My Blog

How I found my dream home!

By Joyce Shipley | June 17, 2015

  I have been a Realtor for almost 10 years and this is the first home I have purchased since becoming a Realtor… my 8th purchase.  Up until I became a Realtor, I totally relied on the agent I hired and I realize how important the choice of an agent is and how important it […]

UPS Gardens

By Joyce Shipley | March 18, 2015

  How an unsightly neighborhood patch of brush and weeds with junk cars turned into a wonderful Tacoma North End Neighborhood garden and park:   Barbara and Peter Temple Thurston have lived in this neighborhood for 24 years.  About twelve years ago Barbara began working with the City of Tacoma to gain access to  an […]

Uptown – Gig Harbor

By Joyce Shipley | July 1, 2014

                  In Gig Harbor we have a great shopping area called UPTOWN!.  It has a wide variety of stores including Marshall's, Chico's, JJill, and our newest addition is Home Goods…opening soon to name a few!  There is a 12 screen Century Theatre complex and a wide variety […]

Sea Hags in Gig Harbor

By Joyce Shipley | July 1, 2014

My friend Denese and I were out strolling in Gig Harbor down on Harborview St. and saw this adorable shop called Sea Hags!  When we went in…guess who I ran into?  Melissa Moller is the owner and operator and Melissa used to own a store in Alaska and wanted to open one here.    It has […]

Happy Hour At The Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor!

By Joyce Shipley | April 17, 2013

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and on days like that in Gig Harbor, we want to be on the water.  And what better place to go than The Tides!  When it is warm you can sit on the deck and enjoy the sunshine.  For now, it is great to be inside and surrounded by friends […]

Getting Prequalified…before you look at homes!

By Joyce Shipley | April 11, 2013

  It always seems that something drives to me write about issues that come up!  And here is another one that happened to two of my clients.  We looked at 10 – 12 homes, choose one that they fell in love with and all the while, thought they were prequalified…and they weren’t.  Lender rules have […]

Teatro Zinzanni

By Joyce Shipley | January 26, 2013

I wanted to share with you a wonderful experience I had with my friends(Kathy, Debbie, and PJ) in Costa Mesa, CA.  While visiting down south over the holidays this year, we got tickets to this production.  It said dress up in your boas and tiaras…so we did.  They offered a 5 course meal which was catered […]

Quick Claim Deeds and Cashiers Checks On Closing Day!

By Joyce Shipley | December 1, 2012

  Blogs happen when something prompts me to write them and today is one of those days.  Let me preface this by saying, I love my clients!  And I keep in mind that I have to impart to them the details so their life is easier and therefore mine is too.  But sometimes, things come […]

Answering your question…what happens at closing?

By Joyce Shipley | December 1, 2012

What happens at closing?  It is confusing and makes everyone anxious.  Once the escrow gets loan documents, several things have to happen.  a.            The escrow company completes a HUD statement of all the charges for both buyer and seller which is then sent to the lender to be approved.  This includes seller payoffs.   It also […]