HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 17th, 2010CLICK HERE OR ON THE PICTURE FOR ST PATRICK’S DAY FUN!
How to Tell the Differences Between Spring and Winter
March 12th, 2010Normaly in Issaquah it is obvious. This year it is not so easy. How many sunny days have we had since January? So many I have lost count! Love it! Spring seems like it has been here for months.
True signs of spring:
- Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday
- Trees, daffodils, crocus, etc. are bloomin’ like crazy-Skagit Valley Tulip Festival has been bumped up. Early this year.
- Events begin at Pickering Barn – This weekend the Health and Safety Fair, and very soon the Farmer’s Market
The question is, since we have had spring this long, will summer be winter?
Loading ...Waiting for Celski
March 3rd, 2010
We were at the 24 hour fitness working out at noon. We were tempted to just stay and be first in line for a J. R. Celski autograph and chit chat. Oh, well by 5:30 this is what the line was like.
Now I ask you, what has J R Celski got that is so hot? What besides a bronze medal that is?
I asked that question on Twitter. Here are the first answers: he’s cute, he looks nice, he looks wholesome, he doesn’t act hot, he’s a decent kind of guy. OK, I get it. No wonder there was a big line up.
Do you know what else is hot? Answer – the steam bath and sauna at this nice new facility. Not all is hot, the pool is cold. Also, I have never seen so many great machines. I am on a new health kick.
Here is a link to a previous 24 hour fitness article Kathleen wrote.
What My Mother Taught Me – Written By All of US!
March 1st, 2010Written by all of us but compiled by unknown. This was sent to me by my daughter.
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
2. My mother taught me RELIGION..
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet..”
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
” Because I said so, that’s why.”
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC ..
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM..
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA .
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out..”
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION .
“Stop acting like your father!”
15. My mother taught me about ENVY..
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION..
“Just wait until we get home.”
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
“You are going to get it when you get home!”
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”
19. My mother taught me ESP.
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”
20. My mother taught me HUMOUR.
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT ..
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
“You’re just like your father.”
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS..
“Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
And my favorite:
25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE .
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you !”
24 Hour Fitness in Issaquah is NOW OPEN!
February 27th, 2010Many people have been asking us when is 24 Hour Fitness going to open. They thought we knew because of this blog.
We attended a Chamber of Commerce Luncheon and were lucky enough to win a door prize from 24 Hour Fitness. It included a months free membership. We planned on checking it out anyway but because of the month free we gave it a lot more attention!
This is a very convenient location. We met with Adam, a personal trainer, who spent time with us giving tips and exercises to get our out of shape bodies back in shape. He is much nicer than Jillian on The Biggest Loser!
We obviously aren’t physical fitness experts but we recognize quality when we see it.
These are some of the features:
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Basketball court
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Lots of superior cardio and strength machines
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also free weights and spacious floor space for exercise
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Pool, Suana, Steam Room
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Upscale Dressing Rooms with nice showers, even good smelling soap.
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Cycling Room
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Large Rooms for Aerobic classes, etc.
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Certified Personal Trainers
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Lockers in the dressing rooms (bring your own key) AND outside of the dressing rooms (locks where you use your own password0
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Cushy floors – to me that is important (if I crash it won’t hurt so bad)
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Kids play area while you are working out
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Parking garage under the building – you don’t get wet because there is an entrance from there. PLEASE USE THIS AS THE NEIGHBORING MERCHANTS NEED PARKING TOO.
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24 Hr. is on the second floor, there are stairs AND elevators, elevators are nice when your body has given its all and you just want to make it to the car.
Try it out. We think it is going to be very popular.
Issaquah Rotary’s Grape Escape – Check Out the Menu!
February 24th, 2010Click on the banner below to register for Grape Escape.
![web-header-RotaryWebsite[1]](http://issaquah.neighborhoodsundressed.com/files/2010/02/web-header-RotaryWebsite11-300x117.jpg "web-header-RotaryWebsite[1]")
Rotary Club of Issaquah
Contact: Lesley Austin, 425-392-8122
“mailto:jlaustinjr@msn.com
Issaquah Rotary’s Grape Escape 2010
Offers Fine, Interesting Wines; Funds Local Scholarships
Issaquah Rotary’s fourth annual Grape Escape is set for Saturday, March 13,6-9 pm, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Issaquah. This annual wine-tasting and community social event funds scholarships for worthy local graduates and brings the community together for exceptional bargains on fine and interesting wines not readily available in local outlets. The primary event sponsor Is Swedish Hospital.
On-line registration is open at www.issaquahrotary.org. Admission is $50 per person with registration by Sunday, March 7 and $60 when registering after that date.
This year’s event features favorite varietals of five wineries in the new Lake Chelan American Viticultural Area: Wapato Point Cellars, Lake Chelan Winery, Rio Vista Winery, Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards, and Ventimiglia Cellars. Wines will be poured by representatives of the wineries who know the best food pairings and possibilities for their offerings.
A buffet prepared by the Hilton Garden Inn’s outstanding chef will be served throughout the evening. This buffet will include hand carved top sirloin, grilled chicken skewers, crab cakes, wild mushroom and carmelized onion tarts and more.
Guests are eligible to purchase wine with no sales tax at prices at or below retail. There will be special case pricing. The event also includes a silent auction of wine-related items and experiences and a wide range of entertainment packages. A special raffle at 8 pm will offer guests an unusual gift opportunity.
All purchases help to fund scholarships for Issaquah, Liberty and Tiger Mountain graduates who will be identified in the spring.
Rotary Grape Escape Menu
March 13, 2010
Roasted Top Sirloin
Hand carved Top Sirloin, with Horseradish Cream Sauce
Antipasto
Grilled Vegetables, Cured Meats, Pickled Peppers, and Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Grilled Chicken Skewers
Served with a Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce
Crab Cakes
Pan Seared with Lemon Herb Remoulade
Brushetta
Roma Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil Leaf
Savory Tarts
Wild Mushrooms, Carmelized Onions and Fresh herbs topped with Feta Cheese
Mediterranean Dish
Grilled Pita, served with Hummus, Olive Tapenade and Roasted Red Pepper Cream Dip
Parmessan and Roasted Garlic Twists, Assorted Baked Breads and Crisp Crackers
Assorted Cheeses
A selection of Domestic and Imported Cheeses, displayed around a gorgonzola cheesecake.
Served with Fresh Berries and Vine Grapes
Dessert
Fresh fruit Skewers
Cream Puffs
Chocolate covered Strawberries
Dessert bars and Brownies
First Time Home Buyers Series: Part 4
February 19th, 2010
The first three parts of this series dealt with your mortgage financing. The reasons are important. I invite you to review them if you just found this article on buying your first home. I look at your real estate search as a treasure hunt. The goal is to help you find that treasure. However, your dream of owning in Issaquah may turn up your dream home in Maple Valley. To know that you need to know how much home you qualify for. That is the focus of: Part 1 click here, part 2 click here, and part 3 (click here) of this series.
The next step is much more fun. Start searching for homes that you qualify for. Here is a tip from my experience. You probably want your mortgage payment to be lower than you actually qualify for. At least I see that happen a lot. Ok, have your lender give you an idea of what the payment you want converts to in home prices. Then do the same for what you qualify for. Start searching in the full range between your objective and what you qualify for. Often people buy what the really want than what their payment goal was originally. They get tax benefits that often help them justify going to the higher payment.
Do these searches where you want to live, but also expand them to a wider range. Consider north, south, east, and west of your hopes. Why? All too often people are willing to give up living in Issaquah when they discover they can have much more living elsewhere. Now don’t take me wrong, I am not against Issaquah, I love it here. But honestly, most of our first time home buyers end up starting here and living elsewhere. We expect to see them back some day. The exception to this is those wanting condominium living or those that can afford a home over $350,000.00. That seems to be the current starting point for a home in Issaquah. It is more than that if you want new or want to live In Issaquah Highlands or Talus as an example.
The fun part and the final to do in this part 4 is to start driving neighborhoods. Drive all over. make it you weekend sporting event. People generally shop neighborhoods. Find yours, then find your dream home. This took years for us prior to buying in Issaquah Highlands. We lived in Bellevue and wanted to size down. We actually started looking in Olympia. My focus market was Kent. The drive to Kent from Olympia didn’t seem too bad. Note the prices of homes in Olympia were much less, are much less than Bellevue. Well, reason prevailed and after many wonderul weekends in Olympia we made an offer on a home in North Tacoma. It was under construction and on a golf course. Cool eh? Then we discovered Issaquah Highlands. We also realized a lot of our business was actually in Bellevue, Issaquah, and other parts of the Eastside. So we got out of our North Tacoma purchase and bought here.
So pick out your price range, search for options, and start driving. The good thing about this besides being fun is that you will really get to know values. You will also know the right home when you see it.
BTW: Kathleen said I had been too over the top with my humor on homes I had included in the first 3 posts. She said to cool it. So I did. Photo from Flickr and by *w*
An Issaquah Treasure, The Cougar Mountain Zoo
February 19th, 2010
I am really surprised as to how many that live on the Eastside have never been to the Cougar Mountain Zoo. A good portion of them haven’t even heard of it. The 4 tigers are the main event but one of my favorite parts is the bird exibit. Mostly the McCaw. You get up front and close to them, so close you have to watch out that they don’t steal your glasses. That’s what about happened to me. Some are in cages, but many are on their perches. These birds definetly have a personality. Check out the short video Miriam just posted on YouTube to see what I mean.
Are You Afraid Of Your Dentist?
February 17th, 2010Going to the dentist is one of my least favorite things to do. It’s the drilling and the needles isn’t it? It starts in your childhood. My mother would have to dragged me screaming and yelling down the street. This won’t happen if you bring your kids to Highlands Kids Dentistry. They use lasers instead. I knew their must be a better way. Highlands Kids Dentistry recently opened in the Starpoint building in Issaquah Highlands.
As you walk in the door you know it is a special place. Their office is beautiful and kid friendly but not kiddish. There is a little house that kids can explore and put in a token for something out of a “gum ball machine” lookalike. It’s not gum though, not at a dentist office!
Dr. Shadi Araghi is a Certified Pediatric Dentist. Her calm and friendly manner will put kids at ease.
You may want to come in just to see the door above. The tree, in the glass, gradually changes through a variety of colors. It is not just dentistry that is state of the art in this office.
Highlands Kids Dentistry is located at 2520 NE Park Dr Suite C, Issaquah WA 98029 425-996-0457 www.highlandskidsdentistry.com
Lots of Specials in Issaquah for Your Valentine
February 13th, 2010
Superb chocolates at Up Front Gallery, if you’re not too late.
Many restaurants have specials. Sip, Agave and Zeeks in Issaquah Highlands. Zeeks Pizzas will be heart shaped.
Splurge on your true love! Maybe my husband will read this.
Bentley House is Now Having Tours
February 13th, 2010It has taken awhile but Bentley House is looking good and open to the public for tours. Located on the corner of Newport Way and Pine Cone Drive. Issaquah, WA 98027
The condominiums supports a luxurious life style. Would you like to have concierge service to park your car, a Theater, a Billiard’s Room, full Gymnasium, even a Spa with shower and steam?
That isn’t all. There is a Business Center and a place to store your boat or RV. Another exciting feature is the Roof Lanai.
As per Jon Skipworth, Bentley House is open for tours, week days until 7pm, weekends 10am to 2:30pm.
To Find Out What Happened at the IH TOWN HALL MEETING
February 6th, 2010Issaquah Highlands Town Hall Meeting – CLICK PICTURE TO FIND OUT posted on issaquah highlands blog.
The Newest Thing for Your Yard – Goats & Chickens – Northwest Flower and Garden Show Seattle 2010
February 5th, 2010
Sneak Preview NW Flower & Garden Show
February 3rd, 2010Today started out badly. I set out to go to the 2010 NW Flower & Garden Show Sneak Preview. My car battery was dead. Thanks to a kind husband who traded cars with me I still got to the press sneak preview. I had 2 cameras, one a video, but my good? computer froze before I got the videos up for this post, so I will just show you these still shots. UPDATE for videos of the event go to www.issaquahhighlandsundressed.com
Not to worry, the gardens were just as good as they always were. People have been a little concerned due to new owners.
During the sneak previews, garden creators and landscapers are still putting on the finishing touches and cleaning up. The preview lasts 2 hours, at which time not only do we have to be out but so do all the above.
Creative use of wine bottles along with sun warms the soil
Rain in the window
An extraordinary gate.
Worms grow large at the garden show.
New Leaf Creations, Issaquah and Tami Ott-Ostberg
What to do with an old truck! Edible greens, and with chickens too
The above is a giant elevated nest of a massive flying reptile from a 65 million years ago. Just look for the foot prints!
Goats, chickens and rooster make an appearance too (really).
The Northwest Flower and Garden Show starts tommorow and runs through Feb. 7th. Washington State Convention Center.
CLICK here for video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C3XNf9iDCU
Yes, The NW Flower & Garden Show Will GO ON!
January 29th, 2010It almost didn’t happen, the show was for sale and it looked like there were no takers but the calvary arrived just in time.
“Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest are now assured that their flower show will continue to bloom,” said Duane Kelly.
The new producer of the show is O’Louglin Trade Shows. It starts Feb 3-7. Click on the picture or the link below
For more info www.gardenshow.com
First Time Home Buyers Series Part 3: VA Loans
January 28th, 2010
A few months ago we worked with a young couple in the military. They had misunderstood their VA Benefits. He was just being released from duty and she was quitting her job to go back to school. In other words neither had income. They had temporary benefits from VA but no long term dependable income. Some how they believed being a Vet guaranteed they could buy a home now. It is times like this that agents like me need to be patient. They just didn’t believe me. They did have to have income to prove they could make the payments.
So here are a few tips on VA loans followed up by an article offered me after our last post on FHA.
Tip #1: RE: O Down. Yes you can buy O down VA. Yes the seller can pay closing costs making it a total O down. No that isn’t a guarantee. If the appraisal doesn’t come in high enough the loan amount has to be reduce. That often means some money out of pocket to buy the home.
Tip # 2: Your interest rate may be higher on VA loans rather than FHA. Why? A history of greater defaults exist on VA loans. Think about it, the more skin you have in the game the less likely you are to walk in hard times.
Tip # 3: For the same reason as #2, you are more likely to be declined on VA than on FHA.
Tip # 4: For the same reason as above VA appraisers may be picky about the condition of the home you are buying. A junker may not be acceptable without fixup prior to closing. This can happen on FHA loans too.
Tip #5: VA looks at your being able to qualify in a different way than FHA or conventional loans. The bigger your family the tougher to qualify.
Now here is our guest article from Jay Buerck. As I mentioned Jay picked up on our last 1st Time Home Buyers article and offered his expertise. Thanks Jay.
On the heels of a huge 2009, loans</a> are set to have an even bigger 2010. Military homebuyers seized on the flexibility and low costs of VA loans last year, driving volume up 80 percent nationwide.http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/va-loan-eligibility.html”>VA borrowers couldn’t have obtained a conventional loan</a>.
This year, there are some new changes affecting the VA loan process for both brokers and buyers. Geared toward boosting consumer protection, these changes are a part of a new landscape for government loans, which have become a crucial cornerstone of the housing market in the last 18 months.
But for their part, VA loans have been making a difference in the lives of those who have served our country since World War II. More than 18 million veterans have become homeowners since 1944 thanks to these powerful loans.
VA loans allow qualified veterans to purchase homes with no money down, one of the last loan products in the country to do so. They also come with a host of important financial benefits, including:
-No private monthly mortgage insurance
-No penalties for loan pre-payment
-Higher debt-to-income ratio allowed than for most conventional loans
-Sellers can pay up to 6 percent of closing costs and concessions
VA loans are backed by a government guarantee, which helps approved lenders offer competitive rates to qualified borrowers. For most military buyers, VA loans are also easier to qualify for than most conventional loans. In fact, about 80 percent of <a href=”
To be eligible for a VA loan, borrowers must first be:
-Military members who’ve served 181 days on active duty or three months during war time may be eligible.
-People who have spent at least a half-dozen years in the National Guard or Reserves
-Spouses of those killed in the line of duty
VA borrowers should soon see some changes in the way some upfront costs are presented. Lenders will have to disclose origination fees in one of two years under new Good Faith Estimate regulations. This estimation of buyer closing costs is part of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA.
The VA limits origination fees to 1 percent, although some other fees are allowed.
Mansion photo from Flickr and buy Express Monorail
ZERO Energy House LAST Tour!
January 22nd, 2010The Zero Energy House in Bellevue built by Issaquah’s Shirey Contracting is having one last OPEN HOUSE – January 30, Saturday and January 31 Sunday from 10:00 to 4:00. FREE! The address is at 840 W Lake Sammamish Parkway SE, Bellevue, WA 98008.
To see our post about this house during the summer open house CLICK http://bit.ly/0energyhouse
First Time Home Buyers Series Part 2
January 21st, 2010
We discussed picking the right loan officer in part 1. click here. Part 2 covers what you should know about qualifying.
I get a kick out of pre qualification letters I see on offers of our listings.” So and so qualifies for the exact price” of their offer. The agent says “they are stretching and this is all they can go”. Well is that really so, for so and so? Not so most often. Interest rates aren’t stable. They often don’t last even through the day. They may not be the same an hour from now. And I am supposed to believe this is the max? The way that most loan officers cover their back side is to go conservative on the borrower. In other words they tell their borrower a lower number just in case rates go up. They may use a lower number as a bargaining point.
For you the buyer you should know the max you can afford. You only know that by payment. You only know that by an automated underwriting approval. By payment I mean have your loan officer tell you the MAXIMUM payment you can quafiy for. This means a little extra work for the loan officer. They may have to keep running your approval on the automated underwriting system. This number must include principle, interest, taxes, insurance, and mortgage insurance. In almost every case, you qualify for more than you want to qualify for. That’s a good thing.
When you get serious about a home, check the current interest rate, note the taxes on that property. Check on any home owners association dues, have the loan officer tell you the mortgage insurance and principle and interest payment on that specific home. Get a feeling if rates are fairly stable.
What I find is that it is good for first time home buyers to know the maximum they can buy. All too often they can’t find what they want at the payment they want. Almost always, knowing they can go higher allows them to be happier with their home purchase.
Now, a little about qualifying. It isn’t as cut and dried as you might think. When I first started originating mortgages my bank employer was firm on ratios. For FHA loans 28% of their gross income could go to the total mortage payment and 41% of their total income could go to total monthly payments.
Monthly payments are those that show up or should show up on your credit report. These are items such as credit card payments, car payments, and student loans. They are usually not items such as water, cable, sewer, and power. VA loans look at the latter items as part of their qualfiying process.
In reality each borrrowers financial picture determines what their ratios are allowed to be. Each bank then has their limits. It is not unusual for an automated approval to be higher than a bank will now limit.
In summary, pick a loan officer you can trust as in our first article. Then know how much you can actually qualify for in payments. Then enjoy the hunt. I call it a treasure hunt. It’s fun.
Mansion photo from Flickr and by Michael D Martin
