Bremerton : Silverdale : Port Orchard : Poulsbo

www.722WallinStreet.com

 

$169,000

• MLS #121110

• 1 Story Ranch
• 3 Bedrooms
• 1 Bath
• 962 Square Feet
• Private Fully Fenced
  
• Lots of Parking 

Presented by Homefront Realty

360-830-6195

Ranch on private lot located on a nice residential street. Original oak hardwoods just uncovered ready for finishing or install your carpet. Nice fireplace as focal point of over-sized living room. Large eat-in kitchen with newer oak cabinets and all appliances. Three bedrooms all with oak hardwood and large closets. One bedroom could be used as a formal dining room with slider to the covered patio. Lots of parking - 1 single car plus attached carport. Washer/Dryer stay too!

 

 

Today I will at a scream of a deal over in the Manette area of Bremreton.  This home is at the end of a very quiet non-thru road and looks out to a private natural wooded area. 

Totally remodeled with attention to detail from the longer lasting metal roof to the cement plank siding this home shows its value. Inside there are vaulted ceilings in the living area and the master bedroom, stylish white vinyl windows and a slider to the over-sized backyard. 

Lots of storage in closets and in the attic area.  Stop by and see me today!

 

2221 Soundview Ave NE, Bremerton WA

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a preservationist.  I love older architecture and currently own a home that was built in 1941.  My home has almost been unchanged over the years.  I have been spending the last few years just restoring it without changing the era design.

So to know that the Manette Bridge was to be replaced was kind of sad for me.  The Manette bridge is 80 years old and has a personality of its own.  Although it is still safe to drive across it is aging.  There is extensive rust - almost an inch think in places and the concrete footings are corroded by the saltwater of the Port Washington Narrows.  I understand that for safety reasons it must be done.

The Manete Bridge replacement will be a year-and-half-long project that has just started.  It will be interesting to watch the construction process.  It will also be interesting when there is a 4 month closure next summer.  Once the new bridge opens the old structure will be dismantled. 

The new Manette Bridge will be pedestrian friendly which will be a real needed improvement.  I am also pleased that they are going to incorporate the green color of the existing bridge into the new bridge. 

I also think that at the east end of the bridge the proposed "roundabout" will really improve the traffic flow and really enhance that intersection.

You really have to look at the Flickr stream - Manette Bridge Replacement

Also, here is a video of what the Manette Roundabout will look like - Manette Roundabout

Here is a video I took driving over the bridge a couple of years ago. 

 

Week seventeen- A weeks worth of market data for the Port Orchard real estate community. Here is the real estate market data between Monday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 8th.

Each week I will give an update that will include the previous week, Monday through Sunday. Might be fun. Hope you have a great week! If you need any real estate help just let me know - call the office 360-830-6195, or my cell 360-990-1433 or send a text to 360-990-1433 or email me.

I would love to help you with your real estate needs.

 

 

Port Orchard Real Estate Market Residential homes on the market - 551

Pending this last week - 21 [up 3]

Sold/Closed this last week - 8 [down 1]

Looks like the ending of the tax credit is going to start showing in the weekly stats. Click to see the Port Orchard housing market for the last 7 days - new listings and pending, pending inspection.

Sorry - a couple of days late.

 

Week sixteen- A weeks worth of market data for the Port Orchard real estate community. Here is the real estate market data between Monday, July 26th through Sunday, August 1st.

Each week I will give an update that will include the previous week, Monday through Sunday. Might be fun. Hope you have a great week!

If you need any real estate help just let me know - call the office 360-830-6195, or my cell 360-990-1433 or send a text to 360-990-1433 or email me. I would love to help you with your real estate needs.

 

Port Orchard Real Estate Market Residential homes on the market - 553 [down 13 from last week]

Pending this last week - 18 [up 5]

Sold/Closed this last week - 8 [down 2]

Looks like the ending of the tax credit is going to start showing in the weekly stats. Click to see the Port Orchard housing market for the last 7 days - new listings and pending, pending inspection.

 

Manette Homes For Sale in Bremerton - Manette is one of the special neighborhoods in Bremerton.  Being so close to the water, some homes with views and some homes with water access make the neighborhood very popular. 

 

 

Today there are 22 homes for sale between the prices of $133,00 and $749,000. The average price is $269,545.  A couple homes are new construction and a couple built in the 1940's add to the variety of the choices.  If you would like the list just send me an email and I will send you the property detail pages.

 

 

 

Manette in East Bremerton is just across the Port Washington Narrows waterway via the historic Manette Bridge from downtown Bremerton. Manette is considered one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the Bremerton City limits. The community has been branded the "Sausalito of the Northwest" by former Mayor Cary Bozeman and Congressman Norm Dicks.

I love the quirkiness of the Manette area. There is a business district that is within walking distance to many homes, there are several view areas where you can watch the ferries come into Bremerton or the sail boats dancing back betweein here and Port Orchard.

In years past the home prices in the Manette really soared and so you might have been priced out. Being the hot market area inside the city limits you had to really be quick to pick up a home. Things today have changed. Prices are down and there have been some amazing opportunities.

Take a drive with me or scroll down and take a tour on your won with Google Street View.

Check out the local media's talk about what goes on in Manette

A celebration in true Manette style

Manette: Bremerton's cool, quirky side

Manette Street View

View Larger Map

Schools | Bremerton School District #101

Elementary: Armin Jahr Elementary (buyer of course to verify)

Junior High: Mountain View Middle School

High School: Bremerton Senior High School

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Copyright © 2008 - 2010 West Sound Live!

The West Sound Live Team selling homes in Bremeton, Port Orchard, Silverdale
and anywhere Kitsap County

| HomeFront Realty | 
(360) 830-6195 Office | (206) 333-0356 eFax | Licensed Washington Broker | Office Independently Owned and Operated.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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LEAVING ON A JET PLANE......

That's the song that I sing when my husband heads out on a deployment. Yep, he is in the Navy but I have never had the pleasure of being involved with a Navy command. We have spent all of our years together hanging out with the Marine Corps.

Deployment can be a very difficult time in a military family's life so; we have to find the positives. Saving all the deployment pay is one! The first tour to Iraq that my husband went on was my first deployment experience as a military spouse. I knew a little about the extra pays and was eager to learn more. I did pay attention at the Deployment Brief. I took all the pamphlets and brochures I could carry. I remember the LtCol standing at the front of the meeting room leaning on the overhead projector and emphasizing about our budgets. He had projected up on the screen the extra pays that our spouses were going to receive.

 

• Hostile Fire Pay (HFP)/Imminent Danger Pay (IDP). $225.00 a month (HFP/IDP)
• Family Separation Allowance $250.00 (FSH OR FSA)
• Hardship Duty Pay-Location $100.00(HDP-L). Indicated as Save Pay on the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
• Depending on the Command and the Branch of Service the service member usually gets to keep their BAS - Basic Allowance for Subsistence -

  Enlisted: $323.87 a month

  Officers: $223.04 a month

 

That is a TON of extra pay!! But the bottom line gets even better because all the pay while deployed out side the country in several tax free zones is just that TAX FREE!!!!!

Now that does add up. Depending on the length of deployment you could end up with a pretty nice chuck of change for the purchase of a house, condo or vacant land. Remember how important it is for Military members to own real estate!!

 

 

 

Upon return service members usually receive per-diem pay too - that rounds around $3.50 per day and adds up too!!

So add this all together and you could be saving around $800.00 - $1000.00 per month. Multiply that buy the normal deployment of 7 months - oh except for the Army and IA's which is between 12-15 months and that is a huge amount to invest in your future.

Do you own your home? Are you afraid of having to sell in 3, 4 or 5 years? If you are smart and do the right things then home-ownership for a military member should not be scary!!!!

 

2010 BAH NAVAL BASE KITSAP | BREMERTON | BANGOR | PSNS | NAVAL HOSPITAL BREMERTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been receiving a lot of interest in regard to how this year has faired over previous years in the Bremerton, WA area.  I thought I would do some research for the first six months of sold homes in Bremerton for the years of 2010, 2009 and 2008. 

This first chart shows the total number of sales in Bremerton, WA for the last three years. 

 

I think that the first time home buyer tax credit really helped the first six months of 2010.  June so far was the winning month when it came to total closings with a high of 88.  We are still seeing the effect when it comes to closing because of the extension of the closing date from June 30th to September 30th.  The homes that might have needed this extension most likely will close in July with the stragglers, those probably being short-sales will continue to trickle in. 

It will be very interesting to see how the year ends.  I don't have a crystal ball - will 2010 end up with a higher sold volume? Who knows?  The market has slowed a bit.

This second chart shows the list price and sold price figures for the homes sold in Bremerton, WA during the last three years of 2010, 2009 and 2008.  When you look at the numbers you will probably be doing a WOW! Look at the loss from 2008! 

 

 

Of course sometimes all this data just leads us to more questions.

Hot new price! This home is move-in ready with all the hard work done. Newer roof, newer cement board siding. new heating and newer windows. Remodeled with some some amazing architectural detail. Check out the homes private web site here - http://www.2221soundviewavene.epropertysites.com/

We all work in areas where there are different laws governing lots of different aspects to a home purchase and sale.  In the Puget Sound area we have several homes that are on septic systems.  In Kitsap County there are over 60,000 on-site sewage systems.  For years and years these systems were pumped or not pumped, inspected or not inspected all depending on the real estate agents involved in the transaction and the documents they used. 

Then along came the State of Washington and State Health rules (Chapter 246-272A WAC) requiring the local health jurisdiction to ensure that all owners of onsite sewage systems have their system inspected and evaluated on a regular basis, and prescribe an inspection at the time of property transfer as one of the
options to attain these inspections.

I totally agree that something had to be done with the septic inspection process.  The days of permit, install and done are over.  There must be some checks and procedures to protect all. 

In Washington each county takes on the responsibility of tracking a process. 

In Kitsap County where I work the process is fairly easy.  The Northwest Multiple Listing Service has procedures spelled out in document form that take the guess work out of what we need to do in order to comply with the state law.

We have a general septic addendum that outlines what type of OSS (on-site sewage system) the property is serviced by, that the seller represents that, to the best of their knowledge, the OSS is in working order and doesn't violate any regulations or have any material defects. 

This document supersedes any provisions in the purchase and sale agreement except for the provisions of a county specific septic addendum.

Here is where local area Brokers seem to have a learning curve.  In Kitsap County the Kitsap County Board of Health Ordinance 2008-01 Section 13.D sets out in more detail the process that must be completed prior to the close of a home sale transaction. 

It is a pretty straight forward form and details what the seller must do.

1. Specify type of system
2. Deliver Evaluation Report (from the Health Officer of Kitsap County Health District)
3. Deliver to Buyer maintenance records, if available.

If the seller has no evaluation report listed in item 2 they must complete an application, inspection and evaluation with the Health Department.  The process is very simple and spelled out in simple terms on the addendum and on the Kitsap County Health Department site.


Why this process is so difficult for Brokers to understand I just don't get.  I have had to "argue" with Brokers what the process is over the last few transactions.  This is a process that really should be done at the time the home is listed for sale.  Why we don't just do this all up front is in my mind a disservice to our sellers.  I know the reason is probably one of funds.  Yes, it costs to process this form with the county.  Yes, it costs money to pump the tank.  That is why this process is so hard for some Brokers to understand.  They don't know how to get their sellers to spend money prior to close. 

I just want other Broker's to understand the law and conform to it.  I am tired of having to educate other Brokers about the process when I write a purchase and sale agreement.  It is our responsibility to understand these documents and council our sellers.

Kitsap County has some great information available on their web site.  I have had to on more than one occasion send these links to other Brokers in the area to make my point.

 

INSPECTION AND EVALUATION OF ONSITE SEWAGE SYSTEMS FOR PROPERTY CONVEYANCE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Onsite Sewage Program

 

 

Mike Rowe learns how to clean a septic tank.

Concerts in the Park - continues

Evergreen Rotary Park

Today - Tuesday - 6-8PM



Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth
24th Annual Festival of Arts for Children
Free hands-on art activities
Spoinsored by the West Sound Arts Council

 

 

Evergreen Rotary Park - 1400 Park Avenue Bremerton - Evergreen District

• 10 acre
• 1,900 feet of shoreline
• 1 group shelter
• 6 shelters
• 39 picnic tables
• 4 BBQs
• 2 half-court basketball
• Boat launches
• Sand volleyball court
• 75 parking spaces

Evergreen Park is the city's premier park with the highest use rates. The location is just amazing. I love just walking the trails and being able to just sit and watch people, birds and weather.

If you need a place for a family picnic this is the place. There are 5 shelters and 39 picnic tables. The park encompasses 10 acres and had 1900 feet of shoreline. And can you believe - A boat launch!

If you want to BBQ there are 4 located at Evergreen Park. If you want to have some games you could arrange to have a volleyball tourney with friends on the sand volleyball court. Or just shoot some hoops with your kiddos at the 2 ½ court basketball courts.

For the younger kids there is a huge play area with lots of climbing and imagination equipment. Plenty of parking (75 spaces) and if you need you can reserve a shelter by calling the Bremerton Park and Recreation department at (360) 473-5305.

 

I am sure you have heard all the doom and gloom from a million different news reports concerning the lending industry mess, how several loan programs once available are no longer, how zero down loan programs are almost non-existent and how hard it is right now if you have little to zero money available for a down payment. 

But wait; are you a military member or a veteran?  If you are the news isn't as bad.  With your VA Guaranteed Home Loan benefit you can still obtain a loan with no down payment and a fixed interest rate that is as good as or better than a conventional mortgage rate.  This is the time for a VA Loan! What a great benefit to those of you that have served our country!

 

 

What is a VA Guaranteed Home Loan?

 

Many have the misconception that the military is the organization loaning the money. No they are not. Your VA Guaranteed Home Loan will be made by a private lender, such as your bank or a mortgage company of your choosing that has VA lending approval. 

The guaranty means the lender is protected if you fail to repay the loan.  This is also why you will not have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) for a zero down loan (if you could find one).  Normally a lender would require a down payment and/or PMI to obtain a loan, since the VA Home Loan has a guaranty which replaces these you will be able to obtain your loan without, but with the same financial terms as if you had made a down payment.  The risk is removed for the lender when the VA gives them that guaranty.

 

Of course you still must meet income and debt requirements, your credit reports will be used and if there are items in your history that are derogatory you can be denied a loan even though you have your Certificate of Eligibility.  The VA cannot demand a lender make a loan to you that would violate their lending practices. 

Lenders also must comply with the VA rules and policies when it comes to income and credit standards.  Just having the benefit is not enough, you must be credit worthy. 

If a lender is unwilling to approve you for a loan the only thing the VA can do is suggest that you try other lenders. 

 It could just be the perfect time for you to purchase a home with your VA benefits.  Interest rates are at all time lows and prices in the Kitsap area are amazing.  There are some awesome deals out there.  Now, remember that the housing market isn't moving as fast as it was years past, so you must be able to stay in this home longer than that 3 yeas.  So, if you have a plan to be here longer you just might want to jump at these low home prices. 

Week fifteen- A weeks worth of market data for the Port Orchard real estate community. Here is the real estate market data between Monday, July 19th through Sunday, July 25th.

Each week I will give an update that will include the previous week, Monday through Sunday. Might be fun.

Hope you have a great week! If you need any real estate help just let me know - call the office 360-830-6195, or my cell 360-990-1433 or send a text to 360-990-1433 or email me. I would love to help you with your real estate needs.



Port Orchard Real Estate Market

Residential homes on the market - 566 [up 17 from last week]

Pending this last week - 13 [down 15]

Sold/Closed this last week - 10 [down 8]

Looks like the ending of the tax credit is going to start showing in the weekly stats.

Here are is Port Orchard's housing market for the last 7 days - new listings and pending, pending inspection.

During the month of June there were 12 homes that sold in Silverdale.  These Silverdale homes actually had a transfer of home ownership. Contracts complete and Lender funds available. 

Once all the I’s were dotted and the T’s crossed there where deeds recorded at the Kitsap County courthouse that transferred the property into the new home owner’s name!

If you want to learn more about how we transfer property in Washington State a really great site to visit is the Escrow Association of Washington site. There you can find definitions and explanations of the home buying process for Port Orchard Washington.

 

Let’s look at those 12 Silverdale homes -

Average List Price

• $340,044
• $164 per sq ft

Average Sold Price

• $312,804
• $151 per sq ft

The average sq ft of these 12 Silverdale homes was 2078 sq ft. These homes spent an average of 93 days on the market (DOM) The list to sale ratio for these homes was 91.98 percent. What that meas is that buyers offered  91.98 of what the seller requested.

Not a bad time to purchase a home in Silverdale, Washington.  Prices are down, interest rates are at an all time low you might want to look at what it means to you.

What do these numbers mean? Is it a good time to buy? Is it a good time to sell. It all depends on your individual situation. I would rather buy in a buyers market and I would rather sell in a buyers market if I have to buy another home with the proceeds. I am a fan of the NORMAL market – everyone can feel more comfortable and real estate transactions are not as stressful.

 

If you would like to find out the value of your home please feel free to contact me via phone or email. I would be more than happy to supply you with a FREE Market Analysis. If you would like to purchase a home in the Kitsap County Real Estate Area please give me a call or contact me via email. We can discuss your future plans and I can set you up on an email campaign to receive the hot new listings quicker than YOU can find them.

 

 

“Statistics not compiled or published by NWMLS.” Equal Opportunity Housing All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed."

Bremerton WA :: Farmer's Market from Jo Soss on Vimeo.

I am sorry I am a little late on this one.  What a great idea to provide a free program for the area youth! This is like having a free "day-camp" program!  We have some amazing parks in Bremerton with lots of equipment and with the weather the last couple of weeks I bet this is just a blast! 

Remember that this is not a substitute for a daycare option and guardians of younger children should be available at the park location. 

The Bremerton School District even serves a FREE lunch at noon! How cool is that! I so hope there are lots of children attending!

See this flyer for more detailed information. Let me know how it is! I would love to hear your comments!