Estates Northwest: Seattle Real Estate Blog

This one is always interesting, but listing agents including myself need to prepare sellers for vacating their homes upon close.  My very first transaction involved me representing a first time home buyer where the seller literally picked up their check at escrow and boarded a plane to California for good - food in fridge, clothes in closet, the tv was still one, etc.  - you get the idea.  It was not my job as a buyers agent to stand over her and make sure she left.  The listing agent who happened to be pretty experienced should have seen the signs.  Even a walk through on our part did not reveal her intentions.

Recently we had a seller completely disregard our buyer's feelings - we have a gorgeous couple buying a home and we had to force the transaction along on their behalf every step of the way.  The wife is pregnant and we really wanted to make the transaction as painless as possible. The seller, though, just only considered himself.  He left the house filthy and even left mattresses behind all over the house with no intention what so ever of picking them up. He just got out what he wanted and left town. Luckily his long suffering listing agent did help out and step up to the plate to get the rubbish out and we paid for a housekeeper for the couple. 

You really should use the golden rule when moving out of a home - would you want your home to be left this way?  For the most part, people are good thank goodness, but every  once in a while you do get a rotten egg and it is nice to have a team behind you when that happens so that you still get a great home and experience. We shielded our pregnant client form much of the true stress and took care of it on her behalf along the way. This is how things get done:)

Historic Mansions in Seattle

Seattle has some of the most gorgeous and significant historic mansions and I always love touring them and showing them to perspective buyers.  Seattle mansions are in many different neighborhoods, but I particularly like the historic beauties.

Many clients refer to the movie Money Pit when I am showing these types of homes, but in most cases, Seattle's historic mansions for sale are in very well cared for and preserved states. 

 My favorite historic mansions in Seattle are in Capitol Hill, Roanoke Park, Washington Park, Laurelhurst, and Queen Anne.  I love the Queen Anne mansions along Queen Anne Boulevard. 

Backyard cottages are a nice solution that many Seattle homeowners have been interested in for a variety of reasons.  A Seattle backyard cottage, officially known as a detached ADU or accessory dwelling unit, can be a nice solution for a college aged child or aging parent among other things and a great way to financially make ends meet.  Southeast Seattle has allowed them since 2006 and the Mayor introduced legislation to allow them across the city back in March of this year under a certain set of rules and regulations. 

Upcoming meeting to discuss Seattle Backyard Cottages: Nov 2nd at 2 PM for council vote on Backyard cottage legislation.  This is still tentatively scheduled, but you can get more info here: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Backyardcottages/Overview/

Seattle Backyard Cottages Guidelines:

Since introducing the idea in March, 18 homeowners have applied to add one in their back yard. Certain rules and guidelines must be followed to qualify.  Here are some, but you can find more details on the city site.

1. Lot must be at least 4000 square feet in area with additional minimum width and depth requirements.

2. The house and the backyard cottage together can not exceed the current 35% limit for lot coverage.

3. Cottage square footage limit is 800 sq feet.

4. Height limit of cottage is 15-23 feet high depending on the lot width.

5. Parking is required.

6. The owner must live in either the primary residence or the backyard cottage (like a Seattle ADU).

Are you interested in finding a Seattle home where you can add an ADU such as an interior one in the basement or a backyard cottage?  Seattle real estate offers many opportunities like this and knowing the rules and guidelines is key to making it work for you financially.  Let me know if you have questions!

Volunteer Park is one of my favorite parks in Seattle - I love the wide variety of activities there and it is a great place just to take a stroll around on a nice day.

  Curious what you will see if you venture to climb to the top of the water tower in Seattle's Volunteer Park?  Look at this gorgeous view! 

 Seattle is filled with parks, but if you get a chance to visit Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, do take advantage of it!  Make sure to drive through and see the gorgeous historic homes in this area as well. 

This is one of Seattle's original neighborhoods and it is worth a look!

Portage Bay Homes

Capitol Hill Homes

Seattle real estate

Cal Anderson Park Capitol Hill Seattle WA - very cool!

Well I had a great day yesterday  - a little showing, some paperwork, and then a couple great walks and play time around Seattle neighborhood Capitol Hill.  It was a perfect Seattle summer day!   I wanted to go to Cal Anderson Park (corner of 11th and E Pine) because I had seen the feature on Evening Magazine on it.  After visiting the park, I also read about it in a great article on HA Seattle, because I was seriously confused while my children played in the texture fountain.  I thought it was the wading pool!  I was not alone as there were a ton of kids playing in it and dogs swimming in what must be the "reflection" pool.   I was pretty sure Evening Magazine specifically said a "series of toddler wading pools", but I will have to go back and review the segment.  So I brought my little ones along and we joined in with all the other people walking in the "wading pool" - or at least what I thought was a funky wading pool. 

Cal Anderson Park Fountain:  Not a Wading pool, but a fountain...You see, I have been to wading pools around Seattle - this is one of the most fun things for a two year old boy, but I did think this one was a bit odd looking.  Turns out there were posted notices all over to keep people and dogs out, but everyone was in it anyway.  I did think the odd bumps in the fountain would really do a number on my little guy's head if he clunked it on them, but I stayed close and kept him semi tame.  The fact is that the gorgeous fountain is just that - a fountain and the wading pool is not part of the fountain at all. So legally speaking, stay out of it, but wow, it was fun!

Cal Anderson Park in Seattle's great Capitol Hill neighborhood is worth a visit and another great reason to find a Seattle home in this wonderful neighborhood!  Interested in Capitol Hill real estate?

Fun Seattle Local Blog -

Dana Landon writes a really entertaining Seattle blog filled with amazing fun fashion and food around Seattle - her latest post was on  the July 4th Vegan BBQ at Quickie's on Capitol Hill in Seattle. 

Some might not know I am a vegetarian, but I also grew up on meat and the idea of a BBQ without having to worry about the meat juice or smoke getting on my food sounds heavenly.

Quickies also has a location in the U District, and I would recommend the visit if you get the craving...  Nothing like vegan home style meals.

Capitol Hill has so many awesome places to be entertained, but even just a walk down the street makes you really feel like you are living the Seattle dream.

Some of my favorite spots -

Portage Bay (Roanoke Park), Volunteer Park, Byzantion Greek

Looking to Live In Seattle's Capitol Hill?

Capitol Hill homes are beautiful - especially the old historic Seattle mansions, but I also love all the Green townhomes they have been building lately.   Some of the condos in Capitol Hill are also very cool because many are old houses converted or old 1930s apartments that have been upgraded and converted.  Check out Capitol Hill and make sure to check out some of these spots and Dana's blog:)

 Down Payments - know how to save for a down payment..................

Seattle buyers are finding less and less in the way of loan programs where they don't need a nice down payment.  The simple fact is that 100% loans are for the most par tin the past - this is good news, really.  Saving for a down payment is responsible behavior and although I admit to getting a few 100% loans myself in the past, I would put money down in today's market.  A down payment is the door to a strong loan and a smooth closing whether you are buying Seattle real estate or Seattle suburb real estate.  Recent buyers I have worked with who had bigger down payments had easier times when it came to closing.  The mortgage companies also will require less in the way of conditions in many cases.

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Green Lake (Greenlake), Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park), Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood,Woodway, Snohomish, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park,Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!

Seattle real estate is on the move as far as "Built Green" goes! 

If a Seattle buyer wants a home that is environmentally friendly and efficient, then there are fortunately options in both the Seattle townhouse 2008 market and also single family houses.  It seems as if builders are really starting to understand what modern savvy buyers want and the real estate available is beginning to reflect this.

Building green is more than just using energy efficient appliances!

  It is even more than Bamboo flooring or highly efficient windows.  There are dual flush toilets, low toxin paints, recycled glass and tiles, plus a whole set of guidelines about percentages of carpeting in building, garage sizes, etc.  There is actually a  whole matrix of different things builders can do to determine how green their home is!  Careful consideration should be taken as to placement on lot, landscaping, materials used, etc., but check out the list to see how in depth these green homes can be!

I am excited to see some of these wonderful environmentally friendly building techniques in Seattle! 

I love the idea of solar powered water heaters and Bamboo flooring in Seattle! I love that a builder gets extra points for putting in a food waste and compost bin or worm bin instead of a garbage disposal.  Check out the list before you go visit some of these properties!  There are wonderful built green properties out there, but knowing how green they are will often have a high impact on your ability to enjoy them.

Want more info on Green Seattle topics?

Seattle Built Green Info , Seattle Green Remodeling , Seattle Going Green Guide, Going Green in the Seattle Suburbs

Want to search for Seattle houses?

Seattle real estate

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services is a member of Built Green!  Looking for Seattle Built Green Info? realestate@cooperjacobs.com

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Greenlake, Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park), Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!

 If you are thinking of relocating to Seattle, I am an expert at Seattle Relocation services and can help you find the perfect home while making sure it is a solid financial investment!

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 efficient appliances - specifically Energy Star appliances are the best!   These are the appliances that are going to use our valuable resources efficiently!

Seattle real estate:  getting greener? Check out the smart builders in Seattle and the Seattle suburbs that are deciding to build greener!  I have found that their attention to the environment also tends to translate to attention to detail and higher quality finish work!

Some great Seattle neighborhoods to check out for green home options:

Capitol Hill homes, Eastlake Real Estate, Wallingford real estate, Ballard real estate, Queen Anne real estate, Green Lake homes

Want more info on Green Seattle topics?

Seattle Built Green Info , Seattle Green Remodeling , Seattle Going Green Guide, Going Green in the Seattle Suburbs

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:  Seattle real estate  What are you looking for?

Seattle renting vs. buying...

The rental market is strong right now in Seattle and its suburbs, but which side of it do you want to be on?

Some benefits of renting:

1. Flexible - nothing to tie you down
2. Less out of pocket in the short term (although in some cases, a mortgage is the same or less than your rent)
3. No home maintenance to deal with

Seattle real estate and its surrounding suburbs are the best investments you can make! Despite a bit of a slow down due to the current lending environment, we are still one of the most undervalued real estate markets on the West Coast! Even in this cooler market, Seattle houses are appreciating! Seattle real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth today.

Not convinced? Let me give you just a few more good reasons why you need to buy Seattle real estate instead of renting!

1. Pay yourself instead of someone else by building equity each time you make a house payment
2. Tax benefits - The interest you pay on your home mortgage is tax deductible in most cases!
3. Freedom to decorate and make yourself really feel at home!

If you think you might want to look at buying a Seattle house or a house in the Seattle suburbs, now is the exact time to make that move!  We are in a buyer's market for the first time in a long time and there are some good buys out there!  The inventory is plentiful so you can choose your very perfect house and the rates are low on top of it!  Need help with your closing costs? I can help you get your closing costs paid for!  In addition, there are buyer perks out there that make buying Seattle real estate too good to pass up!

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Associate Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County - Experienced and with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them!

Call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!