Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

City of Kirland Tree Regulation Update and Annexation News

Thursday, May 28, 2009

City of Kirkland - Tree regulation update

Interested parties that were involved with the previous Tree Regulation project in 2005 are being emailed this notice.  In addition, interested parties will be able to track this project online via a City webpage.  A follow up email will be sent prior to the study session announcing the webpage’s availability.  The following is the notice for the upcoming study sessions with the Planning Commission and the Houghton Community Council.

 

SUBJECT:  Process IV permit to update the City’s Tree and Landscaping Regulations (Kirkland Zoning Code Chapter 95).  At the time of the adoption of the tree regulations in November 2005, the City Council requested that a future status report of the regulations be prepared and brought back for Council review.  In September 2008, the City Council reviewed and discussed the requested status report along with potential changes presented by staff.  Staff presented to the Council three “tiers” of amendments for Council’s consideration: minor, moderate or major changes to the adopted regulations.

 

“Minor amendments” would improve the current system but would not change the basic approach.  “Moderate changes in policy direction” would result in some fairly substantive changes to the regulations.  The third tier, “major policy questions” would fundamentally alter the regulations and implement new policy directions.  At the conclusion of the study session, the Council directed staff to pursue studying changes identified as being in the ‘minor’ and ‘moderate’ categories.  Changes to the Zoning Code are required to go through a Process IV review.  The upcoming study session will focus on identifying key issues for the proposed amendments.

 

STUDY SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS:  A study session will be held on June 11, 2009 by the Kirkland Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m., or sometime thereafter.  A study session will also be held by the Houghton Community Council on June 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., or sometime thereafter.  Several study sessions are anticipated prior the public hearing on this project.  At this time, the dates of the public hearings have not been set.  Public Notice will be provided when the dates for the public hearings are confirmed.  The Planning Commission's hearing is the official hearing of the City.  A courtesy hearing will also be held by the Houghton Community Council.  The Planning Commission will prepare a recommendation to the City Council for their final decision at a public meeting.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Public participation is strongly encouraged.  During the meetings, anyone may speak or submit written comments.  Before the meetings, written comments may be submitted to the Planning Commission in care of Jon Regala, Senior Planner, of the Planning Department.  Please refer to File No. ZON08-00016 and include your name and address.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  You may view the official file ZON08-00016, available at the Planning Department or contact project planner, Jon Regala at (425) 587-3255, jregala@ci.kirkland.wa.us, or Deb Powers, Urban Forester at (425) 587-3261, dpowers@ci.kirkland.wa.us

 

People requiring a disability accommodation may call (425) 587-3000 or for TTY service call (425) 587-3111 prior to the meeting(s).

The City of Kirkland is hosting the following meetings on proposed annexation regulations. Please go to the City of Kirkland website for more information at www.ci.kirkland.wa.us\annexation. Proposed Annexation Regulations Open House Tuesday, June 2 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Kirkland City Hall Lobby and Council Chambers City Council Meeting Annexation Zoning Tuesday, June 2 7:30 p.m. Kirkland City Hall Council Chambers

King County Weekly Pendings Dip -- Holiday Week? Or Start of a Trend?

For the first week in over 8 weeks, weekly King County pending sales counts dipped in volume from the previous week.  For the 7 day period ending on 5/27, the KC pending count came in at 498.  Last week's high water mark for 2009 was 590 pending sales.

Eastside pending counts were also down, but close to the previous week.  The Eastside areas tallied 155 pending sales this week vs. 166 last week.  40 percent of the pendings were under $500,000 for the week.  Last week this percentage was 38%.

Metro Seattle Pendings were off significantly from the prior week coming in with 169.  Last week these areas had 220.  The price range under $500,000 came in with 64 percent of the pending sales.  Last week, the under $500k price range had 75 percent of the pendings.

Click to expand the chart:

Definitions:
Eastside: NWMLS AREAS 500,510,520,530,540,550,560,600
Seattle Metro: NWMLS AREAS 140,380,385,390,700,705,710,715,720

Pending: All pendings statuses with a pending date during the stated period.

Chart for week end 5/20.

All Market Watch Entries for 425Realty.com

Juanita Beach Friday Night Market Opens Tomorrow!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 

 

The Friday Night Market at Juanita Beach opens this Friday, May 29, from 3-7pm. Bring a blanket…Holly Phillips kicks off the new season with a live musical performance from 5 - 7:00pm.  

 

The 2009 Friday Night Market will host 35+ vendors selling: fresh organic fruits & vegetables, beautiful flowers, bedding plants & herbs, seafood, beef, honey products, dry dip mixes, chutneys, kettle corn, soup, gyros, crepes, taffy, cupcakes, breads, and other tasty treats.  The newly added artisan section will showcase fine-looking jewelry, glass art, pottery, pet supplies, body art, batiks, lotions & potions.

 

See you Friday!

~ FNM Staff
www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/FridayNightMarket

A Big Thank You From A Client!

By Greg Perry
www.425Realty.com

 I first met Preston and Rose at their home in January.  Preston had secured a job on Bainbridge Island and was commuting home on the weekends.  They wanted their family unit together and had decided to sell their home.

Preston, who had done some local area building projects did a fine job on their home remodel, but typically, there were a few unfinished corners and projects that needed to be done.  We chatted about the market, and the punch list to complete before listing and Rose and Preston went to work.

I couldn't ask for better sellers.  They worked hard to put their house in its best possible condition and we set a price for the market.  Of course, I had concerns as their home was located in rural Snohomish County for viewing traffic as market conditions were tough. 

Listing day finally arrived.  Marketing photo were taken and we placed their listing to over a dozen Internet sites to maximize exposure.  We started attracting 4-6 viewings a week!  Right at 30 days time, we received a winning offer.  The offer was very close to our price and our happy Seller's accepted!  The remaining details went well, including the buyer's inspection.

I kept in touch with Rose after the sale, as she was looking for a home in their new location.  They were just successful in the close of their new home.  Rose sent me this wonderful note:

Subject: You Are Awesome!

I just wanted to finally let you know that you are awesome! We finally get the keys to our new home here on the island and we could not have gotten a better deal if it had not been for your guidance when selling our home in Snohomish. It really pays to sell a home before you buy so that you have that education by fire. It helps to learn the proper negotiation skills in order to broker a better deal later. We could not have been in the driver seat as fast as we where and hit the market just right if it had not been for your expertise in forecasting our sale. Thank you so much for your follow up call after we sold and during our negotiations with our new purchase it gave me the extra confidence to stick to our guns and it really paid off even though you where not our purchasing agent it is always good to have a second opinion and you went above and beyond the call for those phone calls.

So what I am trying to say is THANK YOU! You gave us the tough facts in this hard economic time. When so many people are losing there homes and it is not the best selling market you turned it into an awesome opportunity even at out modest market , it pays to listen and work with you!

Thanks for everything .... " Your best client of the year!"

Rose and Preston Michaels

Thank YOU Preston and Rose.  I enjoyed working with you!

Monday's Inspiration -- Those who sacrifice

MEMORIAL DAY

Today, we pause to reflect upon those who scrificed; those men and women who perished defending the freedoms that define us.  We also reflect upon the parents and families whos hearts carry that strange mixture of a grief that never departs; and the warm pride of an understanding knowledge that their loved ones gave themselves in the ulitimate act of service to their country.

Our fallen warriors, from the Civil War, through today's battles, lie in American Cemeteries in the United States, and around the world.  

Here are some video images of some of these American Cemeteries:

Brittany (France): (4,400 Americans are buried here)

Lorraine (France): (10,500 Americans rest here)

Brockwood Cemetary, England: (470 American men and women lie here)

Flanders Field American Cemetary (Belgium):  (370 American war dead are buried here)

Henri-Chappelle Cemetery (Belgium): (8.000 Americans rest here --35 pairs of brothers)

Cambridge (England): (3,800 Americans are buried here)

Epinal (France): (5,300 Americans lie here)

Florence (Italy)  (4,400 Americans rest here)

Aisne-Marne (France) (2.300 came to their final rest)

Corozal American Cemetary (Panama) (5,000 Americans lie here)

 

King County Pending Sale Count Approaches 600 for week.

Yet again, sales of King County Single Family Homes continue to reamin strong.  For the 7 days ending on May 20th, King County had 590 Pending sales, which is the best this year.  Last week there were 561 pending sales. 

The Eastside Pending sale count came in at 166 for the period vs. 170 last week.  The price point under $500,000 had 38% of the total count.  Last week this range had 45%.  During the period, 21 homes over $1 million dollars went pending, vs. 26 last week.

Metro Seattle had a strong week with 220 pending sales.  The week prior there were 206.  75% of these pendings were under $500,000.  The Metro Seattle area came in with 2.8 Months of Supply, which for the week makes the area a Seller's advantaged market.

Here is a chart with complete details.  Click to expand:

For the 7 day period ending on 5/20
 

Definitions:
Eastside: NWMLS AREAS 500,510,520,530,540,550,560,600
Seattle Metro: NWMLS AREAS 140,380,385,390,700,705,710,715,720

Pending: All pendings statuses with a pending date during the stated period.

City of Kirkland Announces Construction Start For New Juanita Sidewalks

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Safe School Walk Route Comes to 100th Ave./99th Place in Kirkland Construction begins on new sidewalk and enhancements   Kirkland, WA – By the end of the summer, Kirkland’s Juanita Neighborhoods residents will be enjoying pedestrian access to A.G. Bell Elementary School and Juanita Village shopping center when more than 1,300 feet of new sidewalk will be constructed along the east side of 100th Avenue NE / 99th Place NE between NE 116th Street and NE 112th Street.  In addition t the sidewalk, curb, gutter and a landscape strip will be installed as part of the project.    Pervious pavement sidewalks will be installed to enhance water quality by allowing rain water to flow into the underlying soils as part of the natural water cycle and keeping it out of the stormwater collection system.  Construction begins this month and is expected to be completed in three months.  Construction hours will be Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; except in the event of an emergency such as an unanticipated disruption to utility services.  Area residents are encouraged to comply with “no parking” restrictions.  This project is funded by the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, City’s Neighborhood Connection Program and a grant from the State Transportation Improvement Board.  For project information, go to www.ci.kirkland.wa.us or contact Aaron McDonald, P.E., Kirkland Public Works Department at 425-587-3837 or amcdonald@ci.kirkland.wa.us.

Eat Fresh, Eat Local! Farmers Markets around Seattle's Eastside

Farmers markets are a great way to support our local farmers and eat fresh healthy foods.  I love the arrival of the farmers markets in Seattle and it's eastside communities as its one of the indicators that spring is officially underway!  Here is are the farmers markets around the area:

Bellevue Farmers Market
410 Bellevue Way NE (across from Bellevue Square) FREE PARKING AT BELLEVUE SQUARE

• THURSDAYS, 3 - 7 pm
  May 14 - Oct 15
• SATURDAYS, 9 - 2pm
  June 6 - Nov 21

Kirkland Wednesday Market
Kirkland Marina Park

• Every Wednesday 2p-7p

Redmond Saturday Market
7730 Leary Way, Redmond Wa (The Northwest corner of Redmond Town Center)

• Every Saturday 9a-3p

Woodinville Farmers Market
N.E 175th st and 133rd Ave Northeast (The Carol Edwards Center)

• Every Saturday 9a-3p
  

Issaquah Farmers Market
1730 10th Ave Northwest, Issaquah (Pickering Barn)

• Every Tuesday 9a-2p

Carnation Farmers Market
In the heart of downtown Carnation

• Every Tuesday 3p-7p

North Bend Farmers Market
400 SE Orchard Drive, North Bend (Si View Metro Park)

• Every Thursday 9p-8p

Crossroads Outdoor Farmers Market
NE 8th & 156th in Bellevue

• Every Tuesday 12p-5p
  

Duvall Farmers Market
26227 NE Stephens Street (Depot Park)

• Every Thursday 3p-7p

  

Opps!  We missed the Mercer Island Farmer's Market.  Thanks to a commenter, we'll include it here:

Don't forget the Mercer Island farmers market

http://www.mifarmersmarket.org/welcome/  

Monday's Inspiration -- Wit in Wisdom -- Quotes by Will Rogers

Wit in wisdom by Will Rogers:

First, Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Second, The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Third, Some people try to turn back their odometers.  Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.  Ive traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

Fourth, When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

Fifth, You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

Sixth, I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.

Seventh, One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.

Eighth, One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.

Ninth, Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Tenth, Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft.  Today it's called golf.

And finally, If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you wont' have anything to laugh at when you are old.

Eastside and Seattle Metro Single Family Home Sales HOT under $500,000

By Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor

Last week King County turned had it's second best week for SFH pendings since July 2007, the month we really started to feel the impact of mortgage crises.  King County's pending counts came in at 571 for the week.  The Eastside was strong as well, turning in its best performance of the year with 173 pending sales, which also ranks second, going back to July 2007.

Click on graphs and charts to enlarge:

Virtually all King County MLS areas are absorbing inventory, especially in the price ranges under $500,000.  Metro Seattle areas 705,710,715 and 385 have moved into Seller's Advantaged markets taking all weekly activity and averaging over 7 weeks.  Eastside Areas 500,530 and 600 have moved into Balanced Markets.

The majority of sales are being made under $500,000.  On the eastside, 74% (129 out of 174) of the pendings came in under $500,000.  86% (149 out of 173) of Seattle Metro Pendings were in that range.  The price range under $500,000 has less than 2 MOS in Metro Seattle and less than 3 MOS on the Eastside.

There is currently a gap between Pending Sales and Closed Sales as evidenced by this chart:

The gap between the pendings and closings are influeneced by several factors in this market.  Some of these factors are:

1. Short sales taking longer to close than the normal 30-45 days.
2. More buyers cancelling contracts due to bad inspections.
3. Waiting for new construction homes to finish.
4. The current market pending counts jumped at a faster rate than normal.  Even normal 30-45 days closed haven't gone through the pending / sold cycle.

Spring gaps between pendings and sold sales are normal, however. To put this into historical context, here is a 4 year chart showing the relationship between pending sales and sold sales.  Historically, April pending sales are below March pending sales.  As 2009 started, January, February and March had all time low pending sales activity.  The market "ON" switch came on in the last week of March and pendings have been building since that point.  I predict that in June the sold/closed counts will improve significantly.

If you would like detailed information about your neighborhood, drop me an email at gregperry@working-for-you.com.