SOLD! Rivertrail Townhome in Downtown Redmond Overlooking Sammamish River Trail & Valley!
9215 156th Pl NE – Redmond – $350,000
Looking for the ultimate in locations? Look no further! Walking distance to shopping, dining, and theaters – plus you have direct access to one the areas best recreational trails, the Sammamish River Trail which connects to the Burke Gilman! With a scenic outlook on the trail and the Sammamish River Valley, sits this updated townhome. The open floorplan is 1258 s.f. and features 2 bedrooms and 2.25 baths! The slate entry opens up to bamboo floors throughout the rest of the home. The generous kitchen features maple cabinets, new slab granite counters and all appliances included. Cozy living room with gas fireplace and sunny windows overlooking greenbelt. Attached dining area with a slider to the patio – perfect for entertaining or BBQing. The spacious and private master overlooks the trail. The attached mas-ter bath has been updated and features heated tile floors, big "two head" shower and a walk-in closet too! The second bedroom is also spacious with an adjacent full bath. Big laundry room upstairs with extra storage. Attached garage and two assigned parking spaces in the front. Outstanding Lake Washington schools!
Click here for more information
Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
tony@eastsidehomes.com
Owners Who Refinanced May Owe IRS
People who cashed out refinances, or had part of their mortgage debt forgiven when they sold their homes through short sales, will probably owe the IRS a big payback.
In 2007, Congress passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Act, but that doesn’t let everyone off the hook.
Here are exceptions to the rule:
• Anyone who did a cash-out refinance and spent the money on something not housing related, then got in trouble and lost their home to a foreclosure or short sale, will owe the IRS as if the money from the refinance were earned income.
• The IRS will forgive tax liability only on money from home-equity loans that was spent to improve the property.
• Anyone who lost a vacation home or investment property to foreclosure or short sale will owe Uncle Sam.
• Multi-million dollar homes — lost or sold — are always subject to tax.
Source: CNNMoney.com, Les Christie (04/08/2010)
Real Estate Broker Review – Bothell
Tony is incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of the home-buying process. He provides a calm, steady presence throughout that process — from planning a home purchase, to picking the right place to live, to making and finalizing the offer on the perfect place. We were amazed at how efficient the whole process was from start to finish in working with Tony, as his proactive approach had us ready for each phase in perfect timing. He referred us to top-notch resources for mortgage and home inspection, which was the icing on the cake to ensure an overall positive and efficient experience. Tony will guide you with a steady hand, proven knowledge, and timely advice — all with a personal touch!
Fed: Low Rates Likely Through 2010
Interest rates are likely to remain low into 2011, Federal Reserve policymakers hinted this week in at least two presentations. These indications came one week after the Fed shut down its program to buy mortgage-backed securities, which had kept rates at or near record lows in recent months.
In a speech Thursday, Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said, "The relatively modest pace of recovery, the continued high rate of unemployment, subdued inflation trends, and well-anchored inflation expectations together suggest that the need for highly accommodative monetary policies will not diminish soon.”
Likewise, Donald Kohn, Fed vice chairman in a speech in San Francisco, said the Fed would raise rates, “in due course,” but he also noted that low rates "help offset the lingering restraining effects on economic activity and prices."
So far, rates have risen modestly, but analysts speculate they will likely become much more volatile down the road.
“It’s an uncertain type of market,” says Keith Gumbinger of HSH.com.
Michael Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics for the Mortgage Bankers Association, predicts that the Fed will have created a situation where there are days or weeks of low-rate opportunities, and other days and weeks when rates rise significantly.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (04/08/2010), and The Wall Street Journal, Jon Hilsenrath (04/09/2010)
King County’s Real Estate Market Keeps Marching Along…
Six consecutive weeks of top ten sales!
Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
tony@eastsidehomes.com
Redmond Garden Club Annual Sale May 8th 2010
Always a favorite event on English Hill….
The Redmond Garden Club will be having their annual sale May 8th from 8am to 3pm.
The sale will be located at 14010 180th Ave NE, Redmond, 98052.
Follow the signs along NE 124th/NE 128th, Avondale Road, or Redmond-Woodinville Road
They will be offering over 1500 plants,
including perennials, herbs, grasses, vegetable starts
and ground covers as well as garden related craft items and raffle items.
All items are at very reasonable prices.
Come early for the best selection!
FAQ’s Regarding the Homebuyer’s Tax Credit
With the deadline for the Homebuyer’s tax credit fast approaching, some potential homebuyers have questions regarding the tax credit and how it works. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions
1 How is the tax credit claimed?
The tax credit is claimed as part of the homeowner’s Federal income tax return. This is done on IRSForm 5405 with a copy of the Settlement Statement for the home purchase attached. The Settlement Statement is typically a finalized Form HUD-1.
2 Must an existing homeowner sell his/her home in order to qualify for the $6,500 tax credit for repeat homebuyers?
A homebuyer may continue to own his/her existing home as a rental or vacation home. The only requirement is that the new home be used as the homebuyer’s new principal residence. In order to qualify as the homebuyer’s principal residence, he/she must live in it for a minimum of 36 months.
3 Do married couples both have to meet the eligibility requirements of the Act in order to qualify for the tax credit?
In general, the $8,000 and the $6,500 tax credits are only available for married couples who both qualify for the credit and who file joint returns. Exceptions exist for homebuyers who were unmarried when they purchased their first home, married someone who did not qualify for the credit and claim the credit in the year in which the marriage occurred.
4 What is the deadline for home purchases to be completed in order to qualify for the credit?
In order to qualify, a buyer must enter into a binding contract for the purchase of a home by April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010. There is an exception for members of the armed services, Foreign Service or employees of the intelligence community who have been on duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between January 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010. For those individuals, the deadline to enter into a contract and close has been extended to April 30, 2011.
If you would like to know more about the credit or take advantage of it before the credit expires, give me a call at 425-466-1000.
Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
tony@eastsidehomes.com
The King County Real Estate Market – the continued pace is no April Fools joke!
The market continues to exhibit strength with 5 consecutve weeks of top 10 sales!
Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Resource
tony@eastsidehomes.com
Real Estate Broker Testimonial – Sammamish
My wife and I recently hired Tony to help us buy a house to start the next phase of our lives. He was fantastic, and a pleasure to work with. He handled our pickiness, had tons of knowledge about arcane home stuff that was incredibly useful in picking the right house, and did immense amounts of work while we were out of town to help us close on time. If you need a realtor in the Puget Sound area, you won’t go wrong with Tony – in fact you’ll be hard pressed to do better.
Pankaj Kakkar & Joyeeta Sarkar – Purchased in Sammamish – 2010