Real Estate Weekly January 14, 2022

INSIDE

This Issue

MOVE HERE AND PAY LESS, HERE ARE THE CITIES WITH THE LOWEST COST OF LIVING PAGE 5 THE VALUE OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE APPRAISER PAGE 7 CLASSIFIEDS P7 JANUARY 14, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS Move here and pay less, Here are the cities with the lowest cost of living......................................................P5 Q&A

INSIDE PAGE

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Ask Our Broker.......................................................................P6

The Value of Communicating with the Appraiser.........................................................P7 Classifieds............................................................................P7

RE-Weekly To advertise in RE-Weekly or other Skagit Publishing publications, Call: 360.416.2180 or Email: ads@skagitads.com ©2022 by Skagit Publishing | All rights reserved.

All real estate advertised in Real Estate Weekly is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed

that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

For further information call HUD Toll Free at 1-800-669-9777.

All Houses subject to prior changes without notice. Neither advertisers nor Skagit Publishing are responsible for any errors in the ad copy. Skagit Publishing reserves the right to refuse any advertising, which we deem unsuitable for our publication.

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Skagit Publishing is not responsible for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers.

own the local real estate market expand your reach when you combine the power of our digital audience and premium print ads in the re weekly ask your multimedia account executive for details.

ContaCt: 360.424.3251 • ads@skagitads.Com 2

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January 14, 2022

STAT Real Estate Stat

$353,900 The median price of homes sold in the month of November, 2021.

Source: National Association of Realtors

NORTH PUGET SOUND ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® 525 East College Way, Ste J, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Tel. 360-416-4902

www.npsar.realtor

FEATURED REALTY: 1422 EAGLE RIDGE DRIVE, UNIT #12, EAGLEMONT

Hablar Alto - Detén la Discriminación Que es discriminación de vivienda? La ley de discriminación del estado de Washington protege a personas contra acciones negativas que ocurren por la clase protegida de la persona. En La Compra Y Venta de Vivienda: Nadie puedo tomar las siguientes acciones basado a clase protegida: 

Negar participación en una transacción



Negar negociaciones de Vivienda



Establecer diferentes términos y condiciones o privilegios para comprar o alquiler de vivienda



Proporcionar diferentes servicios o instilaciones de vivienda



Negar que la vivienda está disponible para inspección, venta o alquiler ·Hacer que una vivienda no esté disponible



Persuadir a los dueños de vender o alquilar el espacio por beneficio propio Anunciar o declarar algo que indique limitaciones o preferencias basado en clase protegida

Skagit Tradition Realty LLC 3780 E. College Way Mount Vernon, WA 360-424-0300 www.skagittraditionrealty.com

$679,000

Elva HuntEr (360) 202-3086

Gorgeous Golf Course Condo in desirable Eaglemont Community on the 12th Fairway!

Great room with vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace.

2 bedrooms plus den/office w/French doors, craftsman style millwork. Kitchen w/ plenty of cabinets, stainless appliance, plenty of space to entertain w/ lg eating bar & wine cooler & dining w/sliding door leading to patio & beautiful yard overlooking the Golf Course and enjoy nature. Deluxe owners suite with jetted tub, walk-in closet, large garage with lots of cabinet& storage. This is truly an Eaglemont special with privacy and views!

MLS#1876636

Ver más en: https://www.hum.wa.gov/fair-housing Mission Statement: The Nor th Puget Sound Association of Realtor s advocates for Realtor s and their clients, and promotes the protection of property rights.

January 14, 2022

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Now could be the time to sell a new home and earn a slice of the real estate pie.

Record-low interest rates is renewing interest in the housing market for many people.

“When sellers are interviewing real estate agents to market their homes, their primary focus is usually on the advertising that the agent will offer them,” says Jessica Goodbody of Weichert Realtors.

Let us help you meet your marketing goals by advertising your listings in Real Estate Weekly.

Call 360.416.2180 Today!

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i w w b r h c m p

m t a m a January 14, 2022

Move here and pay less

Here are the cities with the lowest cost of living

By Erik J. Martin ne of the few perks that has accompanied the pandemic is that more companies are willing to allow workers to work remotely. That can be a big deal to homeowners and renters with high monthly housing-related expenses, including those who pay large monthly mortgage and rent payments in costlier metros.

Suddenly, packing up and moving to a faraway destination in a more affordable and possibly rural location makes good financial sense, allowing you to get more

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January 14, 2022

house for your money and a bigger bang for your real estate buck.

Which begs the question: Which areas boast a lower cost of living and are worth considering as move-to markets? Fresh data from Move. org can help here. It reveals that Wichita, Kansas, clocks in as having the lowest cost of living, where you can pay as little as $1,219 in monthly living costs and where median household earnings are $30,563. Rounding out the list, in order of affordability, are Cincinnati ($1,226); Tulsa, Oklahoma

($1,249); St. Louis ($1,265); Memphis ($1,267); El Paso ($1,276); Louisville, Kentucky ($1,312); Indianapolis ($1,315); Oklahoma City ($1,320); and Tucson ($1330).

“This study is in line with previous research that finds a higher cost of living in coastal markets, particularly in California, and lower cost of living in the Midwest and the South. Whether researchers are using rental prices, as this study does, or home prices, as others have to account for the cost in an area, the findings typically

highlight the same pricing areas,” says Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com in Washington, DC. Realtor.com also looked closely at affordable areas and found overlaps between their list and Move.org’s list.

“Indianapolis ranked as the eighth-lowest cost of living market on Move.org’s list and number four on our list for 2022, for example,” she says.

Jason Gelios, a Realtor in Southeast Michigan, isn’t surprised that Wichita topped the former list.

“While Wichita has one of

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the lower costs of living, it also has many benefits like a thriving business community.

Moving to an area like this where your out-of-pocket expenses are lower but the opportunity is high can make good financial sense for a prospective mover,” he says.

Of course, there are always downsides to every upside.

“Living in Wichita, for example, means tolerating temperamental weather conditions that include annual tornadoes, lack of an adult social landscape, and difficult commuting,” adds Gelios.

Put another way, it’s wise to

compare the pros and cons of a given area carefully and decide what you’re willing to make sacrifices on.

Ask Asher Cohen, director of sales at Tru Realty in Scottsdale, Arizona, and he’ll tell you that the good greatly outweighs the bad in the Phoenix Metro area where he works.

“Not only is the cost of living low, but this region offers all the best in terms of entertainment, eateries, bars, resorts, and recreational activities,” says Cohen.

Home shoppers seeking to relocate to a completely new area should visit the location multiple times and carefully review things like crime statistics, neighborhood amenities, quality of the school districts, and more, Gelios recommends.

“For prospective movers who are still working, job market considerations will likely top the list of priorities,” Hale notes. “Ask yourself: Will you be able to keep your job or have to find a new one? What does the job market look like for your industry in any prospective new area?”

Potential movers who are retired or near retirement will want to ponder how well a new city will mesh with their preferred retirement lifestyle as well as how the relocation will impact their network of friends and family, adds Hale.

“It’s also important to hire a skilled real estate agent with local expertise and one who is an ambassador to the city they represent,” advises Cohen. “Having that kind of resource in your corner can greatly help you make connections to other resources, such as bankers, contractors, insurance vendors, and more.”

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What Qualifies a Mobile Home for a Mortgage?

Question:

We’re moving outside a major metro area. We see many mobile homes in our new community and have an interest in buying one. Can we get a mortgage for such property?

Answer:

We generally think of a “mobile home” as something with wheels that can be towed to one place or another. However, if it’s got wheels and can be moved, the home is essentially personal property and cannot be financed with a mortgage.

However, you will often see mobile homes on the highway, either single units or manufactured pieces on their way to a home site. These can qualify for a real estate mortgage once they meet certain conditions.

First, Freddie Mac explains that “the Manufactured Home must be legally classified as real property; it must be a 1-unit dwelling that is permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in a way that makes it part of the real property.”

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Second, the property must be owned by the borrower.

Third, the home must have been built after June 15, 1976, and have a HUD Data Plate and a Certification Label (a so-called “HUD Tag”). If such items are missing, owners may be able to get a Label Verification Letter from the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS.org) as an alternative.

Fourth, according to Fannie Mae, “the towing hitch, wheels, and axles must be removed. The dwelling must assume the characteristics of site-built housing.”

Fifth, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a 600 sq. ft. size minimum.

Sixth, the rules may be different if the home is added to an existing property as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Check with lenders for details.

If a home does have wheels, then you most likely will want to look into Title I financing from the FHA. As HUD explains, “borrowers are not required to purchase or own the land on which their manufactured home is placed.

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Q&A

ASK OUR BROKER

By Peter G. Miller

Instead, borrowers may lease a lot, such as a site lot within a manufactured home community or mobile home park. When the land/lot is leased, HUD requires the lessor to provide the manufactured homeowner with an initial lease term of 3 years. In addition, the lease must provide that the homeowner will receive advance written notice of at least 180 days, in the event the lease is to be terminated. These lease terms are designed to protect homeowners in case the lessors sell the land or close the park.”

Under Title I, owners as this is written may qualify for as much as $92,904 for a manufactured home and lot, $23,226 for a lot, and $69,678 for a manufactured home alone.

For details and specifics, speak with several lenders regarding loan options, and work with real estate brokers, a legal clinic, or an attorney for specific questions.

Email your real estate questions to Mr. Miller at peter@ctwfeatures.com.

January 14, 2022

RENTALS Apartments Unfurnished

NEW TODAY Raspberry Ridge II Apartments, Subsidized Housing for Qualified Farm Labor families. Equal Opportunity Housing.

The Housing Authority of Skagit County operates 30 Townhouse apartments in Burlington WA. This advertisement has been placed in compliance with regulations of Washington State Housing Finance Commission Tax Credit Services. Applications will be added to the waiting list. The waiting list is currently two years long.

The Housing Authority of Skagit County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Call 428-1959 or visit the office at 1650 Port Drive, Burlington, WA for application. Your name can be added to the waiting list at no charge.

The Value of Communicating with the Appraiser

By Marilyn Kennedy Melia

A

ll eyes are on early spring.

Will prices jump, continuing the unprecedented 2021 market, or rise at a more modest pace, as many experts forecast?

No matter what happens, homes shoppers and sellers should prepare to avoid last year’s persistent problem of a purchase contract falling through because the appraisal amount came in too low. {Buyers who agree to pay more than the appraised valuation typically have to pony up a bigger down payment, or back out of the contract.]

A scarcity of for-sale properties and correspondingly fewer comparable sales was one factor contributing to price mismatches last year, says Dan Fries, a Cumming, GA appraiser.

January 14, 2022

More data on recent sales of comparable homes “tends to simplify” appraisals, notes Shawn Telford, chief appraiser at CoreLogic.

However, Telford adds that every sale is unique, and even when an appraiser has ample data, valuations can be complex.

Agents and sellers can often “do more” to communicate with appraisers, says Eric Trotz, a Memphis, TN appraiser.

Make Your Case Just because their home is under contract, sellers shouldn’t go back to untidy habits, but treat the appraiser’s visit like a showing to a buyer.

While agents can’t demand a certain valuation from an appraiser who must render an independent judgment, they should supply a packet of information “immediately upon

learning who will be conducting the appraisal,” says Trotz.

That should include a survey and floor plan of the home, if available; a description of features distinguishing the home over comparable properties; print-outs from the local MLS of comparable pending sales, closed sales, and current listings; and a spreadsheet detailing all offers on the property.

Sooner Rather Than Later Besides supplying information early, agents should meet the appraiser at the home before he examines it.

After an appraiser completes his value determination, it’s the appraisal r sent to the buyer’s mortgage lender.

Then, if a seller believes the valuation is too low, it’s seldom revised unless the appraiser has missed key information, concludes Trotz.

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Apartments Unfurnished

NEW TODAY La Paloma Apartments.

Subsidized Housing for Qualified Farm Labor families. Equal Opportunity Housing. The Housing Authority of Skagit County operates 40 Townhouse apartments in Mt. Vernon WA. This advertisement has been placed in compliance with regulations of USDA Rural Housing Services.

Applications will be added to the waiting list. The waiting list is currently 2.5 years long.

The Housing Authority of Skagit County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Call 428-1959 or visit the office at 1650 Port Drive, Burlington, WA for application. Your name can be added to the waiting list at no charge.

NEW TODAY Raspberry Ridge I Apartments, Subsidized Housing for Qualified Farm Labor families. Equal Opportunity Housing.

The Housing Authority of Skagit County operates 50 Townhouse apartments in Burlington WA. This advertisement has been placed in compliance with regulations of Washington State Housing Finance Commission Tax Credit Services. Applications will be added to the waiting list. The waiting list is currently two years long.

The Housing Authority of Skagit County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Call 428-1959 or visit the office at 1650 Port Drive, Burlington, WA for application. Your name can be added to the waiting list at no charge.

Get rid of that old car!

Sell it in the Classifieds!

Mobile Home Spaces Monthly RV site for rent at private residence available now. (360)-4248431.

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912 GReeNleaF aVe, BuRliNGtoN

$399,000 Beautifully remodeled traditional Burlington home offers amazing kitchen with lots of cabinets and counter space; two bedrooms; updated bath; and spacious utility room. Fine finish work; newly insulated, new siding, new carpet in the bedrooms and new light color wood laminate flooring throughout; freshly, professionally painted. Oversize garage with shop space; partially fenced, professionally landscaped yard.

Danya Wolf Patrica Box (360) 708-8234 Buyers Agent (360) 424-0300 MLS# 1866940

700 N Reed St, #40 SedRo woolley

$135,000 2121 MaRket StReet. MouNt VeRNoN

Beautifully remodeled 1995 Nashua 52 x 28 doublewide manufactured home: 1350 square feet offers amazing kitchen including range, refrigerator, and dishwasher; a multitude of beautiful cabinets; pantry; and lots of counter space; formal dining room; spacious living room; three bedrooms and 2 full baths. Master suite offers walk in closet; master bath offers double sinks and tub for relaxing plus separate shower. Separate utility room. Nice decking; generous sized yard with storage building.

Danya Wolf Greenbelt to protect fish and wildlife adjacent to the south (360) 708-8294 of lot. MLS# 1849202

$158,800

Custom build your commercial enterprise: 13,361 square foot commercial tract (two lots) zoned C-2. `Preliminary sketch for 5,280 square foot retail building plus 24 parking spots. Great location near recreation center; major grocery store; hotel; restaurants; offices; health club; house and farm supply stores; gas stations; banks; and I-5. New price reflects Danya Wolf Skagit County tax assessment value. MLS# 1848626 (360) 708-8294

wHaleN dRiVe, PoiNt RoBeRtS

$250,000

Magnificent views of Boundary Bay and the mountains! Enjoy the lights of Vancouver BC, only 45 minutes away! Less than 20 miles to Vancouver international Airport. Point Roberts is a quaint community with forests, beaches (close to Maple Beach), and the ocean yet near to all that the big city has to offer. This lot is ready for your dream home; power at the street, water at the street (Point Roberts Water Danya Wolf District). MLS# 1863417 (360) 708-8294

Patricia Box Office Manager O: (360) 424-0300 C: (360) 941-9186

JoAnn Boudreau (360) 391-0746

Juanita Bunch (360) 941-5530

Carla Fischer (360) 982-0010

2XXX uRBaN aVeNue, MouNt VeRNoN

$600,000

Prime commercial property with utilities in street, including P.U.D. water, Puget Sound Energy electricity; Cascade Natural Gas, fiber optics; cable; and sewer.

Subject To survey and short plat. Property is located between ChicagoTitle Company easterly parking lot and Max Dale Restaurant’s south Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294 easterly parking area. MLS# 1649968 NHN MouNtaiN View Rd, MouNt VeRNoN

John Hunter (360) 202-3086

PeNd

20787 BulSoN Rd, StaNwood

iNG

$350,000

17180 MeMoRial Hwy MouNt VeRNoN $415,000

Beautiful wooded 4.98 acres situated on south side of Snohomish County/Skagit County line. Power is in street. Solar power is also possible. Adjacent property to the east of Subject Property is fenced, open field. Zoning allows for one building site. Stanwood-Camano School District; and just ten minutes to I-5. Great country living yet convenient for commuting.

Danya Wolf MLS# 1841822 (360) 708-8294

6.98 acre tract zoned Rural Intermediate. Level acreage with great road access both from Memorial Highway and from Avon Allen Road. Stop light and curbs at the intersection.

Special Use Permit potential. The Animal Hospital and an espresso stand is across the road to the west.

980 feet along Memorial Highway (SR-536);620feetalongAvonAllenRoad. Danya Wolf MLS# 1572330 (360) 708-8294

i’m a Seniors Real estate Specialist

Every transition is an opportunity, regardless of your stage of life. By partnering with an SRES like one of us, you gain the help and experience of a Realtor® specializing in meeting the needs of home buyers and sellers 50+.

We offer you the opportunity to complete your transaction with patience, professionalism and the expertise you deserve. We are pleased to be YOUR SRES®

Suzanne Jenkins (360) 941-2983

Phil LaMay (360) 840-3086

Russ Lanker (360) 708-1117

Congratulations to our Facebook, Safeway gift card winners! Please contact Danya for your prize! Danya, 360-708-8294 danya@skagittraditionrealty.com • Michelle Valentine Hansen $25, Jennifer Larm $25, Kenda Akin $25

360.424.0300

$850,000

After 60+ yrs this Big Lake prime property on the sunny side of the lake can now be yours.

Approx. 80 ft of no-bank water front just minutes away from a nine-hole golf course. Property features a pier connected to a floating dock perfect for mooring your boat & watercraft. The approx. 4,500 SF of property bisected by N. West View Rd has an access road and additional possibilities for your needs. Besides the 2 bed 1 bath manuf. home the lot has a detached 750 SF garage/shop, out buildings and RV parking. And the large covered deck is perfect for watching eagles, seasonal waterfowl & spectacular Russ Lanker (360) 708-1117 sunsets! MLS# 1848508

$115,000

Located just outside the Mount Vernon City limits, this wooded 1 acre plus lot could be a building site for a stick built, modular, or manufactured home, with plenty of room.

Tract has been surveyed (LeGro and Associates) and wetlands have been delineated (Oscar Graham and Pat Bunting). Power and PUD water are available at the street.

Danya Wolf MLS# 1861233 (360) 708-8294

Elva Hunter (360) 202-3086

24094 N. weSt View Rd, MouNt VeRNoN

Brett Tacker (360) 840-7931

Carla Fischer

(360) 982-0010

Elva Hunter

(360) 202-3086

Danya Wolf Designated Broker/ Owner (360) 708-8294

3780 E. College Way, Mount Vernon

www.skagittraditionrealty.com 178133-1

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