Ashley Berg *Seattle's Green Real Estate Agent*

I love Seattle Real Estate! Why? Because Seattle has so much character!!! I have been to many neighboring suburbs and have found rows and rows of subdivisions where each house is almost the exact replica of the one next door...or maybe the neighborhood is so dated it only hosts Tri-level homes. And I admit, I live in ones of those dated neighborhoods, housing mostly ramblers. But slowly and surely, it will start to diversify itself... just as soon as people start the needed phases of remodeling and updating.

Seattle has already been there and done that though....many times. Styles have come and gone. Some have stuck it out for the long run and through much love, still show the charm and authenticity of the original home. There is so much diversity and richness in this city, I just love it! My favorite homes are either old Craftsman or Ultra-Modern "Green" homes. Here I can find them next door to one another. You can have a small vintage Cape Cod on the corner, new townhomes next door, a large Craftsman next to that, a Modern loft home after that, and a commercial space on the other corner...ALL on ONE block!

So I guess what I am saying is that I like DIVERSITY. How boring would this world be if everyone had blonde hair and green eyes like me? I certainly wouldn't stand out in a crowd. Isn't that what we each ultimately want? To be individuals? And wouldn't we want the same for our homes? Well, I certainly do but then again I am not everyone...

...there are those who like to be a little more inconspicuous....a bit of a mystery...I should say. Perhaps those are the type of people who love to live in the rows of subdivisions I speak of. There are people that love them...obviously, since they are being built at the speed of light. Maybe the person that lives there is the type of person who doesn't lay it all out there on the first date. They hold themselves back and reveal a little bit of themselves at a time. Me, I always seemed to be the one who puked up all of my shortcomings on the first date just so I could get it off of my chest. Or maybe they are the person who prefers to live like their neighbor, leaving out that competitive....I am better-than-you attitude. Or maybe people truly love that sense of community since many of the subdivisions create wonderful amenities such as pools, playgrounds, sport courts, Fitness centers, beach or lake rights, golf, etc. Also, some gated communities offer the extra amenity of security.

I realize the world isn't black or white, how boring that would be huh? We all have our own likes and dislikes. One thing I am starting to learn as I grow older is that individuality is what makes the world go round. I used to try to force feed my beliefs to those around me, sometimes getting blue in the face when they "JUST DIDN'T GET IT!"...

But now I get it. I don't want everyone to like everything I like, or believe everything I believe, or act like I act.

I just wanna be me....and I appreciate that YOU ARE YOU.

So Seattle lovers and Suburb lovers and Country lovers=Diversity. Hooray for that.

As I go back and read this post, I realize that I was really rambling but I am gonna post it anyway. So thanks for listening.

One of my favorite intersections in Seattle is located in the Wedgwood neighborhood on 35th and 70th. It is the corner that boasts Grateful Bread Baking Company on one side of the street and Top Pot Donuts on the other. I eat here many times throughout the year. The funny thing is that I never leave my house with the intention to go to either of these places. It is more like it draws me there in an energy-pulling sort of way. I often find myself in that neighborhood viewing homes or visiting a friend. If I so much as drive by and see the large donut and the Grateful Bread sign, I will pull over. I almost always do. If it is a cold day I will go in for a bowl of soup and bread. Sometimes I will order a Chai or a coffee. I take my daughter with me on occasions. They have a great selection of cookies and baked goods. They offer sandwiches and quiche as well. It is one of those "home-cooked with wholesome goodness" places.

Then if I am feeling extra adventurous...I head over to Top Pot Donuts...Yummmmm!

Make sure to stop if you're in the neighborhood. You won't be sorry.

You know, I have always looked at those play areas in the mall and thought to myself how boring they looked. I guess I should eat my words, as it is one of my 23 month old daughter, Piper's, favorite places to go. I have to say, it isn't as bad as I thought. When it is cold or rainy out, the outdoor parks don't always sound so appealing. We know they don't mind, as they are running around and able to keep warm, but just standing there watching can get quite chilly. So, on those days, we have found the indoor play area at the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, WA to be quite delightful. My daughter loves being with other children her age and loves to climb. This place is perfect for her and it allows me to grab a cup of joe and just sit and relax.

Well, except for those moments when my little dare-devil pushes her limits....

As usual, I set out today to do my weekly rounds of getting to know what is on the market. As a Certified Ecobroker, my passion is Green Real Estate. How can you not love something that is better for the environment? After all, as a mother, it is my duty to try to leave this earth a better place than when I found it. In that regard, I have a strong belief in the good of building green and of the importance of educating my clients, in hopes they too will see the benefits of living green.

Getting a 5 Star Built-Green certification is no easy task. Of the 25 5-Star homes in King and Snohomish county, 19 of them are by Martha Rose, a pioneer in sustainable building. As I pulled in the driveway of her new development, Queen City Eco-Village at the Homestead, on Greenwood Ave N. in Shoreline, Martha was actually there working on the landscaping. She came right up to me and introduced herself, letting me know if I had any questions, that she was the builder. Lucky me, I thought to myself, to meet someone that I hold with such high regard. Her work is amazing and I encourage each and everyone of you to go and take a look.

It is up to us working in the Real Estate community to educate our buyer's about the benefits of living green. Living in a Martha Rose home is like living in the Cream-of-the-Crop.

Yes, you heard me correctly. Mountlake Terrace, WA is revitalizing their downtown. I bet most of you didn't even know there was a downtown. Or there are some of you that have been there and laugh, thinking to yourselves "They call that a downtown!" Yes, as a resident here in Mountlake Terrace, the latter expressed my opinion. But with reasonable home prices and and easy commuting to Seattle, it is a great choice to buy a home.

Commuting will get even better with the new Transit Station that is currently being built and is set to finish in the first quarter of 2009. The Mountlake Terrace Transit Station will have a four-story, five level parking garage with a capacity of 660 cars. The parking garage is being constructed on the lower portion of the old Park & Ride along I-5. The city is renovating the upper parking lot to accommodate 230 cars, for a total about 890 spaces.

The facility will include large shelter areas, a glass elevator, landscaping and many security features. This project is being coordinated with Sound Transit's Freeway Station that will connect to the MLT Parking garage by a pedestrian walkway that will bridge over the freeway. A definite commuter upgrade!

Being a member of the MLT community, I recognize the importance of supporting locally owned businesses. I do, however, feel a bit guilty as I tend to go to Lynnwood to do most of my shopping. I know this is not putting money back into the MLT economy and perhaps this is why our downtown is a good example of what some may call a "sleep town." I would love to have more options. We did just get a new Thai restaurant and this made me HAPPY, HAPPY! So, I am pleased to say that I think a new town center will definitely create new energy and revitalize this "diamond in the rough" town. If there are any future home buyers out there frustrated by pricey Seattle homes...you should definitely consider Mountlake Terrace. Hey, you never know, we could be the next Mill Creek. Just look at home prices there and the impact their town center has done for their community. Or maybe I shouldn't be giving away my secret and I should just start buying up properties all over town and cash in when the MLT town center is fully developed and prices start going up. :) You should know, I am joking. My job as a Realtor is to help my clients to make good investments and I think MLT is a great future investment. However, I believe it is a great LONG-TERM investment. MLT will not revitalize itself overnight but even now it is a great place to live. We also have wonderful parks and an award-winning recreation center that boasts an awesome pool!

A passage from the Community Livability Chapter in the City of Mountlake Terrace's Comprehensive Plan reads...

"Imagine the Future...At the heart of the neighborhood--and the community--is the town center (or downtown) a central pedestrian-oriented business district. "Town Center" is a thriving and vibrant area, where many business/residential buildings are located. New development is compact and walker-friendly, similiar to a traditional downtown. Businesses include restaurants, coffee shops and local services, as well as retail and offices. Parking is adequate but not visually dominant from the street. People can easily hop on transit to connect to other destinations. Attractive landscaping brings in greenery and helps absorb rainfall..."

Sounds wonderful to me! I can hardly wait.