Real Estate Weekly | November 4, 2011

RealEstate weekly RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • RENTALS • LAND/ACREAGE

NOV 4-NOV 10 TWENTY-ELEVEN FREE

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

ABOUT THAT GARAGE PAGE 3

CONTRACT CONUNDRUMS PAGE 4

SWEETENING THE DEAL PAGE 6

Q&A: MISSED PAYMENTS PAGE 7

$187,5000 CENTURY 21 North Homes Realty, Inc. 526 E. College Way Mount Vernon, WA 98273 phone: 360.424.2100 Sandi Riley fax: 360.404.2198 Listing Agent www.SandiRiley.com

NEW LISTING. By appointment, easy to view. Enjoy Skagit River views, with private beach access, quiet wooded .79 acres. Roomy 2 story home with 2072 square feet, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, with family room, bonus room on main. Wood laminate & ceramic tile floors, cozy wood stove, large view deck, BIG GARAGE/SHOP. MLS#288307

770-8670

North Homes Realty Inc.

DIFFERENT SPACES FOR DIFFERENT PACES TIPS FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL KITCHEN DESIGN PAGE 8

FEATURED ARTICLE:

DIFFERENT SPACES FOR DIFFERENT PACES In 2008, an estimated 49 million Americans, or 16.1 percent of the total U.S. population, lived in a family household that contained at least two adult generations or a grandparent and at least one other generation, according to the Pew Research Center. (cont. on pg. 8)

CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 10-11

YOUR KEY TO REAL ESTATE IN SKAGIT, SNOHOMISH, ISLAND AND WHATCOM COUNTIES goskagit.com/reweekly

A supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald and the Anacortes American

TABLE of CONTENTS

Real Estate Weekly content sponsored by:

Whidbey Island Bank

About That Garage

Pg. 3

Contract Conundrums

Pg. 4

Sweetening the Deal

Pg. 6

Q&A: Missed Payments

Pg. 7

Different Spaces for Different Paces

Pg. 8

Classifieds

Pg. 10-11

PG.

8

To advertise in SKAGIT PUBLISHING

RealEstate weekly

or other Skagit Publishing publications, Call 360.416.2180 or E-mail ads@skagitads.com View this publication online at www.goskagit.com/reweekly ©2011 by Skagit Publishing | All rights reserved.

All real estate advertised in Real Estate Weekly is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin,

or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

For further information call HUD Toll Free at 1-800-669-9777.

All Houses subject to prior changes without notice. Neither advertisers nor Skagit Publishing are responsible for any errors in the ad copy. Skagit Publishing reserves the right to refuse any advertising, which we deem unsuitable for our publication.

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs, artwork and ad designs printed are the sole property of Skagit Publishing and may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission.

Skagit Publishing is not responsible for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers.

Territory NW

Go to our website for a quick and easy way to search all listings!

320 S Burlington Blvd • Burlington www.SkagitValleyRealEstate.com (360) 755-9494 • (800) 775-0153 FEN CED BAC KYA RD

GR EAT LO CA TIO N

PRI CE RED UC ED

NE W

LIS TIN G

Mount Vernon Sedro Woolley Burlington

$64,900

3 bedroom rambler. 1 ½ baths. Great Burlington location. Large private yard. Fannie Mae HomePath property. MLS#268406 Call Pete, 708-6500

$129,950

1984 Stick built 3 bdrm, 1 ½ bath home with good size living room adjoining dining area. Kitchen has large pantry & plenty of storage. 1 car attached garage plus a huge fenced backyard with greenhouse make this a great buy. MLS#289699 Call Ivana, 770-3550

PRI CE RED UC ED

Burlington

$379,000

Single Level Home on Burlington Hill. 0.46 Acre Lot w/ Views to the East & South. Gourmet Kitchen w/ Cherry Cabinets & Granite Counters.

Hardwood Floors, Gas FP, Open Floor Plan. Large Master BR w/ Sitting Area & Master Bath. Secure 2-Car Garage. MLS#115774 Call Ron, 333-1045

Wilma Louia Owner 661-1631

2

Debbie Allen 708-8780

Mike Welling 540-1341

November 4, 2011

Burlington

$189,000

3 bedroom, 1.5 bath traditional Home, 1574 sq. ft. of living space. Full basement with 2 bonus rooms. Wood flooring, Many built-ins. Roomy, fenced backyard. Detached two car garage.

MLS#257235 Call Debbie, 708-8780

Mount Vernon

$235,000

Well cared for 2 story home. Desirable Blackburn Ridge area. 3 BR, 2 ½ baths, 1628 sq. ft. Gorgeous new mahogany deck. Newer int & ext paint, many new updates. On fully fenced lot. MLS#290421 Call Charlie, 708-1415, Jeannie, 708-9645

“Highest Overall Satisfaction For Home Sellers and Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms”

$425,000

14 acres prime agricultural land. 1570SF 2-story farmhouse; 3BR, 1.75 Baths. Possible M-I-L quarters. 2-car detached garage w/shop & barns.

Close to I-5. MLS#85441 Call Charlie, 708-1415, Jeannie, 708-9645

Ron Van Pelt 333-1045

Sedro-Woolley

$359,000

1990 SF Rambler in Nookachamp Hills. 3 BR, 2.5 baths. Hardwood, carpet & tile floors. Slab granite, tile backsplash, & several other high end finishes. Great room w/ a 2-sided FP. Lg kitchen perfect for a chef & large sized breakfast nook!

Seller will pay up to 3% buyers closing costs.

MLS#29154892 Call Michelle, 630-4423

Charlie & Jeannie Boon 708-9645

Ivana Wood 770-3550

RE/MAX received the highest numerical score among full service real estate firms for home sellers and home buyers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM . Study based on 3,861 total evaluations measuring 8 firms and measures opinions of individuals who bought a home between March 2010 and April 2011. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed March-May 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com

Dan Soria 348-6655

Jim Stransky 708-1681

Lisa Davies 391-2232

Michelle Mitzel 630-4423

Elizabeth Detillion 708-8800

Amber Soria 969-4030

Kirk Campbell 770-7470

Pete McDougal Broker 708-6500

Real Estate Weekly goskagit.com/reweekly

About that

garage...

Some homes have them. Some don’t. How much does it matter when it comes time to buy or sell a home?

In recent years, great attention has been paid to how to remodel a garage to fit many homeowners’ storage needs - for cars but also for other items like seasonal clothing and holiday decorations.

Not every house comes with a garage, however, particularly smaller or older homes. With the continued slow housing market, many buyers and sellers debate the value - or lack thereof - in a garage.

Broker Amy Frankmore, with Kentwood Real Estate in Denver, says that garages need to be dealt with head-on in a marketing plan. “Many buyers discount the listing price of a house without a garage,” she says.

She and others recommend both sellers and buyers get estimates to build a 2- to 2.5-car garage. On average, the garage should be 150 square feet and have a concrete floor, fire-resistant sheathing, durable roof, window, automatic

goskagit.com/reweekly

electric door and good drainage with a slope to the outside, says Robert S. Mann, a construction lawyer in Century City, Calif. Though labor costs vary, Mann puts the average cost at around $13,000, or $85 a square foot. In addition to knowing the potential cost, check that a garage - attached or detached - complies with local building codes. Preferably, it should be near the kitchen or mud room. “Otherwise, it will work against resale and be frustrating [for owners], since people rarely go in their front door but through the garage,” says Duo Dickinson, author of Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want (Taunton Press, 2011).

Depending on an area’s real estate market and seller’s eagerness, the cost can become a negotiating tool. Homeowners Stacey and Curt Hilton didn’t get the purchase of their garageless Raleigh, N.C., home reduced by the cost to build one, but were able to deduct $5,000.

Real Estate Weekly

November 4, 2011

3

Contract Conundrums Sellers are seeing deals end in the trash bin, not on the closing table. Here’s what’s been derailing deals in today’s market

4

November 4, 2011

It’s not always a scarcity of buyers that’s holding back the housing market.

“I know of one home with an incredible new kitchen,” relates John O’Brien, a real estate attorney who works in suburban Chicago.

Smitten with the kitchen, no fewer than five buyers submitted purchase contracts - but all were then canceled. Five false starts is a bit extreme, O’Brien notes, but aborted purchases are common now.

This past August, 18 percent of members of the National Association of Realtors reported a canceled sale, double the rate from a year ago.

Attorneys, agents and other experts say that several trends can derail sales, from tightened lending and appraisal rules to buyers’ remorse and agents who are ill-equipped to shepherd today’s more complicated transactions to completion.

Here, a look at what’s stopping sales and what determined buyers and sellers might do to keep on track:

Looking For Exit

State laws vary, but, generally, when a buyer puts in a contract, it’s subject to approval from his or her attorney. That approval marks the first place a buyer who gets cold feet can walk, because an attorney can usually find reasons a contract is unacceptable, especially when the client wants out, O’Brien notes.

For remorse that settles in later, he adds, the home inspection invariably uncovers flaws, and buyers can dig in their heels, saying they can’t live with such shortcomings.

When a buyer cancels, and the seller believes it’s not for a legitimate reason, in practicality there’s little the seller can do, observes Florida real estate attorney Rosa Eckstein Schechter.

Recovering the full amount of earnest money, she adds, could involve legal action. “Most of the time, the best that the seller can do is negotiate to keep half [of the earnest money].”

Real Estate Weekly goskagit.com/reweekly

Supporting Value

One common reason, that contracts fall through, according to the NAR, is that appraisal values fall short of purchase offers.

O’Brien shares that in the case of the five failed offers, the culprit was appraisals.

But please don’t blame the appraiser, says Little Rock, Arkbased Sara Stephens, president-elect of The Appraisal Institute.

The appraisal isn’t supposed to confirm the purchase price offer, but it’s an independent opinion used by the lender, Stephens says.

Still, she doesn’t like the recent financial reforms that have resulted in more lenders hiring appraisers from areas outside the

neighborhoods they evaluate a home in.

Stephens says home sellers and/or their agents should meet the appraiser, point out the positive features of the home, and how the home may be distinct from other homes that have recently sold in the neighborhood.

Follow The Money

When buyers need a mortgage, their contract typically contains a clause whereby if they can’t secure a loan, the purchase is off.

When appraisal values come in under the purchase offer it often means that the lender can’t make the mortgage requested.

But buyers also be can rejected just days before a scheduled closing because of their

goskagit.com/reweekly

personal finances.

Don’t be too confident that a “pre-approval” means you’ll get the mortgage later, warns Joe Wyrick, president of the Athens chapter of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia.

When you get pre-approval, ask “if you’re borderline,” Wyrick advises. If your credit score or other factors are on the edge, loan rules can subsequently tighten, squeezing you out of the loan.

STAT Long-term plans

91% Percentage of pre-retirees aged 50 to 65 who say they want to stay in their own home in retirement.

Source: MetLife Mature Marketing Institute

Keeping It Professional

Alicia Trevino, CEO of Century 21 Fine Homes & Estates, Dallas, believes that many agents don’t see the minefields, and act proactively to save a sale. For instance, an agent should warn a seller about glaring flaws that will almost certainly hold back a sale, she says.

Kathy Dames, a RE/ MAX agent in Joliet, Ill., agrees: “FHA mortgages, which many buyers need, have lots of paperwork deadlines some agents don’t meet.”

OPEN HOUSES & SHOWCASES SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH 1 P.M. TO 4 P.M. 23191 State Route 9, Lake McMurray • $509,000 O

H PE N

E OUS

Beautifully appointed, custom home offers lots of light, amazing views,and unique park like approach. This 4 bedroom home boasts dock,

boat launch, and 75 ft. of Lake McMurray waterfront.

Vaulted ceilings, formal living and dining rooms, large kitchen with stunning view, and daylight basement offers kitchenette and office/library. 726 sq. ft. garage and lots of parking. MLS#236420 Directions: From I-5 exit 221 (Conway), drive East on Highway 534. Right on Hwy 9 (approx. 1 mile). This property is on lake side. Danya Wolf

Real Estate Weekly

360-708-8294

46737 Baker Loop, Concrete - $89,950 NE W

L IS

T IN

G

Enjoy eagle watching & outstanding Mount Baker & Skagit River views from this 3 bedroom home. Quality, newer floor coverings, open kitchen/living area with a cozy wood stove & deck make this a perfect year-around retreat. All appliances stay, & a propane hook-up is available. The separate cabin is plumbed & wired. Like the main home, it has both baseboard heat & a wood stove. Plenty of parking & a great yard completes your Sandy Everett 360-202-3706 private “corner of paradise.” MLS#289362

360.424.0300 or 360.853.8888 3780 E. College Way, Mount Vernon www.skagittraditionrealty.com

November 4, 2011

5

Heard the joke about an iPad, luxury car or vacation being offered to buyers or salespeople to cinch a deal?

Well, those possibilities aren’t just jokes.

Barb St. Amant, saleswoman with Harry Norman Realtors in Atlanta, says she’s shown homes where sellers offer a week’s vacation at beach houses in Florida.

“Buyers can be brutal in what they ask for in this market.”

Bill Golden, also an Atlanta salesman, with

RE/MAX Metro, concurs. “We’re dealing with emotional sellers who most often are losing money on their largest asset, but, on the other hand, we have keyed-up buyers who have it in their heads that they can just about steal any house on the market,” he says. “The reality is somewhere in between, and it’s often a hard place to get to.”

While the glitzy offers steal headlines -

and sometimes work, they’re less common these days, says Timothy Elmes, a salesman with Coldwell Banker Residential Realty in

A low price is a good start, but sellers and agents are gilding listings with more incentives to help close the deal Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. His firm used to offer brokers Rolex watches and all-expense paid weekends to a St. Thomas Ritz-Carlton hotel, but found they

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Tel. (360) 416-4902

www.npsar.com

What is a QR Code & How Do I Use It? More and more, you will begin to see these strange little graphics on print advertising, sales flyers and on signs for Homes for Sale by REALTORS® in your neighborhood.

You may already know how to use them, or you’ve been curious.

“QR codes (quick response codes) is a type of 2D bar code that may be decoded using your smartphone with a QR code reader. There are two main things that you have to have when you deal with QR codes: 1. A mobile phone with a camera and Internet connectivity 2. A QR code reader (free downloads available at iTunes, and more) After you have your reader installed, fire up the application and snap a picture of the QR code. Make sure that your hand is steady and that you are able to include the whole code into the picture.

Depending on your software, it may take some five to thirty seconds for the application to resolve the link for you. That is , to decode the information written behind the code. If it is a URL, the QR code reader will open your browser and let you surf the mobile site the code links to.” (beQRrious.com)

Mission Statement: The North Puget Sound Association of Realtors advocates for Realtors and their clients, provides services to help members prosper, and promotes the protection of property rights.

6

November 4, 2011

The developers of the small luxe Carriage House Condominium building in New York’s chic Chelsea neighborhood are giving their two penthouse buyers free parking spaces within the building, valued at $225,000.

“We have just eight spaces and decided those who would want them most are the buyers of the two most expensive units [$2.7 million and $3.6 million]. They’re also the ones most likely to own a car in New York,” says Eric Gray, one of the three partners at Broad Mill Development Group.

Realtor Barbara Wulfing of Janet McAfee Real Estate in St. Louis told one owner a dated master bath would turn off buyers. The owner remodeled with a white marble counter, frameless glass shower door and small flat-screen TV, and the bait worked -though the buyers insisted on having the TV - a minimal expense at $250 - thrown in.

Because of the difficult climate, prices are being lowered

Sweetening the Deal

NORTH PUGET SOUND ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® 525 East College Way, Suite J

weren’t effective.

Today, the more common come-ons are for sellers to offer salespeople extra funds, Elmes says. Or, sellers

try to reel in buyers by paying closing costs, buying new appliances, having stagers re-arrange furnishings, lowering the listing price or piling on value-added services.

Enticing the Environment When it comes to staging, now more commonplace, the strategy can cost a buyer from $500 to $1,000, or more, says Golden. “It’s particularly important when a house has a difficult floor plan,” he says.

Jennifer Ames agrees.

“We are staging nearly every listing to some degree, from aggressive decluttering to a complete makeover.

It’s essential in this market,” says Ames, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Chicago.

from the get-go, and more home-related services tossed in. In Elmes’ market, prices are 30 percent off what they were five to six years ago, he says.

Waterfront lots are 50 percent down, since they were purchased mostly by spec builders, who now are less active, he adds.

These days some salespeople also incur more expenses to close deals. Designer and saleswoman JoAnn Roberts, with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Miami, purchased a warehouse and filled it with $100,000 worth of high-end furniture to redecorate clients’ homes for free. She also bought a truck to haul everything to them.

Her tactics have helped her attain higher prices and faster sales. She recently redecorated a 1955 home appraised at $235,000. “I redid bathrooms with new vanities and mirrors, painted the inside and outside, added trim, and received a fast offer with no contingencies for $280,000.

We spent $10,000 to $12,000, so the sellers still did better,” she says.

Real Estate Weekly goskagit.com/reweekly

Q&A Missed Payments: The Short of It All QUESTION:

In a short sale where the financing was insured by the FHA, is the borrower first required to miss three payments? This was the advice given by a lender before it would allow a short sale to go forward.

ANSWER:

We sent this question over to HUD and received this response: “The information is incorrect.

Under the code of federal regulations 24 CFR 203.370 (c) 2 and section 204 of the National Housing Act the loan must be in default at the time the short sale transaction closes for HUD to legally pay a claim (31+ days). This does not preclude the servicer from processing the short sale request with the loan current if the borrower and property meet all the short sale requirements and close the transaction with the loan one month delinquent.”

goskagit.com/reweekly

Ask Our Broker

By Peter G. Miller

To suggest that a borrower must miss three payments that otherwise could be made does several things. First, it means that the borrower’s credit will be seriously downgraded - even if a short sale is not completed.

Second, it sets a foreclosure in motion - and with it additional borrower costs and fees.

Third, in some jurisdictions it may set up the borrower for a “deficiency” judgment after the transaction, a suit by the lender to get back its money and fees.

If the mortgage is current and the property is less than 125-percent upside down the best option is to modify the loan under the government’s Making Home Affordable program.

Another choice, if possible, is to rent the property. While home values have been falling, rental rates have generally held steady or increased in most areas.

Whenever a lender or “foreclosure rescue specialist” suggests deliberately missing payments borrowers should immediately ask for assistance from an attorney or a community housing organization. Pro bono legal services may be available through law schools and bar associations. State attorneys general also may be able to suggest sources of help.

Now could be the time to

sell a new home and earn a slice of the real estate pie.

R

ecord-low interest rates and record-low housing prices are renewing interest in the floundering housing market for many people.

“When sellers are interviewing real estate agents to market their homes, their primary focus is usually on the advertising that the agent will offer them,” says Jessica Goodbody of Weichert Realtors.

Let us help you meet your marketing goals by advertising in Real Estate Weekly. weekly

RealEstate

Call 360.416.2180 today!

In print and online

goskagit.com

ads@skagitads.com

Brown McMillen Real Estate 360.757.6013 1.800.869.7084 w w w. b r o w n m c m i l l e n . c o m

CLASSIC COLONIAL...4 bdrm, 2.5 bath home in perfect condition. Lots of hardwood, new carpet, 2 f/places + 2800 sf of living. $379,500. #239534 RARE BOW RAMBLER...Country living at its finest! 3 Br, 2 Ba home on a large 1 acre lot. Begging for a shop to be built. $194,500. #283695 RURAL SETTING... 2.83 acres, ready for your new home, Water &. Power in, septic design on file. Mobiles welcome. Lot certified w/critical area work complete. $69,900. #45841 COUNTRY CLUB RAMBLER... views of 1st green from deck, traditional style home.

3 bdrms, 2.5 baths, 1548 sf, formal dining rm, gas heat, newer roof, nice lot. $237,500. #251125 PROPERTY JUST FOR YOU…13+ acres in Birdsview. 11+/- acres of beautiful pasture, mountain views & more. $169,500. #245298 Jan Scally Galen Kindred Fritz Inman Shelah Inman Dick Best

Real Estate Weekly

421-5160 770-7083 661-0147 661-0145 770-1491

235 W. Rio Vista Avenue, Burlington

LOVELY 3 BR, 2 BATH… home on 1/3 acre at end of quiet street, lots of privacy.996sf garage-shop, immaculate condition. New on market, priced to sell. $249,500. #284618 GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD…in center of Mt. Vernon. Roomy 1984 sf, 3 bdrm, 2 bath Rambler, large lot. New carpet & vinyl installed thruout. $199,500. #89952 LARGE ACREAGE…76.84 acres of gently rolling acreage with new drilled well. Secluded yet only 15 miles from Mt. Vernon. $289,000. #2212867 TOP OF THE WORLD... one of a kind 1 acre lot w/unmatched views of Skagit Valley, Mt Baker &, the sound.! Well in & septic approved. Access thru locked gate. $695,000. #27181672 SEDRO WOOLLEY...Small 1 BR with gas heat, all appliances stay. Some updating, new paint and carpet. Excellent rental history at $650 per month. Vacant . $95,000 #280157

AFFORDABLE LIVING...great investment property or first time buyer. 2 bdrm, 1.5 bath condo, convenient Burlington location. $99,000. #153357 LOCATION, LOCATION...gorgeous 5 ac parcel on Bayview Ridge, great views, private w/well established homes. $299,500. #D255599 INDUSTRIAL SITE…Almost 10 acres zoned for Warehouse, Mfg & Distribution.

Burlington Hill Bus Park. $2,100,000. #214854 CLASSIC...turn of the Century, great business potential. Corner lot, lots of parking, hardwood floors, 4 bdrms, den, 1 3/4 baths. Older shop bldg. previously used for antique shop. $234,900. #243578 OWNER/FINANCING... For qualified buyer on this great newer condo. 2 BR, 1.75 baths. No age restrictions. $199,500. #283810

Evening Phone Calls Welcome Phil Hurtig Tim Reichert Terri Heyntsen Ron Wortham Jeff Ingman

770-0787 391-5587 391-0938 661-1500 202-2859

Holly Brown-Hilts 661-5538 Mary Jo Reitsma 770-6013 Tod LeHecka 333-1032 www.brownmcmillen.com

November 4, 2011

7

Different Spaces for Different Paces

Tips for Multi-Generational Kitchen Design Parents are moving in with their adult children. College grads are coming home to Mom and Dad. Siblings are moving in with one another after a home foreclosure.

Across America, the need for home design that supports multigenerational living is on the rise.

8

November 4, 2011

In 2008, an estimated 49 million Americans, or 16.1 percent of the total U.S. population, lived in a family household that contained at least two adult generations or a grandparent and at least one other generation, according to the Pew Research Center.

“Factors such as job losses, home foreclosures and a changing attitude toward multi-generational living have all contributed to the rise,” said Sarah Reep, director of designer relations and education at KraftMaid Cabinetry. “Now families are finding relatives at both ends of the age spectrum living together under one roof.”

Real Estate Weekly goskagit.com/reweekly

To understand how this collision of social, economic and generational influences will impact kitchen design, Masco Cabinetry, home of the KraftMaid, Merillat, QualityCabinets and DeNova brands, commissioned the GenShift 2011 study.

“Living in a multi-generational home can be a great experience, but it can also be very challenging,” added Reep. “It’s important to take each generation’s ideas and needs into consideration, especially when it comes to home design.”

To keep multi-generational households running smoothly, Reep recommends the following tips: Get creative with lighting.

Different tasks and generations require various levels of lighting. A combination of recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting provides both aesthetics and functionality. Adding dimmer switches is a way to add even more flexibility.

Add a splash of color.

While monochromatic color schemes have been popular in recent years, older generations may prefer contrast between countertops and cabinets in order to maximize visual acuity.

goskagit.com/reweekly

Vary countertop heights.

Lowered counters will create a workspace for small children, wheelchair users and those who prefer to sit while preparing meals. Homeowners can also use the varied heights for different tasks, such as lower counters for kneading dough and higher counters for cutting vegetables.

Install the right hardware.

Older or smaller hands may have trouble grasping or pulling certain types of kitchen hardware. Consider larger drawer and cabinet handles that are easier to grasp and more ergonomically friendly.

Keep counters clutter-free.

The GenShift 2011 study found a common theme when it comes to kitchen cabinetry accessories-more storage in a clean design style. Creative storage solutions like a wall appliance garage and pull-out cabinets create easily accessible storage places for “musthave” items.

For more information on the GenShift 2011 study, visit www.genshiftkitchen.com.

Real Estate Weekly

November 4, 2011

9

CALL FOR MOVE-IN SPECIAL. Sedro-Woolley, Burlington & Oak Harbor 1 & 2 Bdrm apts., W/S/G pd., no pets. 360-708-3427

OPEN HOUSE All New Luxury Décor

(Available now) MV beautiful large 2 bdrm, 2 ba, river & Mt. Baker view, all appliances & W/S/G incl. Only $825, $855, $895/mo. 206-4099317 or 206-849-3334 Summerglen Apartments

NOW RENTING

1 2 & 3 Bdrm Apts 2 x 1 ½ Town homes Covered-Assigned Parking Garages / Storage Avail.

Complete Appliance Pkgs Sport Courts / Playgrounds Pet Friendly Call Today! 360-856-4803

Studio.....$609 1 Bedroom.....$644 2 Bedroom.....$762 3 Bedroom.....$847

360.416.6000

Income limits apply.

Equal Housing Opportunity 1630 N. 26th St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273

1ST MO. FREE! 1, 2 & 3 bdrm, MV, near college, onsite laundry, reserved parking. W/S/G pd. Qualify today!

Move in tomorrow! 428-3887

1 - 4 Bdrm Rentals.

Piazza Realty Property Mgmt., Inc. 360-424-RENT 2 bdrm, Burl. Elect. heat. (7368) www.prpmrentals.com Carport. W/S/G pd. Quiet area. $800/mo. + $600 dam- 1 Bdrm waterfront, Guemes age. No pets. 360-856-6878 Island, Nov.-May, no smoke/ pets, $630/mo. + utils.

2 Bdrm, MV, W/S/G pd.

Garage. 360-293-3357 College Way & 19th. $705/mo. 360-424-6757 2 bdrm, 1 ba, MV hill, fenced yard, view to the river. No smoke/pet. $995. + $1000 Call now for rent special: Spacious 2 & 3 Bdrm, 2 Ba, dep. 360-661-6173 WD, W/S/G/cable pd.

2 bdrm, 1.5 ba, MV hill, full $775/$875. No pets. 1825 basement, private 1/2 acre, E. Division MV. 383-6603 fenced yard, view to river & LACONNER. 1 bdrm apt. sunsets. No smoke/pet. $995 Approx. 600 sq. ft., above re- + $1000 dep. 360-661-6173, tail store. Right on water with 961-9502

La Conner - water view, 3 Bdrm, 3.5 Ba custom home, 1,950 sq. ft., finished basement, 1,200 sq. ft. shop/ garage. Across street from beach. 10 min. to refinery/15 min. to MV/Anac., $1,595 mo.

360-661-0002

10

November 4, 2011

MV RV PARK. Affordable monthly living. Nicest park in town. (360) 428-8787

RENTALS

Houses & Apartments.

See our listings at www.skagitrentals.com Remax Property Mgmt.

823 N. 4th, Mount Vernon 360-424-3198 Sedro-Woolley, new house on acreage, 2 bdrm, 1 ba, $1200/mo. 425-765-3523

OPEN HOUSE All New Luxury 2/3 bdrm

(Available now) MV large 2 & 3 bdrm duplexes with garage, private setting/yard/patio, beautiful interiors, all appliances & W/S/G incl. Only $875, $895 & $995/mo. Call 206409-9317 or 206-849-3334.

Beautiful renovated homes in Mount Vernon & Sedro- 4-PLEX in Stanwood. 3 Woolley, $1200-$1275/mo. bdrm, 1 ba, w/tile and hard360-333-1886 wood floors, $900; 2 bdrm, 1 ba, top floor, $675; 1 bdrm, w/new carpet & vinyl, $650; 2 room studio w/laminate floors, $485. All with views.

425-478-0848 1 bdrm in Burl. carport, nat- MV 1 level 4 plex, 2 bdrm, 1 ural gas heat, utility room, ba, W/D, carport. W/S/G pd. $750/mo. W/S pd. $600/ No pets/smoke. $700 + $700 damage. No pets. 856-6878 dep. Background chk. 6109860 9am-5pm 2 Bdrm, 1 ½ Ba, gas heat, W/D hook-up, garage, $795. S.W. 3 bdrm, 2.5 ba, garage, Avail. now. 1000-B Sterling fenced yard, S/G pd. $975.

No smoke/pets. 708-0362 St., S.W. 425-773-0573

2 bdrm, 700 Talcott, S.W. All energy efficient appliances.

Storage shed. Comprehensive screening report req'd. deck with fantastic view. 1 yr 2 bdrm, 2 ba doublewide on No smoke/pets. $795. + $600 lease req'd. No pets/smoke. private property. 2 car dep. 360-840-5728 $775. Call Jeff, 206-343-2350 garage, large deck.

2 units avail. at 428 N. 1st $1100/mo. 360-420-9617 St., MV. 1 unit $550; 1 unit NO HIDDEN FEES! $500 1st, last & damage dep.

Fairhaven Manor 757-2149 CUTE AS A BUG! Norris Place 757-3060 2 bdrm, gas heat, garage. So. Send info to PO Box 2297, 2 & 3 Bdrm Apts.

MV. No smoke/pets. $885. Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Please include phone number Affordable. Section 8 okay.

360-708-2672

10 November 4, 2011

Move in Special. Big Lake waterview RV space. $300.

No dogs. (206) 778-8147

MV room in large house, W/D, all utils. including cable & internet, $475/mo., $100/ dep. 360-424-6974 ROOM for rent on Campbell Lake 2,500 sq. ft. house, shared kitchen & living room, beach access, W/D, all utils. pd. incl. cable & high speed Internet, $425. 360-202-1357

RV LOT FOR RENT. $250/mo. W/S incl.

Full hookup avail. 826-3416

Mobile Home in beautiful Park Village, Mount Vernon. 1248 sq. ft. 3 bdrm, 2 ba, open floor plan, large bedrooms, storage shed, many upgrades. $26,750.

360-319-4274

OPEN HOUSE SAT., NOV. 5th, 12-3pm 2028 FOWLER ST., MV $238,500 Super location & reduced price!! Easy commute to I-5 & just min. to 3 parks, several schools & the hospital.

Int. upgrades: newer furnace, hot water heater, new floors in kitchen & util. rm.

Ext: new paint & new roof in last 3 yrs. Great rm concept in kitchen/family rm area. Living rm w/vaulted ceilings, frplc & formal dining area. 3 bdrms, 2.5 ba in 1968 sq. ft. Huge covered back deck w/skylights.

Nice private backyard w/ garden space. Fully fenced.

Motivated!! MLS# 236846.

Call Mel Foley at (360)7703115. WRE/Skagit Valley

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Nov. 5th 3-5pm Manufactured Home offered at $39,995 24442 Wicker Rd # 48, Sedro-Woolley Nicely updated, 3 bedroom 2 bath home with gas heat on a fully fenced lot. All new energy efficient appliances. Space rent includes garbage,sewer, basic cable. Please call Kellee Long @ ARE Realty, Inc. for more details- 360-661-4655

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY goskagit.com /reweekly

Real Estate Weekly goskagit.com/reweekly

NEW MOUNT VERNON HOME

OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Nov. 3rd 4-6pm Driving from I-5 to 232 Cook east 2 mi to Collins, RT on Ratchford to 21995 at end & F& S grade. Crabby Fisherman's Delight! On shy 7 ac Come warm up & enjoy some homemade Seafood Chowder. Quality built traditional hm w/ 4 Bdrm, 3 full baths. 2735 Sq Ft total! Power gated entry, HUGE 48x60 pole barn/ shop w/ dual 14' drive thru doors, wired for 220. & much more check out for yourself! Call Mary A for more details. Or reserve a private showing 360-6612095 A.R.E. Realty, Inc. A market Bargain @ $479,500

Condo warehouse space.

18'x60'. All amenities. Security. Call Rick, 360-3197359

Burlington – 5 plex apartment, $285,000 possible owner contract. Evenings 6 to 8 p.m. (360) 755-9752.

4 Bdrm, 2 ½ Ba, deck, double garage, 2 fireplaces – 1 upstairs & 1 downstairs, approx. 2100 sq. ft., wooded lot, large yard. Good neighborhood! $225,000.

711 No. 30th, Mount Vernon. 360-424-4328 or 7576356 or 360-661-2324

2300 S. 19TH STREET New Construction Pricing $325,000 2000 sq. ft. rambler on 10,000 sq. ft. lot Very quiet, secluded, S. Mount Vernon area 3 bdrm + den/4th bdrm, 2 ½ baths Granite countertops, stainless appliances Open floor plan Master suite features soaking tub, double vanities, double shower Close to schools, shopping, easy I-5 access Avail. Feb. 2012, act now to pick colors.

Call Builder Direct Legacy Home Builders Charlie Ash 360-770-7678

FREE TO LOOK OPEN HOUSE 807 S 25th, Mount Vernon Sat., Nov. 5th, 11:00am to 4:00pm. Price reduced to $158,000. This is a really nice 3 bdrm, 1 3/4 bath, nicely updated, large yard, open floor plan, RV parking and strorage shed. You won't want to miss this one. 360-421-2797 MOBILE HOME FOR SALE 3 bedroom 2.5 bath Mobile home for sale. New carpet and Linoleum.

Asking 13,500 OBO. Come take a look! Call 360-707-2598 or 360-707-1061.

Ask for Alan.

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY goskagit.com /reweekly goskagit.com/reweekly

Real Estate Weekly

November 4, 2011 11 November 4, 2011 11

SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTER.

www.WindermereSkagit.com

360.424.2100 • www.century21northhomes.com

Windermere Real Estate/ Skagit Valley 1030 East College Way • Mount Vernon (360) 424-4901 • 1-800-849-7939

North Homes Realty Inc. $260,000

OPEN HOUSES

MLS#254180

• Waterfront • Cabin • 40’ low bank • Big Lake

SATURDAY 2-4

12816 Eagle Drive, Burlington SUNDAY 2-4

$1,150,000

18114 Mariposa Ln, Mt Vernon For Details and directions, visit openhouse.com.

$43,900

#28121879

• 5 private acres • 5700 sq ft • 750 sq ft MIL apt • 2159 sq ft shop

MLS#289640

$283,900

• Lots of parking • 3 bdrm 2 bth • Lg great room • No age rest.

#226121

• 5 private ac • Huge garage + shop MLS#239241• Family room • Unfin. Apartment $29,500 MLS#289255 $259,500 • 6.6 acres close in • 3 bdrm home • Upgraded • 55+ park • Spacious • Lovely views • 960 sf shop family rm • 2 bedrooms

$189,000 #205974 #229784• Water view • 2 bdrms, lg rec rm

$234,950 $399,500

#205308

• 25 acres • Barns & shop • Fenced pasture • Beautiful 3 bdrm home Anita Kohl 961-7795 Cleaver Sanders 941-3482 Dawn Hardman 540-0058 DJ Jacobs 941-5279 Duane Gish 770-9299 Dominic Pettruzzelli 333-5210

• Desirable area • 3 bdrms, 2.5 bths • Shy 1600 sf • Like new

LOCAL FOOD BANK DRIVE! BRING DONATIONS TO 526 E. COLLEGE WAY

George Herner 840-3743 Jackie Lindeman 770-9080 Jared Storrs 853-6895 Karl Morse 395-5405 Lorie Groth 425-422-7145 Margie Ernst 708-3198

REAL ESTATE CLASSES STARTING NOW! CALL SCOTT 360-540-2121

Marlene Deasy 661-6720 Megan Daly 206-383-4407 Mike Newman 708-1419 Noli Goode 630-6527 Paula Margerum 220-0681 Rick Kiesser 770-1195

VALLEY HOMES

(360) 424-7166

• Gated community • Private

823 N 4th St • Mount Vernon www.buyingvalleyhomes.com

Sandi Hocking 708-1523 Sandi Riley 770-8670 Sharon Stokes 661-6164 Shaunna Harris 206-715-1623 Traci Cypher 708-9481 Veronica Lopez 420-0696

Visit Our Web site at buyingvalleyhomes.com Call us today or email us at remaxvalley@comcast.net

Property Management Services / Rental Listings Available (360) 424-3198

NHN 163rd St NW, Stanwood Level 4.3 acres right off the 5th tee inside beautiful Kayak Point Estates. A 15-ft buffer is required, lending to privacy for your custom built-home, in this established & admired neighborhood. Minutes to Warm Beach, other recreational lakes, beaches.

Call Racquel McDermott 360-420-1830 MLS#: 286593 $129,000

5442 Ershig Rd, Bow Beautiful,well kept top of the line triple wide on 3.27 acres. A very light and bright home. Den or library could be 4th bdrm.

Covered deck off kitchen/family rm perfect for entertaining. Very economical wood fired boiler(outside)heats whole house plus your water,propane an option too.

Call Becky Elde 360-770-9427 MLS#:288535 $259,000

3816 Saje Lane, Sedro Woolley Charming home nestled in the woods, it is so peaceful here. Home has new vinyl windows throughout. Small barn for animals with pasture that is fenced and cross fenced and a small barn for animals.

4 bedroom, 2 bath home with a creek and a beautiful setting with garden space, a playhouse, a 22' x 24' shop/garage.

Call Becky Elde 360-770-9427 MLS#: 283062 $300,000

512 TALBOTT ST., LAC $295,900 Custom Craftsman style rambler in the heart of La Conner on fee simple land. Features 2 bedrooms, den & great room concept with hardwoods, open vaulted ceilings & nice covered front porch. Call Lee Ann Dean at 421-3082 or Karine Anderson 869 CARRIAGE CT, SDW $95,000 at 421-1189. #287388 Immaculate triple wide with 2 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, den, 3319 E. SECTION ST., MV $299,000 vaulted ceiling. Kitchen with island & maple cabinets. 10x20 Picturesque home on spacious lot close to city amenities. insulated shop with workbench. 55+ community. Call Alice Charming front porch & great floor plan with master suite on Hanson at 770-8791. #230071 main floor plus 3 more bedrooms upstairs. Call Robin Luif at 1183 DECATUR CIRCLE, BRL $148,500 420-2026. #271177 Price to sell! Charming 2 bedroom, 1.75 bath condo in Cedar 535 STATE ST, SDW $299,900 Great investment opportunity. 2 separate parcels, one with Point featuring an open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, spacious rooms & 2 car garage . Call Sarah Minton at duplex unit & the other offering 3 stand-alone 1 bed/1 bath homes. Call Elizabeth Miller at 420-3607. #174821 770-3076. #219877 24442 WICKER RD, #40, SDW $29,000 One of the largest homes in the community. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1848 sq.ft. Very well kept all age community with affordable space rent. Call Elizabeth Miller at 420-3607. #284879

1225-1227 E. FAIRHAVEN AVE., BR $169,900 EACH Offered as a duplex at $339,800 or individual Townhouse units for $169,900. Each unit has 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, gas fireplaces, 2 car garages. Call Linda Eastman at 202-4075. #171607 210 LAUREL RD, SDW $198,900 One level home situated on a cul-de-sac offering a 2 car garage, cedar siding, new roof & gutters. Just painted interior, large fenced back yard with fruit trees & total privacy. Wood fireplace & gas heating, hardwood floors. Call Linda Eastman at 202-4075. #284226

1033 NEZ PERCE DR., MV $316,500 Beautiful 1 level home with many upgrades located in Thunderbird. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, huge master closet. Den off the living room, gas fireplace, hardwoods & beautiful views.

Call Lee Ann Dean at 421-3082 or Karine Anderson at 421-1189. #287381 901 JAMESON ST., SDW $349,950 18653 BLACKBERRY LN, MV $239,900 Completely restored & updated historic 1903 Victorian home.

Enjoy beautiful views of Big Lake from a private covered deck 3142 SF, 3 bedroom plus parlor, den/office, family & bonus rooms. Many original features combined with many updates. or from the picture windows that surround this gorgeous More photos & info at www.SkagitValleyHomes.com. Call Bill 1760 sq.ft. home. Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. Fully & Jannette Krieger at 421-4446. #282892 finished lower level. Call Linda Eastman at 202-4075. #275165 $379,900 61 ALGER CCC RD, SDW $247,000 23804 COPPER RIVER CT, MV Beautiful & spacious Chaffey-built Nookachamp Hills home.

Fabulous 2005 manufactured home on 5 acres. Large 2 car 3200+ sq.ft. on .45 acre with 4 bedrooms, 2.75 baths. Large garage/shop & greenhouse. Great place to enjoy peace & quiet kitchen with island, stainless appliances & pantry. Large yard & & watch wildlife. Call Tasha Zahlis at 391-5075. #138104 patios. Call Megan O’Bryan at 708-5817. #278764 31086 W. MAIN ST., SDW $278,900 7601 STATE ROUTE 9, SDW $389,000 Home on 1 acre, fenced & ready for occupancy. 3 bedrooms, Spectacular log home on over 3 acres. One-level, 2 bedroom, 2 2.5 baths, large master suite with jacuzzi. Over 1800 sq.ft. 2 bath, built-in 2006. Hickory floors, clear-cedar ceiling & fir logs. car garage, RV parking. Built in 2002. Call Linda Eastman at Park-like setting. More info & photos at SkagitValleyHomes.

202-4075. #172757 com. Call Bill & Jannette Krieger at 421-4446. #272363 1501 MEADOW LARK LN, MV $219,950 Classic rambler on spacious, private lot! Slate entry & big picture windows from the living room take in the patio & backyard. Fireplaces in family & living rooms. Call Robin Luif at 420-2026. #229760

STOP! 1201 Fidalgo Dr, Burlington Well maintained 1,023 sq foot one story home surrounded by a beautiful lawn & plenty of gorgeous flowers. The Cedars is a peaceful 55+ community w/ RV parking & a spacious clubhouse. Home w/2-car garage, 2 beds/1.75 baths & an open floor plan. Patio & deck are spacious, perfect for relaxing or entertaining. Dues include: cable tv, lawn/yard care, exterior maintenance & insurance plus use of the clubhouse.

Call Racquel McDermott 360-420-1830 MLS#: 285543 $159,000

2021 N Laventure Rd #307, Mount Vernon 2 bedroom 2 full bathroom condo. End unit for outside pleasure that has sliding doors all the way across the large living room for your entrance onto a large covered patio with territorial view in lieu of an adjacent condominium.Master bedroom has walk-in bath and 2 large closets.

Second brm. has access to bth. plus hallway access.Kitchen with granite counter top & thru wall serving to living room.

Call Jim Nicholas 360-708-9379 MLS#: 268662 $115,000

XXX W Alder Dr, Sedro Woolley L shaped lot with view of foothills and Cain Lake. Water and power at street.

Community amenities include clubhouse, pool, and lake access. Seller flexible with financing short term.

MLS#: 32483 $15,950

Let us make this easy for you.

Go to WindermereSkagit.com for Photos, Open Houses, and Maps for EVERY listing.

We give you all the details, on every listing, at windermereskagit.com!