It List - March 2017

It's been a busy month at Realogics Sotheby's International Realty! This past weekend, our newest office, located in the heart of Madison Park, opened to the public. Park House is a stunning boutique showroom designed to be more than a full service real estate firm and was imagined as a space where the community can come together for featured lifestyle events. If you are in the area, I urge you to stop by and say hello! I would love to show you around.  The long-awaited 2016/2017 Market Report has arrived! In this review of market activity in the Puget Sound, explore the markets in seven key counties of Western Washington State: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Skagit, Jefferson and Island counties. READ MORE... Last week, I attended the VIP Ground Breaking Reception for NEXUS, Seattle's most anticipated condominium community. It was a great time connecting with reservation holders and touring the finished space, including the full-scale, fully furnished model home!  READ MORE... Romantic Village in Santa Barbara  Perched on a crest with views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains, the secluded estate was designed and built in the 1930s by celebrated architect Wallace Frost. After living in Italy, Frost created the two-story, 10,500-square-foot residence for himself, emulating the classical style of 17th-century Italian villas and creating an air of Old World romance and refinement. Impeccable attention was paid to every detail: a classic barrel-tiled roof, terra-cotta surfaces, wide wood flooring planks, rustic exposed ceiling beams, 18th-century Italian tiles, vintage light fixtures, and sturdy walls of locally quarried stone. Offered at $45,000,000. READ MORE... I was recently interviewed by Seattle Refined on why taking a look at the East Village in downtown Seattle is a smart choice when considering a move as a downsizer. From saving money and building double equity to enjoying the all inclusive, luxury amenities of new condominium towers like NEXUS, see why the East Village is the best place for Seattle’s empty nesters. READ MORE... 5227 55th Avenue NE, Seattle  Built in 2008, this stately home combines timeless traditional detailing with a floor plan that lives for today. Deep moldings, high ceilings, cypress paneled library, fantastic kitchen with butlers pantry, breakfast & family room. Did I forget to mention the backyard? French doors lead to a covered patio with a fireplace, outdoor saltwater pool and lavish, private garden. Four bedrooms up plus bonus & laundry. Nothing like this currently available in Seattle. Relaxed & refined luxury living. Offered at $4,300,000. READ MORE... 6078 Moonrise Lane, Freeland  Moonrise Cottage is an easy living, private sanctuary at the end the lane. Sweeping views of the Sound, Mt. Rainier, shipping lanes and 4th of July fireworks displays! Luxurious kitchen/family room with AGA stove, walk-in pantry, easy connection to laundry room & a 2-car garage. The main living room boasts dramatic vaulted ceilings and a handsome central fireplace. Three sets of French doors open from the main floor to an over-sized entertaining deck. Offered at $1,195,000. READ MORE... Since the implementation of the 15% foreign investment tax in Vancouver, Chinese buyers have been rapidly moving their attention to the Seattle market. According to Juwai.com, "Searches for properties in Seattle more than doubled after the new tax went into effect in August, drawing more inquiries than any other American city and beating out past favorites Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Searches for Seattle on the site jumped by 125% in November." READ MORE... Strideline was started by Jake and Riley in 2009 while they were in high school with their graduation money. They started out as Seatown Lax as they were lacrosse players and named it after the sport. After the Skyline designs took over they changed their name to Strideline and can now be found in major retailers including Champs, Nordstrom, Lids, Macy's, Costco, and various others. Strideline socks are worn by all athletes from the prep to pro level. Some notable athletes and names that wear Strideline socks include Marshawn Lynch, Doug Baldwin, Antonio Brown, Nate Robinson, Thomas Robinson, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled and others. The company resides in Eastlake and now has over 30 employees from sales staff, designers, operations, marketing, and much more. A brand new addition to their brand includes the Strideline Guarantee. This guarantee states "If these aren't the most comfortable socks you've ever worn, call us at 206 734 6870 for a full refund. No questions asked." READ MORE...

It List - February 2017

Seattle currently has the 2nd lowest rate of home sales in the United States. Sitting just below the sought-after city of San Francisco (and the outlying Oakland and Hayward areas), Seattle only has 1 out of every 263 homes for sale. Comparatively, Portland, OR currently has 1 out of every 170 homes available. This ranking has and will continue to create increased competition within the housing market. READ MORE... Condominium sales in downtown Seattle rose by 10.7% in January 2017 over the previous year while median home prices climbed by 47.9% and set a new benchmark at $668,000. An imbalance of supply and demand is also noted by properties spending fewer days on market, which dropped 55.9% from an average of 111 days in January 2016 to just 49 days last month. READ MORE... Never before has a residence been designed to fit the exact specifications desired by the future owners. This grand penthouse sits on the 35th floor of Waiea, the flagship building for the master planned community of Ward Village located in close proximity to Waikiki. This 6 bedroom, 6.5 bathroom residence sprawled over 8,532 sq. ft. features a spectacular rooftop lanai over 2,000 sq. ft. and your own private ocean facing infinity pool. Swim under the sky with perpetual 360 degree views of the Pacific Ocean, Diamond Head, mountains and Waikiki. Seamless indoor and outdoor living on a single level. A dedicated elevator provides the utmost privacy and security. This is truly an unprecedented opportunity to create a unique and lasting legacy. Offered at $35,000,000. READ MORE... This Spring, for the second year in a row, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty is sponsoring the publishing of the all-Mandarin magazine “Seattle Luxury Living”, which is catered to Chinese consumers in the Pacific Northwest as well as those seeking real estate and lifestyle opportunities throughout the Seattle metro area. Tiger Oak Media, owner of Seattle Magazine, Seattle Bride, and Seattle Business Magazine is the publisher and will include exclusive real estate content provided by RSIR along with featured listings, lifestyle editorial, and third-party advertisers. READ MORE... Last month, I attended the East Meets West meeting, hosted by Realogics Sotheby's International Realty's Asia Services Group and JayMarc Homes. It was an educational experience, as we discussed how the demand for real estate from foreign buyers has never been higher. In fact, it is predicted that this demand will double by 2025. China has become the dominant source of foreign direct investment in the United States, overtaking Canada in 2015 with $22B in home sales. The Seattle/Bellevue metro area is in a unique position and learning about foreign investment from experts was a refreshing perspective.  It is clear that Canada's tax-policy changes are driving overseas investors south of the border - Seattle to be specific. According to the Wall Street Journal, "The tax policy is aimed at making homes in the city more affordable for local residents, who have seen prices soar by nearly 50% over the past three years. The city of Vancouver also introduced a separate vacancy tax of 1% on the assessed value of an empty property." Since these policies have taken affect, searches for Seattle properties in China have jumped 125% year-over-year.  READ MORE... On February 26th, the 400-acre gated community of The Highlands will be open to the public for escorted tours. Please contact me if you are interested in touring one of the 15 estates available for purchase.   READ MORE... Your comprehensive guide, take a peek at what’s going on! From Valentine's Brunch Cruise and the Flower and Garden Show at Fisher Pavilion, to Mindfulness Meditation at Chihuly Garden & Glass, here’s what’s happening around the sound this February. EXPLORE EVENTS... Perhaps many of you have taken advantage of the Town Hall Lecture Series, but it was new to me as of last year (the last to know perhaps!). I was introduced to this unique venue by my mother to listen to the famed New York Times columnist David Brooks as he had just published his latest book: The Road to Character. If you have not been there before, it is housed in a historic, beautiful  building on the corner of 8th & Seneca Street. There is also a little “pub” on the main floor to enjoy a glass of wine or coffee before or after a lecture. Prices are very affordable and the speakers are truly incredible. I have attached a link to the upcoming lecture series (sadly, Alec Baldwin’s is sold out already!). I hope that you might enjoy this special treasure in our community. READ MORE...

It List - January 2017

Last month my brokerage, Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, was featured on Inman News in an article detailing its unique approach, market differentiation and record-breaking 2016 sales. RSIR has built a reputation for its outside-the-box marketing ideas and for having a global perspective. I am very proud to be affiliated with this industry-leading company and am excited to see what 2017 brings!  READ MORE... With the arrival of a new year, I enjoy looking back on the significant events that defined the industry I work in and my company. I am thankful for family, friends and colleagues who give my business a special meaning and inspire me to drive forward. For the first time in 2016, Realogics SIR crested past the $1 billion marker in home sales and joined an esteemed and established peer group of the largest real estate brands in Washington State. We also enjoyed a number of other industry leading accolades along the way. Learn about them below.  READ MORE... I am excited to bring you this month’s event calendar. Your comprehensive guide, take a peek at what’s going on! From Chinese New Year celebrations in the International District and a David Bowie Party at SIFF Cinema, to the Seattle Wedding Show at the Washington Convention Center, here’s what’s happening around the sound this January. READ MORE... My clients are truly the heart of my business. Hear from some of my past Broadmoor clients in this short film to learn about their experience working with me!  WATCH THE VIDEO... My IT pick for the month of January is a book that I read over the holiday…actually, I listened to it via Audible while I went on my walks. This was such a great, fun read. In the audio book version, it was fun because each character is narrated by a different person…so, you really get the feel for each character. The book reminded me of the book Gone Girl.  If you liked that, you will love this one! READ MORE...