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Sep
12
Posted by Boe Lindgren
Travel + Leisure Magazine just ranked 25 cities in the United States. Seattle gets number one in a few categories.
Seattle ranks #1 for Intelligent People
Seattle ranks #1 for Summer Vacation
Seattle ranks #1 for Farmer’s and Specialty Food Markets
Seattle ranks #1 Cafes and Coffee Bars
Seattle ranks #2 in Environmental Awareness
But, Seattle ranks #23 for weather
This is a fun survey that lets us know we live in a great part of the country. Remember that when someone asks how the weather is always tell them you can’t stand it and it always rains. Otherwise we will have a terrible traffic problem…
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Sep
10
Posted by Boe Lindgren
Short sales today are on the rise and there are more coming. This creates an opportunity for investors to help a homeowner out of their situation and make some money. But, you need to be careful who you hire to work for you.
The first clue that someone is not familiar with short sales or just not being truthful is the statement “cash buyers we close in 5-7 days”. The banks have so many files there is no way to negotiate and settle in that amount of time. It takes 3-5 months, regardless of where the money is coming from. The banks need time to evaluate the situation and make the decision. This is why many experienced agents believe that a short sale purchase is not appropriate for a first time home buyer. To buy a home that is a short sale takes patience.
There are characteristics to a good short sale purchase. Many investors feel they should take every short sale that comes along. That is not true. The investor should only take the good deals that makes them money.
There are five characteristics that make a good investment deal. Any one of these should get your investor mind thinking. 1) Large 2nd mortgage, 2) an absentee owner (out of state), 3) title issues, liens, judgements, etc… 4) Million Dollar homes. These factors make for an investment that is more probable of large profit.
There are also some things to avoid. 1) no 1 or 2 bedrooms, no mobile homes, 2) Homes on the lowest end of the market, 3) The largest home in the neighborhood, overbuilt, 4) areas of mass depreciation. Avoid these things, there are too many factors that will obstruct your cash.
You also need a real estate agent that knows how to package the deal for the bank. Everything up front and in the correct stacking order. It is also a great idea to use a real estate agent that will give up some of his/her commission to work with a professional bank negotiator. These negotiators assist in the transaction helping it move faster and they usually get the buyer a better price. Negotiators know what some banks will take and what others won’t. Most importantly they know WHO to talk to at the different lending institutions.
If you would like more information about purchasing investment real estate through a short sale, give me a call (206) 391-6224 or email me at boe@ashlarrealty.com
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Sep
06
Posted by Boe Lindgren
Well I was out the other day and saw an amazing hamburger. It is called a 10-10, ten patties & ten slices of cheese for $10.10. It was such a site I took a picture and I figured it was worth sharing. Email me and I will tell you where I was…
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Sep
02
Posted by Boe Lindgren
Our place for a nice night out is El Gaucho restaurant in Seattle. The dark atmosphere and amazing steaks bring the wife and I back again and again. For more info click the link: El Gaucho
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Jun
25
Posted by Boe Lindgren
I had the privledge last Friday to have lunch at the Columbia Tower Club in Downtown Seattle. The food was great and so was the company (my wife). While I was there a snapped a few pictures.
One is looking north towards the Space Needle, you can see Magnolia sticking out and Kingston in the distance.
The other is looking south to Mount Rainier, with Boeing Field to the right and Mercer Island to the left. That is I-5 and I-90 below.
What a great place, the Stratus Lounge is located on the 75th floor of the tallest building West of the Mississippi. There is a total of 76 floors, and that is where I took these shots.
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Jun
25
Posted by Boe Lindgren
“O.B. Members, Just in from Jake, via the strawberry fields….the strawberries will not be available this Saturday as planned. They are not quite ripe yet. Stay tuned for further updates. Tom, Keeper of the Scrolls. ”
The strawberry are later this year due to the colder weather in Washington. Every year as a fund raiser the Nile Shrine Oriental Band sells strawberries (and blueberries) to the local community.
