Debra Sinick

Archive for January, 2009|Monthly archive page

, ,

Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through January 29th, 2009

In buyers, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on January 30, 2009 at 2:53 pm

The real estate statistics below reflect the real estate activity in The Kirkland Highlands for the past week and all data is taken from the NWMLS through Thursday morning each week.

The map shows most of the outline of Kirkland’s Highlands neighborhood.  The map address is simply for a street corner in the middle of the Kirkland Highlands.   For those  not familiar with the neighborhood, it’s a pocket of unique homes close to downtown Kirkland.  In some ways it feels like an island because it’s separated on the east by 405, the south by Central Way (the main route to downtown) and the west and north by the BNSF railroad tracks.  The neighborhood has the best of both worlds, a little isolation without any through traffic, but just seconds from everything.


View Larger MapActive Listings: 24 (24)

New listings:    0 (4)

Re-listed properties:   0 (0)

Pending inspection:   0 (0)

Pending:   0 (1)

Closed Sales:    0 (1)

Contingent sale: 0 (0)

Number of Price Reductions: 2 (2)

Canceled listings  0 (1)

Expired Listings: 0 (0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market:  0 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

Sale Fail: 0 (0)

———————————–

0-$349,999:  1  (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 7 (7)

$500,000-$749,999: 6 (6)

$750,000-$999,999:  8 (8)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  1 (1)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   1 (1)
———————————–
Average Price: $708,640 ($709,473)

Median Price:   $697,000 ($697,000)

Average Days on Market: 159 (152)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,850,000 ($1,850,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $299,950 ($309,950)

For the first time in a long time, there’s a single family home for sale priced under $300,000.  I researched 2008 statistics and did not find a single family home listed in the Kirkland Highlands for under $300,000.

Townhomes/condos

1 Active town home listed

President Obama’s stimulus bill has passed the house and is now on its way to the Senate.   The link is to an article I wrote about some of the key real estate incentives proposed by the 2009 stimulus plan.

, , ,

Environmentally Sustainable Kirkland

In Built Green, Kirkland News, Kirkland WA on January 28, 2009 at 10:59 am

What should environmental sustainability mean to Kirkland?

What is Kirkland doing about sustainability?

These were the questions asked at the start of the “Environmentally Sustainable Kirkland”  meeting last night by Mayor Jim Lauinger.  A group of interested citizens, mostly from Kirkland, met last night to talk about the direction Kirkland should take with sustainable and environmentally conscious living.  The people present had only one interest, sustainable living and protecting our environment for now and future generations.   Private citizens, Realtors, environmentalists, educators, retired public officials, and  city officials all participated.

President Obama’s message that we as individuals must join with our community and government to make changes was heard loud and clear by this group.   The group consensus was there’s a strong need to build community, educate, and develop individual/community partnerships  to promote sustainability.

Who can we in Kirkland turn to to help spread the word about sustainable living?   This was a question the group answered, creating a list of people and groups who could help:

  • Schools
  • Scout Troops
  • Business leaders
  • Employers
  • Media
  • Religious groups
  • Neighborhood associations
  • Builders
  • Realtors
  • PTA
  • Elected Officials-City Council-State Legislators
  • Non-profit groups
  • Hospitals

How can we use all the forces available at the federal, state, city, business, and individual level?

  • Regulate
  • Educate
  • Lead by example
  • Offer incentives
  • Develop a green business directory
  • Work parties (a very successful Kirkland endeavor already, particularly in the Highlands!)

Where is the city of Kirkland going with sustainability?

  • Easier and faster permit process for “green building”
  • urban forester program
  • 20 year forest restoration plan to remove invasive species
  • parkland acquisition program
  • recycling programs
  • encouraging “green” powered jobs
  • Kirkland city fleet- looking to hybrid vehicles, electric cars, and scooters

The question asked at the close of the meeting by one of the participants:

How do we balance the growth of Kirkland with sustainable measures?  A compelling question for everyone to answer.  What are your thoughts?

, , , ,

Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through January 22, 2009

In Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, Real estate, Weekly market update on January 23, 2009 at 12:22 pm

The real estate statistics below reflect the real estate activity in The Kirkland Highlands for the past week and all data is taken from the NWMLS through Thursday morning each week.

Active Listings: 24 (21)

New listings:    4 (0)

Re-listed properties:   0 (1)

Pending inspection:   0 (1)

Pending:   1 (0)

Closed Sales:    1 (0)

Contingent sale: 0 (0)

Number of Price Reductions: 2 (2)

Canceled listings  1 (2)

Expired Listings: 0 (0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market:  0 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

Sale Fail: 0 (0)

———————————–

0-$349,999:  1  (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 7 (4)

$500,000-$749,999: 6 (7)

$750,000-$999,999:  8 (8)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  1 (1)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   1 (0)
———————————–
Average Price: $709,473 ($695,398)

Median Price:   $697,000 ($725,000)

Average Days on Market: 152 (169)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,850,000 ($1,195,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $309,950 ($319,950)

Townhomes/condos

1 Active town home listed

The number of homes for sale in The Kirkland Highlands creeped up this week, with the addition of four new listings.  Two of these homes for sale are
“short sales.”

What’s a short sale? Here’s very brief explanation:  A short sale is when the home owner owes more to the bank than his/her home is worth on the open market.  Short sales sound very attractive, because buyers think the banks will negotiate heavily in a short sale.  Often, this is not the case.  Short sales are very involved sales.  Often the seller is trying to renegotiate the loan(s) on the property to see if he/she can keep the house. If there is more than one lender involved, then the lenders holding the mortgage must negotiate.  The lender in first position stands to get the most money if the home is sold, but still will not get all of what is owed back.  If there is a lender holding a second mortgage or a credit line, that lender will get what the first bank is willing to negotiate.  Of course, if there are liens or home owners dues owed, they are last in line to receive any funds, and may, in fact, be out in the cold.   Getting an answer to an offer from the seller/lender can take several months and there is no guarantee there will be an answer to an offer.  Short sales tend to work when the agent representing the seller knows how to handle the short sale and the banks.  If the agent has not had experience, it can be even more difficult.

I recently tried to sell a great home that was a short sale.  The offer was written in November, before Thanksgiving.  We kept hearing we would get a response from the seller.  The seller was madly trying to get his loan modified and hold onto the house.  Last week the buyers decided to go buy another home.

Short sales are different than REO”S, bank owned properties. These homes have already been foreclosed on and are now owned by the bank.  The bank will be able to respond to an offer, but sometimes not as quickly as a homeowner would when selling a home.  FYI, some bank-owned properties are not maintained very well.  I showed a bank owned home the other day in Kirkland and all the systems were shut off.  There was no electricity, heat or water.  In addition, the home was dirty and the yard was a mess.  A building inspection is critical with any sale, but particularly with a short sale or bank-owned property.

Back to weekly real estate statistics for The Kirkland Highlands:

One home was taken off the market and two homes had their prices reduced.

Closed sales (home has a new owner):

$300,000     Edwards Place rambler with 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, and new carpet and paint.  It was on the market for 105 days.  Original asking price of $355,000, final asking price of $305,000.  Sold for 7% below the original asking price.


, ,

Kirkland Volunteers Needed to Help Local Flood Victims

In Kirkland WA on January 22, 2009 at 2:40 pm

Flooded road

Adults and teens are needed to assist victims of the flooding in Lewis County. Licensed plumbers and electricians are especially needed!

Carpools leave Holy Spirit Lutheran Church parking lot (10021 NE 124th St in Kirkland) at 6:30am. Notify Lyn Brunk at linda.brunk@verizon.net by the end of the day on Thursday (today!) if you can make it. Please bring boots, a change of clothes, work gloves, lunch, water, and gas money to chip in. Trips will continue as long as there is work to be done.

Julie Huffman

Special Projects/Volunteer Coordinator

City of Kirkland

123 5th Avenue

Kirkland, WA 98033

PH: 425-587-3012

Fax: 425-587-3019

Kirkland Highlands’ Cotton Hill Park-MLK Day of Service

In Earth Day-Goat Project, Kirkland News, Kirkland WA on January 20, 2009 at 7:35 pm

Kirkland, Washington was at it again!  People were working hard in Cotton Hill Park on Martin Luther King Day,  The Day of Service called by President Obama (yay!),  hauling off more of the invasive plants and helping to do a general cleanup.  Thank you to all who volunteered and helped today.

This year, I plan to take more photos of Kirkland Highlands’ happenings.  There’s always a lot going on and it’s fun to see all that happens in our neighborhood.  Feel free to send me photos if you have any of things happening in the neighborhood.  I will post them here.  This will be a record of Kirkland Highlands’ fun events.  Here’s an article with photos from Kirkland Highlands events from the end of 2007-2008.  Happy New Year!

cotton-hill-parkcotton-hill parkcotton-hill-parkcotton-hill-parkcotton-hill-park

cotton-hill-park

, , , , , , , ,

Kirkland Highlands-A Look Back at 2008 in the Neighborhood

In Earth Day-Goat Project, Extreme Makeover Home Project, Kirkland WA on January 16, 2009 at 12:03 am

Can you remember all the things the Kirkland’s Highlands neighborhood had going on over the past year and then some? I’ve been blogging about The Kirkland Highlands for exactly two years now and I’d say things in the Highlands started heating up in September, 2007.  When I stop to think about it, I’m amazed at how much has happened in the neighborhood.  Actually, it’s kind of fun to think about and something those who live in Kirkland and the Kirkland Highlands should be proud of.  Here’s some photos of most, but not all that happened in the Kirkland Highlands over the last year.

September 2007- Extreme Makeover Home, we had our first 15 minutes of fame!extreme-makeover-home

January, 2008 Neighborhood Connections Grant Voting

Kirkland Neighborhood Connections Program

April, 2008 Cotton Hill Park redo with Vashon Island goats and Kirkland people

Rent a Ruminant Goats in Cotton Hill Park

Neighborhood Connections Grant- work done on Cotton Hill trail

kirkland-highlands-cotton-hill-pk-pat

116th sidewalk improvements completed

kirkland-highlands-connections

Summer, 2008 Landscape redo on 112th entrance to the neighborhood

kirkland-highlands-112th-redo

June, 2008 the Seafair Marathon comes through Kirkland and The Highlands

3-front-runners-Seattle Marathon

September-dedication of the Kirkland Highlands’ Cotton Hill Park

kirkkland-highlands cotton hill park dedication

neighborhood picnic

Seattle Times article about our neighborhood- our second 15 minutes of fame.

November + December-food drive and cub scout help

kirkland-food-bank-cub scouts

December-  The year ends with snow as the Seattle/Eastside sees the worst weather in decades.

kirkland-snowman

The food drive was a great success for Hoeplink, even though the Kirkland Highlands did not win. It was the effort that counted.  Our neighborhood made a valient effort and congratulations to all.  Make 2009 a great year!

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Review of Kirkland, Washington’s 2008 Real Estate

In Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers on January 15, 2009 at 2:38 pm

The start of 2008:

January          385 homes for sale    38 sales     9.8% chance of selling.

The end of 2008:

December     387 homes for sale,    22 sales,  6% chance of selling.

Best month to sell a home:

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

Worst months to sell a home:

October          495  homes for sale  47 sales       5% chance of selling

November      457 homes for sale  21 sales        5% chance of selling

Month with most number of homes for sale:

July,  508

Month with least number of homes for sale:

January, 385

Month with most number of sales:

June,  81

Month with least number of sales:

November, 21

____________________________________________

A look at the last two months of real estate statistics in Kirkland:

Sellers had a 6% chance of selling a home in Kirkland in December, 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.)

December, 2008     387 homes for sale,    22 sales,  6% chance of selling.

November, 2008   457   homes for sale,   21 sales,  5% chance of selling,

December, 2007    332   homes for sale,   34    sales,  10% chance of selling.

Sellers had a 5% chance of selling a home in Kirkland in November, 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.)

November, 2008    457   homes for sale,   21 sales,  5% chance of selling,

October 2008          495    homes for sale,  28 sales,  5% chance of selling.

November, 2007    405   homes for sale,   44    sales,  11% chance of selling.

November was the toughest month to sell in Kirkland because the the absorption rate was the lowest and the least number of homes, 21, sold.

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

Am I worried about Kirkland real estate and eastside real estate in general?  No, I’m not.  I’m a realist when it comes to the market.  There may be some differences with company layoffs and slowdowns such as possible with both Microsoft and Google, but the market will come back, it’s a question of when.  For now, I’ll repeat what I wrote a few months back:

If you’re thinking of making a move now, be prepared to be extremely competitive, in top-notch condition, and the best priced home in its “class.”  Homes are selling, but only those which stand out head and shoulders above the competition.  If you don’t need to move or this scenario is not comfortable for you, then wait until the market changes, and it will.  However, if you’re going to sell because you want to downsize or look for a larger home, then it may make sense to consider a move.  I have clients right now who are doing this very thing.  They were being incredibly “accommodating” in the sales price of their home, but plan to make up for it on the home they are buying by getting that home at a killer price.

For a full picture of 2008 Seattle/Eastside real estate, check out my post on Eastside real estate buzz.

Kirkland Community Food Drive Fills The Shelves

In Uncategorized on January 10, 2009 at 9:28 am

Kirkland Food Drive Collection Totals
(pounds of food)

Neighborhoods

· Juanita = 461 pounds

· North Rose Hill = 320 pounds

· Market = 3,855 pounds

· Norkirk = 424 pounds

· Highlands = 2,788 pounds

· Moss Bay = 508 pounds

· Everest = 849 pounds

· Central Houghton = 554 pounds

· South Rose Hill/Bridle Trails = 8,453 pounds

Other

  • City of Kirkland Employee Food Drive = 2,240 pounds
  • Kirkland Youth Council Kick Off Collection Event = 1,250

TOTAL = 21,702 pounds

Mayor James Lauinger congratulates Penny Sweet, Market Neighborhood Chair, for the neighborhood association winning the neighborhood challenge to collect the most food per capita. Kirkland Food Drive Collection Totals (pounds of food) Neighborhoods • Juanita = 461 pounds • North Rose Hill = 320 pounds • Market = 3,855 pounds • Norkirk = 424 pounds • Highlands = 2,788 pounds • Moss Bay = 508 pounds • Everest = 849 pounds • Central Houghton = 554 pounds • South Rose Hill/Bridle Trails = 8,453 pounds Other • City of Kirkland Employee Food Drive = 2,240 pounds • Kirkland Youth Council Kick Off Collection Event = 1,250 TOTAL = 21,702 pounds

Kirkland, WA – At its meeting Tuesday night, the Kirkland City Council recognized the community-wide food drive efforts that netted over 20,000 pounds of food that filled the shelves at Hopelink’s Kirkland Food Bank. Shona Koester, Kirkland’s Hopelink Center Manager, announced the total amounts of food collected throughout the community from early November through mid-December, including donations from the neighborhood challenge. Mayor James Lauinger awarded the Market Neighborhood a complimentary summer pool party for its efforts that resulted in the most food collected per capita.

“It’s a relief to see our shelves so full of food again even though the need for donations continues to rise,” said Koester. “Every item donated during the drive will soon go to feed a hungry family.”

Several neighborhoods participated in the neighborhood challenge to collect the most pounds of food per population living within the neighborhood. Collection sites were set up within the neighborhoods for ease of drop off. Hopelink and the City’s Parks Maintenance staff regularly collected the food items and transported them to the food bank at the Kirkland Hopelink Center.

“The City Council appreciates the collaborative efforts by all those involved,” says Mayor James Lauinger. “The results speak volumes to the caring of the Kirkland community.”

Food bank and cash donations are accepted year round by Hopelink. For center locations, go to www.hope-link.org or call 425-869-6000.

###

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Weekly Real Estate Buzz in The Kirkland Highlands Through January 8, 2009

In buyers, Kirkland WA, Kirkland, WA Real Estate, market statistics, Real estate, sellers, Weekly market update on January 8, 2009 at 3:27 pm

Happy New Year! This year when reporting my weekly real estate statistics for the Kirkland Highlands,  I’ll add some commentary from economic gurus and real estate pundits.  It may help you to understand and further evaluate the real estate market.  As a real estate professional, I have to keep on my toes and listen and learn from the experts out there.  I expect the real estate market to continue to be challenging in 2009.  Stay tuned, it’s going to be a wild ride and I’ll keep you informed as we go along for the ride.  But as everything in life, this too, shall pass.

Since most people were occupied with the holidays and the snow, I took a break from the weekly real estate statistics, but will now be back with with a few possible breaks in the year.  The total listings are the number of homes for sale in The Kirkland Highlands as of today,while any other activity, such as canceled, expired or price reduced listings are from the last three weeks.

Active Listings: 23 (27)

New listings:    0 (0)

Re-listed properties:   2 (0)

Pending inspection:   0 (1)

Pending:   0 (0)

Closed Sales:    0 (0)

Contingent sale: 0 (0)

Number of Price Reductions: 1 (1)

Canceled listings  2 (0)

Expired Listings: 2 (0)

Temporarily Off Market:  0 (0)

Price increase:  0(0)

Back on market:  0 (0)

Rented: 0 (0)

Sale Fail: 0 (0)

———————————–

0-$349,999:  1  (1)

$350,000-$499,999: 5 (5)

$500,000-$749,999: 6 (9)

$750,000-$999,999:  10 (10)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:  1 (1)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   0 (1)
———————————–
Average Price: $710,807 ($733,944)

Median Price:   $725,000 ($699,000)

Average Days on Market: 154 (139)

Highest Priced Listing: $1,195,000 ($1,599,000)

Lowest Priced Listing: $324,950 ($324,950)

Townhomes/condos

1 Active town home listed

The Kirkland Highlands starts the year off at a low number of listings for the neighborhood.  Four listings were canceled or expired over the last few weeks, dropping the total number of homes for sale. With 23 listings now on the market, the number matches the two weeks with the  lowest number of listings during 2008.   Both weeks were in February of last year. The most number of homes for sale in any given week happened twice last year, when 31 homes were for sale in the Kirkland Highlands on July 17th and November 20th.

I focus on inventory because inventory, with supply and demand, is an important piece for homes to sell.  Less inventory, that is also well priced, will only help to sell homes in our current real estate market.  Please only consider selling your home if you’ll price it competitively and have it looking fabulous.  There are sales happening and it’s the homes that meet this criteria that get buyers.

Here’s a few comments from some economic forecasters:

Matthew Gardner, local economist,  of Matthew Gardner LLC gave his opinion of what to expect with this year’s market on the Master Builder’s website.

“At our office we have been focused for some months now specifically on inventory levels. While prices do provide some measure of market performance, even more important is the relationship between supply and demand and trends in such numbers. With expectations of seasonally increasing sales activity, we continue to emphasize that supply will dictate and shape the spring selling season and, for the most part, the rest of the year.”

From Inman News Real Estate Connect in NYC, Barry Ritholtz, Director of Equity Research of Fusion IQ said:

“he looks at three indicators that would signal a turnaround: median home price-to-income ratios, inventory, and the cost of renting versus owning.”

Have a great year and I’ll keep you posted on the Kirkland Highlands real estate activity.


, , , ,

Kirkland Dining-Have You Tried Cafe Harlequin?

In Dining in Kirkland, Exploring Kirkland, Kirkland WA on January 6, 2009 at 3:53 pm

cafe-harlequin

One of the reasons I love living in Kirkland is the fact that I can walk (sometimes) or drive (most of the time)  to downtown in just a few minutes and I’ll find a nice restaurant.

Have you been to one of the newest restaurants 107 Lake S. in downtown Kirkland?  Cafe Harlequin has been open for a few months.  I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet, but here’s The Seattle Weekly’s take on Cafe Harlequin.

I love the convenience and the number of choices we have in Kirkland, from Japanese to Thai to Italian to Mexican to seafood and more. It’s important for me to support these local restaurants and services.  Having unique restaurants helps us to stay interesting as a city and keeps people excited about living in Kirkland.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.