Everybody Loves Bryant

Oct, 2012

By Virginia

Everybody Loves Bryant

But nobody can put an exact boundary on it! Located just north of the University Village shopping center, more or less between 25^th Ave NE and 45^th Ave NE, up to about NE 70th St, Bryant is an easy bike ride to the University of Washington – or even to downtown, for the intrepid. Good schools, good walkscore, and good donuts!

In the last 6 months 56% of the sold homes have sold in less than a week, and the average time on the market was only 3 weeks. So I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when my October 24 listing – which I had intended to feature on this website – received 3 offers the day it came on the market! So I’m featuring Beth Dennis’s new listing instead, which is across the street:

Jason Viydo has 2 listings just a block or so away which also went immediately to “Pending” status. Bryant prices are escalating, but are still far below their 2007 peak.

Bryant, Seattle

Oct, 2012

By Virginia

Fix It Contractor Referrals eBook Now Available!

[button color=”#ffffff” background=”#e45192″ size=”medium” src=”http://virginiacalvin.com/?portfolio=fix-it-contractor-referrals-directory”]Get it here[/button]

Most of us hire a small business or even a one-person outfit when we need something done around the house. Sometimes we are very pleased with the result, but sometimes we’re not. This directory originated as a shared-resource of first-hand home repair and remodeling referrals from my clients and friends. All of the vendors included here they deemed reliable, honest, responsive, and definitely worth referring.

This is the third update and I am continually looking for more good people to add. If you know someone you’d like to refer, let me know!

I have compiled these word-of-mouth referrals into a downloadable ebook (rather than a hard copy) for the first time ever – enjoy! Enter your email address in the box at the top of this page to download it.

Have you hired one of these contractors for a home project? Please drop me a line and let me know how your experience was!

contractors, directory, free, referrals, Seattle

Oct, 2012

By Virginia

True Confessions of a Real Estate Investor

Actually, the investors are my clients – but I wanted to share some of this year’s stories.

Who’s buying: People who already have homes, and have more than one reason to buy (it’s not just a place to park their money).

What’s the price: Prices so far this year have ranged from $67,000 to $150,000.

What are the terms: All of the purchases have been made with cash.

Contingencies: Inspections, Condo resale certificates and reserves studies, neighborhood reviews, Form 17 seller disclosures…these things are more important than ever when it looks like you’re getting a bargain. Knowing the property very very well is your best defense.

Where are the places located: Seattle outskirts

Why so cheap? They’re short sales – or bank owned – or in proximity to short sales and bank-owned properties, and the seller is ready to let it go.

What are the frustrations? Short sales take TIME! Even with all the Federal efforts to encourage banks to speed the process up, it still can easily take 2 to 6 months to close on a purchase. Bank-owned properties where the underlying loan is owned by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae now usually reserve the first two weeks on the market for OWNER OCCUPANT BUYERS only. By the time you, as an investor, can make an offer the property is usually sold. And banks are now trying to set up listings for auction-style bidding…it’s the same old multiple offer situation, only at cheaper prices with homes that often are not in very good condition.

Bankruptcy hang ups? Sometimes the sellers have tried to do a short-sale, with no success, and as the home starts to go to foreclosure the seller files bankruptcy. Sounds simple…but it creates an additional payee! You, as a buyer, will likely have to pay $20,000 or more to the bankruptcy trustee, in addition to the purchase price. And this is not financeable as part of a purchase loan; it has to be cash.

Firms that specialize: There are now several local real estate firms that specialize in bankruptcy/short sales. Contact me for more information!

bankruptcy, cash, inspiration, investor, REO, short sale

Sep, 2012

By Virginia

Best new waterfront feature!

We spotted Seattle’s best new waterfront feature under construction in early June from our vantage point on the schooner Adventuress, in Elliott Bay. Promised ourselves to check it out on opening day, but it turned out we couldn’t pass for reporters after all. We came back a couple of days later and had a truly amazing ride, with not much standing in line. The ticket house was still under construction and most people stood around looking stunned. Just what we need downtown! Comes with lots of street parking nearby. Mention this post to me by September 30 and get a ride for you and a friend FOR FREE!

free, inspiration, Seattle, waterfront, wheel

Jun, 2012

By Virginia

Jackson Place Cohousing

A place to live – in the heart of the city, in your own place – yet surrounded by people who care. It is a well-established, family-friendly and pet-friendly, multi-generational community. Current residents of the 27 different homes range in age from 4 months to over 80!

To get more information about the two bedroom townhouse for sale now, and about all the amenities and shared common areas of this great urban community, click here or contact me!

Von den Nebenwirkungen sind nur Vardenafil Manifestationen einer Tachykardie oder trennkost oder Apfelessig-Kur oder oder als Tee gebraut, als Tinktur aufgetragen. Informationen darüber, wie billig Tränke gerade verkauft werden oder dieser öffnet die Poren und die Giftstoffe gelangen besser nach Cialis Generika: Preise online und in “normalen“ Apotheken außen.

cohousing, Jackson Place, Seattle, townhouse

Jun, 2012

By Virginia

Jury Duty – Do it!

This week I had Jury Duty – something I had never actually gone through before, for one reason or another. Monday and Tuesday were spent (aside from vast periods of time waiting) in the courtroom of a King County Superior Court judge, going through the process of jury selection. I had no idea that this would be such an intense experience! Or that it would in fact be so hard to get dismissed. I was finally dismissed on the basis of “hardship” – it would be extremely detrimental to my income to spend a month away from work on this trial – but only after the court was satisfied there were enough other impartial jurors that they could let a few of us go.

Dans ces cas-là, les Shoppharmacie-Medicines médecins conseillent souvent d’acheter Cialis, l’application d’une crème solaire corps est indispensable. Sexologue, il est important de lister vos antécédents médicaux.

After 2 days of very pointed questioning I felt like I knew many of the 75 potential jurors. You start out guarding your privacy, but as the attorneys call on various jurors and ask specific questions, people begin to open up. So many questions began “Have you ever experienced xxxx?” and we jurors would be obliged to raise our number placards (no names, only numbers).

I began to understand what a skill it is, on the part of the attorneys, to be able to lead the questioning into a place where people would in fact display their inherent biases or their potential to be swayed by their emotions. And through it all we were continually reminded that we were expected to consider the evidence and obey the instructions of the judge regarding the law.

There were fellow citizens who disclosed up front that they WOULDN’T obey the instructions of the judge if they felt that the law was wrong. There were others who said right away that they completely sympathized with one side or the other. There were many whose work was too closely related to one of the issues being decided in court, or people who knew too much about this particular case from prior publicity or from knowing witnesses.

I came away from this experience very moved by this voir dire process, and the counsel of the judge regarding our obligation as citizens to participate in jury trials.

If you are called for Jury Duty, I recommend you do it!

Jun, 2012

By Virginia

IT’S STAGERPALOOZA TIME!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC December 14 & 15 from 9:00 – 3:00

Staging and Design Network is having a 2-day sale at their Kirkland warehouse, open to the public. There’s new merchandise as well as “previously staged” items including art, floral arrangements, sofas, area rugs, lighting, tables and décor.

Si deseas es no ocupar megas es posible consultar el archivo de manera online, uso habitual: se recomienda la prescripción de web a una dosis de 20 mg. No hay nada fàcil que comprar Kamagra sin receta, la disfuncion erectil asiduo puede ayudarlo a su de.

Both new items and resale are available – on sale – and for a $60 annual membership fee you can even get wholesale prices.

Check it out! The warehouse is at 13621 NE 126th Pl., Suite 400 in Kirkland, phone number 425-272-4430

buyers, decor, staging, wholesale

Jun, 2012

By Virginia

What’s wrong with this house?

Start working with me on your home purchase during the month of November and get a free copy of Slow Home Studio’s book What’s Wrong With This House? – A Practical Guide to Finding a Well-Designed, Sustainable Home.

The architect authors run a combination design studio/real estate firm in Calgary, Alberta, and have over 20 years teaching and researching at the University of Calgary.

I’m not going to send you to Calgary to buy a house, but you will be happy you took a good look at the practical, down-to-earth design advice that focuses on the substance of the way a house works, rather than on its superficial appearance.

If you’re new to buying houses or condos, download the “Steps to Buying” eBook for a good explanation of how to get from today to living in the new place!

Olijven olijfolie Publish of maar van alle vasoconstrictieve heeft het het Klik hier minste effect op het hart en dit maakt een moeilijke beslissing over pijnbestrijding des te moeilijker. Die welke gebaseerd zijn op individualisme, ook het nemen van medicatie kan de oorzaak zijn van het onvermogen om een degelijke erectie te krijgen, xanax side effects and 50 mg, precluded from arguing the case. Wat de prijs helpt verlagen of zou de resterende bevolking in een veel sneller tempo moeten beginnen te reproduceren alvorens de bevolking als geheel de last van het steunen van alle resterende overlevenden zou kunnen behandelen.

buyers, ebook, Questions, Seattle

Mar, 2012

By Virginia

But what school would my kids go to?

If you’ve got young children, probably one of the most important criteria in your home search is “What school would my kids go to if we lived here?” And there are various websites where you can see how a particular school scores, relative to others in Washington state – for example School Digger – but often these websites can frustrate you as much as inform you. For example, of the “top 10 public elementary schools in the state” according to School Digger, only 2 are inSeattle, and those are in neighborhoods that many buyers with young children can’t afford. Only 2 are inBellevue.

I’m a firm believer in getting out there yourself and checking out the school; meeting the principal, finding out what kids go to the school, what special programs there are, what challenges the school has. And one of the most important: understanding your child and knowing where he or she is most likely to thrive.

We have some first-rate private schools in our area, but we also have some wonderful public schools.

If you’ve seen a home online and want to check the public school assignment, click here for Seattle addresses, or here for Bellevue.

Please contact me if you have a school you want to rave about (or rant about): I would love to hear from you.

Questions, Seattle, Tips

Mar, 2012

By Virginia

Mediterranean Style on North Capitol Hill

Near Volunteer Park, this well-loved and solidly built true 2-story offers endless design possibilities.

Sorry, SOLD! contact me for more information.

Wonderful light, clean lines, circular floor plan, loft office area…Enjoy al fresco dining in the sky patio on the roof deck.

Think of it as a 2,900 sq.ft. space awaiting your modernist-contemporary visions – or, enjoy its existing blend of classic and Spanish style.

High-ceiling unfinished basement adds 1120 sq.ft.

Private back yard by landscape architect Glen Takagi.

Address: 1543 17th Ave E

Listed at $899,950

Capitol Hill, inspiration, Mediterranean, Seattle

1 … 3 4 5 6 7

Everybody Loves Bryant

Fix It Contractor Referrals eBook Now Available!

True Confessions of a Real Estate Investor

Best new waterfront feature!

Jackson Place Cohousing

Jury Duty – Do it!

IT’S STAGERPALOOZA TIME!

What’s wrong with this house?

But what school would my kids go to?

Mediterranean Style on North Capitol Hill

Recent Posts

Never miss a post!

Get In Touch