Central District

Madison Park Real Estate Update, Feb. 2010

New evidence of a real estate market turnaround? The big news in the Madison Park real estate market last month was the report by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that the median price of Seattle homes sold in January was actually higher than in the same month a year earlier. For the city as a whole, this represented a 2.63% increase over the past year (houses and combos combined). It is the first time in almost two years that there has been a year-over-year increase in Seattle’s residential property values. The rest of King County did not fare as well, however, with home values continuing their downward trend. But how did prices hold up in our neighborhood? Madison Park itself is a market that’s a bit too small for year-to-year median price comparisons to be meaningful (seven total home sales in January 2009 and only five this year). But for our general area of the City (MLS Area 390, which also includes Capitol Hill, Montlake, Madison Valley, Madrona, and Leschi), the news was pretty good. There was a modest 2.1% increase in value between January last year and this. This improvement, however, perhaps has more to do with a year over year change in the mix of sales... 

Seattle Japanese Gardens 50th Anniversary

Seattle Japanese Garden The Japanese Garden in the Arboretum is about to end its winter hiatus, reopening on Sunday, February 14, for its 50th Anniversary season. Rated by a garden journal as one of the ten favorite Japanese gardens in the country, Seattle’s Japanese Garden was inaugurated in July 1960, after only four months of construction. It’s now ready to celebrate a half century of giving pleasure to visitors seeking sanctuary and a connection to nature. The concept of adding a Japanese Garden to the Arboretum goes back to 1937, but it took another twenty years for the idea to gain enough popular support to enable fundraising to begin for the project (a war against Japan had intervened). In 1959, with funds in hand and the design completed, Juki Iida and Nobumasa Kitamura were hired to build the garden, which originally was scheduled to take up to three years to complete. Using heavy construction equipment, a somewhat scaled-back design, and a capable crew of mostly Japanese-American gardeners, the builders transformed an Arboretum ravine into a colorful and tranquil garden, offset by boulders, water features and formal elements. And they did it all in record time. (That’s... 

Residential Housing Statistics in King County December 2009

I was just asked this week how is the Real Estate Market in King County since I mentioned earlier about Snohomish County. Well here is information which was requested about King County. Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reported as following statistics for Dec 2009. Jan 2010 stats will be published in the coming weeks. We still got 21 months of inventory in King County while Snohomish County got 19 months of inventory of homes for sale. UNITS ACTIVE PENDING SOLD DEC 09 UNITS 6,918 1,413 1462 DEC 08 UNITS 8,707 911 929 Total Unit +/- -1789 502 533 Difference DEC % -20.55% 55.10% 57.37% YTD 09 UNITS 33,744 23,019 16,022 YTD 08 UNITS 38,889 18,895 15,991 Total Unit +/- -5145 4124 31 Difference YTD % -13.23% 21.83% 0.19% As seen above chart, Residential active listings units dropped 20.55% from 8707 units in 2008 to 6918 units in December 2009 while Pending Residential units increased 55.10%, as Dec 09 pending listings were 1413 units compare to 911 units in December 2008.  There is a huge increase in sold units at 57.37%, 1462 units closed in 2009 vs 929 units in 2008.  Snohomish County Sold... 

Heating Bills a Thing of the Past?

I’m pretty sure if the power company offered you a month off from paying your bill, you’d say yes. It might not happen tomorrow, but according to an article I just read in a Sierra Club magazine, in a few decades looks like large power bills will be a thing of the past. As we all know, it’s possible to build homes and offices that will not only be energy self-sufficient, but will produce zero carbon emmissions. In the short run this might be more costly to build (which is why some elements of the building industry look on the movement to increase energy efficiency requirements in building standards with dismay) but in the long run it will more than pay you back for the investment… in other words, save you money. So where a Green-Built house might cost you however thousand dollars more now, it will more than pay you back over time in utility bill savings. So how do we make it practical and attractive not only to spend the $ up front for long term savings, but to include the more than 100 million homes and offices we already have in the new technologies that result in these long-term savings? Looks like the plan is in place. Economically it makes sense to retrofit.... 

Living in the Rainier Valley

Life in the Rainier Valley A lot of Seattlites have never been to the Rainier Valley and they are missing a lot.  Nestled below Beacon Hill is one of the most intreging areas of urban improvement and a spectacular life.  Driving down the main thoroughfare from downtown Seattle, Martin Luther King Way S., you’ll see a considerable amount of new housing, condominiums, urban parks and rapidly changing demographics.  This is truly the most diverse area in Seattle, where you can meet someone from most ethnic groups at your neighborhood Starbucks.  If you like diversity in dining, there are restaurants of every type on MLK or Rainier Ave, the other main arterial.  One of the favorite places for people to visit in the valley is Seward Park, a 300 acre park on a small peninsula out into Lake Washington facing Mercer Island.  The park contains miles of jogging, biking or walking trails, picnic and barbeque areas and a small amphitheater for year round concerts.  Oh yes, there’s plenty of grass to lay out on those beautiful summer days to get a tan or play frisbee.  Not long ago, I also visited with some people that were fishing for catfish off of the shore near... 

AMAZING lodge for sale in Chilliwack, BC

I was up in the Vancouver BC area last week and my friend Laura Howren took me with her to see a property she just listed in Chilliwack. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the area, it’s a city in the Fraser Valley region in BC about an hour and a half away from Vancouver (home to the 2010 Winter Olympics!!) with an abundance of recreational activities…hiking, fishing, golfing, water sports, you name it. This log home is currently a short term executive rental, rented out on a nightly or weekly basis, and is in a perfect location as it’s only 35 minutes to Harrison Hot Springs and 25 minutes to Cultus Lake, a popular camping destination. Think 26′ ceilings with ceiling-to-floor windows that take advantage of light, beautiful Hans Rhodes natural rock fire place, large recreation room in the daylight basement and a private master suite on the upper level…it’s literally the perfect Getaway! With the exchange rates today at $1.08, with US dollars it’s like getting an 8% discount right off the top of the purchase price. The listed price is $969,000 and the home has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, about 2600 sqft and is just shy of 2.5 acres,... 

Graffiti Art and Tagging all over Town

Look around many streets in the city and you will see random letter and illustration spray painted in tunnels.  Some are vulgar, tagging as in marking walls with gang signs.  Others are a beautful expression of communication that is calm and inviting.  Near Greenlake and in many neighborhoods, you will see this.  It is almost as if the vibrant rainbow of colors is telling a poetic story for all to hear and see.  On the opposite spectrum is the annoying and ever present gang-related and other illegal graffiti or tagging.   In the City of Seattle, there is a new law being enforced called the Graffit Nuisance Ordinance. Business and private home owners who have been designated as having graffiti nuisanced properties are cited by mail and given 10 days to remove or repaint their buildings.  If they don’t, there is a daily fine that ranges from $100 per day to a maximum penalty of $5,000.  The main purpose of this law is to discourage the presence of gang related signs and to beautify the community.  This will in turn help to give minimal exposure to local organized crime teams. Working together to clean up our neighbohoods is a common goal that will benefit us all and... 

Magnuson Park, Unleash the Dogs for a Run

Seattle is a very dog friendly town and one of the great ways to reward your faithful furry companions for their good behavior is to let them run loose at one of the many no leash dog parks in the city.  Magnuson Park in the NE neighborhood of Seattle just north of the UW and along beautiful Lake Washington is one of these city parks that offer huge spaces for you and your dog’s bountiful enjoyment.  There are several entrances to the Park, but the very south entrance on 65th and Sandpoint Way will take you to there. There is an expansive open section for big dogs and one for little dogs.  It is like the neighborhood social for animals, where they meet and greet one another.  Quite the experience and the dogs are absolutlely gorgeous to look at.  Good exercise for the human companions, as well.  The views of Lake Washington are also stunning, and the breeze that hits you is refreshing and cool, even on a hot summer day.  You will also see on any given day a bunch of kite flying enthusiasts just next to the dog run.  Vibrant colors and some really great designs of kites to watch.  Plenty of parking and oh, what a day for doggie and you!  

Pool, Bowling, and Food at Garage Billiards on Capitol Hill

The Broadway district in Capitol Hill is known for it’s eclectic and artistic population of Seattle.  Now, it is home to a very hip and happening  pool hall and bowling alley,  with a full service bar and restaurant to boot.  Jill Young – Rosenast  and Alex Rosenast converted this 7,500 sqare foot 1928 building that was a former Plymouth dealership and automotive garage into a huge venue and new local favorite hang-out with the help of two Pearl Jam band members.  It  attracts not only the area hipsters and college students, but also  the corporate parties and business clientele. With two additions and expansions, one in 2003 and another in 2008, the Garage became the only new bowling alley opened in the Seattle city limits in the last 40 years while offering an hugely impressive entertainment source featuring a total of 20 bowling lanes, 25 pool tables, 6 bars, and 3 private rooms.  The design is sleek and cutting edge with a retro 50’s yet modern feel and crisp clean colors in the incredible almost 40,000 square foot building.  Plenty of room to party and entertain even the biggest groups and functions, and clearly, many activities to choose from.   The... 

Mother’s Day at the Washington Park Arboretum

This year marks the 75th  anniversary of the Washington Park Arboretum.   It was officially established then in a “joint agreement” between the city of Seattle and the University of Washington.  Hardly a month goes by without at Washington Park Arboretum Celebrates Mother's Day least a quick visit for our family as the seasons bring ever changing beauty to this spectacular urban green space.  The Arboretum is located just east of downtown Seattle on the shores of Lake Washington (south of UW).  This lovely area is the home of an internationally recognized “woody plant collection” (trees and stuff like that) which includes maples, hollies, oaks, camellias, and of course the conifers.  (If your visiting friends are always pointing at a tree with needles and saying “what kind is that?” and you never know, here is where you can find out.) What is happening here on Mother’s Day?  I wondered about it as we are still in the formulation stages of our plans (part of life as a real estate agent is that kids learn to fit into the schedule on weekends).  It seems there is an annual Mother’s Day tradition at the Arboretum, the Azalea Walk. ... 

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