April 2017

If you understand what can go wrong in a real estate transaction, you will carefully hire the right person instead of the next nice agent you meet at an open house or your friend who just got her license. Contact us for more details about what's at stake but here are a few things: losing thousands of dollars in earnest money, losing the best interest rate or paying more to "lock" a loan that has expired, losing on an appraisal, being homeless after you gave your landlord notice but your sale falls through, losing the home you love in a multiple offer situation, losing your mind because you never know exactly what's going on while you plan to move your entire household and lifetime of belongings. Do we have your attention now? 

THREE BEST QUESTIONS

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Do your due dilligence when looking for the best lender that will meet your needs.  Consider these five steps to help you weed out potential time and money wasters so that you can feel secure and confident in your decision when choosing the right lender:  

1. Terminate the Time-Wasters:  Find the right lender that will lend hard money on the properties you are interested in.
2. Do Your Homework:  Do a thorough background check, research their qualifications and reputation.
3. Trust the Set-In-Stone Standards:  A trustworthy lender will stick closely with the industry standards of lending. If it is "too good to be true" then it propably isn't a good deal.
4. Read the Fine Print:  Lenders on the up and up will always be up-front about their costs

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Looking to remodel your bathroom?   Here are some funny and unusual ideas for those that have as sense of humor and want to shock their guests:   For the fish lover   For the business person   Ummm...?   Literally, a throne   For more creative ideas, check out "A Throne for Every Man and Woman"     

"We could float among the stars together, You and I..."  Rememer the 1967 smash hit "Up Up & Away" by the famous music group The 5th Dimension?  Here is your opportunity to bring the lyrics of this song to life!   The Arial Balloon Company is loctated in Snohomish, Washington where you can go on hot air balloon rides.  Check out some of the flights they offer:

• Sunrise Flight:  About 60-90 minutes of air time  $199/person
• Sunset Flight:   About 45-60 minutes of air time  $219/person
• Romance Aloft: Only you and your special guest (along with pilot) will be onbard.  Flown just before sunset to experience the romantic glow of the evening sun.  The ride concludes with your pilot presenting you with one dozen roses and a sparking beverage toast!

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Many homeowners who are contemplating selling their homes are planning to scale down.  Let's take a look at some advantages of downsizing and learn why sometimes "Less is More":  

• Downsizing can lead to living a simpler lifestyle, allowing for more time to focus on family, travel, and yourself.   
• A smaller home means less space, but it also means less time, stress, and money spent on upkeep.  
• Use the proceeds from selling your current home to put a larger amount down on a smaller one. Can you imagine cutting your mortgage in half or eliminating it all together?  Perhaps this would allow you to buy that vacation home you've always wanted or free up funds to invest in other real estate properties.

Downsizing may not have been what

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You just survived tax season and now is the time to start thinking about how to plan for the next year.  What if there were ways to actually help you save money with your taxes?   Of course you will want to consult with your Tax Advisor but here are some starting points to think about:  

1. Invest in rehab/rental property for a steady cash flow.  Depreciation and mortgage interest deductions should allow you to leverage your capital, potentially allowing the cash flow on rental real estate investments to be tax-free.
2. Increasd tax deductions may come into play if you have rental or retail real estate investments as a business. This may provide you with the opportuunity to use personal expenses as potentialy valid business deducitons.

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Let's say you are residing within the City of Snohomish, did you know it is required that all dogs be licensed? 

Just in case you were wondering why you should get your dog licensed, here are some good reasons that just may convince you:

1. It's the law. Most states require you license your pet, otherwise you could be charaged hefty fines. Not to mention the cost of the license is far less than the fines!
2. If your dog goes missing, having him licensed drastically improves your chances of getting him back.
3. Licensing lets people know that your dog is up to date on its rabies vaccinations.
4. License fees support the efforts of many local animal shelters!

For those residing in the City of Snohomish, you can go online to access the

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"I'm not a Texan or a Kansas City Slicker.  I'm a Snohomish County kid.  What I know about epic barbecue I learned from my dad, who learned from his dad, my Tar Heel grandpappy from North Carolina."  Joel Sexton, Owner / J&L BBQ

 

Wow - you've got to check this place out!  Conveniently located near the Snohomish Historic Downtown District, they offer classic BBQ such as pork ribs, beef brisket & pulled pork.  Then, there are all the sides, cole slaw, baby reds & gravy, corn bread, potato salad, baked beans, and more.  Oh my, now I'm hungry!

SOURCE:  J&L BBQ

ABOUT SNOHOMISH

Snohomish is located about 8 miles SE of Everett.  There is something for everyone in Snohomish; from the historic district downtown to all of the up and coming new…

Skydive Snohomish is located at Historic Harvey Field in Snohomish, Washington.  Where, in the early 1950's, skydiving evolved into an organized sport.  They are a family-owned and operated, full-service skydiving operation specializing in the first-skydive experience.   Here is a Testimonial from one of the first-time skydivers:  
"Unequivocally the most fun I have EVER had in my life was had at Skydive Snohomish on my 43rd birthday. Experiencing 120mph of gravitational pull at 13,000 ft. above ground, is THE place to be! The sheer exhilaration of the dive was enough to make for the best day ever but it was made impossibly better by the entire staff and top notch operation at Skydive Snohomish."  A. Thiessen
Wow! Doesn't that sound…

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have an elderly parent coming to live with you?  
• Do you want to offer a private suite for your overnight guests or perhaps have an extra room for Airbnb?  
• Do you have a significant other that snores and you want to get a good night's rest in your own room?   

There are several good reasons for adding a second master suite on to your home, two of which are the added value and comfort. Trends are showing there in an increased need for homes with multiple master suites.  The days of there being a stigma about couples sleeping apart are fading away.  Couples may start sleeping apart in their older age for many reasons, such as insonmia or snoring.  Having your own room just may be the secret to a

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