The 2010 spring Washington Job Vacancy Survey Report recorded the first increase in the number of job vacancies offered since fall 2006. The survey indicated that companies were attempting to fill an estimated 38,732 open positions during the April 2010 survey period. While theses job opening indicate that the economy is improving, it is still unclear whether Washington state and the nation are indeed entering a recovery period.

This is good news for job seekers in Washington. According to the survey for this spring, it shows a 21 percent increase in openings since last fall. Most of the jobs are made up by the private sector, however, some public health care and education jobs are included.

Health Care was the leading industry in job growth. Registered nurses were the job that was most in demand with over 2,300 openings.

Software engineers were the next in terms of most needed, with almost 2,000 job openings.

For more information, please see the full survey.

Fall is a great time to shop for earth friendly supplies and teach our children some healthy alternatives at the same time. An average family can spend up to $250.00 on school supplies ie paper, notebooks, lunch boxes, pencils, pens, crayons etc. Not to mention electronics. Many of these supplies contain toxins that can affect our children’s learning and come with a cost to our environment.

Shop for nontoxic art supplies. Double check those paints, markers and glues for toxic ingredients. Look for the AP label for safe supplies. (The Art and Creative Materials Institute or ACMI) This label will indicate that the products are less toxic though not necessarily free of toxins.

Paper is a huge culprit for toxins as bleach is used to brighten the paper so be careful when purchasing paper for your kids. Much of the paper used for school supplies come from endangered forest in the southern US and Indonesia. The paper industry is the 4^th largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the 3^rd largest of industrial waste. Choose your paper carefully, use it sparingly and recycle appropriately.

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.

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.

In the spring of 2011, all-electronic tolling will begin on the SR 520 Bridge to help pay for the construction of a new, safer bridge. 

Good To Go! electronic tolling uses technology to keep traffic moving with no toll booths, no stopping, and no slowing down.  

Customers can set up prepaid accounts linked to a Good To Go! pass that is installed in your vehicle or linked to your license plate. Automatic replenishment allows you to never have to worry about running low in your account. Simply link a bank account or credit card to the account and your Good To Go! account is automatically replenished when you run low. 

As you drive under electronic sensors on the east high rise of the 520 bridge, the toll will be automatically deducted from your prepaid account.  If the driver does not have a prepaid account, a photo will be taken of the vehicle’s license plate, and a bill will be sent in the mail to the vehicle’s registered owner.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has launched an extensive outreach campaign to educate drivers about electronic tolling on the SR 520 Bridge.  To reach as many bridge users as possible, WSDOT  is on the radio, in newspapers, online and out in the community.  WSDOT is currently meeting with community and business groups throughout the region to answer questions about the SR 520 Bridge electronic tolling program. 

The message is simple: Get ready for all-electronic tolling on the SR 520 Bridge by signing  up for the interest list at http://www.goodtogo520.org/, and stay up-to-date on tolling developments.  Subscribers will receive regular updates about rates, account options, special offers and customer service resources.  Interest list users will be among the first to be able to sign  up for a Good To Go! account beginning January 2011.

Thanks to the WSDOT team for helping with this article. For up to date traffic information and projects, please see the WSDOT website.

1. Know about exclusion to coverage. For example, most insurance policies do not cover flood or earthquake damage as a standard item. These types of coverage must be bought separately.
2. Know about dollar limitations on claims. Even if you are covered for risk, there may be a limit on how much the insurer will pay. For example, most policies limit the amount paid for stolen jewelry unless items are insured separately.
3. Know the replacement cost. If your home is destroyed you’ll receive money to replace it only to the maximum of your coverage; so be sure you insurance is sufficient. For example, if your home is insured for $150,000 and it costs $180,000 to replace it, you’ll only receive $150,000.
4. Know the actual cash value. If you chose not to replace your home when it was destroyed, you’ll receive replacement cost, less depreciation. This is called actual cash value.
5. Know the liability. Generally your homeowner’s insurance covers you for accidents that happen to other people on your property, including medical care, court costs, and awards by the court. However, there is usually an upper limit to the amount of coverage provided. Be sure that it’s sufficient if you have significant assets.

The Multiple Listing Service is an important part of the home-sale process. This database contains all of the homes for sale. Real estate agents use this tool to find homes for prospective buyers as well as list the homes of sellers. Once the house is part of the database, selling agents will show a copy to their sellers for review, explaining that this is what the public will see. The seller will proof for accuracy at that time as well.

However, sellers may find it wise to know how to optimize their listing. There are thousands of entries in the database and they all compete for the attention of active agents. Listings with certain elements–photography, complete information, and strong details–will attract more attention. More information provides the agent with a better understanding of the property and if it meets the clients’ needs. Photography and strong details will interest the buyers when they receive a copy of the MLS listing.

Since humans rely greatly on visual observation, photographs are an important part of the sale. A listing without pictures or with only a few will not attract as much consideration. This makes sense. The buyer wants to see the property, examine its tiled kitchen, explore its spacious bedrooms, and enjoy its lakefront view. This is to be someone’s home and they want to see as much as they can which usually comes in the form of the MLS listing. Those first impressions are crucial.

Thus, a seller should look at the kind of pictures in his or her listing. What story do these images tell? A picture cannot capture the lazy contentment experienced while resting on a deck and gazing into a span of green forest. Nor can it fully explain the warmth of watching a movie with family by the stone fireplace. Nevertheless, through this option the seller and agent should demonstrate the kinds of memories to be gained. A simple shot of the front of the house is unlikely to reveal the personality of the property and its capacity to be lived in.

Another area that can encourage a sale is the data provided in the General, Listing, Interior Features and Room Information sections. These sections are the nuts and bolts of the house; they are the details that let a buying agent know whether or not the property meets clients’ requirements. For instance, a wrap around deck might be a wonderful bonus, but the agent needs to know if there are three bedrooms or just two. In addition, these sections reveal what is beneath the carpets and if the home features extra storage space, views, garden space, or other unique features.

Again, the MLS entry is handled by the selling agent. But the seller will want to peruse the listing for accuracy. Trust is an important part of selling a home; all parties and their agents need to know that the information provided is correct. Purchasing a home is a big decision and it would be unfortunate for a prospective buyer to be disappointed by a minor typographical error in a listing. The entry should also be complete. Missing information could potentially make an agent wary of a property, as it may falsely contribute to questions at to whether it was the right property or not.

Adequate pictures and accurate, complete information improve a listing’s chances of success. One other way to do this is in the Remarks section. If the details and pictures have caught the eye of a searching agent, the Remarks section is another lure. The real estate agent can give words to the potential memories hinted at in the images. A balance must be struck in the Remarks section; there must be charming description and pertinent information. It is also a good area to include considerations that are not necessarily easily depicted in the rest of the listing. The overall possibility of the property can be remarked upon, such as the potential for a mother-in-law residence or possible financial gains after sweat equity.

All of the aforementioned items are suggestions that improve the attractiveness of a listing. With the right agent, a seller can know that these considerations are being handled. Please do not hesitate to contact Seattle Real Estate Association if you feel your listing is under-performing. We will ensure that your MLS entry has all of the important elements it needs to allow your property to be seen and sold.

Want to get familiar with the plethora of Real Estate terminology? Here are some commonly used terms to hopefully help define and clarify some meanings for you and to alleviate some confusion.

• Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – The MLS is an enormous database that organizes home that have been listed by real estate agents. The MLS acts as a portal for all licensed real estate agents to find and list homes for home buyers and home sellers.
• Real Estate Agent – A real estate agent is a real estate professional who’s job it is to make sure a person looking to buy a home, or a person looking to sell a home is represented.
• Seller’s Agent – A seller’s agent will make sure that information posted on the MLS is accurate and complete. He/she will ensure that images of the property or home are taken in a way that showcases the best aspects of a home in order to entice a potential buyer’s agent to view the home.
• Buyer’s Agent – A buyer’s agent represents a potential home buyer. The buyer’s agent will take into account the parameters set by the buyer and endeavor to find homes that meet the qualifications of the buyer. A buyer’s agent will work with and negotiate with the selling agent on the buyers behalf.
• Escrow – Escrow is money that is held by a third party, (usually an escrow agent) who works for both the lender and the borrower. The escrow agents role is to carry out instructions agreed upon by both parties. The money is released when all terms of the agreement are met.
• Lender – Any company or bank that provides money on loan to a borrower.
• Borrower – Any individual or group entity that contracts money from a lender.
• Equity – The market value of a real estate property less the amount of existing liens.
• Lien – A lien is a legal claim against an asset which is used to secure a loan and must be paid when the property is sold.
• Mortgage – A mortgage is a loan that is secured against a real property. Usually placed on a schedule of repayment.

If there are any more real estate related terms that you may want defined, please let us know.

Now that summer is nearing, the plants are starting to grow quickly. Seattle Public Utilities has asked that customers keep their meter accessible for their staff. This ensures that the meter reader can quickly and accurately record your usage. By doing this, it will help keep utility costs down, and maintain stable rates.

Here are some things you can do to help Seattle Public Utilities.

Trees, bushes and plantings

• Trim bushes, trees, and grass that block the way or cover the meter. During the growing season, plants can quickly overtake and block meters.
• Minimize plantings that are in the way of meters.

Pets

• Keep pets away from the area that leads to the meter.
• If you have a protective or guard dog, let Seattle Public Utilities know so that the meter staff is aware.
• It may be required to confine pets during the day that your meter will be read.

Objects in the way

• The meter staff needs to have access to the meter. If there are objects in the way such as garbage cans, construction equipment, or landscape tools and materials the meter reader won’t be able to access the meter.

Locked gates

• If you have a gate that you prefer to keep locked Seattle Public Utilities will often obtain keys from customers so that they’ll have access to the meter. As long as the lock is accessible from the exterior of the gate, this doesn’t present a problem.

Address

• Make sure your address is clearly visible and displayed on your residence.
• This also assists emergency personnel in finding your home quickly.

By making sure the above points are attended to should ensure accurate reading of meters. If you have further questions don’t hesitate to contact Seattle Public Utilities.

The after-tax season and the U.S. Census may bring out scam artists. Beware.

Tax refund Scams–Watch out for phony e-mail saying you’re eligible for a refund. According the IRS, the scam asks consumers to open an attachment or click on a link to a claim form. The form requires personal and financial information. Taxpayers do not need to complete a special form to obtain their federal tax refund, according to the IRS. Refunds are triggered by the tax return you submitted to the IRS.

U.S. Census: Scam artists may get in touch via phone, e-mail or in person in an effort to steal confidential information. A legitimate representative from the Census Bureau will never:

• Ask for your full social security number
• Ask for money or a donation
• Send requests on behalf of a political party
• Request PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

The Census Bureau also doesn’t conduct the Census via the Internet or send e-mails.