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Living in Washington State: Ferries
March 14, 2016 /I was drifting on the surface of the moon. I stood on the deck of a ferry chugging toward Seattle, a five-year-old lost in a crowd of lumbering adults clutching umbrellas. The towering form of my mother moved in and out of the fog, pushing politely through knots of passengers, reaching out to hold my hand and fuss with my raincoat. Far away, my father leaned against the ferry’s railing, holding his hand to his brow and looking out for the first sign of Seattle. The ferry’s purring engine hauled us through a silent world of barnacle-clad seas. ——— Based on the harrowing tales told by relatives back East, I’d originally imagined my first ferry ride as an excursion fraught with peril. You’re moving to Washington? they’d sputtered in their New Jersey accents when my mother talked about our decision to move. Don’t you know how much it rains there? After months of hearing tall tales about the American West (all of which, it seemed, involved New Jersey bumpkins tripping into bottomless gulches or being trampled in buffalo stampedes), the prospect of doing something adventurous like riding a ferry was unbearably exciting. I remember the first time we drove onto…Read more
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Neighborhood Profile: Mill Creek
March 8, 2016 /Imagine living in a planned community clustered around a golf course, interspersed with countless miles of hiking trails, and supported by a thriving commercial center. In Mill Creek, all of these characteristics come together to create a truly cozy community. Part of Snohomish County, Mill Creek is located east of Lynnwood, north of Bothell, and just 20 miles away from downtown Seattle. Originally a planned community built around the Mill Creek Country Club and Golf Course, Mill Creek has grown into a tidy and prosperous community stocked to the brim with handsome real estate. Mill Creek’s neighborhood plans make it particularly attractive to residents. Blessed with larger than average lot sizes, and plenty of green space and parks (including sports courts, ball fields, and nearly 25 miles of walking trails), Mill Creek’s neighborhoods are not just places to crash after a long day at work; instead, they’re carefully planned to be enjoyable living spaces that enrich the lives of both children and adults. Some of Mill Creek’s most popular parks include Cougar Park, Heron Park, Highlands Park, Mill Creek Sports Park, and Nickel Creek Park. Last but not least, there is, of course, the original golf course the community was…Read more
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Don’t Pay Off Your Mortgage!
February 26, 2016 /At least, don’t pay it off quite yet. If you’re an average, hard-working adult with a family and a home to call your own, then chances are you’re probably trying to pay off your mortgage as quickly as possible. This strategy seems pretty sound at first; after all, won’t you save money in the long run by paying off your mortgage ASAP? Surprisingly, in many cases paying off your mortgage quickly won’t save you money at all; indeed, rushing through a mortgage could actually be costing you money in the long run. While you’ll want to pay your mortgage off eventually, it is generally more beneficial to take your time and invest your hard-earned money in other ventures. If this idea seems counterintuitive to you, never fear! Below, you’ll find a few of the main arguments for taking your mortgage payments nice and slow. Your mortgage's interest is tax-deductible. While many people regard paying interest with dread, remember that paying interest on a mortgage will actually reduce the amount of money you need to pay for taxes each year. For instance, say you’re in the 35% tax bracket. Since your interest payments on your mortgage are tax deductible, you’re actually saving…Read more
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Neighborhood Profile: Juanita
February 5, 2016 /How would you like to live in one of the top five neighborhoods in the country? Like most people, your answer is probably a resounding “Yes!” (give or take a few enthusiastic exclamation points). In 2014, Money Magazine named Kirkland the fifth best place to live, calling it a bustling “hotspot” full of good jobs, schools, and neighbors. Rest assured that nothing has changed since 2014. As such, Kirkland’s many neighborhoods are prime real estate, and you deserve to know all the wonderful facts about living in each and every one of them. That’s where the neighborhood of Juanita comes in. The neighborhood of Juanita is situated in northern Kirkland. Bordered by Lake Washington, I-405, Finn Hill, Bothell, and Forbes Creek, Juanita serves as a bedroom community for Seattle and other cities on the eastern shore of the Puget Sound, such as Bellevue and Redmond. Juanita is a small neighborhood with a population of about 13,000 people, most of whom enjoy a commute time of about 25 minutes each way. While most commuters drive their own vehicles on I-405, many others take advantage of the area’s ride-sharing culture by utilizing its many park-n-rides. Juanita’s prime location and amenities make it…Read more
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Real Estate Trends to Watch for in 2016
January 26, 2016 /Usually, I’m surprised to look at my calendar each January and find that suddenly, and apparently without my permission, time has continued to roll forward. However, this year I am determined to think more about the year ahead, rather than dwelling on what’s already behind me. As such, now is a perfect time to consider some key real estate trends, and especially some important mortgage trends, to look out for in 2016. Whether you’re preparing to buy your first home, or you’re on the cusp of selling a reliable and beloved property, you’ll want to check out the exciting forecasts below. Buying is Better than Renting First, let’s talk finances: if you’re a renter, then you’re in for some bad news, because rents are currently becoming more expensive and less affordable. In fact, according to The National Real Estate Post, rents are rising at about 4 percent per year. As such, it’s hardly surprising that more and more renters are having trouble finding rates that don’t exceed the recommended 30 percent of their monthly budget. Conversely, buying a home is more affordable. While mortgage rates may have risen slightly, expect them to remain relatively low. Many experts forecast four…Read more
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On Moving. A blog post from our very own blog writer :)
January 15, 2016 /I walked into my room the other day and was surprised to find some suitcases stacked in the corner. After a few moments’ reflection, I remembered that I’ll be moving in a week. It was a strange feeling, standing there and thinking about how easy it was to pack my life into three compact bags. I’m no stranger to moving. When I was four, my family traveled from New Jersey to Washington State by train. We spent the next few years moving around the Puget sound, shuttling our possessions to Burien, then Federal Way, and then Olalla, before finally settling in a house in the Crescent Valley neighborhood of Gig Harbor. Something about these trips must have given me the travel bug. In the last three years of my life, for instance, I’ve lived in Portland, Dublin, Portland again, and Austin. And now, a mere six months later, I find myself preparing to leave once again. Writing for Pickett Street has given me a different perspective on the concept of moving. Suddenly, after years of living out of a backpack (occasionally two backpacks, when I find myself acquiring more possessions than I ought to), I’m contemplating mortgages, property values, the…Read more
