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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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Local Business Highlight: Wildwood Spirits Co.
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 Wildwood Spirits Company in Bothell, WA and the Co-Owner & Distiller, Erik Liedholm. From Erik: “I was always a spirits “enthusiast” and made odd spirits from an old Portuguese pot still. As the legislation on alcohol production changed for restaurant owners - my enthusiasm changed to passion and purpose. I wanted to learn all I could about spirit production. I learned from THE guru on craft distilling, Chris Burglund who, as it turned out, was a Bio-Chemist at my Alma Mater, Michigan State University. We did some initial beta tests on campus and eventually created our first batch of spirits from material sent from Washington to Michigan. I later enrolled and received my Master Distilling diploma from the Institute of Brewing & Distilling in London, UK. I also did some work at a couple of London distilleries. Our name Wildwood Spirits Co. is derived from the street I grew up on in East Lansing Michigan. In fact, the entire project is wrapped up in nostalgia from my…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
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Community Highlights
July 13, 2018 /Pickett Street Properties is dedicated to serving the community and is going highlight businesses and community members that are dedicated to doing the same. Our second highlight is a wonderful woman who spends her time spreading her positive energy and happiness. The Pickett Street team has the honor of seeing her everyday as she shares the same office building as us. Meet Julie: "Hi, my name is Julie Yost and I’ve been with “Curtis, Casteel & Palmer” about 16 months now. I am an “Escrow Assistant”, however, the skill set I’ve brought to this job have been sculpted by years of taking risks, trying new things, asking questions, meeting great people, and saying yes to new opportunities, which in turn has brought me to this place that I am loving right now. I have literally done so many different things in my life, but the one common denominator has always been people. The delight and joy I find in speaking with, supporting, walking side by side and encouraging or teaching people, is who I truly am. I started in this line of work about 6 years ago when my good friend started a mobile notary signing business, and she wanted me to walk with her…Read more
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Why Buying a Home Is Easier Than You Think: A Conversation with Margaret Smith
June 21, 2018 /You may have heard of Margaret Smith. She’s the Director of Operations for Pickett Street and social-media-extraordinaire. She’s also an incredibly inspiring woman who knows how to focus and go after what she wants. This week I was able to chat with Margaret about her experiences buying and renovating her duplexes and about her home-buying hacks. Margaret says that you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to her with questions at margaret@pickettstreet.com. To get in touch with the Pickett Street team, contact them at info@pickettstreet.com or (425) 502-5397. In the meantime, here’s what Margaret had to say. On her secret to making money and paying off her mortgage: I got this idea from Cody Touchette with Caliber Home Loans. I started with Pickett Street in November 2012. I walked into a rambler Pickett Street was selling that Winter, and I started to cry. I realized that I might not ever buy a home with a partner (hardly anything to cry about, and yet I did!). I cried because I wanted to own a home, and I literally had no idea how to make it happen on my own salary. So one day before a class we were holding, Cody told me if he could…Read more
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Seattle Summer Real Estate Update
June 18, 2018 /What are you up to this summer? I sincerely hope that, whatever your plans are, they involve eating good fresh food, getting out on the water, slowing down, and doing a whole lot of nothing with your favorite people. Perhaps your summer plans also involving buying a home, selling a home, or engaging in some other part of the real estate world. So, while you’re enjoying a cool beverage, here is a Seattle area real estate update. Also keep in mind that the first thing you should do is contact Pickett Street at info@pickettstreet.com or (425) 502-5397. They have the know-how and the skills to help you navigate real estate with as little stress and as much enjoyment as possible. 1. Mortgage rates increased. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage recently rose to 4.62%. (One year ago, this rate was 3.92%.) The 15-year fixed rate mortgage rose to 4.07%. (One year ago this rate was 3.18%.) The plus side of this is that mortgage application activity has also declined, which may mean less competition if you are looking to buy a home this summer. However, according to economist Joel Kan, “government applications increased, driven largely by increases…Read more
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Escape City Life with This Modern Country Dream Home
June 8, 2018 /When I checked out Pickett Street’s latest listing–a custom-built home located in Arlington–I actually gasped out loud. I beckoned my partner over to take a look. This is it, I thought. This is the country dream home. The property sits on a lush, canopied ten acres. I love the home’s rustic beauty, with those wooden beams and the enormous stone fireplace that speak of cozy mountain lodges and quiet country homes. I also love that the architecture pairs this rustic beauty with modern sleekness–luxurious bathrooms, immaculate appliances, and other shiny details. Below is more information about this listing, as well as the surrounding area. To take a look at the property, or for other real estate information, get in touch with Pickett Street at info@pickettstreet.com or (425) 502-5397. 1. The listing: This home has three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms–each bedroom has an en-suite bath. The master bathroom has two sinks and a gorgeous jetted tub. The first floor has hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows. My favorite detail is the large gas fireplace framed by windows looking out onto the lawn. I’m imagining a snowy winter evening spent cooking and reading curled up around this fireplace.…Read more
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Attention All Foodies: It’s Farmers Market Season!
June 1, 2018 /Occasionally my partner sweetly suggests that we buy salmon to cook for dinner, and every time he does so my inner Pacific Northwest food snob kicks in. Because I spent most of my life in the Seattle area, and because I now live in Colorado, which–just to be clear–could not be more landlocked, I always turn up my nose at eating seafood. “Are you kidding me?” I always scoff at him, sounding like a real brat. “I’m from Seattle.” With the exception of river trout, eating fish in Colorado simply cannot compare to eating fish in Washington State. Eating good salmon or oysters in the Pacific Northwest is like eating mermaid ambrosia pulled straight from the sea and plopped directly onto your plate--so fresh, briny, and rich. My summers growing up in Washington revolved around food. My parents' yard overflowed with wild raspberries and blackberries. We spent many days on the Puget Sound digging for razor clams to fry or bake or add to linguine or chowder. On more ambitious days, we lay on our bellies during low tide and shove our hands deep into the mud to catch geoducks. One summer, I remember going to the Ballard farmers market…Read more
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Four Smart Ways to Prepare for a Home Inspection
May 30, 2018 /A good home inspection should provide you with information about a home's current condition. The inspector's job is to do a general analysis of the entire home, not go over the home with a fine tooth comb. If something looks like it needs further investigation, the inspector will recommend hiring a specialist, or contractor. The inspector will also provide a general timeline of the lifespan left on the home's major systems, providing you with information about future upkeep for the home. To connect with a quality agent, get in touch with Pickett Street today (info@pickettstreet.com or (425) 502-5397). Additionally, to help you make sure you get the most out of your home inspections, here are a few tips. For Buyers: 1. Research your home inspector. As a millennial, I can’t buy anything these days without obsessively reading reviews online. For example, I just spent 30 minutes researching backyard doggie pools on Amazon. While I might be taking consumer research to the extreme in this particular instance, finding a good home inspector definitely requires careful research. Here are a few questions to keep in mind when researching your home inspector: How long have they been inspecting homes? How many inspections have they performed?…Read more
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The First Three Steps to Buying a Home
May 18, 2018 /You know those things in life that feel sort of insurmountable and impossible to begin? For my partner, it’s putting his socks away. For me, it’s doing my taxes, or going for runs when it’s anywhere above 60 degrees (this Washington State girl needs her cool, mild climates!). And there are larger tasks that can feel difficult as well--finally tackling that home improvement project, perhaps, or selling or buying a home. Fortunately, when it comes to buying a home, Pickett Street has already done all the work to help you get organized and get started. This week, Pickett Street held another class for home buyers. If you missed it, not to worry–Pickett Street holds this class regularly, and the next one will be June 12. Also, for more information about this class or about buying or selling a home, get in touch with the team at info@pickettstreet.com or (425) 502-5397. To further help you, here are the eight steps to buying a home. 1. Decide to buy. Would buying a home would be a smart, positive step in your life right now? Here are a few bits of data to help you make this decision: It is now more expensive…Read more
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Experience Vs. Innovation: Three Tips For Choosing a Real Estate Agent
May 11, 2018 /I was recently chatting with an old friend when the conversation turned to real estate. I congratulated her and her fiancé on buying their first home together. “How’d you do it?” I asked. It was, after all, only seven years ago she and I were broke English teachers living in France, drinking two euro bottles of wine and eating nutella straight out of the jar on the floor of our 150-square-foot, unfurnished living quarters. Those were indeed classy times. “Honestly,” she said. “Our real estate broker saved our @** with his helpfulness.” Pardon my friend’s French there, but her enthusiasm about working with a great agent demonstrates how important it is to choosing a real estate agent who can advocate for you during the home buying process. According to the National Association of Realtors, 87% of buyers purchase their home through a real estate agent or broker, which is a significant increase from 69% in 2001. So, what should you look for in a real estate agent? Some experts say it’s important to find an older agent who has more experience, while others say you should look to younger agents for their knowledge of technology and the evolving market. Pickett…Read more
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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
