What size do you envision the two separate lots to be after the subdivision?

The excellent view corner of 8th Ave and 1st St. has been for sale on and off, both 801 and 807. You need to factor in how the construction at 7th and Market will block a portion of the view from there. See permits on the interactive Kirkland Neighborhood map on my blog. Both priced too high for the builders when they were for sale.

Generally a view lot will be in the $550,000 range for one lot with a tear down on it in the “core” of the area. The duplex sandwiched in between WestWater and the three going up offered at $1.5 mil. could be an option without the subdivision request.

Look at what exists, not what is for sale. Easy to do a tax record search of all of the properties that fit the bill. Then you write to those people. That’s how I do it.

Why do you need to subdivide the lot? Generally, I think an East of Market would need to be 10,000 sf or better and a West of Market would need to be 15,000 sf or better, with some exceptions. Not likely you can get a subdividable West of Market, unless maybe it is ON Market, for that price.

I live in the core of the area you describe. Email me or call and we can chat about what has sold in the last year that fits your desires. If you see three things that sold that fit the bill, it will help target your area to one that will have what you want at the price you want to pay.

Well, here is what we are looking for. I will give the areas first (all in Kirkland):

East and West of Market Street, going North (of downtown) to 18th Ave (W) and East to 6th St.

Going South, West of train tracks to NE 64th St. East of train tracks to maybe NE 68th St (we might be able to push that a little further South).

That is kind of hard to explain. It would be much easier to highlight it on a map.

Anyway, so we are looking for a property with a lot that is subdividable into two. It can be an empty lot or not. We would tear it down. Of course, we would optimally want a view possibility, all the good stuff.

I have seen on the various websites(like shackprices) that there have been a few recent sales of something like this from $600k. We are looking for that price up to maybe $800k. I know it’s not something that comes around a lot, but that is our optimal.

I try to line up a buyer, if I can ,who doesn’t need to move in a hurry. NWMLS does not allow you to list a property “subect to the seller finding suitable replacement housing” Some other mls’ do allow that.

Also NWMLS does not allow you to get a listing contract signed and not put it in the mls, so you have to keep the “to be” listing in your “pocket”. But if you meet a buyer and know the “coming soon pocket listing” is perfect for them, and they don’t have to have a new house right away, you “sneak” them in…as I am doing tomorrow. I have no agreements with the seller or the buyer. If the buyer likes it, then we go from there. I’ve been staging it for two days just to show it to one or two of my buyers.

Often I have a client who needs to sell before they can buy and doesn’t want to sell before they have a place to go. So I have to “manage” the situation by getting the house totally ready and sometimes even line up a buyer who can wait or lease back until I find the right home for the sellers.

That’s a great idea… and you’ve come to the right place. Let me know the type of home you want and the neighborhoods you are interested in and I’ll post it right here on Rain City Guide…

I can’t promise this for anyone else, but I’d be happy to try it out for one post!

Best.

Now maybe this already exists, but what about a “Homes Wanted” or “Property Wanted” website. A place where potential buyers could write a small classified ad, and maybe some kind of highlighted map that would list where and what they are looking for. Like a Redfin in reverse.

If an agent has a pocket listing, they could go to an interactive map and click the area where the property is. Then it would list a summary of all the “wanted” listings for that area. When one fits the bill, or nearly does, they could contact that person and work something out.

The way I see it, this would protect the pocket listing from other agents, help the house seller get it sold without going through the MLS, and help the buyer get a property “on the down low”. It could also be a way for people who are just thinking about selling their house to see if there is much demand in their area, and maybe even work like a reverse “For Sale By Owner”

Maybe I am giving away a million dollar idea here, but I frankly don’t have the drive to make something like this, or energy to go through protecting it.

If this already exists, please someone point me to this site so I can list the kind of place I am looking for!