Estates Northwest: Seattle Real Estate Blog : Washington: Seattle: Maple Leaf

Maple Leaf in Seattle:

The Maple Leaf neighborhood in Seattle offers some good views and wonderful urban choices -this neighborhood is high up on the hill and has some wonderful city and lake views, but also has lots to offer its residents!

Want to be near Green Lake, but can't quite afford it?  Maple Leaf is a great choice!  Want a good Seattle neighborhood with lots of appeal?  Check out Maple Leaf!

Maple Leaf real estate is primarily residential and it is just South of the great transit center in Northgate. Schools and parks here make it even more appealing, but don't forget to check out all the great retail right in this neighborhood, too!  Snappy Dragon easily offers the very best Chinese food in Seattle (complete with a wonderful vegetarian menu) and Math-N-Stuff is the teacher's choice for educational supplies for miles around.

Maple Leaf homes available right now start at $315,000 for a 3 bedroom townhouse, but most of the neighborhood is single family homes - Maple Leaf has something to offer everyone and is also a quick commute to Downtown Seattle. 

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services, Seattle real estate 206-251-5948

I think this is pretty cool!  Seattle Magazine glomped together all the Seattle suburbs and in city neighborhoods and compared them to come up with a list of best neighborhoods to live in. 

 The funny part is that the suburbs absolutely rocked the competition with Kenmore taking #1 and Shoreline taking the number 2 spot.  In fact, the only in city Seattle neighborhood that made the top ten was Northgate.

Congrats Northgate!  Affordable prices and the revamped Northgate Mall must have no doubt played a part.  Seattle Magazine used a point system and included schools and affordability so Seattle in city was probably pretty penalized, but I am surprised Maple Leaf at the very least did not get into that top ten spot at least.

Other Seattle "neighborhoods" in the top ten: Bellevue, Mountlake Terrace, Mercer Island, Redmond, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent (for those of you out of area, these are all suburbs).

So in city top spot:  Northgate

Nearby: 

I would also highly recommend checking out Maple Leaf real estate when you get a chance - If for no other reason than to eat at Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon, the Maple Leaf Grill, or visit the amazing educational store Math N Stuff!

Effective January 31st, 2009:

WAC 308-124C-050 Home inspector referrals.

"Each licensed designated broker will establish a written office policy that includes a procedure for referring home inspectors to buyers or sellers. The policy will address the consumer's right to freely pick a home inspector of the buyer's or seller's choice and prevent any collusion between the home inspector and a real estate licensee.

If a licensee refers a home inspector to a buyer or seller with whom they have or have had a relationship including, but not limited to, a business or familial relationship, then full disclosure of the relations must be provided in writing prior to the buyer or seller using the services of the home inspector."

 This won't change any of my business practices except that I have to put a policy in writing as of today, but I have to wonder what went wrong to necessitate what to me seems like common sense. It is scary to think that collusion could happen between two people that should be your strongest allies in such a monumental transaction. 

Courtney Cooper, Designated Broker, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services, Seattle real estate

Looking for resources for green gardening in Seattle? 

The Washington Toxics Coalition has a wonderful site for your education!  They also offer cute little signs for your yard in exchange for pledging to a few things...  I have seen these in some local Seattle front yards and I love that people are willing to show how much they care. 

Seattle Green Gardening is Just The Beginning...

Green gardening is a huge part of going green in Seattle overall and pesticides have no place in my garden, but the Washington Toxics Coalition has information for the entire household that range from garden info to cleaning products to art and hobby materials or building materials that are toxic.  This is great information to have on hand for anyone who is thinking about green remodeling or looking into the Built Green program. 

Are you interested in Seattle green real estate? realestate@cooperjacobs.com

One of my lovely clients signed at escrow today and have the opportunity of closing a few days early.  This is quite a surprise in the current lending environment to have something actually come together early with out too much drama.  The appraisal did get picked apart in the early stages, but that has since resolved itself. 

So they have signed and are ready to go.  If it were me buying the house, I would want to go ahead and close.  I have this firm belief in my head that whatever can go wrong might go wrong, so as a result, I am always trying to prevent anything at all from going wrong.  In this case because my buyers needed a very specific loan program and there isn't really a back up plan, I would just feel more comfortable if they closed and moved in.  The loan officer thought I was a little paranoid and over protective, until I reminded her of the time that another lender offering a rare and hard to find program closed their doors three days before funding a loan.  She then agreed:  They should close.

It is in the client's best interest to make sure things flow smoothly and if it financially makes sense and is good for all parties, why not go ahead and close?  Seems to me that my job is to get it to that point and also beyond - even if I have to be the greasy wheel.  Any thoughts?