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Tacoma Side Sewer Inspections Will NOT Be Mandatory

Monday, November 29th, 2010

The City of Tacoma has finally made a decision to not make the side sewer inspections mandatory. The City of Tacoma has amended the ordinance that was to require side sewer inspections at time of sale or for major remodel. The new requirement is that Real Estate agents provide informational flyers to the parties involved in the transaction.

This is good news for the Tacoma housing market as the requirement of side sewer inspections would make short sales and bank owned sales even more challenging due to the cost of the inspection and who would be paying for the inspection. The burden would of been on the seller but with a short sale the seller who is already having troubles making their mortgage payment the cost of the inspection and the potential for a large repair bill. Bank owned properties are always a challenge getting work orders completed. The thought within the real estate community is that the banks would not be willing to pay for the inspection much less any repairs.

While the side sewer issues in Tacoma need to be addressed it is my opinion that the ordinance as it was written was going to do more hinder home sales in the City of Tacoma than it would help with the problems created by the side sewers that were damaged and in need of repair.

The City of Tacoma website and the article is here.

By providing information on the side sewers and what to look for the City is helping educate consumers and home owners on the required maintenance of a side sewer.

Posted in Ramblings, Selling a Home, Tacoma | No Responses »

Tacoma Home Seller Sewer Inspections Postponed Until December 2010

Friday, October 1st, 2010

The City of Tacoma updated the city website September 29th. with the information that the City Council voted to delay the implementation of the Side Sewer Inspection Program. ( I loving call it Project Fiber) Until December 1st 2010. During the time between now and December the city may be considering changes to the proposed ordinance as the city staff continues to review the program.

What does this mean for people who are buying or selling a home in Tacoma? Currently it means nothing is changing in the process of buying or selling a home in the city limits of Tacoma. However, as of December 1st. 201 it can mean that the City of Tacoma will require all sellers to provide a video and written report of the condition of the side sewer pipes for all properties sold within the city limits.

In my opinion the way the current ordinance is written that the side sewer inspection requirement will be another hurdle that buyers and sellers will have to overcome even if the home is a short sale or a bank owned foreclosed property. Who exactly will pay for the inspection and or the repairs? If a seller is not able to make their mortgage payment how can they be expected to repair a sewer line? If the property is foreclosed on this will be just one more thing for the bank to not agree to repair. The burden will revert to the buyer. What buyer will agree to pay for a sewer line inspection much less any repairs on a short sale? This will only continue to keep downward pressure on prices of homes in Tacoma. I realize that having broken sewer pipes is not an ideal situation however, in our current economic situation many buyers are not willing to take on one more burden even if the home is what they are looking for.

I hope the City of Tacoma will come to realize that the side sewer ordinance while logical on many levels is going to be a burden both on prospective home buyers in Tacoma but on home sellers and the City itself. It is time to flush the side sewer ordinance.

Posted in Buying a Home, Ramblings, Selling a Home, Tacoma | No Responses »

Looking to buy a home in Tacoma? What are you looking for?

Monday, September 27th, 2010

You’ve decided you want to look at houses in Tacoma, or perhaps you think you want to buy a home in Tacoma. Where are you looking to find information on houses for sale in Tacoma? I offer a search function here on Classic Homes Northwest yet, it is not utilized by as many people as I would like. I am looking for feedback on my home search tool so that I can make adjustments to better serve anyone who wants to look for a home. Currently I do not require registration so that you can look without giving out any information unless you want to. I hope you will take a few minutes and take a look at the home search tool and provide me with some feedback.

You can Search for All Homes for Sale in Tacoma Here.

What do you like about the home search tool?

What do you not like about the home search tool?

How can I improve the tool to better meet your needs?

Any feedback will help me help others who are looking to buy a home in Tacoma. My goal is to be the best Realtor that I can be and all feedback helps me move towards my goals.

Thanks for taking some time and helping me improve.

Posted in Buying a Home, Tacoma | No Responses »

Living in The Stadium District is Fun! Join us for The Stadium Art & Wine Walk Saturday October 2nd. 2010

Monday, September 27th, 2010

I am lucky to be living in the beautiful Stadium District in Tacoma. Close to everything that I need without having to drive very often. One of the fun things the Stadium Business District hosts is the annual Stadium District Art & Wine Walk. This year the Wine Walk will be held Saturday October 2nd. from 4pm to 8pm.

If you’re looking for something fun to do in Tacoma on Saturday I would highly encourage you to pick up a ticket and join us at the Art & Wine Walk.

For more information and to buy tickets you can visit the Art & Wine Walks website by following this link. Websites too old school for you? Then stop by the Facebook page by following this link!

See you Saturday!

Posted in Tacoma | No Responses »

Tacoma Area Open House today 1pm-4pm 1327 N. Fir St. Tacoma, WA 98406

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

Today we will be holding our listing at 1327 N. Fir St. Tacoma, WA 98406 open from 1pm to 4pm. This mid century modern home is offered at $389,000 you can find out more about the home by visiting our listing page for the home here.

With interest rates and prices as low as they are presently this may be the opportunity for you to purchase a home and be able to “brag” to your friends for years that you got one of those one in a million deals.

If you have any questions please call (253) 219-1194 and I will be happy to answer your questions to the best of my abilities.

Posted in Open House, Tacoma | No Responses »

ValueAppeal provides simple, guarantied Property Tax Valuation Appeals in Pierce County

Friday, August 13th, 2010

For all of you lucky Pierce County residents, a Seattle software company provides a web based service that checks whether your property valuation is too high for free and then helps you appeal your valuation and generates an appeal report. ValueAppeal claims 40% of property owners overpay their property taxes. They guaranty success or you get your $99 fee refunded. The company is getting some accolades for innovation in the Seattle business community.

Appealing your property valuation can be a painful process, to find the information, understand it and organize it in a way to make your appeal successful. That also assumes that you have enough information to know that your property is over valued in the first place.

ValueAppeal seeks to take the uncertainty and pain out of the process. From their web site, you can enter your address and get an evaluation of whether your valuation is too high in seconds for free. Then, for $99 they walk you through a 10 minute online process to generate a property valuation appeal report that you can use to appeal your property valuation. If you don’t win your appeal, they refund your fee.

Their report provides data on other comparable sales that support reducing your valuation as well as unequal assessment information. It also has an area where you can put in unique aspects of your property, such as something like fire damage, that the assessor may not have taken into account.

The company is working on expanding the county coverage area, with an announcement slated for later this month. However, it currently offers service in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties of Washington state, as well as most of California. So you Tacoma residents are already in luck.

The company also compiles detailed information on property tax information in the areas that it covers. For example, earlier this year ValueAppeal issued a report which said that West Seattle’s Fauntleroy neighborhood was most over assessed neighborhood in Seattle.

Posted in Ramblings, Tacoma, Vendors | No Responses »
Tags: property taxes

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