Don’t Read This Sitting Down

Don’t Read This Sitting Down Do you sit at a desk all day and become a couch potato on the weekends? Recent studies have shown that those who sit most of the day have an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart problems and other diseases. That’s because the enzymes that burn fat shut down, slowing your metabolism and possibly lowering your beneficial cholesterol. Even if you do exercise regularly, you need to move your muscles frequently (called non-exercise activity) throughout the day. Follow these tips: Try to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. When you’re not exercising, don’t remain sedentary for long. Get up and move, whether that means walking to someone’s office (instead of sending an e-mail) or going to the copy machine. Even standing burns calories since you tense your leg muscles and shift your weight from one leg to the other. Turn off the TV. You’ll burn more calories doing almost anything else, such as playing games with the kids, cleaning the house or walking the dog. When you do watch TV, change your seating. Watch it in a rocking chair (yes, it burns energy!), sitting on a therapy ball or riding an exercise bike. Move around during commercials, which can take up 20 minutes each hour.

Effective Time Management

Do you feel like you’re always working to keep up, but don’t really get anything done? In his best-selling book Getting Things Done, David Allen gives you an effective time management system to help you organize your stuff, your work activities and your personal life. Allen’s key idea is to start with a “mind sweep” ─ get everything out of your head and down on paper (or other written form). Once your mind is cleared, your productivity goes up and you can focus on creative action. His five basic stages of mastering your personal or professional “workflow” are: 1.Collect. Capture anything and everything that is on your mind. 2.Process. Decide what each thing means. Is it something you should do? Do it now or later? Can you delegate it (and track on a “Waiting For” list)? 3.Organize. Place the items in categories, such as Projects, Calendar, Next Actions and Waiting For, and sub-categories of your choice. (To help you visualize this, he includes a diagram for navigating through the processing and organizing phases of your workflow.) 4.Review. Go over Calendar and Action lists daily and do a weekly customized review to get clean and current. 5.Do. Make choices about your actions based on what you can do, how much time and energy you have and your priorities. Another one of his most popular methods is the “two minute rule.” If any task can be completed in less than two minutes (for example, a quick email response), do it immediately. Stop putting those little things off. Allen says Getting Things Done is “just advanced common sense.” But once you learn how to get everything under control, real change begins. Millions of people around the world have found success with his principles. Get organized 4 success!

SUNCADIA RESORT

I love Suncadia! 6,000 acre resort backing up to a 2.2 million acre National Forest just 90 minutes from Seattle. 3 golf course, swimming, spa, winery, great restaurants, miles of hiking/biking trails and so much more. If you haven’t been up go check it out, you will be glad you did! Explore Roslyn and Ronald too!

Make the world a better place

You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime. Dale Carnegie

Fall is an excellent time to sell a home in Seattle

Home prices continued to rise in a brisk market over the summer months. Inventory remains a problem in many neighborhoods! Total listings are down and there is just over 1 month supply of available homes for sale. Experts forecast the market to eventually cool with the major economic damage done by the virus but right now demand is outstripping supply which brings higher prices. There is no reason to think things will change overnight so if you have considered selling a property this fall could be an outstanding opportunity to sell in favorable market conditions.

Getting Organized

Do you feel like you’re always working to keep up, but don’t really get anything done? In his best-selling book Getting Things Done, David Allen gives you an effective time management system to help you organize your stuff, your work activities and your personal life. Allen’s key idea is to start with a “mind sweep” ─ get everything out of your head and down on paper (or other written form). Once your mind is cleared, your productivity goes up and you can focus on creative action. His five basic stages of mastering your personal or professional “workflow” are: 1) Collect. Capture anything and everything that is on your mind. 2) Process. Decide what each thing means. Is it something you should do? Do it now or later? Can you delegate it (and track on a “Waiting For” list)? 3) Organize. Place the items in categories, such as Projects, Calendar, Next Actions and Waiting For, and sub-categories of your choice. (To help you visualize this, he includes a diagram for navigating through the processing and organizing phases of your workflow.) 4) Review. Go over Calendar and Action lists daily and do a weekly customized review to get clean and current. 5) Do. Make choices about your actions based on what you can do, how much time and energy you have and your priorities. Another one of his most popular methods is the “two minute rule.” If any task can be completed in less than two minutes (for example, a quick email response), do it immediately. Stop putting those little things off. Allen says Getting Things Done is “just advanced common sense.” But once you learn how to get everything under control, real change begins. Millions of people around the world have found that his methods work. To order the book, search for “Getting Things Done” at www.amazon.com.

Lower Cholesterol

Worried about your cholesterol? Researchers have found a way to easily reduce your LDL cholesterol by simply adding one key ingredient to your daily diet. What is this magic, secret ingredient that could change your life? WALNUTS! Yes, just by eating 8-11 walnuts every day, you’ll lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol by up to 11 percent. And you can further reduce your LDL significantly by eating more fruits, vegetables, and olive oil.

College Savings Errors to Avoid

Saving for your kids’ college education can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Learning the best ways to save can help you avoid costly mistakes – and increase your yield. Mistake #1 – Choosing a plain old savings account When you’re concerned about losing money on an investment, a standard savings account might feel safer. The interest on that account, however, won’t even keep up with inflation, let alone the rapidly rising cost of college.  The Fix – If an aggressive investment isn’t right for you, at least choose a 529 plan, specifically designed for college expenses. Money in a 529 plan grows tax-free until your child uses it to pay for school. And if you’re lucky enough to get lots of grants and scholarships, you can transfer a 529 to another child. Mistake #2 – Believing savings count against you Some parents choose not to save for their children to go to college because they (erroneously) believe a robust savings will hinder their ability to get financial aid.  The Fix – The truth is that it’s primarily what you’re earning – not saving – that colleges take into consideration when granting financial aid, so save away. Mistake #3 – Setting and forgetting it Everyone’s financial situation changes over time, as do tax laws and investment options. But too many people set up savings plans once and never revisit them.  The Fix – It’s important to review your investments on a regular basis, and that’s especially true if your goals are in the shorter term. College investments that get more conservative over time are preferable, as they reduce risk as the child gets closer to college age.

Find Reputable Contractors

We’re getting ready to remodel our home. What’s the best way to find a reputable contractor without being taken to the cleaners? Complaints about home improvement contractors are one of the most frequent grievances received by the Better Business Bureau and the office of state attorneys general. So you are wise to ask this question. Here are five ways you can improve your chances of finding a reputable contractor: 1. Get referrals from other building professionals. Ask professionals who you know. For example, ask your plumber, roofer, painter for recommendations. Since they work with other contractors on other jobs, they know who’s good and who is not. 2. Get references. Get three customer references from the contractor for similar projects that were completed in the past two years. Check these references carefully, and maybe even see the work that was done. Ask them if they would hire the contractor again. 3. Check the contractor’s license, insurance, and permits. Make sure they are in order. Contact the Registrar of Contractors in your area. 4. Get a written cost estimate with specific details, schedule, and the projected completion date. This is one of the most important aspects, just remember if you request changes when the work is being completed it will cost more and you should get those changes in writing as well.

Seattle Seahawks Football

The Hawks have their deepest roster since the 2013 team so expectations are extremely high! Team leader Russell Wilson is entering his ninth season in the NFL with a 101.2 passer rating which is the second highest in the history of the league. Veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner had another amazing season leading the league in tackles. Expect to see Wagner added to the Ring of Honor and join the NFL Hall of Fame when his playing days are over. Last year we overachieved with a young team winning 11 regular season and 1 playoff game. With more experience young stars like D.K. Metcalf and Jacob Hollister we will be super exciting to watch! We added some amazing talent in the off-season with Jamal Adams, Quinton Dunbar and veteran tight end Greg Olsen. We added additional talent on the defensive side by picking Butkus Award finalist Jordyn Brooks in the first round of the draft. Jordyn was a standout linebacker for Texas Tech and is expected to play a factor this year. The Seahawks should be a much stronger defensive team in 2020! We understand no fans will be allowed but I am excited and hopeful for a return to the Superbowl – Go Hawks

Outdoor Living Tips

Making the most of your outdoor living space gives you more space for relaxing and entertaining. Here are some ideas to create your own welcoming areas for outdoor living this summer and fall. ◾Add visual interest to an outdoor space with brightly-painted planters or colorful throw pillows. They’re easy to update when your favorite color changes, and small enough to add more whenever you like. ◾Dual-purpose furniture is useful in a small outdoor space. For instance, bench seating that’s also storage and a table that has a planter underneath reduce the furniture footprint without sacrificing utility. ◾Walkways invite exploration into a larger yard, and keep guests from accidentally stepping on seedlings. Curving walkways through trees or bushes can also create more intimate spaces for entertaining without overcrowding in one spot. ◾Your indoor fireplace is probably a focal point, so why not give your backyard a similar treatment? Digging a fire pit into your lawn is an inexpensive option. If you don’t want to give up that space in your yard permanently, there are also movable fire pit units you can buy, allowing you to store them when they’re not in use. Electric or natural gas radiant heat will greatly extend outdoor living in the fall. ◾Creative outdoor lighting not only provides a warm glow, it also means you can use your outdoor space into the night. Simple DIY solutions include strings of outdoor globe string lights around the porch, small white fairy lights wrapped around tree trunks, or candles in Mason jars twinkling on tables. For an even bigger “wow” factor, wire a chandelier over an outdoor dining table. ◾Combine outdoor lighting and pest control in one. Fill mason jars with fresh rosemary sprigs, slices of limes or lemons, and about 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Add water and a floating candle to the top. Mosquitos don’t like the smell, but you will.

Improve Your Vision With Berries!

The Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University has discovered that the humble blueberry and its European cousin, the bilberry are a uniquely rich source of the powerful antioxidant, anthocyanin. Anthocyanin gives grapes, blackberries, and blueberries their deep blue-violet coloring. Bilberry extract has been used in Europe and Japan as a natural vision-enhancer for years. Beta-carotene combined with 400 mgs. of bilberry have been shown to significantly improve the ability to see in dim light, especially at night. Bilberry extract appears to strengthen the tiny blood vessels behind the eye and prevent macular degeneration. There is strong research-backed evidence that anthocyanin may protect the brain cells from the wear and tear of extended life. They shield the neurotransmitters from age-related changes in the brain. The antioxidants in blueberries could help preserve our memory, as we get older. The Nutrition Research Center suggests eating fresh blueberries for the maximum benefit, or substitute a good bilberry extract from the health food store.

Estate Planning Myths

Just getting started thinking about estate planning? Putting a little thought and effort into estate planning now helps to ensure your final wishes are fulfilled problem-free. Belief: If you don’t have a will, the government takes everything you own. Truth: Without a will or trust, the laws of your most recent home state dictate who receives your assets. Plan: Depending on state laws, your surviving spouse, children, or parents are likely to inherit what you leave behind if you don’t have a will. However, live-in partners, step-children, and other kin will be left out. To ensure your specific assets go to the people you want to receive them, you should outline your wishes in a will or trust. Belief: You have to update your will every time there is a life change. Truth: Some parts of a will “self-adjust” due to life changes. Plan: When putting together an estate plan, discuss possible upcoming life changes, such as adopting a child or buying a home, with your lawyer. He or she can advise under what conditions an update needs to be made to the plan. Belief: The court-supervised probate process of gathering and distributing assets to creditors and inheritors is unavoidable. Truth: Assigning a beneficiary to certain assets helps avoid probate. Plan: If you can assign a beneficiary, such as in the case of a life insurance policy and tax-deferred account, do it. But assets like houses and standard bank accounts don’t allow for named beneficiaries. Creating a revocable trust instead of a last will may help your relatives avoid probate, but make sure everything is actually transferred to the trust. Belief: I’ve created an estate plan, so everything is taken care of. Truth: You should review your estate plan every three to five years to make sure it’s up-to-date and appropriate for your current situation. Plan: Some estate planning documents “self-adjust” due to particular life circumstances, but it’s always a good idea to revisit and close any loopholes. For example, if you recently adopted pets, you’ll want to designate what should happen to them if you die, and if your trustee is no longer an appropriate choice, name someone else in his or her place.

Buyer Beware

U.S. Customs seized $1.26 billion worth of counterfeit goods coming into the country last year. These were the top 6: 1. Handbags/wallets 2. Watches/jewelry 3. Wearing apparel/accessories 4. Consumer electronics 5. Footwear 6. Pharmaceuticals/personal care

Woodinville Wine Country

Wine country is a lot closer than you think! Woodinville has been on the map for many years with Chateau Ste. Michelle. Ste. Michelle is Washington States oldest winery founded in 1954. Their Chateau is on 87 acres of land with mature trees formerly owned by lumber baron Frederick Stimson who used it as a hunting retreat. Ste. Michelle has launched many prominent winemakers careers. They now produce over 2 million cases of wine yearly. Washington is the 2nd largest wine producer in the country with more than 800 wineries. Over 100 are represented in Woodinville! The Woodinville wineries have more 90+ rated vintages than any wine region in the world! When I was a kid my parents loved to take us to Ste. Michelle for the tour and picnic lunch. It was out in the country in those days! In the past ten years Woodinville has exploded in popularity and is now a major tourist destination. Artisan distillers are also a big draw now. Washington State is home to more than 100 distilleries. Woodinville Whiskey Co. is one of the best and offers a tour showcasing their 1,320 gallon handmade pot still making 7 barrels of whiskey per day. They were recently awarded Craft Whiskey of the Year by the American Distilling Institute.

Buying my first home

Buying your first home is a big step, and making mistakes can cost you thousands of dollars. Here are three you should avoid: • Not having a professional home inspection. Review the report carefully so you don’t buy a home with serious issues, such as pests, mold, or water damage. • Not doing a “walk-through” before closing. Visit the property after all the furnishings have been removed so you won’t have any surprises later. • Not understanding the contract. A REALTOR® who serves as your “Buyer’s Representative” will help you understand your responsibilities and guide you through the process.

Stickman Leather

Shawn Bettinger has been hand crafting high quality leather goods since 1995. Each item is designed, cut, and sewn in his Renton studio utilizing the finest #1 grade American leather. They offer a wide selection of bags, belts, cases, backpacks and totes. It feels so good to support our local artisans! shawn@stickmanleather.com / www.stickmanleather.com

What homework should I do before I get a loan to buy a home?

Here are three big things many people don’t consider when buying a home: • Understand how much home you can afford. Calculate the two numbers bankers and mortgage lenders use to determine how much they will loan to you: payment-to-income ratio and debt-to-income ratio (visit Bankrate.com and click “Calculators” at the top for examples). • Understand the basics of home financing. Your ability to afford a home will be related to its price, your down payment (and the amount you’ll finance), the interest rate and points of your loan, the term and the type of your loan. Study these items and the relationship between them. • Save thousands by making your own mortgage acceleration payment schedule. Take your current monthly mortgage payment of principal and interest and multiply that number by 13. Divide that total by 12 to get your new “accelerated” monthly payment. Find a lender who you know is looking after you and your best interests like John Porter at Mortgage Masters 206-954-8736.

Home Office Trend

The value of quality housing has never been clearer. With more employers reluctant to bring their workers back into a busy office environment we will see more and more buyers focused on having additional living space to accommodate working from home. We are seeing increased demand from move up buyers who understand this trend will continue past 2021. Many employers will realize they don’t need large offices as workers embrace new technology. Buyers who need to work from home want more bedrooms and less open space. Buyers who need more breathing room will focus on purchases outside the city core where additional square footage is less expensive. I assume builders will begin to accommodate this new reality into building plans in the coming years. Buyers need home offices! Low interest rates have helped fuel the market and are forecast to remain near historic lows. Housing Wire, a news portal indicated we recently hit the lowest rate Freddie Mac reported since 1971! Buyers feel confident in this market knowing they will lock into a low interest rate loan. Both buyers and sellers will benefit from gaining insight into our local markets. The Frasch Team can be invaluable in this process. Whether buying or selling it is critical to get a Realtor who knows the market and has a proven track record. The Frasch Team has been serving our local community for over 20 years, and would love to go to work for you today.