She has had the same family loving her for 40 years. She is more than 3000 square feet (some of which is unfinished) of sheer, turn-of-the-century heaven. These homes are not easy to find anymore!

I fell in love with her the moment I saw her photos online and couldn’t wait to go see in person.  I wasn’t disappointed.  It is so rare to find a home of this age that has been taken care of so lovingly, with views, that is ready to have a new Owner’s personal touch in this price point.  I couldn’t help but want to share.   You can find out more about her here.

A special shout-out to Deirdre Doyle + Brad Hinckley.  Thank you for letting me share.

Yes. Our market is challenging. There is no question about that. But I would venture to say that even more than challenging, it is just different… Different than we had gotten used to during the hay-day of a few years ago and still different from the somewhat “normal” market prior to that.  Are people being more cautious?  Discerning? Conservative?  I hope so!

So when I read this article in the New York Times the other day, I got a little annoyed.  It talks about Seattle’s market, how it has been behind other metropolitan areas in it’s decline and how it still has about a 10% drop to make before recovering.  OK. OK. What?  It is no surprise that we are behind markets like Southern California in the decline and the following recovery, but I think that using the word “Seattle” when explaining this is just down-right misleading.

It is my guess that when they refer to Seattle, they mean the entire Seattle Metropolitan area which includes King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.  It would have been good to mention that in the article!  There are certainly markets in the Seattle proper area that still have decline before hitting bottom (and maybe staying there for a bit) and then recovering, but 10%?  In Seattle proper?  Not sure I would say that is accurate (and much more importantly, nor would Matthew Gardner, an esteemed local economist whom I saw speak a month ago).  Yes — maybe in the more southern, northern and eastern neighborhoods of King, Snohomish and Pierce counties — but not “Seattle”.

I am not saying the information is wrong.  I am also not saying I don’t want this information out there because it is negative.  What I am just saying is that I would love for articles like this to have more specific detailing.  These articles could, in theory,  help individuals to understand our market before engaging in it.  We, as Realtors, could be grateful for these articles.  Instead we are not. We’re not because we are anticipating concerned phone calls from our clients in Seattle’s most centralized neighborhoods, who this article really isn’t speaking to, but they don’t know that because the information wasn’t specific enough.

I am not asking for hard-to-hear-news not to be written.  I am asking for the news to be written and properly explained.

I have been writing about this upcoming event like crazy because I want to make sure everyone I know in the real estate and mortgage industries hear about it.

Real Estate Bar Camp was created as an “un-conference” for people in our industry to interactively learn about industry-related topics.  These topics are dictated by the attendees the day of the event.  It is a very loose, free-form gathering intended to nurture interaction and inspire everyone from the newbies to the most seasoned.  It is a great place to share and learn information and meet amazing people.  As always, it is a free event (because of our amazing sponsors!) that will be held at the Seattle Center Northwest Rooms on March 3rd.

As I read this, I realize I am sounding a bit vague.  Believe me, it’s not my intention, it is just hard to define because it is such a departure from a typical conference.  To understand more about Bar Camps, you can check out this blog on the main RE Bar Camp site or, better yet, just set aside a few hours on March 3rd and join us to check it out for yourself.  I am positive that you will walk away feeling that it was time well spent.

Did I mention that it is also a fundraiser?  Of course it is!  Monies raised will be donated to a Non-Profit near and dear to my heart – Solid Ground.

We hope you can make it!

Babbs

Budget Highlights

Have an incredible Thanksgiving weekend!

Babbs

We just got this document at my Monday morning meeting and I wanted to share it — it is a great look at what is happening with our market in King County.
The good news, in a nustshell, is that prices and monthly payments are going down (from highs they reached from 2005-2008) , housing permits are rebounding and wages are maintaining a steady increase.
Keep in mind that some of these stats do include Snohomish County, which does skew things a bit.
Interesting information…

Seriously.  If I didn’t love my son and dog enough to give them a yard, I would be buying this.  Such is life.  Kidding. Sort of.

On a serious note, there were 4 and now only 1 remains available.  Additionally, they have a Buyer bonus that’s awesome:  3% of the purchase price being credited back to the buyer at close if they finance with Golf Savings + an additional $8,000 credit from Dwell Development. (Terms are based on an acceptable offer from a qualified buyer.)

Pricing is $419,950.

It’s Green Built.

Love.

So here I sit at my dining room table (instead of in the office where I typically am), drinking coffee from my French press (instead of from a giant brewer in my office as I usually do), in my robe (I don’t believe I need to explain that I typically don’t wear this to the office) and thinking that I can probably get used to this.

I am relying on having showings to get me out of my utopic home office and fortunately for me, that is happening today.

I have a showing at my listing, The Sanctuary, on Capitol Hill today.  I have been getting a good amount of phone calls in the past couple of weeks from both unrepresented Buyers and Agents who have interested clients to show this project and my excitement and enthusiasm for this property continues to escalate.  One of the homes has been made into a model, another home has just been given an extra large sky-light and is in the process of becoming another model and we are getting professional photos taken tomorrow afternoon.

At our meeting last week we came to the determination that unlike the market of the past few years where the first Buyers into a project paid top-dollar and the last Buyers in got great deals, our market has shifted to be exactly the opposite.  Our Developers are really excited to “reward” our first Buyers to purchase at the project with the lowest pricing they are able to pass on.  It has been really fun to phone those Agents with clients who have shown interest in our project and share this information.  People love a good deal and sharing the news of having one brings a lot of smiles!

I will post the new professional photos as soon as I get them in my hands.  Until then, enjoy this sun — it sure feels like summer may actually be coming!

I had a mini-meltdown before this past weekend and had to call on my brother for some help with a client.  Thank goodness he was able to step-in.  My son had a Memorial Day Weekend  basketball tourney and it seems that the eight active Buyers I am working with are all hitting their buying-point.  Again, not complaining, just struggling to balance work and my child.  It has been twelve years of single-Motherhood, I am busier than ever before and working harder than ever to make my child not feel like an orphan!

I seem to be making up for the last two years of slow times and I am completely thrilled.  I am always better when I am busy, so bring it on.

Slammed.  No other way to say it.

I am so thankful for this busy-ness.  Yesterday alone was an appointment with a new Buyer, showing Buyers a home they are putting an offer in on, an open house and then a listing appointment.  Love it!

Not only do I have many active Buyers who are ready to purchase as soon as the right property for them comes on the market, but I have this amazing listing on Capitol Hill called The Sanctuary.  We are almost finished staging one of the twelve amazing residences and will go on to stage two more while doing a heavy marketing push.  It is truly a unique and stunning project.  I love to tour people through it and watch their responses — if you are interested in checking out these artsy and masterfully crafted homes, please call me for an appointment!

That’s all for now.  Hope you are enjoying this spring-ish weather!