-
Millennials and Technology: How the Housing Market is Changing
November 16, 2017 /The other day I caught myself doing a very millennial thing: I needed new winter boots, and, not surprisingly, I quickly spiraled down an obsessive rabbit hole of internet research. Before I knew it, I had roughly fifty tabs open, two hours had passed, and I still hadn’t purchased any boots. True to my millennial nature, I am extremely careful with my money, and I don’t like to own a lot of stuff. Consequently, it’s important to me that my purchases last a long time. This millennial attitude, along with Americans’ contemporary reliance on technology, is changing many things, including the housing industry. Here’s more information about recent trends in buying homes. 1. Millennials have started to buy homes. You might have noticed a pattern in headlines over the past few years: “Why Millennials Aren’t Buying Diamonds,” “Why Millennials Aren’t Buying Homes,” or, my personal favorite, “Why Millennials Are Addicted to Avocado Toast” (spoiler: because it’s delicious!). One of the main reasons millennials have been slower to buy homes than previous generations is that life is more expensive than it used to be. College tuition costs are rising more quickly than financial aid, and 83% of millennials say that student…Read more
-
An Interview with Margaret Smith on Confidence and the World of Real Estate
November 9, 2017 /This week marks the fifth anniversary of Pickett Street’s Margaret Smith. Though I’ve only been working with her for about six months, I’ve already come to know Margaret as a positive and hardworking force of nature. Margaret is the Director of Operations for Pickett Street Properties; she recruits, screens, and interviews candidates and manages social media, client events, system evaluation, branding/marketing, and overall growth and planning for Pickett Street. I was recently lucky to be able to chat with her about her experiences in the world of real estate. Hi Margaret! Congrats on five years of working with Pickett Street. Can you talk to us about how you started working for Pickett Street? Before Pickett Street I was the Docent Program Coordinator for the Seattle Art Museum. I NEVER thought I would work in sales or for a sales company--and now I can't imagine anything else in my future. This career gives me an opportunity to help and inspire people in a much bigger way and through a bigger platform than I ever imagined. I was ready to leave the museum because I wanted a career where I could support myself financially, and that's hard to do in the nonprofit…Read more
-
Buy now, my pretties!
November 3, 2017 /While Halloween and its festivities can be super fun, this holiday may have put you in a spooked mood. Am I the only one out there who regrets spending Halloween huddled on the couch, mindlessly eating Reese’s peanut butter cups and watching The Shining? While Jack Nicholson wielding an axe is certainly terrifying, most adults experience more anxiety over certain aspects of everyday life, including financial commitments like career decisions and buying a home. (Quick side note, another common fear is robots taking over the world.) If anxiety over buying a home sounds familiar, not to worry--this decision is not as scary as it seems. To soothe your fears and ease the process, get in touch with Pickett Street (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com. In the meantime, settle in with that leftover Halloween candy (unless you ate it all like me), and relax by reading about common home-buying fears and why they’re not actually that scary. 1. Buying a home costs too much money, and I can’t afford it. Finding enough cash to make a down payment on a home is one of home buyers’ biggest anxieties. The median home price in Seattle is $725,000, which means that a 20% down…Read more
-
Four Reasons Why It’s Good to Be a Home Seller Right Now
September 29, 2017 /My friends recently made a really smart real estate decision: four years after purchasing their lovely home in Boulder, Colorado, they sold it and moved to a cheaper spot in Nashville, and, as a result, made a boatload of money. I found myself both--let’s be honest--slightly envious, and inspired. Investing in real estate, and understanding when to sell, is one of the smartest ways to build wealth. You might be wondering what Boulder, Colorado has to do with Washington State, aside from the fact that both Seattle and Boulder are home to hippies and tech nerds with serious outdoors obsessions. Well, while Boulder’s real estate market is doing well right right now, Seattle’s real estate market is right up there with it as one of the most competitive markets in the country. In many ways, the Seattle market is even hotter than Boulder’s. If you’re considering listing your Seattle area home right now, here are a few reasons why it's good to be a home seller right now. For more information about selling your home and understanding its current value, contact Pickett Street at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com. Also, be sure to check out this easy home value form. 1. The…Read more
-
Neighborhood Profile: Kenmore’s Transformation into a Vibrant Community
September 21, 2017 /Three large industrial silos sit on the edge of Kenmore, and the town’s residents are about to transform these towers into art. For the past year, residents have posted signs on these silos that read “Let’s Beautify This,” urging passers-by to donate to a GoFundMe account. This project speaks to both Kenmore’s current exciting revitalization and its strong sense of community. Located northeast of Seattle on the tip of Lake Washington, Kenmore is an up-and-coming, medium-sized town. Here’s some more information on why this is a great spot to buy a home right now, along with a humble suggestion of a listing you might love. Real Estate Stats The median home value in Kenmore is $559,300, and the median rent is $1,896 per month. I’m currently drooling over this gorgeous two-level condo in Kenmore with three bedrooms, including a spacious master bedroom that has a bathroom with double sinks (you’ve know you’ve made it in life when you have two sinks in your bathroom). The condo also has an updated kitchen with laminate countertops and a cozy gas fireplace for those long northwest winters. Also, how great would it be to drink your coffee each morning on this cute deck…Read more
-
Look For The Helpers
September 15, 2017 /If you’ve been following the news lately, or if you’ve been directly affected by recent events, it might seem like the world has turned into an apocalyptic landscape. With wildfires in Oregon, California, Montana, and elsewhere, and Hurricane Harvey and Irma ripping through the southern United States and Caribbean, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In difficult times, I am reminded of a quote from the beloved Mr. Rogers: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers--so many caring people in this world." The Keller Williams family is among the many helpers. How Keller Williams Is Helping As Hurricane Harvey’s devastation spread, leaving at least 210,700 properties damaged or destroyed in Texas, many displaced survivors looked for shelter at the Austin Convention Center, where Keller William's company typically holds a four-day conference each year in September. After seeing how many people needed support in the hurricane’s aftermath, Keller Williams decided to…Read more
-
How Owning a Home Builds Wealth
August 17, 2017 /Here’s something I wish I’d known in my early twenties: buying a home is one of the best ways to build wealth. In 2015, according to the Federal Reserve, the average homeowner’s net worth was $195,400, while the average renter’s net worth was $5,400. Perhaps you know all of this already and are wondering if buying a home is still, in the current economy, even after the 2008 housing crisis, one the best wealth-building strategies. The answer to this question is yes, and here are a few reasons why. 1. Owning a Home Builds Equity and Forces You to Save Home equity is an asset that comes from owning a home and represents one of the largest sources of net worth for most investors. In other words, equity is the portion of your home that you actually “own.” Of course, when you a buy a home you own all of it, but borrowing money to buy your property means that the seller still has an interest in it until you pay off the loan. Equity is essentially a form of wealth; you can eventually take out income or lump sum withdrawals from this asset, or you can pass it on…Read more
-
Five Reasons You Should List Your Home Today
August 10, 2017 /You may have heard that it’s a seller’s market right now. However,you may also be wondering what exactly that means for you, the potential seller. Here's the rundown of the current seller's market and a few reasons why you shouldn't wait to sell your home. 1. Seattle is one of the hottest housing markets in the country. According to several different reports, Seattle’s real estate market is one of the hottest in the country for 2017. And the city of Seattle isn’t the only area that’s hot: King, Snohomish, and Kitsap Counties are all experiencing competitive real estate markets right now. 2. Inventory is low. There are currently more people looking to buy homes than there are people listing their homes in the Seattle area. According to the Seattle Times, inventory is down by 27 percent when compared to last year's numbers. This means that competition among potential buyers is high. Plus, this competition often results in bidding wars, which means that sellers are likely to receive more than the original listing price. About 75 percent of listed homes have received multiple offers this year, and 56 percent of homes are selling for more than the asking price. In several city neighborhoods, and…Read more
-
Tips for Navigating Seattle’s 2017 Real Estate Market
August 9, 2017 /Seattle’s real estate market is on fire right now, and it’s easy to see why. Tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Expedia are creating healthy job growth, making the local job market one of the hottest in the country. Additionally, despite its growing costs, this urban area remains one of the more affordable west coast cities, especially when compared to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Not to mention, Seattle is just plain gorgeous. With these perks, Seattle one of the fastest growing cities in the county; the most recent data found that about 1,100 people are moving to the city every week (you heard me right--1,100 people per week!). So, how does one navigate this exciting and competitive atmosphere when buying or selling a home? Here are a few tips, along with more information about what to expect from Seattle’s real estate market in 2017. 1. Don’t Wait to Buy If you’re serious about buying a home in Seattle, now’s the time to go for it. Real estate professionals predict that the market will remain competitive throughout 2017 and beyond. According to the NW REporter, while there was a small increase in residential listings this past June (a 7…Read more
-
Fannie Mae Changes Help Homebuyers With Student Debt
August 4, 2017 /It’s tough out there for students. Take it from me, a millennial who has collected a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree, as well as a bit of debt along the way. Recent surveys have shown that the average college graduate has more debt than ever before, and that this increased debt makes it harder for graduates to save money and therefore more hesitant to buy homes. What’s more, millennials aren’t the only ones who carry this burden--about 43 million Americans, including millennials, Gen Xers, and even some baby boomers, are currently drowning in student debt. However, luckily for us former students, the mortgage investor Fannie Mae has introduced three new changes that will make it much easier for individuals with student debt to purchase homes. Here are three situations in which these new rules will help. 1. If Someone Else Makes Your Student Loan Payments Many employers now offer their employees student loan repayment benefits. In the past, this system has made it more difficult for individuals looking to buy homes; when calculating a homebuyer’s debt-to-income required for mortgages, mortgage lenders did not take into account that the potential homebuyer did not have to make their student loan payments…Read more
-
Seattle Neighborhood Profile: Laurelhurst
July 24, 2017 /Just south of Windermere and east of the University District, Laurelhurst is situated on the shores of Lake Washington. The Duwamish tribe used this area as a seasonal campground called “Sahlouwil.” The neighborhood was first developed around the turn of the century, when a community of about fifty people built the Seattle Golf Club there; today, the club is a beautiful private residence. Here are a few reasons why living in Laurelhurst might be just what you need. 1. It Has Something For Everyone Niche.com ranked Laurelhurst as the best neighborhood in Seattle for families. This status is largely due to the neighborhood's excellent schools, quiet residential streets, and proximity to the University of Washington. The area’s best schools include the private Villa Academy and Laurelhurst Elementary, which offers the popular Laurelhurst After School Enrichment Rooms (LASER). Laurelhurst isn’t just for families, however; it’s also home to many singles and couples, both professionals working in the city and retired individuals. Because Laurelhurst is 52% less populated than the rest of Seattle, it’s the perfect home for anyone looking for a tiny oasis of quiet in an otherwise bustling city. Check out this sweet and private mid-century modern home in Laurelhurst.…Read more
-
Common Architectural Styles for Seattle Homes
July 21, 2017 /When I was younger, my mother and I used to spend Sunday afternoons driving around looking at houses in pretty neighborhoods. At the time, we lived in a small home in the Des Moines/SeaTac area. Today, my mother has worked her way up to a beautiful rustic cabin-style home in Gig Harbor. However, when we get together, we still love to admire the gorgeous houses in Seattle and the way they look in the Northwest’s unique silvery light. If you’re interested in buying a home in the Seattle area, here’s a quick guide to some of the common architectural styles that you’ll see around the city. Be sure to contact Pickett Street at at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com to get started finding your home. 1. Victorian Often found around the Queen Anne neighborhood and mostly built during the 1880s and 1890s, these elegant homes are among the oldest in Seattle. Common features of this style include a gabled roof, scalloped shingle siding on the upper level, covered porches with round columns, and a round or octagonal turret. Check out this gorgeous, romantic, and renovated Victorian in Capitol Hill. 2. Tudor Built in Seattle through the 1930s, Tudor homes are known for…Read more
