Leslie's Blog

Yesterday, May 25th, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., KOMOTV.Com reported a bear on the loose in Des Moines, Washington.   They are saying the bear "began on Point Robinson on Maury Island -- about two miles across Puget Sound.  The bear then jumped in the water and took off.  The caretaker at the lighthouse on Maury Island saw it all. He told state biologists the bear was swimming fast -- it took him only one hour to make the two mile swim. He came ashore around Saltwater State Park."

Soon after the bear arrived in Des Moines, surprised neighbors started calling Fish and Wildlife agents saying "hey there's a bear in my front yard."

Trackers, with dogs, are out waiting for word of another sighting.

On May 24th, The Seattle Times had an article "Report of bear keeps Redmond students inside" about how there was a bear sighting in the area of Sunrise Elementary School in Redmond, Washington.  The students were kept inside during lunch and recess.  

Besides bear we do have sightings (usually on the eastside of King County), of bear, bobcats and occasionally cougar and many coyotes.    Raccoons and opossum can be spotted even in Seattle after dark.  That is a good reason for people to keep their cats in the home at night. 

I am not writing this to put fear into my readers, just to make people aware of some of the animal life in our surroundings.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings  

I was raised to be ethical.   Yup, I am an optomist and expect the best of people.  I also believe it is right to correct things when they are wrong.

Two days ago, I read this article from the June 2007 issue of the Reader's Digest by Michael Crowley in his "That's Outrageous!" column.   Congressmen Convicted of Crimes Still Get Their Tax-Funded Retirement

The article mentions that in 2005 "an attempt at reform never made it out of the House committee that would oversee a change in pension rules."  That committee's "chair that year:  Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio.  The same Bob Ney who pleaded guilty last fall to doing illegal favors for a lobbyist in return of things like a lavish golf junket to Scotland." Bob Ney will still be eligible for a "$29,000-a-year pension when he turns 62."

January 17th, 2007, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was interviewed by WTOV9,  Congress Considers New Legislation To Strip Pensions From Felons.  "Pelosi told WTOV9.com she 'strongly supports' a new law to prevent pension payments to convicted legislators. Her spokesman says the bill is a high priority."  Pelosi expressed some concerns about the prospects of the legislation passing in the House. She said some of her fellow members of Congress are concerned that the legislation would end up hurting the loved ones of the convicted Congressmen.

'When something like this happens, the wrongdoing of the member has an impact on the family, and that is one of the arguments against it,' Pelosi said."

The House has passed a bill to strip pensions "from lawmakers convicted of any of five felonies, including perjury and bribery.  Sounds good. right"  Not according to Congressman Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois.  He says "the Justice Department gave him a list of 21 felonies related to public office, and he wrote a bill covering them all.  But the legislation was never brought to a vote.  Instead, the 'reform' plan now moving through Congress doesn't even cover crimes like evading taxes or attempting to buy votes."

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings 

I had a wonderful day yesterday showing properties to a client that is moving here from Philadelphia.  He and his wife are first time home buyers and want to get the most for their money (while considering resale value) in an area that he can take public transportation to work.  

I spent a lot of time doing research.  With several properties, I Looked at bus routes and the elementary schools (and their ratings) that would be located near by.  He had said that his children are so young that schools wouldn't concern him.  I pointed out that most of my buyers that have children say that being close to a good school is what is most important to them--therefore, a very important factor in his resale value.

We looked at properties as far south as Kent (had a great Thai lunch there), went into West Seattle and several areas in South Seattle.  It was all worthwhile to him.   I had mapped out where all of the properties were, but at the last minute he found three more that he wanted to see.  Thank heaven for my best friend, Mr Garmin, the directional finder!  

My very favorite parts of my job is getting to know my clients, helping them become familiar with the areas and finding them the home they really want--then the most important part becomes getting mutual acceptance.   I enjoy people and every client has his own story (that they are usually willing to share) and I am more than willing to listen. 

This client came from a foreign country ten years ago to attend college.  While there, he ran across a young lady that he had actually gone to grade school with--they are now married.  Time does not permit me to go into all to all of the details.  He has widened my world.  I now know about a country, its leader, economy and conditions that I had only heard the name of before. 

It is not only my clients that are fascinating, sellers can be interesting also.  We met a poet and his wife (a published author, more about her on another blog).  They had met years ago while they were actors in Cleveland.When I spoke later to the listing agent she said the seller was very impressed with my buyer. 

I just got off the telephone and he is ready to make an offer.  All is good.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings   

These pictures of my grandson were taken at the Meridian Playground, located at 4649 Sunnyside Ave N in the Wallingford area of Seattle.  It has a large grassy area for any open activities, a play area and a gazebo near the shelter.   I see families having picnics there on warmer days.

Acreage: 6.50 acres

 The Wallingford Playfield is located at 4219 Wallingford Ave. North.  The Seattle.Gov link I have added says this about the park:

"Wallingford Playfield has long been a popular neighborhood gathering place for tennis, picnics, wading pool splashing in summer, ball games, and playing-and now it has a new face. Its entirely new, deluxe play area, completed in the fall of 2004, includes a play structure specially designed for two- to five-year-olds, with a variety of slides. The wading pool was renovated, and all elements are wheelchair accessible. Park entrances were renovated and new lampposts added. Extensive landscaping surrounds the wading pool, and a crushed rock path around the playfield connects to the paths on the park's east end. Community volunteers renovated the park's short, steep west border into a vibrant native plant garden. New picnic tables, benches, and sitting boulders provide plenty of places to sit and read, rest, or watch children play."

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings  

 I was reading the KOMOTV online this morning and ran across this very informative article “Choosing the wrong home inspector could cost you big.”

The article gives examples of horror stories of inspectors missing serious moisture, dry rot and pest problems.  One of the things they recommend is that home buyers and sellers should use only inspectors that are a licensed structural pest inspector.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings 

Because hiking is such a favorite activity in the Pacific Northwest, I am giving the link to King County Parks. http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/parks/cougarmountain.html   The website gives information on many trails and parks that are located in King County, Washington.  Here is some of what it says about Cougar Mountain Park:

Address: 18201 Southeast Cougar Mountain Drive

Area: 3,082 acres, more than 36 miles of trails

Hours: 8:00 am to dusk

Amenities: Walking trails, equestrian trails, picnic tables, restrooms.

I just love this picture.  What do you think is going on in his mind?  Can't you just feel yourself there, taking in the sites and smells!  The picture was taken of my grandson by my son-in-law during a day hike.  John does the hiking--Haiden rides.  

 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings 

I have been very busy working through the inspection process of a lovely remodel that I have found for a buyer.  It is in a very prestigious area on Queen Anne Hill.  Because the home was originally built in 1930 and no history is known about the side sewer (for you laymen, that is the area that goes from the house to the street), the inspector suggested that we have the sewer viewed with a scope to see if it has any problems--like tree roots getting into it.

It turned out that there is a 90 degree angle in the pipe so the inspector could not get the scoping done.  Today, I am trying to find someone else that maybe uses either a smaller scope or a more flexible hose.   The issue is that our inspection time is running out--the buyer really wants the information and the seller wants this activity all wrapped up.

The initial inspector also suggested we have an inspection by a siding envelop consultant to see if there was any problem with the stucco (like water behind it).  This was most interesting!  The consultant has an infrared camera (that costs $35,000) that is 10 times better that infrared goggles that the military use for night vision.  The temperature outside has to be 20 degrees less than in the house.  There is visibility when the infrared camera is pointed at a wall or roof, because water takes much longer to cool off and appears as a different color.  The work is done from the inside of the house and is a much less expensive than having to cut into a wall or roof to find water damage.  We didn't find any.

I woke up 3:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep because I am so ready to get this problem worked.  How come these people can't work 24/7 like the grocery stores--that is a joke.   I will put in pictures when the deal goes through.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings

If you can get past the pictures of my grandson and daughter, you can get an idea of how splendid it is to see the tulip fields in La Conner.  It is quite popular and the traffic can get bad driving back to Seattle.  Some folks catch small planes at Kenmore Air (on Lake Union) in Seattle at fly up--it is a wonderful site from the air.

Haiden wasn't too thrilled with the whole thing.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings