Edgewood Undressed

Stone Ridge Senior Living – June construction

Here are a couple of shots from different angles.   This looks to be the main building of the complex. 

After the holiday weekend I’m planning on stopping by and asking about timing for completion.

Real Estate listings – with fun pets

I’ve done it again !!  Found some great pets at a property I was showing.  This is just the best area to live in.  You can be minutes from a freeway that can get you into the big city in less than an hour, yet your living the farming life.

Goats and bunnies outside and baby chicks in the bedroom, what fun !!!

Oh !!  I almost forgot…be careful of goats, they’ll try to chew on anything.  Even cameras.

Selling Real Estate – You meet some great pets

This is my new friend  )   his name is Bam Bam.  He’s a 62 lb Bob Cat.  Yes, I said he’s a real live Bob Cat….teeth and all. 

I’ve actually got a picture of him yawning so you can see the teeth.  He really is friendly.  All though the first time he started to purr at me I thought he was growling and I must have jumped about 6 feet back.  He had poked his nose out of the cage so I could pet him.  So of course I did.  And just like any other cat he started to purr and rolled over so I could scratch his tummy. I’ll post some of the better shots so you can see how friendly he is.

He currently lives at a property I just sold.  So he’ll be moving soon.

Sometimes you really do meet the most interesting people and their pets while you’re showing their homes.

If anyone else has a real interesting pet and needs to sell their house just let me know.  I love animals.  I promise to take extra care with your pet.

Milton: Stone Ridge Senior Living, Ground Breaking Ceremony

Thursday afternoon I went to the official ground breaking ceremony for the Stone Ridge Senior Living Community in Milton, WA. Some of the actual earthwork construction has already started, but this was the official kick off. The first photo that I’ve posted is Tom Pierson the CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce welcoming all the guests.

The welcome was followed by Pastor Dwayne Neal from the Faith Family Church in Milton giving an opening prayer. The Flag presentation was done by Chuck Whitney and members of VFW Post 11401.

This was followed by the introduction of the Ownership Group which includes the following people: Robert Lloyd, Tom Reynolds, Bob Couper, and John Harder.

The second photo includes the invited speakers as they did their shovel work. The lady on the left is Katrina Asay, Mayor of Milton. The gentlemen in the middle who moved behind a hard hat at just the wrong moment is Pete von Reichbauer, King County Council Member. The gentlemen that you can see is Jack Dovey the Mayor of Federal Way.

The rendering they had of the project was beautiful. This will be a great addition to our community. Unlike the average retirement community Stone Ridge will be on a month-to-month rental basis. That will relieve the stress of having a buy-in fee or the commitment of a long term lease.

If you would like to review my original article: Stone Ridge Senior Living click here

FHA Loan Limit Increase

Effective today March 5, 2008 the FHA has increased the loan limits on Single Family Home Mortgage loans. The maximums are decided by the county the property is in.

King County $567,500

Pierce County $567,500

Kitsap County $475,000

This should help a large number of people needing to refinance out of an Adjustable Rate loan with a large balance. FHA along with having lower down payment/equity requirements also is a bit more forgiving with credit requirements and issues. Anyone needing assistance on making a decision to complete a refinance please email me and I can offer references to a number of excellent lenders in the area.

President Bush: U.S. is not headed for a recession

During a new conference this morning at the White House. The President said that he believes we are not headed for a recession. He acknowledges the slowing growth but, he went on to say that Congress should wait for the stimulus package that was just passed to take effect before they do anything else.

If everyone keeps running around continually saying we’re going to have a recession or that we’re already in one. We will force it upon ourselves. If you tell yourself something enough times you’ll start believing it and make it come true. Remember the media is in the business to sell news. Bad news sells.

To view the entire article on MSNBC Click Here

Interest Rates are cut again

The Federal Reserve cut another half-point off interest rates again yesterday.  This time the Commercial banks followed suit by lowering their prime rate.  As with all the previous cuts everyone is looking for it to shore up the slump in the housing market.  Along with helping the economy show some growth.

The real estate market in parts of the country are far worse than the Pacific Northwest.  For the most part we still have our properties appreciating.  Not by leaps and bounds as it was a few years ago, but steady.  Sales are slow but still happening.   Spring is just around the corner and hopefully as historically happens sales will bloom.

Stone Ridge Senior Living

Last week when it was nice and sunny I went for a drive.  I took some shots of the construction site of the Stone Ridge Senior Living Center.  If you look carefully you can see Mt Rainier between the trees.  The views from the units when the project is complete will be much better.    I was standing in a dip in the road and was unable to get past the locked gate on the site.

When construction is completed there will be 29 Independent Living Cottages, 110 apartments in the Assisted Living building.  They will be a mix of studio, and 1 or 2 bedroom units.  There will also be 16 Memory Care (Alzhimeirs units).

I spoke to a representative today and was told that completion is slated for the Fall of 2008.  They will be opening an on site office approximately 6 months prior to completion.  I’ve been placed on the information mailing list so I’ll be regularly updated on the progress.  Prices of the units have not been published at this time.   As soon as I receive any updated information I’ll be passing it along.

The project is located at the corner of S 376th St and Milton Rd S.  It’s about a mile or so south of Enchanted Village/Wild Waves.

Mt. Rainier what a view

“The mountains out”  is a phrase that was heard around here a lot this past week.  It’s something that people who have lived in this area along time say when we finally get a clear day after weeks of overcast skies.  You can look to the direction of Mt Rainier and actually see her.  It’s a beautiful site.

I was out driving around on Tuesday afternoon and had to stop and take a couple of shots.  The first one is from the corner of 20th & 70th in Fife heading to Milton.  The second was on Valley Ave leaving Fife toward Puyallup.

In person the views are much better.  Reviewing the photos on the computer when I got home makes me want to run out and get a new camera.   I will soon, then I’ll go out and retake the shots from the same spots and compare the sets.

Living in the Pacific Northwest is great.  We have such a variety of things to do.  A mix of sports, we have all the basics, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, equestrian events, the snow sports, skiing etc and then all the water sports.   We have all the fresh water and ocean events.  The University of Washington  has all the same rowing programs the the Ivy League schools back east have.   Our lakes are great.  I know plenty of people that during the summer months get up 2 hours early and go water skiing before going into the office.   I’m not much of a fisherman so I can’t comment from experience, but I’ve heard its great.

We also have all the cultural basics Symphony, ballet, opera, theatre.  We actually have a wider range here since we have the all the different Indian tribal culture to draw from.  They have beautiful art work along with their music and dance traditions.

In a couple of weeks I’ll be starting a series of articles about different things to do in the area.  Places to go, things to do.  It’ll cover the general Western Washington area.  It could be a day trip event or just a couple of hours. 

Economic Stimulus Package moving forward

Yesterday we heard that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republican leader John Boehner and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson finally agreed on a package to pump up to $150 billion into the economy.

The plan will go to the House next week and then move to the Senate.  We are already seeing statements in the press about Senators wanting to make additions and changes. 

I hope that this doesn’t get hung up due to infighting over add ons for special interests.

For some people the payments don’t sound like much, $600 for individuals, $1200 per couple plus extra per each child.  But, if your unemployed and extra $600 could be the difference between eating or paying the heat bill.

Anyone with an extra minute could send an email into Congress and request that the bill move forward without delay.