If you live in Kitsap County or Anchorage, Alaska you know this dude!

That Mattress Ranch Guy: A Goofball on TV Ads, but a Smart Businessman

Here is the article the Kitsap Sun posted yesterday. I have always thought about writing about the Mattress Ranch but since I have never purchased a product there I hadn't. For some reason I have been thinking a lot about Ted Sadtler and his crazy commercials lately. You see I first heard/saw these on my first trip to Anchorage, Alaska.

My husband is stationed there and so we have a home there too. I thought this guy was crazy! and then I realized what an amazing advertising presence he had. I had no idea that there were stores in Kitsap County. After I flew back to Bremerton from Alaska where we have a home that we had just bought a couple of months prior I was alone in my home office with the TV on in the living room and I heard the commercial! I thought I was hearing things because I wasn't in Anchorage I was in Bremerton. I ran to the living room and there he was dancing away! I almost cried - it reminded me of my husband and our new home in Anchorage.

This past weekend up in Anchorage my husband was doing the Fur Rondy and I made sure he was taking pictures for me because I had to miss it this year because of business. Here is my favorite - its my husband and Ted Sadtler in downtown Anchorage at the Fur Rondy!

Be sure to make plans next weekend for the 2009 Peninsula Home and Garden Expo.  After the St Patrick's Parade downtown Bremerton on March 14th, why not head out to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds to see the biggest home show west of Seattle. 

Presented by the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County along with the The KitsapSun and co-sponsored by Parker Lumber, Wave Broadband, Costco and the Kitsap Federal Credit Union there will be several other vendors available to talk with you about building green, your next remodel project and how to get your garden and yard in shape for spring. 

March 13^th, March 14^th and March 16^th. Click here for times and a discount coupon.

If you have any questions about real estate in Kitsap County Washington, contact Jo Soss with Skyline Properties, Inc. at (360) 990-1433 or visit her personal website Puget Sound Real Estate Today where you will be able to search for homes and find more Bremerton Real Estate information.

 Below is the article I wrote about the $7,500 Tax Incentive - it really is an incentive at this point and really not a true tax credit since it has to be paid back over a 15 year period.  However, while reading the Seattle Times' real estate section online this past couple of days I came upon this article by Kenneth R. Harney

$7,500 tax credit may be yours to keep

Are you sitting on the fence? Have you read the many horror stories across the nation? Well, remember real estate is local and here in the Kitsap County area we are in an amazing buyer’s market. It just might be the perfect time for you to purchase a home if you are a First-Time Home Buyer.

Here is a nudge to get you into the housing market. On July 30^th President Bush signed into law House Bill 3221 (H.R. 3221: Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008) which included a special tax incentive for First-Time Home Buyers (Sec.3001). This bill provides a tax credit up to $7,500 for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008, which the First-Time Home Buyer will repay over 15 years following the purchase. This is not a down-payment assistance program, but rather a ZERO INTEREST LOAN that has some amazing features.

• The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only. Purchaser (and spouse) may not have owned a principal residence in the previous 3 years.
  
• The maximum credit amount is ten percent of the cost of the home and can not exceed $7,500.
  
• Property eligible is any single-family residence that will be a principal residence.
  
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
  July 1, 2009.
  
• There are income limits. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
  
• The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period. Each year 6.67% of the credit to be repaid – if you received the full credit that is only $500.25!. If sold before 15 years than remainder of credit is paid at time of sale.

If this sounds interesting to you why not give me a call so we can discuss it in more detail and I can get you in touch with one of my local lenders. I do not want you to think I am an expert in this area but I do have a network of mortgage lenders that are. You might also want to discuss this with your CPA. I am not allowed to practice law or give tax advice.

Similar Posts

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Public Schools

Where you choose to live may very well depend on the school district you choose for your school age children. There are four school districts in the local area. The Bremerton School District , The South Kitsap School District , The North Kitsap School District and The Central Kitsap School District .

This is not an article about what people might think is the best district or the worst district. This article is to give you some information and some links so that you may start your search and find the district that best suits your family.

There is more to a school district than its numbers, its test scores and its size. Factors such as location to employment for parents, local childcare and over all feel of community should be considered. After all the experience you and your family have in a certain school district is a direct reflection of your involvement.

You will want to make sure you do some research on the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website along with the OSPI Washington State Report Card . The Washington State PTA website can also give you the information about the program at each district which you can use to contact the parent organization and request newsletter and program information. Deciding on a school district can be very important so make sure you take your time and talk to as many other parents as possible.

K-12 School Districts in Kitsap County:

• Bainbridge Island School District
• Bremerton School District
• Central Kitsap School District
• North Kitsap School District
• South Kitsap School District

Are you sitting on the fence? Have you read the many horror stories across the nation? Well, remember real estate is local and here in the Kitsap County area we are in an amazing buyer’s market. It just might be the perfect time for you to purchase a home if you are a First-Time Home Buyer.

Here is a nudge to get you into the housing market. On July 30^th President Bush signed into law House Bill 3221 (H.R. 3221: Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008) which included a special tax incentive for First-Time Home Buyers (Sec.3001). This bill provides a tax credit up to $7,500 for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008, which the First-Time Home Buyer will repay over 15 years following the purchase. This is not a down-payment assistance program, but rather a ZERO INTEREST LOAN that has some amazing features.

• The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only. Purchaser (and spouse) may not have owned a principal residence in the previous 3 years.
  
• The maximum credit amount is ten percent of the cost of the home and can not exceed $7,500.
  
• Property eligible is any single-family residence that will be a principal residence.
  
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
  July 1, 2009.
  
• There are income limits. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
  
• The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period. Each year 6.67% of the credit to be repaid – if you received the full credit that is only $500.25!. If sold before 15 years than remainder of credit is paid at time of sale.

If this sounds interesting to you why not give me a call so we can discuss it in more detail and I can get you in touch with one of my local lenders. I do not want you to think I am an expert in this area but I do have a network of mortgage lenders that are. You might also want to discuss this with your CPA. I am not allowed to practice law or give tax advice.

Similar Posts

• Naval Base Kitsap : VA Home Buyers
• Naval Base Kitsap :: Use Your VA Guaranteed Home Loan for ZERO DOWN
• New might be better… 1st Time Homebuyer in Kitsap County.
• How to become a First Time Home Buyer

What a fun idea! I remember making gingerbread houses for the holidays as a little girl.  I remember my sister's kids making them for everyone one Christmas season. I love the smell of gingerbread and of course I am one of those that loves gingerbread hmmmmmmmm.

Doing some "out and about" research for the Kitsap Couny area I ran across this amazing event, you better hurry because the these book fast!  This is an extra addition to the season calender because of such high demand.

New Date Added December 20 ~ 10am - 12noon 

Gingerbread House Parties at the Farm Kitchen in Poulsbo

www.farmkitchen.com

Authored By: Jo Soss : WestSoundLive.com

Are you looking to purchase a new home in Kitsap County? How about one in the area of Port Orchard?  If so I have some “scoop”.  Send me your email or give me a call and I can let you in on the secret.  If you are a VA buyer this offer could be worth $10,000 plus some closing costs. It is exciting!

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Jo Soss-Olson · WestSoundLive · Copyright © 2008 · All Rights Reserved

Authored By: Jo Soss : WestSoundLive.com

You are a 1^st time homebuyer, should you purchase a new home with all the bells and whistles or should you settle for that tried and true “fixer-upper/equity builder”? This question is a tough one for many 1^st time homebuyers. Considering there is a $7,500 tax credit for homes closed prior to July of 2009 you have more research to accomplish than your parents did.

I never would have thought of owning a new home as a 1^st time homebuyer. It just wasn’t something you thought about in our income bracket. Oh, and our parents would have been screaming about working hard for what you had and that someday you would be able to have the shiny new house.

My first home was a fixer-upper, after a couple of years we sold and we did make a modest profit that enabled us to be “move-up buyers”. The second home was newer and really just needed an unfinished basement finished – easy yes, but with 2 toddlers and daycare bills the projects just didn’t seem to come to fruition.

The next home was a new construction home and after moving in and doing fencing and landscaping all we did was enjoy it. Yes, I do love a new home. So back to my question, should a 1^st time homebuyer purchase a new home – SURE, Why not?

Today, in Kitsap County the re-sale inventory between the $215,000 and $230,000 is filled with some junk, some “as-is”, some “no repair”, and some “equity building” garbage type of homes. There are several short sales that are over priced and some soon to be REO’s that are really “tear-downs”. So why not look at new?

In the Kitsap County area you can you can buy a new home in a new home community for right around $230,000. If you need help finding these homes just give me a call.

Between the years of 1995 and 2003 I worked exclusively the new construction “niche”. I was a buyer’s agent for several home builders in the South King County area. I know my way around a new construction site and the process of what would be considered the “pre-sale” type market. I have a strong background in construction, having learned the trade as a construction sales representative for a large building supply company that was called back then a “lumber yard”.

You won’t get all the bells you would like but you will be able to enjoy your new home purchase without feeling the pressure of attending a Lowe’s seminar every Saturday morning. Let me know how I can help.

New Construction in Kitsap County under $230,000

Currently there are 33 homes between the prices of $194,950 and $229,950 listed in different stages of construction. Some are offered as a pre-sale, some are listed as under construction and some are listed as complete and ready. There are 32 homes with 3 bedrooms and one home with 2. There are homes with 2.5 baths, 2.25 baths, 1.75 baths and 1 baths. If you would like the bath definitions just leave me a comment and I will send you the data.

Jo Soss-Olson · WestSoundLive · Copyright © 2008 · All Rights Reserved

With all the news on the California fires I was reminded of how horrible and scary a fire can be.  I spent 3 years in Southern California and during that time was in the middle of the Sawtooth Complex Fire. My husband was in Iraq so I was on my own and it really was an unbelievable experience.

Looking out my living room window at night I could see the flames that had been burning for days and at a certain point was prepared to evacuate. The thought of what to take and what to leave was horrible.  The winds changed and I was able to stay in my home, and I am so thankful. 

I know that in this area we do not have the threat of mass fire but we always have the threat of a fire in our home and must always be prepared and use as much prevention as we can. Here are some good tips.

1. Smoke detectors should be installed on every level.  Test them regulary and change the batteries at least once a year.
2. Have an evacuation plan.  You need to be aware of two ways to exit each room.  Remember to crawl close to the floor if there is smoke.
3. Establish a meeting place outside where everyone will go after evacuation the house.
4. Make your house address very visible so that firefighters and any first responder can find it easily.
5. Create a safety zone around your house of 30 fee in which there is no flammable vegetation.
6. Install fire extinguishers in the kitchen and the garage area.  Know how to use them.
7. Make sure your roof and gutters are free of leaves, needles and dried twigs.
8. Store your firewood away from the house.