Joseph R Hill

Every Wednesday homes for sale in Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, & Fremont are showcased for Brokers Open Tours - Here is my list of homes for sale in Ballard I will be touring today and why I like each one - at least from the photos!

1 - Who doesn't love a Blue House?  This little bundle of joy is the low price leader at $419,000 for 3 beds, 2 baths on a 3000+ sq ft lot, built in 1926 it oozes first time buyer charm!

2 - A classic brick Tudor style - with updates!  Priced at $435,000 this 1927 4 bedroom 1.5 bath sits on a 3780 sq ft lot and is in Phinney Ridge

3 - Just north and west of the bustle of Ballard sits this Red Door bedecked cape-cod, cute isn't it?  Selling for $469,950 it has 3 beds, 1.75 baths, and sits on a 4000 sq ft lot!

4 - Modern Style & NW wood accents set these new townhomes apart in Fremont - clocking in at about 1550 sq ft with 3beds & 3 baths, this sensible city chic lifestyle will set you back $515,000

5 - Charming will need a new photo by it in the dictionary - this completely updated 1928 home has 3beds, 1.75 baths, a 3750 sq ft lot and is a real heart-stealer!  Just $524,900

6 - The brightest 'cottage' I have seen in quite a while - updated, but still retaining some charm - it sits in Wallingford, has 3 beds, 1.75 baths - and is going for $559,000

7 - Stepping it up a notch, this LOVELY classic craftsman is also in Wallingford, sleeps the kids with 4 bedrooms, but just cleans up with 1.5 baths.  They lived a little bit simpler in 1916!  Location can't be beat - for sale at $565,000

8 - Move Up buyer?  Right around the corner from the previous house - this is stunning, also a Craftsman - this home lives luxuriously with complete updates & a cool modern nw feel inside - $749,000 gets you 5 beds, 2.5 baths, walkable neighborhood, & no remodel projects to do!

9 - If you are looking for something more 'authentic' than the last house - look no further!  This Craftsman stunner is completely upgraded and restored - a Green Lake gem, 3beds 2 baths and a 4000+ sq ft lot - get your checkbook out for $785,000 of prime location & convenience

10 - Last on on the tour today is this gracious water view high above Golden Gardens park - you get updates, formality, and fresh air for $999,000.  The 3 beds, 3.25 baths and HUGE HUGE 16,386 sq ft lot are pure bonus

Use this handy map search to start your own Ballard, Wallingford, Crown Hill or Freemont home search - then call or email Joseph when you spot something you like!

Use this link to take a closer look at all the details of these homes in Ballard above, or just call Joseph R Hill directly at 206.218.8448 for a private tour!

The 'buzz' right now about how the local Seattle Housing Market is starting to recover contains some good, some pessimistic, and some just plain confusing information. In an attempt to clear it up a bit I spent the morning putting together some graphs to illustrate the state - over time - of one of the areas of Seattle that I love: The greater Central Area. This encompasses not just the historically referenced Central District, but also, Capitol Hill, Madison Valley, Washington Park, Madison Park, Madrona, Leschi, and Judkins Park. Granted, within this area there are also several smaller neighborhoods, Some parts of this geographic area are much more expensive to purchase in than others. To compensate for that I have omitted any sales over $1,000,000.00 I know, not much fun - but doing this throws off the high outliers and makes these statistics for the Central Area much more sound.

Here is the area we are looking at:

This graph shows Median Sales Prices for Single Family Homes in Seattle Central Area from 2008 to Present

To summarize:

• We have seen MEDIAN Sales prices fluctuate from a HIGH of $528,000 for the 2nd quarter of 2008 to a LOW of $434,500 during the first quarter of 2010
• This is less than $1,000 difference from the first quarter of 2009, so it is fair to say that on a year-over-year basis pricing has been steady in the Seattle Central area for single family housing.
• We are holding our ground and are no longer classified as a 'declining market' by any lenders.

If you are thinking of moving up to the house of your dreams. Now really is the time. Inventory is good, especially in homes over $500,000 and prices of homes in this price range have taken bigger percentage hits valuation than houses under 500,000 did during the down-turn. As inventory sells out, (new inventory is hard to find - and will be nearly non-existent by the end of 2010) pricing may very well trend upwards... don't delay!

Now lets take a look at the number of sales or 'Sales Volume' for Seattle Central Area from 2008 to Present:

Do these numbers look interesting to you? They do to me!:

• Buyers like to buy when things are hot - and prices are high - this does not at first make sense but consider how a Buyer feels when the preception is that prices are falling. The last thing a Buyer wants is to purchase a home today, and have it be worth less in a few months time!
• This is why during the first quarter of 2009 - the quarter with the FEWEST SALES at just 72 - saw the bottom of the market price wise. (a statistical tie with first quarter 2010.
• Buyers were under the perception in the first quarter of 2009 that prices were falling faster than hot honey off a spoon, and stayed away. Conversely in the first quarter of 2010, Buyers saw that an entire year had gone by and prices were not any lower than they were a year ago, in fact they were higher for every quarter since the first quarter of 2009.
• In the first quarter of 2010 we actually saw a Sales Volume INCREASE year over year of 54%! This is mainly because pricing had stabilized long enough for Buyers to feel good about a purchase decision.

RED (Renew, Energize and Donate) Day is a Keller Williams Realty service initiative dedicated to improving our local communities. Keller Williams Realty associates in the US and Canada donate their time today to renewing and energizing aspects of their local communities. The Keller Williams Greater Seattle Market Center -my market center- will be assisting Seattle Parks & Recreation at GreenLake Park with new mulch & weeding of the 200 acre gem. Because of her constant commitment to the culture of our company, this day has been dedicated in honor Keller Williams Vice Chairman, Mo Anderson.

Our vision for this day is that all Keller Williams associates will actively engage in a coordinated effort to improve their local community. Activities may include rehabbing a house, cleaning up a local trail, providing food for the homeless, or any other service related activity needed in your community. This will be one of the single biggest events ever undertaken in the real estate industry.

Each Market Center was asked to identify and coordinate an activity which will have a visible impact on their local community and surroundings. We are confident that our efforts today at Green Lake Park by the Keller Williams Greater Seattle Market Center will embrace this opportunity for positive change while demonstrating KW culture and spirit to their community!

Keller Williams associates are digging in the dirt, painting houses, volunteering at homeless shelters, cleaning up the streets, and making our communities more livable, I am so proud to be a part of this fantastic organization.

Joseph R Hill

As the days get longer - and we long to be outside - it is important to remember that Summertime is when Burglary rates increase. Seattle Police have updated their Tip Sheet for Summer 2010. Thank you to the East Precinct officers Crime Prevention Coordinators Terrie Johnston and Benjamin Kinlow, and Mark Solomon for putting this sheet together!

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It is not unusual to see an increase in residential burglaries during the summer months. With the warmer temperatures, we want to open our windows and enjoy the fresh breezes. Unfortunately, these open windows and doors can be an opportune time for a burglar to strike We are still recommending

leaving your windows locked, especially when you are away from the house. If you absolutely need the windows to be open, find a way to pin the windows open (no more than four-inches). Putting a shorter dowel in the track of your sliding door/windows would work, and many of the vinyl windows have locks in the tracks allowing windows to be blocked yet open. Or pins can be purchased to screw onto the tracks of your windows.

Remember, that if you are in the back yard gardening or having a bar-b-que, you may not hear nor see someone slip into the front room. Keep your doors locked, even when you are home.

One Seattle burglar, recently arrested on Queen Anne told Burglary detectives that he likes to walk around the neighborhood during the day, merely looking into windows to see if there is any merchandise he wants. If so, this will be his next target. So I am now recommending leaving blinds down in the rooms that have your electronics; or your home office which might be home to your safe, mail, banking statements, etc.

Many of us have remodel projects during the dry weather. This brings strangers onto the block, with unknown vehicles and tools. As a result, neighbors can get complacent about strangers in the neighborhood, and consequently won’t report a possible burglar if they see one. Please remember you can use 9-1-1 to report suspicious activity. Be prepared to share details w/the call taker and explain what is abnormal in what you are reporting. Watchful neighbors remain your best alarm! Burglars like secluded backyards, so keep your shrubbery trimmed to allow neighbors natural surveillance.

If you will be gone on vacation please check that all doors and windows are securely locked before you leave. If you have an alarm system, make sure it is activated when you leave. Use automatic timers on interior lights. A timer can also be used on a portable radio. Photo electric cells screwed into the light socket of your front and back porch lights will “automatically” turn lights on/off depending on the level of darkness. Make sure items such as children’s toys, ladders, tools, lawn furniture, etc. are put away. Inform a trusted neighbor about your vacation plans. Your neighbor can gather newspapers, mail, etc for you during your absence. Have someone park their car in your driveway and use your garbage/recycling bins while you are gone.

If you want to participate in this year’s Annual National Night Out, please register your block on our website www.seattle.gov/police/nightout . If you would like to schedule a new Block Watch meeting, or re-kindle an older one, please contact me in the West Precinct at terrie.Johnston@seattle.gov or 206-684-4741. I also conduct free home security surveys if you are interested. I have more information to share with you and your neighbors.

Thats it - hope this helps keep your summer fun & burglar free!

Last night for Valentines I attended a benefit dinner for Rosehedge. Rosehedge is a non-profit that provides housing and 24 hour care to people living with AIDS who are not able to manage on their own. Rosehedge is a small non-profit, serving just 24 people on average during the year though thier three live-in homes in the Seattle Area.

I was amazed at the passion and humility everyone that is involved with Rosehedge displayed. These are people who could clearly demand higher wages in alternative for-profit ventures, yet are dedicated 100% to this population that is normaly thought of as 'un-touchables' - yes, we do have a few super low 'under-classes' living among us in the USA today, and in a small way, Rosehedge acknowledges, humanizes and physically and mentally helps to heal some of these people who have no-where else to turn, by bringing them off the streets and putting them in safe, warm surroundings with resources and an environment of caring creating ripples of positive impact simply too large to measure.

The Keynote 'MC' for the evening was Dow Constantine, King County Executive. He has 'MC'd' this fundraiser for the past three years, and I could tell that he was completely genuine in his support and he was also part of the humble team that helps Rosehedge move through the world.

Over the course of the evening about $55,000 was raised through silent auction items and through a moving 'raising of the paddles' event during dinner. I am so glad to have been able to participate last night, it was a perfect event to showcase the true meaning of Love, that when we love, we serve. Service to our community, even those that we would probably just as easily ignore, and pretend not to see, is a part of expressing that Love.