Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
I think I'm telling my Dad a secret or perhaps, wishing him a Happy Father's Day. Or perhaps I'm whispering "It's Janette's birthday!"
I believe this photo was taken at my Grandmother's home in the Renton Highlands…and that my sisters are both wearing my hanad-me-downs. We all loved dressing up. This photo must have been celebrating Father's Day or Dad's birthday.
Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads and a very Happy Birthday to my baby Sister, Janette (pictured in the pink dress).
The King County Tax Assessor’s office has recently added photos to your tax records–including historic photos if they’re available. These photos are from a home I owned in South King County on North Lake (by Weyerhauser’s corporate office) from 1999 – 2005. It’s pretty cool to see the home when it was a classic funky lake cabin back in October of 1967.
Where the camper and carport is in this photo was my son’s bedroom and my office when I lived there years ago. Below you can see they added a bedroom and my future office became the garage.
Here’s the now picture they have of this view (the lake is on the other side):
To see what photos King County has of your home (and it never hurts to review your tax records) visit this site: http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/default.aspx and find your property by entering your address or tax parcel number. If you need help finding your tax parcel number for your home in King County, please contact me.
Once you locate your property, click the “My Property Detail” tab and scroll down. You should see more photos and floor plans, if they’re available.
Note: the above photo is not from the county…just one from when we lived in the home.
No guarantee how the photos will be…but it’s fun checking them out and they’re free. You may also be able to order photos from of your home from the Washington State archives if your home was built prior to 1930 which may have a better quality (not taken for tax purposes).
Hat Tip to West Seattle Blog via Twitter
I let you guess which one is me. Happy Mother's Day.
If you love rumaging through garage sales, you’re in for a treat. The West Seattle Blog has organized the 6th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale with about 200 homes participating. Click the map for a updated printable version.
They couldn’t have picked a nicer day for the sale with sunny skies and temps in the upper 60s.
This event is today only, May 8, 2010, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Come on out to West Seattle, visit the garage sales and stick your toes in the Puget Sound along Alki. Have a great day!
Since I was a “title rep” in my former career, I found this video sadly amusing.
Editor's Note: We have some super talented people at Mortgage Master. This poem was written by Shelli Nixon at our office and shared during our RESPA training today. This is posted at Mortgage Porter with her permission to share with you!
T'was the week before Christmas
When all through the lands,
LO's and Closers were wringing their hands.
RESPA Changes are coming,
They all started to worry,
We'd better get trained, and trained in a hurry!
We all kept on hoping
There would be a delay.
But HUD said, "No Way," it's all here to stay.
"We love our new HUD
And our new GFE,
Don't fret, don't worry, it's as simple as can be."
We all shook our heads,
Threw our hands to the sky.
What were you smoking? You must have been high!
You took a one page doc
And changed it to three.
Easier? More simple? How can that be?
The Regs don't match up,
So now what do we do?
HUD says, "No comment, It's all up to you."
No info on TILA,
HMDA, REG B.
We are totally screwed, why can't they see??
In a time when some borrowers
Think lenders are scary,
You've given 3 pages to make them more wary.
This doesn't make sense,
Not one little bit.
We are all trying hard to not throw a fit.
So we all do our best
To put borrowers at ease.
But make more reform, please, please, please!
Please bring someone in
Who knows what to do.
What is best for both borrowers AND lenders too.
We are all still waiting,
Though not holding our breath
And hoping the government doesn't "Reg" us to death.
So on this week before Christmas,
I'd like to wish you
Good luck with RESPA, I need it too!
~Shelli Nixon, Mortgage Master Service Corporation<
A conversation started on my Facebook profile over a review I did via Yelp on a West Seattle restaurant, Spring Hill. We were drawn there because one of my husband’s co-workers insists the hamburgers there are amazing and worthy of their gourmet price. He did like the burger, although prefers one you can eat with your hands (Spring Hill is kind of a knife and fork place).
Jan suggested that we check out Zippy’s in White Center, which we’ve been meaning to do but we just haven’t. However, when we were at the West Seattle Thriftway last night, I just happened to look at the coupons on the back of my receipt and there was coupon for Zippy’s. We decided to check it out and cook our planned dinner we bought groceries for on another night.
Zippy’s Giant Burger does not disappoint. My husband and teens had the Zip Burger with Bacon and Cheese and I had the Lil Zip (of course with bacon and cheese). This is a classic whole in the wall burger joint. I wish we could have devoured them there but our kids were back at home and the place was packed! I recommend calling in advance to place your order. Parking can be an issue with the quicky mart next door aggressively protecting his few spots next to the popular Zippy’s. Here’s my review on Yelp.
I’m really looking forward to Thursday where I’ll be joining David Gibbonsand others to start planning RE Barcamp Seattle 2010 (taking place in mid-March)…we’re going to Latona Pub to try what David claims is a fantastic burger. I’ll be sure to report back! My son claims that Jak’s in West Seattle may have the very best hamburger…so that’s gladly on my to do list to check out as well.
Who do you think makes the best hamburgers in Seattle?
UPDATE January 17, 2010: We tried Porterhouse Pub in West Seattle last night (located by the Admiral Theater). Hubby had their hamburger and is still raving about it.
UPDATE April 2, 2012: I’ve had Latona Pub’s hamburger with bacon and blue cheese, twice now and it quite possibly be the best hamburger in Seattle. Hubby agrees!
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
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