Archive for October, 2008
October 11, 2008
Spend your sure-thing sunshiney Sunday in the heart of the city. Here’s a trio of mid-priced homes in the CD, all of them ready for purchase by that lucky buyer.
410 14th Ave.
OPEN: Sun., 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: $438,500
Specs: 3 bd/2 bath
Size: 1,920 square feet
Bungalow living near Seattle University — an Emerald City classic.
201 22nd Ave.
OPEN: Sun., 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: $459,000
Specs: 3 bd/2.5 bath
Size: 1,950 square feet
Built in 2002, this Craftsman-style place has it all: loads of storage, designer paint colors, and the de rigeur granite-and-stainless kitchen.
1408 12th Ave., #406 (Note: This is just one of three units for sale.)
OPEN: Sun., noon to 5 p.m.
Price: $495,000
Specs: 1 bd/1 bath
Size: 789 square feet
An open, modern floorplan in a close-in, vintage building.
October 10, 2008
Open House Dates and Times:
Saturday & Sunday, October 11th & 12th, 1-4pm
11987 SE 4th Pl #502
Bellevue, WA 98005
Seller Comments
Coffee Shop of Choice:
Tully’s on Main Street or Top Pot Doughnuts are always great for a treat!
Favorite Restaurant in the Area:
There are so many great places to eat close by! For casual dining we love to walk to Whole Foods or Sushi Land. For a fun night on the town there’s Joey’s or the Twisted Cork Wine Bar, both good for making new friends. For a special dinner we like to go to Seastar, or enjoy the fantastic view from Daniel’s piano bar.
Favorite Places to Go:
The beautiful Bellevue Botanical Gardens are literally right in our back yard, and we spend a lot of time walking the trails there. It is such a fun place to take guests, with it’s renowned holiday light display, and beautiful flowers in the summer! There are so many things to do in Downtown Bellevue! The new Lucky Strike Bowl is open, and Lincoln Square is a easy place to catch dinner and a movie. It’s all about 5 minutes away!
Best Features of the Home:
The architectural details really stands out, with nice moldings and high ceilings, to archways and beautiful windows. We love the open floor plan which makes it a great place to entertain. The built- in entertainment wall provides plenty of space for the latest in electronics and the cozy fireplace makes the living room warm and inviting. One of us can be on the computer in the nook/office area and still be part of what is going on in the rest of the living space. The laundry room area is upstairs near the bedrooms – someone put some thought into this design! Our home also has a private deck and garden we really enjoy.
Has there been any remodeling?:
We put in new carpet and have repainted. We have a nice size extra storage area in the garage, so we added modular shelves to hold our “stuff”!
Favorite Room:
Hmmm…this is a tough one to decide – we love to hang out in the living room and watch TV, or read in front of the fireplace. On the other hand, we both like the feel of the master bedroom with it’s sunny, western exposure and views.
Most Romantic Spot:
Meydenbauer Beach, on Lake Washington, is a beautiful spot for a romantic picnic, and to watch the sunset.
What’s in the neighborhood?:
Whole Foods Market and the shopping at Bellevue Square are close by. We love to walk and bike the miles of trails in the area. Wilburton Park, with it’s many ball fields and playground is just a short walk past the Botanical Gardens. Beyond that is Kelsey Creek, another place it’s fun to go with family or friends. The Park and Ride provides express service to the airport, and easy access to Seattle, Bellevue and the surrounding area, and is walking distance!
What you will miss most:
Our home has provided us with all of the fun and convenience that Downtown Bellevue has to offer, and a peaceful refuge as well! Who could ask for more?!!
October 10, 2008
Open House Dates and Times:
Sunday, October 12th, 1-4pm
1715 64th St SE
Auburn, WA 98092
Seller Comments
Coffee Shop of Choice:
The Starbucks @ Lakeland Hills Town Center – the walk is beautiful anytime of the year, but our favorite is an early morning walk on a cool fall morning. Sitting down to a warm latte and the morning paper after a brisk walk in the cool fall air while enjoying the beautiful fall colors is unbeatable!
Favorite Restaurant in the Area:
Hmm… so many to choose from. We love the atmosphere and pizza at The Rock, the local Teriyaki and Mexican restaurants are great too; but when we want something a little quieter we like Al Lago on Lake Tapps. It over looks the lake and is beautiful for a quiet lunch or sunset dinner.
Favorite Places to Go:
Well, given that we have two young children, the park! There are several to choose from too – from the small play structure just around the corner from us, to the three larger parks located within Lakeland Hills – there really is something for kids of all ages.
Best Features of the Home:
When we first walked into this house we were immediately drawn its openness. With vaulted ceilings in the formal living and dining room and an abundance of windows there is no shortage of natural light. That, coupled with a great circular flow, has every room welcoming you into the next.
Favorite Room:
We love the great-room style kitchen and family room. It is cozy enough for us to spend time together as a family and yet big enough for us to host quite a large gathering. We easily fit 30+ people for our boys’ first birthday party with room to spare!
Most Romantic Spot:
Sitting on the back deck at sunset on a warm summer night under our Fragrant Japanese Snowbell Tree. We have a great view of the sun as it streaks the sky a vibrant shade of pink, and it is the perfect spot to sit back and relax together.
What’s in the neighborhood?:
Everything! We have been spoiled by Lakeland Town Center with multiple restaurants, movie store, shops, services, etc and a high quality grocery store. We also love all the parks and open spaces that they built into the community. And, we are super close to the school and the Auburn Sounder Station that makes commuting to Seattle a breeze.
What you will miss most:
The community feel. Lakeland Hills really is the ultimate in suburban utopia. With tree lined streets made for walking, multiple annual community events and friendly competitions- from the summer social to the garden tour, and great people that have become friends over the years – we will really miss being a part of this community.
October 10, 2008
Looking for a distraction this weekend? Bellevue’s Kelsey Creek Farm Fair, a local fall favorite is scheduled for this weekend, October 11-12th. This quaint community fair offers hayrides, pony rides, kids’ crafts, and local little people favorites, Cowboy Buck, Hollywood Educated Parrots, and the Valentine Pigs. Additional details on crafts, displays, and an event schedule can be found here.
Kelsey Creek Community Farm Park
410 130th St, SE
Of course, while you’re out with the family, stop by and visit these Bellevue family-sized open houses, all open Sunday, October 12th, 1-4 pm.
905 170 Pl SE
4 br/3 ba, 3,240 sq.ft.
Price $937,000
NWMLS 28101842
1225 134th Ave NE
5 br/3.5 ba, 2,800 sq.ft.
Price: $828,000
NWMLS 28159963
17086 SE 47th Ct
4 br/2.5 ba, 2,600 sq.ft.
Price $819,000
NWMLS 28164227
16248E 34th St
4 br/2.5 ba, 2,580 sq.ft.
Price: $579,900
NWMLS 28159801
October 10, 2008
It’s gong to be a lovely Fall weekend here in Seattle. Consider a stroll on Capitol Hill to take in the Fall colors and tour a home or two. There are several open houses this weekend, with styles ranging from condos, to townhomes, to traditional single family homes.
1715 18th Ave #B Seattle, WA 98122 Price: $559,500
3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, 1,505 sq. ft. Townhome
1812 16th Ave #3 Seattle, WA 98122 Price: $399,950
2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Condo
1812 16th Ave #1 Seattle, WA 98122 Price: $349,950
2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath Condo
1501 E Denny Way Seattle, WA 98122 Price: $655,000
2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 1, 539 sq. ft. Townhome
923 13th Ave E Seattle, WA 98102 Price: $949,950
3 Bedrooms, 1.75 Baths, 2,480 sq. ft. Single Family Residence
941 Broadway Ave E Seattle, WA 98102 Price: $995,000
3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Single Family Residence
416 11th Ave E Seattle, WA 98102 Price: $459,900
3 Bedrooms, 2.25 Baths, 1,435 sq. ft. Townhome
October 10, 2008
Open House Dates and Times:
Saturday & Sunday, October 11th & 12th, 1-4pm
11987 SE 4th Pl #502
Bellevue, WA 98005
Seller Comments
Coffee Shop of Choice:
Tully’s on Main Street or Top Pot Doughnuts are always great for a treat!
Favorite Restaurant in the Area:
There are so many great places to eat close by! For casual dining we love to walk to Whole Foods or Sushi Land. For a fun night on the town there’s Joey’s or the Twisted Cork Wine Bar, both good for making new friends. For a special dinner we like to go to Seastar, or enjoy the fantastic view from Daniel’s piano bar.
Favorite Places to Go:
The beautiful Bellevue Botanical Gardens are literally right in our back yard, and we spend a lot of time walking the trails there. It is such a fun place to take guests, with it’s renowned holiday light display, and beautiful flowers in the summer! There are so many things to do in Downtown Bellevue! The new Lucky Strike Bowl is open, and Lincoln Square is a easy place to catch dinner and a movie. It’s all about 5 minutes away!
Best Features of the Home:
The architectural details really stands out, with nice moldings and high ceilings, to archways and beautiful windows. We love the open floor plan which makes it a great place to entertain. The built- in entertainment wall provides plenty of space for the latest in electronics and the cozy fireplace makes the living room warm and inviting. One of us can be on the computer in the nook/office area and still be part of what is going on in the rest of the living space. The laundry room area is upstairs near the bedrooms – someone put some thought into this design! Our home also has a private deck and garden we really enjoy.
Has there been any remodeling?:
We put in new carpet and have repainted. We have a nice size extra storage area in the garage, so we added modular shelves to hold our “stuff”!
Favorite Room:
Hmmm…this is a tough one to decide – we love to hang out in the living room and watch TV, or read in front of the fireplace. On the other hand, we both like the feel of the master bedroom with it’s sunny, western exposure and views.
Most Romantic Spot:
Meydenbauer Beach, on Lake Washington, is a beautiful spot for a romantic picnic, and to watch the sunset.
What’s in the neighborhood?:
Whole Foods Market and the shopping at Bellevue Square are close by. We love to walk and bike the miles of trails in the area. Wilburton Park, with it’s many ball fields and playground is just a short walk past the Botanical Gardens. Beyond that is Kelsey Creek, another place it’s fun to go with family or friends. The Park and Ride provides express service to the airport, and easy access to Seattle, Bellevue and the surrounding area, and is walking distance!
What you will miss most:
Our home has provided us with all of the fun and convenience that Downtown Bellevue has to offer, and a peaceful refuge as well! Who could ask for more?!!
October 9, 2008
Looks like July’s proposals to place restrictions on McMansions — a housetype cropping up all over the city, in case you haven’t noticed — have gone through, according to the Central District News. While the mandates will only apply to new construction on single-family lots less than 3,000 square feet, they will nonetheless help keep builders in line and neighborhoods (somewhat) intact. The legislation sets forth a few guidelines for those who’ve been razing old buildings and erecting behemoths in their spots:
- New construction forumlae to limit the amount of space a new building can cover
- Removal of the provision that allows house height to be based on the structure next door, so long as said structure tops 30 feet, as well as a reevaluation of house height for homes located on sloped sites (of which Seattle’s certainly got the lion’s share)
- Parking requirement waivers, plus limits on the location and visibility of street-facing garages
That’s the gist. Over at the CD News, commenters are both sated and skeptical. Take a look:
It’s about expletive deleted time. Smart developers will use that square footage for better things, and we can have a lot better design at the street level than what we’re getting with all that garagieness.
and
So if you live next to a couple of houses that are 30 plus feet, and you want to tear down your 1960’s duplex or bungalow, when you rebuild, you still have to live in the shadow of the taller houses? They have views and you don’t? That kind of sucks….Have to see the details on this one, but “limiting the location and visibility of garage doors that face the street?!” A garage door that faces somewhere other than “out?” C’mon — won’t a curved drive or the jockying that you’ll have to do for a garage that doesn’t face out mean you’re going to burn more lot square footage on driveway space thereby increasing runoff?
What’s your take? To invoke the language of the current presidential race: Too much regulation? Not enough?
October 8, 2008
How much would you be willing to pay for more yard space–an extra $350,000? Where Capitol Hill and the Arboretum meet in Seattle, two listings next door to one another may help answer that question. The 4 bedroom, 2 bath homes are mostly similar, but for lot size: one boasts a 10,000 sq. ft. lot compared to the 4,000 sq. ft. lot of its neighbor.
Beyond lot size, other differences include a detached garage and more square footage for one. (Based on the listing images though, I’m having a difficult time seeing how one can be so much bigger than the other–basement sq. footage maybe?) Still though, the basics most families are concerned with, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, match. Otherwise, both homes are recent renovations with high-end upgrades and expansive mountain views. Most folks would be proud to live in either place.
2501 E Ward St is priced at $999,990, down from the original listing of $1,099,990. Its neighbor, 2509 E Ward St, is priced at $649,000, down from the original listing of $719,000. I can’t help but wonder if that extra lot (the listing info calls it 2.5 lots) is worth the money. True, you may be able to subdivide the lot in the future for some extra income; but for day-to-day living is a big yard worth an extra $350,000 to the typical home buyer?
For me, the answer is not so much. I’d take the cheaper home. If I had the budget for the more expensive home, I’d be looking on the other side of 24th Ave.—on Capitol Hill proper. Still though, gotta love those views.
October 8, 2008
Despite the all out economic free fall that we are in, every once in a while, there’s a spot of good news. Nationally, pending home sales increased 7.4% from July to August, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Furthermore, the NAR projects sales of existing homes to rise next year in addition to a 2-3% increase in home prices. Locally, the NWMLS reports Pending Sales up 4.1% from Year Ago, Total Inventory Unchanged, while Seattle Bubble recaps King County SFH pendings to be up 15% from same time last year.
Thank you also, readers, for giving some hope. Last week, I asked whether or not homesellers out there are continuing to see action, either in actual offers and sales or even in plain, old, walk through traffic. Well, I’m encouraged to hear that some of you report recent sales, and it doesn’t even scare me that most of you mention the words “price drops” in the same breath. Hey, I understand basic economics–heck, lower your price enough, and anything will sell.
However, this has me wondering even more about exactly how much of an impact does a price drop make in attracting buyers. In what seems like an economic eternity ago, I asked sellers, Is a Low Ball Better Than a No Ball? Today, I pose the flip side of this question to buyers–would the listing price of a home actually prevent you from making an offer? I’m speaking within reason, of course, but for the purposes of this hypothetical, would a listing price prevent you from making an offer 5% below? 10% below? Or do you really need to see that price drop before you’ll make the offer?
October 6, 2008
Urban myth or landlord nightmare? Judge for yourself.
The latest real estate fodder making its way around the net is “Buy My Dump – I’m selling my trashed dirty apartment – world’s most disgusting flat,” a Houston rental property, supposedly gone very, very, very wrong. The property owner cites:
Basically I was underinsured and my insurer will NOT pay for the tenant damage. I’m pretty jaded by the whole thing but I want to just walk away from it. Problem is it has a mortgage over it so I need it sold. A savvy Houston area investor could pick up a bargain. The place should be worth around $80,000 any figure that would clear my mortgage could very well land you this place. Serious bidders can email me at buymydump@gmail.com for an address, plans, rental figures and repair estimates.
…
The pictures do NO justice. There is suppose to be 2 cats living here but I can’t find them (I think they’re dead somewhere inside the apartment-I contacted the SPCA). The place REEKS to say the least, I gagged non stop. If you’re good with a scrubbing brush this could be bargain of the century for you…
The owner claims that the property is worth about $80,000, and the highest current bid is at $38,900. Keep your gag reflex in check and view more photos of this property here.
What’s your take on this one, digital image detectives? Real homeowner in distress, or savvy-viral-web-mythmaker-who-knows-how-to-monetize-a-site-with-Google-AdSense in disguise?
