Estates Northwest: Seattle Real Estate Blog

Contractual Obligations Of Seller When Vacating The Home - Just Use The Golden Rule!

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:42:23 -0400

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:)

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©Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services (Seattle real estate - search all MLS listings from all companies for FREE), SeattleAfloat.com (Seattle Houseboats), GreenLakeLoop.com (Green Lake Blog), QueenAnneBoulevard.com (Queen Anne Blog)

More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Modern Eco Seattle Houseboat in Eastlake

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:24:04 -0400

Eastlake Houseboat: 11 E Allison St #3

Gorgeous modern and eco friendly Seattle houseboat featured in upcoming issue of Coastal Living Magazine! Spacious 1000 square feet with both a heated deck off living room and amazing roof top deck for full on city, lake, and mountain views! Radiant bathroom floors, gas cooking and fireplace, five piece designer bath, built ins and storage galore! Enjoy life in one of the most thoughtful modern Eastlake Houseboats in recent years.

2 bedrooms
1.5 baths
1000 sq ft
Condominium owned moorage slip
additional moorage space for included 14 foot Duffy electric boat
vertical dock orientation for most waterfrontage
Viking appliances
Paper Stone Counters
Tiger wood decking
Cedar Exterior
Hand finished woods
Smart wired
Low dues $180 cover water, electric, moorage
Pump out only $60/month
garage parking
gated entry
moorage slip includes use of gym in Lake Union Crew Building next door
city views

MLS # 109069 $925,000 includes owned Lake Union moorage slip & houseboat!

More photos, info, and flyer:

Eastlake Houseboat

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

My Seattle Houseboat Listing On The Today Show!

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:39:31 -0400

My phone has been ringing off the hook today thanks to Today, but it did all start at Active Rain so I wanted to share!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Want to see this great Seattle houseboat? http://www.cooperjacobs.com/18075

I really do owe this to Active Rain since I would not have ever blogged or gotten out there on the internet without them. This listing has six new showings set for tomorrow as a direct result of the segment and more to come in the next week. Fingers crossed for a great buyer because I love this houseboat!

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Seattle Has Some Of The Most Gorgeous Historic Mansions!

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:21:12 -0400

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.

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Sunset Hill Showings Yesterday -

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:10:12 -0400

Looking At Sunset Hill Homes:

There are only 15 Sunset Hill homes for sale right now and amazingly the houses that are marked as Sunset Hill in the MLS are actually in Sunset Hill for a change. A lot of times I have to take a few out because they aren't really in Ballard's Sunset Hill.

The last few days have been a perfect time to show Sunset Hill homes and showcase what a gorgeous neighborhood it is. When the 90 degree heat was pounding down on the rest of Seattle, it was still warm here, but also cooled by the lovely sea breezes coming off Puget Sound.

There are 4 Sunset Hill homes that are pending right now - they have offers but have not closed. These range from $417,250 to $799,000.

Homes in Sunset Hill that are for sale range from $412,500 to $2,475,000 and there are many choices in home style and size. Homes here sell rather quickly when priced for the market.

Six Sunset Hill homes have sold in the last month ranging from $399,990 to $785,000 with an average sale price to list price of 98.54%. The range in sale price to list price is 92.66% to 102.17% and the median sales price is $471,250. The average days on market for these is 22 days.

Sunset Hill homes are desirable and it is no wonder given the natural attraction of the neighborhood.

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Seattle HUD Certified Agent

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:02:59 -0400

Interested in Bidding for HUD Homes?

Seattle HUD Certified Agent: If you are interested in buying a HUD home in the greater Seattle area, let me know if you need help or have questions. Cooper Jacobs has its HUD certification. This allows us to submit bids for HUD buyers on properties. Not all brokers have the HUD Broker Certification, but we do!

Perks of buying a HUD house - HUD Certified Broker on your behalf participates in a bidding process where you pick your price and can have up to 3% of your closing costs paid for you. HUD also offers other incentives like low earnest money requirement and only $100 down in many cases. There is even an opportunity to purchase some of the HUD homes as a non owner occupied.

Want to see what HUD homes are out there? HUD homes in WA Let us know what HUD homes you might want to put a bid in on and we can walk you through it step by step.

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services is a HUD Registered Broker and can help you place a bid on HUD homes throughout the greater Seattle area and state. HUD pays our fee so you don't have additional out of pocket costs. Email me if you want more info: courtney@cooperjacobs.com

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

2321 Fairview Ave E, Houseboat #3 - Seattle Floating Home Just Listed!

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:10:37 -0400

Seattle floating home for sale!

2321 Fairview Ave E, Houseboat #3

This one is a cutie - gorgeous warm spaces, remodeled bathroom with slate, kitchen with stainless, 2 spacious bedrooms, wrap around water level decks, roof top deck with great Lake Union views, moorage for multiple boats, and more! $625,000

You can see all the photos and get more info here:

2321 Fairview Ave E

Why not live the ultimate Seattle waterfront lifestyle? Want to see more Seattle houseboats for sale? There are some wonderful ones right now!

courtney@SeattleAfloat.com

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Hawthorne Hills Real Estate Update -

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:57:10 -0400

Hawthorne Hills Real Estate Update:

Our buyers just closed on a pretty wonderful Seattle view home in Hawthorne Hills. Hawthorne Hills is perched above Laurelhurst overlooking Lake Washington and has some of the most beautiful Seattle views!

A little about the Hawthorne Hills view home we sold:

4919 Stanford Ave NE - 4 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, gorgeous indoor spaces and the most amazing view deck I have had the pleasure of walking on in some time! $850,000

This was a charming 2510 square foot 1936 cape cod style home on a quiet street which also happens to have a 2 car garage.

Hawthorne Hills Perks of this home - This one is really close to Children's, UW, and University Village Shopping Center plus the Burke-Gilman runs right through Hawthorne Hills making it ideal for cyclists and runners or walkers.

If you are looking for some great Hawthorne Hills homes for sale that have good views, right now is a gorgeous time to go tour them! Seattle sun - awwe... I love it:)

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Car less in Seattle: Looking For The Best Neighborhoods in Seattle To Ditch The Car?

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:40:40 -0400

Car less in Seattle: Are you looking for The Best Neighborhoods in Seattle To ditch the car?

Seattle has a ton of opportunity for someone who might want to move into town and not have a car!

The walkability of various Seattle neighborhoods can be pretty impressive.

Criteria for choosing:

My criteria for picking out best Seattle neighborhoods for being car less is as follows:

Easy ability to commute to Downtown Seattle
Retail Essentials like the grocery store, pharmacy, etc.
Parks and recreation nearby - walking or biking trails, water a plus
Entertainment such as movie theatre and restaurants
coffee!!! (okay maybe this should be number one)
misc. retail, gift stores, etc. a plus
Daycare nearby, schools if you have children
Library nearby

Here are some of my favorites for living car less in Seattle:

Obviously, Downtown Seattle should be the first choice here - especially if you can find a great Downtown Seattle condo close to Pike Place Market like the Union 98 Condo Building or how about these Downtown Seattle luxury condos...
Queen Anne - Upper Queen Anne is the best for being car less because you have a good combination of all of the above with the extra added benefit of lots of great views, too! Queen Anne transit has always been ahead of the game and Queen Anne Boulevard is Queen Anne's walking trail. You can find lots of great Queen Anne homes for sale with views that are close to everything, too.
Wallingford - Wallingford has a hip retail center with lots of all of the above and also quick proximity to the freeway for your car friends. It is at the North side of Lake Union and is loaded with charm! Wallingford homes for sale range from condos to large sweeping historic homes.
Phinney Ridge - This is a great spot with easy access to all surrounding amenities plus its own retail zone. Phinney Ridge Homes for sale are usually lovely Seattle Craftsman homes or great modern town homes.
Ballard - Now Ballard is big so I am really just referring to living right near the main drag on Market Street, but also into early Sunset Hill. Ballard is right on the Burke-Gillman Trail so if you wanted to commute via a bicycle, this is a dream. Make sure and check out Ballard real estate to see all the different choices because there is a big range.
Fremont - Fremont has quite a retail area and lots of activities daily plus it is close to Ballard, Wallingford, and Queen Anne - just over the bridge. It is a great option and there are good choices for Fremont homes.
Green Lake - Green Lake (Greenlake) has a lot to offer. It has a few different retail areas and has that wonderful loop around the lake itself. At first it may not seem as walkable as the other areas, but then you realize that Green Lake definitely has it all - retail, restaurants, indoor pool, tennis, library, lots of kids activities, more. Green Lake homes range from condos to townhomes to homes, but there are a few price ranges to choose from.
Capitol Hill - Go no further than to check the Walkscore for Capitol Hill and you will see all that surrounds you. This is one of the oldest Seattle neighborhoods like Queen Anne and highly walkable. My favorite homes in Capitol Hill are the Seattle Historic Mansions.
Madison Park - Madison Park has transit out to Downtown and a good retail core plus it has the perks of being on the banks of Lake Washington with a wonderful waterfront park. You can also find nice Madison Park waterfront homes.
Eastlake - Eastlake is a quick hop on to the Street car for an easy trip downtown, plus you can live in Eastlake condos, Eastlake townhomes, detached homes or Seattle houseboats. Eastlake has a long history of being a close knit neighborhood and lots to choose from in the retail section.

There you have it. There are others, but I didn't want to overwhelm you! Let me know what you are looking for in a Seattle neighborhood and I can help you find your perfect spot to go car less in Seattle!

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

The Tax Credit Deadline Approaches, But There Are Other Options, Seattle...

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:38:10 -0400

The tax credit deadline approaches faster than ever now - you need to get a purchase and sale contract signed around by this week if you want to take advantage of the current home buyer tax credit. That is the fact, but don't allow that to impact your decision process when purchasing. Being under the gun over a tax credit seems pretty silly when trying to make a much bigger decision overall. My suspicion is that there might be quite a bit of buyer remorse when those IRS checks come in. You would hate to be sitting with your $8000 in a home that as you look around just does not feel right.

My suggestion instead is to take your time and really find the home that is going to work for you and your goals. Choosing a home in a rush over a credit which is tiny when compared to the purchase price overall is like buying a brand new car because they give you a free junky toaster. It's a little gimmicky.

Why not take your time and find the perfect property and let your Realtor negotiate it to make up for not getting that free toaster... I mean credit? The competition will be less fierce as the feeding frenzy ends and the pressure will be lessened so that you can really focus in on whether or not the house truly works for you! You can find current inventory here: Seattle Real Estate

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Wallingford Real Estate - Great Options In The MLS

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:22:29 -0400

SEATTLE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE: WALLINGFORD:

This post is actually about the Seattle neighborhood of Wallingford which happens to be one of my favorite Seattle neighborhoods. I sponsor the neighborhood blog Wallyhood and actually have an office right on Wallingford Ave N.

Wallingford is a wonderful mix of urban and suburban - it has its own retail center of life, but also is a hop and a skip away from other great Seattle neighborhoods and enjoys easy proximity to Downtown Seattle.

Wallingford Homes for sale: The Wallingford real estate market has been going pretty strong for homes in the neighborhood and I have seen some amazing listings pop up on the MLS. You might go visit our gorgeous listing on Wallingford Ave N if you haven't been by yet... 4333 Wallingford Ave N is a wonderful example of Seattle architecture.

If you would like a private tour of this Wallingford home or other Wallingford Real Estate, please feel free to get in touch with us - we are happy to show you anything on the market and can also offer tips on Wallingford homes that may be coming on the market soon.

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Nationwide Realtor Open House: Lake Forest Park

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:48:44 -0400

Lake Forest Park Open Houses:

This weekend is the big Nationwide Realtor Open House Event and I wanted to highlight the open houses being held for this great occasion:

Lake Forest Park: 19600 44th PL NE Come see this gorgeous secluded oasis in the city - open from 1-4 on Sunday

Soaring ceilings and walls of windows with treed surroundings just a hop and skip away form all that Seattle has to offer and right next to Horizon View Park. Deeded Beach Rights in the Lake Forest Park Civic Club!

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Wallingford Real Estate: Open House

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:44:28 -0400

This weekend is the big Nationwide Realtor Open House Event and I wanted to highlight the open houses being held for this great occasion:

In Wallingford from 1-4 on both Saturday and Sunday, 4333 Wallingford Ave N will be held open - come see this neighborhood gem ready to move in - large spaces with tons of charm!

You can check out all Wallingford Homes For Sale - we are happy to give you a private tour. The site sweeps the MLS for Wallingford Seattle homes every 15 to 20 minutes.

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Sunday Lake Union Floating Homes Open Houses

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:32:37 -0400

This weekend is the big Nationwide Realtor Open House Event and I wanted to highlight the open houses being held for this great occasion:

Sunday Lake Union Floating Homes Open Houses:

2764 Westlake Ave N, Houseboat D both Sat 1-4 and Sunday 1-4 in Westlake Cove

2025 Fairview Ave E, #E Sunday 1-4 on one of the Log Foundation docks

You can see all Seattle houseboats for sale as they are updated in the MLS. We sweep it every 20 minutes for all changes and can also get you additional info if you need it. In addition, there are great resources available on Seattle floating homes financing, various docks, moorage types, more.

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you are interested in purchasing a Seattle floating home. homes@SeattleAfloat.com 206-850-8841

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948

Sheridan Heights in Lake Forest Park

Courtney Cooper (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:44:48 -0400

Sheridan Heights in Lake Forest Park: Lake Forest Park is a Seattle Suburb on the North end of Lake Washington. This city offers some great waterfront living and wonderful views of Lake Washington and the mountains. Sheridan Heights is a great section of town - on the South end on Bothell-Everett Highway across from Sheridan Beach. Sheridan Heights homes enjoy deed beach rights if within the Sheridan Beach Club boundaries.

Sheridan Heights Homes Have Perks!

Residents of Sheridan Heights enjoy great schools, parks, and an abundance of beautiful scenery. There are always Seaplanes buzzing over Lake Washington on their way to and from Lake Union and Kenmore and lots of great boating activities to watch. Close proximity to the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre is just one more great convenience of living in this Lake Forest Park neighborhood. On top of that the Burke-Gilman trail runs right through Lake Forest Park along the water line for great cycling and other activities to the North and South.

Sheridan Beach Real Estate: If you are thinking about looking for a great view home in the close suburbs of Seattle, then Sheridan Heights in Lake Forest Park might be a great option. The homes are generally rambling with both ranch styles and one story with basements. There Is also some new construction - all the homes in Sheridan Heights are oriented towards the great beauty that lies just to the East of them: Lake Washington!

Homes in Sheridan Heights are generally more affordable than Sheridan Beach homes, but still enjoy perks of the Sheridan Beach Club plus bigger views in my opinion. Let me know if you would like to take a peek!

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More info? courtney@cooperjacobs.com 206-251-5948