Talk about building green! This website tracks all kinds of information regarding building green homes. The link below talks about a home designed with solar and spinach power! Check it out, it is pretty interesting.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/21/spinach-powered-house/
We are lucky to be in Seattle! Our area continues to defy the national real estate market trends.
Here is a bit about what has happened since 1990:
Homes appreciated every year, except two:
1992 – prices stayed the same.
2001 – prices declined a bit ( remember 9/11) – 2%
Top five years with the highest appreciation:
1998 - 21%
1997 – 18%
2005 – 17%
1999 – 14%
2006 – 13%
Inventory was much higher in the 1990’s than in the 2000’s.
It was not uncommon for much of the early 90’s to have 7000-9000+ properties for sale.
August, 1991 – 9546 homes were available
May, 2007 – 3584 homes are available, 2/3 less homes are available today
Even though we are at the highest amount of properties on the market since 2004 with 3500 properties available, our inventory levels are nothing like the 1990’s!
Hang on through the rest of this decade. We still have a lot of growth to come. The job market is still very strong and available land for new construction is limited. Expect appreciation to continue throughout the rest of the decade.
Kirkland real estate activity is performing very much like the majority of the Eastside. Most home sellers on the Eastside had a 30% chance of getting their homes sold. In May, Kirkland sellers, much like the rest of the Eastside, had a 31% chance of selling a home. The chances of selling were up just a hair by 1% from April's chances of selling a home. However, the chances of selling were down from last year, when 41% of the sellers received offers for their homes during the month of May.
Both inventory and sales have shot up. It is amazing to see the number of "For Sale" signs in The Highlands now when there was only a handful on the market in February. Fortunately, the number of sales has increased proportionately, so sellers chances of getting a home sold in The Highlands has been pretty constant this year.
If you look at my blog, http://www.eastsiderealestate.com/, you can see how all of the Seattle/Eastside real estate market is performing.
At my monthly networking meeting, Forum XXII, we heard from the Seattle Master Builder's Association about the Built Green program.
http://www.builtgreen.net/index.html
The website had a lot of terrific information about sources for "built green" materials, architects, builders, remodelers, and building standards. "Built green" is our new real estate buzzword. There is a growing emphasis on environmentally friendly building and the use of sustainable materials.
Our listings in the Multiple Listing Service will soon be able to reflect the "built green" status of a home. If a home is listed as "built green", the builders will have had to follow certain standards to achieve this status. "Built green" homes can range from a 2 star to a 5 star level. If a home is built to the 4 or 5 star standard, which has stringent requirements, all of the construction and materials must be independently verified. Certificates are issued to homes that meet these standards. In the future, home buyers will be able to search on line for "built green" homes.
Of the 10,000 new construction homes built in King County last year, only 15-18 were certified as the star 5 "built green" homes, the most stringent level of "built green" homes. Most of these homes were built by a builder in Seattle, Michele Rose.
Most homes categorized as "built green" are built to the 3 star level. Quite a few homes in Issaquah Highlands meet this standard. The Dwelling Company built a number of "built green" homes in the Highlands.
Some of the other builders mentioned who have built some "green" homes were Bennett Homes, www.bennetthomes.com. Bennett Homes is known for "built green" homes in Suncadia, on the other side of the Cascades. Other local builders range from some of the larger builders, such as Camwest, www.camwest.com and Chaffey Homes, www.chaffeyhomes.com, to high end custom builders such as Bender Chaffey, www.benderchaffey.com.
Some thoughts about building green:
Materials can be somewhat more expensive for "built green" homes, however, the cost savings for energy efficiency usually more than compensates for the initial building cost. Check out this website on federal tax credits for energy conservation:
http://www.dsire.org/
Other thoughts:
If you start from the get-go when building a home, it is far cheaper to build green than to start doing some add-ons.
Hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, such as tile. stay cleaner than carpet. It was recommended that main living area be finished with hard surfaces because many people wear shoes throughout their home. Shoes bring in all kinds of contaminents.
Ventilation has become so tight the air in homes can become stale and is not fresh.
The gasses from glues used during standard construction can be emitted for up to 30 years after construction.
These thoughts sure make one want to think of a healthy "built green" home!
What happened with real estate in the Highlands from March 1- May 31, 2007?
Highest priced sale: $1,134,000
Lowest price sale: $420,000
Total of 16 sales
$500,000 and under- 1
$500-750,000 - 5
$750,000-1,000,000 - 8
$1,000,000 and above - 2
----------------------------------------------------------------
Highest priced pending sale (not closed yet): $1,385,000
Lowest priced pending sale (not closed yet): $575,000
Number of pending sales: 6
$500,000 and below - none
$500-750,000 - 3
$750,000-1,000,000 - 2
$1,000,000 and above - 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest priced home on the market: $1,895,000
Lowest priced home on the market: $529,000
13 active listings
$500,000 and below - none
$500-750,000 - 6
$750,000- 1,000,000 - 4
$1,000,000 and above - 3
There are a number of properties that came up on the market after June 1st, so you will see more signs out in the neighborhood. There were about 6 new listings once June came on the horizon.
The Casady Construction home on 112th is the most expensive home ever in the neighborhood, priced at $1,895,000. It is a gorgeous home with a gorgeous view. Today as I drove by, I noticed the builder was planting trees to create privacy for the first floor. There is a deck off the master bedroom that has to have one of the best views in the Highlands.
Most of the real estate activity in the Highlands falls between the $500-1,000,000 price range. Clearly, there is far more for sale now than there had been during the first quarter. Again, a reminder for those of you who are thinking of selling in the future, there is usually less competition the first quarter of the year. Right now, the competition to sell is far greater than earlier this year, as there are so many more homes available in the Highlands.
Progress? What do you think about the proposed changes for Kirkland's Parkplace?
Doug Howe of Touchstone Development made a presentation at the last Highlands meeting on May 17th. The May 25-31st issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal also highlighted the proposed changes to Parkplace as one of its front page stories. Touchstone Development has an option to purchase Parkplace for a massive redevelopment project. Their plans include over 1 million square feet of office space, two hotels, increased retail, and open plazas for walking and sitting outside. Their hope is to extend 4th street south under the existing tennis courts as the new vehicle entry to Parkplace and to bring the parking underground. Eliminating above ground parking would add a huge amount of space for the proposed pedestrian friendly plazas and office/hotel/retail buildings. The proposal also includes building townhomes above the retail shops. Currrently, the zoning only allows for buildings to be 5 stories high. Touchstone Development is proposing the height limits be increased to 8 stories on the eastern perimeter of Parkplace. The buildings would step down in height from east to west. These changes would have to be reviewed by the City of Kirkland, as the development does not fit in with the city's current comprehensive development plan. (Look for meetings regarding Parkplace development and the comprehensive plan later this year.)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/05/28/story3.html. To read the full article, you must be a subscriber to the Puget Sound Business Journal.
At the Highland's meeting several concerns were raised about the propsed development. One neighbor was concerned about the impact of traffic on Central Way and Kirkland in general. Another resident voiced concerns about the current smaller independent retail outlets in Parkplace and how these retail stores were going to they fit with this new model. I was pleased the Business Journal spoke with Rebecca Willow of Kirkland's Parkplace Books. She was quoted as saying the redevelopment project would bring in office workers and more people to shop and dine.
On paper this sounds like a positive project for Kirkland. It would increase our class "A" office space, which is in great demand on the Eastside. More office workers would translate to more jobs in the central core of Kirkland and more people to to purchase goods from local retailers. A pedestrian plaza and underground parking would be a fabulous addition to the area.
On the negative side, would the local retailers be shut out? Would traffic become more of a nightmare downtown?
What are your thoughts?
Planning a kitchen remodel or just updating appliances?
The attached article will give you some great information about the newest kitchen trends for 2007. Some of the ideas really hit home with me.
When I show prospective buyers new homes, I constantly hear how everyone congregates in the kitchen. People want different spaces right in the kitchen. Home owners want places to read and store mail, plus sitting areas for entertaining guests and for relaxation. These spaces are not just in the family room anymore, but now are more incorporated into the kitchen.
Kitchen design is now looking at separate work stations throughout the kitchen, rather than the simple triangle work pattern with a path between the stove, refrigerator, and sink as points of a triangle.
I have some clients who are avid cooks and were way ahead in kitchen design with their kitchen remodel. They have a large U-shaped prep area with the stove, a work sink, refrigerator and abundant counter and storage space. The clean up area is on the other side of the kitchen and it has its own sink, the dishwasher, and cabinets for storing the dinnerware. The cabinetry for each area is even different. The prep area has light cabinets, while the clean up area had dark stained cabinetry. When I saw their kitchen about 6 months ago, it made an impression on me because it was so functional.
Storage is becoming more elaborate. Cabinet interiors are designed to store specific items such as pans and trays. Storage is also sleeker.
I saw a great example of sleek cabinetry at the Bellevue Towers condominiums being built in downtown Bellevue. Clients of mine purchased a new home in the complex, so I got to see the finish work first hand. The kitchen designs were just fabulous. So fabulous that I could not find the dishwasher or refrigerator easily, which is exactly the point! Both appliances were behind beautifully crafted cabinet doors that were flush with the rest of the cabinetry. The design was quite elegant and seamless. The kitchen designs had more to offer in smaller, sleeker spaces, and with a less cluttered look. (These kitchens made me want to go home and rip my kitchen out!)
http://www.bellevuetowers.com/
Sustainability is also more of a consideration. People are using more "green" materials, such as bamboo flooring. Not to tout Bellevue Towers again, but the condos are being "built green".
I was excited to see the concept of universal design, design for everyone of any age and any ability, mentioned in this article. With our aging population, everyone needs to rethink design and livability. Accessible cabinets and counters and levers instead of door knobs are all issues to be considered when designing a kitchen that works for everyone, regardless of age.
http://www.realtor.org/RMOArch.nsf/pages/ArchCoach200706?OpenDocument
Do you know whom to call in a disaster?
Do you know who needs help in the neighborhood in the event of a disaster?
Would you know where your neighbor's gas shutoff was if they were not home?
These are all important questions that Kirkland as a city, and the Highlands as a neighborhood, is hoping you can answer.
At the last Highlands Association meeting, several important issues were discussed, particularly about disaster preparedness. (In an earlier post, I mentioned I would be talking about disaster preparedness a lot in this blog.) There is a lot happening to increase individual training and preparedness for a possible disaster.
Here is what was discussed at the meeting:
Brian and Patty Henry, Highlands residents, talked about their CERT training experiences. They are now equipped to help in a major disaster. They have extensive first aid training, learned how to be support.
The city is continually sponsoring CERT classes and is working hard to have CERT trained citizens all through Kirkland. If you are interested, please contact Robin Paster at the City of Kirkland. Her telephone number is 587-3659.
MYN Program. Map Your Neighborhood Program, sponsored by the Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps.
In a disaster, plan to be on your own. Police and fire departments will be overwhelmed with larger problems. Mapping the neighborhood will give all of us the knowledge to help ourselves and each other. The goal of the program is for 15-20 homes in a neighborhood to work together during a disaster. The neighborhood group will be aware of those who may need additional help: the elderly, children, and the disabled, so people can all respond effectively.
This is a critical program for all of us. Sign up for the training program, you will be so much better equipped personally and for your neighbors. We do all need to help each other.
A training session is on June 13th from 7 Pm-9 Pm at the Peter Kirk room at the base of City Hall. Please confirm the date of the class with Nancy Smersh at 587-3663 or at the email below.
www.kirklandcitizencorps.org
Also, you can contact nsmersh@ci.kirkland.wa.us.
I spoke about the MYN program because of my involvement with the Senior Council. We are hoping to identify at-risk seniors who live in neighborhoods all around Kirkland. Our goal fits with the MYN program and is a great opportunity to determine who may need help.
If you have any questions about disaster programs, materials, training, please contact me. I will be spending a lot of time during this year learning about what the Senior Council and our neighborhood needs.
