Debra Sinick

Archive for October, 2008|Monthly archive page

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through October 23rd and October 30th, 2008

In buyers, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on October 31, 2008 at 2:53 pm

I’m back in business!  What started out as not a major computer problem blew up into a wiping the hard drive clean and re-installing everything.  So as I said earlier this week, I will give you two weeks of real estate statistics for the Kirkland Highlands.

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

Active Listings: 28 (32)

New listings:    0 (2)

Re-listed properties:   0(0)

Pending inspection:   2(0) 

Pending:   1 (0)

Closed Sales:    1(0)

Contingent sale: 0 (0)

Number of Price Reductions: 3 (0)

Cancelled listings  0 (0)

Expired Listings: 1 (0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market:  0 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

———————————–

0-$349,999:  1  (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 5 (6)

$500,000-$749,999: 10 (11)

$750,000-$999,999:  9 (11)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  2 (2)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   1 (1)
———————————–
Average Price: $716,807 ($717,121)

Median Price:   $679,000 ($679,000)

Average Days on Market: 114 (112)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,599,000 ($1,599,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $345,000 ($345,000)

The pending listing received an offer during the same week, so the inspection was done and resolved fairly quickly, bringing the home from an offer to pending an inspection to pending, all in the same week.

The closed sale of the week, in which the new buyer has taken ownership was for a rambler on 116th Ave NE with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath.  This home was on the market for 76 days and started at $362,500 was reduced to $349,800 and sold for $330,000.  The home sold for 9% below the original asking price.   Discounts are often necessary in all price ranges, even the most reasonable price range in the Kirkland Highlands.

 

Town homes/condos:

2 active town home/condo listings

1 pending

1 rented- after 209 days on the market in Kirkland’s Highpointe neighborhood, the seller took the home off the market and chose to rent. 

Renting a home or condo can be a smart move.  If a home owner feels they can’t get the price they’d like for a home or a condo, then renting may be a better option then selling.  Only sellers who need or want to sell, and are willing to let the market dictate pricing, should consider selling.  If renting and holding  a property makes more sense, then that’s the right choice in the current market.

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through October 31st, 2008

Active Listings: 29 (28)
New listings:    0 (0)
Re-listed properties:   0 (0)

Pending inspection:   0 (2) 

Pending:   0 (1)

Closed Sales:    0 (1)

Contingent sale: 0 (0)

Number of Price Reductions: 0 (3)

Cancelled listings  0 (0)

Expired Listings: 0 (1)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market:  1 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

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0-$349,999:  1  (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 5 (5)

$500,000-$749,999: 10 (10)

$750,000-$999,999:  10 (9)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  2 (2)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   1 (1)
———————————–
Average Price: $720,189 ($716,807)

Median Price:   $699,000 ($679,000)

Average Days on Market: 124 (114)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,599,000 ($1,599,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $345,000 ($345,000)

One more home is on the market this week, than last week.  This is a new construction home that had been sold contingent and is now back on the market.  When a home is sold contingent, the buyer has a home they need to sell in order to purchase the new home.  Apparently, the buyer could not get their present home sold, so the offer expired on the new construction home in Kirkland’s Highlands.

Townhomes/condos

2 Active town homes

1 closed sale

$667,500 for a Highland Creek town home which was originally priced at $715,000, reduced to $679,990 and sold for $667,500 in 193 days, 7% below the original asking price.

 

 

 

 

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Where’s The Kirkland Highlands’ Weekly Real Estate Buzz?

In buyers, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on October 27, 2008 at 10:50 am

Perhaps you noticed my weekly real estate stats for the Kirkland Highlands were not posted at the end of last week?  I tried, really I did, all the real estate data was pulled and ready to go.  Then my computer decided it wanted to have a breakdown and it tried to have me join it.   I fought with my computer for a few hours, I  contemplated stomping on it, throwing it out the window or across the room.  My husband then took over the battle, but to no avail that day.  Finally I gave up, surrrendered,  and decided to take Daniel Rothamel’s advice given at Inman News’ Blogger Connect this past summer in San Francisco.  He said: “Get out from behind your computer.”  Daniel is the community manager for the Inman News and also writes the RealEstateZebra blog and was speaking as part of a panel of experienced bloggers.  I took his advice, figured I was not going to win this battle and went out and enjoyed the day.

I like to report the statistics for each week’s real estate activity.  Given the title of the post, that’s what readers should expect, but we can get stopped in our tracks by technical difficulties and miss ”real” life.  Sometimes we can get caught up in writing posts, reading articles on the internet and time, and a little bit of life, can get away from us.  So I took Daniel’s advice, some of the best I gathered at Inman this past summer, and got out from behind my computer.

Stay tuned and I’ll report two weeks worth of real estate statistics later this week.  Have a good week and get out from behind your computer!

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Downtown Kirkland, Washington Will Not Be the Same

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA on October 20, 2008 at 12:30 pm

The Patricia Rovzar Gallery is closing its downtown Kirkland location. In Saturday’s snail mail, there was a letter from Patricia announcing the closing of their Kirkland gallery at the end of this month.  I will be very sad to see them go. Patricia, Eric and Leah helped energize the arts scene in downtown Kirkland over the last 16 years, presenting top-notch art to the Eastside.  I’ve known Patricia and Eric since the beginning. Not only was the art they represented fresh and innovative, they’ve always made the gallery a fun and friendly place to visit.   Patricia will continue with her gallery in their Seattle space.  The Seattle art gallery is located at 1225 Second Ave, Seattle, WA, 206-223-0273. I wish them all the best!

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

In buyers, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on October 18, 2008 at 11:48 am

Sellers had a 9% chance of selling a home in Kirkland in September, 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.)

Sptember, 2008     509 homes for sale, 47 sales, 9% chance of selling.

August, 2008         498 homes for sale,  47 sales, 9% chance of selling.

September, 2007   424 homes for sale, 40 sales,   9% chance of selling.

September of last year was the start of the more challenging real estate market for Kirkland.  Even though we have seen better chances of selling in other months this year, the fall of 2007 and 2008 are showing exactly the same chances of selling a Kirkland home. The peak of activity in Kirkland real estate sales was June of this year. 

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

 

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through October 16th, 2008

In buyers, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on October 17, 2008 at 2:51 pm

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

Active Listings:  32(26)

New listings:  2  (1)

Re-listed properties: 0  (0)

Pending inspection:  0 (0) 

Pending:  0 (0)

Closed Sales: 0   (0)

Contingent sale:0  (0)

Number of Price Reductions:0 (0)

Cancelled listings 0  (0)

Expired Listings:0  (0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market: 0 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

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0-$349,999:    (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 6 (5)

$500,000-$749,999: 11 (8)

$750,000-$999,999:  11 (10)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  2 (1)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   1 (1)
———————————–
Average Price: $717,121 ($724,804)

Median Price:   $679,000 ($699,000)

Average Days on Market: 112 (111)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,599,000 ($1,599,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $345,000 ($345,000)

Has the number of listings jumped this week?  Yes and no.  There are actually two new listings this week and 4 homes that have been on the market, but were listed in different areas of Kirkland, not in The Highlands.  When listing a home, agents obviously list it in the appropriate city.  One of the other choices to pick when listing a home is called “the community”.  We are “The Highlands” community, not the Kirkland community, not downtown Kirkland (although we are close to downtown), and we are not East of Market.  Some of the “missing” listings that I added to our total listings for The Highlands are labeled as “Kirkland”, which of course we are, but don’t name the community as “The Highlands.”  Two listings are labeled “East of Market” instead of The Highlands, which also confuses the data and an agent’s search for homes.  It’s so important for agents to list homes in the right community, so agents and buyers easily find all the available homes.

Every once in a while I will go back and do a complete Kirkland search.  I will cross reference listings by map and grid, by neighborhood, and simply by Kirkland to get the most accurate data for The Highlands.  This week was one of those weeks.

Town homes/condos:

3 active townlistings home/condo

1 pending

 

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The Kirkland Senior Council Needs You!

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, seniors on October 15, 2008 at 10:55 pm

The Kirkland Senior Council is looking for volunteers.  It’s a great organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors in Kirkland.  Can you volunteer to help this great group?  I’ve been a member of the council for the past three years. 

I wrote an article about my experience in this week’s Kirkland Reporter.  Applications can be found on the City of Kirkland website.  The deadline for submitting an application is October, 31, 2008.  You don’t need to be a senior to volunteer, only someone interested in helping seniors.

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Happy First Anniversary to the Extreme Makeover Home in The Kirkland Highlands

In Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate on October 13, 2008 at 6:45 am

It’s been a year since Kirkland, Washington’s Highlands neighborhood was abuzz with The Extreme Makeover TV program.  It was a great week in which our neighborhood and a  deserving neighbor were spotlighted.  The city of Kirkland, the neighborhood, and the TV show bonded together to provide a new home to the Chapin    family.  It was quite an experience to see the neighborhood participate in such an event.  The entire block, including the neighbor’s yards,  was transformed into a TV set and staging area for building the new home.   It was a massive effort between neighborhood support, community and home building, and Hollywood.  You can follow the Extreme Makeover project from start to finish.

ext-makeoversv17.jpg

The completed Extreme Makeover home one year ago.

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I’m Having a Garage Sale Saturday, the 11th, in The Kirkland Highlands

In Kirkland Garage Sale, Kirkland WA on October 9, 2008 at 6:57 pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, it’s my turn to have the once a decade garage sale.  I hate to do them, really, but I’ve been on a “tear” lately, trying to simpify and make sure things are being used or recycled.  I want my “stuff” to be useful to someone.  I’ve had too much stuff in my garage and closets and it’s time to let some of it move on.  It’s funny how cleaning out “stuff” can be such a catharis.  Hey, I can’t change the economic news, but I can sure clean out my garage.

I have some furniture, mostly antiques, some in need of work:

  • one school desk with a place for an ink well (early 1900′s)
  • one oak desk chair (early to mid 1900′s)
  • one antique sewing machine refinished by yours truly
  • one Bentwood style chair
  • a computer desk
  • coffee table with tile top
  • Oak drop leaf dining table
  • photo printer
  • antique mirrors  
  • Framed and numbered prints
  • a few paintings
  • lots of other “stuff”

So stop on by on Saturday, from 9-4 PM at 9415 110th PL NE in the Kirkland Highlands.  Stop by, buy something, and say hello. 

And, if you’re near the “senior/boomer” side of life, I will be giving away Vial of Life bottles for you to use in emergency situations.  The vials are part of a project from The Kirkland Senior Council and Bellevue’s Network on Aging.  Since I happen to be working on this project, I thought it would be a great way to get some more of the vials out to people.

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Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through October 9th, 2008

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on October 9, 2008 at 4:57 pm

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

Active Listings:  26 (25)

New listings:  1  (1)

Re-listed properties: 0  (0)

Pending inspection:  0 (0) 

Pending:  0 (0)

Closed Sales: 0   (2)

Contingent sale:0  (0)

Number of Price Reductions:0 (2)

Cancelled listings 0  (1)

Expired Listings:0  (0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market: 0 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

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0-$349,999:   1 (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 5 (5)

$500,000-$749,999:    8 (7)

$750,000-$999,999:  10 (10)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  1 (1)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   1 (1)
———————————–
Average Price: $717,121 ($724,804)

Median Price:   $679,000 ($699,000)

Average Days on Market: 112 (111)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,599,000 ($1,599,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $345,000 ($345,000)

All quiet on the Kirkland Highlands’ real estate front.  There was only one change to the real estate statistics since last week, the addition of one home for sale.  The number of homes available in the Highlands now stands at 26.  There were no other changes in real estate activity for this week. 

The real estate news for King County in general shows a decrease in inventory, we are back down to early June, 2008 totals, and an increase in pending sales in September.  Times are certainly different, no doubt, but if anything like the past holds true, competition may lessen as we get closer to the end of the year, which may help those sellers who want or need to sell. 

Are homes selling?  I analyzed my real estate activity for the year, which happened in a variety of eastside neighborhoods and found homeowners making moves for all the typical reasons.  As hard as things are right now with the economy, there are still people who want and need to make a move.

Town homes/condos:

4 active townlistings home/condo

 

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Kudos to Kirkland Highlands’ Resident Rick Altig and His Company, Altig International

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA on October 8, 2008 at 9:34 am

The Eastside Business Journal site spotlighted long-time Kirkland Highland’s resident, Rick Altig and Altig International for the company’s creative and innovative communication’s program. Four years ago, Rick developed Altig TV to spread the company’s ideals to its various offices.  Kudos to Rick and Altig International.

The Kirkland Highlands is a neighborhood filled with dynamic people.  Our location close to downtown Kirkland attracts a variety of people who love the suburban/urban lifestyle and the eclectic style of the Highlands neighborhood and homes. 

I’m interested in profiling people and homes in Kirkland’s Highlands.    Do you have an interesting story?  Do you have an interesting home?  Do you know a neighbor who fits this bill?

Tell me about yourself, your home or a neighbor who’s doing interesting things.   It’s a great way to bring another dimension to Kirkland’s Highlands.

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