Seattle Real Estate Up Over 20% From A Year Ago According to Latest NWMLS Press Release.

Like divorce stats, etc. (ask me about my theory on Elvis Vegas weddings sometime if you want a different discussion altogether), I think all numbers are skewed, but the latest NWMLS report from the close of the 2011 December Seattle real estate market would suggest otherwise.  Without me going into the fact that I disagree with my friend OB (who happens to be the President of Windermere) on whether or not we have already turned a corner as he says we have in this latest report, here is a piece of the NWMLS news release:

“Healthy marketplaces” emerging with shrinking inventory, favorable financing

KIRKLAND, Wash. (Jan. 4, 2012) – Home sales finished the year much stronger than they started, with 

pending sales for the fourth quarter outgaining the first quarter by more than 3,000 transactions for a 21 

percent increase, according to new figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

A year-over-year comparison shows December’s pending sales (mutually accepted offers) rose more than 

20 percent from a year ago. Northwest MLS brokers reported 5,237 pending sales last month, up from the 

previous year when they recorded 4,359 transactions.

Last month’s pending volume exceeded the number of new listings (4,604) for the second consecutive 

month. The last time such an imbalance occurred was November 2006."

As I have stated before, you all know I am a highly positive person, but this is hardly turning a corner.  I agree that we are heading in the right direction, but we haven't gotten far enough to have turned a corner.  Less inventory just makes it appear this way temporarily.  The banks have been holding off on plenty of REO inventory and we still have that mountain to get over before we can truly be out of this latest Seattle real estate market shift.

So what do you do if you want to sell your house?

Sell it now!!! Not to sound like a typical real estate agent who just wants the listing, I swear.  Here is why: 

There is a historical low amount of inventory (especially in neighborhoods like Queen Anne or Magnolia!!!!)  and also ridiculously low interest rates, but even that is not my reason why if you want or need to sell you need to do it ASAP.

There are buyers waiting for your homes to buy them. This is not my reason either.  

Here is the real reason - the dirty little secret no one is telling you:

 If you think prices will go up in Spring 2012 and you are waiting for that, then I highly suggest you sell now because when those foreclosures start truly being released rather than just the trickle we have seen so far, the prices will reflect it and there will be far more competition to deal with. In short, you will have waited too long.  

Call me or email me if you want to talk further about it.  It merits a discussion if you need to sell, otherwise hang back and wait for the Seattle real estate market to absorb the floodgate of foreclosures and make another shift towards the positive. It will be a couple years at least, but it will happen. 

Queen Anne Real Estate in Seattle, WA

Seattle real estate inventory is low in many neighborhoods, but Queen Anne actually still has some great homes and condos to choose from. The range of housing in Queen Anne is vast - co-ops to condos to townhomes to homes to Mansions and estates. There truly is something for everyone on this Seattle hill!!!

If you are interested in Queen Anne real estate, I am happy to show you some of my favorites on the hill!

Queen Anne view homes- checking out Seattle's best views....

If you are interested in having a Seattle home with one of the most amazing views, then you should really consider looking at some of the beautiful Queen Anne view homes for sale right now.

Click on any of the Queen Anne homes for sale below to find all Queen Anne listings in the MLS, including many amazing Queen Anne View Homes (This page has all MLS listings from all Seattle real estate companies and is current from information swept from the NWMLS for changes every 15-20 minutes).

You can find all Queen Anne real estate here including Queen Anne view homes or other Queen Anne listings on the Southwest slope, Southeast slope and other parts of this fabulous Seattle neighborhood.

 Queen Anne Real Estate in Seattle WA - Find Queen Anne View Homes For Sale

If you are looking for a Queen Anne Realtor or are interested in viewing any of these Queen Anne view homes for sale or other Seattle real estate, please feel free to get in touch with me: Courtney Cooper, Realtor, 206-850-8841, courtney@cooperjacobs.com

Queen Anne Homes For Sale - 5 Tips To Sell It Faster And For More Money:

The goal is to sell your Queen Anne house as quickly and as profitably as possible.  Have the home Staged by someone your Realtor recommends.  (Note:  Make sure that your Queen Anne Realtor does recommend this as an option or call another one who does.).  Also make sure your Realtor can get your home on the internet in MANY places and hire a professional photographer.

Go through some of these tips as a good seller to sell your Queen Anne home more efficiently:

De-clutter:  Make four distinct piles if it is easier: Trash, Return, Donate, and Might Need, but in the end, just get rid of it!

Clean!!!  Seems basic, but...  Cleaning your house for sale goes well beyond dusting, mopping and vacuuming. You must clean it like you mean it. You must minutely examine every square inch of your house and restore it to near-new condition. An advantage of a well-cared-for house is that you’re less likely to receive a low offer. When buyers can’t find faults they focus less on how much money they can squeeze out of you and start thinking that the house is right for them. If you don’t have the time to clean then you should hire a professional. It’s a smart investment

Repair:   Buyers expect a trouble-free home. They want to buy a house, move in and start enjoying it right away. They don’t want to waste time and money fixing up the place. If you don’t repair your house, it will be seen as a fixer-upper and you will not be able to attract the right kind of buyers, nor will you get the price you want for it.

Know whether you need a pre-listing home inspection and understand the difference between repair and renovation can save you money and headaches. 

Renew:  Renewing and Revitalizing are very different than remodeling, which is usually expensive and delays the selling of your house.  Start with improving your curb appeal, follow up with lighting, and painting. Only then can you start staging your house for sale. 

Show It Off:  Put away your meds, close your computer, and put away jewelry.  Make your beds, air out the house, and leave.  The most important part is to leave after you have prepped it because buyers can not visualize themselves in your home if you are there and it makes them uncomfortable. 

Let us know if you need help buying or selling your Queen Anne Real Estate - we look forward to talking to you!

Queen Anne By The Numbers:

Queen Anne Homes For Sale January Wrap Up:

This chart is for residential Queen Anne Homes For Sale in January 2011 only.  It is sometimes difficult to get the numbers until a little later the next month because some transactions are not changed in a timely manner in our NWMLS system.

These numbers reflect Queen Anne single family only– so no Queen Anne Condos. January closings are final and there were officially 78 Queen Anne Homes for sale at the end of January, 11 that got offers and went pending (so they were successful offers), and 20 closed transactions.

For Queen Anne real estate, there are many choices out there and prices have softened slightly again.  

There are Queen Anne buyers out there, but buyers all over Seattle are taking the time to really pick through the inventory. Standing out has become more important again - seems to be a recurring theme?

Use that inspection as a TO DO list! This is a great example of why.  This was something the inspection told the buyers to deal with and they didn't....

I always tell buyers to use the inspection as a sort of manual for home maintenance and improvement.  

Builder perks here from Sterling!

I was please when I got my latest Sterling flyer from Matt -

Sterling Savings has extended their awesome 3% up to $20,000 towards your closing costs program for qualifying Seattle area properties.   

Purchase and sale contracts need to be written prior to 1/31 and close by 2/26.  This credit is a great way to help finance a new home - there are some great projects that qualify, too! 

Let us know if you need more details or want to look at some of the great places that qualify!  There are some wonderful Queen Anne townhomes that I know of that fit right into the program - some listed - some not yet.  You can also find additional home listings for the neighborhood here: Queen Anne real estate

Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood has had some beautiful sunny days in the last weeks and West Queen Anne is particularly gorgeous perched over the Puget Sound.  This picture was taken the day after Thanksgiving for anyone who doubts we get sun in the winter at all. 

Here is your West Queen Anne real estate update for the December 2009 home selling market.  You can find West Queen Anne real homes for sale and other Queen Anne real estate on my site if you want to see all current listings, but here are the numbers for tonight:

West Queen Anne homes for sale:  Currently there are 47 West Queen Anne homes for sale in zip code 98119.  They range in price from $340,000 for a home on the far West slope near Smith Cove on 14th to $4,890,000 for 602 W Highland which is a newer Queen Anne home in the very perfect spot on that gorgeous Southwest slope.  The average price in zip code 98119 for homes on the market right now is $1,004,633 and the median is $650,000.  The average days on market (DOM) for these is 97 days.  There is also one home marked contingent in West Queen Anne priced at $1,185,000.

Pending homes in West Queen Anne:  These are homes that have received offers on them.  There are 12 pending West Queen Anne homes on the market right now ranging in price from $349,950 to $1,075,000 with and average price of $696,599 and a median price of $742,500. 

West Queen Anne home sales last six months:  In the last six months, 86 West Queen Anne homes have sold in zip code 98119.  These sold and closed home listings range from $199,000 for an extreme fixer to $4,300,000 with an average of $800,639 and a median sales price of $645,000.  The average days on market over the last six months? 72 days.

Conclusion:  West Queen Anne is selling!  But how do these numbers stack up to previous years of sales in 98119 for the same period?

2006 Total Volume: $75,463,950 Avg/Med Price: $804,451/$699,950 Avg DOM: 35

2007 Total Volume $62,104,075  Avg/Med Price: $874,705/$700,000 Avg DOM: 35

2008 Total Volume $34,368,800  Avg/Med Price: $781,109/$636,000 Avg DOM: 73

2009 Total Volume $68,854,945  Avg/Med Price: $800,639/$645,000 Avg DOM: 72

The sales volume itself is the best it has been in over three years! It doubled last year for the same period and then some!  Prices have definitely gone down and days on market are longer, but a well priced house will sell and there are buyers out there buying West Queen Anne.  In fact, inventory in this Seattle neighborhood is actually one of the problems while working with buyers in this area so if you are thinking of selling, please do consider getting an evaluation!

(I took out the Queen Anne townhomes for this property list, but you can find Queen Anne townhouses and Queen Anne condos on the site, too, if that is what you are after.)  Please also feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions at all about Seattle real estate.

Queen Anne historic homes:  Very close to home for my family

Yesterday we visited two sets of great grandparents on Bainbridge Island and I got the chance to talk to my husband's Grandfather about growing up on Queen Anne.  It is funny because the two houses he grew up in are on the historic registry and his gandfather's house is also on the historic registry.  Unfortunately,  his "Uncle Joe's" Queen Anne house hadn't gotten there yet before the disaster when it was knocked down a few years ago on a long holiday weekend to make way for the new buyer's "new home".  Now it is the the site of a planned townhome community (google the JC Black house sometime if you want to hear more about that one).

West Queen Anne Love:  I recently wrote a post on Betty Bowen Viewpoint and was completely drawn to a particular house right across the street.  That shouldn't be too surprising because West Queen Anne is full of gorgeous homes, but this one really brought me in and while I normally would take the time to take a picture of a house so that it looked good on my blog or website, I just snapped a quick photo of this house because I LOVED IT. 

I was completely taken in and drawn to this house. I will go ahead and show you the photo I took, but it really doesn't do the house justice:

It turns out that this very house was my husband's grandfather's house when he was 17 and his parents had it built especially for them!  I could not believe it!

The house is something like 6 beds and an unheard of 3 car garage in Queen Anne.  My husband's great grandfather had it custom built in 1939-1940 and they moved into it when his grandfather was 17 from their home a few blocks over on West Prospect which they had lived in for the first 17 years of his life.  The West Highland house was built for my husband's great grandfather and mother and the name on the historic registry is the Lyman H & Marion Black Home. 

This house on West Highland is only a couple blocks South of my husband's great great grandfather's house, the CH Black house on Lee Street which takes up an entire city block. It is also right across the street from Betty Bowen Viewpoint and the West Queen Anne Walls.  In listening to my husband's grandfather's stories yesterday, he said his dad used to have a light he would switch on in the 1940s whenever couples were hanging out at the Viewpoint for too long after dark.  He remembers that his parents would always know he came home safely because he would come in and play Moonlight Sonata at the Grand Piano after a fun night out.  He KNEW Betty Bowen!

I had heard the piano story before but it was so amazing to find out that this particular house that I obviously did not photograph for any purpose except that I loved it happened to be the house where all this happened. I also find it amazing that not one, but at least four of their family homes are on the historic registry in family names - even if one other is gone now. 

If you are interested in West Queen Anne real estate or other Queen Anne real estate, please feel free to get in touch with me.  Queen Anne has a rich history and I would love to share with you some of my favorite spots!