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Community Highlights: Mark Mount
August 27, 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 one of our favorite people at the Keller Williams Bothell office, Lieutenant Mark Mount. “I was born in Port Townsend, Washington because that was the nearest military hospital to Port Angeles where my Dad was stationed in the United States Coast Guard. We moved to the Shoreline area soon thereafter when he enlisted in the United States Navy. When I was 3 years old he left the family and soon after my mother remarried. At 5 years old I was nailing down roofs and decks because my step-father was a general contractor. When I started first grade and from then on during school breaks and summers I worked construction on homes, apartments, and commercial buildings doing framing, sheathing, roofing, cement flatwork and foundation work, oiling forms, and site clean- up until graduation from high school in 1969. My neighbor was a physician and because neither of his sons wanted to become doctors, he offered to send me to medical school as I had the grades and aptitude. I had…Read more
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Well-Maintained Lynnwood Rambler
August 17, 2018 /Back on the market! Fall in love with this 3 bedroom well-maintained Lynnwood rambler the moment you put eyes on it. Enter the home on beautiful hardwoods flowing seamlessly through the living room and back into each bedroom. Natural light fills the living room through the expansive windows showcasing the rooms crown molding. The kitchen boasts new quartz counters, tons of cabinet space and stainless steel appliances. The master bedroom is open, extremely spacious and features a walk-in closet. The master bathroom has double sinks and features slate tile flooring. Enjoy the summer on the new deck, covered patio and a fantastic fire pit in the fully fenced yard. The hot tub is a great perk that comes with the house. Convenient to parks, urban amenities and I5. Call Jesse Moore at 425.502.5397 for more information. To download the property flyer as a PDF, click on the link: Well-Maintained Lynnwood RamblerRead 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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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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The Highlights: A Local Business or Community Member
June 25, 2018 /Pickett Street Properties is dedicated to serving the community and would like to highlight businesses and community members that are dedicated to doing the same. Our first highlight is very special as he is the husband of our Lead Buyers Agent, Jillian Farrar. Mark Farrar became a firefighter/EMT about 3 years ago with the Everett Fire Department. He is one of the kindest, most genuine people we know. Read on below for Mark's story on how he decided to become a firefighter: "My name is Mark Farrar and I have been a firefighter/EMT with the Everett Fire Department for about 3 years. My journey to this line of work started about 15 years ago after my father and I were involved in a high speed roll over on the I-90 in rural Montana. Both of us received only minor injuries but this was the first time I was put in a situation to help someone else in a real crisis moment. I have always had an interest in helping people but in that moment, I knew I had a higher calling. With strong encouragement from a friend I joined a local volunteer fire department, became certified as an EMT-Basic and starting…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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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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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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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
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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
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Kenmore’s Moorlands Neighborhood: Country Living With Modern Conveniences
March 9, 2018 /This week, I get to talk about one of my favorite things to write about for Pickett Street: listings for new homes. I love interior design, and I find it very exciting to imagine the family or individual who gets to call each new listing their home. And this newly listed 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 2,200-square-foot Moorlands home is particularly lovely. With hardwood floors, an open floor plan, a spacious kitchen, a gas fireplace, and a master bedroom with a big walk-in closet, double sinks, and a soaking tub, the home’s features radiate comfort and peaceful living. Other perks include a large deck, a fully fenced backyard, and a highly convenient location. Kenmore’s Moorlands neighborhood sits between Inglemoor and Inglewood. Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Lake Washington, Kenmore was founded in 1901 by Scottish settlers, which perhaps explains the origins of the neighborhood name. While it doesn’t exactly have foggy moors or Scottish castles, the city is home to excellent schools in the Northshore school district, beautiful parks, and a generally safe, peaceful atmosphere. Here’s some more information about the listing and the area. (Make sure to also check out our neighborhood profile on Kenmore.) Neighborhood Vibe In 2018, Kenmore…Read more
