West 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... 

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,... 

Sailing Puget Sound

Puget Sound is ever changing and one of the never forgotten facts of our lives here on the edge of the world. Living in the Pacifc Rim city of Seattle here in the Northwest provides so many opportunities to enjoy the abundant nature that surrounds us. But the Sound is for me one of the most treasured facets of our environment! A client that moved here because of work sent me a link to her photos while taking a walk with her daughter recently. Sailing Puget Sound I love this one showing a sail boat on the Sound with the city and Space Needle in the background. Krista, thanks for sharing a perfect moment!  

Seattle Professional Sports Scene

Seattle has always been the professional sports mecca in the Pacific Northwest.  Even after losing the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA, we still have the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners (currently in 1st place) the only professional teams in the National Football League and Major League Baseball, respectively  in the Pacific Northwest.  We also have the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and a winner of the league title a few years ago.  By the way, they just re-signed Lauren Jackson, 2-time MVP, to another contract.  Why did she as an unrestricted free agent sign here again?  Because of the incredible fan support the team has.  New to the scene this year are the Seattle Sounders, a Major League Soccer team.  Out of the gate, they have taken the league by storm and are currently in 2nd place, not bad for a team in it’s 1st year of existence.  They have one of the premier goalkeepers in Washington’s own Kasey Keller.  So far this season, he’s given up 1 goal in the 5 games he’s played.  The other two games were lost as he was ejected from one and could not play the next.  This team has played to sellout crowds in every home game.  Not surprisingly,... 

Is your neighborhood walkable?

These days, most people looking for houses that are in neighborhoods that have the same community spirit that was prevalent in the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s.  These were neighborhoods where everyone knew each other and their kids all grew up together.  You didn’t have to find a babysitter, there was probably one next door.  How is this type of community created?  One way is to slow down the pace of our lives and to stop trying to schedule every hour of every day.  In place of rushing here and there, people need to take the time to walk around their neighborhood.  It’s pretty interesting to meet all of the neighbors on your street in maybe a one block radius.  In my old neighborhood in Seattle, there was the grade school a block away that drew every kid there after school, on weekends and you almost couldn’t help getting to know each other.  Most neighborhoods have a central core area that defines it.  Within the core area there are grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, parks, libraries, bookstores, fitness centers, drug stores, hardware stores and clothing stores to name a few.  All of them are within walking distance... 

Spuds of West Seattle

Spuds Fish and Chips has several locations around the Seattle area.  This one is near Alki Point in West Seattle.  Some of the better fish and chips we’ve ever had, we usually get a three piece cod combo and split it between the two of us. In the entry before you reach the order counter, there’s a bit of a museum with photos of a natatorium that used to be essentially right across the street.   Well if you are anything like me, you do not know what a natatorium is.  I’ll tell you.  It’s an indoor swimming pool arena.  Yes, there are photos of old time bathing beauties…..  Also on the wall are photos of Spud’s fish and chips, in the early years, with soldiers just home from the war, and signs for the fish and chips for 10 cents.  Oh, and just a clue, it costs just a bit more than that now. At the other end of the room near the front window seats are copies of a newspaper ad where local land merchants (you know, real estate agents) were selling lots by auction, called Alki Point Beauty Home Tracts.  I’m sure some of them are homes that are still standing, but I wonder just how many. That might be a fun study some day.  Alki Point... 

About West Seattle, WA

West Seattle, a hilly district in Seattle, Washington, encompasses all of Seattle west of the Duwamish River. It was incorporated as an independent town in 1902 and was annexed by Seattle in 1907. Among the area’s attractions are its saltwater beach parks along Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, including Alki Beach and Lincoln Park among others. The area is also prized for its magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east. West Seattle is divided into several neighborhoods. They are Admiral, Alki, Arbor Heights, Beach Drive, Delridge, Fauntleroy, Fairmount Park, Gatewood, Genesee, Harbor Ave, High Point, The Junction, Lincoln Park, Luna Park, Morgan Junction, Pigeon Point, Roxbury, Schmitz Park, Sunset, and Youngstown. Known as the “gold coast” to many in the housing market, West Seattle has a broad spectrum of available housing, with the majority of real estate retaining a very favorable return. The latest development to remodel the Highpoint area has helped land values continue up.  

Sailing Puget Sound

Puget Sound is ever changing and one of the never forgotten facts of our lives here on the edge of the world. Living in the Pacifc Rim city of Seattle here in the Northwest provides so many opportunities to enjoy the abundant nature that surrounds us. But the Sound is for me one of the most treasured facets of our environment!A client that moved here because of work sent me a link to her photos while taking a walk with her daughter recently. I love this one showing a sail boat on the Sound with the city and Space Needle in the background. Krista, thanks for sharing a perfect moment!         Edy Kizaki, Realtor & Team Leader 206-402-9155 edy@seattlepowersearch.com