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By Courtney Cooper, February 16, 2008 10:06 am

On my way to Ocean Shores, WA recently, there were still remains of dirt and debris that had washed over the highway in the big December storms….  That latest blast of weather in December 2007 got me thinking about insurance in Seattle neighborhoods and Seattle suburbs again. Flood insurance, specifically, is what I want to look at and whether or not I should purchase a flood insurance policy for my Seattle, Washington area home.

Flood insurance wasn’t actually very accessible until the late sixties when a national flood insurance program was put into place. With this program came the availability of flood insurance for anyone who needed it and lived in a community that participated in the program. In addition, regulations in the form of floodplain maps were also put into place to provide specific levels of risk for any given area.. Flood coverage is required by your lender if you live in any of these high risk areas, but is not included on the standard home owner’s policy of the majority of real estate in Seattle and its suburbs.

This is a question each homeowner in Seattle and the entire Puget Sound should ask themselves. Do you live on low ground? At the bottom of a hill? Near a waterway? How is your property drainage? These are all factors which increase your risk of water intrusion and each homeowner should take the time to consult with an insurance agent and evaluate their own risk. I live on a hill and have sufficient drainage for my property. I keep my gutters in proper working order and also regularly monitor my weatherproofing plan. I do not have flood insurance. It is important to note that if you do decide to purchase flood insurance for your Seattle property, keep in mind that there is a thirty day waiting period in most cases.

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By Courtney Cooper, January 11, 2008 7:15 am

Looking around the state for a vacation home is a bit overwhelming at times and it was interesting to see all the different areas and price ranges. My husband and I had been dreaming of some kind of get away in Washington and finally took the plunge a couple years ago, but not after a ton of research! We looked at lakes all the way to Priest Lake in Idaho and mountain get aways like Roslyn and Cle Elum or little towns off Highway 2 past Leavenworth. We looked at all types of properties and never found the perfect place until we hit Grays Harbor County! Ocean Shores WA specifically is what we fell in love with and we have never regretted it! This town is on the tip of a major boom FINALLY and getting in before it happens is a smart move.

Ocean Shores WA is only 2.5-3.5 hours from Seattle depending on where you are and the traffic conditions so it makes it an ideal place to get away! You can easily still buy a get away for under $200,000 and there is a ton of new construction going in. In fact, Ocean Shores has had a bit of a housing boom in the last couple of years since we bought our house! The clock is ticking for being priced out of this market and there is still a ton to choose from! You also might be surprised to find that you can still buy an ocean front lot on the Pacific Ocean at a reasonable price!

Check out the Ocean Shores Beach Cam!

If you think you might be interested in relocating to Seattle Suburb real estate, make sure and have a FULL SERVICE experienced Realtor help you find the community that is best for you!

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By Courtney Cooper, January 7, 2008 12:43 pm

Seattle suburbs have a lot to offer and the Seattle park systems are absolutely incredible! I recently found out that Brier WA is putting in its own skate park – a Brier skate park!

Did you know there were skate parks in the Seattle burbs? The cities of Edmonds and Lynnwood WA got together in 1999 and created a 5000 square foot concrete skating structure at Lynndale Park for the local Seattle suburb skaters.

Lynndale Park: Lynndale Park is located at 7326 Olympic View Drive and has parking and bathrooms. It was built in 1999.

Features: 5000 sq ft surface, snake run, quarter pipe, six foot deep bowl, banks, ledges, hips, rails, curbs

Bothell Skatepark: Located at 9815 NE 188^th St in Bothell – this Seattle suburb skate park originally opened in 2000, but recently had a facelift – among other features, it has a six foot half pipe.

Other Seattle suburbs looking at putting in skateparks: Mountlake Terrace, Brier

Even Ocean Shores WA is looking at putting a skatepark in!!!! All parks seem to be skate at your own risk, but do have guidelines and rules from what I can see. Make sure to check out the rules and safety precautions.

Courtney Cooper ….Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services – For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Realtor serving Seattle and Seattle Suburbs! North King & South Snohomish County – Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs! If you are thinking of relocating to Seattle, I am an expert at Seattle Relocation services and can help you find the perfect home while making sure it is a solid financial investment! Check out my Seattle real estate and Seattle suburb real estate blog at http://www.raincityhouses.com/!