Sleepless In Seattle Houseboat For Sale

The famous Sleepless in Seattle Houseboat is for sale!The Seattle Times reported the owners have lived there for 14 years and love it! It came on the market last week for 2.5 million dollars and has amazing views of everything. Personally, Id love to just spend a weekend there. I’ve never even been on a houseboat and living there must be just amazing! Do you feel the waves, would I get sea sick during a storm?

You have to remember the movie only featured the exterior of this houseboat. The inside scenes were filmed in a sound stage I believe so the inside does not look like the movie. Although some things seemed similar but it’s been awhile since I saw the movie.

Even still, the inside is very nice, very open and bright. The agent has a website with photos you see by clicking here.

If you had 2.5 million to spend on a house would this be the one you would buy? If so let us know, we’d love to help you!

Inside Tip: It’s the cheese!

Sparta’s is a pizza house with locations in Lynnwood and Bothell. Their pizza pies make up most of the menu and for good reason: They have a wining recipe, one that keeps our family coming back, both for it’s delicious food and for it’s decent price.

Sparta’s Pizza is so good and the service so friendly and family oriented.  It’s thick, full of any topping you choose, and topped with fabulous Danish mozzarella cheese. Fantastic!  It’s the best pizza in the area. 

Another Man’s Junk is, well Junk

They say one man’s junk can be another man’s treasure.  Sometimes however, one man’s junk can be, well, just junk.

It’s that time once again.  Mill Creek is having their bi-annual garage sale event.  Twice a year, the residents of Mill Creek open the community to everyone and anyone looking for a bargain.  The bright spot is the guy with the Krispy Kreme donuts and hot coffee. And yes, every year, Robin makes me go to look for treasures at a bargain price.

I’ve learned a thing or two over the years about garage sales.  For example:

• I’ve learned that anything that looks awful at a garage sale will also look awful when you get it home.
• I’ve learned you should, never buy car insurance at a garage sale.
• I’ve also learned that, although it’s convenient, most garage sales will not lay-away merchandise for Christmas.
• I’ve discovered evidence that there is only one set of junk for garage sales, and that it’s rented out to a different family every weekend from a central office in Ballard.
• I’ve learned that, to get the most out of a garage sale, I decide in advance what we want to buy and how much we want to spend. Then we stay home and hold our own garage sale.
• I’ve learned a basic principal behind garage sales is that, if you can’t possibly give something away, you can probably sell it . . . .  to my wife.

Garage sales are an interesting study in societal values. People will spend $20 on gas, driving air-conditioned Lincolns around, to stand in the rain and argue about getting a $4.00 lamp for $3.25.

See ya at the donut stand!

Don’t Listen To The News….

The subject of Real Estate seems to come up everywhere we turn these days. In the news we hear about foreclosure, mortgage rates, the future of real estate and how it effects our economy.

The McFarland Group’s guru Dave McFarland came across a great short, simple, and to the point article on why Now Is A Great Time To Buy. If you are considering investment properties or rentals this is the time for you! If you need to sell your home it’s a little harder but homes are selling. Yes it’s a buyers market if a house is priced correctly, it will sell!

Check out the article and always, if you have any questions please give one of us a call. Check out our staff profiles for more information.

Get Paid For Recycling Your Electronics!

As many of you probably do, my wife and I have a ton of old electronics laying around the house.  Old cell phones, Ipods, Digital Cameras, that sit in a drawer in a filing cabinet (The drawer is labeled "Electronics Graveyard!)

Now, we have something to do with them, and will make a little money in the process!

This is the link – http://www.greensight.com/CostcoTrades

If you’re a Costco member, you can go to this webpage and depending on what you’re recycling, can receive a Costco giftcard in exchange!  The company even pays for shipping, all you have to do is package the item.

For example, my wife just upgraded her cell phone.  Her current phone was listed on the website.  We packaged the phone and the charger into a box, printed out the pre-paid shipping label, and dropped it off at Staples.  Now we just sit back and wait for our $20 Costco Giftcard!

The other great thing – even if what you’re recycling doesn’t work 100%, you can still receive some credit.  For example, if you don’t have the charger for your cell phone, it may drop the credit that you receive by $5 or so.

Take a look at the website, it’s a great service!

Economic Stimulus Checks

The Economic Stimulus Checks start rolling out May 2nd!  I’ve overheard a lot of people wondering when they’ll get their checks, how much it will be for, and if they’re eligible.  Here’s the IRS’s website regarding the checks as well as a few tidbits of info.

The website is at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=177937,00.html

Here’s what the payment schedule will look like:

If you entered direct deposit information into your 2007 tax return the schedule will look like this:

Direct Deposit:

Last two SSN digits:	Payment will be transmitted:
00 through 20	May 2
21 through 75	May 9
76 through 99	May 16

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If you filed your return you didn’t enter any direct deposit information you’ll be mailed a paper check.  The paper Check schedule is as follows:

Paper Check:

Last two SSN digits:	Payments will be mailed by:
00 through 09	May 16
10 through 18	May 23
19 through 25	May 30
26 through 38	June 6
39 through 51	June 13
52 through 63	June 20
64 through 75	June 27
76 through 87	July 4
88 through 99	July 11

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As far as how much you’ll be receiving, there’s a calculator at the website above, but here’s what the website has to say:

"In most cases, payments will range from $300 to $600 for individuals and $600 to $1200 for joint filers. Taxpayers may receive $300 for each qualifying child. Payments could be less, depending on tax liability and Adjusted Gross Income. Phaseout reduction begins at $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers."

So for most married couples who filed jointly, you’ll receive $1,200 plus $300 for each qualifying child.

What will you be spending your money on?  Comment on the blog and let us know!

The 40-70 Rule

Have you heard about the 40-70 rule? I didn’t but have sure faced many of the issues addressed it in.  Even as we speak, Robin and I are dealing with these issues.

Here is the rule:  If you are 40 and your parents are 70 you need to talk to them now before issues arise. Talking to your parents about some topics without causing them to get upset isn’t easy. They are the parent and you will always be the child in their mind, no matter how old you are. I believe acting like an independent adult makes it easier for the parent to step out of the parent role and talk to the “child” as a peer. Many of us don’t want to face the fact that our parents won’t be healthy or with us forever. We may avoid talking to our parents about touchy issues until there is a crisis and then it may to be too late and makes everything more difficult.

Have you talked to your parents about their wishes IF something would happen? Do you know what plans they have made in the event they would become ill or pass away? Do you know where they keep their important papers, wills, deeds, titles, financial information? Do you know if they have Long Term Care insurance? Have you discussed if they have a “Living Will”? If you parent went into cardiac arrest, do they want CPR preformed? What about life support? What about burial plans? Do they own a cemetery lot or have they made prepaid arrangements? The list goes on and on. Do yourself a favor and talk now with mom and dad sooner than later.

You’ve Got To Be Kidding!

Who would have ever thought Seattle would get snow in mid April? I am still in disbelief. I live in Mill Creek and we got about 3 inches at my house. The McFarland Group office is in Lynnwood and they got about 8 inches of snow. It’s crazy! Robin’s poor plants that she bought when we had 70 degree weather a few weeks ago are looking a little frail this morning. Hopefully they will bounce back.

We dug out all the snow gear (bibs, gloves, snow boots, sled) and had a blast. Surprisingly we were the only ones in our neighborhood playing in the snow. We didn’t even see anyone walking by. I guess most people didn’t want to dig out their snow clothes either. Maybe they were the smart ones because I have a huge mess to still clean up, laundry and then repack all the snow gear.

Top 10 Songs To Do Your Taxes By

Were you jaming out to music while doing your taxes?  To ease the burden, I think listening to music eases the burden.

1. "Taxman" – The Beatles

If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street;
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat;
If you get too cold, I’ll tax the heat;
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.

"Taxman" was one of three songs on the Beatles’ Revolver album that were written by George Harrison. Although most of us can’t relate to what inspired the song – the tax burden on people who earn too much money – we can relate to the underlying theme.

2. "Movin’ Out" – Billy Joel

You can pay Uncle Sam with overtime
Is that all you get for your money?

Don’t have a heart attack-ack-ack, but Billy Joel actually wrote "Movin’ Out" not to protest paying taxes, but to express disdain for the conventional definitions of success and achievement.

3. "I’d Rather Be Rich" – Chicago

I’d rather be rich, the truth of cash is tragic,
The system’s a bitch, but money works like magic

While Billy Joel decried success, Chicago seemed to embrace it with "I’d Rather Be Rich." Robert Lamm’s lyrics espoused the theory that everything’s okay if you have enough money.

4. "Money Money Money" – ABBA

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
Ain’t it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That’s too bad

At the time ABBA recorded "Money Money Money" in 1976, they had plenty plenty plenty of it. The song, however, deals with what it’s like to be poor “in a rich man’s world.”

5. "Money" – Pink Floyd

Money, it’s a gas.
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.

Pink Floyd’s "Money" may not rate high on your financial planner’s Top 10, but it’s great for getting psyched to file your tax return.

6. "Low Budget" – The Kinks

I’m on a low budget
I’m not cheap, you understand
I’m just a cut price person in a low budget land
Excuse my shoes they don’t quite fit
They’re a special offer and they hurt me a bit
Even my trousers are giving me pain
They were reduced in a sale so I shouldn’t complain

Given the number of songs they recorded on the subject, one gets the idea that money was something of an obsession for the Kinks. "Low Budget" is about the difficulty of living within one’s means.

7. "Sunny Afternoon" – The Kinks

The tax man’s taken all my dough,
And left me in my stately home,
Lazing on a sunny afternoon.
And I can’t sail my yacht,
He’s taken everything I’ve got,
All I’ve got’s this sunny afternoon.

In the same vein as The Beatles’ "Taxman," the Kinks’ "Sunny Afternoon" deals with the money woes of the rich and famous.

8. "Success Story" – The Who

Away for the weekend
I’ve gotta play some one-night stands
Six for the tax man, and one for the band

John Entwistle’s "Success Story" took a jab at the Who’s success, and how it took the fun out of playing music.

9. "Lap of Luxury" – Jethro Tull

The money won’t last forever.
Rent man called twice today.
I hope some day you’ll find me
In the lap of luxury.

The eternal quest for more than we have is the theme of Jethro Tull’s "Lap of Luxury."

10. "Carnival World" – Jimmy Buffett

But talk is cheap
It takes money to buy your freedom
And the tax man’s knockin’ on your door

Leave it to Jimmy Buffett to take a cynical view of the power of money. In "Carnival World" money is the root of everything BUT evil.

Border Fence on Private Land

This WaPost story highlights an interesting conundrum for conservatives: Building a border fence means using eminent domain to seize private property from American citizens.  What is more, the U.S. would effectively cede thousands of acres to the Mexican side of the fence …Yikes!

So what’s more important?  Defending the ownership rights of private citizens, or keeping illegal immigrants out (assuming a fence would actually do that)?