Weekend Planner

Here's your link to a list of all the Open Houses in West Seattle this weekend. After that, pick one or two of the other fun events below.

OPEN HOUSE EVENTS 

This Saturday and Sunday, from 10A-1P both days, I will be holding open a truly unique, 3+ bedroom Victorian-style home in Fauntleroy, West Seattle, just up the street from Endolyne Joe's. The address is 9252 44th Ave SW, MLS #259212. List price is $399,000. Listing broker is my Prudential colleague, Bruce Butterfield. Come see me and pick up a coupon for a free ice cream cone from West Seattle's own, Husky Deli!

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
WED-SUN Display of hundreds of 2012 cars, trucks and SUVs plus concept cars and more at CenturyLink Field Event Center. www.seattleautoshow.com

AUBURN VETERANS DAY PARADE & OBSERVANCE
SAT The largest Veterans Day Parade west of the Mississippi! Includes a military fly-over, marching bands, honor guards, military marching units and vehicles, veterans units, drill teams, community and scouting groups, as well as floats, antique cars and more in downtown Auburn. www.auburnwa.gov

HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
SAT Celebrating the Lunar New Year by welcoming the prosperity of the coming year with music, dance and more at Seattle Center. www.seattlecenter.com

CULTURAL CROSSROADS
FRI-SUN Two stages of ethnic entertainment, international bazaar, Lego and Dolls of the World display at Crossroads Bellevue. www.crossroadsbellevue.com

POLISH HOME HOLIDAY BAZAAR
SAT-SUN Bakery and dessert bar, delicatessen, dinner served or take-out, Polish crafts, books and more at Polish Home Association in Seattle. www.polishhome.org

GREEN SEATTLE DAY
SAT This event is the kick off to our planting season and is a celebration of our neighborhood parks and committed neighbors. Volunteer at one of 15 parks around Seattle. http://greenseattle.org/events/2011-events/november/green-seattle-day-11-5

TACOMA SKI SWAP
FRI-SAT Tacoma Ski and Snowboard Mega Sale. Clean out your closets and sell your old gear and bring in the New for 2011 at University of Puget Sound. www.tacomaskiswap.com

ISTANBUL'S GRAND BAZAAR TURKISH CULTURAL CELEBRATION
SAT Turkish performances, marketplace, traditional food and exhibits at Sammamish City Hall. www.ci.sammamish.wa.us

LA CONNER ARTS ALIVE
FRI-SUN Downtown La Conner is filled with art, music, poetry and food at over 50 galleries, shops, museums and restaurants. www.laconnerchamber.com

END OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
SUN Turn back the time at 2 AM Sunday, 11/06/2011. It’s also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.

NEW MOVIES
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Tower Heist

Survey Reveals 5 Home Buying Myths

Survey Reveals 5 Home Buying Myths

Overall, today's home buyers tend to be fairly knowledgeable about the real estate market, but there are still a few points of confusion in the process, as revealed by a new survey conducted by Zillow of 1,000 potential home buyers.

• Appreciation: About 42 percent of home buyers believe home values will appreciate by 7 percent a year. Reality: Historically, home values in a normal market appreciate by 2 to 5 percent in a year.
• Mortgage insurance: 41 percent of buyers think they will have to purchase private mortgage insurance, regardless of the amount of their downpayment. Reality: Buyers only need to purchase PMI if their downpayment is less than 20 percent of the home’s purchase price.
• Appraisals: 56 percent of the buyers said the purpose of the appraisal was to determine if a home was in good condition. Reality: That’s the purpose of a home inspection; an appraisal estimates fair market value.
• Home owner’s insurance: 37 percent of home buyers said that buying home owner’s insurance is optional. Reality: Lenders require homebuyers to purchase homeowner’s insurance.
• Ownership: 47 percent of home buyers said a prospective buyer owns a home after the purchase contract is signed. Reality: The purchase and sales agreement is the beginning of the closing phase, but it can be a long process until they finally take ownership.

How many of these did you believe?

Source: Daily Real Estate News, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011

What's this?

I've been seeing this on a lot of sewer drains the past 6 months or so. Any idea what the black stuff is and what it's supposed to accomplish? Is it some sort of filter? Seems as if it would cause problems in a serious rain storm.

Progress on "Denny Park West"

The grass is growing, a Big Toy is installed, the asphalt is laid for the tennis courts, and a (miniature, it seems) ball field is in place. Yep, things are starting to take shape in the park that the City doesn't want to give an official name. Here are my latest photos.