Going through some of the listings in Seattle and it is hard to believe the prices that I’m seeing!  There are so many good deals in Seattle and hopefully I can match them up with both my clients and potential clients!  If you are not taking advantage of this great market and low mortgage rates, you are really missing out!

Check out some of the good deals in Seattle that I came across!

Seattle Real Estate

Best Real Estate Deals in Seattle

One of the most frequently asked questions I get are “where can I find the best real estate deals in Seattle?” and “what’s the hottest area in Seattle?”   Honestly, there is value in every market and in every neighborhood.  I know that sounds like a cliché, but that is the truth.  That statement is more evident in the current real estate market and buyers are taking advantage.

I did a very general search today for homes, non-condo under 300k in Queen Anne, Magnolia, Belltown, Downtown, Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, and Green Lake and came up with OVER 100 listings! 

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Seattle Real Estate

Restaurant or kitchen on wheels is fast becoming common and popular casual dining option in Seattle.  With the recent explosion of food trucks serving diverse array of appetizing fare, it is easy to understand the appreciation.  Most frequent type you see in Seattle corners are Mexican food trucks; however, the popularity of them have spilled over to many different kinds of food, especially ethnic cuisines.

One of the most popular food trucks in Seattle is the Marination Mobile serving the Seattle residents in various spots within the city.  Unique fusion of Korean, Mexican, and Hawaiian flavors, the Marination Mobile has glorified food trucks and surpassed everyone’s expectation of the quality of food from kitchen on wheels.  The location of the mobile changes daily and now they have added a permanent non-mobile location in Capitol Hill called the “Station.”

On one Tuesday morning, I made my way to Belltown to check out the Marination Mobile.  Although I made it just few minutes past 11 o’clock, long line had already formed by the time I got there.  The long line didn’t seem to bother anyone as everyone’s faces were filled with excitement for some delicious food served in a mobile just like in festivals.  They don’t offer huge menu, but the few they offer were adequate.  The menu items included: tacos, sliders, quesadilla, kim chee fried rice, and spam musubi.  I had to sample all of them, so ordered one of each on the menu.  The service was friendly and fast.  I have to admit, the miso ginger chicken was a pleasant surprise.  The blend of miso and ginger was perfectly flavored topped with tangy coleslaw.  Spam slider was a no-brainer.  The prices were reasonable, ranging from $2 to $6.50.  The quality of the food was excellent for the price and coming from mobile truck.   Overall, I was pleasantly delighted by the food and service.

Kalbi, spicy pork, and miso ginger chicken tacos!

Spam Sliders!

Locations

• Monday – South Lake Union
• Tuesday – Belltown
• Wednesday – Fremont
• Thursday – Starbucks SODO
• Friday – SODO
• Saturday – West Seattle
• Sunday – Truck Closed

***All truck hours are 11-2pm***

They accept cash only, expect long lines, but fun and delicious food to go!

Marination Mobile in Seattle

Marination Mobile in Seattle

You start to wonder who all those people are sitting at tables in the comfy back area of the shop, and up on the loft at tables?  At first it looks like they might be serving coffee, but think again.  It’s the weekly teen Borad Game Challenge, and it’s a full house.  The events calender is fantastic, the reviews are enthusiastic to the point of gushing, and I had to stop writing this to take time to sign my son up for the week-long outdoor games summer camp.  A treasure of a store in the heart of Queen Anne.  Community, fun and challenge, what could be better?

PLIA protects you against soil contamination damage

Please.  Please Please.  If you own a house with an oil tank – which is common enough in Seattle neighborhoods – be sure that you’re on file with WA state as having PLIA (Pollution Liability Insurance Program) insurance (which covers up to $60,000 in costs).  It’s Free!  True Story. I represented two wonderful buyers in a successful transaction on upper Queen Anne hill.  They were wonderful people who were in a seemingly wonderful contract until the true colors of the Seller came out somewhere in the middle of our timeline.  Those colors, I won’t get into.  But I want to share one “oily” dimension of what turned out to be an extremely complicated transaction.  My clients and I hired a structural inspector to come through the house.  Typical.  Necessary.  OK.  After studying that report, we had an Oil Tank Inspector come out.  After that report, we certainly had a soil sample taken from around the underground tank.  And here’s where things started unraveling fast!  Soil Contamination.  When I requested proof that the Seller had insurance coverage, it turned out that he had submitted his information to PLIA previously, but had submitted his work address as his home address.  Denied Coverage.  And this single error caused such financial stress on his side of the contract, it got  ugly.  To spare you the details, it came to this.  In my addenda to the contract, the Seller was required to have the tank removed, clean all of the damaged soil (by WA state law), and replace the tank with an above-ground tank (my clients could decide later in ownership whether they wanted to switch to gas).  And this overwhelming cost – financial / time / energy / stress – put the entire transaction at risk, but this is a great insight to owners.  If you own a house, take care of it the best you can.  Maybe not every stairway and railing and wire will be up to code, but take care.  This Seller was in dire  need to sell.  My clients could not possibly be responsible for his errors or maintenance oversights.  He had to cut his losses, and it didn’t bring us any satisfaction to stand our ground firm while his side of things were, well, leaking badly!  So please.  Please please.  Be sure that you have the Free PLIA Insurance in WA State, have your house checked out ever so often by an inspector…and be sure that your address and phone number are filled out correctly on relevant forms!

Marybeth Cicirello * 206.214.6556 * marybeth.cicirello@exprealty.com * Downtown Seattle Real Estate

Me by the Seattle Waterfront! at the outdoor Olympic Sculpture Park...

Well here I am! Surfing the best break in real estate innovation – eXp Realty.  I’ve enjoyed a successful real estate career so far in Seattle (a warm shout out to Coldwell Banker Bain Lake Union…thank you!), and I’m building on this success with a new, passionate, forward-thinking brokerage.  Here’s my view from the wave’s edge in light of some frequently asked questions:

Does my aunt, grandfather, friend or cousin need to be familiar with computers to work with an eXp Agent or Broker? Ah well, no.  Not at all.  In fact, we are full-time, full-service REALTORS available to our clients in person whenever possible.  We’re quickly available by phone.  If someone prefers e-mail or video conference, that’s all fine too.  But our purpose is rooted in the tradition of service to the public.  However our clients prefer to communicate is how we prefer to communicate.  Our goal is to create successful transactions for buyers and sellers and to find solutions for them using all facets of tradition and technology.

This is me in the virtual eXp office! I personalized my avatar with a surfer on a wave...

What does fully 3.0 mean? Well, my brokerage – and only the structure of my  brokerage – is fully virtual!  That is…when I meet with my broker or the C.E.O. or the technical support team, we meet in a virtual space.  How cool is that?  For example, if I’m at a residence for an inspection (by rules & regulations I’m required to be physically present) I can open up my laptop, and be in my office in real time.  Here I can hold meetings, complete projects, or review previous meetings (updates on MLS forms; changes in WA state law; current tech or media trends et. al) archived in video or note form.  Time is of the essence in real estate not only in contracts, but in business.  The less time I spend communting/arranging meetings/showing up at a traditional office, the more time I have to give to my valued clients, their needs, their successes.

What about professional relationships?  What about being in front of people? While the passion of eXp Realty is tangible during our online meetings – we have “Xcamp” meetings on Monday mornings (colleagues from across the nation sharing ideas, motivations and success stories) and a Seattle Team meeting on Tuesday mornings (sharing ideas, local updates, stories and weekly goals) – we all value our relationships.  We know that our job requires being active in the field, at broker opens, with our clients, previewing residences, talking with people, sharing and supporting.  As a matter of fact…call me!  Lets get together for coffee or lunch!  I’d love to share my experiences and ideas…

(from L) Sebnem, Jim, Edy, Marybeth (me!) & Dave

The Seattle eXp Team threw an impromptu “real-life” meeting the day after I came on board.  What a bonus to see that these professionals are down-to-earth, informed, dedicated to their clients and to the industry changes.  For me, the decision to join eXp Realty was immediately justified!  And the professional support and insights from my managing broker Dale Kreiser at each point has been invaluable.  What better way to start a new adventure than with warm & trusted colleagues nearby!  I’m looking forward to becoming more and more available to the public in Seattle and finding relevant ways to use technology and the internet to create successes for you!

Marybeth Cicirello * 206.214.6556 * marybeth.cicirello@exprealty.com Downtown Seattle Real Estate



The menu is comfortable and inviting.  Our server let us know that recent revisions have added some very interesting bites to the choices.  We loved the Steak Salad.  I’ve had that at other places recently with good results, but this was the hands down winner with lovely crispy onion frittes on top, black olives, and baby romaine as well as truly excellent grilled steak slices.  There was also a great flatbread with garlic and spreads that I would recommend, and a slammingly satisfying double chocolate decadance cake.   If you happen to get to Julia’s, please let me know how you liked it!

You might say that any sentence that starts out with “everyone” has to be an exageration.  And I suppose it’s true that if you were to ask 20 Seattleites what their favortie neighborhood is, they would not all immediately blurt out “Queen Anne.”  In fact we are blessed with a number of wonderful, quirky, downright fantastic places to live in this laid-back, high speed Pacific Rim city, not to mention some equally popular and beloved Eastside and Northside areas.  But Queen Anne is special to the heart of Seattle, even for those who might choose to live elsewhere.  In one of the eleven parallel universes that exist according to String Theory, everyone lives in Queen Anne at least once.

Why is it so beloved?

Paragon Restaurant

Well, perhaps it’s the winding streets lined with flowering trees, or the gorgeous restored vintage houses, or the walkability with some of the city’s best restaurants and shops.  Or could it be the proximity to Seattle Center with all it’s offerings, and the every-so-easy commute (only 2 miles but as much as 20 minutes in rush hour traffic) to downtown?  The laid back atmosphere infused with vibrant lifestyle?  The neighbors who care?  The trendy and ever changing dynamics (like newcomer restaurant How To Cook A Wolf, Ethan Stowell’s 3rd restaurant which has been called “a cross between a cigar box and a sauna!? or like the top-rated Macrina Bakery, “fresh hot breads and pastries in a quaint, light-filled place in Queen Anne”) or the family freindly atmosphere (a great community center, parks, and shops like Lily’s Pampering Salon & Party Boutique  kids’ salon and Urban Kids Play or Queen Anne Books which has a Summer Read Program and wonderful kids events.)

Maybe it’s just the views, views of the city, the Sound, the Space Needle, the old craftsmen homes, the quaint streets, the tempting shop windows, the friends having coffee at little sidewalk tables, the quaint atmosphere of the shops and high-ceilinged old buildings that house restaurants and bring a sense of the past of the city into our everyday lives.

El Diablo Coffee House

For a gatherings of listings in Queen Anne don’t hesitate to drop me an email or call with your criteria.

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

Urban Kids Play Toy Store

Metropolitan Market has everything yummy

Caffe Ladro, one of the many coffee houses on the Boulevard

Queen Anne Frame Shop

Residential:
1 bedroom:   2 on market: $59,000-$75,000 (both are houseboats)
2 bedroom:   24 on market: $299,000-$1,075,000
3 bedroom:   60 on market: $379,500-$2,185,000
4 bedroom:   45 on market: $350,000-$3,895,000
5 bedroom+: 17 on market: $599,000-$5,950,000

Condos:
Studio:      11 on market: $179,950-$239,000
1 bedroom:  55 on market: $120,000-$529,000
2 bedroom:  85 on market: $230,000-$4,950,000
3 bedroom:  17 on market: $379,900-$1,675,000

Multi-Family:
Duplex: 8 on market: $499,900-$849,000
Triplex: 5 on market: $599,900-$949,500
Fourplex: 4 on market: $699,000-$1,525,000
5-plex+: 3 on market: $1,150,000-$2,600,000

Vacant Land:
7 on market: $275,000-$2,099,000

Some of my FAVORITE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE, the Seattle Weekly crowd, has issued a great little guide in this week’s free Weekly, their Happy Hour Guide.  Be sure to grab one at your favorite coffee house, or if you are out of town drop me an email and I’ll put one in the mail to you, as I have a stack in the office.

The Seattle Weekly Happy Hour Guide has five picks for Queen Anne, which are The Spectator, Genki Sushi, McMenamins Pub, Paragon, and Ozzie’s Restaurant and Lounge, with Happy hours listed below.

The Spectator   …   Monday all day, Tue-Sun 4-7 p.m.
Genki Sushi   …   daily 3-7 p.m., 9 p.m. to close (beer $3, sushi $1, side dish $1, daily cocktail $5)
McMenamin’s Tavern & Pool   …   daily 4-6 p.m., 10-close
Paragon Bar & Grill … Mon-Fri 4-7 p.m. (Very Live Music)
Ozzie’s Restaurant & Lounge … daily 11-7 p.m., food 3-7 p.m. daily (5 bars and a summer patio)

There is also a great Happy Hour in Seattle website I recently found, which lists 15 spots in Queen Anne, with ratings (note I found 3 had closed, so I took them off my list…check before you go).  Hands down winner is Peso’s, which a client of mine who bought a condo in Queen Anne also told me is his top choice most times!  Here is my list of places to visit as they got a 4 or 5 rating on the site (I’ve been to Peso’s to meet clients and it’s great, but got no photos for a blog…sorry, next time!):

Jabu’s Pub … 4:30-6:30 daily … “fun little place,” Monday night Bingo
          (Home Fries $2, 2 baby BBQ Onion Burgers or Beer Battered Shrooms $2.50, Wells $3, Drafts $2.50)
Ozzie’s Restaurant & Bar … 3:30-6:30 daily…offers happy hour during Seattle Center events, unusual in QA
          (2 Salmon or Beef Tacos, Shrimp Cocktail, Cheeseburger & Fries, Mini Pizza, Fish & Chips  all $1.95,
            Drafts $2.25, Wells $2.50)
Peso’s Kitchen and Lounge … 4-6 p.m. & 10-1 a.m. daily … busiest & most popular happy hour on QA!
          (22 different appetizers, $4 each)
Ponti … 4-6:30 & 9-close daily … it’s on the Queen Anne side of the Fremont Cut, next to the Fremont Bridge
          (Calamari $5, Scallops $5, Prawns $5, Cheeseburger w/Bacon $5, Wells $3.50, Beer $3.00, Wine $5)
Sport Restaurant and Bar … 3-5:30 p.m. M-F (near Seattle Center, award winning martinis)
          (Pizza $3.55, Wells 4.95, Bud Lite/Kokanee Drafts $1.50)
The Sitting Room … 5-7 p.m. daily

Two other sites that offer great insight on the Happy Hour scene in Queen Anne are SeattleTravel.com, which has great resources for travel here, and the website for Seattle’s nightlife rag, The Stranger, a full resource website that includes a neighborhood bars section.

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