October 3, 2008
You’ve got a few good picks this weekend in the Central District/west Madrona area, all for less than $230/square foot. If you want to visit, more’s the better; this quartet of sweet digs are open for a little look-see this weekend.
410 14th Ave.
OPEN: Sun., 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: $438,500
Specs: 3 bd/2 bath
Size: 1,920 square feet
This close-in, classic Craftsman boast a basement guest apartment — perfect for a Seattle U student, perhaps — and great period details, including hardwoods and tulip glass windows.
502 21st Ave. #B
OPEN: Sun., 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: $445,000
Specs: 4 bd/2.5 bath
Size: 2,157 square feet
It’s a townhouse with all of today’s top conveniences: walk-in closets, granite countertops, and even bamboo floors.
502 21st Ave. #A
OPEN: Sun., 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: $449,900
Specs: 4 bd/2.5 bath
Size: 2,157 square feet
The above townhouse’s twin, though this one touts vaulted ceilings and southfacing balconies.
710 30th Ave.
OPEN: Sun., 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: $650,000
Specs: 3 bd/2 bath
Size: 2,900 square feet
Take a peek at this 1923 home, complete with city views and secret garden-style landscaping.
October 3, 2008
The Lakeview Residence–5 new condos with great views on NE Capitol Hill priced from $1,072,000 - $1,128,000
The Trace–Several new studio, 1 & 2 bedroom condos at 12th and
Madison on Capitol Hill priced from $230,000 - $850,000
1715 18th Ave #B Seattle, WA 98122–A townhome with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths offered at $559,500
October 3, 2008
1.) 17077 Parkside Way SE, Renton $395,500
Open Sunday, October 5th, 1-4pm
2.) 508 NW 60th St, Seattle $549,900
Open Sunday, October 5th, 1-4pm
3.) 7307 Sand Point Way NE #613, Seattle $279,500
Open Sunday, October 5th, 1-4pm
4.) 1705 224 Ct NE, Sammamish $599,500
Open Sunday, October 5th, 1-4pm
October 2, 2008
Today’s main real estate article in the Seattle Times reads “More Sellers are Growing Desperate as Homebuying Stalls Locally.” Glad you guys could finally make it to the party–this has been going on for quite some time now. According to today’s article:
The Seattle-area housing market, once touted as bulletproof against the forces that were pulling down other markets across the country, is now stressing out sellers, who are seeing inventories rise, sales fall and prices drop. Many are shellshocked — particularly those needing to move out of town or trying to forestall foreclosure.
The thing is, desperate homesellers can be found in every neighborhood these days, and I happen to be and know quite a few of them. However, the funny thing is, this article probably paints a bleak picture for those of you lucky enough to be on the outside of the real estate market right now, but from the inside, I believe this article still paints a far rosier picture than it actually is.
For example, there’s the owner of the Factoria townhome, who’s been through the emotional ups and downs of at least two offers fallen through, but you know what? This story gives me hope that I didn’t have prior to reading his story. You see, it means that if he’s gotten two offers (albeit unsuccessful), there are actually buyers out there, those mythical creatures.
Hey, I’m right out there on the front lines with you, desperate homesellers, with something to sell and nobody to sell it to, let alone even look. Other desperate homeseller buddies share similar stories, and collectively, our experience is adding up to about one walk through every three weeks and nary so much as a nosy neighbor at an open house.
Lucky, lucky you, Mr. Factoria townhouse owner–at least you’ve got hope. Sigh. For some of us, it’s going to be a very long winter.
Homesellers out there on the front lines, what’s your experience these days? Are you getting lookers? Are you getting bites? Or are you just getting plain old frustrated?
October 2, 2008
My last post detailed some bargains just blocks from Capitol Hill. Today I’m exploring the higher end of the market. Just as the bargain homes require a certain type of buyer to appreciate them (tough-skinned, urban pioneers), these haughtier homes demand a certain type of buyer too–one with a well-padded wallet.
If you have a million dollar budget, Capitol Hill offers several options: from elegant, historical homes to modern, newly-built condos. You can live in east Capitol Hill, enjoying sweeping views high above the action on the streets; or you can live on north Capitol Hill in a grand home on a quiet, tree-lined street of meticulously manicured lawns. Either way, your digs will be sweet indeed.
1980 Harvard Ave E Seattle, WA 98102 Price: $999,000
4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, 2,790 sq. ft.
923 13th Ave E Seattle, WA 98102 Price: $1,000,000
3 Bedrooms, 1.75 Baths, 2,480 sq. ft.
1122 23rd Ave E Seattle, WA 98112 Price: $1,075,000
4 Bedrooms, 2.25 Baths, 3,623 sq. ft.
2914 E Madison St #207 Seattle, WA 98112 Price: $999,950
2 Bedrooms, 1.75 Baths, 1,411 sq. ft.
October 1, 2008
The Senate just approved the bail out that the House of Representatives rejected earlier this week.
A friend of mine believes that “instead of giving money to the banks, our government should use that money to enable the banks to refinance the loans at a more reasonable rate so that people can afford the payments and not default.” I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do but the $700 billion bail doesn’t sit well with me. My guess is Wall Street will be happy tomorrow.
Seattle Bubble points out :
… it’s not enough that we throw hundreds of billions of dollars we don’t have at buying our own banks’ bad debt—if this version of the bailout passes, we’ll be pouring our children’s children’s children’s tax dollars into bad debt held all around the world.
October 1, 2008
Hey, baby, what’s your sign?
Looks like the stars can determine your decorating style, according to Homestrology, an online offshoot of Move.com. Just find your sign — if you’re not sure, consult Wikipedia’s robust page on the subject — and click through to the article about you and your style. According to Homestrology, my Libran decorating leans toward “sweet, light and feminine. However, you are most of all sophisticated. No sign designs a room better than you; yours is the sign of the decorator, in fact.”
Well. I’m not completely convinced. But the flattery is nice.
So: what’s your sign say about you?
Via Apartment Therapy.
September 30, 2008
With all the recent talk of $700 billion dollar Wall Street bailouts, obscene “TED Spreads”, and the inability of businesses to get short term loans, you might be wondering what all this has to do with you beyond the fact that your 401K is gyrating up and down by 10% or more a week. The theory goes that banks are tightening credit lending so that only the most qualified of buyers can get a loan. The reality is probably somewhere in between as even the major news agencies admit that when they poll local lending institutions things are not much different than they were one or two months ago.
While the credit crisis has shaken Wall Street to its core, the thousands of community banks that make up the lion’s share of the nation’s banking system remain, to a large extent, quite secure.
“Our lending window continues to remain open,” said Jonathan Fox, the chairman and CEO of The Fowler State Bank, a Colorado-based bank an hour’s drive from Pueblo with about $56 million in assets.
Source: CNNMoney
So all this negativity we see in the press got me thinking–we are obviously in an economic crisis in this country, but are we truly in a consumer credit crunch? How hard has it been for real people to get loans? Share your stories and let’s hear what your experience has been like in securing a home loan.
September 30, 2008
Many people – who either don’t live in the Puget Sound area or lack Eastside real estate experience – equate Bellevue as the Northwest’s version of 90210. Certainly, the area has its luxury. It also has unattractive, less than its reputation-worthy areas.
Feeding on this thought some more, I experimented with Redfin’s neighborhood trends tool that launched in August. The most expensive home listing in Bellevue is a $9,249,000 penthouse in the new Bellevue Towers. The least expensive home is a $165,000 single bedroom condo. Bellevue homes play on both sides of the equation.
Let’s see how nearby cities compare.
Renton
Most expensive: $2,650,000
Least expensive: $2,000 (that’s how it’s listed, but I’m not sure if it’s for real)
Mercer Island
Most expensive: $10,380,000
Least expensive: $225,000
Newcastle (Suburb of Renton)
Most expensive: $5,999,950
Least expensive: $167,000
Issaquah
Most expensive: $12,221,222
Least expensive: $159,999
Note: Data was pulled only from homes with addresses available on Redfin.
September 30, 2008
Okay, so you’re all settled in your new neighborhood. You know the folks next door. You’re buddies with the barista at the local coffeshop. You’ve got the shortcuts, the dead-ends, the best parking spots down pat.
But are you registered to vote? Help represent your ‘hood at the polls this November by making your move official. Register or update your voting profile by mail or online by October 4.
If you’re up for a trip to Renton, you can register in person through October 20:
919 SW Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057-2906
Phone: 206-296-VOTE (8683)
Toll-free: 800-325-6165
Not sure where you’re registered? Visit the King County Elections site and plug in your name and birthdate; if you’re set up in King County, you’ll be able to review your registered address, plus your districts and the location of your nearest polling place.
Now, get out there and cast your ballot.
