In case anyone else has been wondering what the black boxes above SR 520, I-90 and I-5 were…

First, no, they don’t take your picture, have lasers, or mail you tickets. The black boxes hovering precipitously above the highways are there to help with traffic. They are Active Traffic Management tools. They are essentially a series of electronic speed-limit and lane status signs that will adjust automatically to help highway-goers navigate with a higher degree of safety and efficiency.

Using Technology Improves Traffic

Active traffic management tools have been proven to be effective at reducing collisions and improving traffic flow in Europe. The use of the technology has reduced collisions by around 30% and increased the total traffic capacity on the roadway.

The goal is to utilize the traffic management signs to reduce congestion and help make travel safer and efficient.

For more information, please see the WSDOT web page for SR 520 and I-90 active traffic management.

Bon Odori is a celebration to remember the gratitude one should feel toward one’s ancestors. Experience this summertime festival with colorful kimono, traditional folk dancing, Taiko demonstrations, and other sights, sounds, and tastes. The public is welcome to take part in the dancing!

Event Details

Location: Seattle Buddhist Church, 1427 Main Street
Event Days: July 17-18
Time: July 17, 4pm – 10:30pm; July 18, 3pm – 8:30pm.
Admission: FREE!
Contact: Ann Oxrieder (206) 329-0800
Email: bonodori@seattlebetsuin.com
Website: http://www.seattlebetsuin.com

The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation hosts this annual celebration of Indian heritage and culture. This event takes place on the beautiful grounds of Discovery Park in Seattle. The Pow Wow usually averages 400-600 dancers in full regalia, 25 drum groups and 10,000 spectators. In addition there are more than 60 vendors showcasing a unique variety of Native American arts and crafts.

Event Details
Location: Daybreak Start Indian Cultural Center at Discovery Park
Start Date: July 16, 2010
End Date: July 18, 2010
Time: July 16, 4-10pm; July 17, 10am-10pm; July 18, 10am-10pm.
Admission: FREE!
Email: info@unitedindians.org
Website: http://www.unitedindians.org

Fannie Mae recently released some useful information for people who are looking to buy a home. Primarily, you need to ensure that you can keep the home over the long term. Please see the following five steps provided by Fannie Mae regarding things you need to do before you consider looking for or purchasing a home.

1. Get Educated. Learn about mortgages and how they work. By doing your research, you can ensure that you obtain an affordable mortgage.

2. Get Your Finances In Order. Have pay-stubs and other employment related paperwork ready as well as any other financial documents in order. Due to today’s more critical lending guidelines, you can save yourself time and headaches by preparing and organizing your finances.

3. Establish a Budget. Understand your financial situation and know how much of a monthly mortgage payment you could afford.

4. Start Saving. You’ll need to have some money saved up in order to fund the down payment on the home, the deposit (typically 2% of the purchase price), and closing costs.

5. Get Pre-Approved. By getting pre-approved for a loan you can safely start your house hunt and will be focused in a price range you can afford.

Keep in mind, pre-qualification does not mean you have an approved loan. You would still need to apply for a loan if your offer on a home is accepted.

Held at the Seattle Center each year, the Bite of Seattle is one of the most popular and anticipated events each year. While the name suggests that food is the attraction, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, and family oriented entertainment.

When: July 16^th – 18^th, 2010
Hours: Friday 11am – 9pm, Saturday 11am – 9pm, Sunday 11am – 8pm
Admission: Free! (may be costs associated with food and drinks)
Where: Seattle Center
More Information: 425-283-5050

Visitors will be treated to all kinds of tasty foods including entrees, desserts, fruit drinks, microbrews, and wine. Many varieties of ethnic foods will be available as well including Thai, German, Greek, Filipino, French, Russian, and Hawaiian. A majority of the food booths will have samples that you can indulge in for free!

There’s Drinks!

Adults can savor the Bite of Seattle’s beer and wine gardens. Beers of the world, Northwest wines, and brand name cocktails can be enjoyed at specifically designated areas throughout the Seattle Center.

There will be music!

In between chowing down or enjoying delicious cocktails or fruit drinks, live music will be performed all throughout the Bite of Seattle event from noon to closing. Rock-n-roll, jazz, swing, and several classical styles will be performed.

There’s more!

Visitors to the bite of Seattle will also have the opportunity to attend contests, comedy shows, commercial exhibits, and a comedy club.

After your home’s exterior has given potential buyers a reason to see the interior of your home, evaluate the inside of your property as follows.

• Make sure all windows are washed, and that blinds are open to invite as much light in as possible. Light and bright sells houses.

• Remove all smoke, pet, and hobby odors from the property.

• Clean and dust all light bulbs and fixtures to ensure the lighting is bright.

• Shampoo carpets and vacuum them often. If the carpet is stained or does not wash well, consider replacing it with a neutral color. If there are hardwood floors underneath, consider utilizing them.

• Clean your house from top to bottom. Remove unused or “clutter items” from the home and store in a storage unit. Buyers are attracted to storage areas, so if you can clear out your sheds, attic spaces, or other storage areas on your property, buyers can visualize how much space your home has.

• Remove posters and adhesives from the walls and repair any holes in the wall that may be caused by nails or other mishaps.

• Clean or paint the basement walls and floor.

• Wax hardwood floors.

• Remove cobwebs.

• Paint inside walls with an off-white paint. Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright, or dark walls. Newly painted walls add brightness to the home.

• Ensure doorknobs are in good working order.

• Make sure that all entrance doors – front door, storm door, screen doors – are in good working condition. If not consider replacing or refinishing them. This is the first impression a potential buyer has of the property. Lighting and cleanliness are extremely important.

• Repair or replace all room doors, closet doors, and windows and screens so that they open with ease.

• Repair or replace banisters or handrails.

• If there are broken tiles on walls or floors repair or replace them.

• Replace toilet bowls if you cannot get them spotlessly clean.

• Improve the plumbing to increase water pressure. Buyers will always check this.

Remember – clean, light, and bright sells houses and will help you achieve top dollar for your home.

One very important aspect of real estate is the understanding of equity and how it works. Equity is the money value that is built in a property or home over time. It is the difference between the appraisal price of a home and the amount of any unpaid mortgage left on the home. This means for example, if an individual purchases a home for $200,000 with a down payment of $20,000 and a loan of $180,000, the amount of equity in the home is $20,000. Purchase price – loan amount = equity.

How It Works

There are a couple ways in which home equity can be built. One way equity is built over time is via appreciation of the property. Purchasing a home is an investment, and that investment needs time to grow. Despite the current recession, statistically a homes value will double every 10 years. For example, a home bought today for $100,000 will statistically be valued at $200,000 in 2020. A home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime and will continue to grow as long as you own it.

Another way in which equity can be built is through the continual payments of principal on a mortgage loan. A principal payment is the money that is paid that doesn’t go towards the interest of the loan, but instead goes to reducing the amount owed on the loan. The more principal that is paid to the loan the more the equity builds.

Unless the down payment is a significant percentage of the home’s value, the monthly mortgage payment won’t change a great deal. However, any extra that is paid to the principle will increase the amount of equity. In order to get the maximum benefits out of your monthly payments, be sure to talk with your lender.

Congress recently passed a bill that will extend the closing deadline on the Homebuyer Tax Credit. The extension lengthens the closing date to September 30, 2010. This deadline is for home purchases that had a signed contract by April 30th of this year. There will be no gap between June 30th and the date the President signs the bill into law.

Additionally, Congress has extended the National Flood Insurance Program through September 30th as well. This bill is retroactive and will cover the lapse period from June 1, 2010, to the date the law is enacted.

When a potential buyer approaches in their car they make their first decision: whether or not they actually stop to look at your home. A neat, attractive, manicured, and maintained home on the outside will entice buyers to have a look inside.

Here’s a Couple Suggestions

• Keep the yard mowed, watered, raked, and fertilized.

• Remove all children’s toys and playthings from out from view.

• Remove unsightly patio furniture, trash items, and debris from your yard.

• Trees and shrubs should be trimmed and pruned attractively. Gardens need to be weeded so they won’t look overgrown.

• All hoses and garden equipment should be neatly put away and out of sight.

• Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or repainted if required. Stack firewood neatly or out of sight.

• Walkways and driveways should be clear of debris. During the winter, make sure to clear snow and ice.

• Paint your mailbox if needed. Ensure that your house number is legible.

First impressions are lasting. By attending to the details you can ensure that you’ll have the attention and the interest of potential buyers.

Items to Evaluate

• Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions to your house should be uncluttered, swept, and in good repair.

• Paint all entrance doors. This is where potential buyers usually form an opinion on what the interior of the house will be like.

• Shades and awnings should be in good condition. Replace them if needed. Wind socks and chimes can be obnoxious. Consider taking them down.

• Keep trash cans deodorized, covered, and out of sight..

• Gates, fences, sheds, and other outbuildings should be cleaned, repaired, and painted if needed.

• Clean, repair, and paint all gutters and downspouts.

• All loose roof shingles, tiles, or other roofing materials should be secured or replaced if required.

• Make sure that the garage door opens easily. Repair and paint it if needed.

• Ensure that the chimney is in good order and that no bricks are loose. Caulk where the chimney meets the roof.

Ensuring the items above are attended to can make the difference between a buyer taking an interest in your home and sending up a red flag about your home’s condition. A buyer may find something an issue that you may feel is insignificant.

Andre Rieu is a Dutch conductor and violinist, known worldwide as the king of “crossover” classical music. Each year, he performs a series of concerts and remains one of the most dominating classical music virtuosos around the globe.

On the 6^th of December, Andre Rieu will be performing his 30^th Anniversary Tour at the Key Arena in Seattle. The concert is anticipated to be very special. It will be “The Celebration of Music” show where Rieu along with his 55-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra will perform waltzes, polkas, romantic ballads and many other beautiful melodies.

The show starts at 7:30 and should be approximately two hours. The tickets are available at the Key Arena Box Office or can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com as well as by phone toll free at (800) 745-3000. For more information, please visit the Key Arena website: www.keyarena.com.

We hope that you enjoy Andre Rieu and his orchestra and have a wonderful time.