Estates Northwest: Seattle Real Estate Blog : Washington: Seattle: Eastlake

Eastlake is interesting because although there are single family traditional homes, most of them don't come up for sale very often.  That has been the case for the last six month of sales and also for the current Eastlake homes for sale that are available now.  Excluding Eastlake condos, single family Eastlake homesare comprised of mostly townhouses, then houseboats, then regular single family traditional homes. Eastlake Townhomes have been the dominating factor for single family residential in this Seattle neighborhood recently.

Current Eastlake Homes for sale:

There are currently 25 Active or Contingent homes available in the NWMLS in the Eastlake Neighborhood.  24 of them are Active and 1 Townhouse on Minor Ave E is listed as Contingent.  Out of these 25 Eastlake homes, there are only really three traditional historic Seattle homes-historical and not floating because we all know that houseboats are extremely historical.  Speaking of Seattle houseboats, there are three available in Eastlake right now that are Active. The other 19 Active listings are for townhomes or very townhome like homes.  You can see this is a major part of the market!

Eastlake Homes Moving!

There are 8 Eastlake homes in escrow right now marked as some type of Pending status in the MLS - four townhomes, 3 floating homes, and one home which is probably a tear down on Louisa right behind Louisa's Bakery.  It is pending feasibility right now because the prospective buyers probably need to find out if the height restriction on one portion of it will work for their building plans (this history on that one is kind of cool).

Eastlake sales:  There have been 13 in the last six months that have closed. Houseboats and townhomes are really driving that number with 6 closed Seattle houseboats and 6 closed townhomes in the last six months!  One 1921 little cutie sold as well - a traditional single family residence with 1 bedroom and 1 bath.. more townhomes there?  I hope not - it was so cute!

If you are interested in Eastlake real estate we are happy to help you find your perfect Lake Union home! 

Seattle Houseboats:  Looking for a 2009 Seattle floating home update?  Houseboats in Seattle have actually sold pretty well this year.  Seattle's floating homes have weathered much of the lending issues associated with other homes because they have always been tricky for financing - requiring more money down, etc.  Despite this fact, there have been some very affordable floating homes in the Seattle real estate market this year.

Seattle Houseboats:  Current Numbers:  According to the numbers I just pulled out of the MLS, there are 18 Active Listings for Seattle houseboats.  Not all of these are floating homes, though.  Seattle houseboats is a broad term used to generally describe vessels, barges, and floating homes. Seattle floating homes are the only true residential category here. The active houseboat listings range in price from $60,000 for a vessel to $2,490,000 for an elaborate floating home.  The average price is $515,211 and the median is $349,450.  The average days on market for these is 157 days.  There are some nice choices in both Lake Union floating homes and Portage Bay.

You can find active Seattle houseboat listings here:

Seattle Houseboats

There are 5 Pending houseboats for sale right now in Seattle.  These range in list price from $149,000 to $2,200,000 with a median of $795,000 and average days on market of 116 days.

Seattle houseboats sold in the last six months: 14 of them!  They range from $48,000 - again for a vessel to $1,350,000 for a floating home (these are the final sales prices).  The average sales price was $550,175 and the median was $491,750.  The average days on market for these houseboats that sold was 87 days!

Are you interested in buying a Seattle houseboat?  We are happy to show you around some of our favorite neighborhoods in Seattle!

Sunny September 2009 Lake Union Photos in Seattle : Seaplane over Lake Union

Gasworks Park in Seattle neighborhood Wallingford (North side of Lake Union).

Kayakers in Lake Union (Taken from a Seattle houseboat in Seattle neighborhood Eastlake).  What a gorgeous day!

Seattle real estate is pretty amazing, but is is so much fun to show homes on a day like this one!  We have had a great run of weather recently!

Floating homes on Lake Union - one of my favorite Seattle real estate options!  What better way to live in a Seattle waterfront home  - truly waterfront here on all sides, but also be close to everything going on in the city?  Lake Union, to me, is one of the most central areas right in Seattle and a great place to be for proximity to pretty much all that Puget Sound has to offer.  Of course there is Downtown Seattle, too, but living on Lake Union in one of the gorgeous floating homes is so much more appealing to many.  Residents on the lake enjoy Downtown at their doorstep via the streetcar, Seattle Center, the newly developed Lake Union Park, quick access to I-5 and 520 or I-90 for commuting in all directions, easy ferry access, Seattle Center, and more!

The Lake Union floating homes in Seattle are a different kind of real estate simply because they float and it is important to talk to a Realtor who knows the difference between a houseboat, vessel, and floating home.  While the terms houseboat and floating home are used interchangeably, they are two very different things, and a Seattle floating home is the best and closest form of living on the water to traditional Seattle real estate.  A true Seattle floating home will be in the higher price range of the houseboats offered for sale, but offers the most secure investment real estate wise in most cases. 

There are many Lake Union floating homes that are offered for sale through the year, but less choices overall than traditional Seattle real estate.  This is because there are only around 500 floating homes in Seattle and people who choose this lifestyle tend to stick to their docks.  The lifestyle isn't for everyone.  There are pluses and minuses and the biggest concern for most prospective houseboat buyers is the lack of space to stretch out or store your stuff.  These homes usually are pretty tight quarters, although I have seen some amazingly spacious ones recently!  Floating homes owners tend to be very creative people both with space and decorating or gardening.  I was recently in a floating home in Eastlake that had hinges on each stair going upstairs so that the steps could open up for storage.  The dock gardening that goes on here is jaw dropping!  This is container gardening to a new level and I love peeking at all the decor!

If you are looking for a different kind of Seattle real estate, then Lake Union floating homes might be a good choice for you!  There are also some great floating homes on Portage Bay, but for Lake Union floating homes look to Seattle neighborhoods like Eastlake & Westlake first and then also over to Queen Anne and Wallingford for vessels.  Make sure and check out Portage Bay homes, and Boat Street over in the U-District has a few great docks!  Either way, what a great way to live the Seattle dream!

Are you interested in Seattle Floating Homes?

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services 206-251-5948

Seattle WA floating homes are a great waterfront real estate option in Seattle!  Lake Union has its own special attractions and people who live on the lake love it!  Living on a Seattle houseboat might be one of the most thought about options for people when they are pondering waterfront homes in Seattle! 

These homes offer a wide variety of living plans and the quarters are almost tight, but wouldn't it be great to truly be on the Seattle waterfront? One of the most asked questions I get is, "Do they move with the water?"  The answer is yes and how much depends on how far down the dock you are.  Houseboats on the end of the dock cost more and offer more open views typically, but they do rock back and forth quite a bit more and definitely when a boat passes by.  There is less rock closer in to land. 

Seattle offers lots of waterfront living, but I love this option the best! 

People always love looking at houseboats and I have had fun showing them.  They are the ideal Seattle, Washington lifestyle for many people and one of the first things tourists think about for our city!

A couple funny things that happened to me at an open house for a floating home in Eastlake:  One lady got a little sea sick even though the home was fairly close in on the dock.  Another visitor asked about the plumbing.  Yes, there is a sewer line that goes down the dock!  These are floating homes, not vessels.

While showing a Seattle houseboat once, I dropped the key into Lake Union.  The listing agent wasn't thrilled with me, and I was embarrassed, but he could have put a float on it was my thought.

Living in a very close knit waterfront neighborhood...

Everyone pretty much knows everyone on a dock and neighbors watch out for others.  If you want privacy, this might not be the best option.  This might not be the most ideal solution for Seattle waterfront homes if you like to be alone, but watching the world go by and being in the middle of it all would be the great appeal for most people!

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services, Seattle Waterfront homes, Eastlake real estate, Seattle floating homes - call us if you need help or have questions.

Seattle real estate has been interesting this year -

Great prices for buyers, lower interest rates, and lots to choose from, but unfortunately this has been couple with uncertainties in both buyers and sellers as well as tighter lending requirements and absolutely ridiculous appraisal guidelines and rules. 

How can you even begin to find the confidence to buy?  When you do realize that your situation allows for home buying now, then you need to find someone to help guide you through the process. 

1. Find a Realtor that you truly enjoy working with.  They should keep you informed even when there is nothing to tell.  Life is way too short to work with someone you do not trust or like.
2. Know what your guidelines are!   Wife wants X features, but husband only thinks they can afford Y features in a home. Buyers remorse is a big issue if you don't make this decision up front.
3. Get help locating a property in Seattle within your guidelines.  This is very important!
4. Realtor structuring a strong offer on your behalf and going through the paperwork with you
5. Negotiations are always with with your best interests at heart, but you have to be honest and let us know what you want.
6. Realtor - helping to schedule inspections, appraisal, escrow appointments, etc.
7. Also providing you with an overall picture of the sales process
8. Make sure to get them: Referrals, referrals, referrals! - Inspector, insurance contacts, utility contacts, favorite restaurants or vets and doctors in the area, etc...
9. Look at the resale!!! Seattle buyers should always look at their exit strategy- this is an investment as well as a home!  How well will this house or condo sell in the future?

 Finding your way... 

I like to make up a binder with lots of information for my first time home buyers in Seattle - I want to give them something that might help along the way or clear up any confusions.  I also like to look over the Good Faith Estimates from the lender to make sure all charges seem to be in line and have them ask questions if I see anything out of the ordinary. 

Do you need info on being a first time home buyer in Seattle?  Need a free home buying guide? Want info on the $8000 tax credit?  courtney@cooperjacobs.com  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Seattle real estate, @CourtneyCooper

Picture credit:  Morgan Cooper Photography  morgan.cooper@comcast.net

Eastlake Living..

There's not a lot available right now in Eastlake surprisingly. Looking just between Roanoke and Newton and Eastlake and Fairview there are some wonderful townhouses (including some Built Green ones with solar solutions), and a couple good condos. While showing several today, I also saw some smaller rentals and one older home which could be lived in or would be a great opportunity for future development.  There are a few houseboats on the market as well.  Here are some of the shots I got today including seaplanes in the air and floating homes in Eastlake.

Are you interested in Eastlake real estate?  Seattle floating homes? Seattle real estate?

Eastlake is a wonderful neighborhood with fabulous access to Downtown MINUS any traffic!!!!  Even if you don't decide on a houseboat, you can still launch your kayak right down the street!  Watch the seaplanes coming in or taking off, check out the Olympic Mountains, Gasworks Park, and more, plus keep your finger on the pulse of all of Lake Union.  Eastlake is amazing!

Interested in a unique Seattle waterfront living arrangement? 

I have gotten a lot of email requests for Seattle houseboat listings lately and the fact of the matter is there are not that many Seattle houseboats for sale right now!  The movie Sleepless in Seattle did a number on the popularity of these beautiful homes (as in EVERYONE wanted one!!!) , but I have to admit to always loving them.  I have close friends that live on houseboats and I truly enjoy my visits!  I always leave reluctantly and wanting to move right away to this amazing lifestyle right in the heart of Seattle!  But alas, my three children and giant Newfoundland dogs truly prevent me moving to a houseboat at this point in my life....Someday.

Keeping my eye on the houseboats...

In the mean time I keep my eye on what comes up on the market and try and share the info with what ever buyers I think might like this kind of lifestyle - Seattle waterfront living at its best in my opinion minus any kind of privacy.  The houseboat docks are close knit and each house boat is snuggled up nicely to the next with a small walkway type deck or larger ones in some cases.  Container gardening is taken to new heights and I consider houseboat residents to be among the very best gardeners despite their lack of dirt. 

Pluses and minuses with houseboat living...

I mean can you imagine no yard or garage?  Kayaking to work across the lake if you are lucky? Pulling your kayak or canoe right up to your house and tying it off? Watching seaplanes from your home right overhead? Even with these fantastic benefits, though, these houseboats are often hard to come by and the space inside them is quite limited as far as storage goes.  Every nook and cranny should be utilized perfectly!

Yes I love houseboats!  One of my very favorite memories of an open house was on a Seattle houseboat in Eastlake  - I ended up showing another houseboat to a buyer and actually dropped the key into Lake Union!  The listing agent was furious with me, but it just bounced right out of the key box and they had not bothered to add a clever float key chain to prevent such a mishap!

If you are interested in Seattle real estate, I am happy to answer your questions!

I have been quiet this week - spent a lot of much needed time with my family as we were all snowed in and got to catch up on my year end accounting for my Seattle real estate brokerage.  I even had three buyers back to back on Sunday as soon as the snow was fairly melted and the slush was lessened.   I have seen a great slow down right around Christmas and then a huge pick up in the last few days - I think the ridiculously low interest rates are partially responsible, but also the fact that there are so many great buys out there. I am excited going into 2009.

I am also sad to leave 2008 - I worked incredibly hard and had wonderful successes in 2008 - much harder earned successes, but successes just the same.  Despite the stock market and the fact that my husband was one of the thousands who did receive an end date at WAMU, despite the foreclosure epidemic and lack of easy financing out there, despite the horrible media portrayal towards lenders and real estate agents I had a good year! I am grateful for 2008 and all of my wonderful clients!

I am also grateful towards my network of professionals that I have opened up to over the last year - my friends on Active Rain, Twitter (@CourtneyCooper if you want to follow me), and even Facebook have become my support and I appreciate you all so much!

Thanks so much and here's to a wonderful 2009!  Happy New Year, Seattle!

Really?

Are you sure?  Do you know every possible thing that could go wrong in any market  - let alone a market where qualified buyers need to be picked through to make sure you can close a transaction and not create a lawsuit along the way.

OK

Aubrey Cohen at the Seattle PI wrote up a piece about how Redfin is raising their prices to attract more market share. OK?  But that is another story.  What is amazing to me was the comments afterward about how many people really feel they do not need a real estate agent. 

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/386547_redfin06.html

Kary Krismer is a local real estate agent and was so right with this response: 

"The problem is some people think real estate is simple, because they don't know what they don't know."

I am constantly amazed at the do it yourself crown and admit to being one in some cases.... like baking cookies, making pizza, sewing a Halloween costume or two here and there - even washing my car - these are all great little ways to do something yourself and save money or make it better. Real Estate is not one of those things and I am not surprised that discount companies need to step up the service because this market is different! Buyers and sellers need experienced and knowledgeable help with their real estate transactions.

Are you interested in Seattle real estate? realestate@cooperjacobs.com - when you want to get serious!