Debra Sinick

Archive for July, 2008|Monthly archive page

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This Vial Could Save Your Life! Help Kirkland First Responders Help You.

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, Safety and Disaster Preparedness on July 30, 2008 at 7:50 pm

 This  little bottle can save a senior’s life.  In today’s issue of The Kirkland Reporter, there is an article about The Vial of L.I.F.E. project.

This little vial is so important for people to know about, I am printing the entire article on this blog.

Have you ever had to have an ambulance called for you?  Were you able to tell the EMT about important medications or were you unconscious?  Do you know someone else who went through this? Not having important medical information at hand can be risky and even life threatening, especially if you can’t respond.

One of the projects of The Kirkland Senior Council has been to find ways to help independent seniors during an individual emergency or disaster. The Senior Council has joined forces with The Medic One Foundation and Bartell Drugs to promote The Vial of L.I.F.E  project.

What is the Vial of L.I.F.E?  It’s a plastic vial (a large pill bottle) which contains a sheet which you or a family member complete with your medical information, medications, allergies, and emergency contact numbers.   DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) forms and Power of Attorney (POA) forms for health care can also be stored in the vial.

Here’s how it works:  A red Vial of Life sticker goes on your front door so first responders know you are part of the Vial of L.I.F.E program. The Vial, with the completed medical information, is placed on the top shelf on the inside of your refrigerator door. A red magnet is posted on your refrigerator so emergency personnel have quick and easy access to your important medical needs.  This simple tool can save your life!

What if your medical information changes?  A new medical information sheet can be downloaded from the Medic One Foundation website, www.mediconefoundation.org.

Where can you find a vial?  A limited number of vials will be available for free at the Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Way (behind the Kirkland Performance Center),  through Evergreen Home Health Care, and Hopelink. Each fire department in Kirkland will have a supply on hand. Kirkland Fire Stations are located at:

 

Sta. 21 – 9816 Forbes Creek Dr.

Sta. 22 – 6602 108th Ave NE

Sta. 25 – 12033 76th PL NE

Sta. 26 – 9930 124th Ave NE

Sta. 27 – 11210 NE 132nd St

 

 Bartells Drugstores have Vials of L.I.F.E available for a nominal charge of $1.00.

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through July, 24th, 2008

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on July 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm

(Numbers in parentheses are for last week’s data.  This week’s data is reported through Thursday each week.)

Active Listings:  28 (31)

New listings:  1 (4)

Re-listed properties:  1 (0)

Pending inspection: 2 (2) 

Pending:  0 (1)

Closed Sales:   1 (0)

Contingent sale: 0(0)

Number of Price Reductions:2 (2)

Cancelled listings 1 (0)

Expired Listings:3  (1)

Temporarily Off Market:  0(0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market: 0 (0)

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0-$349,999:   0(0)

$350,000-$499,999: 6 (7)

$500,000-$749,999:    5 (6)

$750,000-$999,999:  8 (8)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  6 (6)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   3 (4)
———————————–
Average Price: $865,468 ($889,000)

Median Price:   $864,103 ($869,000)

Average Days on Market: 82(82)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,725,000 ($2,299,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $362,500 ($362,500

The closed sale of the week was in Edwards Place.  The three bedroom, 1.75 bath home sold for $373,300, list price of $374,500 with original sales price of $398,250, sold in 26 days for 7% below the original asking price.

Town homes/condos:

5 Active town home/condo listings

One new listing at $569,900 for 1300 square feet with a view.

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How Expensive Is It to Buy a Home in Kirkland, Washington?

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate on July 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm

 

 Recently I was interviewed by Kendall Watson of The Kirkland Reporter about real estate and blogging.  We had a great conversation that lasted an hour because we digressed from the main topic, blogging, to everyone’s favorite topic, the state of real estate.  Everyone wants to know about real estate and everyone wants to know what I think when we talk.  (If I could get a nickel for every time someone asked me how the market was, I could retire tomorrow!)

 Everyone, including Kendall, wants to know:  

Are homes selling?

  Yes, but at a much slower rate than in the past.  However, in the month of June, the chances of selling a home increased from the previous months of 2008. 

 Is Kirkland an expensive place to buy in the Seattle area?  Yes and no.  There are many homes above a million dollars, but the majority of homes fall in the $500-750,000 range.

 

According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Kirkland did not make it into the top ten wealthiest zip codes in the Puget Sound area.   This is not to say that it is inexpensive to live in Kirkland, but Kirkland is not the most expensive area on the eastside.

Are most homes over a million dollars?  No, there are 214 homes for sale above a million dollars.

Are there homes available for under $500,000?  Yes, there are 187 homes.

In what price range do you find most of the homes for sale?  Most of the homes for sale fall in the $500-750,000 price range.

What price range has the most sales?  This week home sales between $350-$499,999 are running neck and neck with home sales between $500-749,000.

Where are the more affordable homes?  As you move away from the downtown core and the waterfront, more reasonably priced homes can be found.

 Where are the most expensive homes?  Waterfront, hands down, West of Market, Houghton, and East of Market.

 Because Kirkland is an “older” city on the Eastside, there are pockets with varying price ranges all over the city. Smaller, older  homes can be surrounded by newer neighborhoods.

 

 Active Properties in Kirkland

0-349,999 =                             73

350,000 – 499,999 =        114

500,000 – 749,999=      151

750,000- 999,999=                  118

1,000,000 – 1,499,999=          105

1,500,000-2,999,999=   93

3,000,000+ =                 16

 

Pending Properties inKirkland

0-349,999 =                             5

350,000 – 499,999 =     28

500,000 – 749,999=      29

750,000- 999,999=                  19

1,000,000 – 1,499,999=          19

1,500,000-2,999,999=   11

3,000,000+ =                 1

 

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in the Kirkland Highlands Through July 17th, 2008

In Uncategorized on July 17, 2008 at 3:38 pm

(Numbers in parentheses are for last week’s data.  This week’s data is reported through Thursday each week.)

Active Listings:  31 (22)

New listings:  4 (5)

Re-listed properties:  0 (1)

Pending inspection: 1 (2) 

Pending:  1 (0)

Closed Sales:   0 (5)

Contingent sale: 0(0)

Number of Price Reductions:2 (1)

Cancelled listings 0 (1)

Expired Listings:1 (1)

Temporarily Off Market:  0(0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market: 0 (0)

———————————–

0-$349,999:   0(0)

$350,000-$499,999: 7 (5)

$500,000-$749,999:    6 (6)

$750,000-$999,999:  8 (9)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  6 (5)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   4 (4)
———————————–
Average Price: $889,000 ($847,983)

Median Price:   $869,000($869,000)

Average Days on Market: 82(82)

Highest Priced Listing: $2,299,000($2,299,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $362,500 ($362,500)

There were no closed sales this week in the Highlands, but there’s a home that just received an offer and another home that is now pending.

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Town homes/condos:

4 Active town home/condo listings

No other town home/condo activity

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What Were The Chances of Selling Your Kirkland, WA Home in June, 2008?

In buyers, Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate on July 17, 2008 at 10:29 am

Sellers had a 16.5% chance of selling a home in Kirkland in June, 2008.

(Click on the link above to see a chart with Kirkland’s real estate trends for the last few years.  The chart shows trends for Kirkland, south of NE 116th St.)

June, 2008             491 homes for sale, 81 sales, 16.6% chance of selling.

May, 2008             530 homes for sale, 51 sales,    9.6% chance of selling.

June, 2007            383 homes for sale, 90 sales,   23.5% chance of selling.

The chance of getting a home sold was much better in Kirkland, WA in June than any of the previous months  this year.  Inventory, the number of available homes, was up by 28% and the sales dropped this year from last year by about 10%.  It will be interesting to see how July plays out and if a trend is happening here.

For a complete update on Eastside real estate, check out my eastside blog post.

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Here’s the Latest from The Port of Seattle Eastside Rail Open House

In King County, Kirkland News, rails to trails on July 13, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Were you able to attend Wednesday night’s Port of Seattle Open House at City Hall? 

If so, what were your thoughts? 

If you weren’t able to make it, you can check on my KIrkland Views post in which I summarized the meeting from my point of view.

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through July 10, 2008

In market statistics, Weekly market update, Real estate, buyers, sellers, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate on July 10, 2008 at 11:22 pm

(Numbers in parentheses are for last week’s data.  This week’s data is reported through Thursday.)

Active Listings:  22 (29)

New listings:  5(2)

Re-listed properties:  1(0)

Pending inspection: 2 (0) 

Pending:  0(0)

Closed Sales:   1(1)

Contingent sale: 0(0)

Number of Price Reductions:1 (3)

Cancelled listings 1(0)

Expired Listings: 1(0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0(0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market: 0 (1)

———————————–

0-$349,999:   0(0)

$350,000-$499,999:  5 (5)

$500,000-$749,999:    4 (6)

$750,000-$999,999:  7 (9)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  3 (5)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   3(4)
———————————–
Average Price: $847,983 ($921,364)

Median Price:   $869,000($869,000)

Average Days on Market: 82(88)

Highest Priced Listing: $2,299,000($2,299,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $362,500 ($399,500)

The closed sale of the week was $450,000 down from $489,000, about 8% below the asking price, market time of 192 days.

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Town homes/condos:

4 Active,  with one town home re-listed on the market.

1 expired listing

2 price reductions

One closed sale, the “bungalow” on NE 87th sold for $479,000 down from the original list price of $549,000, 13% below the original asking price.

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What’s Your Five Favorite Reason(s) for Living in Kirkland, Washington?

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, WA on July 9, 2008 at 11:28 am

Kirkland, Washington rocks!  According to the July issue of Seattle magazine, Kirkland is just behind Queen Anne as the best overall neighborhood in the Seattle area. According to the magazine, we are Seattle’s Sausalito, a suburb with great access to the water.  Kirkland has:

  • great Lake Washington access
  • good schools
  • compact, walkable downtown
  • restaurants
  • outdoor public pool
  • parks, some right on the water
  • reasonable access to Seattle

Seattle magazine picked the Top Ten Best Neighborhoods and Kirkland came out #7.  The ratings are based on a study of 5 issues: housing affordability, WASL scores, minutes to downtown, crime rates and % of home appreciation. 

All of these are great considerations, but what are your favorite reasons for living in Kirkland?

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Sometimes It’s The Simple Solutions

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA on July 7, 2008 at 10:50 pm

Here’s a copy of a recent article I wrote for the Reporter about neighborhoods and carpools.  It’s important to think out of the box to solve our local issues and concerns.

Kirkland Reporter

DEBRA SINICK, Community columnist
debra@debrasinick.com

I’ve covered a variety of issues since I started writing this column for the Reporter. Looking back at what I’ve written, the underlying theme becomes obvious: community and community involvement. It takes a neighborhood or a village or a city to solve many of the issues a community faces.

It’s become abundantly clear to me how we need to step out of our busy, hectic lives and work together as a community to solve issues and improve our quality of life.

Sometimes it’s the simplest of ideas that make the most sense. As a society, we struggle to solve so many of our problems. We commission expensive studies and spend considerable time evaluating options, when the right solution can often be the simplest, least expensive option.

The solution to area traffic woes is an issue for many of us. As the Eastside has grown, so has the traffic. With the increasing cost of gas and the longer commute time because of traffic, people are re-thinking transportation options.

Recently, a Highlands neighbor suggested people in the neighborhood get together to carpool. What a simple, straightforward and wonderful idea. We’re looking at these costly, and sometimes nonsensical, ways to improve traffic without looking at simple solutions right in front of us. How ironic it would be if neighbors three blocks apart drove to locations in Seattle that were also only a few blocks apart.

We have the means to make this happen. Kirkland is a city of neighborhoods and neighborhood associations. The associations do a fine job of informing and rallying neighbors around a variety of issues.

Perhaps each neighborhood could develop a carpool component on the neighborhood Web site? People in each of the Kirkland neighborhoods could find others who commute to the same place.

Perhaps this idea could spread to other cities in the area. Ride share/commuting programs could be endorsed by cities and become part of a city’s Web site.

In the Seattle area, some options are already available to commuters. Check online with www.rideshare.com or www.pickuppal.com. For privacy reasons, you can give only the information you deem necessary. For example, you can meet someone at an intersection and not in front of your home.

The reality is neighborhoods can do more to work together. There’s a variety of issues to tackle, whether it’s schools, parks, disaster awareness, commuting or neighborhood picnics. The bottom line for us in today’s world is to use the power of the internet and combine it with the people in a neighborhood to make changes and get things done. Carpooling/ride sharing seems a great place to start.

A member of the Kirkland Senior Council, long-time resident Debra Sinick runs local blog http://kirklandhighlandsrealestatebuzz.com from her Windermere Real Estate’s Yarrow Bay office. Reach her at debra@debrasinick.com.

Kirkland Reporter Community columnist Debra Sinick can be reached at debra@debrasinick.com.

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Trail Envy-Wishing Kirkland, Washington Could Have a World Class Trail

In Kirkland News, rails to trails, Kirkland WA, Redmond, WA on July 6, 2008 at 7:57 pm

I have trail envy.  I’m envious of Redmond’s new and improved Sammamish River Trail.   My husband, my dog, my Dad, and I stepped  out on the Sammamish River Trail today and enjoyed a good hour strolling along the paved path.  It was exciting to see people biking, walking, and skating on by.  People of all ages were out in force and it wasn’t even sunny out! It was a relaxing chance to connect with nature. We saw ducks, herons, geese, and all kinds of two and four legged critters.

Imagine stepping our your door in Kirkland and hopping on a trail that runs through Kirkland.  Imagine having a chance to enjoy the park views and the views of the lake and mountains.  We have a world class trail possibility here in the city of Kirkland.  On Wednesday, you’ll have a chance to hear from The Port of Seattle Commissioners about their proposed plans for the BNSF tracks.  The Port will make the decision as to whether the tracks will be rail-banked and kept for future use as a train and used as a trail now or if the train tracks will become a commuter line.  Come listen, learn, and give your opinion, this may be your last chance.

The Port of Seattle is holding an open house this Wednesday at 7 PM in the Peter Kirk Room of Kirkland’s City Hall, 123 Fifth Avenue in downtown KIrkland.  Come on down and give your opinion to the Port commissioners.

I posted this article on Kirkland Views in which I gave my opinion about BNSF rail line.

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