Dasmarka Real Estate

Police say there was nothing to indicate a crime.
Skeletal remains found Thursday at a construction site in the Renton Highlands likely belonged to a person who was buried more than 60 years ago on the property, Renton police reported.
Police excavated the property after an adult jawbone was found Tuesday while the developer was digging to connect utilities to new homes at 2209 Edmonds Ave. N.E. In their excavation, police found more remains, along with metal poles and brackets that likely were part of a casket, police spokeswoman Penny Bartley said.

"We believe these remains were no doubt a family member or a loved one of the property owners Typically we don't see crime victims buried in caskets."
The ornate pieces likely were crafted between 1910 and 1940, based on an examination by the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. The casket likely was wooden and had deteriorated, Bartley said.
Up until 1943, it was legal to bury human remains on one's own property.
The original home was demolished to make way for new construction. The developer recently bought the property through a private trust, police said.

Guess you just never know what your going to find.

You don't have to spend a dime to noticeably reduce your home's utility bills. Here are some easy lifestyle choices worth adopting:

• If your dishwasher has an energy-saving feature, use it. Don't run the washer until it is completely full, then use the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean.
  
• Set the refrigerator's temperature to 40 and the freezer to 0. Use the "efficiency" setting if it has one.
  
• Use small appliances whenever possible--toaster ovens, microwaves, pressure cookers.
  
• Turn your electric oven off several minutes before cooking is completed--heat is retained for quite a while after the oven is turned off.
  
• Cook outdoors during summer and consider eating more no-cook dishes such as salads.
  
• Turn your water heater's temperature down to 120 degrees F, even 115 degrees F (the factory setting is often 140 degrees F.). Turn it way down or off when you're away from your home on business trips or vacations.
  
• Take showers instead of baths. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
  
• Use your washing machine's cold-wash setting whenever possible. Use the warm or cold setting on your dryer, or hang your clothes on a line to dry.
  
• Turn off lights when you leave a room. Use lower-wattage bulbs throughout the house or switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), which can cut lighting bills by 50% and last 10 times longer.
  
• Set your thermostat to 55 degrees F in winter or 80 degrees F in summer for long absences--work, vacations or business trips.
  Make sure air registers are not blocked by furniture or curtains.
  Close drapes, blinds or shades during the hottest part of the day in summer and the coldest part of the day in winter--or all day long if you're not going to be there.
  

If there is anything else that you can think of please let me know.

Waterfront living is among the most desirable of locations in our area. The views and vistas are fantastic, not to mention the ability to walk out one's door to drop a line to fish or untie a line to enjoy boating. However, all this joy is not without some special concerns.

River Rising
The most common fear heard from waterfront homebuyers is their concern that the river may rise and roll into their home. While it is not an impossible scenario, it is truly rare. More often than not, the water that posses the greatest risk to the waterfront home is not from the river, but rather from the water flowing overland toward the river. Always remember that the river is the place that all water flows to. How a particular home is oriented to or obstructs the flow of water moving toward the river determines how dry the house remains. And for many homes in is not just how dry it is in the home, but also under the home.

Surface Water Toward River
The majority of water that affects the home is the surface water flowing toward the river. The volume of water can be in the thousands of gallons per hour during a heavy shower. If the grade of the lot is not proper, this can mean thousands of gallons of water in or under the home. So, when looking at waterfront property, enjoy the view over the water, but be sure to look inland to be sure that your experience with water front living won't be with water in the living room!

What To Do After The Flood
But what should you do after you've experienced a flooded home? There is hope! Your home and its contents may look damaged beyond repair, but many items can be restored. There is a high probability that by acting quickly, your flooded home can be cleaned up, dried out, rebuilt, and reoccupied sooner than you think. After your home has been flooded, play it safe. Always seek professional help. And while in the midst of cleaning and repairing, consider your preparation for the future. The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests the following steps if your home has been flooded:

Take Care Of Yourself First
Take Care of Yourself First - Protect yourself and your family from stress, fatigue, and health hazards that follow a flood.
· Give Your Home First Aid - Once it is safe to go back in, protect your home and contents from further damage.
· Get Organized - Some things are not worth repairing and some things may be too complicated or expensive for you to do by yourself. A recovery plan can take these things into account and help you make the most of your time and money.
· Dry Out Your Home - Floodwaters damage materials, leave mud, silt and unknown contaminants, and promote the growth of mildew. You need to dry your home to reduce these hazards and the damage they cause.
· Restore the Utilities - The rest of your work will be much easier if you have heat, electricity, clean water, and sewage disposal.
· Clean Up - The walls, floors, closets, shelves, contents and any other flooded parts of your home should be thoroughly washed and disinfected.
· Check on Financial Assistance - Voluntary agencies, businesses, insurance, and government disaster programs can help you through recovery.
· Rebuild and Flood-proof - Take your time to rebuild correctly and make improvements that will protect your building from damage by the next flood.
· Prepare for the Next Flood - Protect yourself from the next flood with flood insurance, a flood response plan, and community flood protection programs. This step also includes sources to go to for additional assistance.

For More Information
For more information on repairing your home after a flood, please visit http://www.redcross.org/. Many people highly prize waterfront living, and find it a deeply fulfilling experience. Knowing what to look for when choosing waterfront property will make your life on the water easier and more rewarding. Choose and plan wisely - it's about knowing!

Yes it is sad to say but there are lots of people out there willing to victimize people in financial difficulty--especially when their troubles become part of public record. Beware of offers involving signing over your deed to someone else who promises to sell your home for you--whether they do or not, you'll still be responsible for the mortgage.

Also, investigate people who offer to buy your property so you can avoid foreclosure. They may be legitimate but, to be on the safe side, check them out by contacting your state Attorney General, the state Real Estate Commission, or the local District Attorney's consumer fraud unit.

Finally, consider carefully any "counseling agencies" that offer foreclosure-mitigation services for a fee. In many cases, they offer services you can perform yourself, such as negotiating a workout plan with your lender.

If you decide to conduct a pre-foreclosure sale, give us a call. We'll work with you to make sure your interests are protected in the transaction.

Keep in mind that if you have a loan ensured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a toll-free number you can call to find a HUD-approved housing counseling agency: (800) 569-4287. For more information about foreclosures provided by HUD, go online to: www.HUD.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/econ/econ.cfm.

Foreclosure Fact The type of foreclosure procedure followed in a state depends on whether real property is purchased there using mortgages or deeds of trust. (Some states use both.) In general, states that use mortgages require a judicial procedure through which the lender must get court approval to initiate foreclosure. Where a deed of trust containing a "power of sale" clause is used to purchase property, the lender can initiate a foreclosure sale without going to court.

There's No Need To Panic

You don't have to look hard for news stories about changes in the nation's housing market. The media regularly reports on foreclosure rates being higher, home prices dropping in some areas and sales taking longer than they used to. It's all true, in some sense, but compared to what? A phenomenal housing boom that lasted nearly five years.You don’t have to look hard for news stories about changes in the nation’s housing market. The media regularly reports on foreclosure rates being higher, home prices dropping in some areas and sales taking longer than they used to. It’s all true, in some sense, but compared to what? A phenomenal housing boom that lasted nearly five years. The truth is, booms don’t last forever, and the adjustment to a more-normal market just doesn’t look good by comparison. Consider the following:

• National Realty News says national statistics show that homeowners who purchased in the last two years put a median 10% down payment on their homes and now have a median 13% in equity. Those who purchased five years ago placed a median down payment of 11% and currently have a median 41% equity in their homes.
  
• Today’s interest rates look terrific from an historical standpoint. While interest rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage have been hovering around 6%, according to Freddie Mac, the average interest rate 10 years ago (1998) on a 30-year fixed was 6.94%; 20 years ago, 10.34%; and 30 years ago, 9.64%.
  
• Housing markets vary considerably by location--national statistics mask what’s happening in your particular area. While some regions have been harder hit than others, not all markets are experiencing price declines. Even within markets, some areas and property types are still appreciating in value even though nearby neighborhoods may be seeing price drops.

Simply put, all real estate is local. So give me a call.

During the booming nationwide housing market of the early 2000s, lots of home buyers bought what they could get in their price range--not necessarily what they hoped for. Limited selection and competitive bidding forced many people to "settle" for properties that didn't really meet their particular needs or tastes.

Today's market offers a terrific opportunity to correct those somewhat-forced decisions. It's no secret that in many markets there are significantly more homes for sale now than were available three or so years ago. That means buyers now can pick and choose among available properties to find a home that more closely matches their needs. If you are looking for your next better home, consider your options. While some homeowners will need to sell their current home in order to purchase their next one, you may not need to sell before buying. A bridge loan could help you span the gap in the event your old home doesn't sell prior to settlement, or closing, on the new one.

Another option: Rent out your old home, making it an investment property. Depending on the market, rent payments may cover most or all of your ownership costs--you might even make money--while you find a great deal on a home more suitable to your tastes and lifestyle.

Remember, even if you can't sell your home for as much as you might have a year or two ago, neither can the other sellers in your area--it's still a "level playing field." The upside today is that you have more homes to choose from, and you can still take advantage of today's low mortgage interest rates. Of course, both those great advantages are also available to current renters and first-time buyers.