Featured Posts

Dairygold Dairy in Issaquah an Interesting Stop

// Issaquah is one of the treasures of the Eastside for a lot of reasons.  Small town friendly but with an air of sophistication and a lot of lifestyle amenities, it attracts families for it’s atmosphere and good schools.  There are a One of the familiar sights on Main Street in Issaquah lot of things of interest, including the recently built library and the salmon hatchery.  There are lots of culinary choices, Jak’s Grill... [Read more]

Dim Sum at Sun Ya Seafood Restaurant

// Seattle’s Internatonal District is famous for it’s exotic flavors and a myrid of choices, and rightly so.  One of my family’s favorite Sunday morning activities is heading to one of the traditional Dim Sum restaurants sprinkled throughout the International District.  Last week it wasn’t even Sunday, but we were nearby it was lunchtime, and what are we waiting for?  Sun Ya Seefood Restaurant was nearby and we stopped... [Read more]

West Seattle, Start at Alaska Junction

// Today I spent the entire day in West Seattle. We started with cupcakes and coffee at Cupcake Royale at Alaska Junction…that’s the large and strollable intersection of Alaska and California. There are 2 rival cupcake and coffee bakery/cafes there, both seem to have wifi and filled with people intent on some vital inner thought… of course it is impossible to know what is on their mind, but everyone I looked at seemed to... [Read more]

Summer Solstice Festival in Fremont

// It’s one of the traditions that makes Seattle what it is.  It’s anticipated for months, prepared for endlessly, and celebrated with wild enthusiasm.  The Summer Soltice Festival in Fremont brings out the crowds, first to save places to watch the parade (friends meet early in the morning and enjoy the socializing time while they wait), then the parade itself, sometimes extreme and often glorious, then all the music and booths... [Read more]

Short Trips From Seattle

// There are so many exciting places to go to get out of the Seattle Metro Area for a weekend or a week that it would take a whole server to gather all the great vacation stories.  But just to give you a taste I have collected a couple recent travel blogs and articles that will showcase some great places to start your explorations.  Have fun! The  Puget Sound islands all within practically a stone’s throw, or at least a ferry ride,... [Read more]

Sales, Interest Rates, Activity…Has the bottom been reached?

// Sales increasing, Interest Rates rising, Increased Market Activity,What Does it Mean? Since the beginning of the year, the interest and activity in what is often referred to as the Greater Seattle area (King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap Counties), has steadily increased.  Is this the normal Spring rush or is it finally the beginning of a recovery that has long been awaited?  During April and May, the pending sales were higher than the... [Read more]

Tales from the trenches, a short story about short sales.

// So far this year I have had three short sale listings, all 3 of which I sold.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?   However, of those three I was only able to close none of them…  that’s right, NONE OF THEM!  Why?  You ask?  Because the banks keep finding ways to get in the way… The most recent bank folly... My most recent deal collapse was just this Tuesday!  The bank representative (loss mitigation specialist) called... [Read more]

Purple Cafe & Wine Bar in Woodinville

//  Stop at this Woodinville Wine Cafe with a widespread reputation for a meal or a tasting experience! Just 35 minutes East of Seattle, Woodinville is wine country.  It is also a great place to vacation or to live, near all The Purple Cafe offers an outdoor patio that is central to the Eastside and close enough to Microsoft’s campuses.  It’s natural that it would be in demand as a great place to raise kids.  But the... [Read more]

Sams Club, Walmart’s answer to wholesale shopping!

// Warehouse shopping has gained popularity as rising costs in everything from gasoline to milk, meat to dairy, medicine to photo shop all add up to a bigger burden for budget conscious Americans fighting to just stay afloat. I am one of these consumers. As a restaurant owner and merchant, I have shopped for groceries and supplies almost daily for the past 20 years. Thus, I am well experienced in finding outstanding deals as the result of... [Read more]

Happy Hour in Queen Anne

// Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood is one of the nicest places to take a walk (it’s no secret that if you want to live in a wonderful walkable neighborhood this is one of the best choices in the city…if you don’t believe me just plug the address of any home you’re looking at into the Walkscore.com site and you’ll see a high rating!), do some shopping, meet a friend for coffee or lunch, or plan a romantic... [Read more]

Nearly 10 Acres and a 1610 sq ft Cedar Home on Seattle’s Eastside

// Unless one is an “urbanite,” I can almost guarantee, this property will make one say “aaahhhhhh….”  For those who like space, privacy, natural beauty, breathtaking views, sensational sunsets, and a comfortable home, this property delivers! Such a fabulous place to come home to after a long, hard day of work.  From late spring though early fall, enjoy time on the patio or one of the three decks.  The property... [Read more]

Zoopa, Healthy Salad Bar worth the drive to Tukwila

//  Nothing tastes better than  a gleaming array of the freshest vegetables, homemade soup, and bakery on a hot summer day.  So healthy and light, even your body will thank you.  Just a half and hours drive south of Seattle, half way to Tacoma and just minutes from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, is the best place for this type of fare that you will find anywhere in the state.  Now, after closure of the restaurants in Bellevue... [Read more]

Great Hiking in Western Washingtons Snohomish County

// OLD ROBE TRAIL - Mountain Loop Hwy, Granite Falls Last weekend the day before Memorial Day, my family and I went on a great hike up in Granite Falls. This was our first time hiking there, having received information previously indicating there are at least four hikes in this area. Through my real estate related excursions in Granite Falls, I know it to be beautiful country. The Glacier Basin Trail is considered strenuous, but the other... [Read more]

Kirkland’s Lake Street Mall by Marina Park

// Kirkland’s lakeside parks, like Marina Park near the downtown shops and restaurants, are something to brag about.  The downtown area is a great destination.  When you have a day, a half day, or even a couple free hours and need a bit of a break, this is a place you will be sure to relax and refresh.  Down by the water in Kirkland there is always something interesting to see, do, nibble, buy.  Whether you want pizza at Zeek’s,... [Read more]

Buyer’s Remorse vs. Non-Buyer’s Remorse

// It is typical for every purchaser of goods to feel some remorse over the price they paid, color of the object, the options they should have gotten…etc which we call “Buyers Remorse”.  Now there’s another feeling that people go through call “Non-Buyers Remorse”, which is caused by missing out on a purchase by waiting for various reasons.  Is it any more or less significant?  First, let’s consider... [Read more]