Interesting data for Seattle real estate owners/investors

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/print-edition/2011/10/07/wages-rise-in-puget-sound-area-at-5.html

Realty Times - Should I Take My Home Off The Market During The Holidays?

This is as well-reasoned an argument I've seen on the subject of selling in December. In my open house yesterday, someone asked "isn't December a terrible time sell." These are the points I attempted to offer...in 15 seconds.

Realty Times - Should I Take My Home Off The Market During The Holidays?

Relocation (primarily to Seattle area) Information

I was referred to a family considering relocating to Seattle (thanks, Jack K.). They are interested in schools and a neighborhood primer. Here's what I sent. Does anyone have tools they like better?
"Here are a few links that may be useful:
Schools
-http://www.greatschools.org/washington/seattle/
-http://www.schooldigger.com/
Neighborhoods
-Seattle and Eastside: see short descriptions on the right: www.schmap.com/seattle/introduction_neighborhoods
-Seattle neighborhood blogs: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/neighborhoods/
Find an area you like/school that sounds good?
-Go to http://www.estately.com/ and type that school name into the search field; available homes will populate."

ThriveSeattle

Friends,

Some of you have wondered if ThriveSeattle is relevant to Seattle only. The “Seattle” part is, but the “Thrive” part – To promote mental, physical, and financial well-being through real estate knowledge – is not. A lot of trends and information that I will share here are applicable in other markets. Certainly, you’ll always need specific expertise in your area. If you like, I can help you and your friends locate the most appropriate “boots-on-the-ground” neighborhood specific knowledge and skills. It works like this: My company is tied into a world-wide network of agents. Once we understand your needs, we will dip into that network to find the right fit. This is not just a referral to a random agent; I will help interview local agents for you, looking for market-specific knowledge, negotiation skills, process, and general fit. We’ll keep looking until we find the right match. I’m here to help…just let me know when.

- Michael Doyle, Managing Broker

2012 Calendars - Do You Want One?

Apologies if you are already subscribed (you “like” it!) to my business page, ThriveSeattle Real Estate (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Doyle-ThriveSeattle-Real-Estate/152581301431928), where I posted this a few days ago, but…there are some of you who have not yet “liked” that page and I know you want a calendar. Feel free to order here or via email.

2012 Calendars - Do You Want One?
If so, I would be delighted to send one to you this year. In the past, I chose either Western Landscapes or Northwest Scenic, and then tried to guess who would want the calendars. And then I struggled to get them out in time. In an effort to reduce waste (paper, fossil fuels for delivery trucks, etc) and be more timely, I'm asking those who would like a calendar to opt-in (by November 25th). This method may also allow for you to choose the calendar you get. Please take a look at images below (sorry, you can't click through; you'll just get a sense for them) and pick your two favorites. Then email me at mdoyle@windermere.com and let me know your first and second choices.

 

"I don't believe in real estate..."

A friend/client of mine said to me recently: “I don't believe in real estate, but I do believe in fixed-rate debt.” I keep thinking of it, in part due to the shock value of the first part of the statement, but also because he has found a way to amass what I consider to be an impressive net financial worth, so his opinions seem worth considering.

Of course, as he elaborate in further discussion, what he meant was: “I don’t believe that prices are necessarily ‘at bottom,’” and “I believe that the debt that I can acquire today is relatively “cheap” when compared to historic rates. He acknowledged that rates can still go down, but also that they can – and likely will, at some point – go up.

Here’s an article from October that opines there is “no rush” to lock in rates: http://www.inman.com/news/2011/10/6/no-rush-lock-in-record-low-mortgage-rates

Your thoughts?

Grand Canyon 2011

Amy, my office assistant, had the presence to point out that you may be interested in seeing photos from  my rafting/kayaking trip down The Grand Canyon in October. I think she may be onto something. ThriveSeattle is about success with real estate paving the way for better, more fulfilling lives. My trip provided great opportunities for adventure and reflection. I invite you to take a look...

View Downriver from the Nankoweep Granaries

 A typical camp (this at Nankoweep)

 The Little Colorado River before it enters the Colorado

Day hikes a plenty (this one to Thunder River)

Boats tied up at Havasu Creek

Part of the group, scouting the largest rapid on the river, Lava Falls (I went far left; any further left and I would have been on dry ground).

 A typical afternoon, arriving at camp.

Looking upriver...somewhere in the upper section.

My craft, at the put-in (start) at Lee's Ferry. I rowed this boat (which contained the kitchen) for the first third of the trip, to Phantom Ranch. Matt, my friend and the owner of the boat hiked in at Phantom Ranch, and took over the oars. I then jumped into the red kayak shown here, and kayaked the rest of the river.

A photo of me scouting a rapid; choosing my path through the whitewater. At significant "drops" there is normally alot of chatter among the group as each person reads the river on their own, then shares their thoughts in an effort to gain consensus/confidence. Sometimes, we watch others go first in order to see what the river does to them. An experienced boatman, Steve, reminded us all (and I thought of it as a good metaphor for many parts of life), to "watch my line, but read the river for yourselves."

Is It "A Time To Buy?"

J.P.Morgan seems to think so (national focus): http://www.jpmorgan.com/cm/BlobServer/marketinsights_housing.pdf?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1158658412427&blobheader=application%2Fpdf
And the Seattle Times seems to think so (local focus): http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016739766_affordability11.html
SeattleBubble is a bit more even (local focus), essentially stating that the Seattle Times is correct if one is a "monthly-payment buyer" and has no short or medium term plans to move: http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2011/11/11/affordability-hits-record-high-on-low-rates-price-drops/

What do you think? If you are interested (those few of you who know this blog exists!) please comment. I agree that the best time to buy is unique to each individual or family. But, since research doesn't work that way, this research is worth considering. Your thoughts?

It's Veteran's Day - How about a bit on VA Loans?

First, a big Thank You to veterans and those who are close to them.

Who Qualifies: http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/elig2.asp
Loan Limits and other Seattle-area specifics: http://www.mortgageporter.com/reportingfromseattle/2010/12/va-loan-limits-for-2011.html