Giggle the Piggy-The Dimes Count - 03/31/11 08:10 PM
ER/Graphic/AdrianWillanger
Whenever the time comes to start saving for a holiday it's time to pull out the piggy. Everybody pulls together to scrape up the hidden dimes and nickels from the deep dark depths of the settee. Somebody finds a lone nickel and the cheers start. Is this madness? No this is complete sanity!
You see, our family vacation has not been missed yet. Every year it is a new adventure to find money that seemingly isn't there for a luxury and put it together while still maintaining the integrity of paying the bills on time and keeping … (0 comments)
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Real Estate Investment Company – Putting Together A Business Plan - 03/30/11 06:09 PM
In order to be successful in any business you need to make sure that you have a business plan put together and the same is true when you are building a Shoreline real estate investing business. A business plan for real estate investments is the key to making sure that your business does well and stays afloat. If you don't have the right plan you could very well find yourself struggling, but how do you go about putting together a great strategy or investment plan for your real estate business?
The first thing you need to do is calculate the … (0 comments)
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Happy Birthday Sly Stone - 03/30/11 11:34 AM
March 23 was the 68th birthday for rock music great Sly Stone. The event was celebrated at Seattle's Northwest Film Forum with a 77 minute film documentary about Sly Stone, truly one of the great music innovators of the last 50 years.
The Northwest Film Forum is a tremendous venue to view a rich list of documentaries such as Nostalgia for Light-veteran Chilean director Patricio Guzman's portrayal of the harsh brutality of the Pinochet regime.
May 8 come celebrate Mother's Day with a look back at six year's worth of award winning Children's Film Feasible Seattle.
Help support the Arts! … (0 comments)
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Shoreline Real Estate - Understanding Square Footage - 03/29/11 10:06 AM
ER/Graphic/Adrian Willanger
If you are purchasing Shoreline real estate, or are putting your property up for sale, you may not understand how square footage is calculated in the home. A real estate agent will be calculating the square footage for you if you're selling your home, and there are some parts of the house that may not be included in the calculations.
Measuring the exterior
The first thing that gets done when calculating Shoreline real estate square footage is an exterior measurement. The exterior walls are measured and then sketches are made showing the home's perimeter.
Unfinished areas
Unfinished … (4 comments)
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Green Appraising - 03/28/11 07:45 PM
So what happens when a builder or a seller installs green features on their houses, can they recover the cost of adding these items by charging more? Will the houses sell faster?
Good questions, how do we establish value of green features, from an appraisal standpoint the cost of green features does not necessary equal its value. How do you put a value on counter tops made from recycled glass, bamboo flooring, and a house that reuses most of its storm-water recapture or reclaimed interior doors? This house screams green, yet from an appraisal perspective how do you increase the value … (2 comments)
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Selling a House With a Pool - 03/28/11 05:49 AM
Some real estate agents believe that selling a home in Shoreline with a pool acts as a deterrent to at least 50% of the home buyers. While some agents may not agree with this percentage, almost all will agree that selling a home with a pool is harder to sell than one without.
Here are the main reasons why many people are not interested in owning a Shoreline house with a pool.
1. Children's safety
Drowning is a major concern for parents of toddlers and many choose to avoid having a Shoreline house with a pool for just this reason. Even … (7 comments)
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The Strategies Of Successful Selling - 03/25/11 11:30 AM
There is a lot of marketing that goes into selling your home and the best thing you can do is head into this adventure with a Shoreline real estate agent by your side. There are strategies for successfully selling a home and your agent will know how to implement them to get your house sold ASAP.
Using the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS)
The NWMLS was designed to match home sellers with buyers. It is one of the most important tools that your Shoreline real estate agent will use to help sell your house more effectively.
It is a … (1 comments)
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Receiving Mail From A Real Estate Agent - 03/24/11 10:38 AM
When you began showing an interest in real estate and start talking to a few agents you may start receiving some mail about open houses or new houses available in your area. Even if an interest hasn't been shown, you will receive some mail from agents from time to time to let you know about different properties on the market. While you may not be interested in the properties that are brought to your attention, they could serve as excellent reference points for the properties that you are interested in.
Here is why Lake Forest Park real estate agents send … (0 comments)
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Selling A Vacant Home - 03/23/11 08:32 PM
Sometimes there is no way to avoid selling a vacant home in Lake Forest Park. If you have had a sudden job transfer or need to leave the area quickly for one reason or another, you may have to leave your vacant while you are trying to sell it. This will leave you at a disadvantage, however, since a vacant house will usually sell 30% to 50% slower than a house that is occupied.
Why occupied homes sell faster
1. When a house has furniture in it the buyer can imagine what the house would look like if he moved … (0 comments)
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The Anatomy of a High-Performance Home - 03/23/11 08:21 PM
MR/Graphic/Adrian Willanger
Once a house is finished it's extremely difficult to know the DNA of the house, how is it built? What makes it different?
The illustration is of a typically wall section that will go into the making of City Cabins, Martha Rose's newest green high-performance homes located on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle Washington.
Several key items to notice: the framing is double 2X4s, with 1" of rigid foam board on the exterior side, followed by ½" inch of plywood , and two layers of sixty minute paper and then covered with the siding.
The … (1 comments)
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Successfully Negotiating A Home Sale - 03/23/11 10:24 AM
Some people believe that all it takes to get a super deal on a Lake Forest Park home sale is to run into a desperate seller that will take a lowball price. This rarely happens. A home sale involves two parties that are each looking out for their own best interests and negotiating for the best deal.
Part of successfully negotiating a Lake Forest Park home sale involves constraining yourself when you are talking to the buyer. Don't let them know how desperately you want the house or display any other emotions that show signs of desperation.
You should never … (2 comments)
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Major Connectivity for Seattle's City Cabins - 03/22/11 07:57 PM
Seattle's walking neighborhoods have experienced an early spring home selling rush. Two of Seattle's older neighborhoods, Ballard and West Seattle have seen the buying pace pick up prior to what can be considered the "spring buying" season. Talking to agents who work in these areas mention they are experiencing some multiple offers, particularly homes listed under $400,000.
This has been part of the new trend in Seattle, buyers wanted to be wired and live in a walkable neighborhood. Both Ballard and West Seattle have areas that have unique venues that buyers are looking for.
City Cabins located on … (0 comments)
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The Link Between Your Credit Card And Your Mortgage - 03/22/11 06:58 AM
There is a direct link between your credit card and your Lake Forest Park mortgage and it does not have to do with using your credit card with a 30% rate of interest to purchase your new home. The link between your card and your mortgage lies in your credit rating. If your credit is out of whack you are not going to be able to qualify for a mortgage. If you want to buy a house and get approved for a home loan you need to make sure that your credit card bill payments reflect responsible credit ownership so … (8 comments)
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The Problem with Mold In A Real Estate Sale - 03/21/11 11:24 AM
When you have made up your mind about a Lake Forest Park real estate sale and are ready to go ahead and sign the papers, one of the things you need to check first in the house is mold. You may or may not have already done a visual inspection while you were walking around the house, but sometimes mold can be hidden and hard to see.
Talk to your real estate agent
If you are serious about a Lake Forest Park real estate sale you should talk to your agent about mold. He will be able to give you the … (4 comments)
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Livin Large with a Small Footprint - 03/21/11 11:04 AM
Pocket neighborhoods offer a unique alternative to the traditional subdivision. Architect Ross Chaplin has been creating these micro-scale communities in the Pacific Northwest since the late 1990s. His first community, Third street cottages in Langley Washington, eight small cottages on a 31,000 square foot lot designed for one and two person households.
The homes are situated around a shared garden area a commons building and toolshed that help foster a strong sense of community living.
The cottage style 1 ½ story homes are rich in detail, using local craftspeople and local material creating a rich layering texture. … (2 comments)
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The Tried And True Method For Real Estate Investing - 03/20/11 01:45 PM
ER/Graphic/Adrian Willanger
When times are tough or when times are good there is one method of Lake Forest Park real estate investing that will continue to work year after year. If you have not yet started a real estate portfolio, learn about this method first. It really is the way that works time and time again to ensure that money flows into your pockets on a continual basis.
The wrong way
A big mistake that new investors make is to put all of their cards into a building assuming that the property value will rise. In many cases the value … (4 comments)
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Why You Need a Lake Forest Park Real Estate Lawyer - 03/19/11 07:28 PM
Purchasing Lake Forest Park real estate is one of the biggest investments you can make. It is essential to have a Lake Forest Park real estate lawyer look over all the paperwork to make sure that everything is has been done according to the law. Considering the cost, it really is a very small price to pay to make sure that everything has been put into place properly and nothing has been left outstanding.
Liens
A Lake Forest Park real estate lawyer will perform a title search to make sure that the property is completely free of any judgments or … (0 comments)
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Comparing Residential Heating Systems - 03/18/11 01:59 PM
Architects, builders, contractors and homeowners are faced with countless options for home heating systems. Listed below are some of the current trends and equipment and installation considerations:
•· Types of systems
•· First cost comparison
•· Operating cost
•· Carbon emissions
•· Paybacks
At one time we were only concerned with a reliable heating source. Today we want energy efficiency and are concerned about carbon emissions. Seattle home builder Martha Rose chooses to go with high-efficiency electric mini-splits for her new homes, City Cabins, in part because the Pacific Northwest electricity is made with hydro-power which produces smaller … (0 comments)
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Your Lake Forest Park Property and Home Improvements - Increasing the Value - 03/18/11 11:14 AM
If you want to increase the value of your Lake Forest Park property through home improvements there are a few things that you should learn about first. A lot of people think that the money they put into home improvements will return dollar for dollar when their house is put up for sale. This is not necessarily true, however, because some types of improvements will give you a better return on your investment than others.
If you put $15,000 into in addition, you're not going to see that amount back when your Lake Forest Park house is put on the market and sold, in most … (0 comments)
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Your Lake Forest Park Retirement Real Estate Options - 03/17/11 07:32 PM
It's never time to reassess your retirement plans. Retirement is a wonderful time of life when you can relax and enjoy the rest of your life and it is also a time to look at your Lake Forest Park retirement real estate options. It is an opportunity to explore your interests and connect with like-minded people. It is also a time to access your living space and see if it works with your retirement goals.
A lot of people choose condominium life when they reach the age of retirement. A lot of condos offer fitness rooms and classes, a … (1 comments)
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Green Builder Chooses to Go All Electric - 03/16/11 09:40 PM
Martha Rose Construction has been building at the rigorous 5-Star Built Green level since its inception, choosing to make this their standard practice as opposed to making energy efficient options upgrades."Building at this level requires more work and allot more attention to details" mentions Rose. The real benefit is to the new home owner who gets a home that is more energy efficient, healthier and more comfortable to live in. Martha Rose became interested in building environmentally friendly homes during the energy crisis of the 1970s.
Their latest project, City Cabins, is going to be an all eclectic house. It … (1 comments)
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Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill to be New Home to Molly Moon's - 03/16/11 12:51 PM
Queen Anne Hill is the newest location for Molly Moon's, a local ice cream chain, due to open in the summer of 2011. The popular ice creamer has stores in Wallingford, Capitol Hill and has named Queen Anne as the winner of their "Where will shop 3 be" the competition was run through their Facebook page to determine which location would be selected to open the third store.
The three month long competition ended with Queen Anne out "liking" the Madrona neighborhood with 462 to 163.
Madrona, the runner-up in the "Shop 3" campaign, will be awarded a Molly Moon's … (0 comments)
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Seattle Builder Getting Closer to Net-Zero - 03/16/11 10:58 AM
While it is extremely hard to build a net-zero home, a home that produces as much energy as it consumes, without the use of active-solar equipment. Martha Rose, of Martha Rose Construction (MRC) in Seattle Washington, is designing homes that when equipped with solar equipment will be extremely close to the magic net-zero number.
The new homes are designed by CB Anderson Architects and built by MRC take a radical approach to building compared to traditional built homes. The formula, which Rose and her team have been at for over 10 years, starts with the design and orientation of the structure … (0 comments)
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Placing a Value on the Walkability of your Neighborhood - 03/14/11 08:01 PM
The Congress for the New Urbanism defines neighborhoods as places that are "compact, pedestrian-friendly, and have mix use options. Victor Dover and Jason King in their article "Neighborhood Definition" mention that most people will walk approximately one-quarter mile before choosing to turn back and choose a walking alternative most likely a car or bike.
Most of the Green home building certification programs have a point system for "community connectivity" placing more points on a neighborhood that has more amenities, community transportation, and schools with a 1//4-1/2 mile radius.
How much can being close to schools-shopping and other amenities increase a … (2 comments)
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Anti-nuclear Activism and Oil Embargos Influence Builder to Build Green Homes - 03/14/11 11:19 AM
Over 30 years ago Martha Rose, president of Martha Rose Construction, was building energy efficient homes above the current energy code of that time.
The 1970's was fueled with anti-nuclear activism and oil embargos which greatly influenced Rose's decision to build homes that were more efficient and would incorporate alternative energy sources.
Rose, pictured with her crew in the late 1970's, building a home for Ross and Cathy Wiggins who still live in the Rose built home today. The radical design, for the 1970's, featured R- 21 2X6 walls, insulated concrete floors in the bathrooms, and a passive solar … (4 comments)
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Tsunami Warnings for Oregon Washington Coast - 03/11/11 08:19 AM
Not your typical Friday morning, I woke up this morning at 4 AM (PST) turned on the news to have it filled with Tsunami warnings for the west coast as a result of a earthquake in Japan.
Pretty good coverage from NWCN they have been broadcasting estimate time and magnitude of impact as the waves move from west to east. It is just now beginning to hit Hawaii, we along the Washington coastline, are expecting Tsunami heights of 3-3.5' waves.
People are fleeing the Coastlines along the Oregon heading inland. The Tsunami is expected to hit the Oregon coast about … (6 comments)
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South Lake Union-Seattle, Washington-Events, Activities, Things to Do - 03/10/11 11:13 AM
South Lake Union (SLU) is a vibrant neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, named after its location south tip of Lake Union. The South Lake Union streetcar is easily accessible from many spots in theneighborhood providing quick link to downtown. The South Lake Union is home to many mixed use buildings, flashy residences, and eclectic amenity rich neighborhood environment. The South Lake Union neighborhood is truly a unique place to call home, work, or just soak in the neighborhood vibe.
Local Activities
Arts & Entertainment
Beginning Sailing
Cascade Playground
The Center For Wooden Boats
South Lake Union Walking Tour
Seattle … (2 comments)
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Lake Forest Park's Foreclosure Sales Trends - 03/09/11 09:09 PM
Seattle Foreclosure Re-sales Seattle Home Values - Interactive chart
The graph illustrates the change in the number of bank owned properties that have either been repossessed or foreclosed over a five year for the zip codes 98155 located on the northwest corner of Lake Washington in a city just north of Seattle called Lake Forest Park.
The Lake Forest Park area covers some of the following neighborhoods; North City, Shoreline, Sheridan Heights, and Sheridan Beach.
For any information regarding any of these Lake Forest Park neighborhoods please contact Adrian Willanger |206 909-7536
… (0 comments)
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North Seattle’s Foreclosure Sales Trends - 03/09/11 08:55 PM
Seattle Foreclosure Re-sales Seattle Home Values - Interactive chart The graph illustrates the change in the number of bank owned properties that have either been repossessed or foreclosed over a five year for the zip codes 98105, 98115, 98125 primarily North Seattle.
The area covers some of the following neighborhoods; University District, Ravenna, Laurelhurst, Windermere, View Ridge, Roosevelt, Maple Leaf, Cedar Park, Northgate, Lake City, Inverness, Victory Heights, Pinehurst, Meadowbrook and Matthews Beach.
For any information regarding any of these North Seattle neighborhoods please contact Adrian Willanger |206 909-7536
… (1 comments)
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Lake Forest Park and Kenmore's Home Statistics for February - 03/09/11 06:03 PM
*all numbers are taken from the NWMLS 3/1/2011 report
The Lake Forest Park and Kenmore area covered in this report has the following boundaries; south of 205th/244st SW. east of I-5, north of 145th, and west of Lake Washington/68th Avenue northeast.
Residential sales for the two months of 2011 trailed the same period in 2010 by 4 closed sales. 20 in 2010 and 16 in 2011.
The biggest change is in the amount of inventory available for sale. For the same period in 2010 there were 141 active listings compared to 73 in 2011 down an amazing 48%
The year-to-date … (0 comments)
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North Seattle Home Statistics for the Month of February - 03/09/11 05:08 PM
*all statistics are taken from NWMLS report run on 3/1/2011
The North Seattle market area can be defined as south of 145th, east of I-5, west of Lake Washington, and north of Portage Bay.
Average sales prices for residential homes sales for the first two months of 2011 were slightly lower than the same period in 2010 51 compared to 52 in 2010. The year-to-date (YTD) sales price was 3.8% lower in the first two months of 2011 compared to 2010.
The total number of homes for sale in the North Seattle area compared to 2010 is down 7.2%.
… (0 comments)
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March 12th - Volunteers Needed at Seattle Warehouse - 03/09/11 11:36 AM
p> Volunteers are needed in Seattle Washington on March 12th to work on removing pedals, turning handles, and packing bikes in to the container to prepare for the next shipment of bikes going to South Africa. Sign up for a shift at our SODO warehouse between 9:00am to 3:00pm. It's a great opportunity to get your hands dirty for a worthy cause. No experience necessary, we can teach you simple skills. Youth are also invited to volunteer to help us move bikes from the warehouse into the container. Please contact info@b4hs.org for warehouse address and more information.
The event is sponsored by Bicycles for … (0 comments)
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Green Builder Martha Rose Chooses High R-Value Windows for City Cabins - 03/09/11 09:39 AM
City Cabins will be installing the Serious 925 series windows
By, Adrian Willanger
When selecting windows for City Cabins our goal was to find the windows that would provide the highest levels of comfort and energy efficiency and were manufactured in the United States. Selecting Serious Windows was relatively easy after comparing performance data from the all of the top manufactures.
Martha Rose, president of Martha Rose Construction located in Seattle Washington, has continued to raise the bar in residential home construction. Building at Built Green's highest level, 5-Stars, since the program started in 2002 Rose has continued to … (4 comments)
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South Lake Union - 03/07/11 07:46 PM
A recent report in Kiplinger ranked Seattle as the 2nd best place to live for the next decade. Smart, green and innovative the City's major strengths are its bio-medicine research. The South Lake Union Area has become a lightning rod for emerging life-science research facilities.
One of the organizations choosing to make the South Lake Union area their home is the Washington Global Health Alliance; members include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Washington State University School for Global Animal Health, PATH, and the University Of Washington Department Of Global … (0 comments)
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Building Toward a Carbon Neutral Future - 03/03/11 10:11 PM
We are starting to see a handful of builders that are taking the idea of slashing the heating and energy consumption of their homes very seriously. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that buildings are responsible for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions annually and an amazing 76% of all the electricity generated goes into supplying the Building Sector. Many of these builders are using the Passive House standards to benchmark their high-performance homes. The Passive House is the world's leader in energy efficient building. The concept is fairly easy to understand but extremely hard for most American Builders … (4 comments)
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Picking Up the Energy Efficiency Pace - 03/03/11 08:43 PM
What effect will the proposed International Green Construction Code (IGCC), that will guide the design and construction of green commercial projects, have on residential home builders?In June of 2009 the International Code Council (ICC) along with the American institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) partnered to draft a new green building code, known as the IGCC committee that will draft documents which will be used as a starting point for new green construction measures. The first draft will be available for public comment sometime in 2010, with publication for adoption projected in 2012. With … (0 comments)
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Urban Encounters of The Green Kind - 03/03/11 08:10 PM
Just south of the Ballard Bridge on the northwest corner of Queen Anne Hill is the site of Martha Rose's newest green building project. The homes will be sited with an east west orientation with some water views from the upper levels. Before the site is cleared and prepared a deconstruction of the existing structure must happen.One of the key elements in Green or sustainable building is to eliminate as much waste as possible. I just finished reading an article in the latest Eco-Structure magazine by Editor Katie Weeks tiled "Viewpoint", she commented about Advertising Age magazine's list of the "jargoniest jargon" … (0 comments)
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Bothell's Shamrock Shuffle Wine Walk - 03/02/11 07:53 PM
Experience Bothell. If you're in the neighborhood March 18th join the folks at Country Village for the "Shamrock Shuffle" wine walk. What a great way to end a long week with a wine tasting featuring 20 of Washington's wineries.
Sip wine while walking through the different shops located in the Country Village in Bothell, Complimentary limo rides limo rides through the village between 5-7pm compliments of Bogan Limousine
Proceeds from this event benefit the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce. Must be at least 21 years old and tickets are required. Winemakers will be on hand to sign bottles of wine … (0 comments)
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Green Builder looks to the “CITYSUMERS” Marketplace - 03/02/11 05:14 PM
Award winning Green Builder Martha Rose, president of Martha Rose Construction, has just closed on a parcel of land on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill, an urban neighborhood in Seattle Washington.
Rose has been searching for an inner-city parcel of land believing that is where the action is. Urbanization of the cities is becoming a huge macro-trend, and Rose hopes to capitalize on the increasing number of urban dwellers that are moving into the cities.
"Market forces play a fundamental role in shaping the urban environmental Kuznets curve" mentions Matthew E. Kahn in his book Green Cities. Rapid … (0 comments)
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