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Football, Floating Homes, and A Fall Real Estate Update
August 31, 2018 /What do you love most about fall? I love wearing absurdly enormous scarves, enjoying the scents of crisp woodsmoke and apples, and watching the Seahawks beat my husband’s favorite team, the Broncos. [Insert gleeful snickering here.] In other Seattle football news, however, some sports enthusiasts predict that the University of Washington’s Huskies will outshine the Seahawks this season. The Huskies’ competitive edge is partly due to what one columnist calls “a slew of the most talented players to ever come through the program.” No matter who you’re rooting for this season, the recent autumn chill in the air brings promises of Sunday afternoons watching the games with friends, cooler, cozier nights, and back-to-school excitement. Fall also brings a few changes in real estate. Let’s take a look at the most recent news in the Puget Sound-area market. 1. Real Estate Update: After two years on top, Seattle is no longer the country’s hottest housing market. Since August 2016, Seattle has ranked as the hottest housing market in the country. However, according to the Case-Shiller home price index, Las Vegas has taken over the top spot with a 13% increase in home prices. With a 12.8% increase in single-family home prices…Read more
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Community Highlights: Mark Mount
August 27, 2018 /Pickett Street Properties is dedicated to serving the community and is highlighting businesses and community members that are dedicated to doing the same. This week we are excited to share with you about one of our favorite people at the Keller Williams Bothell office, Lieutenant Mark Mount. “I was born in Port Townsend, Washington because that was the nearest military hospital to Port Angeles where my Dad was stationed in the United States Coast Guard. We moved to the Shoreline area soon thereafter when he enlisted in the United States Navy. When I was 3 years old he left the family and soon after my mother remarried. At 5 years old I was nailing down roofs and decks because my step-father was a general contractor. When I started first grade and from then on during school breaks and summers I worked construction on homes, apartments, and commercial buildings doing framing, sheathing, roofing, cement flatwork and foundation work, oiling forms, and site clean- up until graduation from high school in 1969. My neighbor was a physician and because neither of his sons wanted to become doctors, he offered to send me to medical school as I had the grades and aptitude. I had…Read more
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Blueberries for Sal and Slower Living: Pickett Street’s #LiveLaughLoveFarm
August 24, 2018 /Last week, while discussing their exciting new blueberry farm for sale, the Pickett Street Team and I found ourselves reminiscing about the book Blueberries for Sal. Have you read it? It’s a completely charming children’s book by Robert McCloskey, a writer and illustrator who also wrote the classic Make Way For Ducklings. The book features a mother and daughter wandering the wild fields and beaches on an island in northern Maine. They spend the entire summer day picking blueberries. Though the story is simple, it brings to mind a question that is quite complex: what do we want our lives to look like? And, which moments matter the most? As I reflect on my week, which was filled with long commutes, city traffic, air pollution from nearby wildfires, and–I admit–way too much screen time, the thought of an island’s cool salty air, wild blueberries, and quieter life makes my heart ache with longing just a little bit. Most of us long for more time outside, less time sitting in traffic. Several studies show that nature and country living carry powerful health benefits. Stanford researchers found that 90 minutes walking through country fields, as opposed to walking in urban settings, actually decreased the brain activity associated with depression.…Read more
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Find Your Calm with a West Seattle Waterfront Home
August 22, 2018 /Many of you have probably experienced it--that feeling of calm that arrives while near the water. Whether it’s a rushing creek, the Puget Sound, or just a neighborhood pool, water has long been associated with a zen-like peace. Staring at the ocean or a large body of water has a meditative effect on the mind and boosts your mood. According to psychologists, the sounds of water “activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for slowing us down and allowing us to relax and feel more engaged.” Breathing in salt air is also good for you; in places like waterfalls and the ocean, the air contains negative ions. Many health experts believe that negative ions have healing properties, especially for people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Because water is so calming and powerful, waterfront homes are special spaces. Pickett Street’s latest listing, a gorgeous West Seattle waterfront home, features enormous windows to let you take in the views and fresh salt air. Read on for the details about this home. Or, feel free to get in touch with Pickett Street’s Jesse Moore at 425-502-5397. The Home: This stunning, custom-built modern home is a paragon of West Seattle waterfront living.…Read more
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Custom-Built With Rustic Charm
August 22, 2018 /A slight country drive from Arlington, just off Jim Creek Road and under a canopy of trees, this custom-built home on 10 acres is ready for your horses and farm animals. Rustic charm greets you with a breathtaking great room that boasts cathedral ceilings and a wall of expansive windows surrounding the gas fireplace. Hardwoods flow seamlessly through the great room and spills across the kitchen. The kitchen showcases two ovens, cooktop island and a breakfast bar. All bedrooms have en-suite baths: the master on main has a huge walk-in closet with french doors out to the back patio. Upstairs master retreat hosts a 5-piece bath which includes double sinks and a jetted tub. Both upstairs bedrooms are connected by a catwalk with a loft space. Immaculate landscaping will pull you outside, where you’ll find 5 pastures that are hog and hot wired, 2 sheds, ponds, a beautiful organic garden, hanging porch swing, RV parking & oversized 3-car garage. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Custom-Built With Rustic CharmRead more
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Well-Maintained Lynnwood Rambler
August 17, 2018 /Back on the market! Fall in love with this 3 bedroom well-maintained Lynnwood rambler the moment you put eyes on it. Enter the home on beautiful hardwoods flowing seamlessly through the living room and back into each bedroom. Natural light fills the living room through the expansive windows showcasing the rooms crown molding. The kitchen boasts new quartz counters, tons of cabinet space and stainless steel appliances. The master bedroom is open, extremely spacious and features a walk-in closet. The master bathroom has double sinks and features slate tile flooring. Enjoy the summer on the new deck, covered patio and a fantastic fire pit in the fully fenced yard. The hot tub is a great perk that comes with the house. Convenient to parks, urban amenities and I5. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Well-Maintained Lynnwood RamblerRead more
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Updated Everett Condo
August 17, 2018 /Conveniently located top floor, 2 bedroom condo is near the Everett Naval Base, I5, parks and schools. Showcasing brand new flooring and fresh paint throughout. The kitchen hosts a newer refrigerator and breakfast bar. This condo comes with great closet space, a reserved parking spot, large storage locker under the building. Come and make this your next home! Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Updated Everett CondoRead more
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Local Business Highlight: Hillcrest Bakery
August 13, 2018 /Pickett Street Properties is dedicated to serving the community and is highlighting businesses and community members that are dedicated to doing the same. This week we are excited to share with you about the Hillcrest Bakery in Bothell and the Kaskes’ family. Hillcrest Bakery has been part of the Bothell community since 1934. The Kaskes family started their traditions in Wormer, The Netherlands back in 1838 where Peter Kaskes learned baking from his father. Peter met his love, Leida, at a Carnival Festival performing a folk dance routine. Afterwards, Peter offered to walk Leida home and that was it, they were together from that moment forward. Peter and Leida married just after WWII, had their six children and moved to Bothell, WA after Peter heard that a bakery called “Hillcrest” was looking for a skilled baker. Peter Kaskes purchased Hillcrest Bakery in 1965 and the Kaskes’ have been proudly serving Bothell ever since. Today, there are three generations working at Hillcrest Bakery: Leida, her sons Peter and Bob, her daughter Barbara and her grandchildren Neal and Chazz. Hillcrest Bakery specializes in Dutch pastries, breads, cakes and cookies! Our home is right on Main Street in Downtown Bothell under the blue awning. The…Read more
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Three Tips to Escape Summer Heat in Seattle
August 10, 2018 /The Puget Sound area has shifted into full summer mode, and it feels (and tastes!) glorious. The blueberries are fat and sweet, and on the Kitsap Peninsula, Local Boys’ special orange creamsicle melon tastes exactly like an orange creamsicle, except better. Plus, taking a dip in the Sound feels a bit less bone-shatteringly glacial than usual. However, it’s no news that Washingtonians aren’t exactly accustomed to heat, and that they tend to wilt when temperatures rise above a mild 70 degrees. In fact, since it only gets this hot for about a month or so each year, only one third of Seattle homes have air conditioning. According to the Weather Channel, this is lowest percentage of households with air conditioning of the 41 metros included in a United States census survey. Even so–who needs air conditioning when you have an entire state full of beaches, rivers, and other shady spots? To help you both escape the heat and make the most of these gorgeous and fleeting summer days, the list below offers a few cool tips. To talk to Pickett Street about real estate in this Puget Sound paradise, get in touch with them at info@pickettstreet.com or 425-502-5397. 1. Get…Read more
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Well-Maintained Everett Home
August 7, 2018 /This well-maintained Everett home has 4 bedrooms with an office and is conveniently located close to shopping, schools & I5. The gorgeous entryway showcases hardwoods that flow seamlessly past the office and spills out into the spacious kitchen and dining area. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite tile countertops, a pantry and a breakfast bar. The open floor plan is anchored by a gas fireplace in the living room. The top floor hosts all 4 bedrooms and the laundry room. The master features vaulted ceilings, 5 piece bathroom and an expansive walk-in closet. The back yard has a private patio with a fully fenced yard that backs to a greenbelt. With new carpet and paint throughout, all that’s left for you to do is move in! Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Well-Maintained Everett HomeRead more
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It’s About You: You’re the Hero in this Story
August 3, 2018 /You may have noticed that Pickett Street does things a little differently. They are both technologically-savvy and experienced. They prioritize creative, innovative thinking. And they encourage bold ideas and love helping their clients pursue their dreams, no matter how big. For evidence of this, check out their most recent listing, which is an actual blueberry farm. I’m not sure real estate can get much more more charming or dreamier than that. If you’re ready to talk to the team about your unique real estate goals, give them a call at (425) 502-5397 or shoot them an email at info@pickettstreet.com. In the meantime, I recently chatted with Director of Operations Margaret Smith to find out exactly what makes them so special. 1. How is Pickett Street different than other real estate companies? Pickett Street Properties is a team of experts committed to revolutionizing real estate. “We believe that the single real estate model is broken; there are too many details to be entrusted to any one singular person during the course of a transaction. We believe that the team model is better equipped to represent buyers and sellers in this marketplace.” Margaret explained that the average real estate agent closes 4-8…Read more
