Seattle Real Estate Blog

The First Thursday Art Walk in Downtown Seattle's Pioneer Square is always an interesting "Things-to-do-in-Seattle" activity, with all the Galleries , craft booths, sometimes live music and of course all the special shops , restaurants , cafes, bars that are found in Pioneer Square .   

This month was extra exciting since the friend I was with wanted to see a customer, Fred Lisaius of hers (she's the Manager at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Art Supply Store ) who was showing at the Linda Hodges Gallery.  Meeting, and talking to Fred Lisaius was fun, it made it all the more interesting to see his beautiful paintings!  

We also met up with two more people to do the Art Walk with.  While walking around, we also unexpectedly wandered into the Greg Kucera Gallery and the opening for some work by a sculptor whose beautiful Horses I have always want to see and experience in person, Deborah Butterfield.  

We began our Art Walk in Occidental Park visiting the many artists at their booths.  At one booth, a beautiful necklace by Joy Gonyea-Robertson (Jewelry by Joy ) caught my eye as well as my interest when I heard it's story...I bought it, and wore the necklace the rest of the evening!    

More of the Galleries and Studios we visited were, Grover/Thurston Gallery (we really enjoyed the art by Julie Paschkis ) , Davidson Galleries (both), and the Tashiro Kaplan All Arts Building.  There were others, but I kind of lost track.  Some of the Artists' work that I really enjoyed seeing, and Artists I enjoyed talking with were:  Kim McCarthy, Ariel Brady, Michael Baehr, and Kerrie Carbary  

There is always so much to see at the Seattle First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square , it's a great way to enjoy Downtown Seattle, and buying some Original Artwork for your home is a wonderful way to enhance your home!

Recently I was asked by someone who knows I am a Seattle Real Estate Agent, about whether or not is was a good time to sell her home.  She was asking out of simple curiosity because of what she has been hearing in the media.

I told her that if she has a reason to sell, then it could be a good time to sell if she is willing to adapt (a motivated seller) to the new Seattle real estate market.  

That means making sure her house is in very good shape (the best house for the price and location) and priced properly... even aggressively... for the market.  

BUT... if she really does not have a real need (not motivated) to sell, then it's not a good time because of the current high inventory levels, and slower sales compared to last year: 

ACTIVE listings (houses & condos) for the month of June, 2008, King County had 15,831 active listings, June 2007 was 12,282, a 28.9% INCREASE, that means a lot more houses competing for buyers this year.  

PENDING listings (houses & condos) for the month of June, 2008, King County had 2,549  pending listings, June 2007 was 3,766, a 32.32% DECREASE, that means a third less buyers making accepted offers on houses this year. 

SOLD listings (houses & condos) for the month of June, 2008, King County had 2,148 sold listings, June 2007 was 3,634, a 40.89% DECREASE, that means more than a third fewer buyers are buying homes.   

The absorption rate for June 2008 is 7.3 months of inventory to sell at the current rate of sales, and for June 2007, it was 3.3 months of inventory.  A big change in the Seattle real estate market.  Those absorption rate numbers are just a snapshot for June 2008 and 2007.  These months on hand numbers do not show trending sales.  

0 to 3 months is a sellers market 

4 to 6 months is a balanced market 

7 plus months are a buyers market  

Of course, different cities, or neighborhoods (location, location, location) of King County will have very different numbers and absorption rates and this is just a general overview.  Absorption rate can also be analyzed by criteria such as price range, or type.  

I did not, of course have these numbers off the top of my head for her, but I described in general terms, that the Seattle real estate market has changed from being a sellers market to a buyers market. 

As we were finishing the conversation, she said that since her only reason to think about selling was mostly for a change, that she would wait.  I said that in that case, she might want to think about making updates to her bathrooms, and kitchen so that with those changes she increases the enjoyment of her home.  Then, when she really has a good reason, or need to sell her home, it will also be in better condition to go on the market. 

So answering the question:  I'm Thinking About Selling My Seattle House, is Now a Good Time?  It depends!

Well, it's that time of the year again and it's The Georgetown Art & Garden Walk !  This year is the 13th year that the Georgetown neighborhood in Seattle has shown off it's unique and very individual styles of Gardening.  From the front yard, the side yard, the backyard, and even the "Hell Strip" that exists between the sidewalk and the street there are sure to be surprises and delights to enjoy! 

The Georgetown Art & Garden Walk is this Sunday, July 13th from 10am to 5pm.  The Georgetown Neighborhood website has this to say about it" 

"So much to see! Colorful gardens, artist studios, food and drink, plus tours of the Georgetown Powerplant Museum and the Museum of Communication. Free and no registration required. Maps available on the day of the walk at the Bank of America parking lot, 1112 South Bailey Street." 

I did not get to attend last year's Georgetown Art & Garden Walk, (I met with clients to see a house in the morning and had an Open House in the afternoon) but I'll be there this year early with a friend to take an adventurous walk through Georgetown in Seattle!

Enjoy this slide show of my walk in Georgetown in 2006....

It's gray, drizzly and the first Saturday in May which means it's the Opening Day of Boating season in Seattle!  The Seattle Yacht Club in Montlake, is celebrating their 87th year of kicking off the Opening Day of Boating in Seattle.  

A few days ago the boats began tying up to the log boom just outside of the Montlake Cut outlining where the Parade of Boats will travel and the rowing regatta for the Windermere Cup will race.  While driving back to Seattle from my office in Bellevue, I stopped near the Museum of History and Industry to take a look at the boats lining up and mooring at the log boom to take some photos.

For more about the Opening Day of Boating in Seattle....please click here

I believe in blogging so much that I have been spending about 8 to 10 hours a week (time for attending the demos etc.) blogging [ DanielSmithArt ] for friend's business.  It has been fun and I think that doing it will help keep me sharper at blogging since it's different.  It is an Art Supply company called Daniel Smith Artists' Supply here in Seattle. 

The current blog is the testing version (a free blogger account) and I am now working with the Real Estate Tomato (who I am also working with on my SeattlesUrbanVillages blog ) to create a custom blog.  I hope that the new one will be launched in the next couple of weeks.

I have an art background, so getting involved with this art blog is making me think about painting again...I haven't painted in a long, long time.

Although I admit that initially it was hard to find my rhythm doing it, I think I have this week, and I have also been able to post on all four of the blogs I write for, so far this is my 12th post total this week!

Whoo Hooo, I am so excited!

It's done! It's done! 

My new outside real estate blog [ SeattlesUrbanVillages ] is done being designed by The Real Estate Tomato , and I am now working on filling it with content! 

HOME HOME SEARCH MY HOME'S VALUE SEATTLE PHOTO ALBUM SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS CONTACT ABOUT

That is going to be my primary job this coming week, writing articles to post in it.  There are also "pages" of information on Seattle neighborhoods and relocation information to write and post...and while it is going to be a BIG job, I am really looking forward to it.

I already have an outside blog through Typepad [ SeattlesUrbanVillages.typepad.com ] but I never really liked it, and always hoped to hire The Real Estate Tomato to customize it...that's why I chose Typepad to host since that is what The RET uses.  Well, as it turns out, Jim at The Real Estate Tomato prefers Wordpress.  So now I have a blog that will languish in the Internet, and become a blog ghost... *sigh*

But the great news is that I will have a much better blog to put my time and effort into...I am sooo excited!

***  Rebuilt Rambler Ready for YOU!  ***

Are you ready to finally become a Homeowner?  If you are, then come to the Open House this Sunday, April 27 from 1 to 4.  If that is not convient, then call me (206-618-0565) to come and take a look at this great starter home with a quick and easy 10 minuet communte to Downtown Seattle.  Great Starter Home price at $259,000.

This 3 bedroom, 1 bath home with attached garage, was REBUILT (effectively rebuilt in 1999 per the Tax records) with a new kitchen, bath, interior doors & trim, fireplace, double paned windows, electrical, drywall, furnace and roof...the hard part has been done!  All this work was done with permits by professional contractors, no weekend handyman projects here, so lots of peace of mind for a new homeowner.

There are hardwood floors, and a huge walk-in pantry. One car attached garage with storage shelves. The lush, private backyard is fully-fenced and has a nice patio to enjoy on warm sunny days. Just a quick 10 minuet drive to Downtown Seattle. The home is vacant and ready to move-in. Imagine finally owning your own home!

Last chance to come and see this terrific rebuilt rambler!  This is the last weekend on the market, if no offer by the end of the month it goes back to being a rental...come and check it out before too late! 

Are YOU ready to take Make a Move into Homeownership?

415 S 116th St

Seattle, WA 98168

MLS# 28048535

Deborah Burns

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Last week I posted that I was finally at the point for hiring The Real Estate Tomato to design and set up a custom blog for me. 

Since then I have been having trouble with finding (went through more than 2200 images) the right image for the header with istockphoto, I knew what I wanted...I just could not find it.  Finally we got a break in the clouds (so to speak!) and the sun came out enough on Thursday for me to take about 150 photos of one of my favorite views in Seattle.  It's from Queen Anne's Kerry Park and has killer views of Downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, Elliott Bay, the Sound, Alki Point and when the clouds have cleared enough....Mt Rainier!  Yes the archetypal Seattle view.

This is the view that many people are familiar with because it is seen often in movies, on postcards and on the news.  Just recently while at Kerry Park, I saw one of our local stations doing a broadcast from here.   

A few months after I moved to Seattle, I went driving around Queen Anne just looking for the view I had seen in postcards, movies and the news.  When I found it I was so excited, it was just breathtaking... 

I have never, never forgotten my first live view!  So more than any other view of Seattle, this means Seattle to me.

So here is the winning photo that I am using (it is cropped to fit my header format) for my new custom blog.....

So what do you think....it's beautiful...just breathtaking!

The line has been drawn, and the battle began today at "dawn".  

Day one of Latte Wars between giants Starbucks and McDonalds has ended, and down the street, the Starbucks Mermaid on top of the Starbucks World Headquartes seems to be crowded by one of McDonalds new billboards.

McDonalds has chosen to go head to head over coffee in the heart of Latte Land here in Seattle, home to Starbucks.  

A few weeks ago I noticed a large billboard on 1st Ave. S. between Starbucks and Safeco Field with a large coffee house cup of coffee with a heart swirl of cream...looked yummy....mmmmm I want a cup now!  After a couple of weeks, there were some additions made to the billboard identifying the company...on top of the cream heart swirl appeared the shape of the McDonalds "Golden Arches" and the words "McCafe". 

According to the article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer McDonalds is not trying to take market share from Starbucks...but the advance marketing looks differently!  And check out the website, I think it also tells a different story....UnsnobbyCoffee.com  

So for four Fridays (three more to go) McDonalds is offering free lattes during their breakfast hours until 10:30 AM...so here's your chance for a free latte courtesy of McDonalds to give it a test sip...so to speak!

The Starbucks Mermaid atop the Starbucks World Headquaters Building in Seattle,

                                  ...not sure she approves of Micky D.

Seattle has so many natural hills and high rise condos acting as artificial ones allowing many, many beautiful views.   There are spectacular views of the Sound, Lakes (Union, Washington, Sammamish and many others) the City, mountains (Cascades, Olympics and Mt Rainier) that many Seattle Homeowners are able to enjoy them.

There are BIG views, peekaboo views, some views, partial views, winter views, water views,sound views, lake views, river views, canal views, city views, Space Needle Views, Marina views, Park views, territorial views, valley views, mountain views, western, eastern, southern and northern views, and whatever other views a Seattle listing agent might describe for selling a Seattle home!

Seattle listing agents will always promote a view when marketing a home because a home with a view has more value to prospective buyers, and the better the view, the higher the value.  Of course the value of that view is in the eye of the beholder, although most will agree that the one that takes your breath away is the best!

The Seattle Times had a very interesting article in their Pacific Northwest Magazine today (April 6th, 2008) titled "On The Up And Up" that does a good job of talking about the values of views and the premiums that are paid for them.  The article also brings up two different reasons people value views. 

"One theory is is evolutionary: we have an inborn love of nature and views because they represented value to our primitive ancestors and psychological peace to us today....  We stood upright, perhaps, to get a better view in the tall grass of the African savanna.  A view home replicates the perfect hominid vantage point: a high point in which we are concealed but have a panoramic lookout for enemies and game."

For me...a view gives me both a sense of calm (I always take a big breath when I first see a view) and I like being up high for a sense of space and privacy!

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I Love Seattle!  For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact: 

Deborah Burns 

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com

Please visit my blogs at: 

Seattle's Urban Villages

Deborah's Seattle Homes  

I am also a contributor to:

Seattle's Rain City Guide 

If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me.  As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.

If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.

Last year I was working with some very nice and friendly Seller Clients on selling their Seattle rental house.  My Client's tenants had moved out, the house was vacant, and I added a few things to stage the Kitchen and Bath warming them up for online photos and potential buyers.  The house was well priced and ready to Sell!

We got two offers the Monday following the first weekend of the house being listed for sale on the NWMLS.  One Buyer's offer was accepted, the Buyer and the agent moved quickly to schedule an inspection.  After the inspection the Buyer's agent called me to let me know that it was finished AND that my Seller Client happened to show up (lives next door)  agreeing to fix everything that the inspector pointed out!

There went our negotiation position! 

Tip for Sellers:  Please don't give away your negotiation position, allow your agent be your liaison, avoid talking to potential Buyers, and especially avoid talking to the Buyers you are in contract with, that is your Seattle real estate agent's job!   You may give away some of your homes value (your net proceeds) when you inadvertently give away information and your negotiation position.... 

Loose lips will sabotage your negotiation position! 

One of the wonderful things about participating here on ActiveRain is learning...

and here I learned about The Real Estate Tomato .... 

Well over a year ago one of the blogs I regularly read and subscribed to was The Real Estate Tomato because of all the wonderful and helpful tips on blogging and SEO.  I decided early on that someday I would have them "do" a custom blog site for me.  Occasionally I would leave comments on the RET blog (not just the ActiveRain one) and let them know that someday...I would have a "Tomato Blog".  

Interestingly enough with all the recent blogging here on ActiveRain about using videos on blogs and the Flip Video I got into a discussion last November on The Real Estate Tomato after their post: "What Is The Future Of The Real Estate Blog?" because I was not convinced, and Jim's comments made me rethink my opinion....  I bought my Flip Video last Monday!  

Well, this week everything finally aligned and I called Jim Cronin of The Real Estate Tomato on Tuesday, we talked and Jim set the Tomato Team in motion!  This morning was my first design meeting...now I have some more "homework" to work on this weekend to find more elements to include on my new blog site...

I am so excited!

This evening my friend (who manages the Daniel Smith Art Supply Store in Seattle) and I went to Pioneer Square in Downtown Seattle to attend First Thursday Art Walk .  The Galleries in Pioneer Square keep their doors open late (until 8 PM) the First Thursday of every month and many host Artist Receptions for new art shows. 

This evening was a nice clear and mild Spring evening, big difference from last week when many Seattle areas had late snow!  There was a lot of people visiting the Galleries and it was still daylight!

We did not go to all the Galleries (just not enough time) but we did visit all our favorites and a few others that are close by.  At ArtForte Gallery I saw my favorite painting of the evening.  Flora S. Bowley , her acrylic on wood painting "Efflorescence " really caught my eye, it was very painterly and beautiful, unfortunately the small photo does not do it justice. 

Another favorite gallery is the Davidson Gallery on Occidental Ave S featured several artists whose work I very much enjoyed; Hibiki Miyazaki , Jenny Robinson , and Marino Marini 

The Glass House Studio has many beautiful glass pieces and there is the on site Studio where glass where you can watch glass being blown and sculpted.  This evening the shop was glowing in the twilight.

If you enjoy art, and are looking for original art for your home, come to the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square.  First Thursday is every month and there is a roving cocktail party atmosphere at the Art Walk, so it feels more accessible for many than walking into a quiet gallery...it's FUN!

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I Love Seattle!  For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact: 

Deborah Burns 

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com

Please visit my blogs at: 

Seattle's Urban Villages

Deborah's Seattle Homes  

I am also a contributor to:

Seattle's Rain City Guide 

If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me.  As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.

If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.

One of the really cool things I found after moving to Seattle was that Seattle is home to Bald Eagles !  

I just recently while I was driving on the I-5 to my Real Estate office at BRIO Realty, I saw a Bald Eagle soaring alongside the freeway moving in the same direction as I was.  It must have been hunting since it was soaring over the grass and shrubs bordering the freeway.  I was so excited to see the Eagle!  I safely watched it as long as I could...it always brings such a lift to my day when I see one!

Two days later I was on Alki in West Seattle to buy a "Thank You" gift certificate from Salty's on Alki for my clients who just bought a home with a BIG view of the Kent Valley.  We also happened to see an Eagle while on our first showing of what has now become their Dream Home here in Seattle! 

Anyway...just before going into the restaurant, I happened to see a Bald Eagle fly into the tall trees across the street from Salty's.  The Eagle landed in a huge nest!  Of course I whipped out my camera, although by the time I got it out the Eagle had moved to branch nearby so I waited and watched to see if I could get a photo of the Eagle flying.  I was not able to get that photo, but I got some of the Eagle perched near it's nest. 

I went into Salty's to purchase the gift certificate, and asked the person helping me about the Eagle I saw.  She ointed to a plaque nearby with a great photo of the Bald Eagle.  A pair has been making a home in the nest, and the restaurant staff has named the Eagles, what else...Salty!

I love Seattle...it's a wonderful place to live and make a home for people and Bald Eagles!

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I Love Seattle!  For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact: 

Deborah Burns 

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com

Please visit my blogs at: 

Seattle's Urban Villages

Deborah's Seattle Homes  

I am also a contributor to:

Seattle's Rain City Guide 

If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me.  As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.

If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.

I have heard for a long time about the Best Ladies' Restroom in Seattle , and today I got to experience...ummm...see it for myself!  LOL!

My friend Christi, took me to lunch at the Top of the Columbia Tower and WoW!  Absolutely Breathtaking Views...  Our table was in the northwest corner so we had views of Puget Sound, the Seattle Waterfront, Magnolia, Queen Anne, the Space Needle (we were looking down on it!) Belltown, Lake Union, Capitol Hill...really amazing!

Of course, throughout our delicious lunch I was anticipating a visit to the Best Ladies' Restroom in Seattle, and upon entering my own private room....

YES...it was fabulous!

Besides the Display Gardens....that would be the Marketplace ! 

Shopping or browsing at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show  ( NWF&GS )  in the Marketplace is one of the highlights of my annual visits. 

I always make sure to visit my "old friends" and meet some new ones after seeing the display gardens, so off to see the  Ravenna Gardens booth!

Every year I enjoy seeing what beautiful garden things they will have to tempt me....

Lucca Statuary

The Chocolate Flower Farm which SMELLED wonderfully from the candles, I succumbed and bought!

Stone Manor Lighting which had a wonderful display, very moody with it's twilight atmosphere.

The Home & Garden Art LLC in Ballard featured whimsy with it's scrap metal sculptured animals. 

On the Skybridge straddling over Pike Street by a couple of stories are the Container Garden Displays, great place to get some ideas for a patio or balcony garden.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

To see my blog post on my Favorite 5 Display Gardens, click here

This year I was a Guest Blogger for the NWF&GS, click here to read my post.  

Next year the Northwest Flower & Garden Show will be February 4th to 8th, 2009, plan to come and be inspired for Spring!

****************************************************************************************

I Love Seattle!  For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact: 

Deborah Burns 

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com

Please visit my blogs at: 

Seattle's Urban Villages

Deborah's Seattle Homes  

I am also a contributor to:

Seattle's Rain City Guide 

If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me.  As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.

If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.

Recently another Seattle Buyer's Agent called me, the Seattle Listing Agent, if my now Pending listing looks solid, or if there might be a chance that the transaction could fail? 

 *Sigh*

 So the question I have to ask the Buyer's Agents is why NOW? 

The house has been on the market for months, with no interest, so where were these interested Seattle Home Buyers?  I know our Seattle Real Estate Market is picking up for spring, but still, I have received 3 of these calls in the past few weeks.  I got the same answer from all 3 Buyer's Agents, their Buyers had been sitting on the fence about making an offer.  That waiting while deciding what to do, caused them to lose their opportunity to make an offer when someone else beat them to it.  

It is HARD to decide to make an offer.  Especially if as a Buyer, you are wondering if you should wait and see if the listed price might be lowered...or if home prices in general go down. 

Since the house had been on the market for a few months, my Seller Clients were considering lowering the price (again) when we got the offer.   While we hadn't lowered it yet, the Buyer was able to easily get an accepted offer at a lower than the listed price, since a lower price was ALREADY being considered by my Seller Clients.

So a tip for you Buyers considering buying a Seattle home, make an offer!  If the house has been on the market for while, the Sellers may be willing to consider your less (way less?) than listed offer, it's called negotiating!

As hard as it is to make the decision to make an offer on a house that you are interested in...think of how you will feel if someone makes an offer on what could have been YOUR home? 

********************************************************************************

I Love Seattle!  For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact: 

Deborah Burns 

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com

Please visit my blogs at:

Deborah's Seattle Homes  

Seattle's Urban Villages

I am also a contributor to:

Seattle's Rain City Guide 

If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me.  As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.

If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.

We are lucky here in Seattle that we have a way to mark the beginning of Spring...

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show !  

The gray, cold drizzle will all go away when you come to the Washington State Convention Center this week, February 20th thru 24th, 2008, to walk around the fabulous display gardens, and see all the wonderful new "STUFF'' for sale to help turn your yard, patio, or balcony into your own private garden retreat.  Come and get some ideas to improve your home's curb appeal, or just come for a stroll through fantasy gardens.  You can also attend the many lectures to learn more about gardening, but for me, it's all about the display gardens...I'm going on Friday....

Check out last years Northwest Flower & Garden Show , I had a wonderful time (as usual!) there were so many wonderful ideas, and last year one of my favorites was actually a bathroom!  I have lost count of how many shows I have gone to, but I know I went a few years before I bought my Seattle home in 1997, I couldn't wait until I owned my own home to plan and make my own gardens.

Above is a garden from my 2006 visit.  Yes....I would love to enjoy dinner at that table in that garden!

So come in out of the gray and the cold, and take a peek at what Spring can bring to you!

* Banner image courtesy of the Northwest Flower & Garden Show website

Note: I counted it up....this should be my 14th visit!

***************************************************************************************

I Love Seattle!  For more information about Seattle and Seattle Real Estate, please contact: 

Deborah Burns 

206-618-0565

BRIO Realty

Deborah.Burns.Seattle@gmail.com

Please visit my blogs at:

Deborah's Seattle Homes  

Seattle's Urban Villages

I am also a contributor to:

Seattle's Rain City Guide 

If you are Relocating to Seattle and thinking of Buying a Seattle Home, please contact me.  As a Relocation Specialist I would be happy to help you make Seattle your new home.

If you are already living in Seattle, and thinking of Buying or Selling your Seattle Home, I would be happy to meet, and talk with you about the service I provide my clients as a Seattle Real Estate Agent.

Today, February 7th, 2008, marks the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Rat .  There will be a celebration this Saturday, February 9th, 2008, , in the International District  to welcome the New Year and to celebrate the Grand Opening of Seattle's New China Gate

The New China Gate is a HUGE Red Gate that spans South King St, faces Fifth Avenue South and marks a Grand entry into the International District.  The ceremonies for the China Gate begin at 10AM.  The Lunar New Year Celebration in the International District begins at noon and continues until 6PM. 

Time to celebrate the Year of the Rat...

Happy New Year! 

Later that evening I saw that ABC's Nightline was doing a story about homeowners thinking about walking away from their mortgages and the new company ( YouWalkAway.com ) promising to help these distressed homeowners, I made sure that I watched the report.  

It was very sad to see the helplessness of the homeowners who are facing foreclosure, and are up against a wall.  Then watching the spokesperson (owner?) of YouWalkAway.com talking about the company's objective for helping homeowners who are loosing their homes to foreclosure.  The spokesperson made some good points that the mortgage companies were the ones who offered these risky mortgages, they were the ones educated on the risks and still made the loans to people who were much less financially savvy than the lenders.  I can see why some (many?) homeowners would want to take this route.

While I don't like the idea of a company spreading the word, and profiting from it, about just walking away from a financial obligation, perhaps this will allow homeowners to have some leverage to negotiate with lenders to work out a plan for the homeowner to pay on a new, affordable mortgage rather than just "Walking Away"....