New Jobs in Moses Lake

With all of the new jobs coming up in the Moses Lake area, people will need places to either rent or buy.

Here are the new jobs we are foreseeing for 2009 because of the businesses who have begun to build in Moses Lake, Ephrata and Quincy.

Guardian, Moses Lake - 120-150 new jobs
Intuit Corp, Quincy - 40-60 new jobs
Sabey, Quincy - 40-60 new jobs
R.E.C. Silicon Moses Lake - 280-300 new jobs
Specialty Chemical, Moses Lake - 50-60 new jobs
Norco, Moses Lake - 15-20 new jobs
New School (Sage Elementary), Moses Lake - 50-70 new jobs
Tire Co, Ephrata - 600-800 new jobs (this is not a typo)
Katana, Ephrata - 25-30 new jobs
Walgreens, Moses Lake - 30-40 new jobs
Vocational School (being built by the high school), Moses Lake - 20 new jobs
Aaron's Furniture, Moses Lake - 10 new jobs
Million Aire, Moses Lake - 30 new jobs

As growth comes, each job will create 3 service jobs. The more people who move to Moses Lake, the more people will need to have their oil changed, hair cut, fingernails filled, new shoes, and lawns landscaped. Let's welcome these new folks with a smile, a job, and a home!

Naturally, these numbers are approximate. Please consider calling these businesses if you are interested in a job, and be sure to call me for a home to buy, especially with those interest rates down around 5.5%! If you were to buy a home for $100,000, that's approximately a $700 monthly payment. Better than rent! If you were to buy a home for $130,000, you'll be paying approximately $800 a month. Again, better than rent!

Call me at 509-431-5804. I look forward to talking with you!

Sincerely,
Connie

Homes for Sale in Moses Lake - 113 under $180,000

Hello! I have great news for you! If you would like the list of homes for $180,000 and less in Moses Lake, Warden, Ephrata, and Othello, call me at 509-431-5804 right away, and I'll email it to you. There are 113 of these homes in Moses Lake, and a total of 91 in the Warden, Ephrata, and Othello area. If you'd like to email your request, my email is homes@iglide.net, and I'll get to you as soon as I see your message.

I also have lists of homes in other price ranges. If you would like one of them, let me know your price range and your email address, and I'll email it to you. Your privacy is important to me, so I will not use it for spam or sell it.

God bless you and Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Connie Suehiro

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave.

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 direct

Some encouragement for hard times.

I usually write mostly about real estate in my blog, and I know there are many, many people locally and around our world that are going through various kinds of pain and suffering, which includes real estate and/or emotional or physical pain. I have been through a couple of funerals and some physical pain lately myself, and I remember watching in a video lately that when we are going through pain or have gone through pain, that that is a time when others around us could use our experience and strength that we receive from our suffering. So, with that being said, I would like to give you some encouragement that I heard from Wintley Phipps when he sang, "It Is Well With My Soul" for a gathering of people. Here is what he said:

“It is in the quiet crucible...
of your personal, private sufferings....
that your noblest dreams are born, ...
and God’s greatest gifts are given, ...
in compensation for what you’ve been through.”
–Wintley Phipps

If you would like to view the six-minute video on YouTube, go to this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFjikyp7mQ

Have a great day!

Connie

147 Homes in Moses Lake for sale for less than $200,000

Imagine having the benefit of buying a home in Moses Lake at the recent 5% interest rate in a BUYER'S MARKET like we have right now. What a dream come true! My personal (dual) home loan interest rate is 5.75 and 8%. It makes sense for me to refinance now.

I have a list of homes for you to take a look at and to receive a copy of that list, all you need to do is email me at homes@iglide.net and request the list of homes for $200,000 and less. There are 147 of them right now, and it's an exciting time to be a buyer! This time last year, there were only 97 homes on the market in that price range. I promise to keep your information confidential and won't send you emails every day with the most up-to-date information on new homes on the market unless you ask me to. I've got a great program that you can subscribe (and easily unsubscribe) to that will keep you in the loop on the housing market in Moses Lake. Ask me about it!

Well, I have a new buyer who wants to move here after graduating from college, so I better get going and see what I can find for her.

If you know of anyone who is interested in buying a house, I'd love to help them. Print or email this blog that has my information in it and give it to them so they can get in on the buyer's market too.

Have a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave.

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 direct

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"Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life." -Confucius (and Gary Mann) :)

Homeowner's Insurance Coverage

Do you own a home and a car? If you do, you most likely have homeowner's insurance and also car insurance. You may have insurance with one insurance carrier or two. If you carry these two insurances with two different carriers, you are probably paying more than you need to for your insurance premium. By placing your home and auto with the same carrier, you could save up to 20% on your premium. Check with your auto and homeowner's insurance carriers to see if you can save some money. No matter what the economic times are, everybody likes saving money.

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Do you have a favorite Moses Lake insurance agent? If you do, and you'd like to tell your story about him or her here, post it as a comment, and I'll review it and add it to this blog as a testimonial.

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For a free list of homes or for a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) on your home, click on the link up on the left for more information and I'll do what I can to help you.

Have a great weekend!

Moses Lake Real Estate - Free Home List

So, you saw that there are 139 homes on the market in the $0-200,000 price range. Would you like to have a list of some of them? If you'd like to narrow down your personal price range and let me know how many bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage and even the area you'd like to live in, I'll send you a list in short time.

So, do you know your personal price range for buying a house? Talking with a lender, that is, a mortgage company or banker, you'll have a good idea if you don't already know what your personal finances can afford. I used to think that it would be a pretty ominous situation if I was to go into a mortgage company and have an incredibly intelligent guy in a $500 suit tell me how much I could get pre-approved for. I was feeling intimidated before I even made the appointment! But I found in my experience that John, Eduardo, Anne, Heide, and a few other lenders, were quite like myself: real nice people with knowledge that I needed for them to help me. So, if you're afraid, cross that bridge and let's get together so I can help YOU too. You deserve it. If you already know your price range, go to the link in the bar to the left and ask for the free emailed list of homes. I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Ask me about the First Time Home Buyers class that we have in Moses Lake each month. Let's start getting accurate information about the housing market to you. The national news is not accurate about Moses Lake. Like a smart Realtor said recently, "If you want to know how housing is in Moses Lake, you don't search for news in Florida."

Have a great week!

Connie
431-5804 direct

Go here for a FREE Buyers Guide and some Expert Advice:
http://www.homepages.com/ConnieSuehiro

How many homes are for sale in Moses Lake?

If you are looking for a home to buy in Moses Lake and are wondering exactly what is available. Well, in a nutshell, there are 139 homes from $200,000 and less to buy. It is definitely a buyer's market, in my opinion, in Moses Lake!

If you are a seller, and you're doing some research on homes that have sold, there have been 180 homes that sold under $200,000 in Moses Lake in the past six months, and there have been 18 in pending in the past six weeks.

Click on the link to the upper left for a Market Analysis on your home or for a current list of homes in your price range to be emailed to you.

Have a great week!

Forget Real Estate - Let's play Ball!

You know, I think it's a great idea every now and then to let you into the life of real estate agents and see their personal lives just a bit. For instance, I had the opportunity to be the scorekeeper at my daughter's first basketball game last weekend, and it was fun! Keeping track of the negotiations on offers on homes is fun, but keeping score at a basketball game is tricky when you're just trying to keep track of where your kid is on the court! Here is just a little bit of the game below.

Have a great week, and if you or a friend needs any help buying or selling your home, or just wondering what the value of your home is in this housing market, don't be shy about calling me. I'd love to meet with you and give you an idea of what your home value is. You might want to sell, or just hang on to your home. Or, if you're renting, it's a great time to buy! Just imagine how much rent you're paying over a five year period of time. If you're paying about $750 a month, that's $45,000 over five years time. That is a LOT of money that you could be investing in your own future instead of paying off someone else's mortgage. Think about it. Then call me at 509-431-5804. I look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,
Connie

Are you interested in buying a HUD repo?

If you are interested in buying a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) home that has been through the foreclosure process and repossessed, go to http://www.hmbireo.com/ and do a search on homes.

If you would like to make an offer on a HUD repo, I am just learning the process myself, and that's the best time to catch an agent, whose office is HUD certified, and who is doing her homework on how to accurately place a bid a write up an offer on a HUD repo. There is a LOT of homework involved, so you'll need to be prepared ahead of time with paperwork almost completed before you even decide to place a bid.

Call me when you're ready! 509-431-5804.

Connie Suehiro, Realtor

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave.

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 direct

Survey Responses from you, the Buyer

Gary Mann Real Estate sends out survey forms to all our clients when a transaction is complete. Here are the answers from one of our Buyers:

1. During your home search, how many real estate companies did you contact for assistance? 3

2. How far did you move? 20-50 miles

3. How many homes did you preview? About 4 inside and about 50 from outside

4. How was your first contact made with Gary Mann Real Estate? (check one) Responded to Advertising. (which source?) Sign

5. During your Home Search, which marketing items did you use? (check all that apply)
Internet
Signage
Pick up flyer
Home magazine
CBH website

6. If you used the Internet, which sites did you visit? (Check all that apply)
garymannrealestate.com
Realtor magazine
Multiple Listing Service

7. How would you describe the service you received? Satisfied

8. Did your agent listen to your needs? Yes

9. Were you treated fairly? Yes

10. Since the sale, how has our sales associate been in contact with you? Phone, In Person

11. Do you have any friends or relatives who need assistance purchasing or selling a home? Not that we know of.

12. Comments/Testimonial: Connie was helpful and knowledgeable in what to look for when touring/inspecting the houses - things I may not have considered.

Some Great Home Deals In Moses Lake

If anyone starts talking to you about having an interest in buying or selling real estate, it would be really helpful to them if you tell them that you have thought of someone that would love to help them. I give all of my clients extra attention, whether it's their first home, 10th home, or an investment home. I love to help people make great financial decisions on buying and selling homes and land.

What are your real estate plans for the year? Have you ever wanted to buy a house to fix up, rent, and get some money coming in for your retirement? Do you need to get away from paying rent (someone else's mortgage) and start making an investment in your own financial situation?

This is a great time to find some terrific buys in Moses Lake real estate as well as Ephrata, Warden, and Othello. There are a few homes on the market for less than $100,000 that would be great to go in and buy and fix up a little bit (and a LOT) and then rent them out to prepare for your retirement years or to bring in some extra cash now.

8558 Vince Rd., Moses Lake

$79,000

(reduced from $90,000)

3 bedroom, 2 bath

1232 square feet

I'm looking forward to your call! Call me at 509-431-5804 and let's see how I can help YOU.

Connie Suehiro, Realtor

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 direct

The Presidential Election is Coming Up - How will YOU vote?

I'm voting for the Right To Life, drilling for oil so we can be independent from other countries' oil, cutting taxes, and bringing our soldiers home after we proclaim victory.

The American Family Association provided a great, live, videocast today called the Values Voters Summit, and you can watch the archived video if you want to. I watched it this evening, and it was so positive in regard to the upcoming election!

You can see it here: http://www.afa.net/vvs_2008/watch.aspx

Connie

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave.
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-765-3463 ext. 110 (office)
509-431-5804 (cell)
www.MosesLakeRealEstateMusings.blogspot.com

Loan Interest Rates Are Down!!

I just got a phone call from a lender friend of mine, John Lucero, at Golf Savings in Moses Lake, and he told me that the rates are down now that the government has bought some of the lending companies out. It turns out that while the Fed cut the rates, those cuts weren't being passed on to the borrowers, people like you and me. Well, now they ARE. This is GREAT news!!

Today, a 30 year fixed rate loan is 5.875%

The 15 year fixed rate loan is 5.375%

Isn't this great!!?? It's time to buy a house!

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Here is Mike Bess' Economic update for today. I love getting his good news!

Here is a link:http://realtytimes.com/ncmeu/45/1.MikeBess

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.This month's issue includes the following topics:"Positive Trends In Housing Studies""Finding Discounted Homes For Sale"Plus a Calendar showing the most important economic indicators and their upcoming release dates. I hope you enjoy this bi-weekly Newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let me know that too!

Sincerely,

Mike Bess
Michael Bess

Mortgage Banker

National City Mortgage,

a division of National City Bank

31620 23rd Ave S #200

Federal Way, WA 98003

Office: 253-839-6500

Mobile: 253-632-0105

Fax: 253-839-6520

Email: mike.bess@ncmc.com

Thank you for contacting me. Have you seen my web site? You can now apply for a mortgage online, 24 hours a day! You will also find useful mortgage calculators and other valuable information.
Web Page: www.ncmc.com/mikebess

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When you buy a house, ask your Realtor to see if it's on public sewer or has its own septic tank. It's important to know which one is available because it's going to make a difference on whether or not you want to use the Septic Addendum when you make your offer. If it's on a public sewer system, you need to know where the bill comes from and who services it. However, if it has a septic tank, the responsibility to service it is YOURS. So, if you find out there is a septic tank, make sure your real estate agent adds the Septic Addendum to your offer so you can find out if the owner has had it inspected and pumped within the past year. If they haven't had it pumped, then add in that you want the owner to do that so you know whether or not the septic is in proper working order, and that it's pumped before you move in.

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Have a great week! Call me if you'd like to buy a house or sell a house. I love helping people find the home that fits their needs just right.

Sincerely,

Connie

509-431-5804 direct

Waterfront Homes are Available in Moses Lake!

Welcome back! School is now in session, and we're all changing our routines a little bit to adjust around school schedules.

We have some great waterfront homes available in Moses Lake. During the early summer, we had 45 homes on the water. Now, there are 56 homes on the waterfront. They come with everything from bulkheads to low bank, high bank, on the creek, and on the canal. Some have decks, docks, boat lifts, and some have an acre or more or a lot that is smaller. Property prices range from $99,000 for a home in the country on the canal to a gorgeous, 5,000+ square foot, PolySteel, Insulated Concrete Form constructed home for a little over one and a quarter million dollars.

Whatever your needs are, whether you are a first-time home buyer who would like to attend our awesome First Time Home Buyer class, or a seasoned buyerin homebuying, we are here to take care of you through the home-buying process with excellence!

Call me at 509-431-5804 for a list of homes in your price range. There is no obligation, no pressure, and the confidentiality of your contact information.

Have a great week!

Connie

509-431-5804 direct

Homes in Royal City

Do you know who wants to buy homes in Royal City? Do you know what is for sale in Royal City? I have an idea who wants to buy homes there and the fact is, there are only two properties for sale in Royal City. One has two manufactured homes on it (10 acres that is being short platted) and a one-bedroom cabin on some acreage.

If you know of anyone who is interested in selling properties (land or homes) in Royal City, I have buyers who are calling me.

If you are interested in buying in Royal City, please call me and I will add you to my priority list of buyers. Let me know if you have spoken with a lender or not, and I will guide you through the process of your real estate transaction.

All of your personal information will be kept confidential.

Call me at 509-431-5804 and ask for Connie Suehiro.

I look forward to working with you!

Homes for First Time Home Buyers + FREE Class

If you would like a list of homes for first-time homebuyers, please email your name and email address (which will remain confidential) at homes@iglide.net, and I will email a list to you. Currently, there are 69 homes for $150,000 and less and over 100 homes for sale for $180,000 and less in Moses Lake and the surrounding areas (Ephrata, Othello, Warden).

If you would like to participate in a First Time HomeBuyers program, and would like to qualify to receive up to $5,000 matching funds for your down payment, call me and let me know which lender you are working with so I can help you. If you have not contacted a lender, that is okay. I'll help you get started in the right direction.

To reserve your spot at the FREE First Time Home Buyer's Class, taught by Eric Slyter, the Housing Director of the Prosperity Center at the North Columbia Community Action Council, please call him at 509-431-1650, and let him know Connie referred you.

Please feel free to set an appointment with me so I can discuss this more in detail with you. I look forward to helping you find your first home!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave.
Moses Lake, WA
98837
509-431-5804 direct
homes@iglide.net

Buyers Tell Us How They Found their Realtor

We surveyed our Buyers here at Gary Mann Real Estate to find out what kind of marketing tools they used in order to find the best real estate agent for their needs.

58 buyers responded and here are their answers:

20 searched the internet

12 read a home advertising flyer

4 saw the real estate sign in the yard

7 called from newspaper advertising

5 contacted us from the Home Magazine

5 visited an Open House

Buyers are very savvy on how they want to get the best real estate agent.

This is something for you sellers to be aware of too. If you want to sell your home and put it on the market with us, we'll use every one of these methods (plus an online Virtual Tour) for advertising your property so that it will sell for you. Let us do an up-to-date Market Analysis for you to see what the current market value of your home is, and then sell it!

We understand that you want us to treat your confidential information with respect and realize that you don't want your name and phone number sold, so we keep it where it can not be given away.

If you would like to buy a home, please leave your name and number at my email: homes@iglide.net or call me at 509-431-5804. I will be glad to help you.

If you would like to sell your home without the pressures of doing it on your own with all the required paperwork, and use all of our marketing tools listed above, call me at 509-431-5804, and I will be glad to help you!

I look forward to meeting you!

Sincerely,

Connie

A Home for a .... Mouse?

I talk alot about real estate for buyers and sellers, and you may think it a petty thing for me to talk about homes for mice, but it's an important topic too, albeit, very small in comparison to Washington real estate.

You know, as we think about the pets we have in our homes, I'm thinking about the pet, yes I said PET mice in our home. And one gerbil. Joey the gerbil. They all need good homes whenever you get a pet, whether it's a dog, cat, or a few mice. I have a family member (or two) who call them "rodents." But I forgive them. :)

Well, the reason why I bring up this topic is because our kids have these pets in our home, and they are so tenderhearted that they cry alligator tears when their pets die. So, my point here is that if you have or decide to get mice, rats, gerbils, or hamsters for your family in your home, take good care of them by getting them a nice, warm, quiet cage that they will be happy in. A home that smells nice and clean, gets changed regularly, has plenty of toys, and love from the family members, is really important for healthy, fun, and trained pets. They will give back love to you, more than you can imagine if you don't have them yet. Joey likes to chew, so we give him chew toys like (and my daughter is filling in for me here.....) empty toilet paper rolls, empty paper towel rolls, plastic bowls sometimes, exercise wheel and a couple of blocks of wood.

If you get mice, we like the ones that are multi-colored down at Pet Town USA in Moses Lake. They are the most friendly of the various colors of mice.

Have a great weekend!! And happy home-hunting for your pets!

By the way, if you are looking for a home for yourself or ready to sell your home, please call me on my cell phone at 509-431-5804 and I will be happy to help!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-431-5804 direct

Homes in Grant County in Foreclosure

Great news! Out of all 16 counties in Washington state, Grant County (which includes Moses Lake) is #1 and has the least number of home foreclosures in the state. According to RealtyTrac Inc., only 1 out of every 5,184 homes in Grant County is in foreclosure.

That's in comparison to Cowlitz County, which has 1 in every 431 housing units in foreclosure, Pierce County (Tacoma area) with 1 in every 534 housing units in foreclosure, Spokane County, with 1 in every 1,206, and King County, with 1 in every 1,341 in foreclosure. Up at the top with Grant County is Chelan and Douglas Counties with 1 in every 4,040 and 1 in every 4,755.

I'm so thankful that Grant County's housing market is so healthy! It's a great time to buy and sell homes in Moses Lake!

If you are a first-time home buyer, we have a great class available for you to attend. It's the North Columbia Community Action Council's First Time Home Buyer's Class, held monthly at the new WorkSource building in Moses Lake on Balsam and Fifth. Thank you to all the students who attended last Saturday from 10-3pm. It's a great education on buying a home, and sometimes, buyers decide to attend two or three times so they don't miss anything. Eric Slyter, Cori Bautiste and I teach this class together. You learn all about the home buying process from interviewing a Realtor to getting pre-approved for a loan, and how to budget for the first home you want to buy. For more information, call me at 509-431-5804. I'll be glad to help! Our next class is in August.

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
509-431-5804 direct

Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave.
Moses Lake, WA 98837

"For Sale By Owner - Best Buy!!"

"First $300,000 takes it!"

"Save $$$!!!"

I saw these ads in the paper today.

My congratulations goes to all those homeowners who have done a lot of hard work and have learned how to process all the paperwork (including the required five-page Seller's Disclosure Statement) and don't mind spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on advertising here and in Seattle's paper, many hours of preparation, running home from work on lunch break to show their home to the buyers who are looking for a deal ("after all, everybody's in foreclosure nowadays, right?"), and learning all the paperwork and new laws about selling their home in today's market. Because you know what? It really does take a lot of work to sell a home. And it takes a lot of work for a buyer to get pre-approved for a loan.

And how do you know if a buyer is pre-approved or not? You ask. Do you feel comfortable asking? Does the buyer feel comfortable telling you? Well, as a Realtor, I don't mind at all asking if a buyer has a pre-approval for a loan. I want to make sure I'm using my time and my clients' time wisely.

If you're thinking of selling your home on your own, be prepared to find buyers who are hoping for a good deal and will offer you as low as possible so they can buy your home. Some buyers are hoping that every home on the market is getting ready to be foreclosed on so that they can own a home. You never know when one is going to show up on your doorstep waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime and end up wasting your time.

Let a Realtor like me take the headache out of buying or selling your home for you. I specialize in educating first time homebuyers to go through the home buying process and in teaching sellers how to competitively price their homes so it will sell at the current market value by doing a Comparable Market Analysis of 1) homes that are SOLD, 2) homes that have sold in the PAST SIX MONTHS, and 3) those homes are within a 1/2 mile of your home, your neighborhood, very similar to the process a bank appraiser would use.

Call me for help in buying or selling your home today, and let's unlock the door to your new house!

509-431-5804 - direct

Connie Suehiro, Realtor

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave.

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 call me direct

Ten Steps to Homeownership

Before you buy a house, it's a good idea to educate yourself on the steps to prepare for buying a home.

In summary, as seen on the Realtor Magazine website, you'll find these topics:

Step 1:
Are you Ready?
Step 2:
Get a REALTOR®
Step 3:
Get Loan Preapproval
Step 4:
Look at Homes
Step 5:
Choose a Home
Step 6:
Get Funding
Step 7:
Make an Offer
Step 8:
Get Insurance
Step 9:
Closing
step 10:
What's Next?

When you go to http://finance.realtor.com/HomeFinance/Guides/Buyers/default.asp? you will find all of these topics available for your help in finding and buying a home.

As you go through these steps and have any questions, please feel free to call me at 509-431-5804, and I will do my best to assist you in buying (or selling) your home. I cover all of Moses Lake, Ephrata, Warden, Othello, and Royal City, WA.

Talk to you soon!

~Connie Suehiro, Realtor (r)
509-431-5804
Call me today!

Cleaning Tip: Cat Odors in the Carpet

Do you deal with cat odors in the carpeting of your home? Or rental?

My husband and I used to live in Tacoma, and we put a deposit on a "no-cats" rental and signed the contract. Then, the owner shampooed the carpet on a hot day and we showed up while it was still wet.... and SMELLY. Ugh!

A friend recommended a product to us, and we went down to the janitorial supply company, Sarco Supply (I think it's still there) and bought a gallon of LIQUID LIVE and a spray bottle. We used it straight (not diluted) and sprayed it all over the cats' favorite corner. It worked great! Now, we always have a gallon of Liquid Live on hand.

What is Liquid Live? It is a powerful, all-purpose, safe-to-use remedy that has live micro-organisms in it. The little critters actually consume the odor, and we've never had to deal with that odor again.

So, you can either remove your carpets and clean them and throw out the pad, which is what you just might need to do. But first, try Liquid Live, or something similar to it, and see if you can save yourself some money and backaches!

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Are you interested in buying or selling a home? Call me at 509-431-5804, and I will help you with a smooth transaction. Or, if you would like a free Market Analysis of your home, let me know and I'll stop by and give you an idea of what your home's value is.

Connie Suehiro, Realtor

509-431-5804 direct

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave.

Moses Lake, WA 98837

Rent vs Buy Calculator - How Much Will YOU Save?

I found a handy tool online at the Realtor.org website. If you would like to see if you can save money buying a home instead of renting, go to: http://finance.realtor.com/Homefinance/Calculators/RentBuy.asp?lnksrc=FINLRNAV016

And if you're ready to buy, call me at 509-431-5804, and I'll get you started on the road to investing in your future by buying a home. I specialize in helping first-time homebuyers buy homes in Moses Lake, Ephrata, Warden, and Othello.

Three tips to buying your first home:

1) Do your homework on lenders who have first-time homebuyer programs where you can put money into savings and the bank matches your savings. (I know of one, call me at 509-431-5804 for details.)

2) Attend the Moses Lake NCCAC First Time Homebuyer class to educate yourself on buying your first home. Saturday, July 19, is our next class. Call me to get the details on make a reservation to attend this FREE class.

3) If you attend the First Time Homebuyer's class, it will help you qualify for a first-time homebuyers program that just landed on my desk yesterday.

See you soon!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
509-431-5804 direct
email: homes@iglide.net

Moses Lake Homes for Sale - List for Buyers

Hello, Buyer! Have you been interested in finding out in one list what is available for you in Moses Lake or the surrounding towns of Ephrata, Othello, or Warden? Do you like being anonymous when you do this? We understand that you may be in the information gathering stage and may not be ready to open up about who you are or your real estate needs at this time. If you are not comfortable providing all your contact information that is perfectly okay. Just send an email to me with your email address so we can send you the material you requested. Your privacy will be kept confidential. Email me at homes@iglide.net with the following criteria:

Town of interest:
Price range:
Number of bedrooms:

Optional:
Number of bathrooms:
Square footage:
Acreage:
In town or country:

I will do a thorough search and email a list of homes that fit your criteria.

Have a great week!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave.
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-431-5804
email: homes@iglide.net

Economic Update by Mike Bess

Mike Bess always has great information in his Economic Updates. Here is one of his latest editions:

Here is a link to his "June 21, 2008 Economic Update":

http://realtytimes.com/ncmeu/40/1.MikeBess

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month's issue includes the following topics:

"New Homes: A Silver Lining in Today's Housing Market?"

"Home Sales May Rise Modestly Before Upturn in Second Half Of 2008"

Plus a Calendar showing the most important economic indicators and their upcoming release dates.

I hope you enjoy this bi-weekly Newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let me know that too!

Sincerely,

Mike Bess

Michael Bess Mortgage Banker

National City Mortgage, a division of National City Bank

31620 23rd Ave S #200

Federal Way, WA 98003

Office: 253-839-6500

Mobile: 253-632-0105

Fax: 253-839-6520

Email: mike.bess@ncmc.com and let him know that Connie Suehiro sent you.

Are you interested in buying or selling a home? I can help! If you would like a current copy of the homes on the market that are in your price range, call me at 509-431-5804 and I'll email it to you right away. ~Connie

When Will the Market Hit Bottom?

Bill Riss, CEO of Coldwell Banker Bain in Puget Sound, says that for those who are waiting for the market to hit a "bottom" before getting back out there, there is no such thing. "There isn't a bottom. That's a state of mind. If everyone knew when the real estate market would hit bottom, we'd all wait. Nobody would buy a house unless they had an overwhelming need." He likens it to the stock market, where, if everyone knew when stocks were going to be at their lowest, they'd all buy, and then they'd all sell at the highest point. If everyone is selling, where would the buyers be?

So, when will the market hit bottom? Let's just put it this way, on a national average, even though the media has us in "crisis" mode, real estate continues to increase by an average of 5% per year. And in Moses Lake, we've been increasing by approximately 18% per year. When will Moses Lake hit bottom? I don't think it will. It will level out, but it will continue to increase. Why? Because we have industry and businesses continuing to move into town. We have buyers who want to move here from other areas and buyers who want to move up from the homes they are in. And we have sellers.

By the way, Moses Lake has 43 homes on the waterfront on the market right now. It's a GREAT time to buy! Only eight homes for sale on the water have sold in the past eight months. Come take a look at our list of homes on the water and choose your favorite one. My listing on the water is the 7th least expensive of all the homes on the market for sale. Come check it out!

I'm looking forward to a great fourth of July. I hope you are tremendously enjoying your freedoms in America as we all should. I watch the news and see that our freedom of speech is slowly being stripped away, so be on the watch for that and get involved. SAY something.

God bless you and have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Connie Suehiro, Realtor
509-431-5804 cell
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave.
Moses Lake, WA 98837

Home for sale:
1508 Shorecrest Drive NE, 1400sf home on the water, 3 bed/2 bath, large deck facing the expansive view of Moses Lake, dock, one acre, immaculate shop, 1-car garage, garden tub in master bath, hot tub outside in enclosure, $390,000.

Land for sale:
5 acres on Neppel Road, north of town, level and sloped, view, manufactured homes okay, $65,000.

NEED:
Land and homes between Othello and Royal City. Have potential buyers.
Homes in the country in Moses Lake. Have potential buyers.

Quote of the day: "First, prepare for the future. Dedicate money to an emergency fund of three to six months' worth of living expenses so you'll be ready just in case of emergency. If there's no emergency, thank God!" Second, be a giver. "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7)

How Much Is Your Monthly Payment?

Have you ever wanted to go online and figure out what your monthly payment is without having to input your personal information? Well, now you can!

I have found http://www.hsh.com/ (HSH Associates Financial Publishers) to be very helpful. They have amortization calculators and schedules along with other financial information. I usually leave financial expertise up to the lenders, but this time, I have a buyer who is not using a lender. The seller is going to carry the contract. So, I plugged the numbers of the offer, interest rate, and number of years in, and it came within a couple of dollars of what my buyer can afford in monthly payments.

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Gary Mann Real Estate is hosting several open houses this weekend in our Showcase Of Homes. Be sure to check us out in the Columbia Basin Herald online at http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/. Also, while you're in Moses Lake, go on out to the Grant County Fairgrounds to see the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall all set up. It's amazing.

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Are you interested in buying or selling a home? Please feel free to call me at 509-431-5804, and I will help you with your housing needs.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Connie Suehiro, Realtor

509-431-5804 direct

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave.

Moses Lake, WA 98837

Homes for Sale in Moses Lake

There are 91 homes for sale in Moses Lake for $180,000 and less. If you'd like to have a copy of the list of those homes, call me at 509-431-5804, and I'll email it to you.

What if you don't want to buy a home that's for sale through the Multiple Listing Service? What if there are some great For Sale By Owner homes, and you want one, but you need some help? Well, for a flat fee or a percentage of the sales price, many Realtors are interested in helping.

On a FSBO that you want to buy, find out the asking price, then find out from your personal Realtor what the market value is before you make an offer. Your Realtor has been helping you all along, and it would be very appropriate for you to make sure she gets paid. After all, we need to make a living too. (Right, Cody?) :)

By the way, check out www.CodyLamb.com to meet our newest Realtor in the Gary Mann Real Estate office. You'll be glad you did!

If you need any help buying or selling a home or have a friend who needs help, be sure to call me and I'd love to help!

Have a great week!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
509-431-5804 direct
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave
Moses Lake, WA 98837

Great News in Moses Lake Real Estate!

There are currently 89 homes for sale for $180,000 and less! This is down from 95 a few weeks ago. Homes are being sold, and lenders are lending for loans. It looks like the housing crisis is on the mend, and where better to look than Moses Lake?

Also in this category, 12 homes are in pending, and 16 homes have sold in the past four weeks.

Have you ever had the opportunity to attend the local, FREE, and extremely informative First Time Home Buyers class? I attended again on Saturday to help teach, and enjoyed every minute of it! The students always have excellent questions. YOU or a friend could be the next student. It's once a month and always conducted by Eric Slyter of the North Columbia Community Action Council's Prosperity Center. The State of Washington's Housing Division is paying for YOU to go. So, set an appointment and learn all you can about buying your first home!

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What if you want to buy a house that hasn't been built yet? That's called a PRE-SALE. There are several that will be built in Ephrata. This is where you have the opportunity to choose out of a multitude of options for just exactly what you want in your house. It's like ordering a car to fit your needs, choosing your options, and then paying for it. Or, it's like going shopping and choosing your countertops, carpeting, cabinetry, walls, fixtures, size of home, two or three-car garage, and then figuring out what the final purchase price is. The negotiating part is deciding whether or not you want to spend a little more or a little less, depending on what kinds of options or upgrades you choose, to satisfy your needs and desires, as well as your budget. It's more complex than buying a home that's already been built, but it can be well worth it. Let me know if you're interested, because the first 20 or so homes built in the new subdivision are going fast, and after those are built, the base prices are going up. No time to waste.
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Have a great week and call me if you need some help buying or selling YOUR home. I will give you excellent customer service, as usual!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor (r)
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-431-5804 direct
509-765-3463 office

Part 2 of 3, To-Dos Before You List Your Home

Part 2 of 3: To-Dos Before You List Your Home

By John Sizemore, Realtor, Texas
www.TheSizemoreTeam.com

“I know many people who are planning to list their homes for sale in the springtime. Some people have asked me how to prepare their homes, so I prepared 36 tips, which I will list in 3 postings. The second 12 tips, which I call “Buckets of Fun” (because they focus on painting & gardening) are:

13. Paint the interior walls a neutral color. If you can’t paint the walls off-white or eggshell, paint the home a light beige. Concentrate on the living areas, kitchen, and master bedroom.

14. Replace or paint over tired or dated wallpaper. Also remember your wall paper should appeal to 80% of buyers, if it doesn’t replace it or prep the wall and paint over it.

15. Paint the front door. The color can be different than the house color but should coordinate with the shutters or molding. It should be a neutral color or in earth tones.

16. Paint the exterior of the house or paint the trim. If the paint job needs to be done, paint it! Buyers consider an exterior paint job to be BIG work and they will deduct BIG dollars if it isn’t done.

17. Paint the garage door to freshen it up. If it doesn’t work right have it repaired.

18. Kill the Red Ants. You can buy a treatment that kills red ants for the entire summer season for less than $40 for the typical yard. Buy it and use it. Nothing kills a sale faster than the potiential buyer being bitten by fire ants.

19. Remove overgrown plants and replant. Your home should be framed by plants, not hidden by them.

20. Fill holes in your yard with fill dirt and then sod. Sod the yard where needed.

21. Plant flowers to make a great first impression. I suggest red or yellow flowers. If your flower beds are being “visited” by cats, plant Society Garlic – cats hate it and the purple flowers are very nice.

22. Water the yard and plants weekly. No one wants a dead lawn.

23. Mow the yard weekly in the Summer and at least every other week during the rest of the year. No one wants a jungle.

24. Clean the pool if you have one. It should sparkle. A dirty pool reminds people that a pool requires work – you want to remind people how much fun a pool can be.

Regards,
John Sizemore, REALTORMORE Service - MORE Agent

The Sizemore Team services residential Real Estate needs in the Texas communities of Spring, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, Conroe, Magnolia, and all of surrounding S.W. Montgomery County, TX.

(reprinted with written permission, copyright 2008)

For this and any other information regarding real estate in Moses Lake, WA, or if you are ready to list or buy a home with me today, call me at 509-431-5804. I look forward to serving you with great customer service!!

Sincerely,

Connie Suehiro, REALTOR

Gary Mann Real Estate

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 direct

What's A Good Investment? Homes? Stock Market?

Good morning!

Today there are 94 homes in Moses Lake on the market for $180,000 and less.

Do you do any stock trading? I received an email about buying Kodiak Energy shares for less than $3 before they go way up, with our OPEC gas prices being ridiculously high. It could be a good investment. And of course, buying a home is a good investment too. In the past two years, according to one of the owners in our office, home values went up by 18% on average each year.

That's a great return!

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Quote of the Day: "Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action."-- Mother Teresa (1910-1997), world humanitarian and founder of the Missionaries of Charity

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Have a great week!

~Connie Suehiro, REALTOR

Gary Mann Real Estate

305 E. Third Ave

Moses Lake, WA 98837

509-431-5804 direct

Part 1 of 3: To Dos Before You List Your Home

Many people want to know how to prepare their homes for sale. So, here is the beginning of the answer for you.

Part 1 of 3: To-Dos Before You List Your Home

By John Sizemore, REALTOR
MORE Service - MORE Agent

"I know many people who are planning to list their homes for sale in the springtime. Some people have asked me how to prepare their homes, so I prepared 36 tips, which I will list in 3 postings.

The first tips, which I call “The Dirty Dozen” (because they focus on cleaning), will get you started:

1. Visit model homes in your area. These are your competitors. Size them up and get a feel on how to prepare your home. Be sure to take digital photos.

2. Start packing. Time to rent a storage unit. Get your knick-knacks packed. This will help you when it is time to paint. Decluttering your home is the easiest way to make it appear larger.

3. Move or store large furniture. If the furniture is too large for the room, be sure to send it to storage along with the knickknacks.

4. Empty the closets. OK, maybe don’t empty them but clean them out and feature all the storage space they really have. People want storage space.

5. Clean out your garage and have a garage sale. Same rule as the last three. Your garage is the room that may make or break the sale with the potential buyer (especially males).

6. Clean fixtures. Make sure your bathroom, kitchen, and lighting fixtures are clean and polished.

7. Clean the carpets. You will probably have to clean them again when it is time to list but clean them now and determine if you need to replace the carpet or if cleaning will do.

8. Tile and other flooring. Check to see if it is in tip-top shape. No cracks or deep scratches. Repair the floors, or if necessary, replace the areas. I have seen $400,000 homes not move because of a few broken tiles.

9. Clean the grout. Make sure your grout comes out clean. No one wants to buy a home where the grout lines are dirty.

10. Replace or repair bathroom fixtures. I’m talking about pink toilets or green sinks. Many times these have to be replaced. In some instances they can be refinished. The colors should be white, buff, or one of the colors being used in the model homes you visited.

11. Clean or paint appliances. If your stove is an off-color, have a professional come in an paint them. Remember, all your kitchen appliances should match. Replace broken knobs and latches. Be sure to have the stove and oven surfaces clean when listing.

12. Clean your driveway. Driveways usually have oil stains and can be cleaned using high-powered liquid drain cleaners (like Drano). You can then sweep those oil spots away. Read all the directions and be sure to have the hose ready.

If I can answer any questions on this, call me at 281-203-6000 or Email me at John.Sizemore@att.net or visit my Web site TheSizemoreTeam.com. (Or email Connie Suehiro, your local full-service Moses Lake REALTOR at 509-431-5804 or email at homes@iglide.net.)

You may want to check out my Web site’s 29 FREE reports for additional information on Buying, Selling, or Investing or borrow and view my DVD on Selling Your Home For Top Dollar."

Regards,
John Sizemore, REALTOR
MORE Service - MORE Agent

The Sizemore Team services residential Real Estate needs in the Texas communities of Spring, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, Conroe, Magnolia, and all of surrounding S.W. Montgomery County, TX.

(reproduced by written permission, John Sizemore, copyright 2008)

Price Opinion vs. Official Appraisal

My friend Carol, who is a Realtor in Wenatchee, wrote an article on this topic, and I want to make sure you don't miss out on it:

"Hi Connie, Here is a link to an article I wrote about the difference in an agent prepared "price opinion" and an official appraisal. http://www.carolswenatchee.com/wenatchee-realestate/2005/6/25/appraisal-vs-price-analysis.html "

Have: 5 acre lot on Neppel Road

I have 2 to 3 BUYERS who need homes in the country between Moses Lake and Warden with 2-5 acres of land, and between Othello and Royal City.

Have a great week!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-431-5804

Showcase of Homes on Saturday

Come join us in our Showcase of Homes in the Laguna area in Moses Lake, across the freeway from the former Moses Lake State Park! Several homes on Astor Loop and the beautiful BRICK HOUSE on Crane Lane with a grand entryway will be open for you to see. I will be in 508 S. Crane Lane, a 2600 square foot home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. For more information on this house, and to see photos, go to www.GaryMannRealEstate.com and input MLS Listing Number 28004209. Directions to this exquisite home in a neighborhood full of custom built homes: east on Sage Road, right on Sandunes Road, left on Astor Loop, right on Crane Lane. Home on the right with the OPEN HOUSE sign in front. Print out this information, and I'll see you there!

Connie Suehiro, Realtor
Gary Mann Real Estate
305 E. Third Ave.
Moses Lake, WA 98837
509-431-5804 direct