that it's important you know before you rule it out.  Of course you will want to consult with a CPA or other financial expert to learn about your specific situation.

Don't miss out on the convergence of exceptionally low interest rates, low real estate prices, federal tax breaks for new and current homeowners and the opportunity to take ownership in your community.

EDMONDS, WA -- Seattle Times writer Lynn Thompson wrote a nice article on Edmonds, WA in the November 5, 2009 edition of the paper.  It focuses mainly on how the town has evolved and yet kept true to its past, with the shops and stores that have clustered around the downtown area.

It's worth the read.  Perhaps over some coffee or breakfast at your favorite eatery.

On Wednesday, Nov 4, the U.S. voted 98-0 to pass the expanded Homebuyer Tax Credit and yesterday, the House voted 403-12 in favor of it as well. The extended and expanded bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.  Among the bill's provisions, it will:

• extend the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit through April 30;
• create an additional $6,500 tax credit for current homeowners who have lived in their property for 5 consecutive years out of the past 8 (they must sell that home too);
• require proper documentation (aka proof) that they purchased a home on their federal tax filings.

For details, check out this summary of the tax credit changes on my Google Docs.

I've also posted a FAQ summarizing homebuyer tax credit changes for those who have further questions.

The United States Senate has passed the home buyer tax credit extension (and expansion) 98-0 and has sent it to the House of Representatives where House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has said it will likely get passed and sent to President Obama for signature. 

I thought this would be a good opportunity to share a cartoon that was developed to explain how the tax credit works. The cartoon states that the credit expires at the end of November, but we'll go on the assumption that it'll actually get extended.

EDMONDS, WA -- As I work with prospective buyers, one of the many questions that seems to come up consistently is about crime in particular neighborhoods. Every since the state of Washington required sex offenders to register, this issue has emerged as one of the more visible and often watched pieces of information in the state.

Did you know that there is a website run by the Washington Association of Sheriff and Police Chiefs that allows you to see how many (and what level) of sex offenders live in a particular area?  The good news is that this information is really easy to access. You can get sex offender living information from this link.  The bad news is that "they're everywhere."

But rather than be a cause for alarm, I think we should realize how much of an issue this is and be mindful of our surroundings and those around us.  It's our unfortunate reality these days.

Just click on the county you want to search and then click the "Search" button. You can also sign up for email alerts for your neighborhood.

I hope you find this resource valuable. But dont' let it run your life or become overly freaked out about where you live (or want to live). And don't start witch hunts!  :)

Casey