This Week's Economic Commentary rt@SeattleEcon

This Week’s Economic Commentary – courtesy of Matthew Gardner, Gardner Economics

http://bit.ly/dI1obJ

I’m on a “trip-of-a-lifetime” from October 3 – October 25; rafting the Grand Canyon. This content is posted by my wonderful office assistant. If you need anything during my absence, please contact Jenny Doyle, licensed Real Estate Broker; jdoyle@windermere.com; (206) 465-5333.

Laurelhurst Broker Tour

There were some great homes on the broker tour today in the areas north of the Ship Canal. This home in Laurelhurst had six portholes arranged in the wall. Very cool. Judging from the number of construction/work trucks in Laurelhurst today, some people are still spending to improve their homes.

Refinancing? Perhaps I can help improve your odds of success

With interest rates continuing to amaze, are you considering re-financing? If so, this content from Inman News, while dated, may be interesting: http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/jackguttentag/debunking-refinance-myths?page=0%2C0.

Many refinance efforts work just fine, but...more fail these days than have in the past. (I couldn't quickly find the numbers, but in many ways, it doesn't matter. If the one that fails is yours, it is too many).

As you likely know, you will typically be responsible for the appraisal fee even if the property does not appraise for the value you want/need and the refinance is not successful.

What can you do to minimize risk? Have comparables ready to go for the appraiser.

Appraisers are busier than ever, and forms changes are making their jobs more tedious (while they are getting paid less). So, why would they not be interested in hearing a good, well-reasoned opinion of value, with examples based on recent relevant sales around the property?

I have done this recently for clients (prepared the story and met with the appraiser), and may be able to do it for you.

Just let me know if you think I can help.

Real Estate from the Inside

For some reason, I thought real estate owners/buyers/sellers in the Seattle area might be interested in a bit of a “behind the scenes” look at real estate agency in Seattle, care of Inman News, brought to my attention by Judie Sanders. The content is directed toward real estate agents, but there is some good data here on trends, foreclosure rates, employment, and what I’ll call “the Seattle Lag.”

http://www.inman.com/reports/top-market-income/seattle.html 

It does make we wonder though: What - to you, the consumer – makes a “successful” real estate agent?

For instance, the article states that while “sales per realtor” in the US was 3.3 over a recent 12 months, and 5.1 in Seattle. If your agent does many times that number, are you glad because it means they are “good,” or does it make you uneasy because you worry about their time constraints.

I am currently “ranked” 80^th in Seattle with 18 “sides” (7 sellers and 11 buyers) and $9,680,000 in total sales over the last 12 months. But what, if anything, does that mean to you? What are you looking for?

Down to Business with Josh Dirks Interviews Windermere CEO OB Jacobi

For anyone looking to better "understand" Windermere as a company (roots; vision; direction; guiding principles, etc.) I think this is insightful informative (great questions, Josh). At the end of the first video, OB tells the story of some work that our Green Lake office did in June at Bagley Elementary. That was a great opportunity to help out and reconnect with our own motivations and the community we work for. I'll see if I can find some photos from that day...the best images would have been of kids wearing berets and fake mustaches as they recited poetry, beat style. But...no pictures of kids, so you'll have to take my word for it; it was fantastic. d2b.tv/.../episode-5-ob-jacobi-president-of-windermere-realty/