A real life example of how much a home's value can increase in just 3 years in our region!
Read MoreReal Estate Update
LIST IT AND THEY WILL COME...
...and it will sell quickly with a few caveats. The house needs to be appropriately priced and prepared, show well, and have a good location.
Western Washington’s “high velocity” market has continued through 2017 with the number of pending sales in King County (2,673) outgaining the number of new listings (2,389). Properties are moving at an unbelievably fast pace. Interest rates are ticking up slightly and there is steadily increasing demand due to new people moving to the area. As a homebuyer, it appears that getting into the market sooner rather than later would be in your best interest. The good news is that Spring is when we see the most listings come on the market. The challenge for buyers is they are selling very fast with multiple offers.
The housing inventory has reached a record low. At the end of February there were 9,091 active listings in the NWMLS which encompasses 23 counties. This represents a drop of nearly 25% from the year-ago total of 12,107. Home buyers and sellers are complaining equally about the current market’s low inventory. Sellers are frustrated when they cannot find another home to match their current needs. Buyers are also frustrated when a home goes off the market so fast that they don’t have the chance to make an offer on it.
Not surprisingly, given the imbalance in supply and demand, prices continue to rise. The median price for single family homes that sold in King County in February was $502,000, up more than 14 percent from the year-ago sales price of $439,950. As a seller, this market is one of the best we have seen in which to sell your home.
Typically, more people get engaged in the real estate market as the weather warms and the days get longer. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, now would be the time to start getting prepared for what looks to be another busy year in the Puget Sound real estate market.
Top tips for buyers in a seller's market
1. Get pre-approved with a lender & know your price range & down-payment.
2. Make a wish list of your wants & needs.
3. Meet with me to help you look for what you want, write your offer, and negotiate on your behalf.
4. Improve your credit score, if needed.
5. Do not make any large purchases, like a car, or apply for any credit cards.
6. Have funds ready for closing costs, inspections, and reserves.
7. Learn about the market & process of buying and ask me questions.
8. Calculate your commute.
9. Get your paperwork in order and file your taxes.
10. Think about resale value.
11. Check out the neighborhood.
12. Stay the course. You may not get the first home you put an offer on.
13. Be willing to compromise & be patient
The search and process is worth the result of getting a great home!
JUST SOLD | Shoreline Farmhouse
2203 NE 170th St, Shoreline 98155
Listed at $565,000 | Sold at $631,000
Wonderful Craftsman with great charm & updates. Inviting front porch leads to spacious living room with hardwood floors and fireplace. Remodeled cooks kitchen has Shaker cabinets, quartz counters & SS appliances. Main floor master with gleaming fir floors, adjacent to updated full bath. Sunny 2nd story landing, 2 BRs with walk in closets & fir floors. Finished downstairs, 2nd kitchen, 4th BR & area for office. Large corner lot with potential for garage or detached ADU. Great Shoreline schools. A gem!
Local Business Spotlight: Garden Coaching Solutions
The Benefits of Hiring a Garden Coach
Here is a great article written by my Garden Coach, Jenny Mandt.
by Jenny Mandt, Owner, Garden Coaching Solutions
Jane Goodall, renowned anthropologist has said “It's been proven that plants are good for our psychological development. If you green an area, the rate of crime goes down. So we need them, in some deep psychological sense…” I am inspired by that statement. Taking time out from our busy lives and connect with nature is good for our souls. Getting dirty- getting back to the land and making our gardens grow builds wealth on two levels. The first is financial as the garden adds to the curb appeal of our homes. The second level is what Jane Goodall refers to is that gardening can be a healthy stress reliever especially when we are so busy with our daily lives.
Sometimes we have a yearning to transform our yards, deck, or patio in to an attractive space where we want to spend time with family and friends (or a personal sanctuary). Not everyone has the time, knowledge or vision to make this happen so Garden Coaching can help. Walking around the garden or patio with a person with experience can help get a different perspective, generate ideas of what’s involved, and how to make your dreams a reality.
Here are two clients’ short stories: “Alice” is someone who entertains a lot and loves to cook. Her house has a wonderful deck looking out towards the Olympic Mountains but only has a few tables and chairs and no plants on it. She wanted to make her deck appealing for parties. She wanted to make sure that whatever was done was easy to maintain, look colorful and at a reasonable cost. She had forgotten to plant tulip and daffodil bulb in the fall and it was late winter when she received Garden Coaching. It was recommended she buy some larger, colorful pots, potting soil, chicken wire (to keep the squirrels from digging up the bulbs), and bulb fertilizer. Once she got everything together, she was shown how to plant the pots. It is not normally the time of year to plant bulbs but believe it or not, come spring, she was ecstatic with the incredible array of cheerful flowers she had that lasted well into summer (see her photo below). Once the bulbs died, the plan was to plant herbs, a few summer flowering perennials and tomatoes to get her through fall. She plans on repeating the process this coming year.
Another client, “Denis” and his wife had just purchased a new home and he wanted to do the work himself but didn’t know where to begin.
With Garden Coaching, after walking around the different parts of the yard, he wanted less grass, a stone patio in the front yard, adding trees to create some shade on the Western side of the house and giving the house more curb appeal. He wanted to do this project in stages to keep it affordable so a priority list and notes were generated so he had a starting point. Part of the plan was to provide him referrals on where to get the stone and to rent tools to get rid of some sod and to regrade his back yard. He got different tree and flowering shrubs suggestions for the front yard that could shade the patio from the hot, summer afternoon sun. When he got through with the first phase, a new plan was drawn up that figured out which plants and shrubs to keep, what to get rid of and which plants would replace them. He was advised on how to improve the soil, prune overgrown shrubs and trees and how to maintain everything, especially the watering needs during the summer months. When he was ready to plant, Garden Coaching took him plant and tree shopping, gave him suggestions as to what to buy, and where to place it once everything got delivered to his home. Denis was pleased with his experience and that he could do most of the work himself over time as his budget and time allowed.
Getting your garden or yard the way you want it takes time and some vision on how to get there. Garden Coaching offers support, knowledge and encouragement for the novice to the passionate gardeners; the DIYers to those who would rather contract someone else do it. Gardening allows you to unplug from your busy life for a little while, grow your wealth and relieve some stress all at the same time. Sometimes we need others who can help steer us where we want to go – the result can be good for the soul.
Jenny Mandt has over 10 years of experience in plant retail work and garden coaching. Spring will be upon us before you know it so start the planning process now. Pruning trees, roses and shrubs and deadhead perennials will be coming up in March, so make sure those cutting tools are sharp and well oiled. If Garden Coaching sounds like it might help you with your next project you can contact Jenny at gardencoachingsolutions@gmail.com, or (206) 915-0585 or check out some of her clients before and after garden photos on Facebook @gardencoachjenny.
Purchase on Gatewood Hill
7120 38th Ave SW, Seattle 98126
Listed at $685,000 | Purchased at $665,000
After selling their house in July 2016, my buyers and I looked for the perfect house for their family for 5 months. The seller stumbled upon this home, which was accidentally listed as a 1 bedroom. I told them that we had to get in that home immediately before someone else discovered the mistake. We were able to make a lower offer, which was accepted AND THEN have an inspection. The condition was as we hoped, only cosmetic repairs, and we proceeded to close. However, there were several variables that made the closing difficult. Not only had the listing agents been in a serious accident, but the seller was in hospice care and her nephew was stepping in as power of attorney. The nephew had run out of time to take part in the sale, care of his aunt, and his family, so obviously, the sale took a back burner. It took a lot of "nudging" to get items agreed upon in the contract completed and paperwork signed around, but the Snyders are now settled in their home!
Find out what they had to say about their experience here.
JUST SOLD | Lovely Wallingford Craftsman
2506 N 39th St, Seattle 98103
Listed at $665,000 | Sold at $740,000
Lovely Wallingford Craftsman perched high above dead-end street. Patio and covered front porch with Lake Union city and bridge views! Living room with built-in bookshelves, fireplace and wood floors. Spacious dining room with lots of daylight. Open floor plan. Chef’s kitchen with gas stove and sweet breakfast nook opening to lovely backyard. Master suite with high ceilings and access to backyard. Potential for future expansion in waterproofed basement. 1 car garage. Close to all Wallingford amenities and easy Downtown access.
Sales in 2016
Listings in 2016
Sold: 7032 10th Ave NW
Listed at $600,000 ::: Sold for $675,000
Remodeled Whittier Heights Craftsman perched high above street! Studs-out remodel in 2007: electrical, plumbing, kitchen, bathrooms, windows & more. Hardwd floors. Classic FP. Gourmet kitchen w/island, eating area & access to back deck-perfect for entertaining! Upstairs 3rd bedroom -perfect for future expansion potential for view master suite! Fully finished bsmt w/lg family room/office/TV area & full bath. Spacious yard. Garage. New exterior paint. Territorial & Olympic views
Sold: 7925 17th Ave SW
Listed at $280,000 ::: Sold for $339,800
Lovely home on quiet, tree-lined street. Light-filled spaces, updated plumbing, electrical & panel (add'l circuit for hot tub or workshop), heat, bathroom w/custom tile, top-of-the-line windows and hardwoods are just some of the features this home has to offer. Gardener's Paradise: Fully-fenced yard w/wisteria covered arbor, patio, rain barrel, abundant garden space, shed & alley access. Oversized garage. Easy access to buses, minutes to Lincoln Park, shopping & freeways without the WS Bridge.
Sold: 6051 Fauntleroy Wy SW #B
Listed at $325,000 ::: Sold at $347,500
Fantastic row-house style TH. SW facing. Close to all West Seattle amenities! Small 2 unit complex located in back - for privacy & western sunlight! Large south facing picture window in living/dining room. Open floor plan. Kitchen w/breakfast bar. Living room w/gas FP & TV nook. Brazilian cherry wood. floors & staircase. Fir trim. 1/2 ba on main & 2 closets. New designer style carpet upstairs. West facing bedroom w/peek-a-boo views. Sweet backyard w/patio. New professional interior paint.
JUST SOLD | Highland Park Rambler
7925 17th Ave SW, Seattle 98106
Listed at $280,000 | Sold at $339,800
Lovely home on quiet, tree-lined street. Light-filled spaces, updated plumbing, electrical & panel (add'l circuit for hot tub or workshop), heat, bathroom w/custom tile, top-of-the-line windows and hardwoods are just some of the features this home has to offer. Gardener's Paradise: Fully-fenced yard w/wisteria covered arbor, patio, rain barrel, abundant garden space, shed & alley access. Oversized garage. Easy access to buses, minutes to Lincoln Park, shopping & freeways without the WS Bridge.