Kirkland Highlands Real Estate Buzz

Active Listings:   24(25)

Pending:  2(0)

Closed Sales:   1(1)

Contingent sale: 0(1)

Number of Price Reductions:  3(1)

Cancelled listings 0(0)

Expired Listings 0 (0)

Temporarily Off Market  0(0)

Price increase  0(1)

Back on market 1 (0)

———————————–

0-$349,999:   0(0)

$350,000-$499,999:   2(3)

$500,000-$749,999:    6(5)

$750,000-$999,999:  10(11)

$1,000,000- $1,499,999:   3(3)

$1,500,000- $2,999,999:   3(3)
———————————–
Average Price: $962,900($961,464)
Median Price:   $875,300(873,550)

Market: 97(87)

Highest Priced Listing: $2,299,950 ($2,299,950)

Lowest Priced Listing: $440,000 ($440,000)

My analysis of this week’s real estate buzz (through midday Friday):

There’s one new listing and one property back on the market because of a failed sale. One home received an offer, two homes are pending, and one home sale is closed. 

New listings:

 $500,000 remodeled two story in Edwards Place with 1600+ square feet.

Homes receiving offers:

$869,000 two story on NE 100th with 3200+ square feet, built in 2001. On market for 18 days.

Homes sold contingent:

(The buyer has to sell their home as a condition of the sale.)

$722,000 Highlande Creste two story with a basement, 2810  square feet, 4 bedrooms/3.5 baths.

Homes that are pending sales:

(home sales in which the inspection has been satisfied)

$440,000 1 1/2 story home buildt in 1963, backs to Extreme Makeover Home, remodel potential or land buy. On the market for 227 days.

$699,000 Highlande Creste, 2800 square foot two story with 4 bedrooms/3.5 baths.

Price reductions:

$545,000 in Hidden Hills for a tri-level, down about $5000 or 1%.

$649,950 down from $674,950 for a home in Waterwheel Park with the garage converted to living space.

$699,900 Highland Creste, two story with a basement, originally priced at $765,000.

Closed sales:

(Homes in which the new owner has moved in!)

$569,950 remodeled mid-entry home sold for Full Price in 8 days.

___________________________________________________

Town homes/condos

5  town homes currently on the market

New listings:

Sold subject to inspection:

Pending:

Price reduced:

No new activity in the above categories.

Closed sales:

 $595,000 town home in High Pointe,  2300 square foot town home with 3 bedrooms/ 2.5 baths, and a view.      Original list price of $628,000.  Home sold for 6% below the original list price.

Sellers had a 10.2% chance of selling a home in Kirkland in December, 2007.

(See the above chart to follow the real estate trends for the last few years.  The chart shows trends for Kirkland, south of NE 116th St)

December 2007    332 homes for sale, 34 sales, 10.2% chance of selling.

November 2007   405 homes for sale, 44 sales, 10.8% chance of selling.

December 2006    241 homes for sale  47 sales,  19.5% chance of selling.

Here’s a tally of 2007 Kirkland real estate:

For 2008:

• Sellers must have the best home out there for the money.
• Sellers must have the best marketing program to showcase their home. 
• Sellers must be realistic and flexible with pricing.
• Interest rates are fabulous.
• Competition among buyers for homes will be less.
• Pricing will be negotiable.
 It will be slower this year, but buyers will buy and homes will sell. 
The home that captures the buyer through great pricing and marketing will get the sale.

For a report on the Eastside’s December performance, you can check my summary of Eastside real estate on my eastside blog.

(Photo of finished home courtesy of Sherry Vincent) 

The Kirkland Performance Center was hopping on Sunday night the 18th.  People came to support Hopelink and the Chapin family at a presentation of  the Extreme Makeover show of the Chapin residence.  As many Kirklanders know, The Chapins received a new home in October courtesy of  Extreme Makeover Home Edition and many local contractors, such as Doyle Construction.  The construction of the home was a huge community effort that continued with Sunday’s “performance” of the TV show. 

 Volunteers, contractors, and members of the cast of Extreme Makeover worked around the clock in rainy weather during the 8 day build.  The sign above shows  just a few of the many contractors that contributed their time, money, and services.

 The Kirkland Performance Center sold over 300 tickets, netting about $422 in cash donations and a total of 6 crates of food for Hopelink.  Over on Rain City Guide, Ardell wrote a piece about Sunday’s performance.

The Chapin family utilitzed some of Hopelink’s services in the past when they were a bit more down on their luck.  They have been great to always remember Hopelink and this was a fine way to do it!

 If you check out my previous blog postings on The Extreme Makeover home, you can follow the experience from beginning to end.  Photos have been posted which show the original home, the teardown, and the construction.  It was an exciting project and a neighborhood/city bonding experience. 

Learn the real scoop on The Extreme Makeover Home Edition Experience.  Here’s your chance to hear first hand about the Kirkland Extreme Makeover experience while giving to people in need.  Hopelink is sponsoring a broadcast of the show as it airs on ABC the evening of December 16th at 8 PM.  The event will be held at The Kirkland Performance Center with the Chapin-Groven family, the home owners, present to answer questions about the experience.

Where:  The Kirkland Performance Center

When:  December 16th at 8 PM, with doors opening at 7 PM

Cost:  $15 for adults, and $10 for children.  Bring a food or toy donation for Hopelink.

For more details about the event, please check the Hopelink website or call 425-893-9900. Tickets go on sale on November, 30th, 2007.

Sheryl Vincent sent me these great photos she took of The Extreme Makeover project from start to finish. She did a great job.  Thanks, Sheryl!

For other photos and articles you can go online to Extreme Makeover.

Day 9

9 AM

The house is done and just gorgeous! The crowds were ready and the TV cameras were rolling.

Ty runs by and high fives the crowd.  The Lake Washington High School cheerleaders were ready!

The bus is in front of the house.

The limo with the Chapins pulls up to their new home.

The bus is moved and the Chapin family gets the first glimpse of their new home.

The family turns to the crowd before entering their new home for the first time.

 The Extreme Makeover Team has done it again, leaving a family with a wonderful, new home and a community sharing a fabulous experience. 

The Kirkland Highlands neighborhood, The Extreme Makeover crew, and the volunteers all worked together to get the job done.  A wonderful experience was had by all.  Thanks to all who participated, giving the Chapins a new home and the country a glimpse of our great community.

Check out The Extreme Makeover project online. Find out more about Connie Chapin’s story at Hopelink.

My trusty partner over at Windermere Real Estate/East,Inc, Angie Bondurant, went over to the site today, since I could not be there.  She hung in for about two hours and took some great photos.  The crew kept hoping they would be able to make it to the “Move the Bus” moment yesterday, but just could not do it.  So this morning between 9-11, the big moment will occur.

The new house number is up and is signed by the crew.

A cheering line watches the lookout station for the pool get moved to the backyard. Many of the kids who take swim lessons from Connie were there with their parents to cheer the move on.

Terrific landscaping is beginning to take shape in the front of the house.

 Moving the furniture in.

Location manager, Eric Osborn.

The executive producer signing his autograph for a 10 year old spectator.

A rainbow over the neighbor’s home.

To find out more about the project, check out Extreme Home Makeover. Don’t forget to donate to the Chapin family.  You can make donations on this site.

Day 8

9 AM

Soon, we will know whether the team will make it.  I’m off to South Carolina for a family event, so I will miss “Move The Bus.”  I ‘ve asked several people to send me photos if they are able to make it to the event.  Feel free to email me any photos of today’s events and I will do my best to post a few for all to see.  I am happy to credit anyone who sends me a photo. 

Wow, the energy at the site this morning is amazing!  It looks like there are at least hundred people at work.

As of last night, the time to move the bus was 8:30 PM.  Now, it is anybody’s guess.  The time keeps changing,  so if you are heading up to the site, you take your chances that you will hit it at the right time.

 Check out the green extreme makeover website.  There is also a place to donate to the Chapin family.

Day 7

9 AM

 Piles of dirt for the top soil

The front is starting to look great!

3:30 PM

 When I parked on a side street I ran into Jonathan Webber, the assistant location manager, doing a good deed.  He and a crew member were fixing a set of mail boxes that had been knocked down by an exuberant volunteer. 

Jonathan told me the work had been really moving forward and the project should be completed tomorrow.  However, it may not be until 8:30 PM.   The family is returning tonight and will be staying at an undisclosed location. 

Starting to look really good.

 The garage is looking more complete.

The landscaping is beginning.

Tomorrow morning we will find out it the Extreme Makeover Crew will make tomorrow’s deadline.  We shall see.  Here is hoping that they do and thanks again to all the volunteers who have worked so hard. As of late this afternoon, the crew was looking at 8:30 tomorrow night for the “Move The Bus” Moment.

Check out Extreme Makeover websites: Green Makeover.

Calling all volunteers!  The crew is behind due to weather and other issues.  If you can volunteer some time to help, please do so. 

I received an email from a past client of mine who used to live in The Kirkland Highlands neighborhood and still brings her three boys to swim at the Chapin Residence.  Here is a quote from her message:

“Add that to the wet weekend weather, and the already tight construction schedule is looking tough.“We’re actually a lot behind,” said Paige Hemmis, one of the “Makeover” team members. “If anyone is out there listening and they can come out and help, we’d really appreciate it.”The show’s organizers say they are in particular need of carpenters. Anyone who’s able to help should head to the staging area at the Totem Lake Mall or call (360) 951-6512.” I will  post my report and latest photos later today.