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Uncategorized Please don’t fight over family money…(but here’s why people do it) I have been dealing recently with an unfortunate situation; a family fighting over inheritance. My simple plea: Don't do this. This article (paragraph 5 is a good start) helps explain the phenomenon. Perhaps better understanding will help more of us avoid this nasty trap. Fight over the remote control. Fight over who gets the larger bed, who […]
Uncategorized Graphic Patterns for Staging? I've had my head so deeply in interest rates, lately…time for something light: Yes, graphic patters make rooms pop, but…too many graphic patterns turn them into a gut-turning kaleidoscope. I say keep staging simple, with a touch of flair, so that Buyers can focus on the home…unless the home shouldn't be focused on. In that […]
Uncategorized Effects of Rising Interest Rates and Rent v. Buy This helps to explain the buyer enthusiams we are seeing in Seattle: With a few exceptions for entry-level homes, interest rates are not yet so far from the low that a previously excited buyer will not buy something. But, they have moved far enough from the low to create additional urgency. Cool regionally adjusted numbers in the body of […]
Uncategorized Cruel Irony in Seller Pricing Strategies Today's succinct way to put it from a note to clients preparing to list:  There seem to be two clear strategies today:   -"price low and watch it go" -"don't leave any money on the table."   Interestingly, the former has been more reliable at yielding the results sought by the latter. 
Uncategorized The Scarlet Letter Well Friends, I've recently had the Scarlet Letter pinned to my chest. That's right, _horrible_ credit. "Oh, what happened, 'o proud real estate agent who thinks he’s so smart?! How could this be?"   Turns out, it is simpler to ruin one's credit than I previously understood. All I did was to visit a doctor […]
Condo Market Update Mosler Lofts (where I live!) Litigation Settled! I'm super excited to pass on this press release from the Mosler HOA: The Mosler Lofts Home Owners Association is pleased to announce settlement of the recent litigation between the Mosler Lofts HOA and Belltown Development Partners, developer of Mosler Lofts condominium. Through the diligent efforts of all parties involved, including the Mosler Lofts Board of […]
Uncategorized New Home Sales Up (OK, you assumed that, why does it matter?) It matters because…(as the rights-protect WSJ article points out), Buyers have a real affinity for new homes. I'm assuming that is because people are busier, more distracted, etc than ever before. So, they want plug-n-play, no hassle options. Not buying a new home, why do you care? Well, if you are _selling_ a used home…you […]
Uncategorized Manhattan Luxury Tower Provokes So Much Thought http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/nyregion/boom-in-luxury-towers-is-warping-new-york-real-estate-market.html There's so much in this one…I recommend it for anyone interested in:  -the limits (?) of engineering for height of a structure occupied by humans -income disparity in urban areas -foreign real estate investment in US -2nd (and 12th) homes -the use of video in marketing real estate -"staff" quarters that cost more than […]
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Uncategorized Seattle 2012 Drinking Water Quality Report http://www.seattle.gov/util/groups/public/@spu/@water/documents/webcontent/01_026182.pdf While I routinely ignore information sent to me by my public utility companies, I found this to be really interesting and informative. Loved the nod to history (the need for a public water district coming from the disaster of the Great Fire of 1889) the tie to other regional treasures (water conservation means more/better […]
Uncategorized Why does valuation seem so difficult? I found myself yesterday casually acknowledging as normal the 20% difference between the "comps" my client was finding for a property and the price at which I told him it could sell for if handled correctly. It seemed a bit nuts, so I went further, saying that there is a lot of "play" or "fudge" […]
Uncategorized Buyers Preparing to Accept Low Appraisals   The "Neighborhood Review" left years ago. Inspections done after Mutual Acceptance seem to fall off in every surge. Now, many eager Buyers who will be using financing to purchase are trying to closely approximate their cash-rich competitors. More and more, we are seeing Buyers step to the table with assurances to the Seller that […]
Uncategorized Annual Shredding Event     On Saturday, April 27th, from 9am-12pm, we will have TWO trucks on site to help you with your spring cleaning. American Data Guard will be shredding your personal and sensitive paperwork and recycling electronics. Items accepted for free: desktop and laptop computers, monitors, TVs, cell phones, keyboards, mice, power cables and speakers. A small […]
Uncategorized San Francisco Treat? I was in a great group today that met with a real estate agent from San Francisco. Outside of the joy of the subject matter being my home town/old stomps, I enjoyed these tidbits/observations: SF Google bus  = MSFT connector We are both water-oriented cities Protected views of The Bay from The City are worth […]
Uncategorized Shredding Event   1900 Block of North 34th Street, Seattle, WA 98103 On Saturday, April 27th, from 9am-12pm, we will have TWO trucks on site to help you with your spring cleaning. We will be shredding your personal and sensitive paperwork and recycling electronics. Items accepted for free: desktop and laptop computers, monitors, TVs, cell phones, keyboards, […]
Uncategorized Steve Harney Advice to List (KCM Blog) Steve Harney (KCM blog) presents at Windermere Kick-Off on the (simplified) state of the real estate market in Seattle. http://ow.ly/i/1u0wC
Uncategorized 5 Reason to List Your House I don't like to be a simple answer guy, b/c it often isn't that simple, but…for those who want to sell & haven't heard: 5 reasons why you should list your house today!
Uncategorized Year End Foreclosure Market Explained RealtyTrac's 2012 Year End Foreclosure Market Report explained on The Takeaway:http://www.thetakeaway.org/2013/jan/17/foreclosure-filings-fell-3-2012/
Uncategorized From no-go to must-buy Never thought I'd be posting an article about real estate in Brazil (in the Favela, no less), but…pretty interesting. http://ow.ly/gQyVx
Uncategorized Foreclosure Market Report 2012 RealtyTrac's 2012 Year End Foreclosure Market Report explained on The Takeaway: http://www.thetakeaway.org/2013/jan/17/foreclosure-filings-fell-3-2012/
Uncategorized Purchase Loan Demand Up 26% 26% year-over-year bump in purchase money loans; interesting correlation with numbers of buyers in the market (many). http://ow.ly/h6ESP