From 40th to 80th between Greenlake and I-5 Freeway is one of the most desirable locations in the Seattle area. This area is full of homes with a high walkscore, near Greenlake which is a fantastic place to walk, bike, take your dog. And just around the corner you can find the Mighty O Donut shop, with organic whole grain, mighty delicious donuts full of vitamin "D" (for donut). Flavors like Peanut Butter and Jelly, French Toast, and don't forget the mini donuts and the donut holes! Our friends The Hayburnersturned us on to them. Thanks Dave and Jennifer! (They are some of our good musical friends--as in good music AND good friends!)
Also take a look in the Meridian Market--it's a nice neighborhood market with some upscale selections along with basics for quick pick up.
Homes in this area range from $324,900 to $1,100,000. Many are new construction, and there are also turn of the century Craftsmans, townhomes, mid century homes as well as modern built green homes. Currently there are 51 residential listings and 5 condo listings from $225,000 to $435,000. Ask us for a current list, no problem!
Go to Mae's for Breakfast--in Phinney Ridge. Our artist friend and client Kathy decorated the bathrooms there with maps and 3 dimensional pieces like plastic pears and flip flops attached to the walls. Gotta see it! She's the owner's friend so we've eaten there with her a few times.
The food is good old fashioned breakfast, with lots of options, and the decor is funkalicious. One room is all about cows, and one is about Elvis. It's often crowded, which is a great sign of good food in Seattle.
The Seattle area offers many home shows throughout the year. Larry and I took in the Home Improvement Show at the Convention Center. There we entered lots of contests, signed up to have someone out to bid replacement gutters for our home, and met vendors with many new products for improving homes. In no particular order:
Window coverings by Nancy Stock at Residential Solutions
V-Kool window film for UV protection
Leaf solution gutters
Puget Sound Solar Electric systems
Re-Bath--fit over your existing bathtub
N Compass construction company remodelers
Builder Showroom--see kitchen styles to choose from
REM sleep solutions -- beds and sleep products
Solatube -- these are cool! Use natural light from a tube through the ceiling.
Solar Star attic fans -- NW Natural Lighting
Conner Remodeling and Design
Walk-in Bathtubs
WESSCO Blinds
EPA -- Lead poisoning info for renovators
Seattle Design Build -- we build sun into Northwest Homes
Natural Stone Veneers
Masterheat -- radiant floor heating
And this was just a sampling!
Larry and I have contact info for all these vendors, and oh so many more. Just give us a call!
Glassybaby in Madrona -- Larry and I had fun talking to the folks in the shop at Glassybaby -- Erin showed us around and told us about their product. They make glasses. Simple! These beautiful little jewel glass nuggets have been featured in Martha Stewart, and more than 50 other publications. The story is that the owner, Lee Rhodes, after fighting a rare form of cancer, decided to learn how to blow glass, and glassybaby was born. There's much more to the story on their website--just click the link above.
Used as votives or drinking glasses, these handblown cups are made in many wonderful colors, and with a small votive candle placed in the bottom, the warm glow is for your calm and serenity-making at home. Or the slightly bigger version is for drinking from.
The Madrona location is where the glass is blown, and you can watch glassblowers handcraft them right there in the showroom.
Store Mon-Sat, 10-6 Sun, 10-3 3406 East Union Street Seattle, WA 98122 ph: 206-568-7368 fax: 206-985-4500
Are You Sure You Want to Buy, or Sell, FSBO (For Sale by Owner)?
Ask yourself if it's worth the risk......
During the summer of 2008, I had a client contact me to let me know he decided to pursue a home purchase being offered "FSBO," otherwise known as 'For Sale By Owner.' Of course I didn't take this as the best of news. I responded by saying I respect whatever decision he chooses to make yet I'm here to help regardless and thanks for the opportunity to be of service. In addition, I felt obliged to bring a few things to his attention, to help him make an informed decision, which is part of what being a good Realtor is all about.
Now unless a person is a Real Estate professional, someone who works in an associated industry, is an Attorney specializing in real estate law, or a seasoned investor to possibly include builders and developers (to name a handful) I wouldn't suggest purchasing a property through a "For Sale by Owner" scenario. If you have, or are currently considering going this route, below are a few things to ask yourself and keep in mind.
1. How does one truly arrive at what is a fair price for a property without the assistance of a Real Estate professional? Sure, we are in an age of computers, people can pull flyers from other properties in a neighborhood as well as even consult comparable properties listed in local newspapers. In today's market however, looking at "Active" comparables is not sufficient. What one needs to know is, what comparable properties have recently sold for, as well as where properties are priced which are currently under contract. Will someone attempting to buy For Sale By Owner, be able to negotiate the best possible deal? If one isn't a professional, my experience w/ sellers in particular utilizing such tactics is they often are unrealistic about their price. As a seller, what's the time frame/how soon does the property need to sell? If one doesn't have a Realtor heavily marketing and drawing traffic to the property resulting in a good and acceptable offer coming to the table in a timely manner, will the additional months of mortgage payments being made justify the savings of not employing a Realtor or offering a commission in the first place?
2. For any sellers considering offering your property FSBO, some websites designed to provide a fair market value are more often than not, WAY OFF with their 'estimates' on property. So for buyers, this could work to to ones advantage, or provide an unrealistic value to ones disadvantage. Now if I were in contact with a seller who was considering the FSBO route, I'd of course be happy to prepare a CMA (Competitive Market Analysis) and even visit the property to point out things which would help them succeed with their efforts to sell 'For Sale by Owner.' I hope that if their attempts to sell on their own were unsuccessful, they would do the honorable thing if it comes time to list w/ a Realtor, providing me with the first opportunity. I'd also encourage sellers to offer a commission to a buyers agent to attract increased activity and also get some added protection and guidance since when I've represented buyers in the past on FSBO transactions, there are indeed duties I've performed which would have been part of the listing agents responsibilities, had the seller contracted one. If a seller does succeed w/ their FSBO efforts, I also hope they'll remember to refer me to others they know looking for a Realtor based on an appreciation for my contribution, recognizing any value I contributed to their success and or experience.
3. It is not uncommon for there to be items listed on a title report where, unless one is familiar with what they are and what they translate into for Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, a good chance exists one may get themselves into a regrettable situation. Now laws vary from state to state but on the federal level, they are the same. I've done business in both Hawaii and Washington (and I know Hawaii laws are modeled after California). Based on these experiences, our contract forms are designed to hold sellers accountable and more often than naught, to protect a buyer. Without using state association approved forms, a seller is not as at risk for liability. I would definitely question where the seller is headed (for instance, if leaving the state - for any buyer working without a Realtor, this may be a 'red flag'). At the very least, one will want a real estate attorney to review everything. For me personally, I have an escrow company I like to work with who also specializes in real estate law....even though escrow is to be a neutral third party, this is a nice 'perk' for me and my clients.
Here is a first hand, true life example to support why one would want to use a Realtor. In January of 2006, I wrote an offer on a new construction home on 2.8 acres (approx 120,000 sq ft) in Monroe. Once I received and reviewed the title report, I noticed ALL but less than half of one acre (approx 20,000 sq ft) of the property was NGPA or "Native Growth Protection Area." Legally, for my clients, this translated into them not being able to landscape, ride ATV's, have grazing animals etc on the majority of this property. Once I brought this to their attention, they decided they didn't want the property and were able to back out, based on the contingency time frames (another reason for working w/ a Realtor, to know what needs to happen when so as to not be out of contract). Anyway, getting back to my example, my clients backed out, got their earnest money back and we were done w/ the seller and his agent and that property.
A year later, another agent from my office at that time, acquired a new listing and I noticed it was the same property I had rescinded the contract on for my clients a year earlier. The seller of that property had decided not to work any longer w/ real estate professionals and to attempt selling FSBO. Obviously, there are rare occasions, these attempts do actually succeed. So I found out from my fellow Realtor friend w/ her new listing, her client had bought the same property directly through the seller not knowing the issues regarding the majority of the property being NGPA. As it turned out, there were also issues regarding placement of the septic system which I hadn't yet discovered since with my experience with this property, I hadn't yet pulled the county "as built" for the septic system design....the NGPA issue was enough to know it didn't make sense for my clients to go any further. So anyway, her client ended up buying the property thinking it was a great buy and he was going to "flip it" for a profit and so employed her to be his listing agent. Having bought it FSBO, he was unaware of these other issues and a year and a half later still had not sold the property. As far as I know, the FSBO buyer of this property (who has tried to sell) has not taken any legal recourse.
5. Lastly for a buyer to keep in mind, sometimes a Seller who has decided to go FSBO mainly to try and save on commissions, may still be willing to pay a commission to a Buyers Agent. If they aren't offering what is known as "courtesy to broker" (willing to pay a commission to a Realtor), usually they will if the offering price reflects it (if they won't, I'd question if they might have something to hide!).
I'm not attempting to intimidate or scare any readers but to make people aware there are benefits to employing an ethical Realtor, who will "have your back" so to speak when it comes down to purchasing (and selling) a property. As stated in the example, someone who is not working w/ a Realtor could be attempting to hide something and a buyer who is not experienced w/ the process or what to look for could be putting themselves at financial risk.
posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2009
For Sale By Owner - Permanent Link
Uwajimaya, the largest Asian grocery and gift store in the Pacific Northwest is 81 years old and still going strong. Founded by Fujimatsu and Sadako Moriguchi in Tacoma back in 1928. the family perservered and re-established after WWII's internment of Japanese-Americans. After being released from Tule Lake Internment Camp, the family sold fish cakes from the back of a truck to local Japanese farmers and laborers. Now, it is still run by the Moriguchi family's four sons, three daughters , many grandchildren, and over 400 employees, but since 2000 from it's new 66,000 square foot flagship store, it envelopes three whole city block on 5th Ave South in the International District. The store boasts one of the largest fresh fish tanks in the Northwest with an impeccably fresh selection of seafood, produce and meats. Almost any imaginable Asian food item and everything in between can be found here. Variety ranging from rice cakes to ramen, bakery to tofu, seaweed, sakes, wines, dishes, and even appliances.
As an owner of a Japanese restaurant, Uwajimaya, named after the Japanese fishing village of the founders, remains an indispensible resource for all of us. Twenty years ago, I would shop there daily, before many fish purveyors delivered to restaurants, and purchase just enough fresh fish for my daily business needs. In doing so, I created a bond with many family and staff members that are still there. It is like coming home for me everytime that I walk into the doors. On one memorable evening, when the founder's son Tomio Moriguchi came to my restaurant Toyoda Sushi for dinner, I went to greet him and he said with a grin, ..."They tell me that you are our best customer...". I am always greeted warmly by Tomio and his sister Tomoko Moriguchi Matsuno and my dear friends in the Seafood Department. Tomio handed over the CEO seat to sister Tomoko in 2007 after more than 40 years at the helm. For forty years that I can remember, it has always had a special place in my heart for my family and I. It is a tradition that gives comfort and so much more to Seattlelites from not only Japan, but all over Asia as well as locally. Uwajimaya is a great hub of Asian food and cultures, and the corporation has given back so much to the community in the form of donations and support of the arts such as the Wing Luke Museum. I bow with respect and honor to my favorite local grocery store in Seattle!
On January 8 my family and I finally made our way through out the door and into the car on a long trip to Westport, WA after numerous attempts. We had been planning to make this trip for months but something would always prevent us from getting there, like a job, technical problems with the car, baby sickness, etc.
You will not believe it...but halfway through the journey, in Olympia, we got a phone call that the roads were closed and we had to turn around. Always check traffic news and weather forecasts before you leave for anywhere...I mean 'anywhere'. Even if it is just 15 miles away from your house the trip back home might take you a good long three hour drive at a half a mile per hour speed. That's what happened to me on the way back from a grocery store when I had to take a detour because of R169 being closed due to the flooding. You are really lucky if you don't have a very important meeting or job interview that day! Let's be careful out there!!!
The Seattle Gov Site gives these resources numbers for reporting flooding:
During severe weather, call (206) 386-1800 to report flooding and sewer backups
24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
AnastasiyaMoshofsky Real Estate Professional (253) 315-9628
We discovered Volunteer Park Cafe while helping one of our clients get his townhome on the hill last summer. Larry took me to the Park itself, (here's our tour of that landmark if you need a little bit of last summer and some flowers to look at), and since we were hungry we thought we'd try this little place we saw in the neighborhood on the corner of Galer and 17th. I think Larry will have his own words about this place, and the food, but I'll do my part now.
Best for you to just know that it's there, and really worth visiting for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Every time we go it's so delicious. For instance, we had a pear and chevre cheese pizza along with a salad that was just a perfect accompaniment. We look forward to some weekend morning when they serve Pear Brioche French Toast. Doesn't that sound great?
It was a grocery store in the day with delivery service, now a bakery and restaurant with lovely wait staff, great chefs and a menu that refreshes seasonally. Not your garden variety cafe. They grow their own produce in their backyard as well as buying local. They have a definite commitment to community, utilizing local sources as well as providing a local community place to meet and enjoy food. The center table in the place is one long table that can seat several parties, which encourages conversation, and there are tables around the perimeter as well as outside in good weather.
OK, this isn't the meatiest blog post you will ever read.... but I like clouds and there were some wonderful ones over Sam's Club in North Seattle last week. Shared here with you!
Sam's Club at 125th and Aurora, is similar to Costco, a warehouse/bulk buying setup with a membership based clientele. We belong to it primarily because they offer $4 prescriptions. We get roasted chickens there, cat food, and even though it's just the two of us at home, we do buy some things including business supplies in bulk. SAM'S CLUB
BUT you can't buy clouds individually OR in bulk, they come free with this blog post or in person only!
The University of Washington is one of the best Universities to attend in the North West for Undergraduate,Graduate,and post Graduate studies and Research. Locally in Seattle theUniversity of Washington, is called the UW, pronounced U-Dub. My youngest sister Arrianna,came up from Los Angeles,CA for a visit a few weeks ago to take the University of Washington Freshmen Information Sessions.
She plans on studying Anthropology,one of the reasons that attracted her to the University of Washington was the fact that the UW is one of the top research institutions in the nation. She signed up for one of their weekly freshmen information sessions, called the Programs for Prospective Freshmen and a 90 minute guided tour. This was a special program created to give potential freshmen and their families an inside look at their admissions process and what the University of Washington has to offer. For incoming freshmen the UW offers a very unique program just for freshmen. It is called the Early Fall Start program. It gives incoming freshman a chance to make the transition to college early, meet other incoming freshmen, and learn their way around the very large campus at the UW.During that month before the Autumn quarter starts, freshmen can participate in one of 25 Discovery Seminars, which are small classes just for freshman; that cover a range of topics such as art, music, geology, literature, history, philosophy,cultural studies,etc. They are 5 credit, 4 week courses designed to give freshman a taste of what is to come during the regular school year.
Another program that is available only for freshmen is called the Freshmen Interest Group, otherwise known on campus as FIG. FIG is basically a small cluster of freshmen (20-25) that share the same academic interests and share the same cluster of 3 or 4 courses their first quarter at the UW. It is unique because it creates a social support network and a learning community for freshmen since they are new and may not have too many friends. The UW offers more than 160 FIGs in the autumn, which covers a rangeof interests and topics.Other programs offered are Freshman Seminars, University Honors Program, and Phi Eta Sigma.
Overall the Program for Prospective Freshmen was informative, and the campus tour not only introduced parents and potential students to the beautiful campus, it offered a heads up on all of the opportunities for freshmen.From experience, starting a big University, can be very overwhelming and scary, especially since your parents, friends and family will not be around.
The University of Washington offers unparalleled support for their freshmen and think ahead with these unique programs.My sister sent in her application before she left and we will be anticipating an acceptance letter this spring.
A few facts:The UW is the number one public institution for attracting the most federal research dollars, for their research programs.At the UW students can have access to and take advantage of their large array of academic opportunities.From picking a major, to student research, to finding a great job opportunity, or if a student was looking for challenging courses, or if they were interested in studying abroad.The University of Washington offers many resources that can help students take advantage of a variety of opportunities from one of the nation's top Universities.
The UW Vision Statement:
The University of Washington educates a diverse student body to become responsible global citizens and future leaders through a challenging learning environment informed by cutting-edge scholarship.Discovery is at the heart of our University.We discover timely solutions to the world's most complex problems and enrich the lives of people throughout our community, the state of Washington, the nation, and the World.
For more information on any of the above listed programs, just click on the links or click
University Village, the very ritzy outdoor mall of the even ritzier Laurelhurst, has the feeling and atmosphere of a fancy mall, but is set on 24 acres of a beautifully landscaped and decorative outdoor venue. In between Laurelhurst, The University of Washington, Bryant, and the neighborhood that we now call Univeristy Village, it is a center so festive in the winter with holiday glitter and lights, and so inviting in the summer when moms, kids and families relax in strolling weather. Indeed, it feels like a quaint village on the outskirts of town at first glance, with coffee shops, book stores and specialty boutiques galore. But upon closer inspection, you realize that these are not you regular run of the mill mom and pop stores. These are the grandest of upper crust flagship chains, from Crate and Barrell, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware, to Barnes and Nobles, Anthropologie, and Banana Republic. Built in 1956 as a simple local mall atop what used to be wetlands and marshlands, University Village changed hands in the 1990's and metamorphised into a gleaming example of a metropolitan shoppers delight. No need for the elite of Windermere, Laurelhurst and Washington Park to make the long trek to the downtown department stores when their very own uptown mall resurrected just around the corner. It is definitely not the University Village of decades ago, when hardward stores and garden centers were the norm. Now, even the QFC flagship store looks shiny and new!
Stop on in before or after a game of football, basketball or other sports event at Husky Stadium. The University of Washington and Stadium is just a stone's throw away. And if you work up an appetite, don't miss the Zao Noodle Bar, Atlas Foods, and The Ram Cafe. Quick and student friendly places for comforting food. If watching sushi whirling around on a conveyor belt strikes your fancy, University Village has Blue C Sushi to amuse you. Fast and healthy, a good alternative to the common fast food choices. (We are not talking Toyoda Sushi in Lake City, but it will do in a pinch.) And for you chocolaholics anonomous, (of which I happen to be a proud member of) nothing quite compares to the velvetty rich, oh-so-delicate flavors of the handmade European chocolates at Fran's. They are not as sweet as American chocolates, but much smoother and more buttery. Thus, they are best eaten when fresh. Of course, if you must, Kidd Valley and Burgermaster keep good company with McDonald's nearby for the burger fixated crowd. Something for everybody at the new and glamourous University Village!
From 40th to 80th between Greenlake and I-5 Freeway is one of the most desirable locations in the Seattle area. This area is full of homes with a high walkscore, near Greenlake which is a fantastic place to walk, bike, take your dog. And just around the corner you can find the Mighty O Donut shop, with organic whole grain, mighty delicious donuts full of vitamin "D" (for donut). Flavors like Peanut Butter and Jelly, French Toast, and don't forget the mini donuts and the donut holes! Our friends The Hayburners 
turned us on to them. Thanks Dave and Jennifer! (They are some of our good musical friends--as in good music AND good friends!)
Lynette Hensley
Store
Washington
