It List: October 2017

Seattle, Washington A high-impact yet timeless interior with top-of-the-line finishes includes 9-foot ceilings, honed marble counter tops, stainless steel appliances, light/rustic hardwoods and a very rare 300 square foot patio...all set against a canvas of sparkling city and water views! Two bedrooms meet a cozy den, two bathrooms and a great room with a luxe kitchen. Life at LUMA comes together in a collection of incredible amenities: expansive rooftop terrace, jetted pool, fireside lounge, chef’s kitchen, fitness center and pet lounge! Offered at $1,395,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... After piling up serial out sized monthly gains, the CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index for Seattle showed signs of fatigue in July, settling down to a “mere” 0.65% monthly rate of growth. The region’s index remains up a hefty 13.5% year-over-year, but the ascent had been slowing since April on a monthly basis. It is too early to judge whether this signals a turning point, or merely a brief chance for hesitant buyers to get aboard the Seattle market’s train. READ MORE... Representatives of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty and Tiger Oak Media, publisher of Seattle Magazine recently announced a new real estate portal to host content in print and online with SeattleMag.com. The exclusive platform will distribute news media from The FutureCast Forum – a collaborative of third-party opinion leaders that explore current and projected market fundamentals influencing the Seattle/Bellevue metro area by 2020 and beyond. It’s founding members and guest columnists will provide timely insights on the state of the economy, commercial and residential development, evolving demographics, wealth management considerations, government policy, lifestyle trends and international influences that are shaping the regional landscape. READ MORE... This year's Sotheby's International Realty® Global Networking Event was one for the books. Taking place at the Wynn Las Vegas from September 25th to 27th, more than 2,500 brokers, owners and managers came together for extensive networking and learning opportunities with keynote speeches, breakout panels and cocktail receptions. The best part of the event by far was when I got to meet Martha Stewart, who was interviewed by our Chief Marketing Officer, Kevin Thompson. It was a dream come true listening to this smart, passionate, creative woman - she is truly one-of-a-kind!   "Laura is the consummate professional with impressive judgment. We began working with Laura a year ago in search of a home in Madison Park. We had a long timeline and very specific ideas about the type of home we wanted. Laura worked with us patiently and tenaciously. She suggested and showed us many properties in a variety of neighborhoods. She listened very carefully to our feedback and anticipated characteristics that we did not realize were important to us. In the end, we found a real jewel that perfectly satisfied our needs and was entirely different than the type of home we had originally identified. It is a privilege to work with Laura. She is warm, responsive, and very thorough." READ TESTIMONIALS... I am proud to share that Realogics Sotheby's International Realty has posted more than $1 billion in closed and pending home resales year to date, not including $225 million in new construction condominium presales that are also pending. The firm pegged a 40.6% growth rate for sales volumes year-over-year so far in 2017, according to Trendgraphix, leading the top ten largest real estate brands. The relatively boutique-sized company, comprised of just 225 brokers, also leads its immediate peer group in the average selling prices ($985,000), average buyer contracts ($839,500), average listing prices ($2,177,900) and total listing production per broker ($2,910,710) when comparing on a trailing 12-month basis per NWMLS data as of August 31, 2017. READ MORE... While I was in Las Vegas attending the Sotheby's International Realty GNE, I learned of a new SIR partnership with New Story. This non-profit organization puts 100% of donations toward transforming dangerous living environments into communities of safe, sustainable homes - all for $6,000 per house. Not only do 100% of donations go directly to the field, but donors have the ability to see the exact family they are sponsoring. When the home is completed, they are delivered a move-in video to share in the excitement of this incredible effort. New Story does more than build houses - they provide jobs and economic stability for the communities they service by hiring local labor and buying domestic materials to boost the country's economy. While at the GNE, a goal was set for the 2,500+ attendees - fund 100 homes to build a community in Mexico. I am so proud to share that not only did we meet the goal of 100 homes but we blew it out of the water! Our global network raised enough money to build over 150 homes. How incredible is that?  READ MORE...

It List: September 2017

Seattle, Washington A high-impact yet timeless interior with top-of-the-line finishes includes 9-foot ceilings, quartz counter tops, stainless steel appliances and ebony hardwoods all set against a canvas of sparkling city and water views. Two bedrooms meet a cozy den, two bathrooms and a great room with a luxe kitchen that opens to living and dining rooms. Life at LUMA comes together in a collection of incredible amenities: expansive rooftop terrace, jetted pool, fireside lounge, chefs kitchen, fitness center and a pet lounge! Offered at $1,495,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... Seattle, Washington 1223 Spring Street has long been the most desired address on First Hill. 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 2,600 square feet, all on one level, this special residence lives like a single family home! Offered at $1,699,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... Last month, I attended the annual Realogics Sotheby's International Realty Soirée Blanche at the home of our fabulous leaders, Dean & Stacy Jones! It was a night to remember as we celebrated Stacy's 50th birthday with a special performance by Pike Places' Can Can dancers. On top of the delectable spread of food and ever-flowing libations, a live DJ kept us all entertained until the very end of the night. What a special way to honor summer with the RSIR family! Take a peek at the below collection of photos from the evening soirée. VIEW LOOK BOOK... According to a recent analysis by Zillow, Seattle is among cities with the highest number of $1 million neighborhoods. "Zillow found that nearly one in 20 residential ZIP codes in the U.S. meet that definition, and that there are a total of 1,280 neighborhoods in the country where at least 10 percent of the homes are worth seven figures." In our very own Emerald City, where the booming tech sector pushes home prices to record highs, there are 38 $1 million neighborhoods, ranking us 9th among the top 10 cities.  READ MORE... This evening from 5:00-9:00PM, join me at Realogics Sotheby's International Realty's Park House, located at 4031 E Madison Street, for the opening night of the Madison Park Art Walk. Enjoy fabulous art by two local artists, small bites and delicious libations. I hope to see you there!  READ MORE... "Laura did a wonderful job both listing and bringing many prospective buyers to the table. She was very professional in her business ability and very considerate of my schedule. When she finished showing our house, she made sure that everything was as we left it. I would recommend Laura to anyone thinking of listing their property." READ TESTIMONIALS... In an provocative article recently published by the Seattle PI, the question of soaring rents and skyrocketing home prices has caused 71% of homeowners in Washington to worry about a housing bubble. It's easy to see why the question looms. Median home prices jumped $100K in King County last month, according to NWMLS reports, and affordability has become an increasing concern for many. The last time the market generated this kind of meteoric growth was 2007 and we all know how that turned out. So, are we due to repeat history with an impending housing correction? Not likely if you talk to Dean Jones, President and CEO of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. READ MORE... The Sotheby’s International Realty® brand is pleased to announce the launch of its official WeChat account. WeChat is a Chinese social media app and is also the most used social media platform in the world with nearly 940 million active users. The brand’s presence on WeChat will allow our network an unprecedented opportunity to reach prospective Chinese buyers. READ MORE... I recently read an excellent book by Graham Moore, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of The Imitation Game, titled The Last Days of Night. The novel begins in 1888 and follows Thomas Edison & George Westinghouse, the two great inventors fighting to control the spread of electricity across the United States. For any history buffs out there, this is definitely a novel you want at the top of your list. You won't be able to put it down! READ MORE...

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...