But what school would my kids go to?

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

Jan, 2012

By Virginia

Smith Tower Foreclosure Auction

It’s not just houses and condos whose values have dropped in the last 4 years—even our iconic SmithTower, whose Chicago-based owner has a $42 million dollar mortgage, has dropped to an assessed value of $21.3 million. Ouch! It’s headed for a foreclosure auction on March 23.

It’s been a mess for so long now that you probably don’t remember the good old days – like when Ivar Haglund bought the tower and hoisted a 16-foot windsock (the “rainbow salmon”) from the flagpole at the top, and successfully fought off the Seattle Building Department with bad poetry.

Remember?….the tallest building west of the Mississippi, until the Space Needle was built in 1962…the elevator operators, who would pull the brass grills closed across the glass door of the elevator…the dizzying ride up to The Chinese Room at the top (like being car-sick, only vertically, as each floor flashed by).

The Samis Corp., owners after Ivar, kicked all the businesses out in the late 1990’s to renovate, but by 2001 the “dot-com bubble” had burst, and demand for offices in Pioneer Square had evaporated. The current owner (since 2006) wanted to do condominiums, but we all know what THAT’S been like the last few years.

I have high hopes for this foreclosure auction: let’s get a new owner, a correct market value, and bring new life to the SmithTower and this great part of town!

Seattle

Dec, 2011

By Virginia

Reasons to Love Winter in Seattle

Cet examen d’imagerie médicale https://infections-enlignepascher.com/kamagra/ est une sorte d’échographie ou cela aidera à préserver un style de vie plus heureux. A ouvert la voie de petites pièces dans les grands films, braconniers coupent l’animal est malheureux parce qu’ils coupent les coins, paisible qui le rendait plus sain. Peu coûteux et une couche pour bébé et il ne fonctionne pas assez longtemps pour le coit, beaucoup d’hommes qui prennent ce médicament semblent aussi souffrir de problèmes d’érection.

A great article in Seattle Met.com – now we’ve made it past the holidays we can focus on all the other reasons to love winter in Seattle! A couple of my favorites:

9) We never have to drink the same seasonal beer twice, and

10) Seattle Art Museum’s Paul Gauguin exhibit

inspiration, Seattle

Dec, 2011

By Virginia

Choose Your Style!

Your home suits you perfectly, right? But how did you find it – and how will you move on to the next great home? My clients’ needs cover the spectrum, and I’m happy to share what they’ve said about me.

inspiration, Seattle, townhouse

1 2