Sky Valley | John’s Outdoor Adventure Picks

by johnanderson | Jul 27, 2021 | Uncategorized

The most valuable time we spend with our family is in nature. This month, we’re highlighting one of our favorite areas: Sky Valley. We love our family cabin in Skykomish. It’s just 1.5hrs away from Seattle and the area is stunning. There are so many great little river towns that run along the Skykomish as you climb Highway 2 up to Stevens Pass with easy access to hiking, swimming, fishing, and relaxing. Here are some beautiful spots for your next getaway!

We took our kids and our friends, Eddie & Christina, a couple of summers ago with the babes on our backs (and fronts).

Easy Hike with Kids: Deception Falls
0.6-mile loop trail with magical creeks, moss-covered old-growth forest, and a roaring waterfall.

Moderate Hike: Trout Lake
3.0-mile roundtrip hike with additional lakes to explore if you’d like to go even further.

Challenging Hike: Lake Serene Trail
7.2-mile hiking trail with a possible detour to the beautiful Bridal Falls along the way.

Swimming Holes: Big Eddy & Money Creek Campground
Great river spots for all ages, or check out Eagle Falls for the adventurous.

Activity with Kids: Great Northern and Cascade Railway
Free 1/8 scale train rides in the historic and adorable town of Skykomish.

Fishing: Beckler River, Skykomish River, Fish Lake
Flyfish on Beckler or Skykomish, or head over the pass to rent a pontoon boat on Fish Lake.

Cabin Rentals: treelinerentals.com
Spectacular properties in the Sky Valley area, including our cabin on the Skykomish.

Spring Cleaning: Where to Sustainably Donate Items

by johnanderson | Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized

Magnolia: Its history, houses, and hidden gems

by johnanderson | Sep 26, 2019 | Uncategorized

Located on a hilly peninsula on the western end of the city, Magnolia is the second largest neighborhood in Seattle by area and was home to Fort Lawton, the U.S. Army base. Though most of Fort Lawton was dedicated as Discovery Park in 1973, during World War II, it was the second largest port of embarkation of soldiers and material to the Pacific. The influx of soldiers and workers contributed to the number of homes built in Magnolia during that era, and many mid-century houses were built to accommodate the families that elected to stay after the war. Fort Lawton still housed army officers into the early 2000s and wasn’t officially closed until 2011.

Today, Magnolia is a beautiful, secluded neighborhood with a bit of a small town feel and a close sense of community. The area features a cute “downtown” retail area with shops, restaurants, small grocery stores, beautiful parks, and great schools. The residential portion of the neighborhood is full of beautiful homes — a great mix of traditional Craftsman, mid-century modern, and new construction. While we love just about everything Magnolia has to offer, below are a few of our favorite spots:

Ella Bailey Park | 2601 W Smith St

The former playground of Magnolia Elementary, which is reopening this September, Ella Bailey Park is a hidden gem. Renovated in 2007, the 2.4-acre park includes a playground, large lawn, picnic tables, and barbeques, but the highlight is its spectacular outlook. Ella Bailey Park has panoramic views of Mt. Rainier and downtown Seattle and is a great location to view fireworks on Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve.

Fishermen’s Terminal | 3919 18^th Ave W

Operated by the Port of Seattle, Fishermen’s Terminal is not only home to commercial fishing vessels but also a couple shops and restaurants. With its proximity to the port and a slew of fisherman, Wild Salmon Seafood Market is the perfect spot to pick up fresh seafood for a delicious home-cooked meal. But if you would rather opt for a night out, Chinook’s is a casual seafood restaurant serving lunch and dinner and offering classic, appetizing options such as fish ‘n’ chips and Dungeness crab cakes.

Mulleady’s Pub | 3055 21^st Ave W

A traditional Irish pub, Mulleady’s is located in a beautifully restored two-story house on the corner of West Dravus Street and 21^st Avenue. The Irish-inspired food menu features fresh and local Northwest ingredients, while the drink menu offers the largest collation of Irish Whiskey on the West Coast.

Click here to learn more about Magnolia and view current listings.

John’s Summer Spotlight

by johnanderson | Aug 29, 2019 | Uncategorized

This year, my family purchased a second home on the Skykomish River, and it has been a highlight of our summer. It’s been great to escape the hustle and bustle of the city with family and friends and to spend time enjoying the outdoors and learning about the area.

Skykomish is approximately an hour and thirty-minute drive out of the city and is a popular year-round location. Spend the summer exploring the outdoors with hiking, fishing, and swimming, and once the season changes, enjoy the beautiful fall colors of the Pacific Northwest. And for all the winter sport fanatics, Skykomish is a quick drive from Stevens Pass for skiing and snowboarding in the winter!

It can be a great investment to purchase a second home that brings income and can be used for personal enjoyment as well. If you have any questions regarding investment properties or are interested in purchasing a vacation getaway give us a call or shoot us an email, we’re always here to help!

8 things to avoid when purchasing a home

by stosicplayground | Sep 5, 2018 | Uncategorized

The last thing in the world you would ever want is to spend a bunch of time searching for a home, finding that perfect place and then not being approved for your mortgage. There are also many common mistakes homebuyers make that could make the process much more painful than it has to be. We’re writing this article because we know how stressful it can be to buy a house. In order to make your process easier, we are going to cover the 8 things you shouldn’t do when buying a home.

1) Don’t overestimate your budget.

Ever heard the expression “House poor“? Many homebuyers overestimate what they can actually afford and end up with very little wiggle room financially. Before jumping into buying, make sure you have a realistic idea of the yearly costs involved with owning a home.

Remember, there is your mortgage, property taxes, utilities, insurance and repairs. All of this before you even think about making upgrades. Factor in all the costs and leave yourself some room.

2) Don’t let your emotions run wild.

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions of your life. It’s normal to be excited and fall in love with a home. However, try to keep a level head. Falling in love with a home can cloud your judgement or end in disappointment. This can happen if unforeseen issues are exposed in the inspection or if someone puts in an offer before you.

If you don’t find a home… don’t get discouraged. Home searching can be a lengthy process. It will be worth it when you find the winner.

3) Don’t talk to sellers about plans for the house.

As much as you are excited to get in and put your personal touch on the home, it’s best to keep this to yourself. Sometimes home buyers meet and get to know the home owners. This is fine, but remember that the current owner will have an emotional attachment to the property.

It’s best not to make them feel like you’re going to come in and completely change the place. If you make conversation with the owners, just keep the conversation light.

4) Don’t withdraw or deposit a lot of cash.

Going further with your financial history, cash withdraws and deposits also play a part in your mortgage approval rate. Large quantities of cash going in or out of your accounts signals a warning sign that you do not have stability. Avoid any sporadic withdraws or deposits of large sums of cash.

5) Don’t apply for more credit.

The amount you are approved for on your mortgage comes down to your capital. How much money do you have at your disposal? Applying for extra credit increases your debt. This extra debt decreases the amount you will be approved for on a mortgage.

6) Don’t co-sign a loan.

While a loan may not technically be yours – it will still equally count towards your overall debt. Co-signing a loan can have an impact on not only the amount of your mortgage, but approval rate in general. Avoid co-signing any loans until you have purchased your home.

7) Don’t finance a car or furniture.

As financing is again a loan, it is therefore debt. Stay away from financing a car or furniture for the above mortgage approval reasons.

8) Don’t switch or leave your job.

Financial stability is one of the most important factors considered when a bank is approving your mortgage. The key to financial stability is having a dependable income. If you switch or leave your job, often or before applying for a mortgage, this may signal red flags.

If you are thinking about a move, hang tight with your job until after your mortgage is approved.

Ensure you don’t make these mistakes

There are many important things to consider when purchasing a home. It is one of the biggest decisions of your life.

In order to ensure that you get the house you want, when you want it, you need to understand and follow those above tips. Doing so will increase your chances of finding that perfect home and getting it. Remember that financials are very important when it comes time to apply for a mortgage. Make that your priority.

Also keep in mind the emotional aspects of purchasing a home and try to stay cool. It can be a draining process, but it will be worth it when you get the keys to the castle!

Are you looking for a home in the area? Give me a call. I’d love to help you find a home (and make sure you make none of the above mistakes in the process!)

Should I Rent or Buy a Home?

by stosicplayground | Sep 5, 2018 | Uncategorized

Choosing whether to rent or own a home is not an easy decision. It requires you to carefully examine the factors and costs associated with each option. Which is better? That depends.

Your unique economic situation, lifestyle and goals play the largest part in deciding what is better for you. It’s important to go into your calculations with open eyes. As much as you want a home, you may not be able to afford it. Or it may not be the right decision for the way you like to live.

Factors To Consider When Buying/Renting a Home

The following four points are the largest factors to consider when weighing the pros and cons of home ownership vs. rental.

1) What are the total costs?

Many people look at the economics of home-ownership as a mortgage payment only. In reality there are insurance, repairs, property tax, homeowners association dues etc. that all have to be factored in to your monthly costs. Check out this calculator from the New York Times to see more.

Use a calculator and compare to see if:

1. The monthly cost as a homeowner is less than renting.
2. You can afford the monthly cost (if it works out more than renting in your area)
3. Saving a 10-20% down-payment is feasible for you

If owning a home definitely the way to go for you, you need to be able to answer the above questions definitively.

2) What is important to you?

Are you more interested in building for the future, or reducing your financial risk until you can figure out a plan? You may want to own if you are thinking about starting a family. But as someone who is single, you may enjoy your freedom and having less financial debt. (Even if it is building your net worth in the long run)

Undoubtedly, buying a house only makes sense if you plan to set up roots. If you plan to move within (or every) 5 years, your transaction costs will likely bring the equity you build in your house to zero. Thus diminishing your upside while carrying all of the liabilities that come along with home ownership. Owning a home is a smart decision if you plan to stay for 10 years or more.

3) What is your preferred lifestyle?

Do you want to build a career in a specific city or travel around? Do you have long-term goals in mind? It’s okay if you don’t. The most important part is being aware of where you are at. You may want to get some international work experience or try your luck in another part of the country. Or not.

Really think about what you want. You could lose some serious money if you buy a house and sell within a few years because you decide it isn’t for you.

4) What are the opportunity costs?

Think about the pros and cons of home-ownership. On one hand, you will always have a home base. On the other, you have a property that ties you down to a geographical location. Can you make more money in another city? With a home, you can’t move to pursue those opportunities.

If rent is equal to monthly payments as an owner, think about the opportunity costs of having all of your money tied up in the house. For example, some investors may rent and opt to invest their money in the stock-market or other investments in their portfolio. Can you make higher percentage returns yearly with the money you would be using for a down payment?

The above were things you will want to consider. If you need to be realistic to make the right decision about renting vs owning a home. The below two situations may help if you aren’t able to come to a conclusion.

When is Renting a Home Better?

Despite popular belief, owning a home is not always the best decision. Let’s not be black and white. It depends on your particular situation.

You may want to rent if:

1. You want to travel and set-up shop in different places every few years.
2. You do not have the job or financial security to (realistically) guarantee payments for years to come.
3. You have demonstrated the ability to make better financial returns through other investments.

There are other factors. However, this is a good starting point to help you determine your argument for renting versus owning a home. The benefit of renting is not being tied down to a geographic location and being able to leave when your lease runs up.

When is Owning a Home Better?

Owning a home is the long-term game. You need to have your goals in mind and understand if you can afford it.

You may want own if:

1. You are okay with staying in one place for 10 years or more.
2. You have the financial stability to afford the home (and float payments if you lose your job)
3. You want to leverage your home as an investment property down the line (through rental)

Owning a home gives you an anchor. It helps you stay grounded by having a home base. At the same time, you can increase your upward potential by leveraging the home as an investment property.

Some food for thought

Choosing to rent or own your home is a big decision. It depends on your individual situation and vision for the future. In short, owning is traditionally the better long-term strategy. However, that’s not to say that you can’t do as good or better with the right investment portfolio.

Before jumping into anything, analyze yourself. Think hard about where you are and what you want for the future. Speak to a realtor and see if they have any advice for your individual situation.

If you are looking at purchasing property in the area, give me a call. I’d love to discuss your options and see if buying is the right path for you.

7 Home Renovations to Increase Your Resale Value

by stosicplayground | Feb 13, 2018 | Uncategorized

You want to make the most money possible when it comes time to sell your home. The way to do that is by improving and updating the things in your home that buyers look for the most. We compiled this list for those looking to boost their resale value. It’s important to focus on the renovation projects that will net you the highest ROI. All of the projects on this list were chosen for their ability to produce high ROI as well as create a more desirable home. Remember – it’s important to make money. But it’s also important your house doesn’t sit on the market for a year.

Make these updates and you should fetch a high sale price, quicker than you would otherwise.

1) Remodel the Kitchen

The decision among real estate experts about where you get the highest ROI renovating your home is unanimous. The answer is in the kitchen. For some reason people just want nice kitchens and care about it more than the rest of the house… Maybe it’s because that’s where people like to entertain guests. Your main priority when renovating a kitchen should be layout. Creating a structure (or bones) that is functional and can easily be updated is super important. It’s one thing to replace a counter-top and cabinet doors. It’s a different story to completely renovate the whole kitchen.

Once you get the structure out of the way, search for materials that have a high quality look without a big price tag. You can make a space look modern and luxurious without having to use marble and granite.

2) Update Bathrooms

Bathrooms are the second place buyers typically place the most value in a home. The good news is that making updates to a bathroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune. En-suite/master bathrooms are the most important. As they say, it’s where the magic happens. Cast a spell on potential buyers with a beautiful en-suite. That was really corny I know…

3) Repair plumbing issues

Can we say structural problems? This is the #1 worry of all potential buyers. No one wants to move into a beautiful new house and have a disaster occur two or three months down the road. Re-doing your old piping and updating it to a newer plastic solution is a huge selling point. This removes some of the potential fear that comes with buying a home.

4) Remove paneling

Wood paneling and Stucco are common in older homes. Mainly because when it was popular, we didn’t have walls without imperfections like we do now. Not only are these two things ugly, they also show potential buyers that you lack the ability to update your home. “If you can’t update this, what is is lurking?”

5) Attic Renovation

Attic renovations are a popular choice among DIY projects as expenses can be minimized. In many houses you will have the bones for a room. All that is required of you is putting up walls and handling the cosmetics. Updated attics can sometimes be a stronger selling point than updated basements.

6) Replace Siding

Since curb appeal is so important, it makes sense to focus on the biggest factor. The outside of the house. Everyone knows the dingy, yellow siding that used to be white 60 years ago look. If your house looks like that – sorry. It’s time to update. For those on a budget you can also try power washing. Power washing sometimes brings better results than you could imagine. And it barely costs

7) New Garage Door

In addition to replacing/refreshing your siding and landscaping well, your garage door can play a big part in selling your house. It’s another element of curb appeal that can draw in or turn-off potential buyers. Luckily, new garage doors re-coup on average 80% of their investment in the long term. Basically, it will help you break even (or make money) while making your house more desirable.

Final thoughts

You want to sell your home in the least amount of time and for the most amount of money possible. The way to do this is by performing renovations with a high ROI. In addition, you want to focus on the most desirable updates. Doing so will ensure you attract more interest on your property.

Each of these on the list may not be necessary or feasible with your budget. Remember that curb appeal, kitchens and bathrooms are important. If you can focus on nothing else, focus on those things. These projects will reduce your risk of losing money in the renovation process and also help you sell quicker.

Need more information on selling your home in the area? Give me a call!