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My Last Blog of 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

by Stephanie Dawson

As I sit at my desk on the last day of this year thinking back on 2008, I amazed by what a wild ride it was. It is very different than how I pictured it would go, but overall it was not as bad as I had thought it could be, in regards to real estate.

We saw so many changes here in Washington State – from our Sonics leaving and our Seattle teams underperforming; the stock market roller coaster, economic recession, bailouts, housing market dip, economic stimulus packages and great loan rates; to the increase in food prices, ups and downs of fuel prices, and the Boeing strikes and job losses; to the Olympics in Beijing, and the grueling election and final selection of a new President to manage our country. Was 2008 the year you thought it would be, or were you surprised by what we had?

2008 proved to be a difficult year for many sellers struggling to sell their home for maximum dollar and move on to the next chapter of their lives. Throughout 2008, both King and Pierce Counties had more homes on the market than they did in 2007. Perhaps more sellers wanted to take advantage of buying in this buyer’s market, so they put their homes up for sale. Other sellers had plans of selling their home to retire and relocate; some needed to relocate for their jobs; and others needed to sell their investment properties. While not every seller experienced success in selling this year, NWMLS statistics show that as of December 1^st, 2008, there were 56,864 property sales in the Puget Sound over the first eleven months of the year. This shows that people did buy homes in 2008, despite what the media tells us. NWMLS data shows that as of December 1^st, 2008, there are currently 69,905 properties still for sale in the Puget Sound area.

This year was an excellent one for home buyers – especially first-time home buyers. I had more buyer sales than seller sales in 2008 and I have a feeling that this trend will continue through 2009 as home prices dip lower into the first-time home buyer price range. On average, my home buyer clients paid 96.43% of the seller’s asking price, at the time we wrote the offer. It was a very good time to be a buyer, and it still is today!

I remained optimistic throughout 2008, and I think that is what attracted my clients and me to one another. While 2008 did not prove to be my very best year in business, it was still a good one and I credit that to the many wonderful clients I had the opportunity to work with. I am very thankful to have met some really incredible buyers and sellers this year, and I am honored that they selected me as their real estate advisor for their real estate needs. When I look back at this past year it is the people I remember, and it is these wonderful clients that make up my happy memories of 2008.

Although things won’t change overnight, I am filled with hope that 2009 will be a good year. It will be another year of adjustments as we re-price listings to the current market price, and I’m sure that buyers and home owners alike will benefit from the low loan rates and the new loan programs that will be unveiled in 2009.

My wish for you and your family is for 2009 to be a fantastic year of new beginnings, filled with happiness, love, excellent health, blessings, and fun experiences. Happy New Year, everyone!!

Fun Facts About Washington State!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

by Stephanie Dawson

I was recently given a list of fun facts about Washington. I didn't know all of this about our wonderful state and thought you might be able to pick up some fun trivia here, too!

Washington is America’s coffee capital with more coffee bean roasters per capita than any other state.
“The Wave,” a popular fan cheer for the past 25 years, was started by Husky fans at the University of Washington. (I used to work with "Captain Husky" at PACCAR, years ago)
Washington State is the nation’s largest exporter, representing 34 billion dollars and 5% of all US exports which includes forest products, aerospace products, apples, tulips, hops, mint, wheat and several other quality food products.
The first revolving restaurant in the U.S. was built in Seattle for the 1962 World’s Fair and is located at the top of the Space Needle. It's called Sky City.
The State is home to the world’s largest private car collection featuring over 3,000 vehicles.
Grand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in North America, is located in Washington State.
Washington’s residents are educated with the most residents holding high school diplomas than any other state. Seattle leads the country in residents with more college degrees per capita.
The Boeing Plant, located in Everett, is the world’s largest building - able to fit 74 football fields inside!
The State is home to the world’s largest private car collection featuring over 3,000 vehicles.
In Washington, a Seahawk is an athlete, not a bird. The closest thing to a "seahawk" is an osprey hawk.
Washington, the 42nd state in the union, is the only state named for a president.
Washington produces 70% of the nation’s hops used to brew beer.
With 37” annually, Seattle gets less rainfall than Atlanta, Boston, New York, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, or Washington D.C. (Shhhhh! Don’t pass this one around!)
Washington’s Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America, deeper than the Grand Canyon at over 5,500 feet deep.
Homegrown musicians include Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Kenny G, The Wailers, Pat Boone, Bing Crosby, Quincy Jones and American Idol runner-up, Blake Lewis.
Petrified wood is the state’s gem. There is a petrified forest in the state that is considered the most unusual fossil forest in the world.
Washington State defines innovation. Some of the leading companies include Microsoft, Amazon, Nordstrom, REI, Boeing, PACCAR, Costco and Starbucks.
More people in Seattle commute to work on bicycles than any other city in the nation.
Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson is a Washington native (...and when I worked at Kinko's in the mid 1990's, we printed his retirement part invitations!)
Washington has hosted the World’s Fair twice...1962 in Seattle and 1974 in Spokane.
The longest accessible beach in the U.S. is in Washington. The 28 mile long stretch is aptly named Long Beach.
Washington’s cows produce more milk per cow than any other state, totaling 1.3 billion pounds of milk each year.
The State’s nickname is the Evergreen State for its abundant evergreen forests.
Washington has the largest ferry system in the nation; 26 million passengers travel by ferry each year.
The State is America’s raspberry capital harvesting more than 57 million pounds of raspberries each year.
Washington is the nation’s top apple producing state with 10-12 billion apples handpicked annually.
Seattle sells more sunglasses per capita than any major city in the nation (probably because we have enough time between between sunny days, that we lose them and have to buy 'em again!)

And one last thing to share with you. As a little girl, my dad would read me the L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz books every night at bedtime. I really enjoyed these moments with my dad, and the books were so enjoyable to read. Like nearly everyone, I grew up watching "The Wizard of Oz" movie and sequel "Return to Oz". One thing that would always confuse me was when Dorothy approached the Emerald City: it looked nothing like Seattle! There was no Space Needle!! As a child, it was hard for me to understand that this was a different city than the nickname we've given Seattle. :)