-
The Preposterous Rituals of Turkey Day
Call me sentimental, but my mind is wholly occupied with turkey and potatoes today. Thanksgiving in my household was always a bit of a confusion, partly because we never knew exactly who might show up for dinner. As a local pastor, my father maintained a more or less constant open-door-policy with his parishioners, meaning that all 300 members of the congregation were theoretically welcome when it came time to carve the turkey. In addition to this prodigious crowd, my father’s property generally played host to an eclectic assortment of animals, including, but not limited to, one cat, one dog, two parakeets, three obese chickens, and two stupendously moronic goats (Dad was an urban farmer before the role was co-opted by bespectacled twenty-somethings from Brooklyn), all of whom seemed fond of wandering in and out of the house with a blatant disregard for both basic social etiquette and screen doors. All in all, Clark Thanksgivings were usually characterized by barely managed yet jovial chaos, making them pretty standard affairs as far as holidays go. And yet, this craziness was an important part of my home’s identity. My childhood wouldn’t have been the same without the sound of gravy burbling on the…Read more
-
What Do We Pay Real Estate Agents For?
November 9, 2016 /These days, a large swath of the population seems fond of predicting the imminent decline of the real estate agent. With the newfound ease of viewing homes (along with accompanying neighborhood/community statistics) online, it occasionally seems like the services provided by real estate agents are unnecessary expenses. If that’s your line of thought, then think again: appearances are deceiving. In reality, real estate agents perform far more tasks than merely finding a home for clients, and they are paid for a much more diverse array of services. In fact, the average real estate agent is paid for vital but abstract services that no Internet search can provide, including problem solving and stress/emotional management. So, if you feel like you can handle your home search with a measly tour on Google, read on to see why working with a real estate agent is always the better option. Problem Solving Even the most seamless real estate transactions run into occasional setbacks. Whether you lose a bidding war on your dream home, or the home you’re about to close a deal on requires unexpected renovations, buying a home almost always involves at least one unforeseen hiccup. This observation is not meant to discourage…Read more
-
Is Portland King of Real Estate? Not for Long!
November 4, 2016 /When hot home markets come up in conversations, most people mention Portland, Oregon. Rent prices in the region have been soaring for years, after all, and actually purchasing a home in the region can be as competitive as a Timbers-Sounders match. After living in Portland for five years, I can certainly see the appeal of the city (where else can I scarf down a bacon-wrapped donut mere moments before attending a Level 3 Vinyasa Flow Class heated to a toasty 101 degrees?). That said, based on the latest housing market trends, it seems like Portland’s days as the hottest housing market are numbered. Between August 2015 and August 2016, Portland home prices increased by 11.7%, putting Rip City in first place for the hottest home market in the country. However, that lead is beginning to look precarious, as Seattle’s housing prices posted an 11.4% increase during the same time period. Not only that, but Seattle also posted significant gains over third place Denver’s housing prices, which recorded a comparatively modest 8.8% gain. Based on this information, it seems that the Emerald City real estate market is reasserting its dominance once again. Now, those numbers might initially seem mildly interesting but…Read more
-
Chunky, creamy or extra crunchy?
October 21, 2016 /When my girlfriend sent me out to buy peanut butter last week, she had no idea that such a simple task would end in disaster. To put this grim statement in context, it’s important to understand that I’m still used to Irish supermarkets (in which you can choose between two brands of peanut of butter and dare not ask for more) and regard all American Mega-Marts with unease and mistrust. As such, you’ll understand when I say that my trip to our local King Soopers became a task fraught with anxiety. Reaching the peanut butter aisle, I was astounded to discover that it was exactly that: a whole aisle devoted to nothing but different brands of peanut butter. I shuffled to and fro along the shelves, wondering whether chunky would taste better than creamy, or if reduced fat meant the same thing as 30% FEWER CALORIES!!! Even worse, was I supposed to buy any old run-of-the-mill butter, or would it be better to buy an all-natural brand? And what was the difference between all-natural and organic anyways? Surely peanut butter couldn’t be organic but not all-natural? All of this was very confusing; perhaps there were better options at the Safeway…Read more
-
How can we help you realize your dreams?
September 29, 2016 /By Margaret Smith, Executive Assistant for Pickett Street Properties I had a vivid imagination as a kid. Like Mary Poppins, I would hop off the garage roof with my red umbrella hoping to fly. My Mom taught me to hope and I think her optimism passed on to me in a fashion similar to her smile. I know people may not think my optimism is sensible at times- I get it. But I have to tell you, it has helped me push through some difficult times, and I think ultimately I am healthier for it. My delight with tree houses started when I was in elementary school. I loved the idea of living in something above everyone else and surrounded by leaves. I had a sense that if I lived in one, the fairies would eventually come find me as well. I never imagined there were people that were capable of building something so whimsical yet functional. In the last few years I began to notice places like Treehouse Point in Issaquah, WA where you can rent places to stay overnight or rooms for events. Many people have watched the tv series Treehouse Masters, where they have built the…Read more
-
Has Anyone Heard of King Olaf?
September 22, 2016 /Until recently, neither had I. Here’s some context for you: a few weeks ago, while wandering the stately avenues of downtown Poulsbo, I suddenly found myself on an unfamiliar lane leading off Front Street. This was weird. Having grown up in Poulsbo, I was pretty sure I knew all there was to know about the place (after all, how hard should it be to get to know a small, Viking-themed town?), but there I was, standing between a kayak store and the Sons of Norway headquarters, lost in suddenly unfamiliar territory. According to the street sign, the little lane was called King Olaf Way. How hadn’t I noticed it before? Being a curious person (and apparently having nothing better to do) I decided to do some detective work. I walked home, cracked open the Encyclopedia Britannica, and searched for evidence of King Olaf. There was quite a lot to read. Born in the 960s, Olaf was a celebrated Viking king of Norway. In his youth, Olaf was forced to flee Norway after the nefarious Harald Graycloak murdered his father. Living in exile in Russia, Olaf trained as a Viking warrior, a process I assume was similar to the training montages…Read more
-
I Hope There Aren’t Any Bugs! (Why You Should Always Work With Traditional Real Estate Agents)
September 9, 2016 /“I hope there aren’t any bugs!” said the landlord as she handed me the keys to my new apartment. “I beg your pardon?” I said, a trifle dismayed that the apartment I would be renting with my girlfriend could be home to “bugs.” “Oh, it’s nothing really,” said the landlord, “it’s just that there might be bugs in your apartment.” An awkward silence ensued. “I’m not saying there definitely are bugs,” said the landlord with a forced laugh, the kind family members might use at Christmas dinner when crazy Uncle Ernie starts telling inappropriate stories. “It’s just that there might be.” More silence. I had a brief vision of the scene from the last Indiana Jones movie when one of the bad guys falls into an anthill and is eaten alive by its inhabitants. “Anyhoo,” the landlord said, clearing her throat, “who wants a cup of coffee?” There were bugs, as it turned out. I discovered one after wrestling three suitcases, two bicycles, and a box stuffed with approximately twelve pairs of flip-flops through the front door of our new apartment. As I prepared to unload my burden and collapse onto the carpet of the living room floor, I found the space already occupied by the…Read more
-
Do you want a discount from your Real Estate Agent?
September 2, 2016 /What You Get When You Work With a Discount Agent Here’s a hint: it’s not much. While discounted brokers might seem attractive (who isn’t attracted to a lower price tag?), a lower cost does not often equal a better experience in the real estate world. Before jumping on the discount bandwagon, take a minute to read our reasons why traditional realtors are still the kings (and queens) of the real estate world. Traditional vs. Discount Before launching into a discussion about why the traditional model trumps discount upstarts, it’s important to understand the distinction between the two. A traditional broker is a tried and true real estate agent - he or she will charge a standard commission fee (often 6% of the sales price), but will not charge any other fees. Traditional brokers generally control all aspects of the real estate transaction, such as advertising your home, working with the MLS in your state, negotiating offers, helping you discover anything unique about certain properties, developing individualized marketing strategies to ensure that a homeowner’s property gets maximum market exposure, and finding properties for prospective buyers. A discounted broker, on the other hand, charges a lower commission, often around 3-5%, but sometimes even lower. Some…Read more
-
Top Perks of Puget Sound Living
August 24, 2016 /Growing up in the Puget Sound permanently spoiled me. There are few places in the world that enjoy such an enviable intersection of nature, economic opportunity, and cultural vibrancy. As such, I’m always judging other locations against the impossibly high bar set by Puget Sound living, and so it’s hardly a surprise that even the most exotic destinations seem to pale in comparison to my beloved Seattle. But don’t take my word for it: read on to learn more about the top perks of Puget Sound living. Booming Economy Seattle is quickly establishing itself as one of the most prominent economies in the country. Though the city has plenty of job opportunities for multiple skill sets, the tech industry is definitely leading the pack, with local heavyweight Amazon continuing to expand its influence, while imports like Google and Facebook are establishing a firm presence. With a bountiful influx of wealth and employment, Puget Sound living keeps getting better and better. Natural Beauty Northwest natives might take the region’s beauty for granted, but that doesn’t make it any less astonishing. The Puget Sound is one of the country’s largest estuaries, and it’s home to a diverse body of wildlife, including whales, octopi, seals,…Read more
-
Mortgage Rates are Low: Why Should You Care?
August 2, 2016 /We’re only a little more than halfway into the year, and already the housing market is flexing its muscles with a strong showing from new home sales. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced that there were 592,000 new home sales in June, a figure which outpaces original expectations and estimations by tens of thousands of units. The number of new home sales has increased about 4% in the last month, while current new home sales are roughly 25% higher than they were in June 2015. More to the point, June 2016 saw the highest new home sales since 2008. All in all, demand for new housing remains strong, and the housing market is not only continuing its robust, post-recession recovery, but also continues to be a primary contributor to the U.S. economic recovery. The success of new home sales has relied in large part on currently low mortgage rates. For individuals and households with favorable credit history, the average 30-year, fixed rate mortgage is about 3.5%. Back in June 2015, the average 30-year rates were hovering around 4% (which, it’s worth mentioning, was an already low figure). With rates arriving at even lower levels, it’s no…Read more
-
Colorado, Ho! (Part 1)
July 8, 2016 /Way out in the wilds of Oregon, an overstuffed hatchback is laboring up the side of a tiny mountain at about eight o’clock in the morning. Though the recommended speed limit is a brisk 70 miles per hour, the wee beleaguered hatchback is huffing and puffing along at a sluggish 35, due to its general and aforementioned overstuffed-ness. Now (if you’ll humor me), let’s peek in the window of this particular hatchback and take a closer look at the driver: keeping his grumbles and complaints to a bare minimum, the driver (who, it’s worth mentioning, is a devilishly handsome fellow) stoically switches on the emergency blinkers and guides his vehicle gamely up the giddy steepness of the mountain slopes while, in the passenger seat beside him, the driver’s patient and long-suffering girlfriend encourages him with well-chosen words bursting with good-natured positivity. There’s a light drizzle pattering over the windshield, and everyone involved is suffering from a more-or-less dramatic lack of caffeine. I mention this seemingly random scenario because it’s exactly the situation I found myself in a few days ago as I set off on yet another move to yet another state. As you probably guessed, I was the driver,…Read more
-
The Art of Seattle Architecture
July 5, 2016 /Seattle is famous for many things - coffee, music, natural beauty - but, strangely enough, few people are familiar with the architecture of the Emerald City. Or, if they are familiar with it, their knowledge is probably limited to the Space Needle. This gap might not seem significant for most folks, but to a Seattle native like me, it’s nothing short of a travesty. Seattle is home to some quietly majestic architecture, and the residential construction of Seattle houses is particularly striking. In that case, it’s time that it was recognized. Below, you’ll find some classic styles for Seattle houses. The Seattle Box A quintessential style for Seattle houses, the Seattle Box offers a simple but highly customizable aesthetic. Sometimes called the Four Square, these Seattle houses are primarily characterized by their boxy style, hip roofs, modest dormers, and generously proportioned porches with columns. While the overarching characteristic of the Seattle Box is elegant simplicity, the model is also something of a blank slate and looks great when elements from other styles, such as Craftsman architecture, are added onto it. The Bungalow These Seattle houses exploded onto the scene during the first third of the twentieth century, remaining wildly popular…Read more
