Danielle Groeneweg

Danielle Groeneweg, Realtor®

MANAGING BROKER

Articles

Pumpkin Patch 2017

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Can you believe the month of October has crept up on us already? September seemed to fly by, probably because most days the weather still felt like summer! Since next week is the official start of October which means the beginning of PUMPKIN season I wanted to bring you a list of local pumpkin patches.

This is just a short list of local pumpkin patches throughout Whatcom County. No matter your age or the ages of your kids, time at the pumpkin patch is always fun!

TRIPLE WREN FARMS

2424 Zell Rd, Ferndale, WA 98248

Pumpkin Patch is open October 7-28 on all Friday’s & Saturday’s from 10-5.

http://triplewrenfarms.com/pumpkin-patch.html

BELLWOOD ACRES

6140 Guide Meridian Rd, Lynden, WA 98264

Pumpkin Patch is open 10-5 Daily.

http://www.bellewoodfarms.com/Bellewood/bellewood-acres-pick-your-own-pumpkins.htm

DAN CRAMER’S WESTERN TOWN

956 Van Dyk Rd, Lynden, WA 98264

The Western Town’s pumpkin patch is open Friday-Sunday 10-5.

http://www.dancramerswesterntown.com/

WILLETTA FARM

1945 E Badger Rd, Everson, WA 98247

Pumpkin Patch is open 10-5 on Saturday & Sunday for the whole month of October.

http://willettafarm.weebly.com/

 

I hope you are able to stop by a Pumpkin Patch this Fall season & take the time to support a local business.  If you have any other local farms that you go to, let me know & I will add them to my list.

THANKS for reading & happy Pumpkin Hunting!

 

 

 

 

Five Facts You Should Know

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I came across this article at Realtor.com and I felt like it is TOO GOOD not to share. In summary, this article discusses Five things that agents wish all buyers knew about while in the market. I know my job would be easier as well as the process for buyers would be easier if these few items were common knowledge. In fact, if you check out my Facebook page I just did a video regarding the importance of a buyer’s agent.

So, here are the FIVE FACTS. For the full article click here. 

 

1. Know what you can afford before you start looking

Finding the perfect home would be a snap if money weren’t an issue, but let’s get real. For most people, money doesn’t grow on azaleas, which means their finances must be taken into account. So don’t waste your time shopping for real estate before you know what price range you can afford; that’s like shopping on Rodeo Drive on minimum wage.

One easy way to get your bearings is to type your income, savings, and other details into a home affordability calculator. Better yet, get a mortgage pre-approval letter; the process involves a lender checking out your finances and determining how much it’s willing to loan you for a home.

“This is the single most important thing for a buyer, because it helps them move fast on making an offer,” Susan Bozinovic, a Realtor with Century 21 Town & Country in southeastern Michigan. And since your loan is guaranteed, it removes any possibility that you won’t secure financing.

2. Don’t call the listing agent

In case you didn’t know, buyers generally have their own agent, and sellers have theirs. And ideally, it’s the buyer’s agent and listing agent who interact with each other, conveying their clients’ questions and concerns to see if a deal can be done.

As such, when you do an end run and contact a listing agent directly, this seemingly innocent move can cause a whole ton of trouble.

“When you call the listing agent directly, you basically imply that you don’t trust your agent and that you and your agent don’t have a strong working relationship,” says Shane Lee, statistical data analyst at RealtyHop. “These two things will impede the negotiation. You basically give your power away to the seller’s agent.”

3. Please stop talking around other agents

Another time buyers often put their foot in their mouth is during showings and open houses. Since the listing agent may be present, this is a time when loose lips can sink real estate deals.

“You might say things you are not supposed to say, such as how many houses you’ve checked out, how much you like or dislike the house, and, worst of all, how much you can afford or are willing to spend on it,” says Lee.

Sharing such info is akin to tipping your cards while playing poker: It gives the home sellers a whole lot of info they can use as leverage during negotiations.

So when in doubt, say nothing. According to Lee, “Your agent should always be your voice at an open house or in any conversations with the sellers.”

4. You don’t have to see every house in a 100-mile radius

You don’t have to look at hundreds of properties to find the right one, says Katie Messenger, a Realtor® with Keller Williams in Louisville, KY.

“If you have an agent truly working for you, you won’t be looking at tons of places,” she says. “Your agent will screen properties for you and make sure you’re only looking at the ones that fit your needs. So if the first home you see is the one, that’s OK, your agent did her job.”

5. Don’t let the commitment give you cold feet

Sure, buying a house is a big commitment. Yes, it’s scary, and your mind might race with all sorts of worse-case scenarios. What if you make an offer on a house, and that very day another house—even more perfect for you—crosses your path? Or, what if you move into a house you’re happy with, then a layoff leaves you unable to pay your mortgage? Sure, these are all possibilities, albeit slim. But don’t let them get in the way of making this important move. Remember, you can always sell a house later on; this need not be a death-do-you-part endeavor.

 

I hope by reading this you will be able to put a few of this facts into practice & be able to find a home a little easier.

Still have questions? Give me a call at 360-483-6490 and I would love to help you.

 

8193 Skagit Way, Birch Bay

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8193 Skagit Way, Birch Bay, WA 98230

$374,000

Beautiful high quality modern style craftsman on spacious lot in Birch Bay Village backing to a greenbelt! Still time to make selections, slated to be completed end of Sept. Ideal one story layout w/ vaulted living room, cozy gas fireplace, spacious kitech w/large eating island, walk-in pantry, quartz, stainless apps & full time back splash. Large master w/ giant walk-in closet & master bath, plus two spare bedrms, full guest ba, laundry & more! All w/ BBV year round amenities & 24/7 gated security!

***Home is expiring SOON but will be available again when it is completed. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to pick out colors & customize.***

Whatcom County School Ratings

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It’s that time of year again, back to school the kids go! I created a table that shows the ratings of the elementary schools in Whatcom County. They are ranked including all the schools in Washington but only schools in our County are included in the list. A couple other important categories are the teacher to student ratio and the 2016-2017 average standard score.

I’m happy to report that both Isom & Vossbeck Elementary are in the top 10!

All of my information was taken from here. Check out their website for the FULL table or to get more information about different schools.

THANK YOU!

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In honor of my Client Appreciation BBQ I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all my past, present & future clients. I have definitely been blessed these past nine years. I realize that without my clients & their referrals I wouldn’t be where I am today. So once again, THANKS!

Here are a few recent reviews I have received from some AWESOME people:

“Danielle goes above and beyond. She was always available when I needed her or had questions. always friendly and kind to me, she asked questions I wouldn’t think to ask when buying a house. She really had my best interest in everything and I couldn’t brag about her enough. Buying, selling or both with no doubt recommend her! I am keeping her info for future purchases or sales I might have”

” She is an “above and beyond” type of person in the best of ways. I felt well supported and comfortable during the entire process of selling my home.”

“We have used Danielle to buy/sell for over 6 years. She is friendly, extremely knowledgeable and always ready to help/answer any questions or concerns. We highly recommend her!”

“Danielle is PHENOMENAL!!! My husband and I were first time home buyers with not a clue what to do  to buy a house. Danielle helped us along, every step of the way, always (and I mean always) available to answer any questions, offering advice on things we didn’t even think to consider, friendly and sincere… the list goes on! I don’t know how any realtor can compare to Danielle. The passion and love she has for her job shows, her knowledge is an incredible asset. Any home buyer or seller should place their trust in Danielle, you will not be disappointed. ”

 

 

RAZZ FEST! 2017

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I hope everyone is able to make it to the RAZZ Fest this weekend. It is definitely one of Lynden’s biggest events of the year. If you don’t love watching basketball, no worries, there is so much more to do! Below, I have included what the Lynden Chambers of Commerce has to say about it:

“The festivities kick off on Friday, July 14 in downtown Lynden including; live music on two stages, face painting and inflatables for kids, the Rookies” 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. Dine on luscious raspberry & ice cream sundaes, parfaits and pies made from local products, or purchase a flat of raspberries, picked fresh daily from nearby farms to take home! Shop at Lynden’s downtown merchants and street vendors at the “Berry Fair” Street Market, and enjoy a ice cold raspberry beer at the Timeout Razz Beer Garden. Don’t miss out on Bellewood Acres raspberry infusion vodka & Honey Moon Winery’s Raspberry wine and hard cider being featured at the festival. Start Saturday morning off right with an all-you can-eat pancake breakfast topped with local raspberries at the Lynden Community Center“…

“From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday July 15, festival attendees will discover many classic and restored cars and trucks at the Razz & Shine Cruise-In along tree-lined Front Street between 7th and 10th streets. Registration for the Razz & Shine, sponsored by Lynden Lube & Auto, is free and starts at 8 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. For information, call (360) 303-7610.

A five-kilometer fun run/walk will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 15 at Lynden Christian High School, 515 Drayton St. anyone 12 and younger can participate for free. Proceeds benefit the Kornerstone Kids Non-profit Therapy Center. For registration forms visit www.Lynden.org.”

For the full event details please visit here.  

I hope to see you there! I’ll be cheering on my kids as my daughter will be wearing her BELLWETHER jersey!

Stop by & say Hi if you see us.

 

Happy Summer!

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School is officially out and SUMMER is here! I just wanted to share a few quick links if you looking for any activities for your kids this summer.

  1. Visit the Lynden Chambers of Commerce to see what events are coming up in Lynden.  http://business.lynden.org/events/calendar/2017-07-01
  2. All Whatcom County Libraries have lots of different events and classes going on during the week.   http://wcls.libcal.com/calendar/events/?cid=5625&t=m&d=0000-00-00&cal%5B%5D=5625
  3. Here is a link to the City of Bellingham Events Calendar. http://www.bellingham.org/event-calendar/

 

This is just a few links to give you a couple ideas of local events going on in Whatcom County this summer. Are there any family traditions you have every summer? I would love to hear about them.

First Time Home Buyers: Downpayment Options

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I feel like one of the major concerns, especially with first time buyers, is saving up for their down payment. Yes, saving for a down payment is a lot of money but there are SO many options out there to help. Of course, the actual amount you need to have depends on the type of loan you are getting and the purchase price of the home.

I wanted to highlight a little bit of an article from The Mortgage Reports that talks about how much money you need for a down payment with different types of loans. If you want to read the entire article, which I highly recommend, please click here.

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How Much Downpayment Is Required To Buy A Home?

As a first-time home buyer, you have access to a wide range of mortgage loans and mortgage loans can be customized to meet your needs.

Your loan amount is one of your choices.

The downpayment can be as large as you wish, or as small — so long as you make the minimum investment required by your lender.

The five most-common low- and no-downpayment mortgages used by first-time home buyers are the FHA loan, the VA loan, the USDA loan, the Conventional 97, and the HomeReady™ mortgage.

Each is described below.

The FHA Loan

FHA loans require a downpayment of 3.5% of a home’s purchase price, at minimum.

These products are popular with first-time home buyers because the program allows below-average credit scores.

FHA mortgage approval standards are considered to be the most friendly toward first-time buyers.

The VA Loan

VA loans are available to members of the U.S. military and veterans of the Armed Services.

These mortgages provide a 100% financing option, and VA mortgage rates are often lower than those of other programs.

The USDA Loan

Rural Housing  or USDA loans also allow 100% financing. The program is available for homes in rural areas and less-dense suburban neighborhoods nationwide.

USDA mortgage rates are often as low as VA mortgage rates.

The Conventional 97

The Conventional 97 is available to home buyers with above-average credit scores. A Conventional 97 loan allows buyers to receive cash gifts for their downpayment, which is only 3%.

This program has a loan size limit of $424,100.

The HomeReady™ Mortgage

The HomeReady™ mortgage is another 3% down program. This program is geared toward multi-generational households, but all home buyers are welcome to apply.

Home buyers using HomeReady™ get access to discounted mortgage rates, and can use the income of boarders and other household residents to help get mortgage-qualified.”

 

If you are in the market of buying a home,  I highly suggest talking with a lender and discussing your options. Get a plan for your downpayment, get a pre-approval letter and let’s find you a house!

If you have any questions or don’t know where to start give me a call. 360-483-6490

FIVE Mistakes to Avoid When Making An Offer

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The National Association of Realtors just put out this article this month and I feel like it deserves to be shared. It is a great article that discusses five mistakes a lot of buyers are making in the current market. It is definitely a sellers market  here in Whatcom County. Most homes are flying off the market, receiving multiple offers and buyers are getting into bidding wars. By avoiding these five mistakes buyers can be sure to make their best offer.

For the full article click here.

“Delaying

“Time kills deals,” says Andrew Sandholm of BOND New York Properties in New York. “Dragging your feet means you could wind up paying more in a bidding war situation or missing out on the property altogether.” Buyers need to be ready with their paperwork, such as bank statements, a preapproval letter, and documents supporting proof of funds, from the day they begin house-hunting mode. That way they can pounce quickly with an offer when they do find a home they like.

Making an offer for their preapproved amount

Smart buyers are getting preapproved to show a seller they’re financially able to purchase a home. However, Chuck Silverston, principal at Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty in Brookline, Mass., warns buyers against using that document to come up with an offer amount.

“Many buyers come in with a preapproval for the exact offer price, but when you’re competing against other offers, including cash offers, you want to show financial strength,” Silverston says. “An exact preapproval could make a listing agent nervous because not only does the buyer not have any wiggle room to negotiate, but they might no longer qualify if interest rates rise.”

Submitting a lowball offer

Lowballing a seller often backfires, particularly in a seller’s market. “A lowball offer that isn’t backed up with math or comparable sales data is disrespectful and could turn off the seller and possibly mean you will miss out on the property completely,” Sandholm says.

Waiving inspection contingencies

“I don’t care whether it’s new construction or even your mom’s house you’re buying from her – get it inspected,” urges Joshua Jarvis of Jarvis Team Realty in Duluth, Ga. Further, if you waive the inspection contingency in your offer, you may lose the earnest money if you later back out of the deal.

Not presenting yourself well enough

In a seller’s market, buyers need to take steps to make sure they look good in the eyes of the seller. “In today’s highly competitive environment, the listing agent is trying to determine which buyer will be the easiest to deal with,” Silverston says. Buyers may want to avoid pointing out every defect, making nitpicky queries, or questioning the seller’s tastes.

“Basically buyers who act less than enthusiastic will see themselves at a competitive disadvantage when sellers are comparing multiple offers,” he says.”

I hope this article helps your decision making the next time you decide to write an offer on a home. It also helps using a Real Estate agent who has been in multiple offer situations before and can help you write your BEST offer from the very beginning.

Please call me if there is a home you don’t want to miss out on.

Danielle @ 360-483-6490