Archive for the ‘Local Real Estate’ Category
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Jun
10
Posted by James Lupori
Woodinville saw a sharp increase in the number of sold properties in May as compared to April: 27 properties sold in May as opposed to 12 in April. This is good news, as Woodinville has been experiencing quite a “funk” over the last several months:
WOODINVILLE SOLD PROPERTIES IN WOODINVILLE
Click on the graph for a larger view
AVERAGE WOODINVILLE PRICES
Click on the graph for a larger view
It’s clear that buyers in Woodinville have been taking advantange of the lower priced properties. This may be due, in large part, to the low interest rates, the $8000 tax credit and falling prices.
It’s not all rosy for the Woodinville market. I took a quick look at the current inventory of properties in Woodinville and found that there are a LOT of properties on the market:
There are currently 383 homes/condos for sale in Woodinville. Frankly, that’s a lot of properties. Also consider that the market is only selling off about 7% of the inventory (my down-and-dirty absorption rate calculation). It will be interesting to see how the sales roll out in June due to a healthy number of current pending properties:
Recently, the local Multiple Listing Service and some local real estate “gurus” have been encouraged by the rise in pending sales. As a cautious observer of these numbers, I believe that it’s better for buyers and sellers to focus on closed sales. Pending sales have not been sure-fire sales as in years past. Several of my colleagues in the Title and Escrow industries tell me that a significant number of pending sales are failing due to the volatility in the economy, short-sales and other reasons.
Nevertheless, the increase in home sale activity in Woodinville is great news. If you ever have questons regarding the real estate market or need the services of a Realtor®, please don’t hesitate to contact me:
James Lupori
Associate Broker
Keller Williams Greater Seattle
206.713.2102
www.kenmoreundressed.com
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Apr
09
Posted by James Lupori
A Brief Introduction to Your “New” Author
I would like to introduce myself: My name is James Lupori. I am a Realtor and Associate Broker with Keller Williams Greater Seattle. My specialty is the sale of residential real estate in King and Snohomish Counties. My area of expertise, if you want to call it that, is the City of Kenmore and it’s surrounding neighbors; Woodinville being one of them. My primary blog is www.kenmoreundressed.com which I have been writing since last April. I have been asked to be a guest contributor to Woodinville Living until our network finds a new author.
Property Sales in Woodinville, WA March 2009
Today, we are going to take a brief look at a 13 month trend in real estate sales for the City of Woodinville. As you know, Puget Sound has been experiencing the affects of the housing slowdown; however, we are seeing signs that the market is inching up a bit. This is due in some part to the yearly bump in Spring activity and I believe buyers are taking advantage of lower home prices, historically low interest rates and the $8000 tax credit for 1st time home buyers. For a more detailed discussion of the “big picture” numbers for Puget Sound, please see my blog post regarding Puget Sound Absorption Rates. Now, let’s turn to some statistical graphs that illustrate sales for the last 13 months to see how has Woodinville been doing:
Units Sold
Click on the graph for a larger view
As in many local communities, Woodinville is seeing an increase in sale activity since the beginning of the year. It remains to be seen what affect the stimulus measures will have on the market but, as I mentioned above, there are buyers out there. Generally, we are seeing “bargain hunting” behavior as homes under $400,000 constitute the vast majority of sales right now.
Click on the graph for a larger view
Woodinville’s average sale price has dropped significantly since last year. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.
Days-on-Market
Click on the graph for a large view
If one averages out the days-on-market for Woodinville it’s running about 89 days. This is not a bad sales cycle even in a “regular” market. Sellers need to know that in this market a home must be “dressed for success” and must be priced aggressively. Buyers have a relatively large inventory to choose from and they have been slow to buy. Overall, the market is thawing a bit. It will be interesting to see what happens as the year progresses.
If I can assist you in any way regarding your real estate needs, please don’t hesitate to contact me:
James Lupori
206.713.2102
jlupori@comcast.net
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Oct
06
Posted by danita jolly
Today is the first time that I was able to take a walk on a real trail! No more busy streets and sidewalks for me. The Sammamish River Trail is my favorite place so far to take a walk. I was able to see my first hot air balloon floating over the wine country valley.
I tried catching it but my owners couldn’t keep up. If you are looking for a great place to walk, bike or rollerblade, come on over to The Villas at Woodinville Village. They have their own private entrance to the trail! I hear that this trail can take you all the way to Seattle! That’s sounds like lots of fun. I was ready to go but my owners had a new bottle of wine from Brian Carter Cellars that they wanted to take home and try. Boring! I think that they need some more training. We’ll see what I can get them to do next week.
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Oct
01
Posted by danita jolly
To find out what real estate sold in Woodinville for the month of September, click on the picture below…
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Sep
30
Posted by danita jolly
- Travel time to work shows the majority of Woodinville residents travel 30-34 minutes to work with the second highest at 20-24 minutes.
- The majority of Woodinville residents own two vehicles per household.
- 80% drove alone to their place of employment.
- Educational Attainment-Woodinville has a great number of residents that have attained educational levels beyond that of the Washington State average.
- If you would like more information about Woodinville or other zip codes, click here.
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Sep
20
Posted by danita jolly
NEW LAW PROVIDES TAX INCENTIVES
It’s hard to believe that anything that takes nearly 800 pages to describe could be time sensitive, however, President Bush recently signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and, for many, it may provide the incentive needed to act now, and finally buy a home of their own.
Why?
A new $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers is a temporary incentive from the government to boost interest in real estate – but the time frame to take advantage of the credit is limited.
Blue Light Special in the Homes Aisle
When retailers have too much inventory they have a sale – and the same is true in the real estate market. With home prices falling all across the nation, the real estate sale is clearly marked with “For Sale” signs everywhere you look. According to the National Association of Realtors, home prices have dropped about 7% nationally from one year ago, and the inventory of homes available is the highest since 1968…all meaning there is a great selection of well-priced homes on the market.
Add to that the government’s new $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers and what you have is a real opportunity for many Americans who act quickly to take advantage of lower prices and make their dream of homeownership a reality.
And the more buyers who enter the market, the faster things will improve for distressed home sellers and areas hit by foreclosure at all price levels. The $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers could be a substantial contributor to change for those who qualify: anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the past three years and buys a home between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009.
And hey – notice those dates? That’s right, the credit is retroactive for folks that bought earlier this year.
So what’s the catch? Of course there are a few. You have to fall within certain income guidelines, typical for a tax benefit. And interestingly enough, the tax credit must be paid back over fifteen years – so it’s much like an interest-free loan. But it remains a tremendous benefit worth discussing, and for some people, it could be just enough to make the difference between renting and owning.
Think the Market is Depressed? Gain Some Perspective.
Limiting options in this challenging real estate market is disappointing; however, history provides some perspective. Only one in four households owned their home in 1934 when the FHA was formed during the Great Depression. In addition to the economic devastation, mortgage terms were nearly impossible: Mortgages were limited to fifty percent of the property’s market value, repayment was spread over only three to five years and there was usually a large payment due at the end of the schedule. Can you imagine having to come up with half of a home’s value to buy it? In that light – things really aren’t too bad today.
How big is the step between renting and buying? Anyone with a steady job and a landlord should immediately make an appointment with a reputable lender to find out.
And the $7,500 tax credit is a real door buster. You can bet that there will be more massive, too-good-to-be-true, never-before sales on vehicles or appliances, but the opportunity to get a special deal on your financial future is a limited time offer. Don’t let the door close in your face if there’s a chance you could be ready to cross the threshold to homeownership.
Eric Fahrenbach is a local consumer advocate and Brach Sales Manager with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Email eric.fahrenbach@wellsfargo.com or visit www.loanswitheric.com to see if you qualify for the tax credit, and what actions you may need to take now.
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Sep
19
Posted by danita jolly
Imagine waking up, stretching, and opening your eyes to views of a sun-drenched, grassy valley, a meandering river, and a winery and mountain in the distance. Are you on vacation in Tuscany? Perhaps, but this could also be your view every morning if you purchase a home at The Villas at Woodinville Village. The Villas are celebrating the start of sales this weekend, open Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. with a designer-furnished model home ready for your tour.
“If you are looking for a peaceful view home in the Woodinville wine country, then it’s impossible to imagine a better location,” said Anecia Peterson, community sales manager for The Villas. “You’re right in the heart of wine country, right on the Sammamish River trail, and south of downtown Woodinville – which means a quick commute to Microsoft, Bellevue, Bothell and other eastside workplaces.”
This gated community offers a wine country retreat right on the Sammamish River trail, with great recreational opportunities. You’re just down the street from wine tastings and summer concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle, weekend blues performances at the Redhook Brewery, or dinner at the Purple Café, Barking Frog or Herbfarm. And with trail access right out the back door, Marymoor Park is just a quick bike ride away. Store your kayaks, bicycles and rollerblades in your private garage, and you’ll be on the trail or river in record time.
The Villas is the first phase of the master planned community of Woodinville Village. Also part of the first phase, and soon to be under construction, are DeLille Cellars, Brian Carter Cellars and Tutta Bella Neopolitan Pizzeria. Future phases are planned to include a boutique hotel, residences, retail shops, a brew pub and fine dining, office space and a grand central plaza.
The two-level, two-bedroom townhomes at The Villas have been completely renovated from the foundation up, designed by renowned local architects Tiscareno Associates with interiors by Weber + Thompson. Some homes have the master suite on the main level, as demonstrated in the furnished model, and some have the living/dining room and kitchen on the main level. All homes have private garage parking, fenced courtyard patios at the entry, and decks to semi-private backyards overlooking the river and valley views.
“When you think of townhomes, you usually don’t have yards or views,” comments Michael Miller, CEO of listing firm MCM Group. “The Villas is completely different from most townhome communities, it feels more like upscale single-family living. Every home has great views, with back decks that step out to a semi-private landscaped yard, private garages, and private entrances. You have the benefits of a gated townhome community in Woodinville wine country, with completely maintenance-free living like a condominium.”
Riverfront view homes in the first phase of The Villas start at $479,950. With the outstanding wine country location, valley views, and proximity to major eastside employers, interested buyers should visit The Villas this weekend to ensure the best selection and prices.
The Villas is open Friday through Monday, 12 to 6 p.m. at 14625 NE 145th Street in Woodinville. For more information, floorplans, features and photos, go online to www.WoodinvilleVillage.com, call Anecia Peterson at (425) 486-4444, or e-mail anecia@mcmcondos.com.
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Sep
18
Posted by danita jolly
With the good September weather, construction has been making swift progress on Chateau Woods.
- Framing inspection is complete and we passed with flying colors.
- Plumbing and electrical are now in progress.
- Oversized double-paned windows and French doors have been installed to complement those exceptional Woodinville Valley views.
- Interior insulation and drywall are moving right along – now the home interiors are really taking shape.
- Chateau Woods is scheduled for completion in Spring 2009
Email Amie to schedule an opportunity to see the building and choose your new home early. amie@mcmcondos.com
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Sep
12
Posted by danita jolly
If you like acreage and space, that is one of the nice things about Woodinville homes. Many of them come on large lots. Check out these open houses that are available for preview over the weekend by clicking on the picture below. Updated 9/12/08
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Sep
09
Posted by danita jolly
The Villas at Woodinville Village
Sales start this Saturday, September 13th, Noon
Hours: Friday thru Monday 12–6 p.m.
14625 N.E. 145th Street #110, Woodinville
Riverfront Townhomes across from Chateau Ste. Michelle on the Sammamish River Trail from $479,950* 
The Villas at Woodinville Village offers only 39 opportunities to own a riverfront townhome in Woodinville with stunning views of the Sammamish River Valley, rolling hills, and Mount Rainier in the distance. 
These two-bedroom homes are handsomely appointed with exquisite detail and comfort in mind. Vaulted ceilings on the top floor, wide plank hardwood floors, gas fireplace, solid wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, slab countertops, and fully tiled bathrooms. Each home has a private entry courtyard, landscaped backyard, and garage parking.
For more information call Anecia Peterson, (425) 486-4444 or email anecia@mcmcondos.com
If you would like to view photos, floorplans and features online, visit www.WoodinvilleVillage.com
*Pricing, features and availability subject to change without notice.
