Washington State | DRIVE HAMMERED. GET NAILED

The slogan and the campaign have been around Washington State for several years. During the Holidays there is always an emphasis on prevention of drinking and driving. I am a strong supporter of zero tolerance for DUI offenders. There were 3,350 drinking driver involved accidents in Washington State in 2006 which includes 229 fatal crashes resulting in 252 deaths.

So Please over this Holiday weekend if you or someone you know has been drinking, DON’T DRIVE! Use a designated driver, call a friend, call a taxi just don’t drive. If you see someone who might be under the influence please call 911 immediately and report it – you could be saving a life!

watch?v=qaMiPUs0YY8

Bring in the New Year with a Laugh!!

align=”center”>Bremerton | Bring in the New Year with a Laugh!

Come out to the Admiral Theater and Laugh in the New Year with the
“Best of the Seattle Comedy Underground”.
Share a toast at midnight and dance until 2 a.m. on the Admiral Theater stage.

Admiral Theatre
515 Pacific Ave
Bremerton

Main Floor Reserved $35
Loge Reserved $25
Balcony Reserved $25

Sponsored by: TeleTech

Resourceful, Strong, Courageous. | The Lone Sailor | Bremerton Marina

I had no idea of the plans to bring a replica of “The Lone Sailor”here to the Bremerton Marina! How exciting!! I was browsing the local newspaper The Kitsap Sun and came across the article, ‘Lone Sailor’ Bound for Bremerton Marina. The title intrigued me because I am the spouse of a USN sailor. As soon as I opened the link I knew what this was about. I have been to the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington D.C. I have stood next to this “Lone Sailor”! The “Lone Sailor” is one of the many focal points at the U.S. Navy Memorial that opened 20 years ago.

The Bremerton statue will be the 11^thduplicate of the original in D.C. The Navy League is planning on a dedication ceremony on Memorial Day. How exciting to have a “National Monument” here in Bremerton. The Navy League is asking for citizen input as to which direction the “Lone Sailor” should face so please go and VOTE. I voted for location number 1.

Have a fine Navy Day!!

Here I am in Washington D.C. August 2003 with the “Lone Sailor”

Be Green – Treecycle

Bremerton residents have the opportunity to Treecycle their Christmas tree until January, 15, 2008. Just make sure you remove all the ornaments, tinsel and lights before taking it to the recycling drop area. If your tree has been flocked or you have sprayed “snow” on it you will not be able to recycle because the chemicals used in flocking can be harmful to the environment.

If you would like to receive the wood chips from the recycled trees you can visit the Kitsap County web site for directions. Kitsap County Treecycle Program.

Below is the Bremerton drop off locations.

Bremerton Public Works: 100 Oyster Bay Ave.; Open daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bremerton Water Utility Building: 3027 Olympus Dr.; Open daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What do you know about your Homeowner’s Policy?

How many times have you shopped around for homeowners insurance ? This seems to be an item that is left to the last minute and then rushed. I am sure several new homeowners have just gone with who the lender or escrow agent has recommended because it was quick and easy. Did they get the best deal? Who knows? I am sure that no one did much research on their behalf. Have you ever compared rates and coverage on any of your home purchases? Have you ever changed insurance carriers after you have closed? You pay hundreds of dollars a year in homeowners insurance and yet I bet it is one item that you really haven’t spent the time researching. Does your insurance company even know who you are? Do you have contact with them? Are you getting the service you are paying for? I challenge you to this – call your insurance carrier and ask some questions, see what they say, see how you are treated and then call a competitor and do the same. This is a very important part of the home buying process so please don’t take it lightly.

It’s Almost Spring!

Doesn’t that title just scream!! You’re thinking to yourself “SPRING” yeah, right!! There is snow on the ground and the temp is freezing and I am telling you its almost Spring! Yes I am. Think about it. There are only two more months until spring. December is really gone and in a few days it is January. Then you will have a short month - February and then MARCH!! And SPRING!!!

Spring is a very favorable time to sell a home. Regardless it’s a buyer’s market or a sellers’ market home inventory always rises in the SPRING. Spring is the time when large numbers of buyers start to actively search for a new home.

If you read my last blog, “You WHAT? You have decided to sell in the SPRING?” I talked about some items you needed to accomplish to be ready for the spring market. Let’s recap “the list”!

THE LIST

1. Get those bulbs in the ground. (This will start your “curb appeal”)
2. Rake those leaves now! (They will kill your grass if you leave them)
3. Trim those bushes, chop back those trees. (We want to SEE the house!)
4. Dig up any plants that won’t be surviving the winter. (Do it now – not “in the Spring“)
5. Do your “Spring Clean” in January. (When you are taking down the entire Holiday affair)
6. February is “Paint what needs to be painted” Month. (Yep, it’s on a calendar somewhere!)

It might be too late to get some bulbs in the ground but if you don’t have frozen soil do it now!

Just remember Spring is Spring and not June. If you don’t get your home ready now you will miss the buyers that want to close on a home at the beginning of June so they can enjoy their new home in the summer.

Jan 1st | Not just New Year’s Day | No Texting Day

Washington State became the first state in the country to make texting while driving illegal. The bill was signed back in May of 2007 and the first part of that bill will be enforceable on January 1, 2008. On January 1, 2008 if you text on your cell phone while driving you can be liable for a $101 fine. Washington started the process after a man caused a five car pileup while using his Blackberry device. There are several states that have passed laws making talking on your cell phone without a hands free device illegal, but Washingtonis the first to outlaw texting while driving. In July, Washington will also join those states and make it illegal to talk on your cell phone without a hands free device.

I just wish these weren’t secondary offenses. I think talking on a cell phone or texting for anyone to see should be enough to get you pulled over! If you talk or text while driving - ZAP – ticket!!!

Have a Cell Phone laying around? Donate- Cell Phones 4 Soldiers!

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist in April of 2004 with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling cards to sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines serving overseas.Here is how it works. The cell phones collected are then sent to ReCellular, which in return pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone. The donation is enough to provide an hour of talk time to a military member deployed or stationed overseas.

An estimated 130 million cell phones will be replaced this year in the US. Most of these cell phones are either thrown away or stuffed somewhere to be forgotten. Most people have no idea what to do with their old/used cell phone.

So pass this information on. Click for all the ways you can donate your used cell phone for free – drop it off or send it in the mail.

New 2008 BAH Rates Released | Bremerton WA Real Estate -

What are you doing with your BAH?Are you giving it to the PPV/Military Housing? Are you giving it to a landlord to pay THEIR mortgage. No matter what you are hearing in the media the market in the Puget Sound area is strong. You need to build for your future. Please call me today! As a military spouse I know what questions you have and can answer them for you from the perspective of a member of the military community – a true member.

Enlisted Personnel (Without Dependents)

Location E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9

Bremerton 809 809 809 809 887 937 1019 1121 1154

Enlisted Personnel (With Dependents)

Location E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9

Bremerton 1013 1013 1013 1013 1100 1207 1267 1332 1421

Warrant Officers (Without Dependents)

Location W-1 W-2 W-3 W-4 W-5

Bremerton 979 1121 1157 1222 1281

Warrant Officers (With Dependents)

Location W-1 W-2 W-3 W-4 W-5

Bremerton 1208 1293 1373 1439 1516

Officers (Without Dependents)

Location O-1E O-2E O-3E O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7

Bremerton 1100 1147 1207 925 1070 1169 1273 1312 1373 1400

Officers (With Dependents)

Location O-1E O-2E O-3E O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7

Bremerton 1280 1361 1451 1112 1205 1370 1548 1672 1686 1705

Let’s Play a Game!!

Let’s buy a house! You have heard all the media accounts concerning the real estate market in your area. Is it a buyer’s market? Is it a neutral market? Do the prices reflect the truth about today’s real estate? You have heard a lot of different stories, theories and spin. Make sure you are listening to your local professionals, the real estate professionals in your area. They know the area you want to be a player in. Do you feel like you are on a TV Game show!!?? Maybe the one titled “Press Your Luck”?

Once you have been out on “auditions” and have chosen your “game” you will need to figure out if “The Price is Right”. How do you do this? This is not the “Wheel of Fortune” you don’t want to just spin a wheel and land on a decision. You need to have the guidance of a real estate professional. A professional will be able “To Tell the Truth” about the listing price of a particular piece of property. They will be able to show you the market reports for the area and give you the tools that will allow you to make a very educated decision.

You might decide that the price needs to be adjusted and base your offer with a “Let’s Make a Deal” approach. There are plenty of Sellers out there that are very willing to play “Match Game“. You just need to get the ball rolling and submit your offer.

It is up to the Seller to play along with your “Deal or No Deal”. Some Sellers are still under the impression they are the next contestant for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire“. “To Tell the Truth” if you offer “The Price Is Right” you will hear the words “Let’s Make a Deal” If not you know that the Seller IS NOT…”Smarter Than a 5^th Grader” but there are several who are so move on and find a Seller who wants to PLAY!!

Let’s have some fun and realize your real estate dreams!! “Let’s Make a Deal”

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