2014 is here already!!

Making your home more efficient for little money!

All this talk about making your home green, making it more energy efficient. Sounds expensive, but it is not. There are many huge projects to tackle that are expensive such as new windows, more efficient appliances, solar panels and the like, however there are many small projects that have great benefit as well. 

Changing your light bulbs out for LED lights.
--- LED's are a bit more expensive than CFL's and incandescent bulbs but they last longer and pull less electricity. They also stay cooler than the other bulbs when they are on.


Installing low flow shower heads.
---You can purchase these at your local hardware store or online. Take off your old shower head and just replace it with the new one. Over the years these have evolved into normal shower heads with all the different settings as the old heads. Chances are you will not even notice the difference.


Checking your toilets and faucets for leaks and slow drips.
----An easy way to check your toilets for leaks is to place a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait a few minutes and if the water in the bowl has been changed at all then you may have a slow leak. Most of the times it is as easy of a fix as just changing the flapper that is found in the tank. 


Weatherstripping around doors to cut down on drafts.
---There are different types of stripping. Some is thin foam with adhesive on the back. It comes in a roll and it is super easy to install. If you have a draft at the bottom of the door you could make or purchase a draft stopper. This sets inside your home in front of the door and stops the cold air from sneaking in.


These are just a handful, but will make an impact on your home and the utilities. Not only is it good for the environment because you are saving energy, but it is beneficial to your wallet because you will be saving on wasted utility usage.

Seattle Times: King County home prices rise more slowly

This article is just emphasizing the fact that the market is still strong in Seattle. There are houses for buyers to choose from but not many. Because  of this buyers are needing to settle with what is there, this can create opportunities for multiple offer situations on your home. The winter can typically be stagnant as far as home sales go but for now one of the reasons the number of sales is lower is just because there is no inventory to be sold.


From the Seattle Times:
"The residential real-estate market is winding up a very good sales year with price increases moderating.

The Northwest Multiple Listing Service said Wednesday the median price of a single-family home in King County rose 7.5 percent compared with a year ago. It was the 20th consecutive month of a higher year-over-year median price, but the first time in more than a year that the increase was less than 10 percent.

The drop-off may mean the housing market is moving away from the dreaded boom-and-bust cycles that can lead to a market crash, brokers and economists in the region said.

“A single month doesn’t make a trend, but it is indicative that we are moving toward a more stable market,” said Glenn Crellin, associate director of research at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington. “The market just can’t sustain those double-digit increases.”

The median price for a single- family home was $414,000 in King County in November. The market peaked at $481,000 in July 2007 and bottomed at $308,125 in February 2012.

While mortgage-interest rates remain relatively low in the 4 percent range, real-estate brokers and buyers are more worried about homes on the market.

Kim Andes and her husband have been looking for a house for eight months. The couple said they realized quickly that even with her husband’s six-figure income as a Microsoft developer, they were not going to find their dream house because there just wasn’t a lot to choose from.

“Seeing what is actually available out there is just surprising,” she said while at an open house in West Seattle with her daughter Tuesday.

There were 3,820 houses listed for sale in November, about 2.7 percent more than a year earlier. That represents a two-month supply.

Industry analysts consider a balanced market to be a four- to six-month supply.

“Going forward, the market will normalize because of the inventory getting back to an even-Stevens level,” said Dick Beeson, principal managing broker at RE/MAX Professionals in Tacoma.

“Once again, this year we will be heading into the New Year with shortages,” J. Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, said Wednesday. “The market activity is at a strong level, which is mainly being driven by job growth, investors in the market and foreign buyers.”

But Scott said he thinks that if more homes are not built in the Seattle area, not just in Snohomish and Pierce counties, the people moving to the city could create an even larger home shortage and potentially hurt the Northwest’s recovering housing market.

More houses and condos in the four-county region have changed hands so far this year than in all of last year.

In 2012, 19,799 single-family houses and 5,268 condos were sold, according to the MLS.

In the first 11 months of 2013, 22,899 houses and 6,150 condos have sold, increases of 15.6 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively.

In Snohomish County, the median price for a single-family home increased more than 14 percent over the previous year, to $309,925, and the number of listings jumped almost 36.8 percent to 2,108 last month.

The median price of a single-family home in Pierce County was $214,990, up 7.5 percent.

In Kitsap County, the median price dropped 10.6 percent to $224,900, according to the MLS.

The median price of a condo in King County increased 17.4 percent from a year ago, to $240,000. There were 1,056 listings, a 3.8 percent increase from a year ago.

In Snohomish County, the median condo price increased 19.7 percent to $190,000. There were 343 listings, up 61 percent from a year ago."

By Coral Garnick

Seattle Times business reporter

To see more about this including charts and graphs and to read the complete article please visit  http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2022395813_homesalesnovemberxml.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

What is the MLS?

It is the trademarked term for Major League Soccer, however in real estate it is the Multiple Listing Service. It refers to a place where real estate brokers can go and share information about properties that have been sold, or are being sold. 

It is a service that is subscribed to by brokers, it is a place for brokers to list new properties for sale as well as a place they can search for properties to show their clients.

In western Washington we have the NWMLS. When we talk about a MLS number it is a specific number assigned to a particular house for sale. It is a way of easily identifying the house, and follows the property for the whole time it is on the MLS.

If you choose to sell your house FSBO (For Sale By Owner) you do not have the access to post your home directly on the MLS. That is one of the important reasons for working with a licensed broker so that they can get your house on the MLS.

Craigslist and other web searches are good places to look at properties, however working directly with an agent can be more direct and can get you the most current homes available. Also because they can get on the MLS they are often able to get more information for you on specific properties that you are not able to see as a buyer.

Moisture and mold in my house... What do I do?

Mold is a type of fungus. It thrives on its surroundings including soil, decaying plant pieces, food, fabrics and clothes and wood materials. It thrives in damp places and multiplies by sending spores into the air that land and start thriving on their own. Mold can withstand freezing temperatures, it can also withstand dry spells.

The key to mold is moisture control.  Damp areas of the home are a trouble spot for mold growth. The spores that mold produces can create allergens that can be problematic to sensitive individuals. It is important that if you see mold in your home you take corrective measures to ensure ridding the area of the problem.

When you see mold in your house you need to clean up the mold but also assess the situation and see where the problem is starting. It could be rot in the floor, a leak in the roof, or excessive moisture in the bathroom or kitchen area. If you don’t fix the problem than most likely the mold will present itself again.

Mold can be removed from a surface by scrubbing the area with warm water and a detergent. Then it is very important to thoroughly dry the area. You can also take an additional step of disinfecting the area with a 1/4 cup of beach diluted with a gallon of water, then let it air dry. This will get rid of the surface/visible mold. Next you should dig deeper and find out the cause. It may be as simple as adding better ventilation. Dehumidifiers can help with the moisture, so can running the kitchen and bathroom fans.  If you have condensation gathering inside your windows and on your windowsills it can be a smart move to dry those often as well.

Seattle has very wet fall winter and spring seasons. With precautionary measures and proper ventilation in your house there should be no major need for concern. Just be attentive to the issue and if you are concerned with the problem go ahead and give an expert a call.

King County median home price up 15% over year ago - Seattle Times

The Seattle Times is reporting an increase of the value and prices of King County's homes.
Over the past year they have increased by  15% on average.

"Buyers closed on 2,187 homes, 10 percent more than in the previous October, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reported Tuesday."

King County median home price up 15% over year ago | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times

It's Pumpkin Time!

Halloween is just around the corner. Since this is the last weekend before, now is a great time to get your pumpkin. If you already have your decorations up and pumpkins carved you can check out the other fun festivities there are. Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Carving, Music, Food, and Fun Times can be had at many farms near Seattle. Check out below to find something fun to do!


Entertainment | Harvest/Halloween events | Seattle Times Newspaper

Home Inspection - Why they are important

   
       When you finally find the home for you and you are getting ready to place an offer it is a good idea to have a home inspection done. When a home inspector comes out they inspect the condition of the property. Generally it takes a few hours to complete and costs a few hundred dollars. This might sound like a lot but in the long run it can save you thousands.
     
       The Seattle Times featured this article which goes more in-depth about home inspections.


Hire an inspector to avoid homebuying horrors | Homes & Real Estate | The Seattle Times

10 Costly Mistakes First Time Home Buyers Make

1. Not hiring your own agent or using the seller's agent.
Once you're seriously shopping for a home, don't walk into an open house without having a Exclusive Buyer's Agent - Only an Exclusive Buyer's Agent can GUARANTEE to represent only you in your home purchase and negotiate only for you. Agents are held to the ethical rule that they must act in both the seller and the buyer parties' best interests, but you can discover to your detriment how that might not work in your best interest if you start dealing with a seller's agent before contacting one of your own.

2. Not knowing what you can afford.
As we've all learned from the subprime mortgage mess, what the bank says you can afford and what you know you can afford or are comfortable with paying are not necessarily the same. If you don't already have a budget, make a list of all your monthly expenses (excluding rent), including vehicle costs, student loan payments, credit card payments, groceries, health insurance, retirement savings and so on. Don't forget major expenses that occur only once a year, like any insurance premiums you pay annually or annual vacations. Subtract this total from your take-home pay and you'll know how much you can spend on your new home each month.

If you end up looking at homes that are outside your price range, you'll end up lusting after something you can't afford, which can put you in the dangerous position of trying to stretch beyond your means financially or cause you to feel unsatisfied with what you actually can afford. You may even learn that you can't afford the type or size of home that you desire and that you need to work on reducing your monthly expenses and/or increasing your income before you even start looking.

3. Skipping mortgage qualification.
What you think you can afford and what the bank is willing to lend you may not match up, especially if you have poor credit or unstable income, so make sure to get preapproved for a loan before placing an offer on a home. If you don't, you'll be wasting the seller's time, the seller's agent's time and your agent's time if you sign a contract and discover later that the bank won't lend you what you need or that it won't give you a mortgage you find acceptable. Be aware that even if you have been preapproved for a mortgage, your loan can fall through if you do something to alter your credit score, like finance a car purchase. If you cause the deal to fall through, you may have to forfeit the money that you put up when you went under contract.

4. Failing to consider additional expenses.

Once you're a homeowner, you'll have additional expenses on top of your monthly payment. Unlike when you were a renter, you'll be responsible for paying property taxes, insuring your home against disasters and making any repairs the house needs (which will occasionally include expensive items like replacing the roof or furnace). If you're interested in purchasing a condo, you'll have to pay maintenance costs monthly regardless of whether anything needs fixing because you'll be part of a homeowners' association, which collects monthly fees from the owners of each unit in the form of condominium fees.

5. Being too picky.
Go ahead and put everything you can think of on your new home wish list, but don't be so inflexible that you end up continuing to rent for significantly longer than you really want to. First-time homebuyers often have to compromise on something because their funds are limited. You may have to live on a busy street, accept outdated decor, make some repairs to the home or forgo that extra bedroom. Of course, you can always choose to continue renting until you can afford everything on your list - you'll just have to decide how important it is for you to become a homeowner now rather than in a couple of years.

6. Lacking vision.
Even if you can't afford to replace the hideous wallpaper in the bathroom now, it might be worth it to live with the ugliness for a while in exchange for getting into a house you can afford. If the home meets your needs in terms of the big things that are difficult to change, such as location and size, don't let physical imperfections turn you away. Besides, doing home upgrades yourself, even if you have to hire a contractor, is often cheaper than paying the increased home value to a seller who has already done the work for you.

7. Being swept away.
Minor upgrades and cosmetic fixes are inexpensive tricks that play on your emotions and elicit a much higher price. Sellers may pay $2,000 for minimal upgrades or staging that you'll end up paying $40,000 for. If you're on a budget, look for homes whose full potential has yet to be realized. Also, first-time homebuyers should always look for a house they can add value to, as this ensures a bump in equity to help you up the property ladder.

8. Compromising on the important things.
Don't get a two-bedroom home when you know you're planning to have kids and will want at least three bedrooms. By the same token, don't buy a condo just because it's cheaper when one of the main reasons you're over apartment life is because you hate sharing walls with neighbors. It's true that you'll probably have to make some compromises to be able to afford your first home, but don't make a compromise that will be a major strain.

9. Neglecting to inspect.
It's tempting to think that you're a homeowner the moment you go into escrow, but not so fast - before you close on the sale, you need to know what kind of shape the house is in. You don't want to get stuck with a money pit or with the headache of performing a lot of unexpected repairs. Keeping your feelings in check until you have a full picture of the house's physical condition and the soundness of your potential investment will help you avoid making a serious financial mistake.

10. Not thinking about the future.
It's impossible to perfectly predict the future of your chosen neighborhood, but paying attention to the information that is available to you now can help you avoid unpleasant surprises down the road.

For more information please visit - www.searchingballardhomes.com

Autumnal Equinox - A.K.A. - The first day of fall!!

Today is the first day of fall, looking out the window, I wouldn't second guess that. Yesterday was beautiful and sunny, today is slightly drizzly and very fall feeling. Fall is a great time, school has started, routines are falling into place, soups and stews are served for dinner.
Fall is also a good time to do a few things around the house. I know it is not winter yet but it is a good time to think about putting faucet covers on your outside water sources. You know, the foam ones, they look like this....

you can buy them at local hardware stores or from here

It is also a good time to start clearing out your gutters. You can prevent damage to your house by keeping your gutters clean. With all the leaves about to change color and fall from the trees, there will be lots of clogged gutters. When you gutters overflow they can cause damage to the eaves of your house. Also when the clogs go into the downspouts it can create more problems. Make sure that at the bottom of the downspout that there is a foot on it pointing away from your house. The rain is coming and it is best to direct the water away from your foundation. 

Home upkeep can be simple and inexpensive, but can save in the long run. By just keeping up on little things, you will avoid bigger things.  

Larry Ives - www.searchingballardhomes.com 

The 10 Costly Mistakes Home Sellers Make!

1. Buying Another Home First.

Buying a new home before you sell the old one is a real financial gamble. Buying first can be risky because once you sign a contract with a seller, you are locked into paying a certain price no matter what you end up selling your home for. If your home sells for less than you anticipate (a real possibility), do you have the additional cash you'll need to close the sale on the new house? And what if your current home doesn't sell before you close escrow on the new house? If your down payment is coming from the equity in your present home, you might have to borrow in order to close escrow on the new home. Having more than one house payment can make it difficult to qualify for the loan on your new home.

2. Overpricing Your Home.
The value of your home is not determined by what you would like to get for it, what you paid for it, what you owe on it, or how much money you put into it. And it is not determined by your real estate agent or the appraiser. The value of your home is determined only by what a buyer is willing to pay for it in today's market by comparing your home to others that have recently sold or are for sale.

Overpricing your home drastically reduces the chances of a fast sale, keeps other agents from showing the home, and helps to sell the competition. Buyers are just like all customers - they want the best available product at the best price. Buyers will compare your property to others currently on the market and they won't knowingly pay too much. Your real estate agent can prepare a competitive market analysis (CMA) for you to help you price your home realistically. And, if your home doesn't sell after a predetermined period of time, consider reducing the price.

3. Failing To Prepare The Home For Sale.
Presentation is everything and never more so than when you're going to put your home on the market. Giving your home "curb appeal" usually requires a small investment of time and money. Painting the front door, planting some flowers in the yard, decluttering tables and countertops, washing windows, fixing leaky faucets, painting the inside and making sure the whole house is sparkling clean are things that don't cost much but have a big payoff. Keep in mind that buyers often can't imagine what the property will look like when it's spruced up so it's up to you to put your home in mint condition. The payoff? You'll be able to sell it for top dollar.

4. Neglecting To Obtain Necessary Reports Upfront.
Obtaining some of the required inspections before you have a contract is a good idea. By working with your agent, you can have a home warranty, preliminary title report, home inspection, and most importantly, a termite inspection done on your property before your home goes on the market. When prospective buyers look at your home, they can see exactly what work needs to be completed. This helps you get the best price for your home with far less hassle later in the transaction since everything is known and negotiated upfront.

5. Making It Difficult To Show Your Home.
The more flexible you are in allowing agents to bring their buyers over, the more your home will be shown and the faster it will sell. Provide ready access to your home and whenever possible, try to avoid being home for showings. Potential buyers often feel uncomfortable with the seller present and will tend to hurry through your home. They will also be hesitant to ask questions or to open closets, etc. which they need to do when making a decision about whether a house is right for them or not.

6. Failing To Consider Offering Special Terms.
Offering special incentives can make your home attractive to potential buyers. Paying for an interest rate buydown, carrying back a second mortgage, or paying for a portion of the buyer's closing costs all assist buyers financially. You might even want to consider paying a higher-than-customary commission to the agent who sells your home. Any of these things can increase interest in your home and may be cheaper in the long run than a price reduction.

7. Not Requiring The Buyer To Be Prequalified.
One of the most common reasons real estate transactions fall apart is finding out 30 days into the deal that the buyer can't qualify for a mortgage loan. When you get an offer on your property, the only way to control the situation is to stipulate in the contract that the buyer be prequalified by a lender that your agent knows and trusts. This is your best insurance that your transaction will close.

8. Making The Sale Of Your Home Contingent On Finding Another House.
Sellers don't like contingent offers (where a clause is included in the contract stating that the purchase of one home is subject to the sale of another) and neither do buyers. One sure way to keep buyers away is to insist that it be sold contingent on you finding a new home. Instead, include a clause in the contract that allows you to live in the property until your find your next house. You rent the property back from the buyers and pay them a prorated, per diem cost. This way, you eliminate your risk and the buyers know the deal is firm.

9. Refusing To Consider All Offers.
Buyers want the best house at the lowest price and sellers want to net as much as they can. Remember that everything is negotiable and even a "lowball" offer is worth countering if the buyers are qualified.

10. Not Getting Preapproved For Your Next Home.
If you want to ensure a fast, easy closing on your new house, talk to a lender as soon as you list your current home and ask to be preapproved. This can be done whether you have found a house already or not. Not only will preapproval give you greater negotiating power when you make an offer on a home, you'll also cut a tremendous amount of time and anxiety out of the process.

For more info please visit - www.searchingballardhomes.com

How much does it cost to hire a Home Stager?

How much does it cost to hire a home stager?

The process known as home staging has been in existence for roughly thirty years. In that time it has emerged as a powerful sales tool because it transforms a "nice" home into a remarkably desirable product. This is done through a variety of techniques.

Home staging is not an accredited field, that is it, does not require accreditation. Some stagers come from art and design fields, textile and home furnishing industry jobs, which gives them a great deal of experience in color, design, perspective, layout, etc.

The costs associated with working with a professional home stager will vary widely and can begin as low as $150 for a consultation, and range well above $6000 for a massive undertaking. Stagers may charge by the hour, while others request a flat fee. The biggest factors affecting cost are the size and condition of the home as well as the geographical area in which it is located. Homeowners on a budget may choose to pay for a consultation with a stager and then implement the suggestions themselves, or they may opt to hire the stager to transform only the main rooms.

Some consumers wonder if the hassle of rearranging rooms, buying new accessories and furniture, and ensuring that the house is always ready to look like a designer showroom is worth it. MortgageNewsDaily.com indicates that most homes that are professionally stage will end up bringing in roughly 3% more than the anticipated price. This means that a homeowner who dedicates $3000 to a home staging project, and who sells their home for $500k, will have earned $15000 for their effort. Clearly, this indicates that such a project is well worth the expense.

Cost breakout

A preliminary consultation with the home stager is required before work can begin, and usually the professional will indicate the weakest areas of the home, or the items that need to be removed or relocated. Once de-cluttering, cleaning, minor repairs, and even repainting is done the stager will begin their work.

This will usually include:

• Rearranging furniture;
• Redecorating windows with new dressings, or using pre-existing dressings in a different way;
• Displaying accessories and collectibles in pleasing "vignettes";
• Adding elements that draw the attention to appealing areas such as fireplaces, patios, and porches; and
• Bringing in a large number of "props" that enhance the overall "tone" of any space. This could mean adding plants, pillows, furniture, baskets, artwork, lighting fixtures, and much more.

Additional considerations and costs

Before selecting a stager, the homeowner should seek out and meet with a few stagers to discuss goals, review portfolios, ask for references, and then request a bid for the work. Most realtors can provide the names of at least two or three stagers, and it is best to interview three candidates before making a final choice.

Some stagers require a contract in order to begin work, and others also request a retainer in order to begin acquiring supplies. Such requests are entirely reasonable and to be expected, and this is a great way to protect both parties in the event of any conflict or dispute.

It is impossible to place a fixed amount on such work, but it is vitally important that the homeowner sit down with the stager to determine a budget well in advance. A time line for the work is necessary if many small projects must be completed in advance of the actual staging work.

Generally, the average staging project occurs over the course of a few day's time, though it may have been in "planning" stages for a few weeks. It is a good idea to develop a plan of action in order to keep costs under control and the schedule on target. This is particularly true if the home is about to go on the market or be photographed for a real estate listing. If the stager needs the homeowner to work with subcontractors for the project, they, too, should agree to the established schedules to ensure they can meet the obligatory deadlines.

In the case that the homeowner has already moved out of the home, it is possible to arrange a "vacant staging". The home stager rents furniture and accessories for a few months or as long as necessary, and the cost is typically around 1-2% of the list price to purchase these materials. Some stagers maintain their own inventory of furniture and accessories and may add a rental cost on top of their fee.

Come visit searchingballardhomes.com for more information for sellers and buyers 

So you want to sell your home.... Where to begin

When it is time to sell your home, where do you begin? Once you have started the process what are the next steps? How about when you receive an offer, what happens then? Keep reading for a step-by-step of the home selling process.

Sales Process 

1. Fill out questionnaire provided by agent in pre-listing package.

2. Listing appointment, determine price, sign listing contract, discuss strategies, discuss home preparation, etc.

3. Home preparation begins i.e.; painting, repairs, carpeting, cleaning etc.

4. Staging consultation (if applicable)

5. Professional photographer

6. Agent creates flyers, brochures, listing remarks etc.

7. Agent lists home on NWMLS and all other electronic media. For sale sign is placed at home

8. Brokers open takes place on assigned day.

9. First weekend open houses are scheduled for Sat and Sun from 1-4 pm.

10. Agent tracks all activity and reports to seller.

11. Second brokers open is scheduled for assigned day

12. Second weekend open houses are scheduled for Sat and Sun 1-4 pm.

13. Agent continues to track all activity with weekly reports to seller.

14. Open houses and weekly consults with seller continue.

After Offer is Received 

1. Agent and seller discuss offers strengths and weaknesses, price, and determine how to respond to offer

2. If both parties are in agreement on price, closing date, length of inspection period, financing, and earnest money they both sign and move to inspection.

3. If there is not an agreement on any of the above: First the sellers can counteroffer and specify the expiration of that counteroffer or reject offer. Then buyer agrees to counteroffer, provides another counteroffer, or rejects seller’s counteroffer. This process keeps repeating until there is mutual acceptance or there is a rejection by one party. The buyer’s earnest money is not at risk during this process.

4. Once there is an agreement (mutual acceptance) the listing agent will open escrow and the buyer’s agent will deliver the earnest money to escrow who will hold it throughout the duration of the transaction.

5. The buyer’s inspection period begins the first day after mutual acceptance. If that period is five days or less, weekends and holidays are not considered part of the inspection period.

6. At the end of the inspection period buyer may approve the inspection and waive the inspection contingency, disapprove the inspection and terminate the agreement, conduct additional inspections, or propose repairs to the property or modifications to the agreement. If nothing is altered on the contract the seller will then have three days to respond to buyers request and the buyer will have three days to respond to seller. This does not repeat again if parties can’t agree then buyer must terminate this contract by buyer’s deadline.

7. Listing agent shall make sure the buyers have lifted their financing contingency on the specified date.

8. Escrow company will contact sellers to verify banking instructions, and schedule a signing date

9. Sellers sign escrow documents (usually 2-3 days before the closing date).

10. On closing date listing agent turns house keys over to buyer’s agent, the transaction is recorded, and funds are transferred to seller’s bank account.

For more information, CLICK HERE

Open House in Ballard Tomorrow 8/25 from 1-4pm

$425,000
This home includes: Hardwood floors, coved ceilings, cozy front porch & more! Many updates have been done including: Remodeled kitchen with open counters, newer windows, copper plumbing and new radiant heat.
Great space for entertaining! Oversized main floor bathroom and bedroom with walk-in closet.
There is a full basement with a non-conforming bedroom, bonus room and ¾ bath. Basement has been rented at $600/month.

Click here for the address and for more photos

Click here to search for more homes

Larry Ives

SearchingBallardHomes.com

(206) 595-1766

Listing courtesy of RE/MAX Metro Realty, Inc.

Check out the low home inventory in Seattle

Seattle in the summer is a wonderful place. Sometimes named the rainy city, it is hard to prove that nickname in the summer. There are many happenings this time of year including, concerts, art walks, outdoor movies, swimming, beach going, festivals, hiking, adventuring and much more. 
Summer is also a great time to list your property because people are done hibernating from the winter and there is a great deal more activity. Right now Seattle has a very low inventory of houses for sale. Ballard, for example, has only 29 active residential listings and Queen Anne just 58. This low inventory combined with the continuing low interest rates has created a large buying pool which is driving home prices up. Many homes have been receiving multiple offers and selling for far more than list price. Well priced homes in Seattle are selling quickly. So if you are thinking of selling now is a great time to list your property.

Whats happening in Ballard this weekend

Saturday August 10th is the monthly Ballard ArtWalk. The ArtWalk is from  to 9pm and stretches from Leary way all the way down to Shilshole. The Ballard ArtWalk was started back in 1997 and was formed to help local businesses. To see a map of the event click here.



Ballard P-Patch is also having an event Sunday. From 11-5 the Ballard P-Patch Community Garden will host their 13th annual Art in the Garden celebration. This free event will showcase P-Patch gardens as well as 18 local artists and local music.

Sunday you can head down to the Ballard Farmers Market. They are open from 10am to 3pm and if you can't make it this Sunday they are open year round.