Extend and expand the 1st time buyer credit?

Rumblings about a possible extension on the 1st-time buyer tax credit have been growing lately. Let's hope the government abides by the old philosophy of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Unless of course they want to give all buyers even more money!

Here's a recent article from the Seattle Times about efforts to extend the credit and even raise the dollar amount.

Oh, Market...Where art thou?

So is the market really improving here in Seattle? Take a look for yourself. Decreasing active listings and rising pendings and solds suggest we're at a better place than last fall and winter.

Is your neighbor ugly?

Perhaps more importantly...is your neighbor's house ugly? If you're contemplating selling your own home, the appearance of the surrounding homes in your neighborhood can make a huge difference. A street lined with cute homes and manicured lawns is obviously more appealing than an adorable house in the midst of weeds and peeling paint on other properties.

This article from the Seattle Times looks at what you can do to encourage your neighbors to keep things looking presentable. In some cases, you may have to do the work!

Read the full article here.