Comments on: What’s Hot? What’s Not? http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:20:05 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sav http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-147251 Sav Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:55:28 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-147251 Ardell, How will you compare these two houses in the same new construction neighbourhood based on the best lots, best floor plan theory... 1. Custom Home - Unique floor Plan with a huge kitchen , great room, formal living/dining and den with 4 Bedrooms on a sloped lot where the garage is sunken and the main flooor is about 5-6 feet above garage floor level. This Means the pathway to the home from the drive way has about 9 steps. 2. Less popular floor plan - smaller great room and kitchen on a more level lot. This one also has 4 bed rooms .Garage and Main floor at almost same level. I am just curious Tom Ardell,

How will you compare these two houses in the same new construction neighbourhood based on the best lots, best floor plan theory…

1. Custom Home – Unique floor Plan with a huge kitchen , great room, formal living/dining and den with 4 Bedrooms on a sloped lot where the garage is sunken and the main flooor is about 5-6 feet above garage floor level. This Means the pathway to the home from the drive way has about 9 steps.

2. Less popular floor plan – smaller great room and kitchen on a more level lot. This one also has 4 bed rooms .Garage and Main floor at almost same level.

I am just curious

Tom

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146568 ARDELL Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:40:45 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146568 I was just noticing that emailed flyers are increasing. To match the comments in the article, properties further out are offering 4% commissions. Bellevue offered a cupcake and a cup of coffee to come see a listing priced at almost $5 Million :) Oh, that was a NY cupcake...whatever that means. I've had NY cheesecake...but what's a NY cupcake? May have to go to that Broker's Open just to see what the big deal is with is NY cupcake. I was just noticing that emailed flyers are increasing. To match the comments in the article, properties further out are offering 4% commissions. Bellevue offered a cupcake and a cup of coffee to come see a listing priced at almost $5 Million :) Oh, that was a NY cupcake…whatever that means. I’ve had NY cheesecake…but what’s a NY cupcake? May have to go to that Broker’s Open just to see what the big deal is with is NY cupcake.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146559 ARDELL Fri, 08 Jun 2007 03:37:46 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146559 Bill, I think I said that when I die, it will be someone else's problem to deal with :) The older you get, the less you worry about stuff. Bill,

I think I said that when I die, it will be someone else’s problem to deal with :) The older you get, the less you worry about stuff.

]]> By: Bill Waters http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146523 Bill Waters Fri, 08 Jun 2007 01:01:25 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146523 Wow, Ardell! Are you saying your exit strategy may include handing the keys back to the bank? Wow, Ardell! Are you saying your exit strategy may include handing the keys back to the bank?

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146501 ARDELL Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:46:38 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146501 Sandy, That's what makes them the very best purchases from an appreciation standpoint. Undervalued, and lots more you can do to increase the value even if the market goes down. A much better hedge against prices deteriorating to buy one you can improve upon that is selling at below market rate. Sandy,

That’s what makes them the very best purchases from an appreciation standpoint. Undervalued, and lots more you can do to increase the value even if the market goes down. A much better hedge against prices deteriorating to buy one you can improve upon that is selling at below market rate.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146500 ARDELL Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:43:34 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146500 Regarding your 7, I think it's an invalid premise. Excess inventory includes houses not selling. Those selling are selling at higher prices. Those that might sell at lower prices and drag down the average price, aren't selling at all. Too early in the season to go that route. Re-cap should be October 15. Until then we don't know if there is an oversupply or not. I'm sure there is an oversupply, but inventory will always be higher this time of year. School isn't even out yet, is it? Heavy inventory is normal for this time of year. Let's see if only the worst of the inventory is left come October 15th...same as usual. Prices will rise and more will not sell at all. That's how I see it. The days of wanting a high price and not wanting to do anything to the house to get a high price are long over. Some sellers aren't getting that yet. Regarding your 7, I think it’s an invalid premise.

Excess inventory includes houses not selling. Those selling are selling at higher prices. Those that might sell at lower prices and drag down the average price, aren’t selling at all.

Too early in the season to go that route. Re-cap should be October 15. Until then we don’t know if there is an oversupply or not. I’m sure there is an oversupply, but inventory will always be higher this time of year. School isn’t even out yet, is it? Heavy inventory is normal for this time of year. Let’s see if only the worst of the inventory is left come October 15th…same as usual. Prices will rise and more will not sell at all. That’s how I see it.

The days of wanting a high price and not wanting to do anything to the house to get a high price are long over. Some sellers aren’t getting that yet.

]]> By: sandy http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146499 sandy Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:41:07 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146499 One more factor: Some price declines are not all bad news. I can tell you from looking the east side for a nice home (not a fancy one but a well maintained, good light sort of home) is not easy to find. Many homes 30 years old with very questionable upgrades, 2000sqft (again not very large since the bedrooms closets etc are cramped), are listed high because of proximity to Microsoft or a large yard. Now a both factors that are jacking up the price are valid - I hate the commute here in 405, 520 and 202. Large yard - non existant in new homes. But the house per se where you will spend max amount of your time given seattle's gray skies is not that good, and so not worth the price. In my guess, and you guys can correct me if its educated guess or not, I feel homes that have bad layout, poor light, shabbily upgraded will suffer the most especially if they arent close to any of the major employers around here. One more factor: Some price declines are not all bad news. I can tell you from looking the east side for a nice home (not a fancy one but a well maintained, good light sort of home) is not easy to find. Many homes 30 years old with very questionable upgrades, 2000sqft (again not very large since the bedrooms closets etc are cramped), are listed high because of proximity to Microsoft or a large yard. Now a both factors that are jacking up the price are valid – I hate the commute here in 405, 520 and 202. Large yard – non existant in new homes. But the house per se where you will spend max amount of your time given seattle’s gray skies is not that good, and so not worth the price. In my guess, and you guys can correct me if its educated guess or not, I feel homes that have bad layout, poor light, shabbily upgraded will suffer the most especially if they arent close to any of the major employers around here.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146496 ARDELL Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:36:38 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146496 If you lose $20,000, you lose $20,000. Doesn't matter if that is today's money or tomorrow's money. As a downpayment, you are sure to lose your own money. With zero down, it could be a short sale and possibly a loss to the owner, and possibly not. I'd do zero down at my age. If I were younger and my kids were still young, I'd do the downpayment at the highest amount I could afford leaving a cushion in cash for emergencies and upkeep. If you lose $20,000, you lose $20,000. Doesn’t matter if that is today’s money or tomorrow’s money. As a downpayment, you are sure to lose your own money. With zero down, it could be a short sale and possibly a loss to the owner, and possibly not.

I’d do zero down at my age. If I were younger and my kids were still young, I’d do the downpayment at the highest amount I could afford leaving a cushion in cash for emergencies and upkeep.

]]> By: sandy http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146495 sandy Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:32:30 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146495 Here is why I think % downpayment is important in this market: Should the market crash, if you dont diversify then your downpayment is essentially partly gone. Right? Also for folks who have zero down, and their house depreciates, they are in a mess arent they? Here is why I think % downpayment is important in this market: Should the market crash, if you dont diversify then your downpayment is essentially partly gone. Right?

Also for folks who have zero down, and their house depreciates, they are in a mess arent they?

]]> By: sandy http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146493 sandy Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:30:36 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/06/07/whats-hot-whats-not/#comment-146493 What is the answer to the quesiton in the times article: why arent home prices cooling off like the sales? What is the answer to the quesiton in the times article: why arent home prices cooling off like the sales?

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