Yesterday I commented on the emerging Sprinkler Workers Strike at The Bravern and Bellevue Towers.  Here is a quick update from today's Seattle PI   Today the Headline: Strike Continues to Halt Construction  is an update.  Apparently the Sprinklers Union began striking on Tuesday July 1st, and is now supported by several other Trade Unions.  The main issue is the wages and benefits offered to 'apprentice' Union members.  Currently Apprentice members start at around $15 an hour, have no health insurance, no sick or vacation pay, and it takes up to FIVE years to become a full Union member.     The date for United Association of Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 669 to sit down with developers is next Thursday, July 11th.   Unions are a double edged sword - they clearly provide protect... 07/04/2008

I am a Realtor for Windermere Real Estate and have found that my Clearwire Broadband card has been one of the best investments on Wireless Internet I've made.  I had horrible experience with my Verizon card and nine times out of ten, I was paying for Broadband but only getting Dial-up.  Clearwire was very appealing to me because of their no taxes and no surcharge service fees.  I thought this was too good to be true.  Now, after having my Broadband Card for nearly four months, I have experienced not only fantastic customer service, tax-free bills with no surcharges, but true Broadband Service.  I have a fantastic Sales Representative that went above and beyond my expectations and can truly say, Clearwire is the best of the best in it's class!!! 06/25/2008

May 2008By Greg Perry, Eastside Realtor NWMLS 530 May-08 May-07 %Change Median Prices $559,950 $619,000 -9.50% Inventory 347 152 128% Pending 47 97 -51.50% NWMLS AREA 530 is East Bellevue.  This area has only 27.8 weeks of inventory, making this area one of the best on the Eastside.  If you're looking under $400,000 you'll only find 8 weeks (Seller's Advantaged Market) of inventory.  Between $400k and $500k is a Balanced Market.  If you have a home to sell between $1mil and $1.5 mil, you have plenty of competition and have 201 weeks available at the current rate of sale. Compiled from but not published or verified by NWMLS. 06/13/2008

May 2008Greg Perry, Eastside Realtor NWMLS 520 May-08 May-07 %Change Median Prices $1,325,000 $1,495,000 -11.40% Inventory 315 155 103% Pending 23 45 -48.90%   NWMLS AREA 520 is West Bellevue.  Earlier in the year, 520 had much better sales ratios, however now were seeing this area regressing rapidly.  Overall the area is holding right at 52 weeks of inventory and it's building.  Here you'll find 173 homes priced over $1.5 mil.  Homes in this price range have between 1 1/2 and 2 years of inventory at current sales rates. Compiled from but not published or verified by NWMLS. 06/13/2008

This year is particularly crucial for Americans. Not only is the real estate market projected to slowly improve but more importantly, 2008 will determine a new president. Since real estate plays a major role in pushing the economy in a certain direction, many have been evaluating the supposed Republic and Democratic presidential candidates to see what they intend to do in order to stop foreclosures and fix the problems caused mortgages. Many are aware of Barack Obama's plan to establish a $10 billion dollar fund designed specifically with the purpose of preventing homeowners from enduring foreclosure which has had its critics as well as those who support the idea. However, Obama also believes the average homeowner should be allowed to modify terms on their mortgages in order to reduce t... 06/13/2008

Any well-respected community has great public schools. In the past years, the Bellevue School District has ranked very highly on the national stage of Newsweek's ranking for high schools.This year's report is out, and the results are good. Of the top 1,300 (or 5%) high schools, this is how the Bellevue schools ranked:Rank / School10 International School31 Newport45 Interlake62 Bellevue163 Sammamish check out http://beat.downtownbellevue.com/, for more great articles about Bellevue, WA 06/10/2008

The BCC Art program hosts ongoing exhibits in the Student Art Gallery located above the Campus Library. The Spring Exhibit, featuring the best of student's work from the quarter just wrapped up. I would like to share some work, featured on the marketing and promotional materials. My favorite BCC student artist? My daughter Michelle. Here is her work, which was featured on the promotional materials and on the BCC gallery website.  Congratulations Michelle! Bellevue Community College is a mutlti-cultural college located on the Eastside and is made up of about 65% of students from the Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Skykomish, and Snoqualmie Valley School districts. BCC runs certificated programs, University Credits, and Running Start for Highschool Juniors and Seniors. Thanks for visit... 06/08/2008

Being able to own your own home is the best investment you can make. Not only that, looking for that perfect home can be fun, and there is no better time than NOW to start looking. It has been a long time since there has been so many homes to choose from. With that said, the average home buyer will need to see a lot of homes before they decide. But you (home buyer) will know when you have found the one. I would love to be the agent who helps you find that perfect home and help you thru the process of purchasing that home.   Home sellers, it can be daunting with so many homes on the market to even think of adding yours to the list. It can be scarry to think your home might not sell. But this I know, if you price right, NOW is the time to sell! Seriously, home buyers are saturated with ch... 06/04/2008

You can't go anywhere this time of year without seeing tons of Rhodies! (rhododendron).  One of the reasons they are so healthy in areas like Bellevue, with big healty green leaves, is because they thrive so well among the pine trees.  Pine needles that fall to the ground, feed the Rhodies well. Kim and I love to nurse sick Rhodies back to health, so if you have a Rhododendron that needs a little loving care, give us a holler, and if we're in you're area we'll stop by with some TLC and advice. Don't forget to deadhead your your blooms as soon as they die off.  The new growth will pop more quickly and the whole plant will be healthier as a result. 06/02/2008

The Bush administration has taken decisive action the last several months in an effort to reverse the trend of declining home values in the real estate market that has severely offset the economy. It seemed as if Washington D.C. finally put aside its partisanship and addressed the housing market crisis with unified, strong conviction. However, in recent weeks further measures presented by members of the House to rescue distressed homeowners have once again divided lawmakers. Lawmakers from states with particularly high foreclosure rates have presented a bill that will dedicate $300 million to fight foreclosures. This bill could help distressed homeowners get back on top of their mortgage payments and possibly revive the fledgling real estate market. The bill goes up for review by a sena... 05/16/2008

Bellevue, Washington - A Roomspinners Interior Re Design                Our client needed decorating and she needed it fast, so we met for lunch at The Ram in Kent, then drove on out to our favorite place for a "3 Hour Power Shop!" We were able to get a couple of custom pieces ordered for her as well as find some fabulous treasures at a "to the trade only" import store (and the Seattle Sifsters know what I am talking about!)A couple weeks later, everything is delivered but the ottoman, and our client asks if we wouldn't mind picking it up on the way to her house for the big REDESIGN DAY... no problem, a small detour and a couple of Chai Lattes later, we arrive, ottoman in back... and have an successful Interior Redesign Day!                  Julianna Hind, Roomspinners Redesign and Real... 05/01/2008

Cost Saving Measures of our Propessional Management Service @ RD House Real Estate & Property Management 206-728-6063 RD House Real Estate & Property Management Ricky D Sadler is the active broker/owner of our business and is in charge of its day-to-day administrative duties, accounting, marketing, and contract preparation. He also oversees RD House Real Estate sales department, which specializes residential real estate investment and professional consulting of Robert Armstrong is a licensed Washington State agent and Property Manager who manages many of our rental units and has been with us since RD House Real Estate & Property Management opened in 2006 The expertise and loyalty of our staff (from our property managers to our cleaning crew) are the primary reasons why RD House Real Est... 05/01/2008

NWMLS AREA 530 East Bellevue -- Market Statistics PART 2 Yesterday we looked at a study of NWMLS Area 530, East Bellevue for all price ranges under $700,000.  Today we'll complete the study by taking a peek at the upper end SOLD inventory.  Again, these statistics are for residential sales (not condos).Here's a review of the terminology: OLP = Original List Price, LP = List Price (at the time of sale), SP = SOLD price and CDOM = Continuous Days on Market.Let's start with the price range of $701,000 - $900,000.$701,000 - $900,00020072008DifferenceOLP (Original List Price)$806,187 $820,613 101.78%LP    (List Price)$811,153 $806,610 99.43%SP   (SOLD PRICE)$794,311 $787,067 99.09%SP % LP97.92%97.58%SP % OLP98.52%95.91%Average Sq/Ft2859293677Price Sq/Ft$280.48 $273.50 ($6.98)CDOM928210Units1... 04/17/2008

It's finally clear.  Seller's are asking for more, but not getting it......at least in NWMLS AREA 530, East Bellevue.I assembled a complete study of SOLD residential (not condos) properties for Area 530 by price ranges comparing the 3 month period between January 15 and April 15 for both 2007 and 2008.  Some of my findings confirmed what I was thinking.......and there were some surprises.Why don't we clear up a little terminology.  OLP = Original List Pirce, LP = List Price (at the time of sale), SP = SOLD price and CDOM = Continuous Days on Market.Let's see if we can make some sense out of NWMLS Area 530.The first chart is for SOLD inventory $500,000 and under:< $500,00020072008DifferenceOLP (Original) List Price)$449,968 $472,345 104.97%LP    (List Price)$445,729 $458,738 102.91%SP  ... 04/16/2008

How do you define the neighborhood you live in and the factors that make it a great place to live?   There are a lot of things that come into play: the type of property, the location and the general ambiance.  As small cities develop and slowly transition into bustling metropolises, real estate proliferates and employment opportunities emerge.  It may come as a surprise to know that one of the best places to live in lies tucked away on the west coast.Out of a pool of over ninety contenders, Bellevue Washington has been deemed number one in this large list by CNN due to its numerous appealing factors such as the proliferation of nearby Seattle jobs and those within the city, proximity to popular locales and the seemingly perfect balance between natural atmosphere and an otherwise pleasan... 04/08/2008

Most home buyers claim they're picky. And why shouldn't they be? The real estate they buy will be home. It needs to provide more than just a roof over their head. It needs to satisfy emotional needs that aren't easily quantifiable. The home is a reflection of the self, which makes the quest for the right place to buy complicated.Since the home-buying experience is intermeshed with the psyche of the person in pursuit, there's a psychological component to consider. For example, let's say you have been searching for the right home for years. You haven't seen too many properties that fit the bill, and have only made an offer or two during that timeframe. The property you really loved turned out to be entirely too expensive. You lost out in a multiple-offer competition on a property that was... 04/08/2008

Bellevue’s Essex on the Park (website) announced they have released an initial set of homes available for reservations. The initial release will include just 16 condominium homes with the remainder being held back until completion in 2010. Essex will be hosting special design preview events on April 8th, 9th and 10th for individuals who previously registered on their website. Essex will rise just 9-stories featuring 32 two- and three-bedroom homes that range in size from 1,100 to 2,700 sq ft. Prices for Essex homes start from $800,000 and will likely top more than $3,000,000.  04/03/2008

The Bravern (website) will be celebrating the Grand Opening of its presentation center this weekend. The 7,000 sq ft center features a fully furnished Condominium Estate model home, City Home model kitchen and bath vignettes, a complete architectural site model of The Bravern community and expanded interactive virtual tours and displays from a select group of The Bravern’s premier retailers and restaurateurs. The presentation center is located at the Skyline Tower at 10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 1510 in Bellevue.    04/03/2008

Bellevue Washington Condo News and information including Bellevue condo communities 03/27/2008

By Greg PerryEastside Realtor NWMLS Area 530, East Bellevue has improved from a Buyer's advantaged market to a BALANCED market.  Residential absorption rates averaged over the last seven weeks show that 530 is holding 23.7 weeks of inventory.  The last 3 weeks have shown strong inventory absorption, especially in the lower price ranges.Like other Eastside areas, high end homes (over $900,000) continue to be soft.  In the last 7 weeks, there were only 3 sales in the price range above $900,000 out of an average of 55 ACTIVE listings.  Nothing in this area over $1.5 million sold during this period.  Area 530 is holding approx 75 weeks of inventory above the price tag of $900,000.Inventory below $600,000 has improved to 19.7 weeks of inventory putting this price range closer to becoming a S... 03/26/2008