About Seattle's Central District

I spent the day with an investor looking at single-family homes for sale in the Central District. As we were looking at what was for sale, we were also keeping our eyes open for "For Rent" signs, so she could call and check what was available and what other landlords were charging. Amazingly, we didn't see any.

Well, so much for my recommendation to new landlords about how to find rental rates! This made me wonder... why no signs? Does it mean there are no rentals available in the area, or does it mean landlords don't like posting signs for some reason? Perhaps they don't want vandals to know they have an empty unit? Are they afraid the Occupy people will occupy their property? Perhaps they simply have better ways to find tenants.

My experience is that "For Rent" signs are a great way to find potential tenants. But, Craigslist.com has quickly taken over that role, so perhaps there is no need for signs anymore. What do you think? got any ideas?

(Reposted from my Tellus Real Estate Solutions Blog - www.tellusre.com/blog)

When searching Seattle real estate, you will find a plethora of options regarding condos. Should you be inclined to purchase Seattle property in the form of a condo, the choices and price points are astounding.

Seattle condos for sale vary in price point depending on the amenities you require. There are spectacular locations with panoramic views demanding the highest dollar our market will bear.

Steel and concrete for noise resistance, high-rise units facing the bay, mountain ranges, lake, city lights, sometimes in multiple combinations, secured entry, concierge, underground parking and rooftop gathering spots are all incorporated into some of the Seattle condos for sale.

Your Seattle Real Estate Experts

Seattle condos for sale

It's Friday afternoon in the city (July 9, 2010). It's an absolutely beautiful day and @ 85 degrees. I'm headed out of the Eastlake neighborhood just after 5:00 PM. I mentioned it was Friday, right? City traffic is rush hour jammed so over the hill, Capitol Hill that is...

I have it down now after five months of working in the city again. Left down the alley out of our building, up Lynn St, right on Boylston. As I approach the freeway entrance I have about 5 seconds to make up my mind, "Freeway or over the hill?" I know over the hill means about an hour to get home at this time of the day. I gage my decision quickly weighing time verses enjoyment.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0... and over the hill. Lakeview Avenue it is, up Belmont and Roy pass my old Alma Mater, Cornish Institute (now Cornish College of the Arts). Right on Boylston, left at Mercer, up to 12th and take a right. Most days I stay on 12th through Chinatown and over Beacon Hill. Today I'm curious and take a left at Union and head up the hill to Martin Luther King Jr Way. I opened title orders this week on a couple of listings in the neighborhood and I want to check them out.

I'm having a good time enjoying the weather, windows are down, music is playing, I pull up to the red light at Cherry St and OMG THAT SMELLS AWESOME! I'm instantly overwhelmingly starving. I look right and there it is, Catfish Corner.

I seriously have to try this place!

Note to self: This is a Yelp review just waiting to happen!

Why do 4 day work weeks seem longer?

There's a lot of change around here in the past couple of years. A lot of new housing and commercial development. It was a little startling to have a train pass me in the left lane. There's a curb, but it didn't feel like it.

What a great way to end a week. I helped a lot of clients, had some great conversations, launched another video, did my duty, the weather's fabulous, and today I'm loving that Friday afternoon attitude, "I've got the whole weekend ahead of me."

From: The Blackberry Chronicles

© ARFCO Media 2010

Karaoke Bar Central District Seattle - During the couple of times in the year where Monday is a national holiday I find myself being drawn from my North Seattle home to arguably my favorite karaoke bar in Seattle, the Twilight Exit. After moving from it’s 2nd location on 2328 E Madison (where Oscars used to be) to it’s recent location at 2514 E Cherry St the Twilight Exit was able to keep the same neighborhood hipster dive bar atmosphere that I loved about it in the first place. Entering from the side of the building you immediately feel as if you’ve walked into your best friends rec room. With vintage lampshades, shuffle board, pin ball machines, a PHOTO BOOTH(!), a patio, strong drinks, great food (check out the chicken fried bacon or awesome tater tots) & it turns into the best karaoke bar on Sunday nights, it’s hard not to fall in love with this hole-in-the-wall, laid watering hole.

 

With everything from the Andrews Sisters to Lady Gaga, Magic Knight Karaoke turns every karaoke bar into a place where every singer can be made to feel and sound lovely and talented (well, as lovely and talented as the sound system can). The host Steve the Karaoke King has an impressive knowledge of his selection & takes the time to adjust the volume, the echo or other technical features on the machine (which are beyond me) to make sure that the sound is great for every singer (if only every host would provide that)!

Steve the Karaoke King does a really great job at managing the crowded karaoke bar on Sunday nights by trying to get everybody up to sing & the bartenders handle the busy karaoke bar professionally by making the drinks quickly & getting the food out of the kitchen when it’s ready. The regulars who hover around the bar are easy to talk to and no matter how crowded it is around there they always make room for new arrivals (old friends & new faces). 

 

 

 

Even though I’m not there every week, some things never change. I can always count on it staying the same hipster dive that I fell in love with when I first walked in, the food is always consistent (and the new Saturday & Sunday breakfast menu sounds awesome! Can you say hormone-free and free-range breakfast items?), the regulars stay regulars & Sunday night transforms into the best karaoke bar in not only the Central District, but in town!

 

The Twilight Exit
2514 E Cherry St
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 324-7462

 

 

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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.