Snohomish

Residential Housing Statistics in Snohomish County December 2009

What is going on with the real estate market in Snohomish County? As being a Snohomish County resident and a Real Estate Agent, I feel as I need to share the factual numbers which are published every month by Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS)  with my clients. I often get calls from my active buyers asking “when to buy”. My sellers are asking me “when you sell”. Each party wants to know how long to wait before pulling the trigger.  My answer is “when it is the right time for you, your budget and your family”.  Each person has a different life event that calls to buy or sell real estate. Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reported as following stats for Dec 2009. ACTIVE PENDING SOLD DEC 09 UNITS 3,533 628 654 DEC 08 UNITS 4,362 455 346 Total Unit +/- -829 173 308 Difference DEC % -19.01% 38.02% 89.02% YTD 09 UNITS 15,025 9,979 6,644 YTD 08 UNITS 17,483 7,693 6291 Total Unit +/- -2458 2286 353 Difference YTD % -14.06% 29.72% 5.61% As seen above chart, Residential active listings units dropped 19.01% from 4362 units in 2008 vs 3533 units in 2009 for the month of December while Pending... 

Historic Downtown Snohomish Living

As the Antique Capital of Northwest, Snohomish, WA is home to nearly 450 antique dealers. Snohomish, with a population of 9145, was founded in 1859 and is listed in  National Register of Historic Places. This quaint river-side towne is famous for its Historic Homes and Gardens. Snohomish architecture contains a delightful variety of styles.  As an example, Blackman House is a must see. A Dutch colonial style with Queen Anne Towers, it is located on the corner of Fourth Street and Avenue D. Snohomish architectural collections reflect Queen Anne Victorians, English Tudors and Dutch Colonials as a testament to the diversity of Snohomish pioneer residents. Historic Homes Tour are offered for those who appreciate a stroll among gorgeous historic homes.  Snohomish Garden Club held its 25th Annual Snohomish GardenTour on July 26th 2009 featuring gorgeous gardens among Historic Snohomish Homes on a lovely Sunday afternoon.  Do not miss this Summer’s 2010 Garden Tour. Historic Downtown was a busy hub for milling, timbering and farming in 1860s. Today, there are delightful varieties of charming shops on First Avenue where visitors can take a day and…   Discover antiques, collectibles... 

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.... 

What is a Buyer’s Agent and Why Do I Need One?

WHAT IS A BUYER’S AGENT AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?   Q:  How do Buyers’ Agents Get Paid?   A:  Their services are free to the Buyer.   Q:  How does that work?   A:  When the Seller’s Agent signs a listing agreement with the Seller, they negotiate a commission.  They then offer a part of that commission, usually half, but it varies, to the Buyer’s Agent.  This is listed in the Agent part of the MLS.  So when a Buyer chooses a home and purchases it, the total commission is subtracted from the Seller’s side of the totals, and is paid out to the Seller’s Agent and the Buyer’s Agent.   Q:  But if the Buyer’s Agent gets paid by the Seller, do they really work for me?    A:  Good question!  Actually the Washington State laws have changed.  It used to be that both parties worked for the Seller!  Even though you might pick out your own agent to tour and help you, they would still be obligated to guard the best interest of the Seller of any property you saw.  That was deemed unfair to the Buyer and the law has been changed.  The Buyer’s Agent by law owes the Buyer confidentiality and fiduciary loyalty… i.e. has a responsiblity... 

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,... 

Lake Tye Park in Monroe is a great place to spend the day.

Lake Tye Park Rules Lake Tye Park is located off Fryelands Blvd in Monroe, south-west of Hwy 2. Every year, the last Sunday in April, sponsors make it possible for a kids fishing derby to take place. More than a 1000 kids show up before 8 am to get in line to fish for farm raised trout which gets unloaded into the man made lake just about a week before the event. These are some good eating fish too, let me tell ya. It is free to the community and kids can bring their own tackle and bait, or borrow those that are provided by the wonderful volunteers who are present to assist the kids and monitor the fishing activities. Each child is allowed to catch two fish, and then they can get in line one more time to catch two more if they so desire. My oldest with a nice catch from April 2008 Lake Tye has a great playground for the tots, basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic areas, a food concession stand, a skateboard park and clean public restrooms. I haven’t done this there before but it also might be a great place to fly the kites. One thing is for certain, it’s a great environment to spend some quality family time. A Tower of Slides! For those who are too big to play... 

Rose Hill Chocolate Factory and Shop in Mukilteo

 This sunny week we stopped by the Rose Hill Chocolate Company for a truffle and some samples of their famous fudge. I liked the Chocolate Ammeretto, my son opted for the Walnut Chocolate Fudge. Probably the most decadent was the black current truffle with white chocolate! Dan Straub, the owner, was behind the counter and we learned a lot about where the world’s best cacao beans come from (Tierra del Fuego) and some chocolate making trivia. There were a lot of other temptations including gummy spiders and numerous Halloween goodies available. Yum! We thought next time we’ll leave the kids at home and stop by the Leely’s Day Spa & Wine Tasting next door to the Chocolate Factory to sip some local vintages. Rose Hill Chocolate Company, 700 3rd Street, Mukilteo, WA, (425) 353-1183 Leely’s Day Spa & Wine: 700 Third St., Mukilteo; 425-268-6004, leely@ahanmail.net. Wine tasting available with spa services anytime; regular tasting 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, $5.  

Imagine Kids’ Museum in Everett

What a happy crisp clear day it was, and time to do some family stuff!  We went to the Imagine Children’s Museum, in Everett.  It was our first time at the Imagine Children’s Museum, and we LOVED it. Each exhibit seemed more fun than the last, and being in the rooftop play area was like heaven. The Water Play Room was full of spinning wheels and trickling streams, the Neon Room was dark and glowy (very Halloween!!) and the Treehouse, the Theater (act out your own plays!) and the Vetrinary Clinic were intriguing to say the least. I also loved the Farm Patch with a horse and tractor to ride, and the Airplane where you could pretend to piolet it… and the Fireman’s room for under 5’s. Right across the street was a great Goodwill with lots and lots of costumes… found a perfect Stitch costume (cute space alien with 4 arms, from Lilo & Stitch) for Daniel for $6…fun! If it still fits in October I bet we are going to have Stitch for Halloween! Imagine Children’s Museum, 1502 Wall StreetEverett, WA 98201(425) 258-1006 Edy Kizakai Realtor, Team Leader  

Beach at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo

Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, (home of the Mukilteo Festival held in September) is a great destination for strolling, play, or even log leaping with the kids!  Recently we dropped by to enjoy the passing ships, engaging dogs walking their owners, and the sand, shore, and eventually the sunset. It was a bright sunny day, high blue skies with puffy clouds, and nothing could have been more fun than this Lighthouse Park Views from Beach recently relandscaped beach park just south of the Mukilteo ferry terminal. There were kayaks, speedboats, the ferries of course, and one glorious ocean liner passing, kids and their parents playing on the new space age playground climbing equipment, dog walkers, log sitters, photographers, and some strollers enjoying the beauty of the scene. We jumped from log to log and made it from one end of the beach to the other without touching the sand. City of Mukilteo’s “About Mukilteo” webpage offers a great introduction to this delightful destination. by Edy Kizaki Realtor, Team Leader    

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 three are considered easy. They are The Big Four Ice Caves, Monte Cristo, and The Old Robe Trail.  We hiked Old Robe. There is a bit of a descent down to the river which in the reverse, makes for an ascent, which can get a persons heart rate up a little for about 15 minutes.  It is beautiful scenery from the get-go and once down by the river, the trail remains relatively flat. The trail leads to part of what was once an old railroad line, and I’ve walked and maybe even ridden along tracks before, but I’ve never seen the likes of this. There are several tunnels or caves in the hillsides which the trains used to travel through. Although the trail is supposed to be closed at this point, we ventured on and the terrain does get a bit dangerous... 

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