• King County “As Built” plans
• Snohomish County “As Built” plans
• Pierce County “As Built” plans

This Home Owners Guide to Septis Systems will be a useful guide for learning more on Septic Systems.

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• Rob McKenna, WA State Attorney General
• Marc Cote, a Certified HUD Housing Counselor
• Rob Dickson, Lawyer and Short Sale Negotiator

 
Part 1

 
Part 2

 
Part 3

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Special thanks to Jim & Merlita Estrada with Property Inspector LLC.

We hope you enjoy the video!

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In this special episode our friend and buyer, Scott Dosset, goes through the process of selecting his houseboat from a selection of 3 great options. Each of the 3 houseboats has its own unique flavor and character, and all are great representations of the outstanding Seattle Lake Union houseboat lifestyle.

The Househunters “Houseboat Hunters” special episode is schedule to air sometime in December. In the meantime, stay tuned to Special Agents Realty for photos, updates, and teasers!

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We are very excited that Special Agents Realty was asked to audition for a special episode of Househunters for HGTV that will focus on our search for a houseboat for our client Katy. Special thanks to Sam DeBord with Coldwell Banker Danforth for referring us and Katy for this opportunity.

Shooting will begin in August and may potentially include shots from our office on Lake Union, our houseboat “The KevLin” and from our runabout which we used to show Katy some of the other houseboats on Lake Union.  The show will present Katy’s search for the perfect houseboat and will like present some of the great lifestyle scenes on and around Lake Union. With filming occurring in August, we are hoping for great weather to show off the fantastic houseboat lifestyle.

Of course, this means lots of work to do before then – clean the boat, spit shine the KevLin, plant flowers and spruce up the office. We are confident that HGTV will find this lifestyle fun and unique and should make for a great episode.

Oh, yeah.  If you would like to learn about buying a houseboat or floating home on Lake Union, we are specialists in this field and can help you Float Your Boat! Give us a call at (206) 419-0065.

This is the life!

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We at Special Agents Realty have been selling houseboats, floating homes, and housebarges, in the Lake Union area for the last 5 years. Additionally, we sell lots of waterfront property and land based homes as well (actually more of those than houseboats). We have been through the boom and the bust and have seen homes, condos, houseboats, floating homes all ride the market roller coaster. The financial crisis has hit all levels pretty much equally.

So, how do houseboats fare as an investment in comparison to more traditional homes?  Well, it depends greatly on the style, condition, and character of the houseboat. Houseboats will lose value greatly if they are in need of servicing and maintenance. A well kept, updated, clean houseboat will return a better price than one in need of maintenance or paint. Sound familiar?  Pretty much the same holds true for traditional homes as well. So what is the difference?  Well, houseboats are a much more limited commodity and are definitely more seasonal. When summer rolls around and peoples thoughts turn to the water, the houseboat market definitely increases. The majority of the houseboats we sell are sold between May and September. This should be a clue to those wanting to sell (list in the spring), and those wanting to buy (buy in the fall/winter).

It is our belief that houseboats are going to become more and more scarce. This should, according to supply and demand, increase their value. However, in today’s market, nothing is assured and predicting the market has always been difficult.

All in all, houseboats remain one of the most affordable ways to enjoy waterfront living. As people discover the fantastic lifestyle, amazing community, and uniqueness of houseboat life, they will become more desirable and less available. This could lead to increased demand and higher prices, making houseboats a reasonable investment as well as a fantastic lifestyle.

If you would learn more about owning a houseboat and houseboat living, give us a call. We sell more houseboats than anyone else on Lake Union. Additionally, we have 3 websites that can help you learn the details about houseboats and the buying process. Please take a look at our 3 websites: www.SpecialAgentsRealty.com, www.LakeUnionLiving.com, and www.AffordableHouseboats.com, and give us a call at (206) 419-0065, email us, or stop by our office on Lake Union at 2401 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103 (about half way between Gasworks Park and Ivars Salmon House.)

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Linda M. Bagley 

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Underground heating oil tanks can pose many potential problems to both home buyers and sellers. They have been the source of many environmental problems such as contamination of surrounding soil and ground water.

Leaks are caused by the rust inside underground tanks, or by an electrical condition sparked by electric utility lines.

Buyers should have the tank inspected to make sure that it is structurally sound. Buyers who do not want an underground fuel tank can arrange for an above ground tank to be installed in the basement, an underground tank to be shut off. Cleanups of any leaks will also have to be taken care of.

For buyers, the underground heating oil tank should be written in the sales contract. For sellers, your lawyer should make sure that the description and condition of the underground heating oil is accurate and up-to-date.

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Lead poisoning is a serious problem which can lead to adverse health problems. In children, high levels of lead can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, behavioral and learning problems, slow growth, and hearing problems. In adults, lead poisoning can cause reproductive problems, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorder, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.

Lead poisoning is especially a problem in cities with older buildings. Typically, lead is present in the paint from older buildings, in the water supply, and in the environment from cars and buses. Preventing lead poisoning in large cities, where there is so much possibility for exposure is both difficult and expensive. Federal programs have attempted to address this problem.

For buyers and sellers, lead poisoning is also an issue. Houses that were built before 1978 probably have paint that contains lead. Federal law requires that sellers disclose known information on lead-base paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts must include a federal form about lead-based paint in the building. Buyers will have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards and are likely to stipulate corrections.

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