Seattle Waterfront Home Sales, May 2009 - 05/29/09 12:42 PM
A few Seattle waterfront homes have sold in May, with the home prices being on the lower end of the waterfront market.  The homes sold at a wide range of discounts from listing price, and varied from one week on the market to 6 months on the market.
The first home was a 3 bed, 1.75 bath house on Lake Washington's waterfront in Cedar Park (near Lake City in NE Seattle).  With a good-sized dock on the lake and ample space, it sold for $765,000, just 4% off the list price of $799k.  This was really the low end of market … (0 comments)

Seattle Waterfront Home Sales, April 2009 - 05/28/09 11:27 AM
There were 3 notable Seattle waterfront homes sold in April.  The first was a cozy beach cabin on Beach Dr in West Seattle.  At 2 beds, 1 bath, and 1500 sq ft, it's a classic waterfront beach house that could be a small primary residence or a perfect weekend getaway.  The home sold for $640,000, a relative steal for Seattle waterfront on the Puget Sound.
The second waterfront home was a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1930s era home on the Southwest Magnolia waterfront.  With 75 feet of waterfront and 1500 sq feet, the home sold for $880,000.  The home has a … (0 comments)

Edmonds Waterfront Homes - 05/28/09 10:26 AM
Edmonds has a wide range of waterfront homes.  There are affordable houses on Lake Ballinger and Lake Serene, and everything from small cabins to luxury villas on the Puget Sound.Prices start around $500,000, so there is ample opportunity for Puget Sound waterfront home buyers.  The views from Edmonds on the waterfront are sweeping.  The Olympic mountains, islands in the Sound, ferries, and occasional orca whales make water views in Edmonds hard to beat.  Edmonds Water View Real EstateEdmonds Waterfront Real Estate
Sam DeBord and Brian WiegandSeattleHome.com (206) 431-5900Seattle Waterfront Real Estate Brokers - RE/MAX ConnectedSeattle Waterfront Homes - Seattle Water View Homes - Seattle … (0 comments)

Edmonds Waterfront Festival this Weekend - 05/28/09 09:43 AM
The city of Edmonds will be having its annual waterfront festival this weekend, May 29-31.  Edmonds, about 20 minutes North of downtown Seattle, has a quaint, small-town feel in its downtown on the Puget Sound.  The family festival has a nautical theme, with art exhibits and plenty of entertainment.
For children, there are arts and crafts, free trout fishing, rides, and food vendors.  For adults there is a beer garden, live music, dancing, and a 5k run.  The events run from 3pm-10pm on Friday, and 11am-10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Edmonds Homes For SaleEdmonds Waterfront HomesEdmonds Water View Homes
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Seward Park Waterfront Homes on Lake Washington - 05/27/09 09:34 AM
There are a number of waterfront homes for sale in Seattle's Seward Park currently. Starting at $1.6 million, these homes range from 60 to 110 feet of low bank Lake Washington waterfront. This group of listings is larger than the usual number of available homes. About half of these homes came on the market in the past month. Seward Park is a unique waterfront neighborhood in that it's so close to downtown Seattle. New homes can't be built, waterfront properties are relatively scarce, and the Lake Washington shoreline in this area is some of the most highly sought in Seattle. Waterfront … (0 comments)

Homestreet Bank introduces No Money Down, No PMI, 3.99% Financing - 05/27/09 12:24 AM
It sounds like it's too good to be true, but select homes in the Seattle area are now being financed by Homestreet Bank at no money down, no PMI, and 3.99% financing.  These are homes which Homestreet financed the construction loan, and the bank wants the properties sold now.
This kind of financing is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a handful of buyers who purchase these homes.  With 100% financing being practically gone from the market, most buyers would expect to pay higher rates and a few hundred dollars/month in mortgage insurance.  At 3.99%, with no PMI, these homes are as affordable as … (0 comments)

Normandy Park Waterfront Real Estate - 05/22/09 04:18 PM
Normandy Park is just South of West Seattle, between Burien/Seahurst and Des Moines.  Situated on the Puget Sound waterfront, this neighborhood has a quiet, secluded feel.  It's just a short hop to the Airport, I-5, and Highway 509.
The Puget Sound waterfront homes here come in a variety of prices, from economical rambler hideaways to green-built, modern cliff-hanging mansions.  There are currently just a few Normandy Park waterfront homes on the market, ranging from $700k to $3.75 million.
Normandy Park Waterfront Homes
Sam DeBord and Brian WiegandSeattleHome.com (206) 431-5900Seattle Waterfront Real Estate Brokers - RE/MAX ConnectedSeattle Waterfront Homes - Seattle Water View Homes - Seattle … (0 comments)

Sinkholes opening up on the Seattle Waterfront - 05/21/09 11:27 PM
Seattle's waterfront is getting ready for a major renovation with a new transit tunnel and surface beautification.  Just in time.
Seattle's seawall on the waterfront was built on mudflats.  The fill material supporting the viaduct and adjacent structures has been know to be unstable and likely to shift over time.  Small marine creature have been boring through the seawall for years, reducing its strength and affecting the subjacent support of the street and sidewalks along the waterfront piers. 
This week, a visitor to the waterfront fell into a sinkhole that opened up in the sidewalk.  As the man was walking neaar … (0 comments)

Belltown Seattle Home Prices Up 2.8% YTD in 2009 - 05/20/09 11:06 PM
In a ray of light among many darker clouds, the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle had a median price increase of 2.8% comparing Year-To-Date 2009 vs. YTD 2008.  The median home price sold in Belltown was $427,000 in at this point in 2008 vs. $439,000 today.
A lot of factors could be contributing to this increase, including new construction condos coming on the market and a much lower number of total transactions, skewing the median upward.  The total number of homes sold in Belltown during this same timeframe was off by more than half, which quickly rains on the very short parade of price appreciation.
Belltown … (0 comments)

Buyer and Builder Beware - Houseboats are not for everyone - 05/18/09 12:10 PM
I find that a lot of people in Seattle are drawn to the allure of houseboat living by what they've seen in magazines, movies, or just a day spent boating on Lake Union.  Many of my first-time home buyer clients will want to tour some floating homes, thinking that the relatively low prices - compared to single family homes on the waterfront - make houseboats an easy choice.
The vast majority of these clients take one look at the tiny bathrooms, cozy living quarters, and long docks or ramps to get home, and they flee for the condo market.  Probably a … (0 comments)

Renton waterfront home sales, 2009 - 05/17/09 12:36 PM
There have been a handful of Renton waterfront home sales so far in 2009, with two on Lake Washington waterfront.  Renton's Kennydale neighborhood is on the Southeast corner of Lake Washington, and it houses some single family homes and condo buildings on the lake.The two Kennydale/Renton sales on Lake Washington so far have been a $1.1 million dollar, large 1960s era home and a $2.9 million dollar new construction home at the new Barbee Mill development of multi-unit properties.Renton Waterfront Homes
Sam DeBord and Brian WiegandSeattleHome.com (206) 431-5900Seattle Waterfront Real Estate Brokers - RE/MAX ConnectedSeattle Waterfront Homes - Seattle Water View Homes - Seattle Floating … (2 comments)

Bellevue waterfront real estate sales - single family homes, 2009 - 05/15/09 02:17 PM
Bellevue's waterfront homes have seen some significant sales so far in 2009.  According to the NWMLS, there have been 9 waterfront single family homes sold so far this year, ranging from $1.05 million to $3.68 million.  Who says there are no buyers for high end properties?
These waterfront homes all seem to be selling within 5%-10% of their list price, which is fairly good considering the current declining values in the upper end of the market.  It seems that these sellers of waterfront real estate are willing to negotiate on their prices, but aren't necessarily taking big price cuts to make a … (0 comments)

Zillow and Realtors: Can you afford to ignore it? - 05/14/09 07:24 PM
I just left a meeting with the folks at Zillow.  There are a lot of big things in the works at this Seattle-based braintrust (you have to see the iPhone app if you haven't yet).  The question for real estate professionals is this: 
Your clients use Zillow - they love it.  Do you try to ignore it, or do you embrace the technology and make it work for you?
Realtors have a reputation for protecting their turf fiercely.  All businesses do it.  Wal-Mart is not going to divulge their wholesale prices to Target, or the end consumer for that matter.  Control of information is power.  … (13 comments)

Llandover-by-the-Sound - Seattle's hidden neighborhood - 05/13/09 03:36 PM
Llandover-by-the-Sound is the kind of place you could drive by every day and never know it.  This pocket of homes on the Northwest corner of Seattle is difficult to find, even for a local Seattle resident.  It may be technically in Broadview, but it's a very different enclave.
Just at Seattle's northern limit, next to the Seattle Golf Club, a city park called Llandover Woods marks the Eastern end of this neighborhood--but you can only get in on foot from here.  Take a drive South a few blocks and then West a few more (I could give you better directions, but that would take … (0 comments)

South Lake Union Vulcan condo project to become apartments - 05/11/09 10:15 AM
South Lake Union's Rollin Street Flats condo project has been slated for conversion to apartments, according to Vulcan Real Estate, the Seattle-based developer.  While pre-sales had covered a reported 25% of the units, sales were slow enough that Vulcan decided it would not sell quickly enough to meet Fannie Mae guidelines for financing in the near future.
Home buyers who had put down deposits on Rollin Street are having their deposits returned.  Additionally, they're being offered a credit on a purchase of Vulcan's other South Lake Union condos - Enso and Veer Lofts.  They can also receive a credit to rent an … (1 comments)

Kenmore waterfront - Lake Washington homes under $1 million - 05/08/09 10:12 AM
For home buyers looking for Lake Washington waterfront homes without the traffic of Seattle or Bellevue, Kenmore is a nice option.  At the North end of Lake Washington, prices are a bit less, and Kenmore has a more suburban feel to it.
There are a handful of homes on Lake Washington in Kenmore currently for sale, and one such home is under $1 million.  It's likely that we'll see a few more of these homes in the next year or two, and in the near future they'll be just a memory.  Lake Washington waterfront homes are scarce enough and in high … (0 comments)

Lake Washington Homes in North Seattle - Matthews Beach under $1 million - 05/07/09 02:58 PM
Matthews Beach is a small neighborhood on Lake Washington at the Northeast end of Seattle.  Some of the more "affordable" Lake Washington homes in the North end can be found here including one under $1 million right now.  Just a quick jaunt from multi-million dollar Laurelhurst waterfront homes, Matthews Beach seems like a relative steal.
Lake Washington homes in Matthews Beach, North Seattle
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Mercer Island Waterfront - Under $1 Million - 05/07/09 02:41 PM
Mercer Island homes with waterfront access don't usually dip below the $1 million mark, but currently there is 1 home with waterfront access listed under a million. 
Lake Washington homes - Mercer Island Waterfront Real Estate
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Affordable Lake Washington Waterfront in Seattle - 05/07/09 02:09 PM
Lake Washington waterfront homes are rarely "affordable".  $700,000 may be a bit of a stretch for that term, but for waterfront property with a dock and single family home, this is as affordable as it gets. 
Currently there are Seattle homes in Upper Rainier Beach and Skyway at $700k and $850k on Lake Washington.  There are only a handful of homes on all of Lake Washington listed right now under $1 million.
Seattle, Lake Washington Waterfront Homes
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Why do you need a Realtor? Can't you save money without one? - 05/06/09 07:39 PM
I've heard many buyers say they can "save money" by not using a Realtor.  Many of them are first time buyers who have never seen a purchase contract, let alone gone through escrow, reviewed title, procured financing, etc.
Read a quick Q&A on a recent transaction below, and see if you're comfortable dealing with these kinds of contingencies and timelines on your own.  Are you ok with your thousands of dollars in earnest money being on the line by missing just one of the many timelines in the contract?  When you go into a transaction on your own, you most likely won't understand … (6 comments)

Washington moves for First Time Home Buyer loans - 05/06/09 09:24 AM
First time home buyers in Seattle and the state of Washington may be able to get that $8,000 tax credit earlier than expected.  The Washington Legislature has approved a plan to fund short-term loans to buyers and advance them the $8,000 at the time of their home purchase's closing.  The loan would be repayable after receiving the tax credit at the end of the year. 
From the Washington Realtors' press release:The program authorizes the state treasurer to deposit $25 million in a financial institution, which would then open a line of credit for the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (HFC). The … (0 comments)

Lake Washington Waterfront Real Estate - 05/05/09 12:23 AM
The Greater Seattle area's major waterfront real estate is on Lake Washington.  Lakefront homes on Lake Washington stretch along many cities around the shoreline.  Seattle is on the Western shore of the lake, Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park are on the North End.  Mercer Island is in the center of the South end of the lake, with Renton on the shore.  To the East are Bellevue and Kirkland.
Many of Seattle's largest and most expensive waterfront homes are on Lake Washington.  Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Kurt Cobain, and many other famous Seattle names have owned homes on or near the shores of … (0 comments)

Bank-Owned and Short Sale on the MLS Search - Finally! - 05/01/09 05:50 PM
Our MLS in Seattle, the NWMLS, has added two fields to our listing input that will be invaluable in the current real estate market.  We're finally freed from the tedious process of explaining our short sales and bank-owned REOs in the agent comments section.  Even better, we won't have to search other agents' comments for the perfect phrasing that signifies what kind of homes they are listing.
The two fields are Bank-Owned/REO (with option yes/no), and 3rd party approval required (with options Short Sale/Other See Remarks/No).  These new fields will be required to be filled out on all new listings, and will bring greater … (7 comments)

Lake Forest Park - Lake Washington Waterfront - 05/01/09 11:49 AM
Lake Forest Park is a community on the Northeast end of Seattle.  While it is a separate city from Seattle, it's close enough to downtown to feel like just another neighborhood.  Just 3 square miles in area, much of Lake Forest Park is covered in towering fir trees.  It's bordered on the North by Kenmore, on the West by Shoreline, and on the South by Seattle.
Lake Forest Park slopes down to the East as you head toward the waterfront.  Real estate prices are fairly moderate in the area, although the homes on Lake Washington quickly rise in price.  Homes on the … (0 comments)

 
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Sam DeBord - Seattle Real Estate Broker

Seattle, WA

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SeattleHome.com -Coldwell Banker Danforth

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Seattle Waterfront Homes - Seattle Real Estate news, including waterfront homes, water view homes, floating homes, and houseboats.

Sam DeBord and Brian Wiegand
SeattleHome.com
Seattle Real Estate Brokers
Coldwell Banker Danforth
(206) 658-3225

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