It List - July 2017

Quilcene, Washington Designed by award-winning architect, Tom Bosworth, this waterfront home and guest cabin are a hidden treasure of cedar, glass and stone. Perched above pristine Dabob Bay, the "Treehouse" has 1,480 feet of waterfront on 21 acres of magnificent forest. Offered at $2,300,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... I am proud to present Realogics Sotheby's International Realty's look at housing market trends for the first half of 2017 in 15 key markets from around the Puget Sound, from the shores of Bainbridge Island’s waterfront homes, to Seattle and beyond. See how the market is doing in your neighborhood.  READ MORE... 1223 Spring Street, #501, Seattle  Built in 1929, with lavish Art Deco detailing throughout, this building exudes the luxury of the era. Unit #501 has been gracefully remodeled, keeping the elegance of the original home intact while offering all the modern amenities. With over 2600 square feet, all on one level, this special residence lives like a single family home, not a condominium! Offered at $1,850,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... 1550 Shenandoah Drive E, Seattle  Southern-styled traditional in the heart of Broadmoor! Sited on an expansive double lot, this treasured home has a fantastic floor plan combining elegant formals, cozy library, Four bedrooms up, a kitchen/family room, and and oversized daylight rec-room. Eight sets of French doors lead to either the intimate brick courtyard in the back or open to the balconies that trim the home. Two charming patios, a child's cottage, tree house, and lush garden all embraced by mature flowering trees and shrubs. Laid-back luxury! Offered at $3,295,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... Recently named Travel + Leisure’s Top City of 2017, Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city, a part of which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, we check in with Larry Stebbins, owner of Agave Sotheby’s International Realty in San Miguel, to discover the latest from within the T+L top city. READ MORE... Downtown Seattle's historic Chinatown-International District has long been home to culture, cuisine and conveniences befitting of its urban renaissance. At its heart is KODA, an artfully-inspired 200+ unit condominium that is set to rise at the corner of 5th Avenue and Main Street. Homeownership is finally within reach as is modern design, dynamic amenities and immediate access to the regional transportation hub at King Street Station and all that downtown Seattle has to offer. Priced from the low $300,000s. LEARN MORE ABOUT KODA... Washington state is bad for business? Think again because Puget Sound Business Journal says “it’s actually the best, according to a new ranking.” As the article describes, “while Seattle is sometimes pegged as being bad for business due to regulations and taxes, Washington had economic growth nearly 2.5 times the national rate” at 3.7% in 2016, and according to the latest CNBC rankings, which measure 66 metrics across 10 categories, the Evergreen State is now the number one state for business. READ MORE... The statistics for the first quarter of 2017 are in — and more impressive than ever! Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates has excelled in bringing global awareness to real estate properties. Not only has the company surpassed the competition in the global realm, the website traffic reports prove that more people will see luxury listings when they are affiliated with our company. The statistics for SIR.com from the first quarter reached a staggering 7 million unique visits with over 30 million page views! When compared to previous reports, it’s clear the company’s continued growth and digital marketing efforts are making an impact. READ MORE...

It List - June 2017

1223 Spring Street, #501, Seattle  Built in 1929, with lavish Art Deco detailing throughout, this building exudes the luxury of the era. Unit #501 has been gracefully remodeled, keeping the elegance of the original home intact while offering all the modern amenities. With over 2600 square feet, all on one level, this special residence lives like a single family home, not a condominium! Offered at $1,850,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... 1550 Shenandoah Drive E, Seattle  Southern-styled traditional in the heart of Broadmoor! Sited on an expansive double lot, this treasured home has a fantastic floor plan combining elegant formals, cozy library, Four bedrooms up, a kitchen/family room, and and oversized daylight rec-room. Eight sets of French doors lead to either the intimate brick courtyard in the back or open to the balconies that trim the home. Two charming patios, a child's cottage, tree house, and lush garden all embraced by mature flowering trees and shrubs. Laid-back luxury! Offered at $3,295,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... The Puget Sound Business Journal recently revealed the list of Largest Residential Real Estate Firms in Washington, ranking Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty sixth overall, an apropos position given that it is the firm’s sixth consecutive year on the list. Ranked by 2016 residential home sales in the Puget Sound region, RSIR reported $1.07 billion in local residential sales last year. Most notably, despite being smaller than any of the brokerages in the top 5 spots at 195 agents, the boutique brokerage reported an average sales price of $767,000, higher than the average of each of the top 5 firm’s by at least $225,000. READ MORE... On the evening of June 7th, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty welcomed Carol Elkins, Senior Vice President of Sotheby’s Jewelry, to Park House for a glittering presentation on magnificent jewels covering bidding at auction, global jewelry trends, and current market values. It was an amazing night for cocktails, friends, fun, and diamonds of course! As Elkins highlighted, the audience for jewelry in Sotheby’s is growing to record setting levels, and 2017 has already significant sales in the Jewelry department including the sale of “The Pink Star” for $71.2M. READ MORE... 1) 3309 E Saint Andrews Way, Seattle  This mid-century home has been a rental for over 25 years, and is now an opportunity for a savvy buyer. Does it need updating? YES, but at just $350/square foot (the average being $620/square foot in Broadmoor), this home is priced to sell. Offered at $1,495,000. 2) 1325 Broadmoor Drive E, Seattle  The classic symmetry of a Georgian Colonial never goes out of style! Over 6,000 square feet of yummy interiors & killer finishes combine with a floor plan that really works. Plantation shutters, deep moldings, shadow-boxing, marble floors, paneled den & a family room off of the kitchen. Did I mention the indoor-outdoor flow? Offered at $3,495,000. Earlier this month, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Owner & CEO Dean Jones sat down with Buzz Buzz News to discuss current and future trends in Seattle’s dynamic real estate market, from home prices and foreign investment, to the impact of Seattle’s Silicon Forest. Jones says the most exciting trend in the Emerald City today is “without question, the urbanization of Seattle.” He notes the staggering 68 tower cranes and convergence of our diversified and rapidly growing economy with urban campuses, which “attracts new jobs and spurs housing demand in the downtown core.” READ MORE... One of the most beloved First Ladies and iconic historic figures, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ childhood home is for sale in McLean, Virginia for $49.5 million. Recently reported by The Wall Street Journal, America Online (AOL) co-founder Steve Case is listing Merrywood – the sprawling, seven-acre estate on the Potomac River with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Nestled in the Washington DC suburb, the estate reflects a storied history, serving as home to several of America’s most influential political and business leaders. READ MORE... Tom Skerritt, "Top Gun" star and founder of TheFilmSchool, recently announced his new endeavor: Heyou Media LLC. With a goal to elevate Seattle's film production reputation, "He and Heyou co-founders are hoping to build a business that make visual entertainment content in Seattle on modest budgets." I urge you to read his interview with The Puget Sound Business Journal on his startup's plans; he has quite a fascinating vision! READ MORE...

It List - May 2017

1325 Broadmoor Drive E, Seattle  The classic symmetry of a Georgian Colonial never goes out of style! Over 6,000 square feet of yummy interiors & killer finishes combine with a floor plan that really works. Plantation shutters, deep moldings, shadow-boxing, marble floors, paneled den & a family room off of the kitchen. Did I mention the indoor-outdoor flow? An entertainer's dream with 7 sets of French doors opening from the home to the private, sunny & beautifully manicured garden complete with fountain, built-in BBQ & outdoor fireplace. Offered at $3,495,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... "Laura and I worked together for over a year before I purchased a home. She understood what I wanted and would let me know when she saw something that fit. She was there in the background as my advocate. I never felt she was trying to sell me something. Laura was always there to represent me and to protect me. Her knowledge of the market was outstanding. More importantly after we entered escrow she remained my advocate and was always watching out for my interests. I know many realtors in Seattle proper. I would only use Laura going forward. She is pleasant, smart and has integrity." READ TESTIMONIALS... On a sunny Seattle evening in the beginning of May, fashion-forward partygoers flocked to Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty’s newest office branch, The Park House. Our boutique showroom played host to the Style & Urban Bourbon event, which featured savory appetizers, handcrafted premium bourbon from Seattle’s OOLA Distillery, and personal fittings from J. Hilburn stylist Annette Dresser. Guests mingled with RSIR’s global real estate advisers while learning about the season’s latest fashion trends and perusing the curated trunk show. READ MORE... On June 11th from 12-4PM, you are invited on a walking tour of distinct neighborhood homes and gardens that highlight a broad range of innovative, classic and stylish design. The tour will begin at The Park House, located at 4031 East Madison Street. All proceeds benefit McGilvra Elementary School to provide critical education support roles including: music classes, art classes, reading specialists, math specialists and more. PURCHASE TICKETS... Last week, I joined a group of colleagues for a Bainbridge Island tour day! We started off listening to a great presentation by fellow brokers on island living and Kitsap County opportunities, followed by an exclusive broker tour of RSIR's new waterfront estate. I so love the collaboration between our offices! On May 19th, The Wall Street Journal's Mansion Global shared the “Secret of the San Juans” with its readers, celebrating the beloved archipelago for its “remoteness and simplicity,” and highlighting its most recent achievement as “the hottest luxury real-estate market in the country.” As Nancy Keates writes, the growth in the area “has been fueled in recent years by an influx of high-tech companies to Seattle, where soaring home prices make the San Juans look like a bargain,” and for its allure as an idyllic retreat. READ MORE... My "It Pick" for this month is the NPR podcast titled "How I Built This", which explores innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists and the stories behind the movements they built. Each episode is a narrative journey. Featured guests include Mark Cuban (serial entrepreneur), Sara Blakely (founder of Spanx), real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, and many more.  READ MORE...