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...

It List - April 2017

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. Offered at $3,495,000. READ MORE... I am excited to announce that the very first edition of Realogics Sotheby's International Realty's Enquire Magazine has arrived! I invite you to take a look at the piece, which features some fascinating editorial on our "City of Superlatives", market trends, and exclusive listings, including two of my client's homes! READ MORE... In case you missed it, the Pacific Northwest area continues to set the pace with the Seattle metro area up 12.2% as of February 2017 bringing this trend to six months in a row at the top of the US index!  READ MORE... "Perhaps one of the best compliments I can give Laura (and advice to anyone reading this) is that I heard from several different agents that I was represented by "the best." When touring open houses on our own we would be asked who we were working with. When I mentioned Laura's name, the agents universally respected her and praised her. When purchasing my new home the seller's agent remarked to me offhand that I was in great hands with Laura, and he was right. Other agents are often the best judge of the skills and talent of their colleagues, and Laura was clearly respected and known by all. It made me feel good to know that I was in such capable hands, and in the end she proved that to me firsthand throughout my experience working with her. In sum, I cannot recommend Laura highly enough. She is capable, smart, professional, and kind. She's willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done and make a client happy. Don't hesitate to hire her--she truly is the best!" READ FULL TESTIMONIAL... Earlier this month, I was a featured expert at the Realogics Sotheby's International "Pro Panel" on winning listings! Alongside five other colleagues, I shared best practices as well as how to best leverage the power of the global brand and our local exclusives. It was an informative event and I even learned a few things myself! Central Seattle has been a seller’s market since May 2013. Months in inventory have been gradually trending downward, averaging 1.2 in 2016, 1.3 in 2015 and 1.8 in 2014. In 2016, the median price of single-family homes and condos in Central Seattle rose by 13.6%, and exceeded that of King County by 28.%. This is one of the areas where high end sales of homes are concentrated. Sellers continued to benefit from competition among buyers and this is one of the areas seeing substantially higher-than-list prices paid. READ MORE... On April 19th, more than 150 VIP guests and members of the media joined Sotheby’s International Realty® affiliates from many of the dozen featured gateway markets that participated in the exclusive all-Chinese book: “Chinese Institutions Definitive guide to USA Real Estate”. The hardcover, 300+ page book was a much anticipated collaboration led by Ben Briggs of Texas-based Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, whom resides and offices in China. Our very own Dean Jones, CEO of Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, is a contributor. Read more to find out about his East Coast tour! READ MORE... My "It Pick" for this month is the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, taking place from May 18th-June 11th all throughout Seattle. As the largest and most highly-attended film festival in the country, more than 400 films from 80 countries are screened. There is certainly something for everyone, from an opening night red carpet experience to a full series pass, complete with priority seating. Become a member and get low prices on festival ticket packages before the general public! I cannot wait to check out some of these films. Which ones are you the most excited to see?  READ MORE...