It List: March 2018

7310 Scenic Drive, Yakima  Just 1.5 hours from Seattle, Stonebridge is a second home destination that rivals the lifestyle offerings found in Whistler or Suncadia. Situated on over 1 acre, the home offers 6 bedrooms, 5.25 baths, and a bunk house above the garage to accommodate additional guests. With a true four seasons climate, Yakima affords a small-town sensibility with an eclectic mix of recreational opportunities including wine tasting, golfing, rock climbing, chic eateries, fishing, skiing and more. Offered at $1,895,000. READ MORE...

Ever dreamed of owning your own boutique but are afraid of the startup risks? Madison Park charmer, Canopy Blue, which has long reigned as a favorite must-stop for women for the latest trends in affordable luxury and modern classics, is coming on the market soon and you're getting an exclusive. Here is a chance to take ownership of an established business and make it your own! If you do not have Dani’s contact information just reach out to me and I can connect you with her. This is a golden opportunity for a savvy fashionista! Canopy Blue has been called a dream come true for the modern day urban princess with fantastic affordable luxury collections arriving weekly, above and beyond personalized service, beverages, candy bar, denim bar for all fits, fabulous events with wine and apps, and strong community involvement, customers know they have a loyal partner and bestie fashion friend always on hand. READ MORE...

Last week, Realogics Sotheby's International Realty's Park House office hosted a fabulous pop-up event featuring Arboretum Dermatology, a new medical and cosmetic office in Madison Park. We learned about the services offered by the clinic over catered bites and some bubbly. If you are looking for personalized care by experienced providers, I would highly recommend making an appointment with Carmen Berger or Rebecca Patton, the clinic's providers!  READ MORE... 2001 Broadmoor Drive E, Seattle  Noted Architect, Stuart Silk, designed this home to have a flare of appointments that would achieve a balance of traditional architecture with contemporary fixtures and conveniences, elegant for grand entertaining and yet fitting for day-to-day living. Situated on 2.5 lots, totaling 19,750 square feet, completed in 2010, this home has total privacy. Offered at $8,900,000. READ MORE... 7513 55th Place NE, Seattle  A modern treehouse, embraced by greenery and sited to take full advantage of the magical magical lake & mountain views! Contemporary architecture meets a cozy, livable home, the perfect retreat from the busy city life ~ yet so close to everything. Offered at $1,395,000. READ MORE... 1. 1952 Shenandoah Drive E, Seattle  |  Sold for $2,932,500  |  Represented the Buyer 2. 1651 Windermere Drive E, Seattle  |  Sold for $2,000,000  |  Represented the Seller EXPLORE SOLD PROPERTIES... "We have worked with Laura on three real estate transactions. Laura was our purchasing agent five years ago. When we started looking for a new home, there was no question that we wanted her on our side again. Over the past three months, she has worked with us on a challenging contingent purchase within Seattle's most competitive market. Laura navigated the extreme highs and lows of this stressful landscape with an ease, grace, cool and elegance that is unique to her. She is passionate about her work and is a true advocate for her clients. We exchanged ideas at nearly every hour during a day, on nearly every day of the week until we were able to simultaneously close on the sale of our old home and the purchase of our new property. On many occasions, she skillfully buffered, as only a seasoned agent would, our interactions with our counterparts. We are thrilled and thankful that we had Laura on our side." READ TESTIMONIALS... My “It Pick” for this month is the thrilling book, "Red Notice: A Story of High Finance, Murder and One Man's Fight for Justice." I recently finished listening to the audiobook and couldn't put it down! I highly recommend reading (or listening to) this if you are looking for a fascinating exposé that is part business, part political memoir. You will not be disappointed.  READ MORE...

It List: February 2018

1651 Windermere Drive E, Seattle  Charming storybook Tudor in coveted Broadmoor is surrounded by homes that are 2 & 3 times as expensive. Period details combine with newly updated interiors: gracious formals, kitchen with Wolf range, farm sink & more. Lower level boasts a family room & guest suite; a finished studio over the garage could be a fantastic office, workout room or? A perfect fit for savvy buyers that are looking for an opportunity in this secure gated community. So close to the city & the village of Madison Park! Offered at $2,100,000. READ MORE...

It's always fun to see your name in print! You can spot my newest ad in Portrait of Seattle Magazine, Puget Sound Business Journal, and The Wall Street Journal. READ MORE... I am thrilled to share that Sotheby's International Realty® has been identified as the most trusted residential real estate brokerage in the country! According to the study, "Trust is calculated based on the Lifestory Research Net Trust Quotient Score. This score includes three levels of consumer trust: 'advocates,' a customer who feels a significant trust toward the brand; 'neutrals,' those who have a moderate level of trust in a brand; and 'antagonists,' those who do not trust a brand. The rankings are based on the Net Trust Index Quotient Score." While there are great brands in every market, trust is absolutely critical for all clients and is a trait that endures through generations. I am so proud of the legacy that the Sotheby's International Realty name offers to me as a broker and of course, to my clients!  READ MORE... Join me at The Park House, located at 4031 E Madison Street, on Thursday, February 22nd from 4-8PM for a special art event hosted by Realogics Sotheby's International Realty! Enjoy art by local photographer, Jason Matias, small bites, and delicious libations. I hope to see you there!  Photo Taken by Jason Matias MEET THE ARTIST... Depending on which city you live in King County, you can expect your property taxes to raise anywhere from 9-31% this year. A spokesman for the assessor says it's "the largest property-tax increase in King County in modern history." Read on to see how your city will be affected.  READ MORE... "It as an absolute pleasure to work with Laura during our house hunt. She took the time to understand what we were looking for as new homeowners, and led us through a clear search. She was always positive, even when we met challenges, and kept things in perspective. Laura has a great understanding of the market, and was able to quickly and clearly call out key points of the properties that we had missed, while also finding simple opportunities to make improvements to the properties. She walked us step by step through the inspection through purchase process, and gave us the tools we needed to make the most competitive offer. She never forced us out of our comfort zone for budget or location, but also didn't set unrealistic expectations. She and her team were available during the weekends and evenings to help see houses, and answer our many questions. It brought us an incredible amount of confidence to know that we had Laura in our corner when we moved through the housing process, and we both feel extremely lucky to have had her guidance as we bought our home." READ TESTIMONIALS... My “It Pick” for this month is Earth + Wind + Fire Yoga, located in Madison Valley. I've been so inspired by the women who run this specialty yoga studio. Over a decade ago Jaime, Alice, and Madzy met and a true sisterhood was formed. Earth Wind Fire Yoga offers a wide variety of yoga styles. Drop in for a class soon and maybe I’ll see you there! READ MORE...

It List: December 2017

On Wednesday, December 6th, the Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty nation came together for Momentum, our 2017 Real Estate Conference. The event brought Team RSIR together with our brand, local community leaders and key vendors to continue to innovate our brand to the next level of extraordinary. We were able to listen to some amazing guest speakers, including: Jonathan Sposato, Co-Founder, GeekWire; Ryan Hodgson, CEO, Ryanintheus; Jon Mendoza, Co-Owner, Neutrino, Inc.; Michael Wall, Classified Account Executive, Puget Sound Business Journal; Tony Dolceamore, Global Vice President of Affiliate Services, North America, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC; Jon Meschke, Vice President of Affiliate Services at Realogy, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC.Craig Kinzer, Partner, Kinzer Partners; Dwayne J. Clark, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, Aegis Living; Erik Anderson, CEO & Chairman, Topgolf Entertainment Group and Founder & CEO, WestRiver Group; Liz Dunn, Owner, Dunn + Hobbes LLC; and Diane Najm, CEO & Founder, PhotoPad. In addition, I was asked to speak on the Negotiating the Win panel, where I joined some of my esteemed colleagues on stage to discuss winning tactics and approaches. Watch the video above for a quick teaser! READ MORE...

The lack of available condominiums in downtown Seattle continues, especially at affordable price points. Currently, there are just 7 resale homes listed for sale on the NWMLS priced below $700,000, which is now the new median home price for resales after increasing a staggering 19% in November 2017 compared to the prior year. Though market conditions may seem daunting to potential buyers, market pundits say unit reservations and presales can offer much needed relief for those willing to plan ahead. READ MORE... One88 is one of the first new high-rise condominium to be built in Bellevue in nearly a decade. Designed for those looking for something special, the 21 story luxury tower will feature 143 residences and will be located just a few steps from Downtown Park, conveniently located by a variety of dining and high-end shopping options. READ MORE... Bellevue has recently made headlines as "Seattle's beautiful little sister on the Eastside." According to a recent Mansion Global article, "Once a sleepy suburb, Bellevue has come into its own with a vibrant business community and world-class shopping and restaurants.The rate of appreciation for homes on the east side of Lake Washington has outpaced Seattle over the past few years. Locals attribute that to less traffic than the city, larger lot sizes, waterfront parks, the school district and a forward-thinking, collaborative local government.” READ MORE... "Working with Laura Halliday was a pleasure from the beginning of our process to the end. Our first impressions of Laura were that she is honest, direct and very hardworking. We were nervous about being a buyer in the current market environment. There was little inventory and many buyers looking in  the same neighborhood as us and in our price range. We put ourselves in Laura’s capable hands and began the process of finding a home. The first time Laura took us looking at homes it became apparent that she knows everyone in the neighborhood we were looking in and everyone knows her. It was also clear to us that Laura is very well respected – we always felt a sense of confidence having her on our side. We looked at many properties and made several offers on listed properties with stiff competition. During this time Laura always remained positive, telling us not to worry, that our home was out there. Laura called us one day with a private listing she wanted us to look at. We looked at the house 2 days later and within 24 hours had mutual acceptance. We could not believe our good fortune. Within 4 months of looking, we were the owners of what we can only describe as our PERFECT home and the credit goes to Laura. We laughed that we did not know who was happier – Laura or us! She is simply fantastic." READ TESTIMONIALS... For those of you looking to purchase a second home that defines luxury, look no further than the coastal residences at Dazante Bay Golf Club in Loreto, Mexico. Featuring 27 custom condominiums starting at 4,500 square feet and single family lots, these luxurious and affordable properties are truly spectacular. With quiet beaches, scenic vistas, rich history and astounding natural habitat (including 900+ species of fish) – and offering every modern amenity and truly exceptional service – Dazante Bay Golf Club is the perfect getaway. If you are interested in learning more about this unique opportunity, please contact me directly.  READ MORE... My “It Pick” for this month is a fantastic podcast from Forbes that discusses Cryptocurrency which is everywhere in the news. This podcast covers a nice mix of business, technology, beginner, and advanced topics. Whether you want to learn about the basics of blockchain technology or the implications of the latest hard fork, this podcast is an amazing resource.  READ MORE...

It List: November 2017

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 modern amenities. With over 2,600 square feet, all on one level, this residence lives like a single family home, not a condominium! Offered at $1,699,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... Perhaps it’s living together in a place of such abundant beauty and economic opportunity that brings out so many competing ideas about what our city and the region should look like, how people should live and commute, and what powers government should exert. The FutureCast Forum looks at how the competition among these perspectives might play out locally on select emergent issues. READ MORE... "Laura is on it from minute one. That’s who she is professionally and we were the beneficiaries of her experience, street smarts and diligence. She set a perfect price point, managed the marketing focus and quality, and we had a verbal on the evening of day 5 followed by the contract at noon the next day. We were able to go about our jam packed lives knowing Laura was in charge. Excellent job!" READ TESTIMONIALS... 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 $1,295,000. EXPLORE PROPERTY... From the October 2017 edition of Art & Home, Iyna Bort Caruso shows us that mid-century modern architecture isn’t just having its moment. It’s having an extended renaissance. The modernist style began in the late 1930s and took hold after World War II as new materials and building techniques became available that allowed architects to break with the past. Decades on, mid-century modern continues to feel fresh. READ MORE... Seattle has made seemingly endless headlines in recent months for its impressive housing market, and it seems no end is in sight as Seattle Times reports that the Emerald City has now maintained its position as the hottest market in the nation for 12 consecutive months. On top of boasting the largest home price gains of any other city, the Puget Sound also made headlines for 2018, as the annual “Emerging Trends in Real Estate” study ranked the city number one on its list, up from a fourth position in 2017. READ MORE... This month's IT PICK is the fabulous dog walking and dog sitting app, Wag!, which connects dog owners with dog lovers in their community. Hire trusted professionals for on-demand dog walking, dog sitting and dog boarding - 7 days a week! With live GPS tracking, you can see exactly where your furry friend is at all times.  READ MORE...

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...