By CORY BEMIS

There are 3 primary reasons why a home hasn’t sold within the average amount of time for a given market.  This month we’ll review the first reason: “Presentation and Depersonalization”.

Properly preparing a home for marketing involves much more than cleaning, decluttering, and making minor repairs.  The optimal solution is to neutralize the home completely.  The first step is to remove all personal items from the home.  It’s much more difficult for a buyer to make an offer on a home if it feels like someone else’s home.  Personal items include family photos, religious items, and anything else that could distract the buyer from imagining their own personal items in the home.  The second step is to freshen up and revitalize the home.

By DOC HASTINGS

During my first month serving Central Washington in Congress, I voted to add a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment, which would have prevented the federal government from spending more than it takes in each year (except in times of war or national emergency) passed the House of Representatives with the required two-thirds majority in 1995.  It failed by a single vote in the Senate.

It is past time for the federal government to stop spending money it doesn’t have, reverse course and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to block the White House and Congress from racking up more debt.  A Constitutional Amendment wouldn’t simply cut spending one year at a time – but would provide a permanent solution and accountability – applying to both current and future Administration’s and Congresses regardless of political party control.    

Some good tips for thinking about the future

By KATHY MILLER

Although there’s a great deal of speculation these days surrounding the future of Social Security, we know many Americans have factored Social Security benefits into their retirement plans. 

If you have a family, Social Security also provides dependent benefits to surviving spouses (and ex-spouses), surviving children and, in some cases, surviving parents. Here are some good things to know if you or your loved ones fit into one of these categories.

Surviving spouses. If you were married to your deceased spouse for at least nine months and you are not remarried, you may begin to draw Social Security benefits as early age 60 (age 50 if you are disabled). If you are taking care of a child who is younger than 16 or disabled, there is no minimum age requirement. The nine-month duration-of-marriage requirement may be waived under certain circumstances. 

By CORY BEMIS

Nation-wide, the current real estate market has been labeled as a “buyer's market.”  This has remained unchanged for the past two or three years.  While interest rates and special buyer programs make up a large portion of why it's a buyer's market, the home values and absorption rates also play a significant role in each individual market.

Is Yakima currently considered to be a “buyer's market?”  Absolutely.  The good news about the Yakima market is that the average home sales price has only decreased 4.12 percent since the peak year of 2007.  Unfortunately for sellers, the current absorption rate in Yakima is nearly 14 months.  This means, based on the total number of sales in the past year, it would take 14 months to sell every home currently on the market assuming no additional homes were listed.  Over the past few decades, a balanced market in Yakima will typically have an absorption rate of 6-7 months.  A seller's market would fall within the range of 1-5 months.

Cold Spring weather delays cherry season

By Amber Schlenker

A cooler Spring season brought this year’s cherry crop a little late.

Roger and Mary Odell began harvesting on their leased property last week. 

“The weather was so cold, we just didn’t have the greatest weather for growing,” property owner Jeannine Merry said. 

Merry and the Odell’s agree the last harvest resulted in fewer cherries, but this year they are larger. 

“They are finally ready and they look beautiful,” Merry added. 

Hummingbird Enterprises, operated by Mary and Roger Odell has been growing cherries for years now. Mary Odell said this year the weather caused several setbacks that caused the later cherry harvest.  

“Since it was cold it resulted in poor pollination weather for the bees,” Odell said. 

Due to the weather there is less harvest, but according to Odell the fruit is larger. 

Erika Cenci begins her preperations to make her special Dandelion bread. She has written three books containing her own hand-crafted recipes. Contributed photo

Chef Erika Cenci and husband Jim opened

Yakima home for business in 1995

By CHRIS THORN

When driving along 16th Avenue in Yakima there lies a hidden gem. This special location tucked back behind a slew of Arborvitaes is A Touch of Europe Bed and Breakfast. At this Victorian era home guests are treated to the edible delights and wonderful scenery created by Erika and Jim Cenci.

“We really enjoy our guests,” the couple said. “They are not bored while they are here.”

Indeed they aren’t. The couple recently received yet another award to add to their collection from the Lanier Bed and Breakfast Travel Guide as the 2011 Best Bed and Breakfast with nearby wineries. No other bed and breakfast in Washington State received an award from the site in 2011.

Erika and Jim said this award was special because it was based solely upon guest reviews.

“These B&B’s possess unique qualities and specific attention to detail in an effort to make your bed and breakfast stay a truly memorable and unforgettable experience,” read the Lanier website with regard to their award winners.

Other awards and acknowledgements the Cenci’s have received over the years include “Best Breakfast in the Northwest Award” in 2006 from Inn Traveler, “Best Evening Cuisine Award in 2005 from Inn Traveler, Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest, Best Breakfast in the Northwest in 2006 from Inn Traveler and finally Best Chef Award in 2004, including U.S.A. and Canada, from Inn Traveler.

“That was a really nice surprise,” Erika said of receiving the Best Chef Award.

Erika has worked her culinary magic in the Yakima Valley for 16 years now, beginning back in 1995 when the couple first opened the bed and breakfast. She began to develop her skills at the age of 14, in Europe. She spent approximately four years training to be a chef and chose that as her profession.

“You stuck it out or you weren’t around,” Erika said.

By Kathy Miller

For most teenagers, spending money seems to come naturally. But that doesn’t mean they know how to manage it. In fact, the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy recently found that only 10% of 12th-graders could satisfactorily answer questions about personal finance. Some couldn’t balance a checkbook. Yet many high school students have, and regularly use, credit cards – with little or no understanding of how interest rates, skipped payments or continual high balances can impact a person’s financial future. So whether you’ve already begun the process of instilling sound money management in your teen or you’re searching for ways to begin, you may find the following tips helpful.

Lead by example. Take a look in the mirror. If, for instance, you budget effectively, invest wisely, pay down debt and donate to charity, most likely your children will learn by example. Financial responsibility is one area where a parent’s actions definitely speak louder than words.

Talk about money management. As soon as your child begins to earn money, it is important that he or she thinks about how to manage the income. A budget may seem annoying and a little extreme – but a basic plan may set the tone for jumpstarting your teen’s financial future while still leaving money left to buys the things that will help him or her enjoy today. Your teenager’s desire for a new video game, phone, computer or car can work to your advantage. 

At this stage, you can begin to have periodic family financial discussions. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your teenager needs to know your total income or the amount of your home mortgage. But you can certainly begin to familiarize your teenager with the family budget, financial challenges you may be facing, some of the family’s longer-term goals and priorities, and perhaps how he or she can help you make progress toward these goals.

By Kathy Miller

For most teenagers, spending money seems to come naturally. But that doesn’t mean they know how to manage it. In fact, the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy recently found that only 10% of 12th-graders could satisfactorily answer questions about personal finance. Some couldn’t balance a checkbook. Yet many high school students have, and regularly use, credit cards – with little or no understanding of how interest rates, skipped payments or continual high balances can impact a person’s financial future. So whether you’ve already begun the process of instilling sound money management in your teen or you’re searching for ways to begin, you may find the following tips helpful.

Lead by example. Take a look in the mirror. If, for instance, you budget effectively, invest wisely, pay down debt and donate to charity, most likely your children will learn by example. Financial responsibility is one area where a parent’s actions definitely speak louder than words.

Talk about money management. As soon as your child begins to earn money, it is important that he or she thinks about how to manage the income. A budget may seem annoying and a little extreme – but a basic plan may set the tone for jumpstarting your teen’s financial future while still leaving money left to buys the things that will help him or her enjoy today. Your teenager’s desire for a new video game, phone, computer or car can work to your advantage. 

At this stage, you can begin to have periodic family financial discussions. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your teenager needs to know your total income or the amount of your home mortgage. But you can certainly begin to familiarize your teenager with the family budget, financial challenges you may be facing, some of the family’s longer-term goals and priorities, and perhaps how he or she can help you make progress toward these goals.

Scott Overturf

I was wine tasting in Arizona recently with my cousin. She well represents America’s normal wine drinker. Ask her what she likes and Karen will knowingly say she loves rich red wines. So I knew when we started the tasting off with a lean, acidic sauvignon blanc what her reaction would be. She gave me that wincing gag look and I laughed. Yet, when I broke it down for her (cut grass, dill,  and because this one had green apple (malic acid) that this wine needed food. Imagine using it instead of lemon juice to complement sole with capers and green onions (much nicer than water), then she was OK with it. In fact, she ultimately ended up with a crisp white wine to take home that night.

I enjoy modern classical works and opera so much more if somebody gives me a little background or story line so that I can better picture and understand the work. It is not so important how much you know but who you surround yourself with and what they know that can enrich your experiences.