First American Title Blog

Fall is a great time of year to live in the Northwest. There are so many great things to see.

Enjoy Oktoberfests in Washington state. Leavenworth celebrates a month long Oktoberfest with dancing, food and art walks.  Poulsbo Washington also has an Oktoberfest. Puyallup just had theirs at the local fair grounds.

October time is pumpkin time. Visit community pages for links to great pumpkin farms. The events range from corn husking contests, haunted cornfields, corn mazes, cider pressing, monster truck rides and more. I love visiting the local ones in eastern pierce county with my kids. The kettle corn, tractor races and more. Here are a couple of pictures.  If you know of a great place. Let us know so we can share. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and events that the Northwest offers.

• Read More »

• Read More »

• Read More »

We spend thousands of dollars to build a website because we took the latest seminar that taught us. If you build it they will come.  Well have you heard of the best steak restaurant in Pittsburg KS?  No? I really would not expect you to even if its built. Because we need to educate people that it exists. That is what you need to do for your website.

Here are a couple ideas and I am excited to hear of other creative ways

1. Take a look at all the print marketing you use and make sure you locate the website on your materials fliers, business cards, return address labels, signatures on your e mails, and also don’t forget your voicemails.
2. Treat your new website like a grand opening of a building. Let all your past clients know that it exists invite them to visit and sign in. Perhaps they can win a fabulous prize.
3. Look at your advertising classified, co-operative advertising are you being dynamic by changing your font for your website address. Let them know your website has some special features.  If I am not interested in what you do what else may drive me to the website? Photo galleries, resources, new events, blogs?

These items are minimal costs with maximum results. Don’t forget to ask yourself. If I am a typical person what do I need or want and what would make me mark it as a favorite.

• Read More »

On June 12 Washington State passed a new law called the Distressed Home Law or law 2791. This law was created to stop an process called equity skimming. To summarize the bill it calls for the seller to disclose that they are or will be in one or all of the following categories:

1. unable to make a mortg payment on their primary residence in the next 4 months or they have missed one payment
2. are within 20 days of foreclosure
3. will not make or have not made their real estate tax payment.

Sounds pretty clear cut. Now it can get sticky. At time of disclosure the seller’s agent now becomes a Distressed Home Consultant which will fall into a consumer protection law.  A buyer who knows this information now becomes a distress home consultant and has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller. The real estate Buyer’s agent will also become a Distressed Home Consultant and owe a fiduciary responsibility to the seller. So this past month real estate companies have been revising forms, getting new disclosures signed and also cancelling listing contract with people who are distressed because the liability for the real estate company and agent are so great.  This law may hurt those it was intended to protect. As a buyer in the state of Washgington  you need to know the law and your responsibilities

• Read More »

The quality of life in the Northwest is at its best anytime of the year. The summer season is now upon us.  Farmer’s markets, lavender in bloom and the beauty of the blooms. What is still around is the rain, clouds and cold.  I have never adjusted well to sweatshirts, pants and cashmere sweaters on June 13 of every year.  As we all complain that we are not a summer area I need to recall the beginning of this thought. There is no place better than the Northwest in the summer. I am enjoying fresh blueberries in my cereal purchased at a local market.  The end of the evening viewing Mt. Rainier in its last colors of pink for the day.  The mornings are quiet and still.  By noon we are setting the sails for a lunch cruise around Puget sound then ending it with a bucket of fresh clams.

Every weekend is a festival. Sand castle, kite flying, timberland, the sound to narrows run is this weekend over 5,000 runners and walkers will enjoy the views of Puget Sound, Pt. Defiance park and its rain forest splendor.  My family will head to Asotoria for a weekend of camping at the beach. We will enjoy 70 degree weather, rain and take in another market. What drives you to the Northwest?

• Read More »