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The 411: The PNW Operations Retreat
March 18, 2019 /Every year, Pickett Street’s Admin Department (aka Command Central) organize the PNW Operations Retreat. This 3 day retreat focuses on building community and helping fellow admin professionals realize their value and full potential, in order to disrupt the real estate industry in positive ways. This year’s retreat, happening April 4-7, is particularly special. Three major speakers will share their stories: Gary John Bishop, author of Unfuck Yourself, Tyler Schmitt, Executive Assistant to entrepreneur, author, speaker, and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk, and En-may Mangels, Strategic Intuitive Advisor. If you’re interested in the retreat, reach out to Margaret at #206-228-5067 or margaret@pickettstreet.com. Also, I was able to chat more about this event with Pickett Street’s Director of Operations Margaret Smith and Team Admin, Sarah Troske. Here’s what they had to say. 1. Okay—I've been hearing a lot of hype about this Operations Retreat! What is it? Who's it for? Margaret: My goal with this retreat is to show admin just how powerful they can be through persistence, hard work, and networking. Many admin are afraid of talking to their team leaders/bosses about what they want or think they deserve. Thus, much of this retreat is about personal development. By working on ourselves…Read more
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Seattle Real Estate Forecast: Spring 2019
March 12, 2019 /I don’t want to jinx it. But, with this week’s forecast of warmer temperatures looking—dare I say —downright cheery and spring-like, the real estate market is gearing up for its traditionally busier season. However, while the Seattle area was home to a hot real estate market between about 2016 and the early part of 2018, this frenzied activity has now cooled and stabilized somewhat. Here’s what you need to know about the area’s real estate market for spring 2019. 1. Home prices dropped... In February, Seattle’s home prices dropped to the lowest point in two years, resulting in prices that were around $116,000 less than last spring’s prices. Mike Rosenberg of the Seattle Times reported that, since the peak of the hot housing market in spring 2018, home prices “dropped a total of 16 percent in the last eight months.” 2. Then home prices bounced back up... ...just when you think you’ve got it figured out! Over the past several weeks, prices have risen again. One can almost hear the Seattle real estate market reveling in its unpredictability and cackling at all the eager home buyers who have been waiting for prices to drop. Prices rose around $45,000, which Rosenberg…Read more
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Seattle Real Estate Forecast
January 15, 2019 /Happy New Year! I have a good feeling about this one. What are you most excited for in 2019? What are you choosing to focus on? Pickett Street’s Margaret Smith is jumping into the new year with her focus word “relentless.” I’m attempting to incorporate less car time and more walking in my daily routines—wish me luck. If your New Year goals involve buying or selling a home (or simply thinking about these decisions!), take a look at 2019’s real estate forecast outlined below. Make sure you also reach out to Pickett Street (info@pickettstreet.com or 425-502-5397) for information about your best real estate options. 1. The housing market will slow, but stabilize. While some experts predicted that the 2018 tax bill would cause the housing market to slow, the Washington Post asserts that so far “the limitations on mortgage-interest and property-tax deductions haven’t had a negative impact.” Instead, real estate experts anticipate that the market will slow in 2019 due to rising mortgage rates and the current government shutdown. Experts also say, however, this slowing down is not a complete standstill. According to the National Association of Realtors, “The forecast for home sales will be very boring — meaning stable.”…Read more
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Seattle’s Big Shift: Two More Reasons to Buy a Home Now
December 14, 2018 /You may have noticed a trend in these blog posts over the past several weeks. Here they are, in no particular order: how to buy a home with zero down, why a home should be on your shopping list, and why to buy before the new year. This recent push to buy is not to encourage you to participate mindlessly in the holiday season’s characteristically frantic spending. Rather, Pickett Street wants their clients to know that buying now might be a very mindful, financially smart decision. Buying a home right now is like going shopping at the mall during the quietest, most dead time of the year, when you practically have the whole place to yourself, when stores are eager to move product, and when sales abound. Over the past six years, Seattle has been a difficult place to buy a home. The Seattle Times reports that in 2017, 92 percent of Seattle homes for sale involved multiple bidders. 79 percent of homes had multiple bidders in the larger stretch between Snohomish and Pierce Counties. However, over the past several months, the tides have quickly shifted. In November, just 21 percent of Seattle homes had multiple bidders.…Read more
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Autonomy Leads to Ownership Thinking
November 21, 2018 /There is a clear correlation between autonomy and motivation. Autonomy leads to ownership thinking. 1. Dictionary Definition: Autonomy is the quality or state of being independent, free and self-directing. 2. My definition of autonomy in the context of a business partnership and company is the ability to carry out a vision however I determine, with the best interest of those it will impact in mind. What that actually looks like: -Weekly meetings with leadership to ensure we're on the same page. -I set my work hours. -I come and go as I determine from my office. -I set the meetings, prioritize my duties, plan and execute in the way I know is most efficient and best. -I create the environment which includes the physical office environment and the mental environment I want (camaraderie). -When given a project and a budget, once I understand the WHY- I execute that project how I determine is best, and however I want. What that doesn't look like: -Someone telling me when I should come and go. -Someone telling me how to organize myself. -Someone telling me how to execute on a project. -Someone telling me I need to check in with them before I execute on something. -Someone telling me how to…Read more
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Two Big Reasons Why You Should Quit Overthinking and Buy Now
October 8, 2018 /Last night, while chatting with friends over dinner in their lovely Colorado home, they told me something surprising. “We bought our house when we did because we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to afford it in two more years,” they confided. “We just didn’t think about it too much.” As a major over-thinker, this felt like a revelation. I labor over each decision, from purchasing a new brand of toothpaste on Amazon to choosing what to eat for lunch. I often feel anxious about larger decisions to the point of paralysis, failing to take any action at all. While I often think that overthinking protects me, it actually does more harm than good. According to scientific studies—and according to many people’s personal experiences—overthinking can disrupt your sleep and interfere with your problem-solving skills. Sound familiar? An important side note: I am by no means saying you should buy a house without careful thinking and planning. Buyers should absolutely chat with professionals like the Pickett Street team and their mortgage lenders about this major life decision. However, I would like to argue that, sometimes, our anxiety-prone brains get in the way and prevent us from accomplishing our goals. If you…Read more
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Community Highlights: Cody Touchette
October 8, 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 from our very own preferred lender, Cody Touchette! My story really starts before I became a mortgage professional. I graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in finance and put that to use by managing a jewelry store for a large national company. I enjoyed that position for a few years, was awarded a few promotions, but eventually found myself bored. Two things happened that drove me to begin my mortgage career. First, I bought my first house and thought the mortgage process could have been way easier and smoother than what I had experienced. Second, I saw a friend over the holidays who was a mortgage broker and he gave me the encouragement I needed to try it out. The rest is history! I currently run a team of nine amazing and talented mortgage professionals, The Touchette Team, at Caliber Home Loans, Inc. We work in mortgage lending, purchase, refinancing and investment strategies. Our team’s mission is two-part: help people attain the dream of homeownership and then change their financial…Read more
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Fall Reflection and the Luxurious Cameo Heights Mansion
October 2, 2018 /Autumn often feels like a period that calls for deep inner reflection. This week, I’ve found myself daydreaming about future travels and thinking about how I want my daily routines to look. Pickett Street's Sarah Troske and her bodybuilding journey inspired me to think about how these small, daily details add up to the big things. As Sarah says, “our daily decisions are either taking us closer or further away from our goals.” How are you doing this fall? Do your daily routines feel fulfilling? Are your daily decisions bringing you closer to your dreams? Perhaps, as summer’s adventures end and fall’s chill settles, you’ve realized you need a change of scenery, work, or lifestyle. If this is the case, Pickett Street can help you think about your options for buying or selling your home (info@pickettstreet.com or 425-502-5397). While you’re thinking about your options, check out this newest listing, a breathtaking 11,000 square foot bed and breakfast retreat in southeastern Washington. The Listing Nestled in the heart of Washington’s wine country, Cameo Heights Mansion overlooks 300 acres of vineyards, orchards, and the Walla Walla river. Pickett Street says that “this stunning and unique location, removed from city noise and bright…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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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
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Live Laugh Love Farm: On Big Dreams and Pickett Street’s Latest Listing
July 30, 2018 /I recently listened to a podcast about rulebreakers. According to social scientist Francesca Gino, "Rebels are people who break rules that should be broken. They break rules that hold them and others back, and their way of rule breaking is constructive rather than destructive. It creates positive change." I first started believing in constructive rule breaking and out-of-the-box thinking several years ago when one of my dear friends started her own small flower and veggie farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Starting a farm was my friend’s longtime dream. She worked hard and saved money for this goal, and then one day she found the right property and just went for it. During a period when many of our friends were going to graduate school, getting married, or working in more traditional jobs, she was, in a sense, a bit of a rule breaker. I say all of this to explain why Pickett Street’s latest listing is so exciting to me. The property is a blueberry farm north of Seattle. Below is more information about why it’s such a perfect spot for fulfilling big, perhaps slightly off-the-beaten path dreams. If you’re ready to find out more, reach out to Pickett Street…Read more
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The Big Question: How to Secure Financing to Buy a Home
July 27, 2018 /Now that I’ve moved beyond the strange period of life that was my twenties, one major conversation topic among my friends is real estate. These days, it feels like we’re always talking about which one of us just bought a home or is looking to buy. Another major discussion topic is where these particular friends found the money to buy their homes–was it an FHA loan? Did they receive help from their parents? And, at the risk of sounding tactless, how much exactly did they put down, and what was the home’s final price? The question of where to find the money to buy a home is fairly common these days. Luckily, Pickett Street’s home buyers class, which is offered once a month and is completely free (!), is an excellent resource. The next home buyers class is Tuesday, August 21st from 6-8pm. The Pickett Street team and Cody Touchette of Caliber Home Loans will be there to talk about the home buying process from start to finish. To find out more, contact Sarah Troske at sarah@pickettstreet.com. For now, here’s some insight from the class into how to secure financing to buy a home. 1. Conventional loans Available with both fixed and adjustable…Read more
