Farewell to The Dinner Train

We bid a fond farewell to The Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. It has been a Highlands neighborhood fixture since 1992. I have lived in the neighborhood since 1994 and seen many a train go right by. The train is a bit of history, a bit of the past.

When the train goes by, I could always count on a few people hanging out and waving to me. I cannot tell you how many evenings we have sat on our deck and commented on whether the train was full that night.

Here is to a neighborhood pleasure and an icon. I am sorry to see you go. All the best in Tacoma....

Is the 3 Way Swap To Turn Our BNSF Rail Line Into A Trail Dead?

On Friday, The Seattle Times reported a possible change to the three way swap/cash deal for the airport and BNSF railroad between King County and The Port of Seattle. The deal has been in the works for quite sometime, in fact, in an earlier article I wrote this month, I talked about the BNSF dealing with only the county at this point.

A little history here...last fall King County Executive, Ron Sims, and the then Port of Seattle Commissioner, Mic Dinsmore, announced plans for the 3 way swap. The rail line, BNSF, would sell the 33 mile rail line from Renton to Woodinville to the county with the help of some cash from The Port. The County, in turn, would give Boeing Field to the Port of Seattle. The Port would also gain some waterfront land on which rail lines could be built to help The Port grow Seattle's shipping industry to compete with other west coast cities.

It sounded like a terrific deal. For those of us in The Highlands, having a walking/biking trail next to The Highlands would be a great asset to the neighborhood.

The latest wrinkle in the plan appeared last week when the new commissioner, Tay Yoshitani, mentioned in a speech that The Port was not interested in purchasing Boeing Field. There is concern that Boeing Field would take on commercial flights and compete with SeaTac Airport. According to the new commissioner, The Port may be interested in managing Boeing Field, but not purchasing it. Mr. Yoshitani still thought it was a good idea for the rail line to be sold to the county, the public. Of course, new negotiations will ensue.

What are your thoughts about this new wrinkle? Has anyone talked with the county or have any other information about the rail line. Oops, gotta go, here comes The Dinner Train on one of its last Eastside runs.

Cars, cars, and more cars in downtown Kirkland's Classic Car Show

In the Northwest there is a law that it cannot rain from July 5th to Labor Day. Apparently, that law was broken this past week since we had lousy weather. It felt more like early spring than summer. This was a problem, because July is a great month to attend festivals and shows around the area.

Fortunately, the clouds did not open up on Sunday afternoon and we were able to attend the car show in downtown Kirkland. The downtown streets were blocked off for all kinds of cars.

There were cars that conjured up images of Dillinger riding around Chicago, to Model T's and the pink Mustang from the 60's, to the Cadillac's with wings.

There were even a couple of custom built cars that looked like they came straight out a movie like The Great Gatsby.

This was a great show and a lot of Kirkland summer fun. This town really goes out of its way to have some fabulous outdoor events. Did you have a favorite car?

What sells in Peoria May Not Sell on Seattle's Eastside

I just had a past client call me to get my advice about making some changes to her home before she put it on the market. We have known each other since 1999, when she and her husband were referred to me to help them find a home on the Eastside. They purchased a home that they remodeled and sold after living in it for several years. At that time, they decided to move closer to family in the Midwest. Now, she and her family are heading back to the Northwest.

The home in the Midwest has a very 60's retro flavor. The light fixtures in the home are true period pieces. She emailed me photos of her home and asked what I thought about changing the light fixtures. I questioned her about the type of buyer who might be buying her home, the performance of the real estate market in the area, and if her home had competition from other listings. Finding the answers to these questions helped her to decide whether or not to change out the light fixtures. Her Realtor in Illinois was a fan of removing the fixtures, since she didn't think buyers would appreciate them. Her thought was to update the fixtures as this would appeal to more buyers.

Ironically, I know people in the Seattle area would kill for retro light fixtures, and this is my point. Different markets demand different styles and features. If this home was selling in the Seattle area, I would not recommend removal of the light fixtures. Here, retro fixtures would be an added plus.

It is important for both buyers and sellers to know what works in a particular market. What sells in Peoria does not always sell in Seattle. Your Realtor should be able to help you determine what "sells" in your area. Making choices that appeal to the local market when updating your home is critical for making the most money when you sell your home. It is a great way to make more money, and, also, not lose money because of a costly remodeling mistake.

But remember, ask a Realtor "what plays" in Seattle so you can make the most money out of any remodeling.

Dodging a Speeding Bullet, Literally Dodging the Railroad...for a while

I expect to hear the familiar whistle of The Dinner Train in about an hour. We know the Dinner Train's days are numbered, 14 days to be exact, and it will be sad to see it go. It has become part of our neighborhood's unique feel. I know it is 7:10 PM when I hear the whistle blow as the train approaches!

It's been common knowledge for some time that the county has been negotiating to buy the tracks and put in a trail. Since I live right on the tracks, I see people already using some of the area alongside the tracks for walking or biking. It will be wonderful to see people out walking dogs or riding bikes along the trail on a regular basis. I think a trail that circles part of the neighborhood will be a true asset to us all and add to the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Today, The Seattle Times reported a private group called All Aboard Washington has been trying to buy the rail line and keep the rail line active. The BNSF responded by stating the railroad will first work with the county to conclude the elaborate three way deal that has been in the works for a long time. The proposed deal involves The Port of Seattle buying the rail line for $103 million dollars and then trading it to King County for Boeing Field. Boeing Field is currently owned by the county. As part of this deal, the county would pay $66 million to build a trail along the 42 mile rail route.

If the county, the Port of Seattle, and BNSF are not able to come to agreement, this organization, All Aboard Washington, could come back into negotiations with BNSF. The group is determined to put a commuter and freight line on the tracks by upgrading the tracks.

In my opinion, whether you live right on the tracks or a few blocks away, the quality of life in The Highlands would be greatly and negatively impacted.

What are your thoughts? Does anyone else know anything more than what is published in the newspaper?

Great Kirkland Spot for Dinner- Good Food, Great Prices, and Godzilla

Monday seemed like a long day, so at 6:45 when my husband and I glanced at each other we both knew that grabbing a bite for dinner was going to be far better than cooking. We ended up at Rikki-Rikki, which is a great Japanese restaurant at Kirkland's Parkplace. I was amazed at how busy the restaurant was for a Monday night until I noticed that Happy Hour is all night on Monday evenings. Not only were some drinks at Happy Hour prices, but so were some of the sushi rolls. Rikki-Rikki has some great specials that are always flavorful and healthy to eat. This Monday they had a chicken dish with a Thai sauce that was just terrific.

The restaurant was expanded a couple of years ago and the bar area was really well done. Where else could you watch a Godzilla movie from the 60's while you eat dinner?

What are some of your favorite restaurants? Do you also know of some special deals? Feel free to comment.

What were the chances of a home selling in Kirkland in June, 2007?

Sellers had a 23% chance of selling a home in June of 2007.

June 2007 383 homes for sale, 90 sales, 23% chance of selling a home.
May 2007 341 homes for sale, 107 sales, 31% chance of selling a home.
June 2006 290 homes for sale, 89 sales, 30% chance of selling a home.

For a complete picture of the sales activity you can go to my statistics page on my website. You will find a chart which shows the activity for Kirkland.

Things are slowing down a bit. Competition is a stronger as the inventory is increasing. Summer is obviously here and people who do not need to buy a home may be out on the water or up in the mountains. The buyers who are out now are serious buyers who want or need to make a move. Realistically, this is a great time for buyers to be making a move. There is increased inventory and less competition for homes. All is not lost for sellers at this point because prices are still up by about 15% in Kirkland over last year. The median price was $600,000 last year and is now just under $700,000.

To find out about the real estate activity on the entire Eastside, go to Eastside Real Estate Buzz.

Kirkland UnCorked

Come down to Marina Park and have some fun this weekend! There is great food, a grill cook off, wine tasting, lifestyle exhibits and artists demonstrations. It sounds like a lot of fun. It even looks like the weather will cooperate with us! We no longer are experiencing the 100 degree days we had mid week, we had a thunderstorm on Friday morning, so the weather gods should be with us by now. Head down to downtown and Marina Park on Friday, the 13th (your lucky day) from 5 PM to 10 PM. Saturday and Sunday the festivities run from 11 Am to 10 PM and to 6 PM respectively.

Visit the website, Kirkland UnCorked to get all the information.

Have a great time!

The Fabulous Sunny Fourth Of July in Seattle

The sun shines in Seattle on the 4th of July!

Ok, so our big secret is out! It does not rain all the time in Seattle, even though I had mentioned in a previous post that it was more of a tradition here that the 4th brought rain. This year we had a fabulous fourth. We could not have had more perfect weather. The skies were blue, the sun was shining and the air was dry.

However, I am still boatless in Seattle, on such a day that begs to be out on a boat! My husband and I had the good fortune of being invited on my friends’ boat. They were able to moor the boat in my vacant boat slip in downtown Kirkland and pick us up.

Mt Rainier was out in its glory. I am afraid my photo with a digital camera will not do it justice. It was pretty spectacular. We did cruise over to the Montlake Cut, boats were streaming in that direction as they headed for the fireworks by Gasworks Park.

Here is a photo of Husky Stadium with the sun behind it. I don't think there are many colleges in the nation with such a setting for a football stadium. You have great views of the lake and from some of the stands you can see Mt. Rainier.

The fireworks show was spectacular. Down on the lake you could see several shows going on at once. The Washington Mutual Fireworks show at Lake Union/Gas Works park started the show. From my vantage point on the dock, I could see that show and also the show from the town of Yarrow Point, some from Bellevue and, of course, Kirkland. This sure beat standing out on my street to watch the fireworks. Most years I have gone to the top of my hill, which overlooks downtown Kirkland.

Celebrate the Fourth Of July All Around the Seattle/Eastside Area

The Fourth Of July holiday heralds summer! The Fourth of July is often cool and rainy, what many people think happens here all year round. But the surprise, we usually have a gorgeous spring and a fabulous summer. It is our big Seattle secret.

Tradition dictates, however, that our true summer begins on the 5th of July. I know this to be true because I am beginning my 22nd year in Seattle this July 4th and I can count on one hand how many times it has warm and sunny. The Seattle Times reported in the newspaper today that the Fourth of July is usually the soggiest day of July.

This year promises to be one of those great Fourths with the weather predicted to be in the high 80's to the 90's. Of course, this happens only because the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the middle of the week, when most people are not taking off a few days for a long weekend! (The gods can be cruel sometimes!)

People certainly have their favorite places to see fireworks all over the Sound. Two big shows happen in the city.

Washington Mutual sponsors a day long funfest and fireworks show at Gasworks Park.


Join Ivar's at Myrtle Edwards Park overlooking Elliot Bay for a 10 PM fireworks show.


Over on the Eastside, there are great events in Kirkland on the Fourth. There is a parade at noon, a picnic at 1 PM at Juanita Park, and a fireworks show at 10 PM over the lake.

(I may park myself by my empty boat slip down in the Kirkland marina to get a close look. I mentioned I was boatless in my previous post on my Kirkland Highlands blog)

Bellevue also has a day of fun with a full day of events.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2003091721_nwwfourthlist29.html

Sunday at the Lake in Kirkland, Washington aka "Tour of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"

For all you boat lovers without a boat...
There is hope for you!

(This would be me, a boat lover without a boat. However, I do lease a 42 foot boat slip and just need to have the time to find a boat to put there. Anyone selling a boat, do let me know.)

On a beautiful Sunday, if you do not have your own boat, get out and enjoy the lake and take the Argosy Cruise ship from the dock in Kirkland. It is a beautiful cruise around the lake. My out of town friend refers to it as a "Tour of the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". The most important sites to see on Lake Washington are the homes of Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, Starbucks' founder Howard Schultz, Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon , and various Nordstrom family members amongst other important Seattleites. The boat goes by the ultra-contemporary home of Martha Stewart's friend, Charles Simonyi, the newest space tourist who just returned from a spin around the earth with the Russians. When you realize all of the people who own or have owned homes around the lake, you understand the importance of Seattle to our national economy.

On some days you can see the more natural beauty of Mt Rainier, sitting out above Mercer Island and the lake. But as we know in Seattle, you cannot always view the mountain and it was not out today.

For all of you that think it rains in Seattle all the time, the truth is we have fabulous weather here in the summer. There is no place I would rather be.

HOT TIP: you can get a season's pass which allows you unlimited trips for a whole year on any of the regularly scheduled Argosy ships. It is a deal. Pay for your tickets for your first trip and buy the season's pass when you are on board. Your trip will be deducted from the total pass expense.

Three homes recently sold near Microsoft.


(This is home #3, my listing, pictured)


Home #1 - a beautiful home that was offered online by the sellers without a Realtor. The home sold for $710,000. It was a 2900 square foot two story, built in the 1990’s, with a big backyard backing to greenbelt. The house was not listed and, therefore, not exposed to the full range of buyers. According to the comparables and the sale of home #3, this was not the highest price the sellers could have obtained. Homes built after 1985 close to Microsoft are hot commodities and often sell for more than listed price.

Home # 2 – the owners were unrepresented sellers and sold their home directly to a buyer. When I talked with the owner after the sale closed, he was very vocal about his experience. He ended up not speaking to the buyers. Negotiations over the price were very tough and subsequently were tougher over the inspection. The seller negotiated the sales price far below market value and also had to give up more in a building inspection. The asking price for the home was $680,000 and sold $630,000, $50,000 below asking price! (It can be hard to be the tough guy in negotiation when its your own home).

Home # 3- was a home I listed for $725,000 and sold for $736,000. The home was approximately 2800 square feet and on about an 8000 sq ft lot. I met with the sellers several weeks before they hoped to go on the market. When we first met, we discussed a price range in the low 700’s, higher than any other home had been priced in the neighborhood. We did not establish the list price until the day before going on the market. By doing this, we knew what the actual, up to the minute, competition was for their home.

Because I knew we had no competition at the time, we dictated when showings could begin, held an open house, which was advertised only on the internet and to neighbors, not in the newspaper. (I was looking for truly interested buyers) We set a time to look at offers after being on the market for only 5 days. During the five days the home was available to all the buyers. The activity and interest created for this home was just fabulous. We had back to back showings throughout the weekend the home was on the market. We had about 25 showings and about 20 qualified buyers to the open house, all in five days time. The seller received three wonderful offers. I helped the sellers evaluate the three offers so they could choose the one that was best for them.

The real beauty of the offer for the seller #3?

The buyers had pre-inspected the home and made their offer without an inspection. How fabulous for the sellers! Upon acceptance of the offer, there was no more negotiation. Think about it. When buyers are put in a position to give away their “first born” to be the offer that gets the house, they will negotiate harder when it comes to an inspection. It’s human nature. When buyers pay more than full price for a home and beat out other offers, they usually want more repairs done based on the building inspection. The seller avoided this completely. Not only did the sellers get a higher price for their home, there was no second round of negotiation on an inspection. This saved the seller even more money and stress with the sale of their home.

Could seller #1 above have made more money that the sale price of $710,000? The home is larger and had a much bigger yard than the home I sold for $736,000. I think the price for this home could have been $750,000, selling with multiple offers and for a higher price. Too often I see sellers sell their home by deducting the real estate commission.


Who benefits from this, the seller or the buyer?


The buyer! The buyer gets the home for less than market value. The seller makes no more money by selling direct, is unrepresented, and has not opened up the sale of their home to all of the potential buyers. Without the synergy of lots buyers, there is little chance of multiple offers resulting in a higher price. When a buyer knows they are not competing with any other buyers for a home, the home will not sell for more than the full price.

Seller #2 could have had a positive, stress-free experience and made more money. It can be tough to be the “bad” guy and be a strong advocate for your own self in negotiations. It is that old human nature again. Most of us want people to like us and do not know how to handle negative confrontations.

Can you make more money and have less stress if you use the services of a Realtor?


You decide....