Debra Sinick

Archive for September, 2007|Monthly archive page

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Day 5-An Extremely Wet Extreme Makeover Day in Kirkland, WA

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News on September 30, 2007 at 8:16 pm

Day 5    12 PM

 Framing is done, the roof was being put on.  Windows have been added.  Wiring, plumbing, insulation were almost done and the house was almost ready for drywall.

 Ext makeover Day 5 houseExt makeover day 5 house

People were still coming by shuttle bus, even in the rain, to see the project.extreme-makeover-day-5busbest.JPG

Spectators were standing outside, braving the rain.Spectators in the rain

 An enormous hose was going into the house.  The hose was part of a system that functions like a giant dehumidifier.   All the construction materials need to be dried out before the drywall is put up.

Ext makeover drying hoseextreme-makeover-day-5dryingcobest.JPG

Today was tough because of the weather.  It was not a pretty sight.  Hats off to all the people working out there.  Most of the people you see in these photos are volunteering time and materials.  

 Day 7, the day for completion, is coming up fast!

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Day 4-Extreme Makeover in The Highlands of Kirkland, WA

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News on September 30, 2007 at 9:56 am

Day 4

1 PM.

The foundation crew met their deadline! By 1 PM, most of the main floor had been framed.

Ext makeover Day 4 Structureext makeover Day 4-structure

The street took on more of a festival/block party air today along with the work crews building the house.

 There was a home set up for production teams.  The entire front and backyard of this home were put to use.

 Ext makeover sign-production worldext makeover production stop

Paint world was located at the next home.

Ext makeover-paint world sign

 The VIP tent could be found on the opposite side of the street.  Chairs and coffee were available there.
VIP viewing tent-Extreme Makeover

There was a shuttle stop for the Gray Line buses.  People were lining up to take a bus back to their car. 

Extreme Makeover memorabilia and clothing was for sale in a neighbor’s front yard.

ext makeover stuff for sale

Rich and Danielle D’Agostino(not pictured), the entrepreneurial neighbors directly across the street from the site, had set up a grill and were cooking hot dogs and burgers. 

Ext make neighbor grilling

Regardless of the press and the shuttle buses bringing people to the site, the people I meet here are mostly neighbors from The Highlands, friends, fellow church members, and relatives of the Chapin family.   Everyone, including the staff for the show, has been  friendly and helpful.  The atmosphere is very positive and upbeat.  It’s rare in today’s society we are able to experience this feeling of community spirit. We’re all so busy in our daily lives. It reminds me of pioneering families banding together to build some shelter and the Amish working together for barn raisings.  Maybe in the midst of all this fast and furious work of home building and Hollywood, we are able as a society and as individuals to share some community spirit.  

Both The Seattle PI and The Seattle Times have written stories about the project.

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands through September 28th, 2007

In market statistics, Weekly market update on September 29, 2007 at 9:39 am

Update post itNumbers in red reflect last week’s totals.

New listings: 2 (4) One new listing and one home re-listed as new.

Active Listings:    22(22)

Sold subject to inspection:  (0)

Pending:  (0)

Closed Sales:  2 (1)

Number of Price Reductions:  1(2)
———————————–
Number of homes available:    22(22)

0-$349,999:   0(0)

$350,000-$499,999:   7(6)

$500,000-$749,999:    6(6)

$750,000-$999,999:   4(6)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:   3(3)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   2(2)
———————————–
Average Price: $676,483 ($685,086)
Median Price:   $587,495 ($595,900)

Average Days on Market: 65 (66)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,825,000 (same)

Lowest Priced Listing: $399,950 (same)

(data from NWMLS)

My analysis of this week’s real estate buzz:

  A listing found!  When reviewing a wider area of information for other Kirkland neighborhoods, I noticed a listing in Waterwheel Park.  Since The Highlands is not listed as this listing’s community on NWMLS,  the listing does not show up when a Realtor searches for homes in The Highlands. (It is really important to have the correct community listed)    Now that I found it, I will add it to our weekly information.  By the way, this home was just reduced by $20,000 to $498, 950.

There is one new listing that is truly new to the marketplace.  The other “new” listing has been on the market and has been re-listed in the high $470′s. The ”real” new listing is on the same cul-de-sac and is priced at $499,950.  Both homes are in Edwards Place. 

There are two closed sales in which the price is public, however, we have not had a sale in The Highlands in the last few weeks.  One of the closed sales was priced originally at $560,000, reduced to $530,000, and sold for $515,000.  The other sale was at $556,000.  The original asking price for this home was $649,900.  This home first came on the market in the spring, when homes were selling at a much faster pace.

With the activity and excitement of “Extreme Makeover” happening in the Highlands, some homes are difficult to actually get to, so the showing activity is down this week.

I’ve been asked to join The Seattle PI Real Estate Professionals blog and here is a link to my first post.   I reported very positive news about the local economy.  Real estate is hyper-local.  It’s more directly affected by the local economy and events.  My post certainly unleashed a lot of comments.  Let me know what you think and if you have any questions about the real estate market.  

Have a great week!

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Day 3-Extreme Makeover in the Kirkland Highlands

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News on September 28, 2007 at 10:52 pm

Day 3

 1 PM

Huge trucks, mammoth construction equipment and Gray Line tour buses.

ext makeover equipment

 The house and the demolition debris were all gone.excavation of site
 Excavation was happening today, big time. 

The dirt pile from the excavation looked like it was about 20 feet high.

Ext makeover firt pile

Plans were reviewed on the street. 

Ext makeover plans review

Trucks were lined up with construction materials ready for the foundation to be poured in the late afternoon. 

 ext makeover supply trucks

 Trucks  were lined up to haul the dirt away.

ext makeover dump trucks

The first trucks were ready and waiting to bring the cement in for the foundation.

Trucks with cement

I spoke with one of the location managers who said excellerant would be added to the concrete to help it dry quickly.  After the concrete was fully poured, it was expected to be dry in 4 hours!

 So, framing should start sometime tonight.

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Day 2-The Extreme Make Over Home is Gone Extremely Fast

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News on September 27, 2007 at 10:34 pm

 Original Chapin phots

The crowds are getting larger.

ext makeover crowd

Thevolunteers, friends, and families are out in their blue Extreme Makeover T-shirts.

Things are moving fast!ext. makeover

 

Day Two

1 PM:  The siding on the home is gone.
Cahpin house no siding
Lunch served:

 Ext Makeover Lunch

 3 PM- garage gone.

3:30 PM-Pool yanked out.

4- 5 PM house demolished.

 5 PM:  It’s all gone!
Ext Makeover house gone

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Here Today, But Gone Tomorrow-Extreme Makeover is at Work in Kirkland

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News on September 26, 2007 at 11:35 pm

Chapin Home beforeHere it is, the Chapin home in the Kirkland Highlands.  This home is here today, but will be gone by Friday.  The Chapin family will get a new home courtesy of “Extreme Makeover” and ABC.  The family will come back from vacation to a brand new, fully furnished home.  It was obvious from the moment you stepped onto the block, everyone who lives nearby is taking a part.  This is a true neighborhood project with neighbors helping neighbors. What a wonderful testament to all who live here. This is community at its best.

Today it was already hopping.  Cahpin house w/ peopleExt. makeover setting upext. makeoverext makeover

Outhouses, catering and equipment trucks, rental equipment, and huge lights were being set all over the street.

Friends of the family were all waiting to pack up the house.

Tomorrow the “before” photos will be taken and the heavy demolition begins.

Extreme Makeover has landed in Kirkland’s Highlands

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News on September 26, 2007 at 12:54 pm

The road blocks are up, the security people are out.  Stay tuned and I will stop by the site later today.  I will post a “before” picture of the home.  In the meantime, you can log onto the city website that has been dedicated to the show.

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It’s the Last Few Days to Help Kirkland Jr High Students Raise Money for Computers, Books, and Materials

In Kirkland News, Schools, services on September 25, 2007 at 10:30 am

Nail salonI stopped by one my favorite nail salons last week  

 Pedicure

and not only received a great pedicure, but found out about the latest fundraiser for Kirkland Junior High. 

 Kirkland Jr High

Tiffany Dao, whose Mom, Tracy,  owns the nail salon, is actively raising money for the drive. She’s a seventh grader at Kirkland Jr. High.  The school is hoping to raise $70,000 for materials and computer equipment. 

According to Tiffany, if the students meet the goal of $70,000, then the kids get to see the Vice-Principal, Mr. Mott,  shave his head.  It’s a win-win situation.  The kids get to actively learn how to raise money and the school has more  money to invest in equipment for the kids. If the students reach the school’s goal, they can have fun watching the vice principal shave his head!  Sounds good to me.

You can contribute online to the cause. You can also call 1-800-847-7898 and make a donation.  You need to know a student at the school and the school code before contributing, so your money will tagged for the right student and school. 

The students are selling all kinds of things.  Besides the usual magazines, there are some great things for sale.  I bought a stadium blanket (so the next time I go to Chateau St Michelle for a concert, I will have something to sit on), a gadget holder and  first aid kit for the car. 

I wish all the students at Kirkland Jr High the best and will be rooting for them to make their goal of $70,000.

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Is “Extreme Makeover” Coming to Kirkland, WA? Find out on September 26th

In Kirkland News on September 23, 2007 at 8:22 am

The Kirkland Highlands is one of 5 finalists for the TV program, “Extreme Makeover!”  A home on 116th is being considered for an upcoming show.  At the Highlands neighborhood meeting, the location manager for the show, Eric Osborn, talked about what the neighborhood should expect.  116th St will be cordoned off from just below NE 100th to above NE  103rd and from 114th to the west to 117th to the east. Traffic will be rerouted around this part of the neighborhood. 

You may wake up on the 26th and see “Hollywood” swarming all over. No one, except the location manager, will know until the 26th as to whether our neighbor will be selected. 

Here is the proposed schedule:

26th- equipment is brought into the neighborhood.

27th- the “before” photos

28th- demolition of the house, which will go on for 24 hours a day until it is done.

28th-3rd- the block will be constantly lit up.  There will be dump trucks coming in, concrete being poured, and the house framed and built.

October 3rd-furniture is brought in to the home.

4th-area is cleaned up

During the time of construction, there will be a spectator viewing area.  People will be able to walk into the area, but not drive. 

There will be a security team on site to manage traffic and other issues.

Questions or interested in volunteering, donating, in-kind services? Contact Marilyn Beard, the assistant city manager  at mbeard@ci.kirkland.wa.us.

Opinions?  It was clear at the meeting that many people have mixed emotions about the project in their “backyard”, which is understandable.  Some are thrilled to see a deserving neighbor be the beneficiary of a new home.  Some people were excited about the prospect of the show highlighting  our neighborhood and Kirkland.  Others were concerned about the disruption to daily life because of the ongoing construction noise, potential for traffic, etc. All are very fair and legitimate feelings.

What do you think? Is this a good or bad for Kirkland’s Highlands or a bit of both?

 Stayed tuned until the 26th, when we will know then if the Highlands home has been selected. If selected, I will post a before picture of the home and chronicle the changes each day.  The city is posting project updates and traffic on a special city website.

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Kirkland Highlands Weekly Real Estate Buzz through September 21, 2007

In market statistics, Weekly market update on September 22, 2007 at 7:44 am

Update post it Numbers in red reflect last week’s totals.

New listings: 4 (1) One new listing is a re-listed home

Active Listings:    22(19)

Sold subject to inspection:  (0)

Pending:  (0)

Closed Sales:  1 (0) sale price is $438,000

Number of Price Reductions:  2(4)
———————————–
Number of homes available:    22(19)

0-$349,999:   0(0)

$350,000-$499,999:   5(3)

$500,000-$749,999:    6(6)

$750,000-$999,999:    6(6)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:   3(2)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   2(2)
———————————–
Average Price: $685,086 ($713,362)
Median Price:   $595,900 ($694,995)

Average Days on Market: 66 (70)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,825,000 (same)

Lowest Priced Listing: $399,950(same)

(data from NWMLS)

My analysis of this week’s real estate buzz:

The new listings in the Highlands range from $435,000 to $1,249,950.  One had been on the market previously for $570,000. The home was re-listed as a new listing and now appears with a $30,000 lower price tag.  The closed sale is for a town home that closed at $438,000.

 The change in the market is most evident by two issues.  One is the lack of sales and the other is the least expensive listing in the neighborhood has been reduced $20,000 and is now priced under $400,000(see above). Even though there is a home on the property, it is essentially a land buy.  Earlier this year, builders would have grabbed this lot and now it’s still for sale. 

 Does this slowdown in sales mean nothing will sell? No, the homes that will sell are the best values out there.  These homes will beat the competition by being the “best dressed” home for the price.   Again, do not give up hope because similar to the previous week, 300 Eastside homes received offers.  Homes are selling, it’s just more competitive out there.

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