Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Buying UP in a down market

Earlier in the week I made a post around the concept of buying UP in a down market on the Seattle PI Real Estate Professionals Blog.

To see the post and follow the discussion, click here.

Come meet me on Phinney Ridge! (Open House)

By Brian Perry, Realtor

I'll be hosting a twilight OPEN HOUSE on Thursday Evening between 4:30pm and 7:00pm at our listing on Phinney Ridge.  The address is, 6706 Sycamore Ave NW. 

Also on Sunday, I'll be holding an OPEN HOUSE for this beautiful Brick Tudor between 1pm and 4pm.

Come on by....I'd love to meet you!

 

Monday's Inspiration -- Memorial Day

"The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."

Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day.  It was a day created to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves.  It was originally observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by a proclamation of General John A. Logan.

Memorial Day is more than a 3 day weekend.  Thousands of graves and memorials will be decorated today to honor those who fell in battle.  At the very least, we can take a moment in private silence to personally honor and think about those soldiers who perished in the service of our country.

                                                   

May Earthdog Antics

By Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor

When I'm not serving my clients in the real estate business, one of my hobby passions is purebred Cairn Terriers.   One of our cairns, Kona (CH Cairngorm Coffee Tea or Me RA ME CGC) completed the title of MASTER EARTHDOG earlier in May.  To put this in perspective, only two Cairn Terriers in the United States achieved the level of Master Earthdog in 2007.

Earthdog is a terrier sport where the dogs simulate a hunt for vermin....testing a terrier's insticts for what they were originally bred for.  In Scotland, cairn terriers would enter underground tunnels created by fox, badger, weasel and otter.  Their job was to flush the prey from their dens, so the crofter (farmer) could dispatch them.  A good working cairn terrier was a crofter's most prized possession. (To learn more about AKC Earthdog events, click here.)

To reach the level of Master Earthdog, terriers must complete four qualifying Masters legs after titling as a Junior Earthdog and Senior Earthdog.  After the terrier completes the quest for Master Earthdog, then he can also again compete at the Senior Earthdog Level.  Terrier handlers with Master Earthdog titled dogs love to run both Master and Senior tests on the same day.  When they successfully pass both test we call it a "Double Q" (Q for qualify).

After Kona passed his 4th Master Earthdog qualification leg successfully, we immediately went back to the Senior den in quest of his first "Double Q".  He passed with flying colors.  He also competed in two other weekends in May racking up a total of 3 "Double Q's" and earning a total of 8 green AKC performance ribbons for the month.   On Saturday May 17th, Kona and his sire, Stiller, may have made cairn terrier history by becoming the first father and son to "Double Q" on the same day!.

Last year Kona earned the Cairn Terrier Club of America as one 7 Versatility award winners! Dogs earn this award by being an AKC Champion and earning at least 2 performance titles.  Kona has also earned a Rally Advanced obedience title and holds a Canine Good Citizen award by the AKC.

To see more about our cairn terriers, visit www.croftersdream.com 

 

Phinney Ridge Home for Sale - Seattle Listing - 6706 Sycamore Ave W. Seattle Wa

Seattle area Home for Sale
Phinney Ridge Listing - Brick Tudor
6706 Sycamore Ave W.
Seattle, Wa 98117
MLS# 28086981
Greg Perry - Seattle Realtor

$650,000

Greg Perry | Windermere Real Estate/NE | 425-829-7012 6706 Sycamore Ave W., Seattle, WA BEAUTIFUL Phinney Ridge Brick Tudor with Old Seattle charm . 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $650,000 Year Built 1929 Sq Footage 2,760 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size 4,500 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Meticulously maintained Crafstman with an upstairs remodel that was professionally designed as an organic extension of the home's character while providing many 'must-have' features for today's lifestyles. Located near the top of Phinney Ridge the home takes advantage of morning and afternoon light. Sycamore avenue is a quiet, friendly, low traffic street just a short hop from downtown Seattle, Ballard, Woodland Park, Green Lake and many other romantic Seattle venues. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Family room Living room Bonus/Rec room Dining room Breakfast nook Dishwasher Refrigerator Stove/Oven Microwave Basement Washer Dryer Laundry area - inside Balcony, Deck, or Patio Yard Jacuzzi/Whirlpool Sauna COMMUNITY FEATURES Garage parking OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES Inspirational 2nd floor Master Suite Remodel Lovely Library with oriel sitting and reading window. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Seller contact info: Greg Perry Windermere Real Estate/NE 425-829-7012 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: May 22, 2008, 12:18pm PDT

This Phinney Ridge brick Tudor is in a word, gorgeous! Impeccable original detail in moldings and tiles on the main floor will charm you. Upstairs you’ll find a lifestyle experience with a completely remodeled Master Suite. Here you’ll find a huge luxury bath with soaking tub, shower, and sauna with 4 skylights and accent lighting. Built in solid oak library and a princess Oriel window seat designed for reading are just outside your sleeping quarters. Systems updates, hot tub, CLEAN!

Some of the Features of this amazing property:

Living room:

• Original lath and plaster
• High ceilings with attention to cove detail
• Original pristine mahogany molding and millwork
• Pristine original tiles on fireplace.

Dining room and Breakfast nook area:

• Crank out awnings

Kitchen:

• Newer refrigerator

Upstairs:

Built in library

• Oriel window reading area
• Custom indirect lighting
• Cedar lined closet in walk-in master closet
• Bedroom has 2 skylights

Master bath:

• Sauna
• Laundry shoot
• Commercial exhaust fan
• Extra deep soaking tub
• 4 skylights
• large shower

Basement:

• Heat updated in 1991 gas fired radiant heat
• Hot tub service pack in basement. Easy to access and maintain. Natural drainage to the floor drain during servicing

State of the Market Address - recap

Last week 425realty and the Jensen Mortgage group presented the first "State of the Market Address" at the Bellevue Arts Museum.  It was a huge success! 
Greg started the presentation with an overview of current market conditions.  He provided slides showing absorption rates over the Seattle region, and how they have changed from last year to present day.  He then went into detail about what strategies Buyers and Sellers should use to win in todays market.  Quickly summarizing: buyers be selective and only choose the best, and sellers price it right!  Be within 2% of your sales price and in tip top shape to get your home sold.
Following Greg's presentation Ryan and David Jensen from the Jensen Mortgage group talked about the Mortgage industry.  The presentation started by explaining what happened to make the "mortgage crash" afterward laying out various solutions for the consumer in todays market.  The star of the show was the FHA loans.  It was nice to hear there are sound and proven solutions for first time home buyers (even up to 100% using Nehemiah), and move up buyers to get financed when there is so much inventory out there to choose from.   What a great time to buy a  home!
There are real solutions and real wins to be had in todays real estate market in the Seattle and eastside communities.  If you'd like details and solutions designed specifically for you don't hesitate to contact us.  We are never too busy for you or your referrals!

Thanks to all that attended, and we look forward to the next "State of the Market Address"!

Consumer Issues (pt. 3: Radon)

Radon is naturally occurring, odorless, and colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Because radon is a gas, it can enter buildings through openings or cracks in the foundation. The radon gas itself decays into radioactive solids, called radon daughters. The radon daughters attach to dust particles in the air, and can be inhaled. The inhalation of radon daughters has been linked to lung cancer.  According to the EPA, Radon is the second leading cause of Lung Cancer (behind smoking) attributing to 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year. 

Check out this almost scary video:

FOR THE HOMEOWNER:

How can I tell if I have radon in my house?

Test it.  Testing is the ONLY way you can be sure of the radon levels in your home.  You can buy simple Radon testing Kits from your local home improvement store.  There are also professional Radon Services available.

What can I do if I have elevated levels?

Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.  Here are some things you can do:

Seal:  Caulk and seal your cracks and spaces leading from your basement or foundation.  This will make it harder for Radon to move into your living area.  Also, lay a 6m vapor barrior over the dirt in your crawl space. 

Ventilate:  If you have a crawl space under your house, make sure the vent covers are clear.  This will promote the flow of fresh air in and out of your crawl space clearing out any potential gasses.

THE GOOD NEWS!
Radon is a naturally occuring hazard that is easily dealt with as long as you know you have a problem!  Also, according to the EPA Radon Heat map... the eastside has a low predicted average screening level of Radon: 

Legend:  Zone one Bad, Zone Three good

(Map is NOT to be used in lieu of testing or for real estate purposes)

For more information visit the Environmental Protection Agency website about Radon.

Monday's Inspiration -- Gratitude

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melodie Beattie

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.  Meister Eckhart

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.  Cicero

Real Estate Consumer Issues (Pt. 2 Urea Formaldehyde)

In part 2 of our Environmental hazard series, we take a look at a fairly uncommon issue:  Urea Formaldehyde.   Urea formaldehyde, may be found in the adhesives used in pressed wood building materials, which are used in furniture, kitchen cabinets, and paneling.
This formaldehyde was also used in foam insulation until it was discovered that the formaldehyde gas released from the foam could cause illnesses such as cancer, breathing problems, and skin rashes. 
Urea formaldehyde foam insulation is uncommon in homes around the Puget Sound. If a home does contain urea formaldehyde foam insulation, the levels of formaldehyde gas can be tested by the health department. The insulation can be removed and replaced if the gas levels are dangerous.
Note that urea formaldehyde, both in foam insulation and in adhesives, emits dangerous gas for only a few years.Older urea formaldehyde materials are not considered to be dangerous.

Steps to Reduce Exposure for the Homeowner:

• Use "exterior-grade" pressed wood     products (lower-emitting because they contain phenol resins, not urea     resins).
• Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to     maintain moderate temperature and reduce humidity levels.
• Increase ventilation, particularly after     bringing new sources of formaldehyde into the home.

Ask about the formaldehyde content of pressed wood products, including building materials, cabinetry, and furniture before you purchase them.

Some studies suggest that coating pressed wood   products with polyurethane may reduce formaldehyde emissions for some period   of time. To be effective, any such coating must cover all surfaces and edges and remain intact. Increase the ventilation and carefully follow the   manufacturer instructions while applying these coatings. (If you are sensitive   to formaldehyde, check the label contents before purchasing coating products   to avoid buying products that contain formaldehyde, as they will emit the   chemical for a short time after application.)

Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels and provide adequate ventilation.
The rate at which formaldehyde is released is   accelerated by heat and may also depend somewhat on the humidity level.   Therefore, the use of dehumidifiers and air conditioning to control humidity   and to maintain a moderate temperature can help reduce formaldehyde emissions.   (Drain and clean dehumidifier collection trays frequently so that they do not   become a breeding ground for microorganisms.) Increasing the rate of   ventilation in your home will also help in reducing formaldehyde levels.

Real Estate Consumer Issues (pt. 1 asbestos)

 

What is REALLY happening in today's Real Estate market?

You've heard the news, you've read the realtors & bubble lovers.  You've seen one neighbor sell in 20 days, and another sit on the market for 8 months. WHAT IS GOING ON? 

Greg Perry, along with The Jensen Mortgage group will present "The State of the Market Address" On Thursday May 15th at the Bellevue Art Museum from 7p-830p.  This presentation is designed to cover in detail todays hot topics inside the LOCAL real estate market, as well as address any questions you might have.  From buying or selling.. to securing your home loan come get the information you need to be successful in todays conditions.

*Admission is Free
*Free Parking is located in the basement of the Bellevue art Museum
*Please rsvp to gregperry@working-for-you.com