Blog and they will come - 08/31/06 11:44 PM
A few days ago I added a new entry into my Seattle condo blog about a new condo project. Normally, nothing much happens but Google quickly indexed the new post. Today, the local newpaper published, what became a controversial article about the condo project, and people thoughout the country Googled it … (1 comments)
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How small is too small - 08/31/06 10:19 PM
It's not my intent to write about specific condo projects in AR, but a new project is getting some people riled up. All of the new condos in downtown start around $500,000, out of reach of the average person. One developer has decided to build affordable condos in the Belltown district … (0 comments)
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Aaargh! - 08/31/06 02:33 PM
Lots of people talk about the "addiction", maybe it's a curse. I thought I was above the fray but I'm learning I'm not. The sucking sound is getting louder. I have a new buyer appointment this afternoon and I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow morning, but I'm just getting sucked in further. … (5 comments)
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A glimpse of the future - 08/31/06 01:53 PM
My head is dizzy. I still trying for comprehend what Web 2.0 is, and now some braniac is pushing Web 3.0. Not much info, but apparently enough for the Seattle PI's business venture bloggist to write an article about it regarding a company called Yapta!. From the Yapta! website:
YapTA is … (0 comments)
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How not to steal content - 08/30/06 02:40 AM
Marlow Harris posted a serious, but humorous article about website hijinks in her 360digest.com blog. She commented about people so who steal other people's images (see Kristal's post), and the actions those individuals have taken to call out the theives on it. And, there's a lot of that going on here … (5 comments)
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Checking Google Keyword SERP - 08/29/06 03:54 PM
I noticed that my SERP for certain keywords fluctuate regularly in Google. A while back I learned that part of it may depend on which datacenter is being accessed at the time of the inquiry. One tool that I was introduced to is McDar. It's fantastic because users can do keyword … (0 comments)
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Concrete Stike Ends - 08/26/06 03:33 PM
The one month long concrete strike has ended as workers accepted a deal providing a $3.95/hr raise over three years. Stalled city & county, as well as private projects (e.g. Domaine Condominium, Mosler Lofts. et al) can now get going again.
But, was it all for nought? The longevity of the … (1 comments)
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Googlesphere Expands - 08/26/06 12:14 PM
Google has had a presence in the Northwest for a few years now with a sales offices in Seattle & Kirkland. It has been rumored for some time that Google had been planning on increasing their presence, possible moving in to the soon to be vacated headquarters of Safeco Insurance (my … (3 comments)
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Bursting at the Seams - 08/19/06 02:01 PM
Or so our Mayor would like us to. The Honorable Mayor Nickels is proposing (suggesting?) that Seattle expands it population base by more than 60% by 2040...up to 1 million people. Though, in order to accomplish that goal, Seattle would need to double its annual influx to 8,000 new residents and … (4 comments)
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Bellevue, Washington's most diverse city? - 08/19/06 01:29 PM
Seattle has long being the Northwest's bastion of liberalism, it's mixed salad bowl (not quite melting pot) and a true-blue city.
Bellevue, across the lake, is Seattle's antithesis - sterile, conservative, suburban, soccer moms. So, it came as a surprise, to me at least, when the Seattle Times reported that Bellevue … (2 comments)
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Bellevue, Washington's most diverse city? - 08/19/06 01:29 PM
Seattle has long being the Northwest's bastion of liberalism, it's mixed salad bowl (not quite melting pot) and a true-blue city.
Bellevue, across the lake, is Seattle's antithesis - sterile, conservative, suburban, soccer moms. So, it came as a surprise, to me at least, when the Seattle Times reported that Bellevue … (2 comments)
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Form Revisions - 08/18/06 11:38 AM
Recently, the NWMLS revised several forms including the Purchase & Sale contract and addendums. I've highlighed a few of the important changes below; for more information, please visit my blog @ Seattle Housing Buzz.
Purchase & Sale Contract (Form 21)
Possession Date - option defaults to closing, may fall on weekend or holidayComputation … (0 comments)
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100 People Bring Construction to a Halt - 08/16/06 07:32 PM
The concrete strike, that started July 31st, continues at a number of concrete plants in Seattle. The strike is by a mere 100 operators who are members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302. Yet, they are arguing over the proposed $3.95 per hour raise (they want more) and … (2 comments)
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Power of the First Page - 08/16/06 02:15 AM
Just an observation. For the holy grail of search terms, "location real estate", I've been seesawing back and forth in Google SERPs between page 1 and page 2 for "Seattle Real Estate". One thing that I noticed is that when I'm on the first page, I receive a good flow of … (2 comments)
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Gates Foundation Expands - 08/14/06 02:14 AM
Love or hate his company, Bill Gates is set to become a bigger icon in the Rain City. With the recent addition of Warren Buffett's $31 billion gift, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now worth $60 billion. By 2009, the foundation will be spending/giving away $3 billion a year. … (4 comments)
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In the Flesh Networking - 08/10/06 06:51 PM
For Seattle area members of ActiveRain, there is a great networking group called Biznik, who's motto is "A business networking group that doesn't suck." And, if you're not in Seattle...well, Biznik groups are starting in other cities, too.
From Biznik:
Biznik isn't just a networking group. It's a community. It's a necessity. … (1 comments)
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Promotional Co-branding - Tully's - 08/10/06 06:18 PM
Another agent in Washington state asked about co-branding opportunities. Locally, Tully's, Seattle's second largest coffee companies, is offering Realtor co-branding on their coffee gift cards. Something the other coffee company isn't doing.
This marketing program is being offered through the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors. Additionally, they will match 10% of … (6 comments)
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Carnival of Real Estate - 08/08/06 02:40 AM
I remember Matt mentioning that he was submitting blogs from AR to the Carnival of Real Estate. Since I don't remember seeing anything further...this week's Carnival was posted on the Property Grunt and 4 AR blog postings were included:
Bryan Tutas' "Leads can't be bought..."
Brian Rayman's "New Home Builders...Buyer Beware"
And Matt's "Lead … (1 comments)
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Seattle Foreclosures on the Rise - 08/08/06 02:00 AM
It's not surprising as many have been anticipating a rise in foreclosures, but now it's upon us. A local television station, King5, reported that foreclosures are up 30% over the past year. And, for "most of them suffering the loss of their home, there are several investors waiting in the wings … (2 comments)
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July Market Update - 08/08/06 01:50 AM
The Seattle area, despite our record hot temperatures, seems to be cooling on the housing front. Within Seattle, inventory continues to go up resulting in a 20% increase over the previous year. Additionally, Seattle saw a 12.11% decrease in pendings and a 15.55% decrease in closed sales compared to July 2005. … (0 comments)
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Thought this was cool - 08/07/06 02:02 AM
A little bit of self-promotion...from the Sunday Seattle Times Real Estate section's feature article about advising sellers & buyers to choose an agent they're comfortable with. There was a part about agents who go "above and beyond"..."Seattle-area John L. Scott agent Ben Kakimoto, who volunteers at the Seattle Animal Shelter at … (0 comments)
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South Lake Union Block Party - 08/04/06 03:48 PM
The 2nd Annual SLU Block Party is set for August 11th and 12th at the Discovery Center Park (behind Vulcan’s Discovery Center building). The event is hosted by Vulcan who is spearheading the redevelopment of South Lake Union.
The festivities will start of with Cinema on the Lawn featuring Napolean Dynamite … (0 comments)
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Seattle Paint Out - 08/03/06 09:37 PM
The 5th Annual Paint Out is being held August 19-20th in several neighborhoods. The paint out is a national movement to clean-up and paint out graffiti. The Seattle neighborhoods included this year are:
Belltown - August 20th, 9 AM @ the fire station Capitol Hill - August 19th, 10 AM … (0 comments)
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A Dose of Reality - 08/03/06 08:26 PM
With the short dry & sunny periods we have in the Northwest many construction projects are well-underway, particularly transportation. Earlier this week the concrete operating engineers went on strike in the county halting production of concrete and potentially causing slowdowns at construction sites.
Projects already impacted are the regional light rail … (0 comments)
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Capitol Hill Condo Update - 08/02/06 11:26 PM
July was a great month for condo sales on Capitol Hill with both pendings sales and solds increasing. The number of pending sales increased from 15 to 34 from June to July while solds increased 36 to 50 during the same time period. The number of active condo listings remained … (0 comments)
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Queen Anne Condo Update - 08/02/06 11:24 PM
In July, the number of active condo listings (97) and sold listings (53) remained the same as in June, while the number of pending sales increased significantly from 8 to 27 (number of sales that went to pending status during the month). Additionally, the average number of days on market … (0 comments)
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Raising a Hill - 08/02/06 09:01 PM
Seattle was a city built on seven hills (was...since there's only six remaining). Back in the pioneer days the steep hills were obstacles to the city's expansion and transporation routes. So, someone had the great idea of removing one of the hills by pressure washing it with water from Puget Sound. … (1 comments)
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Bait & Switch Routine - 08/01/06 05:22 PM
Susan Ryan, a Seattle area Realtor, recently wrote about new developments bait & switch routine in the Seattle P-I Newspaper's Real Estate blog.
And, I've been noticing this a lot lately as I work with presale buyers & investors. Most of the new developments haven't been placing listings in the MLS. … (4 comments)
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Downtown Seattle Condo Update - 08/01/06 02:19 PM
July saw an increase in condo inventory in the Downtown, Belltown & Pioneer Square areas from 89 to 131 active listings. Pending sales also increased 8.9% from 35 to 39. Interestingly, with the increased inventory, buyers had more choices and it resonated with them as the average days on market … (0 comments)
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