It List - December 2016

The Wealth-X Billionaire Census is the only comprehensive study of the global billionaire population, "providing unprecedented insight into the assets, lifestyle, motivations and social networks of the world's wealthiest individuals. This year's report details the life cycle of the average billionaire, from education and accumulation of wealth to philanthropy and transfer of wealth." READ THE REPORT... Since the tax on foreign property investors went into effect in Vancouver, real estate brokers in Seattle have been busy. "With Chinese investors - the largest pool of foreign capital - looking for a place to put their cash, the unintended consequence of the fee has been to push demand to cities such as Seattle and Toronto. For Vancouver investors, Seattle is a lure because it’s a waterfront city just a few hours away by car. It’s also more affordable than other West Coast destinations." READ MORE... Since the tax on foreign property investors went into effect in Vancouver, real estate brokers in Seattle have been busy. "With Chinese investors - the largest pool of foreign capital - looking for a place to put their cash, the unintended consequence of the fee has been to push demand to cities such as Seattle and Toronto. For Vancouver investors, Seattle is a lure because it’s a waterfront city just a few hours away by car. It’s also more affordable than other West Coast destinations." READ MORE... My clients are truly the heart of my business. Hear from some of my past clients in this short film to learn about their experience working with me!  WATCH THE VIDEO... Despite the increasingly high home prices around the Seattle metro area over the past few years, homebuyers still had one saving grace: very low interest rates. However, as mortgage rates quickly begin to climb, this safe haven is beginning to disappear; so much so that the Puget Sound region saw a 30% increase in home sales last month.  READ MORE... My December "It" Pick is this precious gem, located right in the heart of Madison Park - Scoop Du Jour. The owners are a father and son team (Mr. Washington Junior & Senior!), who have owned and operated “Scoop” for over 32 years. Their storefront has undergone a huge transformation and is now painted a rich dark navy blue. Inside, one still finds ample seating and a TV for watching…cozy & comforting. When I asked what their best seller was, Mr. Washington Junior quickly replied “our Scoop Burger” followed by anything chocolate in the ice cream world (Vanilla Salted Caramel Fudge Brownie Swirl - are you kidding me!). So happy to have this treasured neighborhood eatery open for business again!

It List - November 2016

2307 43rd Avenue East, Seattle | One of 3 private residences with unparalleled views of Lake Washington, seductive custom designed interiors, a private rooftop deck with BBQ, hot tub, re-pit and multiple entertaining spaces with top-of-the-world vistas! Oh yes…an unheard of, 4 secure parking spaces in the private garage. A sophisticated lock & leave luxury residence! Offered at $3,150,000. READ MORE >> Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty was recognized by The Puget Sound Business Journal among the top 100 “Fastest Growing Private Companies” in Washington State, according to their 2016 Book of Lists, for the fifth year in a row! I am thrilled to be a part of such an innovative company. I can't wait to see what 2017 brings!  READ MORE >> Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a preview of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty's new Bainbridge Island branch, “Island Living Gallery” at 240 Winslow Way East. Occupying approximately one half of the Old Hardware Store – a nostalgic icon of Bainbridge Island heritage built in 1948 – our global real estate brand is poised for growth. RSIR will collaborate with the adjoining restaurant and bar Bruciato, operated by famed chef and Bainbridge Island resident Brendan McGill of Hitchcock, which is set to open by the end of the year. A public grand opening celebration will take place in the New Year. To hear more about upcoming events, please contact me directly! READ MORE >> The battle for most expensive housing market outside of California has been a close one for the past few months between Seattle and Boston. We finally overtook our Northeast counterpart last month, when the median home value in the Seattle metro area hit $401,000. READ MORE >> Last Thursday, I hosted a private event at my home for top Seattle Realogics SIR brokers to celebrate the upcoming opening of the Madison Park Office, Park House. It was a great opportunity to connect with top brokers, including Regional VP of Sotheby's International Realty, Cal Lyford. From a champagne toast and delicious bites by Belle Epicurian to brainstorming business ideas for the coming year, a great time was had by all. We even got a sneak peak of office renderings, including the very sophisticated interior design work. I truly cannot wait to bring my clients to this jewel box of an office! I love TED Talks. The company embraces the global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. This month listen to Sal Khan, a hedge fund analyst who believes that the education system should be focused on helping students master subjects, not just score highly on standardized tests. "Would you choose to build a house on top of an unfinished foundation? Of course not. Why, then, do we rush students through education when they haven't always grasped the basics?" Listen to how Khan plans to take this complicated subject and turn struggling students into scholars by helping them master concepts at their own pace.” READ MORE >>

It List - October 2016

2000 38th Avenue E, Seattle | Distinguished brick stairways & manicured hedges surround Canterbury Cottage, a tasteful, shingled hideaway nestled in the heart of Madison Park. The perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, the shingled home evokes the feeling of a charming New England village. Open the door to relaxed elegance and exquisite finishes, where the formal living space leads out toward a front terrace perfect for a morning cup of coffee or peaceful evening. Offered at $2,275,000. READ MORE >>  |  WATCH THE VIDEO >> Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty announced earlier this month an exclusive partnership with GeekWire, a fast-growing and broadly followed website that has become a daily news source and events podium for the high-tech industry in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The dynamic platform will showcase properties, highlight market trends and feature real estate sponsors. A real time voting tool puts consumers in the driver’s seat to select the current “Geek Home of the Week” as more than 1 million unique visitors per month visit the website and 25,000 active subscribers digest the daily newsletter. READ MORE >> "We have had the pleasure of working with Laura on two separate transactions over the years. She has represented us as buyer and seller. She is a consummate professional. She is knowledgeable about the market, has access to innovative marketing strategies, is articulate and a good listener. Laura takes great pride in her work and it shows. If she sees a potential problem, she is quick to assess it and find a satisfactory solution. We heartily recommend her. She has done an excellent job on our behalf." READ MORE TESTIMONIALS >> Another recent sale of mine was featured in Realogics Sotheby’s Realty’s Q3 Market Report. This home, also in Broadmoor, sold for $6,150,000 with multiple offers, setting a new price per square foot record, part of a trend showing that median home prices in single-family neighborhoods around Seattle are establishing new benchmark levels exceeding their prior peak in 2007. READ MORE >> I am thrilled to share that Realogics Sotheby's International Realty made the annual Puget Sound Business Journal list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the fifth year in a row! In a recent article entitled “100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies pack economic wallop,” Becky Monk reveals that “the 100 companies that made the Business Journal’s 2016 list collectively had revenue of nearly $3.17 billion in 2015, an increase of 137.26 percent over their total revenue in 2013.” READ MORE >> Join our collection of lifestyle partners during this unparalleled property tour for brokers and prospective home buyers in collaboration with the Savor the San Juans experience happening now. The property tour is fully hosted with ground transportation and yacht transfers between the waterfront estates during the broker tour day on October 5th and viewings and transfers are by appointment for prospective buyers on October 8th and 9th. RSVPs REQUIRED: REGISTER HERE >> Just one day after it went live on the market, Seattle’s Escala penthouse (which served as inspiration for the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy) sold. The luxury condominium, listed by Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, garnered local media attention both for its role in E.L. James’ pop-culture phenomenon and for selling in less than 1 day on the market. READ MORE >> In a recent re-cap of the most notable sales in the Seattle area for Curbed Seattle, Sean Keeley writes that the week's “biggest sale,” my client's Broadmoor Georgian Colonial, “spent all of two days on the market before going pending” at $3.6 million. As Keeley writes, “if you were asking someone what the houses in Broadmoor are like, you could probably just point them in the direction of this place and say, ‘That.’” READ MORE >> For October's "It" Pick, I decided to feature Peel Tech, a company that prides itself on providing in-house tech support without the technical difficulty. In an age that focuses so much on the latest technology, I very much appreciate this philosophy! Working on almost all platforms, devices and brands, Peel Tech offers concierge-style support for all of your personal, home and small business technology challenges. According to a recent Seattle Times article, "For consumers, Peel Tech will come out and fix a technical problem for $80 an hour. The startup also provides services to small businesses for $90 to $120 an hour. Peel Tech has formed partnerships with a few retirement communities to help residents any time they need it." So, if you are looking for reliable tech support in the Seattle area, I would highly suggest this fabulous startup company!  READ FULL FEATURE IN THE SEATTLE TIMES >>

It List - August 2016

On August 12th, I attended the second annual Soirée en Blanc at the Mercer Island home of our fearless leaders, Dean & Stacy Jones. It was a fabulous evening celebrating the close-knit network of brokers, vendors and clients who make up the RSIR family.   READ MORE >> I am thrilled to share that I am featured in the latest edition of Seattle Magazine as a featured Madison Park & Broadmoor specialist! The Pacific Northwest is home to a diverse collection of communities, dynamic lifestyles and real estate micro-climates. I invite you to discover market trends and perspectives in your area, where every residence is a Realogics Sotheby's International Realty home.   READ THE REPORT >> 2030 Parkside Drive E, Seattle | This treasured Georgian Colonial, sited on an expansive, flat double lot in Broadmoor, went pending in 2 days! Handsome "curb appeal" greets you, from the symmetry of the home & divided light windows to the lovely brick pathways and mature holly hedge. Offered at $3,395,000. READ THE FEATURE >> Foreign buyers in Vancouver will be paying more for investment properties this month (beginning August 2). The Canadian provincial government of British Columbia has enacted a 15% real property transfer tax on foreigner-purchased properties in Metropolitan Vancouver, adding $300,000 to the cost of a two-million-dollar home. READ MORE >> For many celebrities, successful executives, and business owners at the pinnacle of their careers, a legacy home is chief among the rewards for which they have been striving. It offers a place of refuge from their hectic routine, and for some, a place of productive solitude that allows them to focus and reflect. The Legacy Homes Report, produced by Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, compares the markets of the San Juan Islands in Washington and the North & South Shore of Long Island, New York. READ THE REPORT >> Home of the Day is a feature presented by the Puget Sound Business Journal and Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. With a unique listing featured EACH DAY, this is your invitation to view some of Puget Sound’s most luxurious properties. Year-to-date, the program has reached some incredible marks. The photo galleries have experienced over 600,000 page views by 40,000 unique visitors, with more than 1 million photos seen (85% of users view all photos in each gallery). The daily afternoon newsletter reaches 23,197 subscribers. I can't wait to see how these numbers grow by the end of the year.  VIEW HOME OF THE DAY >> If you have read my newsletter before, you know that I like to listen to podcasts or audio books while I walk. I am bringing this book to your attention because I have not only read it when it first came out in 2003, but I have continued to listen to it over the years in audio format (The Modern Scholar series through Audible) which Margaret MacMillan herself narrates. Professor Macmillan is an exceptional history writer: engaging, direct and interesting (sometimes even funny), but also a wide-ranging thinker who see and explains the vast sweep of history. Her knowledge of world history and her ability to explain it concisely and in a way that is so engaging to the reader is exceptional. So many of the decisions that were made during this time have had ripples that we are still dealing with today, and they are fully illustrated in her explanations of the various ethnic claims for land and self-rule; her ability to compare and contrast these claims is extraordinary. The bottom line is that this is truly a history book that is very hard to put down, and also one that can give one so much insight into the complicated issues that we are still dealing with in 2016. I highly recommend both the book and the audio version (she is such a fantastic narrator, honestly I might even say I like the audio version best). READ MORE >>

It List - July 2016

I am pleased to share the newest edition of the Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Waterfront Report, containing information on home values, sales trends, and market activity throughout waterfront locations in the Puget Sound region. Overall, we are seeing a higher average sales price and decreased days on market driven by rising competition for available homes in an environment of lower inventory as sellers wait to see how high their home values might rise. I hope you enjoy and find value in this report. READ THE REPORT >> 907 Harvard Avenue E, Seattle | A distinguished cornerstone residence in treasured Merrill Court, discreetly nestled in the heart of the Harvard-Belmont Historic District. Merrill Court is an urban refuge of 10 exceptional brick homes combining old world elegance with modern updates. A private elevator connects all 3 floors to the secure garage. At over 4200 square feet, this residence combines a turn-key lifestyle with a grand scale that is very hard to find! Offered at $2,895,000. EXPLORE THE PROPERTY >> Eager homebuyers rallied during the first half of 2016 increasing unit absorption and median home prices by 48% and 28%, respectively according to analysis of Northwest Multiple Listing Service data. The typical condominium is selling in just over a month with a median home value of $575,000. However, a closer look reveals that 135 of the 381 condominium closings so far this year were in the INSIGNIA condominium tower, a new construction development (and one remaining developer-owned unit in the Four Seasons Private Residences) whereas there were effectively no new construction deliveries or closings during the same term in 2015. READ MORE & WATCH THE VIDEO >> 1644 Windermere Drive E, Seattle | Beloved & coveted, this extraordinary residence is sited on almost 3 lots in the heart of Broadmoor. Totally re-built in 2009, with no expense spared: English hand painted wallpaper, hand planed plank floors from a 200 year old barn, antique built-in vanities, limestone fireplaces, waxed sugar pine paneled library & welcoming Dutch doors. Separate carriage house residence. Sold for $6,150,000. EXPLORE THE PROPERTY >> This luxury boutique condominium, built in the highly coveted neighborhood of Madison Park, is nestled on a unique piece of land that boasts unparalleled views of Lake Washington and downtown Bellevue skyline. This distinct condominium, Built by Barcelo Homes and designed in collaboration with Hybrid Architects, provides three private residences with three bedrooms and three and a half baths, encompassing over 2400 square feet of built green luxury not including multiple private outdoor spaces individually designed for each home. READ MORE >> "I would highly recommend Laura as an agent. Her professionalism was outstanding and her attention to detail extraordinary. She was there for us, at any time of day or night, returning our phone calls, text, emails immediately. She was such a pleasure to work with and had terrific ideas about marketing our home, which by the way, sold in two weeks. Anyone would be lucky to have her as their agent." READ CLIENT REVIEWS >> In the fourth annual Disruptor 50 list, CNBC features private companies in 15 industries — from aerospace to financial services to cybersecurity to retail — whose innovations are revolutionizing the business landscape. These forward-thinking starts-ups have identified unexploited niches in the marketplace that have the potential to become billion-dollar businesses, and they rushed to fill them. MEET THE COMPANIES >>

Featured Evoker Film: Meet Dean Jones

Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty recently released a series of short films that profile brokers, focusing on the story of each individual in order to tell the story of the greater company. Known for industry innovation, RSIR engaged Chicago-based branding house Evoker, Inc. to produce the films, which strip away the mass-produced structure of a standard biography video and allow the agent to tell their personal story. There is no script. No storyboard. No two films are ever the same. This week, meet Dean Jones, Owner and CEO of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty.

An entrepreneur with new development and builder experience, Dean seizes opportunities for growth and success on a global platform. Dean started RSIR alongside his wife, Stacy Jones, and the two have built a top-producing brokerage in the Pacific Northwest with the greatest production on a per broker basis amongst their peers and consistent ranking in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s list of fastest growing private companies. Given his experience in large real estate markets including Vancouver and San Francisco, Dean notes that Seattle is a global city on the rise. The full service real estate firm currently has branch offices in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Kirkland and Issaquah.