Seattle has a ton of new "built green" new construction real estate properties - including some beautiful townhouses  I got the pleasure of touring a few more this last week when I took some buyers through Ballard, Greenwood, Beacon Hill, and even the new development Rainier Vista in Columbia City.  I am so impressed with some builders and their willingness to put in such a great renewable resource like Bamboo floors!  I personally put Bamboo flooring into my house three years ago and I have been so impressed with its performance!  It comes in many colors, shades, and finishes and fits in with most people's style because it is so versatile!  The green Seattle townhomes I saw with Bamboo flooring were just gorgeous, but other features of being built green include  the use of energy effic... 02/09/2008

Some builders in the Seattle Suburbs are putting developments up so fast that they are way off of my GPS!  Most of the time the site agents are pretty good about giving out decent directions, but I like to drive around and check out the new construction sites in the different suburbs to see what is going on!  For me, the best end product is all about granite slab and FRANKE sinks, but I love to see the humble beginnings!I was so happy when the NWMLS implemented an aerial view (bird's eye) version of the maps for our listings!  Even if your new construction is not an address that can be recognized by normal mapping software, the listing agent can still pinpoint the location on a map and the MLS will go off of the pin point.  It is interesting to me to look at the aerial views of the vari... 02/09/2008

Seattle foreclosures are out there and there are certain issues associated with buying REO properties that need to be addressed from time to time.  Make sure to hire a Seattle REALTOR who knows REO - it is NOT a "do it yourself" process!  A few years ago, I brought my client by a Mountlake Terrace foreclosure property which was listed on the NWMLS.  My client decided that they loved it and we put in an offer.  After a lot of negotiating back and forth, our offer got accepted and my client got a great deal! Happy ending? No! One week before closing we were notified of a problem.  Even though the property seemed to have a clean title, when the lien holder had foreclosed on the property originally, they had not foreclosed on it properly and inadvertently left a junior lien holder out there... 02/09/2008

Seattle Suburbs Real estate help - Tools of The Trade To help clients... Looking at the technology available to a Seattle Realtor - choosing the tools that benefit the client the most is key!  Some of the tools that really have big benefits: 1.  Docusign - electronic signatures via email and internet.  This is probably the single biggest advancement for real estate in today's market.  An electronic signature allows single or multiple Seattle buyers to be able to sign from work or home or vacation at any time separately.  Once the file is completed, the documents are available online and can be downloaded in PDF format forms.  The contract is clean and easy to read and best of all was easy for the client to sign in the comfort of wherever they happen to be. 2. Palm Pilot or Blackberry - ... 02/09/2008

Today, February 7th, 2008, marks the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Rat .  There will be a celebration this Saturday, February 9th, 2008, , in the International District  to welcome the New Year and to celebrate the Grand Opening of Seattle's New China Gate The New China Gate is a HUGE Red Gate that spans South King St, faces Fifth Avenue South and marks a Grand entry into the International District.  The ceremonies for the China Gate begin at 10AM.  The Lunar New Year Celebration in the International District begins at noon and continues until 6PM.  Time to celebrate the Year of the Rat...Happy New Year!  02/07/2008

I need to post a photo of my rain boots so I can get the url for a blog post comment on RCG. These are really easy to slip on and off and make a big splash at Broker's Open Houses. One of my agents bought them for me.  I would never have had the nerve.  But with black stockings or slacks, all black or my Hot Pink Blazer...these really get attention! We're having a conversation with someone who is Relocating to Seattle, and he asked about Yellow Rain Boots.  I've never seen them in yellow.  Seattle's cooler than that. 02/04/2008

The closings for January of 2008 are down substantially compared to closings in January of 2007. We are not in a truly strong Buyer's Market yet, as buyers as a whole do not necessarily want the majority of properties that are currently for sale. Some areas are down 15% or so as to volume (not price), overall King County is down a whopping 43% as to condo sales and 36% as to single family home sales.  Given some prime areas are not down as much, other areas are down even more creating the overall averages. We are seeing a tiny dip in inventory for the first time this year, with purchases slightly exceeding new on market this week. 02/04/2008

I have tried several times to be able to even get logged on to ActiveRain today.  The question is, what are we do do in the meantime?  Does it change anything if we go and open other sights?  Does it speed things up if we hit the arrow again?  How about backing up and starting again?Is this because  "Microsoft Offers $44.6B for Yahoo"?  (according to ABC.com)Can you tell I have a limited amount of patience when the computer doesn't do what I think it should--don't hate me (my patience, apparently, is saved for working with people (and animals).Anyway, I am finally on and needed to vent and wondering if anyone else is going through the same.Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.   Just click on the blue "home... 02/01/2008

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Seattle: If you love your dog, then you have to subscribe to CityDog Magazine!  This is THE very best thing you can have as a Seattle dog owner to keep you updated on what the local happenings are in Seattle!  The latest issue is at pet stores now, and CityDog is putting on the CityDog Puppy Love MuttMixer for all dog lovers in Seattle! CityDog throws some swanky events for you and your dog - I highly recommend not only emailing in your RSVP ASAP, but also ordering your subscription today!  I like to give them out as gifts to my fellow dog lover friends and clients!Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor specializing in  Seattle Real Estate (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Greenlake, Gre... 01/30/2008

I was amazed to read on Rain City Guide this morning about the Realtor in Florida who is being sued for $25 MILLION dollars based on his blog!  Tim Kane wrote the informative post about whether or not we really have free speech when it comes to blogging.  A developer didn't appreciate the Realtor's blog and is filing suit as a result! I read the article in the Miami Herald and also the agent in question's blog posts.  I did find the style harsh in my own opinion, but I can't see how a lawsuit could possibly be founded by the developer.  Of course, I should disclose that I am not an attorney if I am going to be offering up my own opinion on the subject.  What surprised me the most was that the Realtor's broker fired him and also plans on telling their roughly 800 agents what they can and... 01/29/2008

I was awake very early this morning and turned on PBS (Channel 9).  I watched "Think Tank" a program I had never seen before.  Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg is a half-hour weekly discussion show focusing on deeper trends, conditions, and ideas behind the week's headlines. Each week, host Ben Wattenberg is joined by panelists uniquely qualified to discuss topics such as public policy, politics, arts and entertainment, culture, science and technology, and medicine.This week, Wattenberg was interviewing James Q. Wilson.  In 1982 Wilson published the influential "broken windows" theory of crime.  If police and the community ignore public disorder (symbolized by broken windows), then law-abiding people will be intimidated and criminals will get the message that "anything goes."  Many police... 01/29/2008

2008 is starting with a whimper in Seattle. All agents/brokers are having to keep ears to the walls and it's the only way to hear anything right now. And yet, Seattle is one of the strongest markets in the U.S. . Our employment and quality of life picture is bright. What is really going on? Are we the last important market to begin feeling the pain? Or is the Seattle market creating it's own downturn, as factors here are so different from the rest of the country? Is this human nature at work and not the fundamentals? Based on my regional tour of homes for the past two weeks, sellers and buyers have become enemies.I've noted this in previous posts, but today it's becoming more obvious to a wider range of real estate professionals; sellers feel entitled to their profits. Buyers do not car... 01/28/2008

Seattle neighborhood Eastlake is hot right now!  There is so much in Eastlake for anyone who is thinking of living there and there are buyers out there for Eastlake Sellers!  Just this last week alone I have had three calls from drive-by buyers who were SERIOUSLY interested in my condo listing.  This is the same Eastlake condo that got an offer in less than a week!  Eastlake is definitely a great place to buy or sell real estate!I was amazed at the flow of buyers that came into my open house in Eastlake!  The sunny weather helped, but overall, I think buyers are excited by the low rates!Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor specializing in  Seattle Real Estate (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Mapl... 01/27/2008

If you like taking classes and you are a Washington state resident, aged 60 and older, you can audit University of Washington courses for $5   The students participating in this program are called "Access students" and may enroll for a maximum of two courses per quarter.   Students attend classes on an audit basis and cannot participate in class discussions, take tests or submit papers.  There are restrictions and there must be space-available in the course to attend.  I have known about this for a long time and can hardly wait until I get old enough to participate.  To start with, I want to take an Astronomy class.The Access Students program is also available at the University of Washington Tacoma. Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont and Redmond, Washington ... 01/27/2008

We deal in a living and breathing marketplace.  The day we list a property, we are going on our best guestimate of what may happen. But in the first 10 to 30 days, the market tells us what we couldn't know. "YOU CAN NEVER BE SMARTER THAN THE MARKET!" No matter how long you have been in the business, how much of "an expert" you are  or how much you prepared for "opening day", the market will come around and respond in it's own way. The only way you can be assured of quick results is if you under price and leave money on the table for your seller client, and that is NOT an option unless the seller instructs you to do that. To get top dollar for a property in the current market, you need to price it so that you don't need to have multiple offers to get fair market value.  While multiple of... 01/27/2008

Seattle neighborhoods:  BallardBallard is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing areas in Seattle!  I am happy that so many people want to live in Ballard, but still saddened when I drive by the now boarded up Denny's on Market and 15th. I know better things are to come in this location, but I have such fond memories of Denny's in Ballard.  I lived (rented) in Ballard in the Sunset Hill neighborhood for quite some time when I was younger!  My daughter went to Adams Elementary and on Tuesdays I could take her to eat for free at the local Ballard Denny's.  I was a single mom at the time and the price was right!  We spent many wonderful times at this corner Denny's while I watched her chow down and I sipped my Diet Coke very slowly.  It was the one real time I remember having some goo... 01/26/2008

Seattle Relocation Services:  Finding a school Relocating to Seattle is an exciting thing!  The 2008 Seattle real estate market is starting off strong and I anticipate being very busy if the last few months are a good indicator.  Seattle real estate is a good buy and a strong investment, but what about the schools in Seattle and Seattle suburbs?  Sometimes finding Seattle school information might seem overwhelming, but check out my Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services Company website for detailed school reports for Seattle and its suburbs!  www.CooperJacobs.comOnce you find the schools you are interested in, you can also use the same site to search for houses located around these schools!  Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agen... 01/26/2008

Seattle real estate is hopping and nothing makes that more clear than the response I got on my latest Seattle listing in the wonderful neighborhood of Eastlake!Here are some of the details:2 bedroom/2 bath with views of Lake Union - not waterfront by any means, but close to everything Eastlake has to offer and right next to the lake!  Location: Eastlake Gorgeous Lake Union Views from this spacious Eastlake Ground floor condo with new hardwoods, French doors, wood burning fireplace, tiled patio, huge walk in closets,Owners suite w/ large bath, plus another full bath in hall, large laundry room, Silestone (better than granite) counters, new oven, new lighting, & tons of new touches throughout. Storage, parking, and all appliances stay! Conveniently located in heart of Eastlake right next ... 01/26/2008

Seattle new construction townhomes are a great way for a first time home buyer to get into the market with lower upkeep costs and usually no homeowner dues.  These townhomes usually have a cute little yard and lots of decks for increased living spaces and wonderful views of our gorgeous city!  Here are the Seattle townhome market update figures for real estate in 2008 for the Ballard, Greenlake, Fremont, Crown Hill, Sunset Hill, and Wallingford neighborhoods in Seattle.  This is on townhomes priced $500,000 and less.There are 64 Seattle townhome listings on the NWMLS right now with a status of ACTIVE.  These range from a 2 bedroom/1 bath to a 3 bedroom/3.5 bath with an average of a 3 bedroom/2.25 bath layout.  Square footage ranges from 818 square feet to a spacious 2219 square feet wit... 01/26/2008