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Hi, I’m Ansley, And I’m a First-Time Home Buyer
January 26, 2018 /I’ve been writing for the awesome Pickett Street Properties Team for nearly a year now, and it seems I’m overdue for a personal introduction. Hello! My name is Ansley. I’m a teacher and a writer. I'm also a first-time home buyer. I spent most of my life in the Seattle area before moving to Colorado for graduate school. While I fell hard for Colorado’s snowy mountains, sunshine, and blue skies (seriously--you haven’t seen the sky until you’ve experienced it out here!) it’s my dream to move back to the Seattle area. I’m good at drinking a lot of coffee while watching the Great British Baking Show and reading New York Times articles in bed. I’m also good at whining at my partner to bring me things like socks and chocolate and more coffee so that I don’t have to get out of bed. I’m lucky that I have the most patient partner in the world. I love running and hiking in the mountains with my deaf puppy. I love learning and writing about the world in all its complexities. And now, a personal anecdote. A few weeks ago, my partner and I received the catering contract for our upcoming June…Read more
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Why You Should Sell Your Home Early in 2018
January 19, 2018 /Last January, Seattle had the second lowest rate of homes for sale in the country, behind only the San Francisco area. This low inventory has resulted in higher home prices and a seller’s market. In May, Seattle real estate had the highest number of bidding wars in the country; according to Redfin, 90 percent of homes on the market in Seattle ended up in bidding wars. All of this is to say that it’s advantageous, to put it mildly, to be a seller right now. However, as the wise saying goes, this too shall pass, and later in 2018, the tides may begin to shift away from favoring home sellers. Through contacting Pickett Street (Pickett Street at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com), find an agent who can help you take the leap in selling while the market is still heavily in your favor. In the meantime, here are a few reasons why it’s smart to sell your home early in 2018–i.e. today! 1. Inventory might increase in the fall. This would be the first major inventory gain since 2015. It could mean more inventory gains and a shift away from a seller’s market in the coming years. Consequently, it’s smart to…Read more
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Seattle Real Estate Update: What to Expect from 2018
January 15, 2018 /As you let go of 2017, look forward to 2018, and reassess your life and goals, you may wonder what’s in store for the Seattle real estate market over the next year. 2017 was an exciting and wild year; Seattle was named the hottest real estate market in the country and home prices rose 13.4 percent, which is more than twice the national average rate of 5.9% for home price growth. So, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in the greater Seattle area, what can you expect from the market over the next year? First, you should find a great agent who can help you. Second, check out these predictions for the coming year. 1. Lower mortgage rates will make it easier to buy a home. Long-term mortgage rates recently fell from 3.99% to 3.95% (a year ago the averages rates were 4.20%). The average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages also recently fell from 3.44% to 3.38%. According to the Seattle times, these relatively low rates can help homebuyers offset the rising costs of real estate and make it easier to afford a home. 2. Seattle, in case you haven’t heard, is very cool. According to…Read more
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South Everett Rambler with Basement
January 14, 2018 /Situated on a well-manicured lot in a secluded neighborhood just minutes from Mill Creek, this 3 bedroom house is ready for new owners. Kitchen has stainless steel appliances and opens to the formal dining room. Spacious living room with wood fireplace has a sliding door that opens to a generous deck overlooking the partially fenced backyard. All bedrooms are upstairs, including the master suite with 3/4 bath. Huge rec room downstairs with wood fireplace and powder room. All this + 2-car garage, RV parking, rose bushes & fruit trees, garden shed and new exterior paint & gutters - close to Swedish Hospital and Park & Ride. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. Read more
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Five New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
January 5, 2018 /I love that each year New Year’s Day and the month of January bring transformation, renewal, and possibility. As everyone returns to work after the holiday bustle and the weather in Seattle remains chilly and gray, the world feels quiet and peaceful. While we tend to focus on New Year resolutions that have to do with career, health, happiness, etc, we often overlook resolutions for one of the most important spaces in our lives–our homes. Setting and achieving goals for your home can significantly improve your finances and your general wellbeing (for more about the connections between architectural spaces and mood, check out this fascinating article). Here are a few of our favorite New Year’s resolutions for your home in 2018. 1. Create a budget for home improvements. Because it’s easy to rack up credit card charges when working on home improvement projects, this is the best place to start. Create a list of projects in order of priority. Be sure to devise a home improvement budget each year–HouseLogic suggests that the owner of a $250,000 home set aside $2,500 to $7,500 per year for maintenance and repairs. 2. Cut your energy use. Energy Star has an informative guide to…Read more
