Coming Soon: Federal Way A Great Place To Raise Kids by Robert Hale
July 21st, 2010
The Best of Both Counties
May 24th, 2010Yep, that’s Federal Way. A clean trip into Seattle, Lots to do in Federal Way, and a quick trip to the best in Tacoma and Pierce county. One of our favorite Title Companies forwarded me this farmers market directory I thought I would share with you.
More and more Farmers markets are becoming a key to better health. If we all spent a little bit more of our food budget at these markets we would have a big impact on “Food Inc.”.
Federal Way Real Estate Statistics For The First Week Of May
May 7th, 2010Is it a buyers market still? You decide.
Eight homes sellers raised their prices, 67 reduced them. The latter were probably folks hoping for a first time home buyer seeking a tax credit. Guess what? A good number of homes were purchased by these folks, but they still shopped for a low price. We sold homes to 3 families last month – two of them qualified for the tax credit and all three got nice homes for the price. If your home is in poor shape, as many were, forget it. Todays first time home buyers are using FHA financing and the home must be in good condition.
The 54 listings pending are probably a result of the tax credit, time will tell more on that. The better news is the 25 homes sold. This should reflect after tax credit numbers and for one week, thats a big number. Notice very few are taking contingent offers. Of course you say. I am sort of surprised at the number of new listings. Below is the entire MLS for your review.
Earth – Friendly Home Improvements
September 12th, 2009
With the rising cost of heating and cooling, plus growing concerns about the environment, “green” is the new direction in home building and renovation. An added benefit of earth –friendly remodeling is that it helps protect the health of your family by reducing pollutants with the home. Here are some tips provided by Windermere Custom Xpress, for making your next home remodeling project one that’s kind to the planet:
*Maximize natural light. Use skylights and well-placed mirrors to reflect natural light and help reduce lighting costs.
*Use reclaimed or sustainably harvested materials (such as bamboo or cork) whenever possible, and avoid wood composites that contain glue or formaldehyde.
*Try to buy materials produced within a 500-mile radius of your home to minimize the use of fuel for transportation.
*Choose paints low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) instead of latex-based enamel.
*Use more efficient insulation made from less toxic materials. Some options today are formaldehyde-free and consist mostly of recycled newsprint, cotton or glass.
*Install energy-efficient furnaces, air conditioners and appliances. Statistics show that if one household in ten bought Energy Star-rated heating and cooling equipment, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount as taking 1.5 million cars of the road.
*Opt for hardwood floors over carpet, which can emit harmful chemicals and harbor mold. If using carpets, tack them down instead of gluing them to reduce toxic emissions.
*Pro-green roofing alternatives include rubber and plastic or vinyl and cellulose fiber.
*Replacing old light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can trim five percent from your monthly electrical bill. If every American home swapped just five incandescent bulbs for Energy Star CFLs, it would keep one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air and save $6.5 billion in energy costs.
*To conserve water, install low-flow toilets. If you’re redoing landscaping, consider reducing the size of your lawn, or install environmentally friendly turf grasses that use less water and require less mowing and fertilizer.
Photo from FlyingSinger
Outdoor Living
July 19th, 2009
Today’s homeowners are turning the great outdoors into additional living space, complete with comfortable furniture and decorative lighting.
TIPS – FOR ENTERTAINING IN YOU OUTDOOR SPACE -
Decorating Tips
Decorate tree trunks with small white string lights for a magical look at night.
Line the path leading to your backyard with potted flowers or luminarias.
Use white butcher paper to cover your tables..have some crayons available for children and the young at heart to creative their own masterpiece.
Create easy and attractive centerpieces with pots of colorful flowering plants or even glass bowls filled with lemons and limes. Once of my favorite things is filling a decrotive bowl with water and fresh rose pedals….Yummy!
Another nice touch is to place a small table top fountain on a corner table. The sound of water is beautiful music.
Weigh the corners of tablecloths (or butcher paper) down with washers or small stones to keep them from catching the wind.
If you need more table space, lay a sheet of plywood or an old door over a couple of sawhorses, then cover it with a tablecloth.
What about the bugs?
For a more natural (and less offensive) repellent, use posts or springs of parsley, tansy or rue to keep ants away, and lavender or mint arrangements to discourage flies.
My sister statisticallyplaces dryer sheets around her out door living space, to discourage mosquito’s and bee’s.
Your outdoor living area can be simple or elaborate, but the most important thing is to, have fun and enjoy.
Green Building at Wynstone
May 2nd, 2009Blackstone Homes Featured Product
“Enkatherm”
It’s no surprise to anyone that it rains a lot in the Northwest. While our winters can be mild compared to most, the chill and damp created by excessive moisture translates to discomfort and often-economic loss to homeowners. Mike Kerschner, owner of Blackstone Homes early on saw the value of creating sophisticated energy conservation techniques for home and office building installations. He worked in concert with NASA engineers, developing and patenting an advanced thermal barrier system for which he was inducted into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) U.S. Space Technology Hall of Fame. Two products combine to create maximum benefits and protection in Weather Barrier and Rain Screen
PROBLEM: Water has always found a way to pass through siding into the structure through improper construction techniques, poor flashing, old sealant or faulty designs. Water related problems can be seen around door and windows, as white chalky efflorescence on brick, or as stucco that is soft and flaky. The cause is moisture trapped behind the siding with no place to migrate or evaporate.
SOLUTION: Enkabarrier, the combination of 95% open space, three dimensional Enkamat and a top-quality, enhanced moisture protection 60-minute building paper • stops moisture from getting in your home, • creates a cavity for drainage and ventilation, and • stops the loss of heat energy from convection.
Enkatherm: The most advanced radiant barrier system in the industry today. All of the drainage, ventilation and protection features of Enkabarrier are available along with the added value of insulation in this revolutionary building product. A combination radiant barrier and Enkamat core, Enkatherm was designed to address the construction industries major concerns about thermal heat transmission and moisture migration. This unique material provides a 100% insulated thermal break when sandwiched between any two construction materials while maintaining the ability to move unwanted moisture away from the structure without losing thermal effectiveness. Enkatherm is not affected by moisture the way fiberglass and foams are and retains 100% of its insulation capacity at all times.
Ten steps to building your new Blackstone Home
April 22nd, 2009Step 1: It’s your choice!
Choose from one of our available home sites and submit a lot reservation.
Step 2: Select and Customize Your Home
Here’s when you can explore all your options and choose a home plan that is right for you. A meeting with the architect is then scheduled (if needed), to make changes to your home plan. You will actually see them customize your plan and you can provide instant feedback.
Step 3: Determine the Cost of Your Home
Blackstone’s exclusive pricing program will enable you to receive a price quote within 7 days.
Step 4: Complete Your Paperwork
Along with the standard purchase and sales agreement paperwork, you will receive your new home specifications and warranty information, describing all the components in your new home. All items are explained in full detail. With Blackstone Homes there are no hidden costs or unwelcome surprises!
Step 5: Financing and Building Permit
You will meet with our preferred lender to explore the many financing options,
complete your preapproved loan application and release your construction deposit.
Our architect will then complete your home plan.
As long as release deadlines are adhered to and municipalities are running on schedule your new home will begin within 45-60 days from a mutually accepted contract.
Step 6: Pre-Construction Meeting
Upon completion of financing and closing of your lot we will meet with you again to review the details of your new Blackstone Home.
Step 7: Your New Home Begins
We believe the key to any strong relationship is communication and lots of it.
So you can expect to hear from the Blackstone Construction Team on a regular basis throughout the construction process. You will be given all the pertinent contact numbers so you know exactly who to call if you have questions.
Step 8: Selections
Now it’s time to choose your flooring, countertops and other selections made in your price quote, and see all the countless other customized features from which you can choose.
Step 9: New Home Orientation
Blackstone’s customer service representative will accompany you on a final inspection to ensure that every detail of your new home lives up to the same high standards of quality and craftsmanship that Blackstone Home’s is committed to. Operating and maintenance procedures for all systems will also be reviewed at this time.
Step 10: Move-in!
The day has finally arrived and your new home is complete and you are ready to move in. It’s a day worth celebrating, you are finally home!
Blackstone Homes Starts Construction at Wynstone Federal Way
April 10th, 2009Blackstone Custom Homes
Our first home is now under constructuion in Wynstone. We have all patiently awaited the start and have been rewarded with the sounds of hammering, saws cutting and trucks coming and going throughout the day. Now is a good time to stop by the sales office and see for yourself the new display boards of carpet, tile, and hardwood floors.
Wynstone~Featuring Blackstone Homes
March 18th, 2009Federal Way New Construction update -
I would like to thank all of you for being so patient throughout the Fall of 2008 and leading into this year. Needless to say, the long delays experienced in obtaining our final plat approval have paled in comparison to the events commencing last October. As we edge into the Spring of 2009 some would say we are beginning to see a trend to less volatility in the stock market and tidbits of reassuring news regarding the U.S. housing market among some of the other less stimulating news.
As we begin construction on our first closed sale at Wynstone (Lot 41) I thought it would be appropriate to preview Blackstone Homes, the Premier Builder at Wynstone and the custom home builder for lot 41.
Your new Wynstone home is in good hands with Blackstone Custom Homes. A native of the Puget Sound region since 1966, Founder and Principal Michael Kerschner has more than 30 years of experience – both internationally and stateside – helping to create some of the worlds most noted designs, from private estates in the Caribbean, South Pacific and Europe to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, always returning to his roots at home in Washington to continue his passion…commendable home crafting for commendable people.
In addition to his diverse and extensive construction expertise, Kerschner is a pioneer and advocate for the green building movement, even before it became fashionable. In 1996, while working in concert with NASA engineers, he developed and patented an advanced thermal barrier system for which he was inducted into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) U.S. Space Technology Hall of Fame. The system insulates buildings more effectively in a smaller amount of space, saving resources, lowering energy costs and adding square footage. With that same pioneering spirit, Kerschner creates custom designs that are both fresh and timeless, and builds value into every Wynstone home.
For his knowledge, innovative building techniques and keen eye for detail, Kerschner has earned an outstanding reputation in our area and beyond. He has built hundreds of quality homes across the Puget Sound region and was a featured builder in the Street of Dreams. Frequently called the “builder of dreams,” we are honored to have Kerschner’s Blackstone Homes here at Wynstone.
How the real-estate collapse can benefit you!
January 15th, 2009For-sale and foreclosed homes aren’t the only thing sitting around. So are contractors and building materials. As a result, this is a very good time to have a house built for you.
According to MSN and SmartMoney.com NOW is the best time in recent years to build a new home, and here’s why. Both articles refer to the spiraling costs and labor hassles associated with constructing a new home, especially a new custom home. However, both experts agree that all costs associated with designing, planning and building a new custom home have been reduced significantly since the peak in 2006.
Darren Fonda of Smart Money had this to say: “After years in which spiraling costs and labor hassles made such projects a pricey indulgence. People are now enjoying a buyer’s market for building a new home, thanks to economic pressures that are driving down prices for land, materials and labor. In many markets, builders are squeezing more upgrades and labor savings out of the subcontractors who do most of the work. Consumers are also scoring discounts on their homes’ aesthetic trimmings. Synthetic slate roofing tiles, for instance, now cost up to 50% less than quarried slate. When it comes to counter tops, certain colors have hit the bargain bin.”
Darren went on to poke a little fun at builders, architects and contractors who he said (according to consumers he chatted with for this article) were largely unavailable and unresponsive two years ago but today are quick to return a call and even offer reduced prices and elevated services.
For those of you who haven’t had the chance to see the results of all the aforementioned savings, our price sheets with all the Blackstone standard features reflect the current savings provided by a generous building environment. For those interested in a custom home I might add that Mike Kerschner of Blackstone Homes has been seen meeting with Wynstone buyers on a frequent basis-and enjoying it! 
