-
How Keller Williams’ 10th Annual RED Day Gives Back
May 3, 2018 /There is a wonderful documentary on Netflix called Happy that makes me cry big messy tears every time I watch it. This film is about, as the title suggests, happiness; the filmmakers explore the meaning of this feeling within cultures and among individuals all over the world, and attempt to answer the question, "what makes people truly happy?" Featuring research from psychologists and sociologists, the film concludes that the critical elements of a happy life are physical activity, gratitude, connections to community, and compassion/service to others. (It's also a bit more nuanced and complex than this--I recommend you grab some tissues and watch the film!) Because they understand the importance of these values, Keller Williams Realty and Pickett Street Properties engage in daily efforts and host several annual events to foster meaningful connections to community and opportunities to give. One shining example: every year on the second Thursday in May, Keller Williams offices across the country celebrate RED Day (renew, energize, and donate). 2018’s 10th annual RED Day on May 10th is fast approaching. Here’s what you need to know about this day. (For more information, feel free to contact Pickett Street at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com.) What’s RED Day?…Read more
-
Updated Rose Hill Condo
May 1, 2018 /This top floor, updated condo is situated in the Rose Hill neighborhood of Kirkland, and comes with dock access to Forbes Lake. The kitchen is upgraded with brand new flooring, stainless steel appliances, quartz counter tops & an undermount sink with new hardware. The floorplan flows seamlessly from the kitchen, past the dining area and into the living room which is anchored by a wood burning fireplace. The large private balcony with storage looks out to a beautiful greenbelt. All this plus a covered parking space and additional storage - near beautiful parks, great urban amenities, and easy access to 405. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information.Read more
-
Three Things to Know About the New Mayor of Everett and Its Plans for Growth
April 27, 2018 /Last fall, Everett elected its first female mayor. Cassie Franklin, who grew up in the Northwest and received her bachelor’s degree at Lewis and Clark College, beat candidate Judy Tuohy by just 198 votes. Here's some more information about this new leader in the Seattle area. 1. Franklin aims to tackle homelessness and has extensive experience with this issue. Before becoming mayor, Franklin was the CEO of Cocoon House, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk youth through outreach and housing options. Under her leadership, this organization grew into a regional leader. Franklin now hopes to use her experience working with Cocoon House to improve Everett’s homeless community. Franklin promises to expand the city’s Safe Streets program, which connects homeless individuals with access to treatment for addiction and mental illness, employment opportunities, supportive housing, and other services. 2. Everett is ready to explode, and Franklin wants to help. Everett’s economic resources are obvious: one of Boeing’s major facilities is located here, and the city is also home to the Port of Everett, Naval Station Everett, Providence Regional Medical Center, successful schools, Everett Community College and, WSU Everett. As Franklin commented, “Everett is poised for prosperity.” However, the…Read more
-
Three Common Fears Dispelled: Pickett Street’s Class for First Time Home Buyers
April 20, 2018 /This week, the Pickett Street crew held a class to ease fears and inform and encourage first time home buyers. The class opened with an anecdote from Hurricane Katrina: when many displaced residents were asked what, besides “love,” the most important four letter word is, almost all of them answered “home.” It makes sense that so many people find this word to be so powerful. In a world that can be pretty difficult sometimes, we should always feel secure in our homes. There is nothing like the feeling of returning after a long day to a space that feels peaceful, safe, and uniquely yours. Still, buying a home can also be a source of anxiety. This is where Pickett Street comes in– their home buyers class focuses on helping you feel less like “buying a home is something I could never do,” and more like “Yes! I’m ready!” I love it when uncertainty is replaced with confidence, clarity, and excitement. If you couldn’t make the class this time, not to worry. Pickett Street is making their first-time home buyers class a recurring event. Next one will be Monday, May 14th at 6-7:30pm. RSVP and claim your FREE ticket here! Also,…Read more
-
Equestrian Property with Stunning Views
April 19, 2018 /Drive beneath a canopy of evergreens to this 5-acre equestrian property situated high on bluff with breathtaking mountain and river views. Open concept floorplan with vaulted ceilings and expansive windows fill the main level with light. Hardwood floors encase the spacious kitchen with cooktop island and breakfast bar, and a slider opens to a huge deck that runs the full length of the home. The master bedroom suite takes up the entire upper level, complete with 5-piece bath with jetted tub and walk-in closet. Lower level rec room with wet bar is perfect for entertaining. All this plus a large 3-car garage, two-stall barn with tack room, five pastures and a chicken coop. Rare opportunity to get a big home with bigger views and room for your horses too! Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Equestrian Property with Stunning ViewsRead more
-
Three Things That Make Living in Washington State so Special
April 13, 2018 /When my family moved to the Seattle area from the East Coast back in the early 90s, Starbucks was quickly becoming the new standard for coffee, though it had yet to take over the rest of the country (and world). For us east-coasters, cappuccinos, lattes, and americanos were the most exotic beverages. Also in the 90s, Washington companies Microsoft and Amazon were just starting to boom, and grunge music was at its peak. Washington was special back then, and continues to be special today. With all of the recent buzz about its hot and competitive real estate market, I thought it might be nice to clarify what exactly makes the Puget Sound and Seattle areas so great. 1. Mountains, water, and forever-green trees Almost everyone describes the gorgeous natural scenery as one of the biggest perks of living in the Seattle area. Third-generation Washingtonian Mary Smith notes that she loves “being able to see the mountains, listening to the train as it makes its way north on the tracks by the water, and watching the ferry boats on the Puget Sound.” She adds, “I love it when it rains–the air is clear and the trees are forever green.” With the…Read more
-
Buying Off-Market Homes: A Conversation with Nicole Leong
April 10, 2018 /It can feel frustrating to dream about your ideal home and then struggle to actually find this home. This frustration is especially real in places like the Seattle area, where the highly competitive real estate market takes some patience (and amazing real estate agents!) to navigate. Because they understand that, for some individuals, dream homes aren’t always where they expect, Pickett Street is able to help their clients purchase off-market homes. While you might be thinking that an “off-market” home involves chatting with a trench-coated individual in some dark alley, the actual process is much more straightforward. I was recently able to chat about buying an off-market home with Pickett Street’s wonderful buyers agent Nicole Leong. Here’s what she had to say. (For more about finding your own off-market home, get in touch with Pickett Street at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com.) What exactly is an “off-market” home? An off-market home is a property that has not been listed anywhere. In an off-market real estate transaction, the seller might consider selling their home if presented with an acceptable offer. Nicole points out that an off-market home is different from a “for sale by owner,” or FSBO, home, which is a property…Read more
-
Secluded Snohomish Property
April 9, 2018 /Rare, custom-built Snohomish rambler situated on a private 5-acre lot. With over 3,600 square feet of living space, this home features 2 furnaces, 2 hot water heaters and the possibility of 2 separate living quarters - perfect for multi-generational living. Hardwood floors spill through the formal dining room and spacious kitchen with breakfast bar and walk-in pantry. Separated from the more formal half of the house is a spacious rec room with wet bar and office space. Interior workshop opens into the over-sized 2-car garage. All this plus multiple decks, hot tub, RV parking, and Snohomish schools. Wired for generator backup. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Secluded Snohomish PropertyRead more
-
Westhill Luxury Home
April 2, 2018 /Luxurious living located in the heart of Bothell’s Westhill neighborhood. This gorgeous 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 5-car garage home comes with well-appointed finishes and features. Enter on Brazilian cherry hardwoods that spill throughout the main level, including the kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, enormous island with breakfast bar, and huge walk-in pantry. Great room floorplan is anchored by a dramatic gas fireplace with stacked rock surround and built-in cabinets. Upstairs is home to three of the bedrooms, including the generous master suite with gas fireplace, huge walk-in closet, and lavish 5-piece bathroom wrapped in travertine tile. Bonus room with adjoining media room comes equipped with a projector, screen, and media closet. Amenities continue outside to the tiered concrete patio: one part covered with room for furniture in front of an outdoor gas fireplace and beneath electric space heaters. All this plus 4th bedroom/office, fully fenced backyard and Northshore schools. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Westhill Luxury HomeRead more
-
Desireable Moorlands Neighborhood
April 2, 2018 /This gorgeous 4-bedroom Craftsman home is situated off a cul-de-sac in the highly desirable Moorlands neighborhood of Kenmore. Enter on beautiful hardwoods that spill through the large family room, which can be warmed by the gas fireplace. Open concept floorplan continues into the kitchen and dining area that looks out into the treelined back yard. Upstairs, the large master bedroom has a giant walk-in closet and 5-piece bathroom with double sinks and soaking tub. Oversized 4th bedroom could be an office, play room, or media room depending on your needs. All this plus a fully fenced backyard, large deck - near Inglewood Golf Course, state parks, and Northshore Schools! Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. Read more
-
Podcasts, Free Classes, and More: Pickett Street’s Spring Calendar
March 30, 2018 /No one knows how to throw a party like Pickett Street. And by “throw a party,” I mean, treat their clients and team members with respect, compassion, and professionalism, host and participate in local and national events, and engage in the real estate market in endlessly fun and innovative ways. With spring in the air, the Pickett Street team has several exciting events up their sleeves. Want to join in? Get in touch with the team at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com and check out the list of upcoming events below: First-time Home Buyer Class When: Tuesday, April 17th @ 6-7:30pm Where: 22614 Bothell Everett Hwy. Bothell, WA 98021 As a hopefully-soon-to-be-homebuyer, I’m seriously considering skyping in for this event. Not only will there be refreshments, this entirely free (!) class will feature the Pickett Street team and Cody Touchette from Caliber Home Loans. The class will cover the home buying process from start to finish, with information about loan and financing options, down payment options, and what you need to know about the current real estate market. Contact Sarah Troske at sarah@pickettstreet.com with any questions or to sign up. 2nd Annual Pacific Northwest Operations Retreat When: April 5th through April…Read more
-
Seattle Real Estate Update: What to Expect in Spring 2018
March 22, 2018 /I took a walk around my Denver neighborhood last weekend and–in addition to Colorado’s usual bizarre spring weather of sunshine plus wind and snow–noticed several open houses and even more for-sale signs posted in front yards. The spring buying season is here. As we enter this season, here’s the latest Seattle real estate and mortgage news. 1. Mortgage rates decreased. After increasing throughout January and February, long-term mortgage rates recently slipped from 4.46 percent to 4.44 percent. (This time last year, the long-term mortgage rate was slightly lower at 4.3 percent.) Fixed-rate mortgages also recently decreased from 3.94 to 3.9 percent. These decreases are good news for those buying or selling homes right now; lower mortgage rates tend to motivate individuals who are on the fence to finally buy. 2. Interest on home loans is still partially deductible. Many homeowners have had questions about how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would affect their ability to deduct interest from home equity loans and lines of credit. (Check out our blog post from earlier this year for more about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect you). Responding to these questions from homeowners, the IRS recently issued a…Read more
