Preacher predicts end of the world! Time to buy!!

Time is running out!!

Since the End of Days has been predicted to be the middle of May, 2011, you have very little time left to buy your dream home. 

In case you missed the news story, here it is!

Quick ways to become a contestant on The Biggest Loser (not related to real estate)

The 10 Worst Foods of 2010

Thanks to Stepfanie Romine :

If 2009 was the year of cutting back, 2010 was the year of adding on, at least when it came to food. The year's top catch phrase: More cheese, please!

On menus from Taco Bell to the Cheesecake Factory, cheese was piled on, in several varieties. Melted, fried, sandwiched, stuffed and slathered on anything and everything, it's safe to say that, if you're eating these foods, you're meeting your dairy quota.

Stephanie's  rounded up the worst new foods of the year and compiled some fun fitness facts to help put these caloric monstrosities in perspective!





McDonald's McRib

500 calories
26 g fat
10 g saturated fat
980 mg sodium

They say: "Join the club. The club who loves the flavorful pork and tangy barbeque sauce of our favorite sandwich. We’re a discriminating group who don’t mind getting sticky."

We say: It's baaaacccckkk (or at least it was)! After a 16-year hiatus, the much-loved pork patty made its grand return to menu. Thank goodness it was only for a brief time. Our bellies are cheering its departure!

The damage: To undo one McRib, you* would have to spend 148 minutes McJumping around, professing your love for this processed pork sandwich!



KFC Double Down

540 calories
32 g fat
10 g saturated fat
1,380 mg sodium

They say: "The new KFC Double Down sandwich is real! This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!"

We say: "The Double Down comes in two versions – Original Recipe or Grilled and the nutrition information is below."

We call this the double don't. The low-carb trend is passé, so why ditch the bun for two chicken breasts? This seems like something that a child might create if left alone in the kitchen. We double dare you not to try it!

The damage: 90 minutes of the Chicken Dance to undo one Double Down.



Taco Bell's XXL Chalupa

650 calories
39 g fat
9 g saturated fat
1,300 mg sodium

They say: "An XXL-sized crispy Chalupa shell packed with seasoned ground beef, crispy lettuce, fiesta salsa, a blend of three cheeses–cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella–and nacho cheese sauce, red strips and topped with reduced-fat sour cream."

We say: After reading the description of this oversized, deep-fried taco creation, we laughed. It's topped with "reduced-fat sour cream." Does anyone else find that last-ditch effort to save calories and fat humorous?

The damage: a run from Nestor in San Diego to the actual border (about 6.5 miles at a 10-minute mile pace)!

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

Cheesecake Factory Cheese Crunch Burger

1,000+ estimated calories

They say: "American and Cheddar Cheese, Crunchy Potato Crisps, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onions, Pickles and Secret Sauce."

We say: The Cheesecake Factory's menu is thicker than many novels, and the restaurant does not disclose nutrition info. Portions are massive. Burgers are called "glamburgers" there, but the menu doesn't offer much info--and the sauce is a secret. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

The damage: 220 minutes of belly dancing to keep this off your gut!



IHOP Cinna-Stack Pancakes
1,010 calories
51 g fat
15 g saturated fat
1,920 mg sodium
35 g sugar

They say: "A stack of four fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with a luscious cinnamon roll filling, drizzled with rich cream cheese icing and topped with whipped topping."

We say: The emphasis on "cake" with these pancakes--they're sweet enough to make Willy Wonka cringe! (There's about 2 1/2 tablespoons!) Plus, there's more than a tablespoon of salt! That's without any added breakfast meat, which can add on up to 180 calories, 16 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, and 290 mg sodium. This meal will leave your head spinning from the sugar high!

The damage: burn off your sugar high by IHOP-ping for 85 minutes.



Olive Garden Lasagna Fritta
1,030 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
1,590 mg sodium

They say: "Parmesan-breaded lasagna pieces, fried and served over alfredo sauce, topped with parmesan cheese and marinara sauce."

We say: Fritta means fried. Lasagna is an already decadent dish, with layers of cheese, noodles and sauce. Now it's coated in more cheese, fried and smothered in Alfredo sauce. How much more can we do to this lasagna? (This is an appetizer, by the way!)

The damage: 333 minutes of tending to your own garden!



Denny's Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich
1,260 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
3,010 mg sodium

They say: "Grilled cheese with a twist. Four fried mozzarella sticks and melted American cheese grilled between two slices of sourdough bread. Served with wavy-cut French fries and a side of marinara sauce."

We say: "The Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich is on the $4 value menu, but we don't see much nutritional value in it. There's not a vegetable in sight aside from French fries and a side of marinara sauce, and it has more sodium and saturated fat than we should eat in a day."

The damage: Get comfortable on the treadmill. You could be there for 6 1/2 hours! (Bet you wish you'd skipped the French fries now!)



Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter

1,310 calories
72 g fat
26 g saturated fat
2,490 mg sodium

They say: "The BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter lives up to its name with scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, sizzling sausage, a warm, flaky biscuit, and three fluffy pancakes with syrup. Anything less, and it wouldn't deserve to be called the 'ultimate.' "

We say: Good rule of thumb: Platters are for serving food to many people, not for one person to use as a plate. While this meal has all your breakfast cravings covered: sweet, salty, meaty, crispy, and fluffy, it also has enough calories to sustain someone for a day. It also has more than a day's worth of salt and saturated fat.

The damage: You'll need to work an entire 8-hour shift at a busy restaurant serving up breakfast platters to burn this off!



Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt
1,500 calories
79 g fat
38g saturated fat
2,090 mg sodium

They say: "A Big Beef burger between two hot grilled cheese sandwiches, with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Tasting is believing."

We say: A real triple threat… to your arteries! Essentially this is three sandwiches in one. And it's served with fries, which add 330 calories, 14 g fat, 160 mg sodium.

The damage: Get friendly with the elliptical. You'll spend almost three hours on it!



Applebee’s Provolone-Stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine
1,580 calories
98 g fat
46 g saturated fat
3,940 mg sodium

They say: Nothing. The name and photo says it all for this grand prize "winner."

We say: This dish is on the 2 for $20 menu, which gets you one appetizer and two entrees for $20. All of the appetizers have at least one fried component, so you can add on another couple hundred calories to this meal. There's nothing green on the plate, but you'll get two days' worth of saturated fat, plus a day and a half's worth of salt. Some value!

The damage: You and your dining companion should hit the courts after dinner if you can move. You'll be playing tennis for four hours!

When you're away from home, it's not impossible to make healthy choices and still indulge yourself. Check out our Dining Out Guide, along with the blog series Food on the Run and Diet Friendly Dining.

Have you tried any of these foods? What did you think? Would you try any of them?

* calories burned based on a 5'4" woman who weighs 140 pounds

Kiss 4% mortgage rates goodbye

If you've been waiting for rates to hit bottom before locking in, your wait is over.

Tacoma home prices up 13% over last December

Closed Transactions Month of December

Here are last month's statistics for North, Central, and South Tacoma. 

Eighty-four percent as many homes closed this month than during the same month last year. 


The average sale was up 13%. Sellers accepted about 9% less than their original asking price.


Tacoma continues to be a buyers' market, but the trend is moving toward neutral.  

Homes under contract at this time: 201 -- up 2% from pending sales at the end of 2009. 

If you'd like the selling details of the home that closed in your neighborhood, just ask.

NOTHING to do with real estate

Perhaps I'm going mad, but I found this clip cheered me up more than any positive economic news possibly could. I thought you might it enjoy it as well. Turn up the sound, but not at work.

If I don't get an email from you, I'll know you want me to stay completely serious on this blog.

My heartfelt wish for a prosperous and happy New Year!

Audio Christmas present for you

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do every year. Cracks me up every time! Thanks to David Sidarus.

Last-minute Christmas gifts

I always stress out at Christmas (and so do you!). I can still remember wandering around Queen Anne Avenue the day before Christmas trying to find something affordable, usually for my father. He always got a bottle of Mennen After Shave or Old Spice, which he always opened with a shouted "Just what I needed!". I think he had a pretty large collection over the years.

Sure wish I'd had the following list then. But then Mennen might have gone out of business.

I hope one of these eases the last-minute stress for you.  Merry Christmas!

1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Child's artwork, framed
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15. Holiday serving bowl or platter
16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbecue or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Books, there are still a few for under $10
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Night shirt
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Netflix gift certificate
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. Blank RW CDs
57. Sewing supplies
58. Flashlight with batteries
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Special soaps and bath puff
63. Home baked cookies

 And, of course, a bottle of Old Spice. 

Buyer update

This expert thinks that now is the perfect time to buy. http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2010/pi20101210_835863.htm 

5 Holiday Hosting Disasters and How to Avoid Them

Image via Wikipedia

Take a look at the most common things that can go wrong when you have guests and learn how to prevent them.

Thankfully, some of the most damaging mishaps easily can be avoided. I've collected five of the most prevalent issues and give you preventative tips to keep your holiday party on track.

Problem: The oven doesn’t heat

For any holiday occasion, the oven is the most important appliance in your house. If it fails to work, the centerpiece of your meal could go from roasted beef, ham, duck, or Tofurky to Peking Duck from the local Chinese takeout joint.

How to avoid:

• There are any number of reasons a stove can break, but one common cause of disaster is easy to prevent. Don’t self-clean your oven until AFTER the holidays. You risk blowing a fuse or a thermostat, and tracking down an oven technician around the holidays can be tough.

Problem: The kitchen sink clogs

The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest of the year for plumbers. The prime cause of this clog-a-thon is the mistreatment of drains when cooking holiday feasts. We hope your Thanksgiving went well, and that you avoid clog-a-thons for the rest of the holidays.

How to avoid:

• Fats and cooking oils can solidify in your pipes, so never dispose of them in your kitchen sink.

• If you have a garbage disposal, make sure it’s running before anything goes in it, and never feed it any stringy, fibrous, or starchy foods like poultry skins or potato peels.

• To fix, don’t rely on chemical drain-clearing products that can harm your pipes. Use a snake instead, available for $15 at your local hardware store. Best to keep one on hand.

Problem: The heat goes out

As the party’s host, you’re supposed to hang guests’ coats—not apologize to them for having to keep them on. A lack of heat can stop a holiday party dead in its tracks.

How to avoid:

• The key to avoiding freezing your party to a standstill is regular maintenance of your HVAC. Every 90 days, a new one-inch pleated furnace filter should be installed. If you haven’t done it in a while, now’s a good time to replace it.

• Also inspect insulation on refrigerant lines that are leading into your house. Replace them if they're missing or damaged.  

Problem: The toilet stops up

Toilets have a way of clogging up at the worst times, such as during parties and when you have overnight guests. This is especially true if you have a low-flow toilet from the early 1990s.

How to avoid:

• Don’t flush anything other than sewage and toilet paper down the toilet. And there’s nothing wrong with putting up a polite note to remind your guests to do the same.

Problem: The fridge doesn’t cool

Without a properly functioning refrigerator, your meat could get contaminated, your dairy-based treats could go sour, and you may not be able to save your yummy leftovers. To avoid discovering a warm fridge after it’s too late, take these simple precautions.

How to avoid:

• Get a thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure each shelf stays below 40 degrees and you can be aware of any temperature changes.

• Also make sure the condenser coils located on the back of the unit or beneath it are free to breathe. Coils blocked from circulating air by cereal boxes atop the fridge, or dirtied by dust or pet hair can prevent a fridge from keeping cool.

Related articles

• Rules for a Clean Refrigerator (everydayhealth.com)

Ever lose your wallet? (not related to real estate)

Cover via AmazonI recently lost a credit card and was reminded of this very helpful article. I thought you might appreciate it.

Make photocopies of the front and back of every card you keep in your wallet—your driver’s license, credit and insurance cards, even video rental memberships and library cards. (Overdue videos and library books taken out in your name will result in fines.)

Having copies at home or in your hotel room safe while traveling will give you access to all your accounts, including those you may forget in a panic. Plus, the back of a card usually lists important information, such as security codes and contact information to report loss or theft.

Quick-action steps

If your wallet goes missing, here’s what to do:

    * Immediately call all your credit card companies to request an “account number change.” Don’t ask to “cancel” your account—that can hurt your credit score, especially if you have an outstanding balance. Explain that you want a new number issued so that nothing shows up on your credit report as “canceled by consumer,” advises Linda Foley of the Identity Theft Resource Center.

    * Change passwords to ensure that your accounts can’t be opened by an identity thief. The best passwords use made-up words that are a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols. Don’t make passwords of your mother’s maiden name, pet’s name or other identifiers that can be found online.

    * File a report with the police in your hometown and the place where you and your wallet parted ways. Get copies. You’ll need them in later dealings.

    * Request a fraud alert be put on the credit accounts that the three major credit bureaus maintain about you. Contact Experian at 1-888-397-3742 (experian.com), TransUnion at 1-800-680-7289 (transunion.com), and Equifax at 1-800-525-6285 (equifax.com).

With a fraud alert in place, creditors are supposed to verify your identity, usually by phone, before issuing new credit in your name.

    * Ask the DMV to put a “flag” on your license file. This will make it harder for a thief to apply for a new copy of your license. It will help protect you if someone runs up traffic violations in your name.

You may have to replace your license in person, proving your identity with a birth certificate, passport or Social Security card (which you shouldn’t carry in your wallet).

    * Notify your bank. You’ll want a new ATM or debit card and a new checking account if your checkbook went missing.

    * Check your credit history about two weeks later. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 toll-free for your free report and then look under “Inquiries” for any new credit applications made in your name.

The two-week wait provides enough time for thieves to apply for credit but generally not enough for cards to be issued, says Foley. Recheck your credit report two to three months later.

Thanks to Sid Kirchheimer, the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling.

Your Tacoma trivia quiz #4

Here's your Tacoma trivia quiz #4.

If you don't know the answer, your best friend (or worst enemy) probably doesn't, either.

The name Tacoma stems from the Indian name for Mt. Rainier, Tacobet,  meaning Mother of the Waters.

How and when did Tacobet become Mt. Rainier?

Email me for the answer if you can't find it. Astound! Confound!!

Related articles

• Rainier webcams showcase "The Mountain" (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Average sales price up 10% in Tacoma last month

Closed Transactions Month of November

Here are last month's statistics for North, Central, and South Tacoma. 

Seventy  percent as many homes closed this month than during the same month last year.  


The average sale was up 10%. Sellers accepted about 10% less than the original listing price.


Tacoma continues to be a buyers' market. Inventory is up, so buyers have a number of good choices. 

If you'd like the selling details of the home that closed in your neighborhood, just ask.

Your Tacoma trivia quiz #3

Here's your Tacoma trivia quiz.  

If you don't know the answer, your best friend (or worst enemy) probably doesn't, either.

Just email me for the answer.  Astound! Confound!! 

Here's #3

When and why did Tacoma get the label "City of Destiny"?

What has your kid said to you lately?

We need some humor, and our children know how to provide it.

These have to be original and genuine. No adult is this creative!! 

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister. After a while he asked: 'Mom, why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?' 

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember you must look in the back of your pants. Mine say five to six.' 

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. 'I love you so much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window.' 

BRITTANY (age 4) had an ear ache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?' 

SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. 'Please don't give me this juice again,' she said, 'It makes my teeth cough.' 

DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I cost?' 

MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: 'Why is he whispering in her mouth?' 

CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, 'I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in it?' 

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read : 'The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.' Concerned, James asked: 'What happened to his flea?' 

TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, 'Why doesn't your skin fit your face?' 

'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust...' He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?' 

Thanks to Bob Jensen

Send me your story--I'll share it here with your permission.

Save pennies, save bucks (unrelated to real estate)

Here's sage advice from a sage granny: How to save that scarce money on laundry, replacement water heater, towels, soap, window cleaner, household cleaners.

But wait! There's more!

ASTOUND your friends! CONFOUND your enemies!!!

This is stuff you should know if you claim Tacoma as your home. 

I'll post questions from time to time for your amusement.
  

If you don't know the answer, your best friend (or worst enemy) probably doesn't, either.

Just email me for the answer. You can astound/confound them as you will!

Here's #2

What famous old-time singer/actor was born in his father's home on North J street? And when?

Astound Your Friends! Confound Your Enemies!!!

This is stuff you should know if you claim Tacoma as your home. I'll post questions from time to time for your amusement. 

If you don't know the answer, your best friend (or worst enemy) probably doesn't, either.

Just email me for the answer. You can astound/confound them as you will!

OK, here's #1:

Did you know that the first woman to climb Mt. Rainier was a Tacoman? Who was she and when did she summit?

Help for Tacomans facing foreclosure

Many of us refinanced our homes five years ago believing that home values would increase, and when they did, we could refinance again. 

As you know, our values have in fact decreased during that time, and some of us are underwater, owing our lender more than our home's market value. You may know a neighbor or friend facing foreclosure.

If you do, please call their attention to this event--next Wednesday, November 3rd. There's help!

Market improved through third quarter

January 1-September 30

The numbers through the first three quarters of 2010 are ahead of those in 2009. This is a heartening sign that the Tacoma market is on the upswing.

It is still a buyer's market, which means that buyers have many choices at historically low interest rates. Sellers looking to downsize or move up are buyers, too, so even if they sell at less than they had hoped, they are able to buy for less.

As always, if you have any questions or would like detailed information, just send me an email.

Tacoma housing activity down one third in third quarter

Third Quarter Closed Transactions

The number of closed transactions dropped this quarter compared to last year. The average sales price was 13% less.  

Tacoma is still a strong buyers' market. As inventory declines and interest rates increase, transactions will begin to favor sellers.


If you'd like the details of the home that sold in your market, email me.