Greenwood

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 Residential unit increase is at 89.02% when compared to 2008.

MEDIAN PRICE	ACTIVE		PENDING		SOLD
DEC 09 MEDIAN	$425,000		$349,000		$380,000
DEC 08 MEDIAN	$495,000		$374,900		$403,500
Price +/-	-$70,000		-$25,900		-$23,500
Difference DEC %	-14%		-7%		-6%
YTD 09 MEDIAN	$479,950		$370,000		$380,000
YTD 08 MEDIAN	$509,950		$424,950		$429,950
Price +/-	-$30,000		-$54,950		-$49,950
Difference YTD %	-5.88%		-12.93%		-12.0%

As seen above chart, Median Price declined all across for Active, Pending and Sold Listings.  For December 09 sold median price was $380,000, dropped 6% compare to Dec 2008 while year to date Median price dropped further to 11.62%.

DAYS ON MARKET	ACTIVE		PENDING		SOLD
DEC 09 DOM	131		89		83
DEC 08 DOM	128		87		84
Days +/-	3		2		-1
Difference DEC %	2.34%		2.30%		-1.19%
09 YTD DOM	109		77		78
08 YTD DOM	93		75		73
Days +/-	16		2		5
Difference YTD %	17.20%		2.67%		6.85%

As seen above chart, the other important indicator to watch is “Days on the market” (DOM). There isn’t a significant difference, as little as 1.19% for Dec 09 and 6.85% for the year.

Over all, Inventory of homes dropping while sold home units are increasing. December 2009 Market Trend is showing a promising future for buyers and sellers. Yes, values are declining as there is activity out there…..

If you would like more personalized information for your area, please contact me via emailSebnem.oden@exprealty.com or visiting my website www.ProKeyRE.com

Wishing you a prosperous real estate future….

Greenwood

Chocolati Cafe in Greenwood / Phinney Ridge

A good coffee house is always worth remembering, and in this Greenwood neighborhood bordering on Phinney Ridge

(the two are close together and share much character and atmosphere, in fact they issue a combined newsletter, and have a combined Chamber of Commerce) there is better than that.

Yes, as indicated above, I speak of the Chocolati Cafe.  What makes it better?  OK, the scones.  I’m sorry to all the other wonderful scone makers out there, but these are definitely the best scones I’ve ever had.  Ever.  The best.  Like, the buttery lemon cranberry scone, and the crumbly buttery frosted blueberry scone.  (Note to self:  find out who makes them!!) 

And the wi-fi.  And the very friendly and sweet baristas.  And the truffles!!!!!  Yes!  And the perfect atmosphere, because as you know, a coffee house should be a little bit quiet and a little bit dim with rich colors and mirrors, and have wood floors and small round tables and the right kind of wooden chairs.  Quiet music so as not to overwealm the hiss of the espresso maker.  Chocolati?  Check, check, check, check, check, and check.

If you take a look at the neighborhood map, you will see that Greenwood is slightly

north of Phinney (which starts at around 50th), the heart might be thought of as the intersection of Greenwood and 85th Avenues, where numerous little shops and eateries are to be found.  Chocolati is competing with another great coffee shop, Neptune, just a few doors away, which I also have given my heart to and will blog about soon.  But.  As I said.  The scones, the

truffles… oh, I have not even mentioned the coffee itself, rich dark and absolutely what is called for on a warm spring day, in this city known as the coffee center of the Universe.  (Don’t ask me, check with the folks at the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company across the street!)

Now it is time to admit it, there are several Chocolati Cafes.  There is also one downtown, at the Seattle Public Library.  There is one in Wallingford.  There is one in fashionable Greenlake!  And there is also the Chocolati Factory Outlet Store, on Aurora around 77th.  Reading the website leads me to discover that Chocolati was founded in 2000, and “with the inspiring philosophy in making savory chocolate confections that are not only aesthetically creative, but also provide a unique experience for the senses. We at Chocolati follow the ancient Epicurean technique of hand-making our chocolates with the utmost attention to detail. From the moment our chocolates hit your palette to the lingering aftertaste, our chocolates provide you with an experience like no other.”  It sounds grand, but after having been there and seen and tasted for myself, it must be understood that this is PERFECTLY TRUE.  Yum.  Oh, and let me mention that if you are either here on a visit or going off to visit someone elsewhere, do please scope out the chocolate covered fortune cookies.  Just imagine how it would be to get a box of those mystic little bundles of chocolate sensation!  What a perfect gift from our town, the quirky, sophisticated, laid back and all round the-future-is-here urban village landscape that is Seattle.

 

Edy Kizaki
Realtor, Team Leader
edy@seattlepowersearch.com
206-402-9155

Greenwood

Gorditos in Greenwood…my vote for Best Mexican Food

Admittedly I went to college in a beach town and the tradition of bopping down to a local favorite in flip flops and an old shirt is burned deep into my soul.  I guess that’s why as I see the casually dressed very happy looking patrons in Gorditos passing from the pick up counter to head for their tables I feel a thrill of joy.  On a casual Sunday afternoon I will never ask for anything better than this tip top Mexican Food place in the heart of Greenwood where those in the know show up for the best food in this category I’ve had in these parts.

You can have a huge platter complete with rice and frijoles,

along with choices of salsa, smoky hot sauce and an onion cilantro fresh mix, or order some of the smaller plates.  This time I got the ceviche lime tostada topped with fresh avocado ($4.55), while my

companion choose the fajita taco with chicken and sour cream ($3.90).  I got the cantelope juice drink and loved it…but was way too full!  Yes, they have Corona & some other beers.

Clients of mine, a hip young couple who lived in Fremont and ended up choosing a great townhome in Queen Anne, first introduced me to this great place while we were in Greenwood looking at interesting possible properties.  If the pub scene (see my last post) doesn’t provide enough hot sauce for your Cinco de Mayo celebration, why not try Gorditos?

 

Gorditos in Seattle 213 N. 85th St. Seattle (Greenwood) 206 706-9352   Sun-Thurs 10:30 – 9:00 Fri and Sat 10:30 – 9:30

Edy Kizaki
Realtor, Team Leader
edy@seattlepowersearch.com
206-402-9155

Greenwood

Cinco de Mayo at the Pig N Whistle in Greenwood

Well, everyone must be making plans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and if you like local beer, select wines, a full bar

and a place that combines laid back Seattle quirky style with a glance back to traditional Irish neighborhood pubs, try the Pig N Whistle tucked happily between  Cobblestone Furniture (used and antique furniture and repairs) and Space Travel Supply (an after-school tutoring and space equipment supply store)

on Greenwood Avenue N, one of my favorite little neighborhood locals in North Seattle.

In celebration of the holiday festivities, they have $2 coronas all day.  Pair one up with Risotto and Dungenous Crab Cakes or (hold on to your hat) Crunchy Pig Ears with Spicy Mustard.  Or maybe Sweet Potato Fries with Smoked Tomato Jam.  If you want a sandwich, how about a Brick Pressed with Salami, Ham, olive spread and roasted green chilies or a Classic Rueben?

With friends, great art on the walls, great local beer, and time to “live laugh and love” as you will see on garden signs in this villagelike Seattle neighborhood, how can you go wrong?  And by the way, seems the kitchen’s open till midnight Mon thru Thursday, and till 2 a.m. Sat and Sun  for when you need a late bite.  Check out the Pig N Whistle website for more info…”Eat well, drink often, happy hour 7 days a week…”

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

Edy Kizaki
Realtor, Team Leader
edy@seattlepowersearch.com
206-402-9155