North Seattle

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... 

Celebrating Seattle, New Year’s Parties

If these three words strike your heart like lightening as they did mine (underwater dance floor) you’ll want to be at the Bonza Bash at the Seattle Aquarium. This New Year’s Eve 2010 party is a first, as they say on the website, the inaugural bash, billed as A Diamond Night in the Emerald City.  At $75 per ticket or $230 for the VIP package, it’s about equivalent to the other AMAZING parties out there this year.  This one features the Mach One Jazz Orchestra.  Oh, and did I mention the underwater dance floor?  It’s for a good cause, too, supporting conservation work done by the Seattle Aquarium.  It’s black tie or cocktail attire (hey, go with the black tie!) and the mood is diamond bright!  And don’t forget the underwater dance floor. Giving the Bash some serious competition are two major parties, one is DList Magazine’s “New Year’s Eve 2010″ being held at Fremont Film Studios (9 p.m. to 2 a.m.).  If you haven’t at least been in the neighborhood when the Studios are lit up with a celebrity event, noticed the strings of limos and party-goers approaching (the friendly smiles of the Valet guys tell us it’s... 

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.... 

5 Reasons Buyers Fail With Fixers

"Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him." These days, it is all too easy for  inexperienced buyers to become obsessed with getting the “best deal”.   I’m talking about  the “weekend warrior” buyer- the one who watches countless hours of HGTV shows that make it seem plausible that someone could seek out, purchase, remodel and flip a home for 25% profit in 30 minutes, or less. The “Hey, I bet I could do that, too!” type of buyer… There are lots of ways to cut costs when house-hunting. Buying fixers, frontier homes or former meth-labs has always been popular for those hoping to save money, and these days, short-sales and foreclosed (REO) homes are whetting the appetites of aspiring “investors” all across the country.  Certainly, there are good deals out there to be found, and there are smart ways a savvy buyer can save money. The seemingly-endless series of books, seminars, and TV shows based on that premise can attest to that.  However, in my experience as a real estate professional I have witnessed, first-hand, more than a few common mistakes that I think are worth pointing out.... 

Rob LeRoy’s Guide to Ballard Bars

Recently,  I was wandering the Ballard Sunday market with my friend Alan. We were taking pictures of Old Ballard and reminiscing about the many great times we’ d had there over the years. While wandering down Ballard Ave. ( which is blocked off during the market) we saw a pair of boots nailed to a phone pole.  As I paused to take a picture, a family walked past. I overheard their young son inquire of his father, “Daddy, why are there shoes stuck to that pole?” The answer, which became an instant catch-phrase, was, “because it’s Ballard.”    After pausing for a brief moment to reflect on the  simple perfection of that statement I yelled back, “That is a great answer!” Having spent several years living in and around Ballard, I am excited to present my favorite Seattle neighborhood to the world, in all of it’s funky, unique and beautiful glory.  Why, because it’s Ballard. Ballard bars offer some of the most lively and diverse nightlife in all of Seattle.  A night out in Ballard can easily turn into a weekend, a week…or a month. There is that much going on.  As a nightlife connoisseur, I have come to love the unparalleled... 

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,... 

Are you thinking about selling in Green Lake or Phinney Ridge?

Attention Homeowners in Green Lake and Phinney Ridge! I have long-term buyers who have been looking for the perfect home to come up in either of these neighborhoods. They’re looking for at least a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom (4 bd 3 bth would be perfect), 3000 sqft min home and perferably with a view of the lake. In the past they’ve been attracted to Craftsmen-style homes with white moldings, open, luxurious kitchens with all of the high end appliances, and the more ‘wow’ factor the home has, the better! The home would have to be the caliber of a $800,000+ home and asking price should be no more than $1,300,000. Are you or someone you know thinking about selling your beautiful home? Before you list it, talk to us first! 206.384.7169 for Amy or 206.402.9155 for Edy.  

Seafair is Back!

Seafair in Seattle is Roaring to Life! Yes, it’s that time again Seattle, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are back in town.  And, if you haven’t heard already, the Fun in the Sun at Seattle Seafair thunderboats are back on Lake Washington.  It is truly a spectacular time of year.  Seafair is a celebration in Seattle that is truly the highlight of the year.  The City is shown off like no other time and it is family oriented to boot.  The torchlight parade is always a kid favorite as floats are all lit up and really are amazing.  If you’re a runner, there’s the seafair triathalon or the torchlight run.  Or if you’re into speed…try watching the Blue Angels and the Seafair Hydroplanes, which are my personal favorite.  There’s also a concert and fireworks Saturday Night. Hydros jet around Lake Washington during the Seattle Seafair. Last year, I made the trek down to south Lake Washington to see first hand what goes on at the hydroplane pits and see the Blue Angels up close.  Well as close as you can from the shore with them overhead.  They really try to make it Flying Blue Angels delight crowds at the Seattle Seafair. easy to get there with shuttles... 

Specialty Shops and the Majestic in Ballard

Ballard, one of Seattle’s most historic neighborhoods once known to be the center of the Scandinavian seafaring community, is still filled with a blend of the old with the new and everywhere in between. The city of Ballard was founded by European settlers way back in 1853 and before that, inhabited by the Shilshole Tribe that lived off of the abundant salmon and clam supply. Today, the Skandinavian roots are still alive in places such as the the Nordic Heritage Museum, the annual community celebration of the Norwegian Constitution Day and the local Viking Bank, to name a few. Being the 7th largest city in Washington state by 1900, Ballard formally became a part of the city of Seattle in 1907. Walking into the doors of the decades old Olsen’s Scandinavian Foods, it will feel a bit like walking back in time. Patrons wait for the house prepared pickled herring, smoked fishes, cookies, and other European delights as they have for over 30 years. The refrigerated cases are filled with such a variety of seafood and delicious looking treats, and you can smell the smoked fishes as you walk inside. Venture on down the street and you will find a lot of foot traffic with everything... 

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