Find your new home or find out what your home is worth

Map of Skagit County for searching for homes

Save at least $53,272 when you buy any home and be debt free in 6-12 years including mortgage

Ed Finlan Group

Ed Finlan Group

Saturday, February 27, 2010

buying real estate in anacortes, homes in anacortes,

If you are buying real estate or a home in Anacortes, this will show you how with the best results, the least money and no hassle.



Friday, February 26, 2010

Condo for sale in Anacortes, Short sale in Anacortes

View the video of this great condo for sale in Anacortes



buying real estate in anacortes, homes in anacortes,

If you are buying real estate or a home in Anacortes, this will show you how with the best results, the least money and no hassle.



Sedro Woolley home for sale, home in Sedro woolley, short sale

Video of home for sale at 7493 State Route 9, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284. This home is a short sale. Ed Finlan John L Scott Real Estate, 360-542-6868



Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable

10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable


1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Search for Property around Skagit Valley

8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order

1. Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.
2. Reduce your debt. Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25 percent and 28 percent of income, you need to get the rest of installment debt—car loans, student loans, revolving balances on credit cards—down to between 8 percent and 10 percent of your total income.
3. Get a handle on expenses. You probably know how much you spend on rent and utilities, but little expenses add up. Try writing down everything you spend for one month. You’ll probably see some great ways to save.
4. Increase your income. It may be necessary to take on a second, part-time job to get your income at a high-enough level to qualify for the home you want.
5. Save for a down payment. Although it’s possible to get a mortgage with only 5 percent down—or even less in some cases—you can usually get a better rate and a lower overall cost if you put down more. Shoot for saving a 20 percent down payment.
6. Create a house fund. Don’t just plan on saving whatever is left toward a down payment. Instead decide on a certain amount a month you want to save, then put it away as you pay your monthly bills.
7. Keep your job. While you don’t need to be in the same job forever to qualify, having a job for less than two years may mean you have to pay a higher interest rate.
8. Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance promptly.