Localism: Edmonds, WA

Edmonds Real estate -Point Edwards Coming Along

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:44:48 -0500

Point Edwards is really coming along! This planned community in Edmonds Wa was once the site of giant oil tanks, but what a great improvement this is! Point Edwards is in the Southwestern corner of Edmonds WA just touching Woodway. This neighborhood offers sweeping views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains plus a nice salty sea breeze year round.

Are you interested in Edmonds real estate? realestate@cooperjacobs.com

Processing Change in the Real Estate Industry

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:12:35 -0500

As I survey the current real estate landscape I can't help but be fascinated by how people are and in many cases aren't adapting to the new rules of the game.

Surely as Sellers have come to find that positive equity is no longer a given, many of them are asking, "what the heck am I getting for the commission dollars I am being asked to pay?"

A very fair question and unfortunately, not a lot of good answers have been forthcoming. I have been trying to come up with some legitimate answers for most of a year now, answers I can share with my fellow Realtors through the ROCS Alliance as we begin the work of regaining the position of trust and confidence our industry fought hard to engender for many years. We somehow managed to piss it all away in short order when the free money started flowing and the internet offered up the spoils of anonymous commerce.

As things change there is a certain order to what comes next as we work our way through this. The Illustration above shows how the obstacles to change eventually synergize to actually coalesce the change.

The first noticeable change is going to come about regarding People. There will be fewer of them in the real estate business and that is all for the good. Too many people fighting over too few deals seems like a good thing for the consumer right up until the problems we face now are compounded by the hangers on who cut corners and even more people get hurt by poor representation in a tough market.

The Second change will be one of Process. The process by which we communicate, the process by which people make decisions, the process of securing financing and the process of accountability. Marketing for instance, is an art form that requires certain skillsets and is best left to professional marketing people. Sales are the other end of the elephant. If an agent is in the back room printing flyers or shooting photos on their digital camera to save money, they are already falling behind and selling the client short. The issue of investment and return on investment as it relates to the expense of proper marketing will become a more prominent part of the discussion in the agent selection process.

An finally, we will see a gradual but deliberate change in culture. Confidence will be the commodity held most dear in the marketplace. Confidence in the information being provided, confidence in the loyalty being proffered, confidence that the agent has a plan and a verifiable track record.

Unless an agent can instill confidence in the processes and people that he or she surrounds themselves with, the current culture of suspicion and distrust directed towards the profession will linger and the question will remain, "what do I get for the commision I am being asked to pay and what are my other options."

The survivors of this shift will be those that are not only agents of Real Estate, they must become agents of Change.

Edgar Winters is Back! At the Taste of Edmonds

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:11:43 -0500

You are probably eager to sample the different cuisines offered up at the various booths. Maybe order a gyro or a kabob and chase it down with a slice of pizza or maybe a rack of ribs.

Sure, and that is what The Taste is all about.

But were you aware that Edgar Winters is Back!

I didn't even know that he had left, or was ever here before.

Heck, I didn't even know that he was still alive!

Judging from his picture, I'm not sure that he still is. He always did look like he had one foot in the grave even back in the seventies, and I rememeber him really freaking me out when I saw his picture on album covers as a little kid.

As I further peruse the above picture, I'm not so sure that it's not really Chris Elliott in a bad wig warming up for a return to the Late Show with David Letterman.

My thought is this: Is the really the mascot that they want for a festival that celebrates the digestion of mass quantities of food?

Isn't he a little......anorexic looking? I mean, he looks like he hasn't had solid food since he had a hit record.

Which was a LONG TIME AGO.

Edgar (or Chris), mix in a steak with that diet and come back and see us next year.

My best,

LFM

Edmonds WA: My Favorite Greek Food!

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:57:54 -0500

Edmonds Wa is lucky enough to have Kafe Neo (best Edmonds Greek food!!!!)

My husband and I have been buying Greek food here for about a decade. They even cater and I had them cater our reception WAY BACK WHEN. It is a family owned restaurant with sit down dining or quick take out. If you are having a party or even a small dinner, give them a call and have them make the food for you. It is unbelievably good and worth it!

Lots of choices...

I like Kafe Neo for its great vegetarian choices, but the restaurant is just as set up to please all of my carnivorous family members. Edmonds has a lot of great restaurants - especially in the downtown Edmonds area, but Kafe Neo is not to be missed. Kafe Neo is my pick for best Seattle suburbs Greek Food!

Bonus? Dinner and live music every Sunday 5-8PM

Kafe Neo is located at 21108 Highway 99 in Edmonds Wa - Go try it out!

Are you interested in Edmonds WA real estate? realestate@cooperjacobs.com

PCC prepares to open in Edmonds with it biggest store yet!

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:11:38 -0500

PCC the nation's largest consumer owned natural foods cooperative is coming to Edmonds, and aside from a little oopsy over cutting three trees down to make way for a water cistern without a permit, things are on track for the store to open this fall in the Westgate neighborhood. They are taking over and renovating the building previously occupied by an Albertson store on the corner of 100th Ave. W. and Edmonds Way (SR 104). Somehow I think PCC willl be a good fit down in Edmonds!

The existing structure is being renovated to incorporate a wide range of eco-friendly features to position the store for LEED® Platinum Certification, a distinction awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for excellence in building design and operation. In fact, the trees that were cut down without a permit, were removed to make way for an underground water cistern that will store water for flushing the stores toilets and watering the plants. At 24,000 square feet it will be the largest PCC store to date and promises to have a huge selection of local and organic fruits and vegetables as well as a 100 percent sustainable service seafood counter, immense selection of artisan cheeses, organic olive bar and of course a great wine selection!

As of right now the projected opening for the new store is early September and is expected to add about 100 jobs to the local economy. I look forward to checking it out on opening day!

Jacquie Cliff - The Amazon Negotiator
Real Estate Agent, Loan Officer and Accredited Buyers Representative serving:
Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Seattle, Bellevue, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett, Snohomish, Kirkland and the surrounding areas!

Call me with any of your real estate questions at 425-773-3149 or email me at Jacquie@jacquiecliff.com anytime!