Ginny Lee with Evergreen Home Loans

Having a strong support system for my clients is the best service I can provide.  Since I have been selling real estate for 17 years, I know who will work and stay organized to get a transaction complete.  I work with many lenders, but one that always exceeds is Ginny Lee with Evergreen Home Loans.  She has always shown that she knows her business.  She keeps me current with new HUD, and FHA requirements.  Most recently she found out that Evergreen Home Loans can underwrite manufactured home loans.  She is all about helping First Time Home Buyers, and if there are credit issues.  She helps people sort it out.  I would recommend Ginny Lee with Evergreen Home Loans.  800.498.2221 

Holly Castle
101 E. Wine Country Rd.
Grandview Wa 98930
HollyCastle@BuyinWineCountry.com

Open House in Grandview at 1105 Carriage Square by Holly Castle

Today October 15th, 2010  from 3 pm to 4:30 pm,  1105 Carriage Square will be open to view without appointment.  This home sits on a large lot and has an additional garage/shop.  The home has a strong curb appeal.  The previous owner was a landscaping professor at Columbia Basin College for many years.  The flowers in the yard are constantly rotating with the seasons.  The irrigation system has water conservation features and is easy to maintain.  Inside the home it has a split level entry.  The living room is large wtih a front bay window that has an anti-glare on it.  The fireplace is a gas insert with an electric blower.  The base of the fireplace has quarried marble tile and a wood mantle with shelving.  The kitchen has been completely updated with new oak cabinets, new laminate flooring, new counter tops and new vinyl window.  Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms, utility room, and refurbished bath room.  The bathroom has new flooring, new cabinets, new privacy window and a new shower/bath combo with glass door.  Downstairs there is a 3/4 bath with shower, furnace room, computer room, and family room that leads out to the garage and an additional storage room.  The home has a gas forced air furnace, central air conditioning, 50 gallon hot water tank, and water purifying system.  Please stop by and see the gorgeous home, and if you need an appointment call Holly Castle with Northwest Wine Country Real Estate.  509.830.4137

Grandview Grape Growers are Holding Out the Weather by Holly Castle

We could smell the grapes four weeks ago and now they are even stronger.  Grandview Grape Growers are not just producing for Wines.  We grow Concords, Niagras, Cambells and others to make juice, jellies, and jams.  Grandview has two juice plants, Welch's and Smuckers.  Both are well branded that ship all over the United States.  Did you know Niagras are one of the leading antioxidant juices you can drink. (The White Grape Juice.) Drink up and support Grandview Grape Growers. 

When grape harvest comes it is an all day, every day job.  In the old days it was a hand picking job.  Now it's a little easier with picking machines.  But there are still breakdowns.  Rollers going out, bearings going out, hydraulics not working, lights not working.  I think the funnest part is sitting in the leaf picking chair having frogs jumping out (along with a few snakes wizzing by). 

After beating the grapes off the vine with the pickers. They are captured into gondolas, then dumped into containers sitting on the flat beds.  The flat beds are then taken to town to the juice plants.  But don't think it's that easy growing grapes, and getting them to town to get a check. 

It all starts in late winter with pruning and knowing how many buds to leave on the vine.  Knowing how many buds is the most important.  A grower wants consecutive production. No highs and lows, or bills won't get paid.  And water supply is the next major obstacle.  We live in a desert and if there is no snow in the Cascade Mountains were our water supply comes from, then crops are lower.  Because we have to cut back to get across all of our fields.  We have to know soil conditions, pest conditions, and more.  Farmers should be considered the pioneers of science. 

But after all this work we do relax.  Grandview is known for the Grandview Grape Stomp.  In the old days it was down town.  Now Grandview holds the Grape Stomp at the Vintecology Center by the Lower Yakima Valley Communtiy College.  Everyone gets together and wine tastes and competes who can stomp grapes the fastest.  Come join us next year.

Northwest Wine Country Real Estate Inc.

101 E. Wine Country Rd.

Grandview WA 98930

509.882.2001

Grandview Grange by Holly Castle

The Grandview Grange is For Sale.  For many years it has served our community as a Church, Reception Center, Youth Group Hall and much more.  Many local residents have been Married in the Grandview Grange.  With recent activity the Grange has been covered with artistic activity.  I am hoping one day to drive by and see a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness.  If you are interested and creative this could be a great investment opportunity.  The zoning is Agriculture which allows for a single family residence or an agriculture business.  Maybe a possibility would be a wine tasting gallery, or a unique weekend rental to a wine connoisseur.  The possibilities are endless.  For more information call Holly Castle. 509.830.4137 

And another idea is the Waneta Grange.  Even Bigger with Bigger Possibilities!

Northwest Wine Country Real Estate Inc.

101 E. Wine Country Rd. Grandview WA 98930

509.882.2001

Holly Castle Grandview Vineyard and Home For Sale

This property has a gorgeous view and a great location.  It is located on Olmstead Rd.  There is 19.95  Acres.  18 Acres of Concord Grapes with one wind machine.  The grapes picked at 148 ton for this year.  The house is over 3,400 square feet.  There is 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 family rooms and the grand room has a vaulted cieling with open balcony.  The property has been newly painted outside with improved decks.  There is a 2 car garage, and a 2 bay shop with additional office space.  Contact Holly Castle for more information on this property, or visit www.BuyinWineCountry.com   

Holly Castle - Chase Rd, Geese -Absolutely Gorgeous

I think one of the neatest things about Fall in Grandview, is when the corn fields on Chase Rd get chopped.  It is near the river and if you drive by early in the morning there will be 100's and 100's of geese sleeping and as the sun comes up it is amazing to see how many are there. 

Holly Castle - 10 Steps to Sell Your Home Faster

10 Steps to Sell Your Home Faster

You probably already know that real estate across most of the country is not appreciating as fast as it was at one time. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, unless of course you purchased last year and are now selling. People who have owned a property for a few years are generally well ahead in the game. We can't predict what 2011 will bring, but so far, most markets have at least slowed, if not declined. For the majority of established home owners in the prevailing market, prior property appreciation will ensure at least some degree of profit, though today's sales might not be as prosperous as they would have been in 2006. But all homeowners want to get the highest possible profits. How do you go about this? There are 10 negotiating steps that a seller can follow to assure that a person's home gets the best price and is sold quickly.

Step 1: Use a broker from Grandview. When the market is down, so is the number of buyers. That means that you need to expose your property to as many potential buyers as possible. Who do prospective buyers get in touch with when they are house hunting? Real estate brokers. National Association of Realtors statistics show that 85% of purchasers count on real estate brokers for their home selections, while the Internet accounts for 80%. Who creates all of those online real estate postings? Real estate brokers from the local area.

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the entire sale agreement. Nearly all jurisdictions have standardized real estate contract that has become lengthy and complex over many years. If you use one of those, read it carefully and be aware that you are agreeing to every unmodified term and condition. Make sure there is nothing in the agreement that needs to be taken out, rewritten or added. The brokers should offer a copy of the sale agreement that they might use at listing presentations and the sale deed should be read to avoid misunderstandings. As these are agreements on forms, whatever is not stated as a requirement by the law can be changed by a cross-out or addenda. Consult your attorney or broker for further detailed information.

Step 3: Be completely familiar with the current real estate market. For the sake of negotiations, knowing what the recorded sale prices were isn't sufficient because often they don't give the complete picture. As an example, two houses might have both sold for $300,000. A person might have sold for $350,000 while the other for $300,000 but the owner gave the buyer a 6 percent seller credit for a new roof and appliances, which is $18,000. Local brokers who are familiar with the details of recent sales are able to provide the best negotiation advice.

Step 4: Understand all of the terms you are willing to offer. You are confident that your home is going to sell at some satisfactory price, but instead of starting out with an inflexible amount, consider the property sale as a combination of price and terms. For example, it might make more sense in a slow market to help reduce the buyer's closing costs by offering a "seller contribution "instead of lowering the price of the property. Often the seller contribution could be significantly less than a reduction in price, and buyers who require cash to close the sale could find it more attractive as well.

Step 5: Request a smaller deposit. In order to bind a legal contract, the buyer needs to make a deposit. In an ideal marketplace, a seller will receive a large deposit, but in a down or "off" market, a much smaller deposit may have to be accepted. The buyers prefer to make the lowest possible deposit because a huge deposit indicates a big financial and psychological commitment. You can ask for a lower deposit if the buyer has mortgage pre-approval or if the buyer shows a strong interest in the property and you have no other offers.

Step 6: Sweeten the pot. Are you really planning to take large items like a swing set or washing machine? In certain cases it may be better to leave such items if a buyer makes an offer.

Step 7: MLS photos have to be updated. If your MLS photo shows snow around your home in the middle of the summer, potential buyers will know your house has been on the market a while.  They may interpret this as meaning that you might be desperate to sell and will expect to lower your initial offer. Make sure your broker posts recent photographs.

Step 8: Fully understand the marketing plan. The broker's marketing plan should be reviewed quite often to see that it is being followed and is changed whenever it is needed.

Step 9: Check out open houses. Going to open houses, also known as your competition is a great idea. It isn't always easy to be objective.  However, do other owners have selling ideas that might work in regards to your home? Is there something you can use to bargain with? You could consider offering to do some painting or other cosmetic repairs.

Step 10: Keep everything in context. Don't worry about nickels and dimes when your main goal is to get the house sold.

As an example, just before closing the deal, we had a buyer request an extra $600 to resolve last minute concerns. That gesture seemed like nothing more than a case of buyer's remorse, so we agreed to it, received an otherwise ideal price, and closed the sale. It wasn't long before the prices softened in the local market. It was better to lose $600 than to find another buyer later when the market was harsher and the final sale price might have been less by several thousands of dollars. Would we have preferred to save that $600? Certainly. However, six hundred dollars was a small price to pay considering that the delays could have meant a big reduction in price. BuyinWineCountry.com
Holly Castle
Northwest Wine Country Real Estate Inc.
101 E. Wine Country Rd
Grandview Wa 98930