Realty World® Executive Partners » Verna

2 Bedroom Home at 1319 East 68th Street, Tacoma, WA 98404 | MLS 96409

Verna — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:27:32 +0000

This is an amazing jewel of a cottage and a must see. Cute, neat as a pin, and updated throughout–a first-time home buyers dream! This home features two bedrooms & one bath on a very large, well maintained lot in a neighborhood of newer homes. A tile entry leads you to the spacious living room. The kitchen has a nice eating space. The big laundry room is an added bonus, as is the one car garage. The home’s double pane windows and panel doors are newer features. Check it out; you will not be disappointed!

4 Bedroom Home at 10020 31st Street SW, Seattle, WA 98146| MLS 93012

Verna — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:26:55 +0000

This is a beautiful home in a quiet little neighborhood. This home offers four bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms on a large lot. The home features a lovely formal dining room with hardwood floors. The efficient kitchen has lots of cabinets and nice appliances–it’s just perfect. The master bedroom is very light and bright with skylights and a vaulted ceiling. The master bathroom continues the theme with its own skylights. Upstairs, you’ll find two more bedrooms and a full bathroom. Downstairs, you’ll enter the fabulous family room. This spacious room will be one of your favorite places to gather and enjoy its newer carpets and fireplace. A fourth bedroom, laundry area, and a one-half bathroom are also downstairs. The huge entertaining deck that overlooks the backyard–and is convenient to the kitchen when you barbecue–will compete for your attention.

Better Rail Service Coming to Tacoma, Lakewood, and the Southern Puget Sound

Verna — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:32:55 +0000

According to the WSDOT web site, the Point Defiance Bypass Project, currently under construction, will move passenger train service to an inland route. “The proposed route of this WSDOT project is the same route that Sound Transit will use to extend Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood.”

The Point Defiance Bypass Project page continues, “The end result is more frequent, more reliable, and faster Amtrak Cascades service.”

Fewer trains on the existing rail line will mean quieter neighborhoods in cities like University Place as well.

“The improvements will allow passenger trains to use the bypass route without being delayed by freight or Sounder trains. After the completion of other capital rail projects, two additional daily round trip passenger trains could be added as early as 2015. Freight train traffic will not increase on this line beyond the minimal amount that utilizes it today.

When completed, the Point Defiance Rail Bypass project will bring a total of five daily round trip passenger trains through Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont intersections as soon as 2013, with an average crossing time of less than 50 seconds per intersection and a maximum speed of 79 mph.”

While government hearings and project milestone checks are a part of the project, construction is underway on parts of the project. This photo gallery at the Tacoma News Tribune site contains a very nice set of captioned photos that show parts of the route and of the project under construction.

4 Bedroom Home at 5322 N Defiance Street Tacoma 98407 | MLS 71284

Verna — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:44:53 +0000

Price Reduced! You have to see this perfect home in the North End Point Defiance area. The home has a great floor plan with high ceilings. The front entry opens into an elegant formal living room. The family room with its gas log fireplace opens to the kitchen that beckons with granite counter tops and breakfast area. French doors invite you into the formal dining room. Upstairs you’ll find 4 spacious bedrooms with 2 baths. The master suite features a walk-in closet and a fully appointed 5 piece master bath with jetted tub. This spacious home offers 2465 square feet of comfortable living space in a great neighborhood. Point Defiance Park is a block away! Lots of extras!

Seattle-area home sales rose sharply in March

Verna — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:30:21 +0000

Seattle-area home sales rose sharply in March compared with both February and the unusually low level of a year ago, according to a report by DataQuick Information Systems. The report continues, “A total of 3,939 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow during March in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan statistical area encompassing King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. March sales rose 55.0 percent from February and increased 52.0 percent from March 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego. The firm tracks real estate trends nationally via public property records.”

Read the full report on Seattle-area home sales in March.

3 Bedroom Home at 4510 Toutle Court SE, Olympia, WA 98501 | MLS 44233

Verna — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:01:23 +0000

Great home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Open Concept Living/Dining Room combination off the kitchen. A wood stove in living area fills the room with cheer. The house features a master bedroom with bath along with two additional good-sized bedrooms and a second full bathroom. The covered deck off the dining room makes for a great outside entertaining area. The home has a one car garage and a covered carport. The home features a heat pump, new siding & other upgrades.

In addition, a separate one bedroom living space features a kitchenette, living/dining room and its own 3/4 bathroom. The space is ideal for a Mother-in-law, rental or extended family living space seperate from main house.

The home sits on 1.44 acres of very usable land. Horses are OK.

5 Bedroom Home at 1514 N Huson Street, Tacoma, WA 98406 | MLS 43100

Verna — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:30:33 +0000

Price reduced! Terrific three bedroom with one bath home in the North End not far from Wilson High School. Two more bedrooms, living room, kitchen & 3/4 bath in the finished basement as well. The basement could serve as a rental, a mother-in-law apartment, or as a home for an extended family. Outside, you’ll find a big, fully fenced back yard and deck off the kitchen. This home has hardwood floors.

The home is in a nice neighborhood, close to shopping & bus lines.

While the owner is anxious to look at all offers, this home is not a short sale or bank owned property.

4 Bedroom Home at 4448 Memory Lane W, University Place, WA 98466 | MLS 46826

Verna — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:51:34 +0000

Breathtaking beauty surrounds you inside and out in this waterfront gated estate in University Place, WA. Sweeping views of the Tacoma Narrows, Fox and McNeil Islands, the Olympic mountains and incomparable sunsets. This four bedroom, three bath masterpiece has been loving maintained and updated throughout the home and grounds. The exceptional master suite must be seen to be appreciated. The home includes a balcony off the master suite, roomy walk-in closets, office space, fully appointed bathroom with heated floors, granite & new cabinets. The dream kitchen offers its own views inside and out, and includes a cobalt blue granite island, a Sub Zero refrigerator, and Viking & Bosch appliances. The relaxing, finished family room in the full basement includes a built-in gym & sauna.The home is kept comfortable year round thanks to a heat pump and air conditioning system, and many other extras.

Outdoors, the immaculate landscape features cascading waterfalls, decks, bridges over the water features and plenty of room for entertaining. There is ample space for parking in the three car garage, and room for several visitor’s cars or even an RV outside. A sports court provides outdoor exercise facilities. Golfers will love the challenge of nearby Chambers Bay Golf Club, the public links course that will host the US Amateur championship in 2010 and the US Open in 2015.

This exceptional estate is shown by appointment only by Verna Metzger.

Update: I’ve added a new blog post on the construction of the Point Defiance Bypass Project that, when completed, will re-route most passenger rail traffic inland.

The Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit Program Expires Soon

Verna — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 06:20:23 +0000

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers. The tax credit applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

Existing U.S. Home Sales Rise to Highest Level Since 2007 in Recovery Sign

Verna — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:45:12 +0000

A story published on Bloomberg.com today states that “Sales of existing U.S. homes in November rose to the highest level in almost three years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of a government tax credit and lower prices.“

Zillow Real Estate Market Report for Washington, Oregon and the U.S.

Verna — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:54:08 +0000

The Zillow Home Value Index for the U. S. as a whole declined 5.7% over the past year. This chart compares the U.S. data with that for Washington and Oregon for the same period.

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit all-time low

Verna — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:37:52 +0000

According to MarketWatch, “Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.78% this week, matching an all-time low in Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates, released Wednesday.

The mortgage averaged 4.83% last week and 5.97% a year ago. This week’s average matched a low set the week ending April 30.”

Duplex at 3601 S Sheridan Street Tacoma WA 98418

Verna — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:12:10 +0000

Great rental investment with long term tenants and good income. Located close to shopping and freeway. This property will have a nice positive cash flow at current rents and is ready for you to just take over and become the new landlord.

Zillow’s Real Estate Market Reports for September

Verna — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:31:26 +0000

According to Zillow’s Real Estate Market Reports for September, Pierce County home values are down 6% from the previous year.

Seattle home values were up 0.0% compared to August and down 9.1% compared to September 2008.

The Extension and Expansion of the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit is Now Law

Verna — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:46:49 +0000

The government has just extended and expanded tax credits for home buyers – and not just those buying for the first time.

First time home buyers can now receive an $8,000 tax credit through April 30, 2010

Home buyers who have lived in their residences for five years may now receive a credit of $6,500

The tax credit is now available to individuals earning up to $125,000, or $250,000 for couples

All of the homes and condos listed on our site as of 11-09-09 qualify for the credit.

Read the full story about the 2009 homebuyer tax credit for more details. More implications of the new tax credit are discussed in this article.