Capitol Hill Neighborhood Tour
November 19, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
Great video tour and description of the Cap Hill neighborhood in Seattle.
Belltown Community Video
November 17, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
Belltown is a popular neighborhood for buyers looking for the downtown, urban lifestyle. Most of the newer condos in Seattle are in this area, as well as South Lake Union. The neighborhood is just North of central Downtown and the Financial district, making for easy commutes and walking access to restaurants and shops.
If the embedded video doesn’t appear, click to go to the Coldwell Banker YouTube page
King County Stats Update – November 2010
November 16, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
Below are some statistical charts I thought you might find interesting. You can see sold home prices are coming down, but the average number of sales and pending sales are relatively the same as a year ago.
Windermere Waterfront and Neighborhood MO
October 27, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
Seattle Waterfront Living
If you’re like most Seattle-ites, you dream of one day living on the water. I envision one day waking up in my lake-front home, brewing some Stumptown coffee (it’s the latest and greatest), then jumping in the boat for an early morning waterski run. What a life!
If you’re not just dreaming, but actually interested in purchasing Seattle watefront, now is the time! Of all the price points in our real estate market, I think high-end will be hurting for some time. Bad news for sellers, great news for buyers. Prices have dropped by millions, making waterfront living more attainable than it has been in a long time.
There are currently 2 waterfront listings on in the Windermere neighborhood. But don’t rely on the MLS listings alone. This area is notorious for off-market sales. Many of the residents are used to buying and selling real estate discretely. Most waterfront buyers are already residents of the Windermere neighborhood and have had their eye on a particular lake-front home for years before they make a private offer. Last year, 2 of the most prominent addresses on Windermere Road sold off market this way.
If larger lots and privacy are priorities for you, this is a great neighborhood. Villa Academy is nearby and is one of Seattle’s best-ranked K-8 schools. University Village is fast become the area’s most popular upscale mall, and is only a 5 minute drive away. Other advantages to the neighborhood are private waterfront Windermere Beach Club, and the community security. The latter is especially good. My family lives in this area and, when I was stopping by to house sit, the guard was there in 5 minutes confirming I was allowed to be on the premises. Certainly gives you peace of mind.
The CC&Rs (covenants, codes and restrictions) mean lawns are mowed and houses well-kept. The neighborhood has a great deal of aesthetic appeal, friendliness among neighbors, and a high level of respect for privacy and quiet.
Questions? Email Erin Schedler or Tweet me at @movetoseattle.
New Twitter Handle!
October 20, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
I am no longer @myrealtorerin on Twitter. Now I’m @movetoseattle! Follow me here!
12 Tips for Hiring a Remodeling Contractor
October 17, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
1. Get at least three written estimates.
2. Check references. If possible, view earlier jobs the contractor completed.
3. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints.
4. Be sure the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled.
5. Make as small of a down payment as possible so you won’t lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job.
6. Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.
7. Check that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn’t. Also, remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.
8. Ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will be involved too.
9. Get the contractor to indemnify you if work does not meet any local building codes or regulations.
10. Be sure that the contract specifies the contractor will clean up after the job and be responsible for any damage.
11. Guarantee that the materials that will be used meet your specifications.
12. Don’t make the final payment until you’re satisfied with the work.
Converting Your Furnace from Oil to Gas
October 15, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
Now that you’ve made the psychological leap from an oil furnace to a gas furnace, grab your calculator and crunch the numbers. When you’ve recovered from sticker shock, subtract the tax credit the feds will give you until the end of 2010—up to $1,500—and remember the $1,120 off your yearly energy bill that the oil-to-gas leap typically reaps, and the upfront costs don’t look so bad.
Calculate cost of gas furnace equipment
Mid-efficiency (73-83%) gas furnace, installed: Average: about $2,800; High end: $10,000
High-efficiency (90-97%) gas furnace, installed: Typically $2,500 to $6,000; possibly $7,000 to $10,000
50-gallon hot water heater: $600
Calculate cost of gas furnace hookup
Dig a trench from main gas line to your house: $1,000 to $1,500, depending on distance. Read more
Seattle Real Estate’s Low Inventory
October 8, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
In the past few months, I’ve seen about 30 new residential listings come on each day in the market. This is very low, considering in our boom I was seeing about 100-120. In many of the central Seattle neighborhoods, real estate inventory is very low – about 3 months worth. This means it will only take 3 months to “absorb” the current active listings on the market.
For comparison’s sake, Las Vegas has over 3000 months’ worth of inventory! It’s one of 4 major markets in the country that has the majority of “shadow inventory” this large.
What this means for buyers
Start your search sooner than later if you want to see a fair amount of property. If you start looking at places only a few weeks before you have to make an offer, you’re not likely to see a lot of homes that match your criteria. Because new listings are coming on at a slow pace, it’s better to start sooner so you have more to choose from.
It also means that if a home is in a great neighborhood and turn key, it will likely sell fast given the short supply. So be ready to tour these properties the minute they hit the market, and make your offer quickly if it’s exactly what you’re looking for.
What this means for sellers
Less competition! Yes, prices are lower than what they used to be, but if you list your home today you’re likely to get a lot more visibility and traffic from the buyers in the market. If your home is fairly priced, in a good location and has relatively new updates, it will stand out among limited inventory and possibly sell faster than in a busier market.
Today: Designing Your Digital Plan
October 5, 2010 by Erin Schedler · 1 Comment
One of the main reasons I chose to work for Coldwell Banker Bain was their commitment to education and innovation. They’re on the cutting edge of technology, and making sure our brokers have access to and knowledge of the latest tools and trends.
Today I’m at our Kirkland training center with our tech gurus Linda Aaron and Debra Trappen, talking about “designing your digital plan”. We’re sharing information about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, Hootsuite, Pluggio, Card.ly, Social Mention…and lots more!
I look forward to learning more about social media and how it can help my clients! Please comment below with your favorite social media sites and anything you’ve learned and want to share!
Real Estate Transfer Rates
October 4, 2010 by Erin Schedler · Leave a Comment
In our office meeting today, our company president Mike Grady spoke about the market and transfer rates. In a “normal” market, 5% of homes should “transfer” ownership every year. The three biggest drivers of home transfers are divorce (unfortunately, but it creates 2 households out of 1), babies and new jobs.
Looking at King County today, 41,000 homes have transferred this year (5% would be 46,000). This is a good sign that Seattle and the surrounding areas are getting back to a normal, stable market.
