Video Blog on Real Estate in Normandy Park, Burien, Seattle & Waterfront Homes

Local Eyesore goes up in Flames and the community Cheers

2007-10-11T01:39:23Z

I dreamed of this day for so many years. The day that the junk store "AAA Liquidating" in Normandy Park would burn to the ground. Don't get me wrong. The store had some cool stuff sometimes. Like the time when I was 13 and went in there with my friends and we purchased "stun guns" to zap each other with. BB gun wars started to get boring so we thought that stun guns would be fun. (by the way they hurt like hell and we went back to BB gun wars in the woods of Normandy Park instead, we figured shoting each other with BB's was much safer) But what if AAA wasn't there we would've never had the chance to maybe accidentally kill each other.

Except for the "stun gun" purchases everything else about AAA Liquidating drove me nuts. The piles of steel barrels, 1/2 priced desks and chairs and whatever else was picked up at bargain prices was stacked all over the Triple "A" parking lot. I swear nobody every must've purchased a steel barrel from there because the only seemed to multiple.

I have no idea how the owner got away with that in Normandy Park. It was against all kinds of codes but somehow it remained that way for as long as I can remember, and only seemed to get worse over every year.

So on the last weekend in September I received a text message saying the it was going to be burned to the ground!! Who was the text from?? Was it from some crazy outraged citizen, or a neighbor from the adjacent Brittany Place Condos that overlooked the junk yard, or maybe an arsonist was on the rampage.Watch the video and find out who did it.

I tracked down the person behind the fire. He's a pretty good guy by the way. Check out his foundation to fight Usher Syndrome (click here)

He is also a a pretty darn good builder starting a fabulous new development of homes for sale in Normandy Park ranging in the mid to upper Million dollar range. For more information on those homes for sale or other homes for sale in Normandy Park see below.

Click Here: For all your Real Estate Needs in Seattle, Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Mercer island.

Seattle - Housing Prices Defy Logic, prices keep climbing

2007-08-08T21:45:19Z

Interesting Article from the Seattle Times on Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Economics 101 teaches that prices should drop when the supply increases dramatically, but the Seattle area's housing market keeps confounding that conventional wisdom.

Prices of King County houses and condominiums last month increased 9 percent compared to a year earlier -- even while the number of available properties grew 51 percent.

Likewise, the number of homes for sale was up 57 percent in neighboring Snohomish County and 47 percent in Pierce County, according to July numbers released Monday by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

This continues a trend that has persisted for several months.

Yet prices in all counties rose, also continuing a trend, though at a slower pace than the double-digit rates of a year ago.

Windermere Real Estate general manager Matt Deasy says that until recently he expected the significant increase in the number of homes for sale to halt the continuing rise in prices. "I would have said appreciation would stop," Deasy said.

But so far that hasn't happened.

Why rising inventory isn't having the anticipated effect is hard to pin down, but there are theories.

All revolve around the idea that an increase in the number of for-sale homes isn't necessarily a negative factor that would cause prices to fall.

Theory 1: Last year the number of homes for sale was unusually low, so this year's increase isnt an overbundance that's flooding the market and driving down prices. That's true in close-in Seattle and Eastside neighborhoods where buyer demand is strong enough to handle increased inventory, partifularly in th emore affordable price ranges.

In the Ballard and Green Lake neighborhoods, for example, buyers last month bid up the median list price of $450,000 (for houses, condos and town homes combined) to a median sales price of $453,000. Homes priced below the median sell briskly.

Theory 2: Move-up buyers, who were reluctant to put their homes on the market last year for fear they wouldn't be able to find a replacement, are doing so now, and that's increasing inventory. Mortgage rates below 7 percent are helping them make the move.

Theory 3: Having heard that sales are slowing, many buyers feel they can take their time. They aren't snapping up houses as fast as they did in 2005 and 2006, so houses ares sitting longer on the market.

Indeed, July pending sales -- deals agreed to last month but not yet finalized -- were down 6.5 percent in King County compared with the previous July. They dipped 14.2 percent in Snohomish County and 15.8 percent in Pierce County.

That gave buyers in some areas a distinct advantage.

"People are able to shop around for quality and value," said David Milot, broker-owner of RE/MAX Metro Realty. "Anything substandard is not being snapped up."

Theory 4: Inventory is building because overpriced homes no longer can count on playing the "catch-up game.

"Two years ago, if a seller wanted to [insist on a maximum] price, it might sit on the market for a couple of months, then appreciation would catch up and it would sell," Deasy noted. Now they may wait awhile but will eventually drop their price to land a sale.

What role the national subprime-mortgage meltdown may be playing here is hard to gauge.

There's no way to know how many of the 12,902 houses and condos for sale last month in King County were on the market because their mortgages were resetting to unaffordably high payments.

As for foreclosures, King County had 335 foreclosure auctions last month, according to Foreclosure.com.

That's a per capita foreclosure rate of 0.31 percent, far below the national rate of 0.81.

Meanwhile, appreciation continues to grow, particularly in King County.

Single-family-home prices have crept up every month this year, rising from January's median $429,495 to July's median of $481,000.

Median house prices in Snohomish County have bobbled up and down, from a low of $356,000 in February to June's high of $381,000 before dipping to $370,165 last month. Temporary dips are common.

Pierce County has seen median house prices rise from $272,500 in January to $288,950 in July

Contact your local Real Estate Consultant for life...

The Keeth Team

www.morehomes.com

www.morehomes.net

By Elizabeth Rhodes

Seattle Times business reporter

Mass Emails From Agents to Agents promoting a Listing. Like It or Hate it?

2007-08-07T21:15:48Z

Hello Realtors

I was just wondering I use to do this a very Long,Long, time ago but stopped since I found it annoying on the receiving end.

However, I was curious as to what your feelings about it are?

What I am talking about is promoting your listing by using a mass email type company for instance, zipyourflyer, or whatever other companies do this to send out "new listings flyer, price reduction, brokers open house, etc. to agents emails.

I know I now just block 99% of them and send it to junkmail. I really don't need an additional 100 emails a day to look at.

But do you think read them, should I start doing them again, or do you just junk mail filter them like I do. Or maybe you find that they work?

Just curious??

Dustin Keeth

www.Morehomes.com

www.Morehomes.net

12227 Shorewood Dr. SW, Burien, WA 98146

2007-07-25T03:27:50Z

Should anyone take anchor in front of your waterfront estate and come ashore for a sunset refreshment, they would find endless respect for a home built with timeless imported woods and stone modernly crafted into a masterpiece. Designed to capture the imminent display of the Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountain Range and Vashon Island, your home also has an undeniable touch of Tuscany. For those interested in exemplary taste for modern living with priceless detail

653 SW 199th Place, Normandy Park, WA 98166

2007-07-23T03:53:41Z

A quiet drive down a picturesque driveway introduces you to an estate pulled right from your dreams. This home is stately, yet w/the calming feel of an East Coast home. Hrdwd flrs. thru-out most of the home reflect perfect sunlight from colonial window frames; not a speck of dust is to be found. Rooms flow easily to each other in a circular pattern making entertaining a breeze. From any room in this remodeled home only the tranquility of your nearly 1 acre lot lie within view. Welcome home...

Detailed Property Information Here.

How to Live in Normandy Park for Less Money - Click Here -

The Next YouTube Star

2007-07-20T23:54:26Z

I had been bugging my daughter to let me tape her singing and put it on youtube for a few months.

I showed her a post on Esmee Denters. She loves Justin Timberlake, once she saw him pop up at the end she said lets do a youtube.

Anyway bet Esmee couldn't do this when she was eight. (OK I could be biased)

By the way we don't allow her to wear makeup all the time or say "hell" (except in this song). We did let her get all dressed up for her video debut per her request.

The quality of the video isn't the best & I really needed the insturmental of the song but this was just a fun thing to do with my daughter. The sun was setting and we just hurried up and did the taping.

Plus, its so funny to see the how many people watch and commnent on youtube about her video. She cant beleive almost 200 people have seen it.

The relevance to real estate is. Do you understand how many people look at youtube? Maybe this is a great avenue to find a buyer for you're next listing???

Check this out and give it a vote or two on youtube: Click Here to See Our Video..

A Star is Discovered

2007-07-20T23:45:47Z

Esmee Denters.

A small town girl from the Netherlands starts posting up videos of herself singing in her bedroom, and 6 months later she's signed to Justin Timberlake's new record label...and performing on stage at one of his concerts to 50,000 fans.

Thanks to the DailyDashboard.com for bringing this to my attention. I highly recommend Dean Jackson's Blog. Check Out The Daily Dashboard. Here!!

Bubble Proof Markets

2007-07-19T01:37:13Z

I get asked the questions every couple of weeks about do I think there is a "Bubble" in Seattle. My answer has always been "no". We may have a slow down or an adjustment as prices keep rising" But I do not see a "Bubble" poping in Seattle anytime soon. Check out this article from CNN.

Bubble Proof Markets

Getting Showing Feedback from Agents is like pulling teeth.

2007-07-13T03:00:26Z

A question out there for all of you listing agents or for that matter to you Selling Agents that give feedback on a regular basis.

I have been primarily a listing agent for the past 16 years. I have yet to find an easy system to get feedback from Agents who have shown or previewed one of my listings. I've offered a drawing, sent faxes, emails, made phones calls, assigned my assistant to nag the agent to get feedback. And to tell you the truth I eventually get tired of trying to get feedback and then just say the heck with it. Sellers cant understand why an agent wouldn't call you back asap to give feedback. To be totally honest I hate giving feedback myself but I try and return listing agent calls within 24 hours with feedback.

So I was recently sent an email from an agent whose listing I had shown a few days previously. However, she was using some site called www.homefeedback.com(I AM NOT PROMOTING THIS SITE & I AM NOT A CUSTOMER OF THIS SITE, Yet.) But I am thinking about joining. The email that came looked great (i only quickly looked at the email & I didn't fill it out, but I did flag it, and plan to go back and fill it in tomorrow)

What I would like to know is there anyone using this service or one like it? Do you like the service?The company has a free 21 day trial and then its about 20 bucks a month. I wonder what the true success rate of getting responses is? I liked the looks of the survey it sends out. 20 bucks isn't a lot of money but I swear I pay for so many different systems, I should draw the line somewhere or soon I'll need to charge a flat 7% instead of 6%.

Love to hear what tech software/services you like or subscribe to? Gomzee.com is my latest tech thing I am trying out.

Please share what is your favorite/most effective way to get showing feedback?

Dustin Keeth

www.morehomes.com

www.morehomes.tv

25107 8th Pl South Des Moines, Washington

2007-06-29T03:27:40Z

A light breeze blows across the skin on your face, a perfect contrast to the warm sun that illuminates the shimmering Puget Sound in front of you. To your left a small flock of seagulls whistles into the wind, flirting with an eagle from Saltwater State Park. This is what welcomes you when you arrive at this amazingly manicured & updated waterfront home. Just a few of the features include spacious, inviting rooms, main floor master suite, custom game room & everything else you could desire. Located in Des Moines, Washington just minutes from Burien, Sea Tac Airport and Downtown Seattle. See more at http://www.morehomes.com or call The Keeth Team for help in finding your dream home or scaling down from your dream estate. The Keeth Team Your Real Estate Consultants for life...

http://www.LivinginDesMoines.com

http://www.morehomes.com

20603 6th Ave. SW, Normandy Park, WA 98166

2007-06-21T05:47:14Z

One of Normandy Park's most recent view homes that just went under contract with an excited buyer. This home was offered for sale at $1,750,000 and, represented by the Premier Marketing Team of Dustin Keeth & Gary Keeth with Windermere Real Estate So. Inc. The "Keeth Team" is well known for setting prices and breaking records for the majority of High-End Sales in South King County, including Normandy Park, Des Moines, 3 Tree Point, Seahurst, Burien, Redondo & many other locals. Visit www.morehomes.com for more information.

Normandy Park, WA

2007-06-21T05:38:59Z

'Prestige, privacy, privilege'

There are no signs along the freeway that point you toward Normandy Park. It's a tucked-away community, and that's much of its appeal. This strip of land on Puget Sound, due west of Seattle-Tcaoma International Airport, was planned back in the 1920s to be an upper-class planned community of French Normandy-style architecture, golf and yachts. It held 'the promise of prestige, privacy and privilege.' And the reality of today isn't that far off.

Click below and see a recent View home that just went under contract with an excited buyer.

I am just in the process of creating blog dedicated to Life in Normandy Park. http://www.livinginnormandypark.com/ will be a place to stop and look at what has been happening to real estate values, what new homes are rumored to be coming up for sale, what homes sold while not been offered up for sale to the general public, etc...

If you would like to have any other topics discussed about the "Park" drop me an email and I will put it on our teams "to do" list.

"39 Ways To Live, and Not Merely Exist"

2007-06-20T22:35:55Z

"39 Ways To Live, and Not Merely Exist"

One of my Favorites:

Check it out here

#4 Create a morning ritual. Wake early and greet the day. Watch the sun rise. Out loud, tell yourself that you will not waste this day, which is a gift. You will be compassionate to your fellow human beings, and live every moment to its fullest...

Dustin...surfing the web so you don't have to..

Father's Day Poem that was sent to me today

2007-06-18T02:02:58Z

Fathers Are Wonderful People

Fathers are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should...

For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills...

And Father struggles daily
To live up to "his image"
As protector and provider
And "hero of the scrimmage"...

And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion,
That Fathers are not subject
To the thing we call emotion,

But if you look inside Dad's heart,
Where no one else can see
You'll find he's sentimental
And as "soft" as he can be...

But he's so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife...

But Fathers are just wonderful
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolades of praise,

For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness...

If you haven't already look at www.morehomes.tv for a special father's day tribute. It's worth a look..

MUST READ ABOUT FATHER'S DAY!!!

2007-06-17T05:47:36Z

"Below is a letter I sent to our friends and family back in May of this year about my Dad's battle with Cancer. Not only is he my Dad he's also my Real Estate partner for the last 16 years"

It Looked Like A Shark Had Taken A Big Bite, A Big Vicious Bite, Right Into My Dad's Neck.

December 29, 2006,

I am writing, on a personal level, and on a business level. I wanted to let you know my father has been very, very, sick. In fact he still is. With persistence, however, he is recovering.

Here is my story about my visit to the hospitial, I hope you are inspired by his example as much as I ‘m....

Under the pale white light in the hospital, I could see what seemed to be hundreds of staple marks running from his upper chest to his ear and down the backside of his neck. They were all bright red and painful looking. He was wearing a light blue hospital robe, and he was slumped over, looking older than I ever imagined seeing him. Nowhere present was the strong image of my childhood hero Gary Keeth, my business partner, my teammate on the basketball court,

The man who I have never seen miss more than 1 day of work in over 30 years of his career, my friend, my father. When I was first allowed to see my dad after doctors had removed 100's of lymph nodes from his head and neck, removed the cancerous tumor from his throat and his tonsils, throw in a nerve graft in his neck and shoulder area, he looked, physically, bad enough to bring me to tears.

"I can lift it up!" Gary said. "I can still shoot a basketball!"

Contrary to his battered appearance, he was brimming with excitement and vigor! He was waving his right arm, the one he shoots a basketball with, frantically towards the ceiling.

"I can play basketball" he repeated, "AND the drums... I can still play the drums!"

Such are the lessons I have learned from my dad over the last thirty-four years. He has been a model of vitality, success against all odds, determination and persistence.

Such are the lessons we have incorporated into our business, pouring our hearts and souls into our clients unique lives and challenges.

Sincerely,

Dustin Keeth

P.S. Gary was told that he would be in the hospital for at least 6-7 days, that he needed to rest in bed and would most likely not be able to shot a basketball. Gary of course had his own plans. He is not one to sit still. So to the shock and awe of the doctors and nurses he was up walking around the hospital in less than 24 hours and at home within 2 days eating solid food and calling clients, despite only being able to talk just slightly above a whisper..

Best of all, I got to play basketball with Dad less than 10 days after his surgery and it was full court basketball too.

www.morehomes.com www.morehomes.tv

Bad Picture of the Week

2007-06-15T02:19:42Z

I have writing in other posts about how I feel about pictues in listings. Or should I say quality of pictures..

I have personally taking over listings that had been on the market and failed to sell with other agents that I have quickly sold without even a price reduction. One of the important changes I do is make sure the photos of the home are FANTASTIC. If they dont peek a buyer or an agents interest immediately they fly past the listing of the home and move to the next one.

SEE Below: So here are two bad pictures I ran across this evening on our local multiple listing service.

This home was on the market for almost $791,000 and actually did sell for $14,000 off of list price. Who knows the seller might've been happy with a sales price just a little less than 2% off of asking price & 42 days on the market.

However, what if they had amazing marketing including impressive photos that evoked emotion to the propesctive buyers that they must come see this home. They could've easily had more than 1 offer on the property and most likely a shorter marketing time as well (that would've been 1 less house payment the seller would have had to make too) I guess well never know what could have been....

Experience shows that hiring a Real Estate consultant that takes pride in providing such a high level of help to his or her clients will be worth every penny you pay for that help, and will save you both time, money and stress.

I am 99.99% sure webber grills come with wheels.

How about taking 3 seconds and move the grill out of the way of that marvelous view.

This photo had no caption in the MLS. I wonder what could've been a good caption for this one?

Enjoy breathtaking sunsets while you and your friends from the witness protection program polish off a few bottles of wine.

This picture was EXACTLY like this in our multiple and on the internet. I did not edit out the faces it was like this. Go figure!

This is how I prefer to showcase the homes of my clients in photos

A quick picture of my view. If I was to be picky (and I am) I would want the chair at a different angle and the shadow on the left bothers me, but you get the picture.

Recent sale in Normandy Park. Doesn't that make you want to come see that home and sit in that bench??

"Wow, I want to stand there." I sold this home to a buyer on the East Coast who was searching for homes on the internet. They called their agent here and said we must see that home. It took them less than 5 minutes at the property to know they had to have it.

Can you tell I like sunset shots? Dont you just want to come over to this home in Shorewood and have a pizza in the custom pizza oven just steps away from Puget Sound??

These types of quality photos work for homes in all price ranges. I use the same photographers for my 8 million dollar listings to my $200,000 listings.

Dustin Keeth

Waterfront & View Specialist

Windermere Real Estate So. Inc.

www.morehomes.tv (both of these sites are in need of updating, but I've been putting it off)

www.morehomes.com

www.livinginNormandyPark.com

My weekly Rant

2007-06-13T04:55:20Z

Last week we put a home on the market priced to sell very quickly per the owners request. We priced the home to sell fast and most likely with multiple offers.

We received about 12 offers. Great right?

My problem is not with the amount of offers. My problem is the lack of skill so many licensed "professional" real estate agents have or should I say competence.

About 4-5 of the offers were incorrectly writing. Missing signatures or initials, missing financing information downpayment info, missing pages. I supply a complete "buyers pack" for all my listings. It has everything an agent could need before writing an offer, our state disclosure forms, utility info, agency info, legal description, a buyers approval addendum (i require this form to be included so that up front it lets the other agent and lender know that I require very specific things from both of them during the course of the transaction/loan. If they do not provide the updated information my sellers have the opportunity to cancel the sale. This keeps everyone on their toes to a successful closing and cuts down on last minute delays) etc..

I even had an agent attach to the agreement a SIGNED BLANK ADDENDUM signed by both the other agent and his clients. Are you kidding me that's like handing over a blank check. I just wish more agents would take pride in their jobs and keep in mind the trust our clients give to us.

On the absolute other spectrum I want to thank all of those agents who do take pride in their work and always strive to be the best they can be.

www.LivinginNormandyPark.com

2007-06-09T03:14:30Z

I've had an idea in my head for some years now about creating a blog for people to learn what is going in with the Real Estate Market in Normandy Park, Washington.

I will soon be launching www.LivinginNormandyPark.com

Actually, it has launched but there is a VERY limited content on the blog. However, I plan on making this a must visit site if you're every planning on Moving to Normandy Park or maybe you already live here and are just doing some research.

Keep your eyes open and bookmark the site.

Thanks

Dustin Keeth

Real Estate Consultant

www.morehomes.com

New Youtube Video

2007-06-08T03:42:24Z

I have been toying around with youtube and a blog for years but never really made the time to set one up.

I finally choose to no longer but it off and decided to jump right in and do one.

So here is my first video.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYlcv8-154

or my blog I am starting for now is called