Indoor air quality

Air Quality
The following information on air quality is vital to the knowledge base for anyone who owns a home or is selling or buying. We appreciate the opportunity to share the information with you, and hope you gain perspective on air quality.

Indoor air quality

One sure path to energy efficiency in houses is eliminating air leaks. If you cut down the amount of air that has to be heated and cooled, you cut your utility bill substantially. But plugging up all those air leaks means less fresh air inside and this has brought on other problems.
One of the first to be identified was elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the air. Commonly called VOC's, these compounds are used in the manufacture of the many synthetic building products used in most new houses today, including carpeting, flooring, paint, cabinetry, countertops, and the structural framework itself. Hundreds of off-gassing VOC's have been identified, but the one that has captured the most attention is formaldehyde. It is a potent eye and nose irritant and causes respiratory effects. It is also classified by the US Government Environmental Protection Agency as a probable human carcinogen.
EnviroCheck Indoor Air Quality
In response to the concerns raised by health officials and the public over the last fifteen years, manufacturers of some building materials and furnishings have altered their chemical formulations, significantly reducing the amount of VOC's off gassing from their products.
A brand new house will still have a significant amount of VOC's in the air because the rate at which the VOC's off-gas is highest initially. This phenomenon accounts for the "new house smell" that most new house buyers experience. Delaying a move-in and airing out a house by opening all the windows and running all the exhaust fans will benefit the occupants, even if this is done for only two days, advised John Girman, Director of the Center for Analysis and Studies for the Indoor Environmental Division of the US Government Environmental Protection Agency.
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Continuing to keep the windows open and ventilating the house for several days to several weeks, if weather permits, can also be beneficial, added Al Hodgson of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California, who has been studying indoor air quality for the last 18 years. After the first month or so, the rate at which the VOC's off gas from building materials may fall off, but Hodgson's research indicates that the off-gassing phenomenon will continue at a slow and steady pace for months or even years. Hodgson measured the indoor air quality in eleven new, but unoccupied houses one to two months after their completion. Some were monitored over a period of about nine months. Overall he found that the concentrations of VOC's in the houses were not "alarming," although the concentrations of some compounds were high enough to produce an odor. The levels of formaldehyde were too low to have a smell, but high enough to cause discomfort in some individuals.
Although the level of VOC's in new houses does fall off over time, buyers can reduce it at the outset by their selection of finishes. Hodgson's research has shown while carpets are generally low emitters of VOC's, a reasonable quality, medium-grade, nylon, certified green label carpet may emit less than the basic grade carpet that most builders offer as standard. Installing the carpet with tack strips instead of an adhesive eliminates a potential VOC source altogether. Synthetic fiber carpet padding emits less than the rebonded padding that most production builders provide. Hodgson's "certified green label carpet" refers to the green and white Carpet and Rug Institute emission test sticker found on carpeting that meets their emission standard. Their testing program was established after sensational stories about "killer carpets" appeared in newspapers and TV news programs in the early nineties. In a New England lab, mice were exposed to carpet samples and subsequently died. Scientists in other labs including the EPA were never able to replicate these results and the reason for the mice's demise remains unclear. After the Carpet and Rug Institute started its carpet- testing program, it raised the emission standards, which has further reduced carpet emissions. Even so, carpeting can still have an odor that makes people think that they are being exposed to something awful, Hodgson observed. Vinyl flooring is a stronger emitter than carpet, but it too should not be a cause for concern, Hodgson said. The oil-based alkyd and water-based latex paints used in most houses are another source of VOC's. The alkyds, which create a harder, more washable surface, are usually used for bathrooms, kitchens, and the trim around doors, windows and baseboards. They produce a terrible smell and emit hundreds of VOC compounds, but these are almost entirely dissipated after about 48 hours, said John Chang, of the EPA labs in Triangle Park, North Carolina. The latex paints have a different smell and emit only four or five VOC compounds, but these continue to off gas for days and weeks after the paint is dry. "Low VOC" latex paints are now available, but some of these emit formaldehyde and buyers should check the paint emission data, he advised. Hodgson is currently studying the man-made wood products used in residential construction because most of them contain formaldehyde, and formaldehyde concentrations in the indoor air of new houses have been found to be higher than in other building types. Large quantities of these wood products including cabinet materials, doors, door and window trim and baseboards are found in the finished space of new houses. Man-made wood products are also used extensively in their structural framework. Hodgson is looking at the emissions of formaldehyde and VOC's from each product as well as the amount of exposed surface of each product. He is finding that bare surfaces of wood products can have relatively high emissions, but that surfaces with laminate and vinyl finishes generally have low emissions.
Information
This newsletter is for informational purposes only. We do not recommend any other company or entity.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Do I quality for a tax credit

Lot of persons want to know if they should buy now. I say yes. Home prices in Renton are at a 3 year low. We have not see price drops like other places in the nation but there has been about a 6% drop. True it is harder to get a loan but if you really want to stop paying rent and buy your own home there are steps we can do to make that happen.

First Time Home Buyers all do have the extra benefit of the new tax credit. This tax credit is due to the passage of HR 3221. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. If you or someone you know has been considering buying a home, this benefit is worth considering
What can you do with a $7500 interest free loan? Here are a few ideas:

Fund an IRA.
Pay off a credit card.
Fund an emergency reserve savings account (interest bearing.)

Who Qualifies?
* Homebuyers who have not owned a home in the past three years.
* FTHB's who purchased a principal residence between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009.
* Maximum credit is 10% of the sales price up to $7,500.
* Tax credit is repaid over 15 years to the IRS.
* This is realty an interest free loan from Uncut Sam. If the home is sold, the tax credit balance is repaid at that time.

Who Doesn't Qualify?
* Purchases from a person who is related to the homebuyer.
* If the property is sold or ceases to become a principal residence before the end of tax year.
* If modified Adjusted Gross income exceeds $95,000 (individual) or $170,000 (joint). Credit phases out for individual AGI between $75,000 - $95,000 and between $150,000 - $170,000 for joint filers.

Always check with your Tax Advisor.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Art lovers head to Renton

Renton is one of the most enjoyable cities to just spend the day with your family to enjoy the sites. One of the biggest unknown part of Renton is the art work that has been placed around the city for your enjoyment.
Renton Municipal Arts Commission Next Meeting
October 7, 2008
Council Conference Room, Renton City Hall
4:30 p.m.
The Renton Municipal Arts Commission was formed by Resolution 1320, on August 9, 1965. Overseeing an annual budget, the Commission is charged with the responsibility of acting in an advisory capacity to city government in connection with the artistic and cultural development of the city.
The Commission consists of 12 members appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the City Council. Of those 12 members, at least four must be residents of the city. Its membership includes representatives from many diverse fields, with special interests in architecture, art, music, literature, education and other cultural disciplines. All members of the Commission are appointed for three-year terms, and all serve without compensation for services.
The Commission operates with a set of policies and procedures established by the members.
Commission responsibilities:
The Commission is responsible for reviewing the design, execution and acceptance of works of art funded or otherwise acquired by the city.
The Commission, along with the Mayor, annually reviews all capital improvement projects anticipated within the following two-year period to determine which projects are appropriate for inclusion of works of art and to estimate the amount allocated for this purpose. Whenever a work of art is to be funded under the One Percent for Art ordinance as authorized under Ordinance No 3749 in 1983, the Commission selects the appropriate work of art and recommends that artwork to the City Council. The Commission may initiate contracts with artists for these works of art.
The Commission is responsible for directing maintenance, inspection and rotation of works of art selected and installed for the city. The Commission keeps an inventory of all city-owned artworks.
The Commission may seek alternative funding sources for visual and performing arts programs.
2006 - 2007 Accomplishments:

• Placed and dedicated the artwork “Home” by artist Dawn Murin at Heritage Park.
• Placed and dedicated the artwork “Duwamish” by artist Doug Kyes at the Henry Moses Pool.
• Recruited new Arts Commission membership representing artists and graphic design. Integrated a new youth member.
• Provided funding and participated in Arts Unlimited art walks and the Renton Annual Art Show.
• Networked with other South King County arts organizations. Lobbied in Olympia for additional art funding.
• Continued local arts shows in the Carco Theater lobby.
• Staffed Renton River Days art booth with interactive “build your own” art projects for children.
• Teamed with Renton Parks to host the Renton River Days Kids Day coloring contest.

2008 Goals:

• Place artwork “Welcome to Renton” by Glassworks at the Tiffany Park Community Center.
• Continue to seek alternative funding sources for visual and performing arts programs.
• Find a new enhanced location for the artwork “Emerging” currently located at Carco Theater.
• Repair and move the artwork “Equui” at Burnett Linear Park.
• Update city artwork brochures and Arts Commission website content.
• Carry on the Bravo Award program to recognize individuals and organizations that support the arts in Renton.
• Replace and update missing or damaged identification plaques for City artwork.
• Seek community participation with the upcoming Municipal Arts Commission Master Plan
• Pursue and support performing and visual art opportunities within the Renton community.

Whats going on in Renton this October

Looking for something to do? Want to help out the community? Here is a small list of a few things that are going on that could be fun for you and the family.


Green and Clean Saturday

October 4, 2008
Heritage Park, 233 Union Ave NE
9:30am to 11:30am
Get ready to roll up your sleeves, enjoy the changing autumn leaves, and help make a difference in one of our newest parks. Make it a family day! Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Call 425-430-6600 for more information or to register your group, yourself, or your family! Check-in begins at 9am. Heritage Park, 233 Union Ave NE

Renton Municipal Arts Commission Next Meeting

October 7, 2008Council Conference Room, Renton City Hall4:30pm

Teen Summit

October 8, 2008
Renton Community Center
8:00a. to 1:00pm
A fun-filled day of motivational speakers, educational break-out sessions such as money management, heathy lifestyles, career pathways, going green and much more! This event if FREE to Renton youth in grades 7 - 11 and lunch is provided. Contact the Renton Community Center at 425-430-6700 to register. Renton Community Center

Renton Shredathon

October 11, 2008
Sams Club Parking lot, 901 S Grady Way
9:00am to 12:00pm
Free - up to five boxes containing paper documents to be destroyed in a truck-mounted shredder. Donation of canned goods will be accepted for Renton Food Bank. A cooperative program between Renton Police, Sams Club, Iron Mountain, and Food Bank. Sams Club Parking lot, 901 S Grady Way

Speaker Series at the Museum

October 14, 2008
Renton History Museum, 235 Mill Ave
4:30pm to 6:00pm
The program features a screening of Land of the Giants, a documentary that explores the story of the old Indian trail that became the seven-lane Interstate 90. The “giants”—huge hemlock, cedar, fir and spruce trees—gave rise to a thriving lumber and logging industry. The film’s co-producer Chuck Brodish will tell the story behind the video. High school through adults. Renton History Museum, 235 Mill Ave

Home Maintenance Tip -Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Home

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it...is like wrapping a present and not giving it. "
-- William Arthur Ward


Although it may be quite warm in some parts of the country, fall is approaching, and it's time to think about preparing your home for colder, wetter weather. The list below will help you keep warm and dry in the coming months...and help to keep your utility bills lower!
Fall home maintenance checklist
· Check all window and door locks for proper operation.
· Check your home for water leaks and repair as necessary. Read more at Preventing water damage at your house.
· Review your fire escape plan with your family.
· Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs.
· Have a heating professional check your heating system. Wood burning stove connector pipes and chimneys should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep annually.
· Protect your home from frozen pipes. Read more at No Frozen Pipes.
· Replace or clean your furnace filter monthly.
· Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone before storing. This removes flammable liquid storage from your garage. At the same time, make sure you aren't storing dirty, oily rags in a pile; they can ignite spontaneously.
· Test your emergency generator if you have one.
· Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper. Soot and creosote, which build up inside the chimney, can ignite when a fire is lit in the fireplace.
· Remove any bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor lighting fixtures as they are a fire hazard.
· Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries. Read more at Smoke alarms save lives.
· Re-caulk around doors and windows to reduce heat/cooling loss.
· Check for cracked or missing caulk around the base of your toilet, bathtub, and bathroom cabinets. Properly sealing gaps between your bathroom fixtures and flooring material can prevent damage to the sub-floor.
Please share this with your clients and friends. You could make someone's day.
Thank you for making me your #1 Real Estate Agent.
Warmly,
Lonnie Snyder

REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

High School, College, and Your Car Insurance Rates

The moment your child gets their drivers license and the moment they head off to college are two major events in a parent’s life. You will more than likely reminisce on how you watched them ride around on a Big Wheel as you watch them drive down the street the first time. You might think back to all the times you told your child to clean their room as they are packing up the car to go to college. One thing you may not have thought about is how all of this is affecting your car insurance rates.
Adding a Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance Policy
While adding a teen driver to your car insurance will more than likely increase your rates, there are ways to minimize the damage after you add them to your policy. The trick is knowing what car insurance discounts apply to you and your newest driver. Below are some tips from InsWeb on how to save on your car insurance.
Good Student Discount
Good grades can be a car insurance discount. If your child maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better, you could save 10-25% on your car insurance. This is one way to motivate Jr. to hit the books.
Compare Multiple Car Insurance Quotes
Each car insurance provider will review your information differently; which means varying rates from company to company. Taking time to compare car insurance quotes will help you find the best deal after you add your teen to your car insurance. Another time to compare car insurance quotes is when your child makes the jump from high school to college. Maybe your child won’t be taking a car with them to college, allowing you to take them off your policy and lower your rates. If your child is going to an out of state college, there might be different car insurance restrictions than what you are used to in your home state.
Increase Your Deductible to Lower Your Premium
Many people may know that raising their deductibles on their insurance policy can save them money, but most don't feel the need to do this until they have added a teen driver to their policy. Once you raise your deductible, you are also raising the amount you have to pay before your insurance kicks in.
Avoid Accidents and Tickets
Here is a no brainer; if you avoid accidents and tickets, you pay less for car insurance. You will pay more for car insurance once you add a teen driver to your policy. However, if your teen driver gets into an accident, your rates will be drastically affected.
Whether you are adding a teen driver onto your policy or removing a college bound student, these simple measures can help you save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance rates. Hundreds of dollars that can be used for their books, computer and food.

Tips On Using A Warm Mist Humidifier

If your home is very dry and you need to add moisture to the air all year long, you may want to consider a whole house humidification system. These are installed on a forced air heating system and should be installed by a professional. If you only need to use a humidifier in the winter weather, a single room model will be sufficient. These are plugged into any electrical outlet and can be used in the kitchen, bedroom or any other room in your home. The size of the water tank determines how long you can run the humidifier without adding water. Be sure the model you choose is large enough for the room and the amount of time it will be running.

Dry indoor air causes a wide variety of physical symptoms including a stuffy nose, dry cough, nosebleeds, dry skin and brittle hair. A warm mist humidifier will relieve these symptoms and help you sleep better. Dry air is common when the heat is turned on in the winter. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to humidify your home all year long. Excessive dryness causes wood furniture and flooring to crack and warp. Houseplants can dry out and the seams of your wallpaper could peel.
· A Whole House Humidification System
· Benefits of a Warm Mist Humidifier
· Cleaning Your Warm Mist Humidifier:

Benefits of a Warm Mist Humidifier:
A big benefit of the warm mist is the ability to put medication in the humidifier, as you can with a vaporizer. This is great for treating colds, congestion and winter viruses. Vaporizers release hot steam into the air and are notorious for causing burns in children. The steam in warm humidifiers is initially heated and then cooled just before it enters the room. This results in less risk of burns. Because the water is heated, there is less risk of mold spores and bacteria breeding in the water. Since the mist is cooled before entering the room, mold can still grow, but happens less often than with cool mist humidifiers. Proper cleaning and maintenance can nearly eliminate mold spores in the air from the humidifier. In addition, monitor the humidity level in the room and make sure it doesn't exceed fifty percent. Mold flourishes at higher levels of humidity.

Cleaning Your Warm Mist Humidifier:
To keep your humidifier working well for years, regular cleaning and maintenance is needed. Always clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer's directions. You will find this information in the owner's manual. You should empty the water reservoir and rinse with clean water. Dry it out with a towel before adding new water. It's best to do this each time you use it. At the end of the season, give it a thorough cleaning before storing it. Use a disinfectant cleaner and dry thoroughly. You should clean the heating element at the end of the season to remove any build up that has accumulated. Doing this will help keep the air in your room cleaner. Many warm mist machines have humidifier filters. The filter will need to be changed at least once, at the end of the season. Depending on the usage, you may need to change the filter more often. If you have hard water, the filter will need to be changed more often. Using distilled water can prevent the filter from becoming clogged with iron or other contaminants in your tap water.

New Listing in Renton Benson Hill

I saw a wonderful house in the Great neighborhood of Spring Hill. This listing at $439,000 features a grand foyer leading to formal living room with vaulted ceiling & formal dining room with cove ceiling.








Kitchen features a cooking island, pantry & work space. You will love the hand painted ceramic tile counter.

Upstairs master bedroom has a walk-in closet, 5 piece bathroom with soaking tub, & an adjoining large bonus room that can be an office, nursery or sitting room! Two more bedrooms upstairs, one with a walk-in closet. Professionally designed garden has apple & cherry trees, blueberry bushes & flowering plants.

I would love to show you this great house.

Lonnie Snyder

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

Phone: 206-406-2710

E-Mail : snyder@kw.com

Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/

Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Time to Recycle Renton

Waste Reduction and Recycling
Fall Recycling Day is Saturday, September 13, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. North Parking Lot of Renton Technical College(NE 6th Place & Monroe Avenue NE)
Recycle Ease!
Help us reach our goals this year by bringing your recyclable items to this event. Look below for a list of materials that will be accepted. If you have questions, call us at 425.430.7396.

Please Note:

1. Limit one trip per household.
   
2. No vehicle may join the line after 3:00 p.m.
   
3. Vehicles will only be allowed to enter line from South-bound on Monroe Ave.
   
4. No business waste accepted.
   
5. We reserve the right to refuse oversized loads or unacceptable materials.
   
6. Acceptable Recyclable Materials Please load your vehicle in the order listed below (we will be unloading materials in the opposite order, i.e. plastics first):
   
7. Bulky yardwaste and clean wood: bulky (min. 2" in diameter) branches, stumps, shrubs, unpainted, untreated wood and plywood.
   Broken concrete (rebar excluded), brick, porcelain (all parts removed).
   
8. Scrap metal and appliances: auto parts, lawn chairs, water heaters, lawn mowers, large appliances and other metal, iron and steel. Empty oil and other fluids from auto parts and lawn mowers. No television sets. (Remove all non-metal parts from bikes, mowers, etc.).
   
9. Refrigerators, freezers and home air conditioners $25 cash charge per unit. No commercial refrigeration equipment.
   
10. Car, pickup truck, and motorcycle tires: Bias ply, steel belted, and studded tires. Take tires off rims. Residential waste only. Limit 10 tires per load. (Call 425.430.7396 for approval of larger loads).
    
11. Used oil filters: All automobile filters accepted. Residential waste only.
    
12. Uncontaminated motor oil: Store in sealed, lidded, reusable container. (Do not mix with any other substances.) Residential waste only.
    
13. Uncontaminated antifreeze: Store in sealed, lidded, reusable container. (Do not mix with any other substances.) Residential waste only.
    
14. Lead-acid batteries: car, truck, marine and motorcycle batteries accepted. No household batteries. Residential waste only.
    Ni-Cad (nickel cadmium) rechargeable batteries: These are found in cell phones and power tools. No alkaline batteries please.
    Cell phones.
    
15. Unusable textiles: stained, torn or otherwise unusable clothing, sheets, towels and other fabric items accepted. No wet material or furniture cushions. Separate from reusable items.
    
16. Reusable household goods: clothing, small furniture, small appliances and household items that are in good condition and reusable "as is." No console TVs, sofas or baby furniture. No broken furniture or appliances. No hide-a-beds or water beds.
    
17. Plastics: we accept only the following clean plastics. Please check plastics for recycling codes. #2 and #4, plastic bags (remove receipts and food debris). Limited quantities please. Please separate.
18. Styrofoam peanuts (foam peanuts and popcorn only), bubble wrap, no hard packaging or molded containers. Separate from other plastics.
    

Do Not Bring:

• Garbage
• Pesticides
• Cleaning products
• Styrofoam packaging
• Leaves
• Grass clippings and small branches
• Sod
• Fluorescent lights
• Drywall
• Windows
• Carpet
• Paint
• Solvents and thinners
• #1 and #2 plastic bottles
• #6 food containers
• Alkaline batteries
• Glass plates
• Mirrors
• Bottles
• Commercial refrigeration equipment
  

If you cannot use up these household products, call the Hazards Line at 206.296.4692 to find out where to dispose of them properly.

Services For This Event Provided By:All Battery Sales and Services, City of Renton Public Works, City of Renton Fire Department, Emerald Services Inc., ITR, Inc., L&S Tire Company, Mailbox Express, Northwest Center for the Retarded, RBRC, Rainier Wood Recyclers, Renton Concrete Recyclers, Renton Highlands East Safeway, Total Reclaim, Inc., Waste Management Rainier, Inc.
This event is funded by the King County WR/R Program and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County.
For more information, call the Information Line at 425.430.7398 or the Solid Waste Utility at 425.430.7396.
Email the Solid Waste Coordinator

Nascar fans have fun in Covington.

On Aug 27th 2008 the Covington Home Depot got swarmed buy Nascar and Tony Stewart #20 Fans. There are not a lot of big name drivers that make it up to the Great NW. There has been hope that a track would be built in Washington. Former NASCAR star Darrell Waltrip thinks Washington State is so pretty, he might be willing to build a racetrack here by himself.
"Who would not want to come to Washington state and not see all the beautiful things you have here? You folks have got a little bit of heaven out here and we would really like to come out here and enjoy some of it with you." Waltrip said. Tony Stewart got stuck in traffic on the 167 highway but made up the time for his fans that had camped out to see him. He did a great job of taking a minute to talk with his fans as they made their way through the line for an autograph or a chance to take a photo.

Thanks to Tony and everyone. Wish more Drivers would come up to the Great NW.

Lonnie Snyder

Real Estate professional and Nascar Fan

House for Sale

You've found the house of your dreams and the price is even within your budget. There's just one problem: the location. The front porch swing happens to face the second-busiest highway in the state.
Fabulous house or good neighborhood?
Houses can be adapted to meet your needs, but neighborhoods take years to change. And there's no guarantee they'll change for the better.Choosing the right neighborhood is arguably the most important decision you will make, and the whole family needs to be involved in the discussion. Have each member list neighborhood characteristics that are important to him or her. How important is....

• Living on a quiet street?.
• Being close to shops and public transportation?.
• Having access to quality schools?.
• The diversity of neighborhood demographics?

Start by focusing on the characteristics you like best about your old neighborhood. Once you have formed a picture of an ideal neighborhood, you can begin to research your options.

Visit the town hall

Find out how the city government works: the tax rate, utility services, trash collection times and methods, and services the town provides. Read the local newspapers to learn about the major issues.

Contact the board of education

Ask the hard questions:.

• What is the graduation rate?.
• What percentage of graduates go to college?.
• How do students perform on SATs or other standardized tests?.
• What extracurricular activities are offered?.
• What counseling services are available to help your child make the transition to a new school?

Go for a walk

Drive through the neighborhood, and then walk through -- without your real estate agent..

• Do you like the way it looks?.
• Does it feel safe?.
• Is it noisy?.
• Is there a lot of traffic?

Try to find out if there is interaction among neighbors, such as crime watches, block parties, or a neighborhood association.Once you've found a neighborhood that fits your family's needs, all you have to do is find the house of your dreams. I have a great internet site that you can sign up for your own personal search site. You will be able to log in see all the listing, photos and more. You can email me with the search area and price and I can get you set right up.

Lonnie Snyder

REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Renton Photo Enforcement Program

Photo Enforcement Speed Camera Citations to begin in September at McKnight Middle School and Renton High School
For more information contact:
Kent Curry, Police Commander, Patrol Services, Renton Police Department 425-430-7555
Preeti Shridhar, Communications Director, 425-630-6569

Starting September 16, 2008, the City of Renton will begin issuing citations to motorists who exceed the speed limit at McKnight Middle School and Renton High School. The city has also installed speed cameras at Talbot Hill Elementary School and a 30-day warning period will begin on September 2, 2008.
The registered owners of the offending cars will receive a notice of infraction in the amount of $124.00 when the speed violation is 6 to 15 miles per hour over the posted school zone speed. If the violation speed exceeds 15 miles per hour the penalty is $250.00. The citations that will be issued to violators at McKnight Middle School and Renton High School following the 30-day warning period that also included testing of the cameras and a training session for law-enforcement officers.
The initial phase of the warning period for McKnight Middle School and Renton High School was in early July, during the summer school program. During this time a total of 1084 warning notices were sent to violators at McKnight Middle School and 897 to violators at Renton High School.
“We continue to provide warning signs to advise motorists about the cameras and encourage responsible driving in our school zones,” said Mayor Denis Law. “As children start school after Labor Day, I urge everyone to slow down.”
In addition to the warning signs currently installed, the city is adding additional signs near the intersections to alert drivers to the school zones and provide ample warning of the speed cameras.
The cameras operate during school hours and capture still photographs and video of every vehicle that exceeds the school zone speed limit. Each fixed speed site is posted with a photo enforcement sign in addition to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control devices approved for school zones.
“As summer ends and we begin the start of a new school year, it is important that we are vigilant in maintaining the safety of our children as they go to and from school,” said Mary Alice Heuschel, Superintendent, Renton School District. “I am pleased to see that the city has installed speed cameras near our schools. This will go a long way in encouraging drivers to slow down and watch out for our children.”
The City of Renton has a contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to provide the photo enforcement program. ATS is installing and maintaining all equipment related to this program and process. If a violation occurs, a notice of infraction will be sent to the vehicle’s owner. Violators may view a 12-second video clip through the website www.ViolationInfo.com, provided by ATS.
Photos are not taken until the law is broken, and the cameras only capture pictures of the rear of the offending vehicle and license plate. These cameras pose no threat to privacy and cut down on vehicles violating speed regulations during school hours.
The registered owner who receives the notice can pay the fine using one of the following methods: online at www.ViolationInfo.com, by mail, by phone using a credit card, or in person at Renton Municipal Court. Violators may also request a hearing on the notice of infraction. More information on these options is available on the web pages of the Renton Police Department or Renton Municipal Court at rentonwa.gov.
“Our goal with this program is for motorists to slow down to the speed limit and pay more attention to the pedestrian traffic around them,” said Mayor Law. We would consider this program a huge success if we did not have to issue any tickets.”
For more information on Renton’s Photo Enforcement Program, visit rentonwa.gov.

Just Listed.

WOW 3 Bed 2 Full Bath Condo for $215,000

975 Aberdeen Ave NE C-303 Renton WA. 98056


Directions: Go East off exit 5 of I-405. Turn R onto Sunset Blvd. NE. Make a sharp R. onto Aberdeen Ave NE (At blinking yellow light) Renton Ridge is in 1/2 mile on the left. Take 2nd Renton Ridge entrance. go R.





Beautiful top floor condo recently remodeled. Features include new flooring, designer paint, light fixtures and stainless steel appliances. You will love the open kitchen; large master bedroom with walk-in closet; vaulted ceiling, and view of greenbelt. Stackable washer and dryer and all appliances are included. Convenient to the freeways and shopping. Club house with an outdoor pool, athletic court, play ground. Perfect for the first time home buyer wanting an upscale home. 1 year AHS Warranty

I pull out all the stops to sell you home.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

So you want to sell your home.

This is a funny little story that was sent to me. It is depressing to say but working on selling homes I can see where he would have problems that as a realtor I deal with daily with out even thinking about it.

Confessions of a For Sale by Owner (or never again will I attempt to sale my home)


After careful planning, doing hours of research, I decided to sale my home myself. Really what could be so hard about it- I would save thousands of dollars!

Day one: I purchased a sign at my local hardware store that had a tube attached it to put in flyers. Wouldn’t have guessed that flimsy metal and plastic tube would have cost $29.00. Couldn’t wait to get home and put the sign up. There is so much traffic on my street that someone will buy it!

Day two: Made some flyers on my inkjet printer at home, not to bad. I knew I had some marketing talent! Put 15 or so in the tube and took some to the office.

Day Three: While at work, a coworker commented on my flyer. Looks like a buyer! But all she said was that I misspelled some words and my $139.00 sales price seemed low.Went home and made more flyers.

Day Four: When I got home, I put the home on the web in as many places that would take a free listing; promising millions of people would see my ad. Sure I made the right decision now!

Day Five: Another coworker puts up a flyer on her house, with a price close to mine. Kind of jealous, her flyer looked better than mine and had more pictures.

First weekend: Worked outside cleaning up the home and really cleaned the inside. Sure someone will want to look at it this weekend.

Second Week: Keep getting emails from porno sites, have no idea where those are coming from. Also, getting a lot of callers that hang up. Maybe my answering machine isn’t working properly. Might need a new one. Somebody must be interested; I keep having to make flyers. One of my coworkers said that she heard of someone selling their home in two days after buying a marketing plan they saw on TV. Got the information on it and will look at it when I get home tonight. Mistakenly deleted an important email today while deleting the porno sites and the multi level marketing schemes. Unplugged my answering machine, clearly doesn’t work. Made more flyers with my cell phone number on them.

Third week: Received the marketing plan in the mail. For only $200.00 it looks great, lots of great ideas on how to market your home. Think I will put flyers at local Apartment. Complexes. I know one of them want to buy a home. Made 200 more flyers. Need to go to Office Dept to buy more ink. Spend 4-5 hours putting out flyers at the apartments. Tired, but happy. Received 10 calls on my cell phone about the house. Told them all they wanted to know and two callers set up appointments for tomorrow night. Left work early to get home to meet with the prospects but neither showed up. Guess they had something come up. More calls and three appointments this weekend.
Called my good friend and told her I couldn’t go out of town this weekend due to the appointments. Someone must have pulled up in the driveway to look at the house; there was a large oil stain on the driveway. Didn’t take long to clean it up though.

Saturday, one of the prospects didn’t show on time and when he did show; I had to stop dinner to meet with him. Cold spaghetti isn’t very good. He said he was just looking.

On Sunday both prospects came by. One couple brought their kids and they got mud on the carpet. They ask if they could rent to own? Didn’t understand the question so I said no. They hurried through the home and left. Did I do something wrong? Made some more flyers.

Fourth Week: Had to change my email because of the spam. How did they get my email address? Left work early again to meet with prospect. No matter, I can work later tomorrow. Worked 12 hours today and still didn’t get anything done. Must be stressed because of the house. My boss commented on my looks, maybe I need to take some time off. Carpet cleaners finally arrived, took longer than they said, so I called the office and told them that I wouldn’t be back today. Cell phone is ringing off the hook, and I spend what I think is hours talking about my house, but it seems that everyone just wants to know what the rent is- can’t they get it through their heads that I want to sell the house?

Fifth Week: No offers yet so I am going to reduce the price. Made more flyers. Went to Office supply store for more ink. Someone rang the doorbell at 6:00am this morning. Came home one day and my deck chairs were missing. Saw another oil slick. I now turn off the cell phone when I get home, need the peace and quiet. Tried to do some work on my computer and checked the sites that I place my ads on. For some reason, I couldn’t find my ad. Took a couple of hours to redo the ads and upload them. Morning is going to come too soon.

Sixth Week: My boss asked me into his office and asked if anything was wrong. Had no idea where he was coming from. My coworker closed on her house. Went home and found my stereo and TV gone, someone had broke in. Funny, saw another oil slick. Called my insurance the next day and they said they would take care of it, but I do have to pay my $250.00 deductible. Another prospect came by and got the carpet dirty again. And he asked if I would seller finance? My cell phone bill came in and I was over my limit by $75.00. Need to not answer the phone and only take messages. One of the apartments sent me a letter to come and take down all the flyers or I would be sued. I am going to have an open house this weekend. Called my girlfriend and cancelled our trip out of town. Had the open house and got the chance to see my neighbors. No one came by except them and that is after I spent $30.00 on drinks and chips. Made more flyers.

Seventh Week: Put the house on a FSBO website, only cost $399.00. Needed to make more flyers because I lowered the price by $5000.00. Read somewhere online that kitchens and baths needed to be modern to get the best price. I might remodel. Took off a day and ½ to meet with the contractors. For $40,000 I can get the best kitchen and bath ever! Now that the FSBO site is up, I am receiving more calls. Had to go out and buy a better camera to take the right pictures. It was suggested that I have a virtual tour. Went into work late to meet with the photographer. Only cost $79.00, she did a great job. It is really beautiful. Met with my banker at lunch to apply for the line of credit to do the kitchen and bath work. Great rate, interest only! It is time to put lime and fertilizer on the yard, not sure if I am going to do it since I am selling.

Eighth Week: The contractor started this week and should be finished in about two weeks. I can show the property even with the work going on. A prospect can see how much I take care of the home. It will get me a much higher price. After a couple of days of hard work, the contractor had to go do an emergency job. He said he would still finish on time. Had a prospect come by, but he couldn’t seem to grasp my vision on the work being done. He probably wasn’t interested anyway. Made some more flyers. Received my check from the insurance money minus my deductible. Went and bought a new TV and stereo.

Ninth Week: My parents came by to look at the work being done and my mother said she was worried about me. After they left I finished off the last of the wine. Need to buy some more chips and ice cream too. The contractor is back working diligently. The contractor is gone again. Saw another oil slick, checked my car. It has got to be coming from somewhere.
Another co-worker sold her home. Someone stole my sign. Bought another. Had a prospect come by, invited him to drink wine with me. That was sure bold! Only had one glass and left. Must be losing it. Dropped the price again, made more flyers. Contractor came back.

Tenth Week: Boss told me not to miss anymore work. Had a beer at lunch. Got home and contractor wasn’t there but my kitchen cabinets were-in the wrong place. Called the FSBO site and cussed them out for not selling my house. Was told it was my problem. Really don’t care to mow the lawn, I’m moving anyway. First payment is due on the line of credit. After I eat and have a drink I might call a Realtor. Contractor said he could fix the cabinets but it would cost me more money. And he needed an advance.

Well that was two months ago, the contractor took my money, got broken into again and I lost my job. My parents had me committed because of my drinking but I am not worried. The bank is foreclosing on the line of credit and I am going to lose the house.

Wasn’t that what I wanted anyway?

If you would like to sell your home in the Seattle area. I offer a free booklet to help you out. Please email me with your request.

Lonnie Snyder

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

Phone: 206-406-2710

E-Mail : snyder@kw.com

Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/

Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

I-405 - Construction Updates For August 2008

I-405 - Construction Updates
Overview
Construction schedules and activities are subject to weather conditions. Please review the construction updates on this page for the most current information on I-405 construction projects. Travelers can also call 511 for real-time traffic and weather updates
Updates are posted frequently.

Last updated: August 11, 2008 10:44 a.m.

If you have questions or comments that are not addressed by these resources, please contact the I-405 Project Office at 425-456-8585.
For construction update information about other projects in King County visit the King County Construction project updates page.
Highlights on I-405

Driver Alert: August 8-11, southbound I-405 between SE 8th Street and I-90 will close to remove the Wilburton Tunnel. Detours will be posted.

I-405: Renton Widening (I-5 to SR 167) - Stage 1

8:10 p.m., 8/9
Mileposts: 0 - 4.5
Lisa Hodgson, Project Engineer, 425.282.6826
WSDOT will add one northbound and one southbound lane to I-405 between I-5 and SR 167. We will also add one southbound lane on SR 167 between I-405 and S. 180th Street, and extend the southbound SR 167 HOV lane from I-405 to the existing start of the HOV lane.
I-405

Monday, August 11 - Crews will close up to two lanes of southbound I-405 between SR 167 and I-5 for paving. The first lane will close at 10 p.m. The second lane will close at midnight. All lanes will be open by 5 a.m.

Tuesday, August 12 – Crews will close the HOV lane on southbound I-405 between Oakesdale Ave. SW and SR 181 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for electrical work.

SR 167

Monday, August 11 – Thursday, August 15 – Crews will close two right lanes on southbound SR 167 between I-405 and South 180th Street nightly for roadway widening work. The first lane will close at 8 p.m. The second lane will close at midnight. All lanes will be open by 5 a.m.

Renton and Tukwila City Streets

Monday, August 11 – Monday, August 18 – Crews will close one lane in each direction on Oakesdale Avenue SW from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sunday.

Monday, August 11 - Monday, August 18 – Crews will close one lane of eastbound Grady Way near Oakesdale Avenue SW from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sunday.

I-405: Renton Widening (SR 167 to SR 169) – Stage 2

8:13 a.m., 8/8

Mileposts: 2.35 – 4.5
Chad Brown, Project Engineer, 425.456.8569
WSDOT will add a northbound and southbound lane to I-405 between SR 167 and SR 169. We will also constructs a new half-diamond interchange at SR 515 and reconstruct the Benson Road Bridge over I-405.

We do not expect construction to impact traffic this week.
I-405: South Bellevue Widening (112th Ave SE to SE 8th Street)

10:44 a.m., 8/11
Mileposts: 8.94 - 12.34
Stacy Trussler, Deputy Project Director South, 425.401.4126
We will widen I-405 within the city of Bellevue between 112th Avenue SE and SE 8th Street. The principle features of the 112th Avenue SE to SE 8th St project are one southbound lane from SE 8th Street to I-90 and one northbound lane from 112th Avenue to SE 8th Street.
I-405

Monday, August 11 - Crews will close up to three lanes of northbound I-405 between Coal Creek Parkway and SE 8th Street for pavement repair. The first lane will close at 8 p.m. The second lane will close at 10 p.m. The third lane will close at 11 p.m. All lanes will open by 5 a.m.

Monday, August 11 - Crews will close up to three lanes of southbound I-405 between SE 8th Street and I-90 for pavement repair and to set girders. The first lane will close at 8 p.m. The second lane will close at 10 p.m. The third lane will close at 11 p.m. All lanes will open by 5 a.m.


Friday, August 15 - Monday, August 18 - Crews will close southbound I-405 between SE 8th Street and the I-405/I-90 interchange from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to remove the Wilburton Tunnel.

I-405/Downtown Bellevue interchanges

Monday, August 11 - Crews will close the ramp from NE 4th Street to southbound I-405 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for pavement repair.

Monday, Aug. 11 – Crews will close the ramp from SE 8th Street to southbound I-405 for pavement repair from 8 pm. to 5 a.m.


Friday, August 15 – Monday, August 18 - Crews will close the ramp from NE 6th Street to southbound I-405 from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to remove the Wilburton Tunnel.

Friday, August 15 – Monday, August 18 – Crews will close the ramp from NE 8th Street to southbound I-405 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to remove the Wilburton Tunnel.


Friday, August 15 – Monday, August 18 – Crews will close the ramp from NE 4th Street to southbound I-405 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to remove the Wilburton Tunnel.

Friday, August 15 – Monday, August 18 – Crews will close the ramp from SE 8th Street to southbound I-405 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to remove the Wilburton Tunnel.


I-405/I-90 interchange
Monday, August 11 – Crews will close the ramp from southbound I-405 to westbound I-90 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to set girders on the new bridge over I-90.

Monday, August 11 – Crews will close the ramp from southbound I-405 to eastbound I-90 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to set girders for the new bridge over I-90.


I-405/SR 520 Interchange

Friday, August 15 – Monday, August 18 – Crews will close the ramp from eastbound SR 520 to southbound I-405 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday to remove the Wilburton Tunnel.

Bellevue City Streets

Monday, August 11 – Crews will completely close Coal Creek Parkway under the bridge at I-405 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for seismic retrofit work.

I-405: NE 10th Street Bridge Crossing


8:13 a.m., 8/8
Mileposts: 13.5 - 14.28
Doug Haight, Project Engineer, 425.649.4429
WSDOT is partnering with the city of Bellevue to build a new freeway bridge at NE 10th Street in Bellevue. The NE 10th Street Bridge will be built in two stages. The city of Bellevue will construct the first stage. WSDOT will construct the bridge over I-405 in the second stage.
I-405

Monday, August 11 - Tuesday, August 12 – Crews will close two left lanes of northbound I-405 nightly between NE 8th Street and SR 520 to pour concrete in the median. The HOV lane will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The second lane will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Monday, August 11 - Tuesday, August 12 – Crews will close two left lanes of southbound I-405 nightly between NE 8th Street and SR 520 to pour concrete in the median. The HOV lane will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The second lane will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.


I-405 Ramps

Monday, August 11 - Tuesday, August 12 – Crews will close the ramp from NE 6th Street to northbound I-405 nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to pour concrete in the median.

Monday, August 11 - Tuesday, August 12 – Crews will close the ramp from southbound I-405 to NE 6th Street nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to pour concrete in the median.

Where is mom or dad going to live?

Increasingly, senior assisted living and retirement communities are meeting the needs of a broader range of seniors, including active seniors. If you are researching and considering senior assisted living and retirement communities, consider the following tips:
*Start a notebook, which you will use to compile notes and other information about the assisted living and retirement communities you consider.
*In the notebook, list the qualities you want (or if you are assisting an elder, ask them about their wishes and preferences).
*Ask friends, relatives, and colleagues to recommend assisted living and retirement communities for you to consider.
*Contact the facilities, arrange for tours, and request references.
*Check into the background of each facility. The Better Business Bureau may be able to help, and they may also be able to put you in touch with the agency in your state that oversees assisted living and retirement communities.
*Finally, tour each facility and note amenities and conditions. Ask to speak with a few of the residents about their experiences there.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

A new addition to your family

So you're expecting a new addition to your family? Congratulations! Adding a new family member brings excitement, stress, and fun all wrapped up in one. Whether you're expecting or adopting, you might be considering whether you need to upsize your living quarters.
First determine how soon you'll need more space. If you are bringing home an infant or toddler, your needs will be different than if you are adding an older child to the family. Newborns don't take up much room. In fact, at first, you may not need a separate room for baby. For the first few weeks or months, some parents choose to have baby sleep in their bed or place baby in a bassinette next to their bed. Newborns don't have many worldly possessions, and what they do have is still tiny (and space-saving).
A Toddler, on the other hand, may require his or her own room right away. If you find that you can't upsize your accommodations right away, look into ways to temporarily "create" a place for your toddler. You can do the same for an older child. Perhaps you can put up a temporary wall in another child's room or section off a corner of a large living room. However you do it, be sure that it is safe and quiet and still allows your household to function.
Next consider how much space you need and how you want to add it. The apartment with one more bedroom will suit some people's immediate needs, with the idea that they will move into bigger accommodations as their space needs grow along with their children. For others, a move from an apartment to a rental house or duplex is ideal because of the additional storage gained on top of the extra bedroom. After all, the bigger the child, the bigger the toys and the greater the need for storage space.If the apartment-dwelling family finds that upsizing by one room isn't enough, they may want to consider whether they gain more from upsizing by one room plus a rented storage bin/ unit or from upsizing by two bedrooms. The cost may be nearly comparable.
Other families may need to remodel their existing house or move into a bigger home, contingent upon cost and available resources.

I would be happy to help you buy your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Most Overpriced ZIP Codes

America's Most Overpriced ZIP Codes
By Matt Woolsey, Forbes.com

Ten spots where buyers pay a huge premium to own relative to how much it would cost to rent.
In San Jose, Calif., home to Silicon Valley and some of the highest home values in the country, a bumper sticker reads, "Dear God, one more bubble before I die."
Chances are the car's driver lives in Willow Glen, a neighborhood with a small-town feel, Spanish-style single family homes and a main street with sidewalk cafes and locally owned shops. To live there, residents are paying the city's highest prices relative to what they could pay to rent similar properties in the same area. When you compare mortgage payments to the value of a similar home on the rental market, the price to buy is 26.1 times higher, one of the biggest differences in the country.
Willow Glen is one example of a neighborhood where homeowners are still taking chances on future appreciation--and paying a premium above and beyond their neighbors for that confidence.
Still, it's not as overpriced as New York's TriBeCa (10013) or Boston's Chinatown (02111), where demand for high-end condos, new development and proximity to downtowns have pumped up prices.
Behind The Numbers
While real estate markets may be slumping across the country, there are plenty of neighborhoods with similar characteristics. These include downtown Seattle (98104), Mission Hills, San Diego (92103) and Coronado, Phoenix (85006).
To find them, we used data from Hotpads.com, an aggregator of rental listings from brokerages and real estate investment trusts, as well as home sales offerings from multiple listing services and individual brokers.
In a report for Forbes.com, Hotpads.com produced a price-to-earnings spread for each ZIP code in the nation's 40 largest cities by comparing rental costs with buying costs for similar properties, based on number of bedrooms, location and price per square foot.
Price-to-earnings, or P/E, expresses how much one has to pay for each dollar of return. A neighborhood with a high P/E is overvalued because a buyer is getting a low return based on costs--and paying a huge premium to live in area relative to how much it would cost to rent a similar property there. In TriBeCa, for example, which is No. 1 on our list, the P/E of the measured property is 36.3.
A high P/E can be a sign of an investment being overpriced, but a rock bottom P/E doesn't mean a bargain. In fact, when you get into the single digits, you're usually buying a weak investment in an area few are interested in. Detroit's 48235, around 7 Mile Road, for example, has a P/E of 3. It is inundated with foreclosed properties and houses going for as little as $25,000. It's hard to put an exact epicenter on Detroit's real estate crash, but this neighborhood is in contention.
High-Priced Properties
Instead, mini-bubbles are created when buyers invest in robust areas where they expect homes will continue to rise in value. If their gamble pays off and the neighborhood appreciates further, today's overpriced buyer is tomorrow's smart investor.
A neighborhood with a very high P/E, like West Hollywood, Calif., where rents trail prices by 30 times, has an expectation of future price increases baked into the cost of buying. It's not prime West Hollywood, but since it's on the edge of nicer parts of town and of affluent neighborhood Los Feliz, it's been attractive to speculators, despite the cost.
But expensive does not mean always mean overpriced.
Limestone townhouses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, for example, are listed for ever-dizzying prices. Financier J. Christopher Flowers bought a $53 million townhouse on East 75th Street in 2006, and sold a smaller East 73rd Street townhouse undergoing renovation for $23 million in 2007. Expensive? Yes. Overpriced? Not so much. Consider that a five-bedroom mansion on East 74th Street that once belonged to Eleanor Roosevelt is currently listed for $60,000 a month. Prices may be tops in the city, but prime rental prices are peerless as well.
Instead, the country's most overpriced areas are ZIP codes like San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood, 94122, which, given its location near the Pacific Ocean and on the south side of Golden Gate Park, was during the most recent boom widely thought to be up-and-coming. Median prices surged from $560,000 in June of 2003 to a peak of $771,000 in March of 2008, based on Trulia.com price data drawn from California's multiple-listing service.
Sometimes, however, betting on price appreciation doesn't quite work out, and when markets start to soften, speculative areas are often the first to take a hit.
San Francisco as a whole has declined 6% over the last year, but prices in the Outer Sunset have declined 10%, dropping to $692,000. Based on asking prices and asking rents, though, the market still has a way to fall before reaching equilibrium.
Investors and homeowners in the other nine neighborhoods on our list are likely hoping for immunity from this trend.

If you would like more information on your area with what the current real estate market is doing send me an email on your request.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Top 10 Mistakes When Buying a home

1. Looking for a home without being pre-approved. Pre-approval and pre-qualification are two different things. During the pre-qualification process, a loan officer asks you a few questions, then hands you a "pre-qual" letter. The pre-approval process is much more thorough. During the pre-approval process, the mortgage company does virtually all the work associated with obtaining full-approval. Since there is no property yet identified to purchase, however, an appraisal and title search aren't conducted. When you're pre-approved, you have much more negotiating clout with the seller. The seller knows you can close the transaction because a lender has carefully reviewed your income, assets, credit and other relevant information. In some cases (multiple offers, for example), being pre-approved can make the difference between buying and not buying a home. Also, you can save thousands of dollars as a result of being in a better negotiating situation. Most good Realtors® will not show you homes until you are pre-approved. They don't want to waste your, their, or the seller's time. Many mortgage companies will help you become pre-approved at little or no cost. They'll usually need to check your credit and verify your income and assets.
   
2. Making verbal (oral) agreements! If an agent tries to make you sign a written document that is contrary to their verbal commitments, don't do it! For example, if the agent says the washer will come with the home, but the contract says it will not--the written contract will override the verbal contract. In fact, written contracts almost always override verbal contracts. When buying or selling real estate, abide by this maxim: Get it in writing!
   
3. Choosing a lender because they have the lowest rate. Not getting a written good-faith estimate. While rate is important, you have to consider the overall cost of your loan. Pay close attention to the APR, loan fees, discount and origination points. Some lenders include discount and origination points in their quoted points. Other lenders may only quote discount points, when in fact there is an additional origination point (or fraction of a point).This difference in the way points are sometime quoted is important to you. One lender will quote all points, while another lender may disclose an extra point, or fraction thereof, at a later time--an unwelcome surprise. Within 3 working days after receipt of your completed loan application, your mortgage company is required to provide you with a written good-faith estimate (GFE) of closing costs. You may want to consider requesting a GFE from a few lenders before submitting your application. With a few GFEs to compare, you can get a feel for which lenders are more thorough, and you can educate yourself regarding the costs associated with your transaction. The GFE with the highest costs may not indicate that a particular lender is more expensive than another--in fact, they may be more diligent in itemizing all fees.The cost of the mortgage, however, shouldn't be your only criteria. There is no substitute for asking family and friends for referrals and for interviewing prospective mortgage companies. You must also feel comfortable that the loan officer you are dealing with is committed to your best interests and will deliver what they promise.
   
4. Choosing a lender because they are recommended by your Realtor®. Your Realtor is not a financial expert. He or she may not know which loan is best for you. Your Realtor® gets a commission only when your transaction closes. As a result, the Realtor® may refer you to a lender who will close your loan, but who may not have the best rates or fees. Also, many Realtors® refer you to one of their friends in the loan business--who also may not have the best rates or fees. Although most Realtors® are professional and concerned about your best interests, you should do your own homework. I recommend shopping for a loan with at least three mortgage companies before you make a decision. There are countless stories of consumers who ended up paying higher rates, or got a loan that wasn't right for them, because they blindly followed their Realtor's® advice.
   
5. Not getting a rate lock in writing. When a mortgage company tells you they have locked your rate, get a written statement detailing the interest rate, the length of the rate lock, and other particulars about the program.
   
6. Using a dual agent (an agent who represents the buyer and seller in the same transaction). Buyers and sellers have opposing interests. Sellers want to receive the highest price, buyers want to pay the lowest price. In most situations, dual agents cannot be fair to both buyer and seller. Since the seller usually pays the commission, the dual agent may negotiate harder for the seller than for the buyer. If you are a buyer, it is usually better to have your own agent represent you. Proceed cautiously and do your homework!
   
7. Buying a home without professional inspections. Taking the seller's word that repairs have been made. Unless you're buying a new home with warranties on most equipment, it is highly recommended that you get property, roof and termite inspections. These reports will give you a better picture of what you're buying. Inspection reports are great negotiating tools when it comes to asking the seller to make repairs. If a professional home inspector states that certain repairs need to be made, the seller is more likely to agree to making them. If the seller agrees to make repairs, have your inspector verify the completed work prior to close of escrow. Do not assume that everything will be done as promised.
   
8. Not shopping for home insurance until you are ready to close. Start shopping for insurance as soon as you have an accepted offer. Many buyers wait until the last minute to get insurance and find they have no time left to shop around.
   
9. Signing documents without reading them. Do not sign documents in a hurry. As soon as possible, review the documents you'll be signing at close of escrow--including a copy of all loan documents. This way, you can review them and get your questions answered in a timely manner. Do not expect to read all the documents during the closing. There is rarely enough time to do that.
   
10. Making moving plans that don't work. You expect to move out of your current residence on Friday and into your new residence over the weekend. Also on Friday, your lease terminates and the movers are scheduled to appear. Friday morning arrives: bags packed, boxes stacked, children under arm and the dog on a leash; you're sitting on your front door stoop awaiting the arrival of the movers. Your phone rings. Your loan closing is delayed until the following Tuesday. The new tenants turn into your driveway with a weighted-down U-Haul and the movers pull up across the street. You ask yourself, "Where's the nearest Motel 6 and storage facility? How much will the movers charge for an extra trip? Can we afford it?" How can you avoid such a disaster? Cancel your lease and ask the movers to show up five to seven days after you anticipate closing your transaction. Consider the extra expense an insurance policy. You're buying peace of mind--and protecting yourself from expensive delays.
    
    

Lonnie Snyder

REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound

Phone: 206-406-2710

E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Hunt for a home: Searching for a dream home often feels more like a nightmare

The house was perfect.
The 1950s rambler in Bellevue's Lake Hills neighborhood was in good condition, had three bedrooms, one bathroom and a little patio out back where Rebecca McCuen could hold cocktail parties. The commute to her job at Microsoft would have been short. And the price was right for McCuen: $360,000.
She quickly bid on the house, but someone else beat her to it. She lost her perfect house. "I felt kind of let down," said McCuen, 32, who was shopping for her first house. "I felt like if I can't have that house, I don't want any house." Disappointed, she mulled her options. She wanted a two- or three-bedroom house under $400,000 in a good school district with a big yard for her 19-month-old toddler.
As a first-time homebuyer, she figured she wouldn't be able to afford her dream house, so she set her sights on a house she could live in for a few years to build equity. She paid off her school loans, consolidated her credit cards, and paid off her car. She put more money into her savings account and lined up 100 percent financing for a house. In February, she was ready to look again.
A month later, she found a three-bedroom rambler in Kenmore's Finn Hill neighborhood for $382,000 that sounded promising. It needed work, but McCuen made an offer for $10,000 less. She and the sellers countered a couple more times, but McCuen went with her gut and decided to keep looking. "It sounds strange, but I go along with my vibes," she said. "And I didn't feel right about this house." Her agent, Lonnie Snyder of Keller Williams Real Estate in Renton, suggested they expand their search south to Renton. A few days later, Lonnie called to tell her that a three-bedroom, two-bath home in Renton had gone on the market for $345,500 the day before. The house had wood floors, new appliances, natural gas, two fireplaces, copper pipes and a spacious family room. Would she be interested in seeing it? McCuen and her boyfriend checked it out on her lunch break. "We walked in and said, 'This is the house,' " she said. McCuen offered $335,000. She included an escalator clause that allowed her to add $2,000 over the highest bid and didn't include a cap if the bidding rose. Paul, a former home inspector, told her the house was in good shape: It had newer wiring, a good foundation, and old-growth timber that was more resistant to pests. Four buyers, including McCuen, made offers the next day. Lonnie decided to turn up the heat and pleaded her case directly to the sellers. He brought a letter McCuen had written explaining why she wanted the house, told them she was preapproved for a loan, and was a single mother and needed to be closer to work. "We had to show she was the best candidate even though she had 100 percent financing," he said. Lonnie told her to have her cellphone with her at 6 p.m. so he could call her about the meeting. While she waited, she picked her daughter up from day care and headed back to work to be near a fax machine. At 6 p.m., the agent called. "We got it," he said. She won the house with a bid of $352,500 — her escalator clause kicked in. McCuen was excited, but she was also relieved that she wouldn't have to haggle with sellers or plot strategies anymore. "I didn't have a lot of faith in the bidding process," McCuen said. "For me, buying a house was a totally stressful, scary thing."

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.