Dear Friend,Welcome to November, a time of reflection for many of us combined with the

beginning of visits from family and friends and the start of holidays. This month can, for some, also signal the start of a stressful season of sweaters, rain and Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) for those of us around Seattle.

But, that’s not what this newsletter is about. This little bit of news should help entertain you and keep you occupied during the rains, as well as help provide some information on the Real Estate market around us (which, if you haven’ t heard, is great!).

On the entertainment side, I’ve compiled a variety of random factoids and stories, from the serious (More of Us Living to 100) to the frivolous (this month’s trivia question).

You’ll find advice about sleep-inducing colors as well as some dates to add to your calendar for a free opportunity to clean out your home and to celebrate the season with my Open House.

I hope you find this month’s newsletter fun and interesting!

During this holiday season, when you hear a friend or neighbor mention that they need help buying a home or getting their home sold, please let them know I’m here to help.

Kind regards and happy November!

Nick SimontonWindermere Real Estate Co.206.588.5775 | nick@windermere.com

Visit www.YourSeattleHome.com or Call (206) 588-5775

Notable in NovemberNovember 1-7, World Communication Week. This week stresses the importance of communication among human beings who speak more than 3,000 languages and promotes the international language, Esperanto.

November 3 & 28, Perigean Spring Tides. Observes the highest possible tides, which occur when New Moon or Full Moon takes place within 24 hours of the moment the Moon is nearest Earth (perigee). These tides are not named for the season of spring but for the German springen, meaning “to leap up.”

November 13, World Kindness Day. This day grew out of the Japanese Small Kindness Movement in 1996. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in the USA has been a part of these conferences along with representatives from around the world.

November 21, Hello World Day. This day encourages us to greet ten people for peace. Over 180 countries have participated. The idea was started as a response to fighting between Egypt and Israel. If we get to know each other, perhaps we will refrain from fighting.

News from Your Real Estate Adviser for Life.

8401 35th Ave NESeattle, WA 98115(206) 588-5775 directnick@windermere.comwww.YourSeattleHome.com

This newsletter is intended for entertainment purposes only. Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author is known. Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft. Copyright 2014 Nick Simonton, CNE. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical, legal, financial or tax advice. Any and all decisions and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a qualified physician, attorney, financial advisor and/or CPA. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without proper medical, financial, legal or tax advice.

Go Green:Recycle This Newsletter!After you’ve enjoyed my

newsletter, please recycle it by passing it along to

a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker.

In this IssueNovember2014

takenote

Making a Move?Are you or is someone

you care about thinking about making a move?

Make sure you work with

someone you trust.

Call me at (206) 588-5775.

I am here to help.

Save the Date - December 13thMake a note on your calendar for my annual family & friends get together, and join me for a great evening of fun and giving back. This year, like last year, I’ll also be asking for donations of clothing and toiletries to benefit YouthCare’s homeless teens and youth. Email me at nick@windermere.com to save your spot and for more infrormation.

locationonGet More Stuff!Fill out the form below or head to YourSeattleHome.com/GiveMeStuff to request your personalized reports.

Or, just call me at (206) 588-5775 and I’ll get your information to you, or your family and friends, ASAP.

Free Reports q Protect Your Family from

Burglers q Five Mistakes Home Sellers Make q Making the Move Easy on the

Kids q How Sellers Price Their Homes q How to Stop Wasting Money on

Rent q How to Sell Your House for the

Most Money Fast

Free Information q Free Homefinder Service q Special Report on the Features

and Sales Prices of the Most Rent Homes in My Area

q Personal Report on an Individaul Property

More Information q A Pinpoint Value Analysis

of My Home q New Buyer’s Toolkit q How to Sell My Home Fast

Share the Love with Someone You Love

Do you know someone who should get this newsletter?

Send them a complimentary subscription, and show them how much you care.

Go online today to send them a free copy, or call me with their information.

YourSeattleHome.com/ShareLove

>> More of Us Living to 100>> Be Interesting at Parties>> Get Some Sleep with Color>> Q&A with Nick>> Some Fun with Sudoko>> Spotlight on Ravenna>> Mortgage News from Kyle>> Free Shredding & Electronic Recycling

Free Electronic & Paper Shredding Event

Real Estate News You Can Use for Novem

ber 2014.

Email or call me for more information, questions and other details.

When at a party or networking event, having a few conversation starters on hand will help you break the ice and engage. But once you do that, you still need to be able to continue the conversation and be interesting.

So, just as you would have a few ice-breakers handy, prepare a few short stories in advance that might be relevant to the group you’re with. This might feel contrived to you, but it won’t seem that way to your listeners.

Suppose you are going to an event where there are likely to be some business people (a networking event or a party). To prepare for this event, perhaps you read through a copy of Entrepreneur magazine.

At the event, you start a conversation with “What kind of work do you do?” (Always an easy conversation starter in a business or formal social setting.) They tell you they make golf balls. You ask them more about the art and science of making golf balls.

Then you segue into a story: “That reminds me of another interesting business…” tell a story about an interesting entrepreneur you read about. Be prepared to tie your story back to them somehow, even if it’s to end by saying, “I think making golf balls is a lot like what the guy did in that business.”

Finally, be sure to ask the listener another question to help him tell his stories. Remember, most people are more interested in finding a great listener who can draw them out and make them feel interesting than they are in looking for someone with great stories. Use your story to encourage them to tell theirs.

More of Us Living to 100It’s starting to get crowded in the 100-year-olds’ club. Once nearly nonexistent, the world’s population of centenarians is projected to reach nearly 6 million by midcentury. Here are the facts:

• 340K — The number of people worldwide who are 100 or older today.

• 6M — The estimated number of people who will be 100 or older in 2050.

• 233% — The estimated growth of the world’s population 80 and older, by 2040.

The number of centenarians has already jumped from an estimated few thousand in 1950 to more than 340,000 worldwide today, with the highest concentrations in the United States and Japan, according to the latest Census Bureau figures and a report being released by the National Institute on Aging.

Demographers attribute this boom to decades of medical advances and improved diets, which have reduced heart disease and stroke. Japan, known for its low-fat staple of fish and rice, will have the most centenarians in 2050-627,000, or nearly 1 percent of its total population, according to census estimates. In the United States, centenarians are expected to increase from 75,000 to more than 600,000 by midcentury.

Do You Want to Work with Other Businesses

that Give Outstanding Customer Service?

Request a free copy of my service directory.

All the businesses listed in it have a proven track record for

providing the kind of outstanding

customer service you deserve.

November Quiz

Q: A flock of crows is called a murder. What is a flock of ravens called? (There are several possible answers.)

Everyone who texts, emails or calls in the correct answer by the end of the month will be entered to win 2 Movie Tickets!

Be More Interesting with Stories

Need Sleep? Check Your Colors.Can the color of your bedroom help you sleep?

According to the hotel booking site Travelodge, the answer is yes. Travelodge studied 2,000 British homes and found that those who slept in a blue bedroom got an average of 7 hours and 52 minutes of sleep every night. The study authors think this is because blue is associated with being calm, and helps reduce blood pressure and heart rate.

Shades of yellow were the second best, clocking in 7 hours and 40 minutes of sleep for inhabitants, closely followed by green (7 hours and 36 minutes), silver (7 hours and 33 minutes) and orange (7 hours and 28 minutes).

The worst colors were purple (5 hours and 56 minutes), brown (6 hours and 5 minutes) and grey (6 hours and 12 minutes).

The study also had a few other interesting findings:

• Of those with a blue bedroom, 58% reported they regularly wake up feeling happy.

• Of those with a green bedroom, 22% reported they regularly wake up feeling upbeat and positive.

• Of those with silver decor in their bedroom, 21% reported they are more motivated to exercise in their bedroom.

ask the experts >>

Q:

A: It’s a data-driven guess. Really.

Ravenna UpdateThis month I’ll talk about the Ravenna neighborhood in Northeast Seattle (my ‘hood).

Of course, like most areas in Seattle, the market is a strong seller’s market, and here are the stats to show it:

Ravenna Averages Last Month

Sold Price: $695,000 (up $84k over last year)

Price/Square Foot: $296 (up $40 over last year)

Sold vs. List Price: 104% AboveDays on Market: 14

Welcome to the FamilyHere are some of the new clients who became members of my “Real Estate Family” this past month. I’d like to welcome you!

• Ying Han

I love recognizing our wonderful new friends and existing clients who are kind enough to introduce their friends, family and neighbors to me.

for life >>

OnLocation is brought to you by Your Real Estate Adviser for Life, Nick Simonton, at Windermere Real Estate Co. Call me at (206) 588-5775 Get Tips, Information and More at www.YourSeattleHome.com OnLocation | November 2014

Zillow says my home has increased in price, how do they know?

Zillow and other automated services use statistical information to put together an estimated “value” of your home in today’s market. Zillow estimates your value based on sales of similar homes in the nearby area and a guess as to how you’re probably keeping your home up based on assessed value. This data can certainly be helpful in getting an idea of what your home may be worth, but ultimately the true test is a complete Pinpoint Value Analysis (something I offer for free).

How Fun is This?

Last Month’s Answer

This month’s thought

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart

when I’m awake, you know?”

~ Ernest Hemingway

Finance Chatter

DID YOU KNOW…

$300,000 Borrowed at a 5.5% interest rate is $65,992.18 MORE expensive than $300,000 borrowed at a 4.5% interest rate over 30 years?

Whether you’re looking to purchase or refinance your home, getting a great interest rate can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your loan. So, where are interest rates now? Well, they’re at their lowest point since MAY of 2013!

Global unrest and economic turmoil have international investors flocking to the safety of the US Mortgage Bonds. As demand for the US Mortgage Bond rises, the lower the interest rate consumers (you and me) have to pay! To find out what interest rate you may qualify for, or how much a refinance may save you, please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email anytime.

Kyle BergquistGuild Mortgage Company

Cell: 425-478-0961kbergquist@guildmortgage.net

MLO# 918621 • NMLS# 3274

Finance Chatter Sponsored and Written By: