Immaculate Rambler on nearly 10 acres! Just thru the gated entry- a slice of private paradise. Situated atop a knoll on almost 10 acres, this 3bedroom, 2.75ba immaculate rambler beams with pride of ownership. Inside are generous spaces including an entertainment size kitchen w/eating space, a separate dining room, living room and family room each with cozy gas fireplace. Attached 3 car garage AND detached 3bay shop/RV/Boat parking. Covered back aggregate patio for “any season” bbq’ing. Standby 13KW *natural gas* generator means you’ll always have power!

List Price: $750,000 <–HUGE price drop!!!

MLS#: 4913

Address: 12711 238th St SE, Snohomish, WA 98296

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.75

Square Feet: 2750

Price/Sq. Ft: $345.45

Year Built: 1996

Taxes: $7,289 (2009 Tax Year)

Heat Source/Type: Gas / Forced Air; 2 Fireplaces / Gas

School District: Monroe
High-Resolution Slideshow

Call Lisa Bender at 425-770-4438 or Jesse Moore at 425.876.0766 or Dennis Pearce at 206.931.9945 for more information.

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Tags: acreage, Echo Lake, rambler, shop

I just listened to a great call with an eye towards what we can expect in the year 2010 in the housing and rate market.  A great point was brought up about the cost of waiting.  Right now the government has pushed some major incentives into the market.  In December of 2008 the government announced a purchasing program that pushed rates roughly 1% lower than where they were the previous month, and had been for almost a year.

The Government is also allowing for a TRUE TAX CREDIT of $8000 for first time home buyers that is set to expire in April.  These 2 things can make a huge difference for a first time home buyer.  If you wait to buy and rates go up the roughly 1% that most experts are forecasting, you would be looking at a cost of about 5% of your loan amount upfront to buy down your mortgage rate back down to current levels, on a $200,000 loan that is $10,000.  Add to that the loss of the tax rebate, that is nearly $20,000, or about 10% of the purchase amount.  A more impressive number is the lifetime cost of a mortgage that is 1% higher than the available rate today.  The 30 year cost of a $200,000 loan with a 1% rate increase is $45,000.

This is a call to action, if you are debating buying your first house, or moving up to a larger home, please consider the cost of waiting.

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Tags: buyer, tax credit, thoughts

Here in Washington state, we are accustomed to paying an excise/state sales tax when we purchase goods. Interestingly enough, when it comes to the most significant acquisition most of us will make, the seller, rather than the purchaser, covers the taxes.

Currently, the base Washington state excise tax rate is 1.28%, with each county adding on their own percentage for a total that fluctuates somewhat by area. Snohomish and King County excise taxes (in most areas) are at a .50 rate,  bringing the grand total to 1.78% of the purchase price.

An obvious question if you’re a distressed home seller would be, “who exactly pays this tax in the event of a short sale?”  In most cases, the burden falls to the bank that is carrying the mortgage to ‘eat’ that cost, along with the other costs associated with selling a home.

For a brief time at the beginning of 2009, some sellers were required to pay excise tax on the amount of the shortage (the difference between what they owed, and what they were able to sell their property for in a declining market). Sellers in this category may now be eligible for a refund of excise taxes. Use the following link to download the required excise tax refund application form.

Should you have detailed questions about Real Estate Excise Tax (aka REET) or short sales, we will happily refer you to a CPA and/or attorney who can further assist you. Give us a ring, or send us an email for a referral list to professionals who specialize in these issues.

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Tags: excise tax, seller, short sale

One of the most frustrating forms of a real estate transaction of late is the “short sale.” We’ve had a lot of questions lately about this kind of sale, so I want to address some of the primary questions and myths.

1) A boy named Sue: There are a lot of misconceptions about short sales, starting with their name. A “short sale” is not a denotation of time – short sales actually take a long time to close. A short sale is a real estate transaction where the seller owes more for the property than the property is currently worth. In other words, the seller doesn’t have any equity and in order to sell, the bank is going to have to agree to accepting less than what they’re owed. For example, John Doe bought a property in 2007 for $380,000. It’s now 2010, and the local real estate market has tumbled. In a “choose-your-own-adventure” twist, let’s say that John (1) got divorced, (2) lost his job, (3) is transferred out of state, (4) develops a medical condition that forces a move, or (5) simply can’t afford his home anymore. John’s house is now worth $340,000, and since closing costs for most sellers run about 9% of the purchase price, if he was able to sell his home for $340,000 his net proceeds would be $340,000 (sales price) – $30,600 (closing costs), or $309,400. John owes the bank $380,000, so in order to sell, either John has to come up with $70,600 (which he doesn’t have), or (more likely) the bank is going to have to accept $70,600 less than what they are owed. The bank is going to end up short – so, this is a short sale.

2) Mr. & Mrs. Scott Free…: For a seller, deciding to sell your home as a short sale is not an easy one, and so we are always going to encourage our clients to consult with a bankruptcy attorney and their financial adviser. The primary benefits of a short sale to a seller will be reflected in their credit report – if they want to buy a home again in the next 2-3 years, then a short sale will be less damaging to their credit than a foreclosure and/or bankruptcy. The other benefit is simply timing – due to the overwhelming amount of short sales in recent history, the government has instituted The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act which runs through 2012. Under the provisions of this act, sellers that short sale their home will be forgiven the potential tax burden that would otherwise occur because of debt forgiveness. For example, if the bank forgave John Doe (in the example above) a debt of $70,000, the IRS would normally treat that as taxable income, and now John Doe owes taxes on the amount the bank forgave. Because of The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, this forgiven debt will not be taxed, and John won’t owe taxes because of it. There are exceptions to this act, which is why we encourage our clients to speak to their lawyer and their financial adviser. Still – the primary benefit of selling a home as a short sale is that it can be less damaging to your credit.

3) …or not? Why wouldn’t I sell my home as a short sale? While the bank may agree to accept less to get the property sold, this doesn’t always leave the seller off the hook for the remainder of the balance. Indeed, there are cases where foreclosure is a better option for clients than a short sale (in short, talk to a lawyer and your financial adviser). If the bank (or banks) has agreed to a short sale, they’ll often forgive most of the debt, and may ask the the seller to sign a promissory note for a lesser amount, perhaps in the form of an interest-free or low-interest long-term loan. In a short sale the seller may not get off completely scott-free, and may have remaining debt after the sale of the home. Still, this debt will generally be much less than the amount forgiven.

4) I want to sell my home as a short sale – what should I know and do? Contact a bankruptcy attorney and discuss your options (if you don’t currently have a bankruptcy attorney, call us for a referral to one). It might cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it could save your credit and a lot of pain and suffering. Contact a financial adviser to see how a short sale or bankruptcy would affect your assets and the future of your assets. Contact a listing agent that has experience marketing short sale properties, and make sure that they work with an experienced negotiator that is going to negotiate on your behalf with the bank. Be prepared – this is usually a long and frustrating process, but working with a team of capable people will save you some suffering. We have enough experience to know what banks will and won’t pay for, and which banks are going to take a long time (national franchise banks) and those that might respond more quickly (local banks).

5) Who pays the real estate agents? And the excise tax? We don’t work for free (not on purpose anyway), and the State of Washington is going to want their 1.78% excise tax on the sale of your home, so a lot of people wonder how these get paid in a short sale transaction. For the most part the bank pays these fees. They usually negotiate these fees down, so the real estate agents might make a little less, and the buyer might have to kick in a little money to get the bank to move forward to closing. The State of Washington doesn’t forgive excise tax easily, so the banks have to pay excise tax if they’ve agreed to a short sale.

6) I’ve heard buying a short sale can be a great value. They can be, but for a buyer, there’s nothing short about a short sale. The process can take 6 weeks or 6 months (even longer – one of our short sales took 2 years!). The seller doesn’t have any money, so the properties usually aren’t in great condition and they aren’t going to be paying for any repairs. Yes – there is value to be had, but only for the patient. If you’re looking for a real value, focus on bank-owned properties. There’s a reason banks agree to short sales – on average short sale properties cost the bank about 15% less than if they were to take that same property through the entire foreclosure process.

Moral of the story: if you’re thinking about selling your home as a short sale (or if you’re a buyer thinking of purchasing a short sale property), you need to call us. Everyone’s situation is different, so the internet won’t give you the answers you need. Let us sit down with you and go over your options. We’re happy to help even if we don’t end up listing your property. Leave us a message at (425) 502-5397 or email us at info(at)pickettstreet.com.

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Tags: excise tax, short sale, thoughts

By now you’ve probably heard: The $8,000 Tax Credit has been extended!

And you’re thinking, “I’ve been wanting to buy a home… maybe there’s something to this procrastination thing, after all.” In this case, you’d be right; The last go-round provided up to $8,000 to homebuyers who had not owned a home in the past 3 years, and whose income was $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.

In recognition of your patience and wisdom, you are now eligible for the Sweetened Deal: For home purchases occurring after November 6, 2009, the new income limits are $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Be prepared to prove it!

Due to the very real potential for fraud, you will be required to prove that you have not owned a home in the last 3 years, however, the credit can be allocated to the person who has not owned previously, in cases where parents are assisting with a purchase, or where one member of an unmarried couple has previously owned.

Saving for a downpayment?

Another element of the new version is that it allows prospective home buyers who believe they qualify for the tax credit to reduce their income tax withholding. Reducing tax withholding (up to the amount of the credit) will enable the buyer to accumulate cash by raising his/her take home pay. This money can then be applied to the downpayment.

Keep the Cabin!

Also of note is that ownership of a vacation home, or rental property that was not used as a primary residence, does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.

Upgrade your digs.

The most significant change to the ‘bonus round’ homebuyer tax credit is the addition of a ‘move-up buyer’ credit. This provision allows for a tax credit of up to $6,500 to homebuyers who have lived in the same residence for 5 of the last 8 years, on purchases up to $800,000.

You’re Not from Around Here?

Anyone who is not a nonresident alien (as defined by the IRS) and who has owned and resided in a principal residence in the United States for at least five consecutive years of the eight years prior to the purchase date can claim the tax credit if they meet the income limits.

Get Educated.

The income limits for move-up buyers are the same as for first-timers, and the allowable credit amount is graduated at the same rate, so please speak with your accountant for details on how your specific situation may be affected.

Some Restrictions Apply.

In order to qualify, all purchases- both first-time and move-up, must be completed on or before April 30, 2010 (or purchased by June 30, 2010 with a binding sales contract signed by April 30, 2010).

The Fine Print.

If you’re considering purchasing a home, and want to take a look at the tax credit qualification and application process, here’s a link to download the IRS Form 5405

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Tags: buyer, seller, tax credit, thoughts

Among the many contentious issues of our day, the concept of being ‘environmentally conscious’, certainly strikes a few hot buttons for some. This post isn’t going to explore the politics of Al Gore, or Rush Limbaugh, because, controversial as that subject may be, there’s just not enough space to do the topic justice, and frankly, I don’t find it that interesting.

My personal angle on the Green Movement tends to slant more toward the practicalities of implementation, and looking at the cost/benefit balance for long term value. Given the condition of our current economy, and the impact of rising energy prices, and prices overall, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say everybody’s looking for ways to save money.

From that perspective, the question becomes one of whether it’s more practical to save money now (which frequently means either making do with less, or doing nothing), or to take the preventive and holistic steps that provide for long term cost and resource savings through conservation, thoughtful design, and practical implementation of new home-building technologies.

The Green Movement is really just a convenient handle for the overarching conversation that revolves around the management and distribution of resources within a given community, and attempts to provide quantifiable benefits for the conscious, thoughtful, holistic use of those resources.

The holistic view can be overwhelming but done well, it brings together the critical elements of a home: location (both within the community, and the specific site), materials usage, durability, water management/usage, power usage, lighting, walkability/transportation, and landscaping to name a few.

As resources in our finite world become increasingly difficult to procure, and consequently more expensive, finding cost-effective ways to recycle old materials into new products, and avoiding the dead end of landfills, will become yet another major industry- as we’re already seeing in many third-world countries. It’s not a matter of ‘if’, this is truly a direction all developed nations are already heading towards- from mining turkey carcasses for oil, to reinventing formica countertops- the race is already on for renewable solutions to our most challenging environmental questions.

There are an endless array of opportunities within this shift, some of which have been proposed as elements of a recession-ending strategy, and others that feel truly sci-fi.

Having recently earned my Realtor, Green Designation, I find this topic to be an endless source of ideas and look forward to implementing as much as I can in my own home. If you have questions or ideas about green construction, I’d love to chat.

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Tags: Dennis, designation, environmental, green