Great Places

Lake Stevens Duplex Sale Closed

One of my projects lately is helping a Snohomish couple downsize their home as well as some rental properties they have collected over the years.

The one that just closed is a well-maintained duplex that has a view of Lake Stevens out of one of its units, and is in easy walking distance to downtown. Another great feature is that these folks had managed their property well, and the rents were such that the income from one unit almost made the entire mortgage payment for the property!

Lake Stevens is a suburb NE of Everett by about 5 min. It used to be mostly recreational property, but as transformed in the last 20 years to a suburb with many nice waterfront and water view homes.

We anticipated that the best buyer would be either someone starting out, or possibly downsizers who liked the idea of living in the view unit while enjoying a very low housing cost.  Turns out there were several buyers interested as soon as it hit the market, and the buyer who got it was a young person who saw the value, lifestyle, and opportunity to build equity fast.  They acted fast as opportunities like this do not come along  often.

If you think a scenario like this would fit your downsizing strategy,  contact me and we can begin to look for another one like this.

Wandering Creek Neighborhood

Wandering Creek is a neighobrhood in Bothell that is mostly made up of manufactured homes…large ones, with nice yards, some even have lake waterfront.
It first caught my attention when I saw a search with a waterfront 1782 sf mobile home priced around $289,000. That is the most expensive mobile home I have seen, so I had to see the neighborhood it was in.
This 55+ gated community features just right sized lots (5000 sf range), one level homes, nice landscaping, and a great active community. The dues are reasonable too. All of the lots are owned, so that is part of the price. It looks like some of the homes are stick built too.
I know not everyone likes the ideas of mobile homes, ahem, manufactured homes, but when I saw the quality of life apparent there, I would recommend that anyone on a budget should at least take a look.

Small Towns in Western Washington

A favorite downsize solution for many is to move from urban areas to a nearby small town. The advantages are lower home prices, a slower pace of life, less traffic, cleaner air and tight-knit community.  Not all small towns are the same, however. The more desirable small towns have many of the big city cultural amenities such as performing arts, museums, historical societies, and professional sports teams.  but in a smaller scale.  Many have colleges or universities.  Most have gentrified neighborhoods of older homes with walkable neighborhoods. If you dream of retiring with a view or waterfront property, smaller towns have those too, but at affordable prices.

Larger desirable  small towns in the area include Edmonds, Everett, Tacoma, Bellingham and Olympia.  Smaller towns that are popular include Laconnor, Snohomish, Bainbridge, Langley, Squim, Port Townsend, and Lacey.  You may recognize many of the above list as places for your favorite weekend getaways. Why not live there?

Contact me if you find any of these interesting. I go to many of them, and for the ones too far away i can refer you to other Realtors who specialize in working with downsizing buyers.

By the way, can you guess which small town these photos were taken in?

Downtown Bothell: Future Downsizer’s Dream?

Investment Alert!!! Vulcan is doing a project in downtown Bothell. Seattle Times story.

Bothell is determined to re-invent itself and has the talent and will to pull it off. It’s always attracted couples who work on both sides of the lake, has 2 colleges including UW, lots of tech and biomed employment, and with its new riverfront work will attract the downsizers too!
Want to get in on the ground floor but don’t have Paul Allen’s budget? Call me, I know the area and have lots of ideas!

See listings in Bothell:

Houses

Condos and Townhouses

Buy Local in Bellingham

This fascinating article about a community developing its local economy reminded me of Bellingham.

When I speak with downsizers one common question is “Where can I have a similar quality of life for less?” We Seattlites value our older, walkable, gentrified neighborhoods, our maritime climate and proximity to water for boating or the mountains for hiking.  We also enjoy the intellectual stimulation that comes from living in a city that attracts creative types, be they artists or entrepreneurs. So, in a way this question is hard to answer, because there is really NO place just like Seattle.

Bellingham, however is one place that comes close, and at an affordable cost. It offers similar neighborhoods of older homes and view properties, lots of water related activities (it’s very close to the San Juan Islands) and Mt. Baker and the North Cascades wilderness, and it offers the stimulation of a University town.  If you need to escape to a big city, Vancouver BC is a quick drive over the border, or you can hop on Amtrack for a weekend in Seattle.

In October, 2010, the median sales price in Whatcom Co. was $244,500 vs. $350,000 in King county.  Bellingham has it’s share of pricy luxury properties like Seattle, but also offers some very tempting values as well. Here are current Bellingham listings if  you would like to browse for yourself.  If you would like to contact a good agent in Belllingham, I know one, and would be happy to connect you.

Can a Yankee find Retirement Happiness in the South?

Ever thought of moving to the South to retire? Many northwesterners are playing with the idea. The Carolinas, with their warm climates and low cost of living, are very popular destinations now. One of the first concerns that pop up, though, is how big of a cultural leap would it be to live in the South?

Top Retirements.com, a website that’s all about relocating to retire, tackled that very question in this article.  It’s a great read, but the short answer is the cultural adaptations are greater when moving from urban to rural than from North to South. In other words, Northerners who choose a metropolitan area or even a smaller college town will find it much less of an adjustment than if they moved to a rural area.

Point Edwards

The last few days I have been working in Edmonds with some long-time clients. They are thinking that now may be the time to sell the big house and downsize. They will get less for their house than it was before, but they also realize there are some great deals on condos, and at great interest rates it makes sense to think about downsizing. Because they already live in Edmonds, moving downtown seems the most attractive option.

After surveying the recent condo market activity in the Edmonds Bowl, it is obvious that the Point Edwards community is setting the pace in pricing, and the water views and resort-style amenities are unequaled anywhere else in the downtown Edmonds area, or for miles beyond that. The one downside to Point Edwards that I hear from buyers is that it is not a real convenient walk to the downtown shops and restaurants due to distance, hills, and lack of sidewalks.

To be downtown and see all of the older condos there that are steps from everything, makes one wish that Point Edwards and its views were right there. There are some other offerings downtown in new construction and renovated conversions that are priced somewhat competitively, but they just don’t seem to be getting buyers as excited. The rest of the market there is the more traditional downtown Edmonds market of older condos for sale by estates, with some very nostalgic pricing!

CLICK HERE to see downtown Edmonds condo listings.

CLICK HERE to see Edmonds rambler listings

Downtown Edmonds

Downtown Edmonds is one of those places that has attracted downsizers for years. Many only visit downtown Edmonds to use the ferry dock on their way to the Kitsap or Olympic Peninsulas. Those who stick around soon discover the waterfront with its marina, park and fine restaurants where you can enjoy a leisurely meal and soak in the view. The Edmonds Waterfront Festival and the Edmonds Arts Festival attract thousands of visitors every May and June. The rest of the downtown area is highly walkable, and there are small businesses with just about every kind of good or service imaginable, including the historic Edmonds Theatre. In recent years, downtown Edmonds has upgraded its image from a somewhat stuffy “retirement town” to a more hip destination with wine bars, coffee houses and art galleries. The newly renovated Edmonds Center for the Arts in downtown is a jewel that attracts top talent. The Edmonds Third Thursday art walks are one of our favorites.

View real estate is a popular commodity in Edmonds downtown and bowl areas, and there is a good variety of homes from modest ramblers to large new luxury homes in the million dollar plus range. Many of the bowl’s older homes are ramblers with daylight basements, and many of the newer 2 story homes are built with a bedroom and bath on the main level, to enable one-level living as the owners’ needs change.

There are countless condo units from every price range in downtown Edmonds, from vintage buildings from the 1960′s and before, to the gleaming new buildings at Point Edwards, high on the hill above the marina. Due to height restrictions in the zoning, it’s not difficult to find a unit with a view of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the ever-present Edmonds-Kingston Ferry.

Edmonds also has many fine non-view neighborhoods, with lots of ramblers on pleasant streets, as well as a good number of qauality condo and townhouse developments that are reasonably priced.

As for other amenities, just up the Hill on 76th Ave West is the Stevens Hospital Medical Center. Also nearby is Edmonds Community College, as well as three golf courses within a few minutes’ drive. Commuters can easily connect with I-5 and I-405, and Community Transit has express bus service to Downtown Seattle and the University of Washington. The most exciting addition to transportation there is the Sounder commuter train that runs from the downtown waterfront to downtown Seattle, making living in Edmonds even more attractive.

Click here to view Condo listings in Downtown Edmond

Click here to view Rambler listings in Edmonds

Jackson Place Co-Housing Visit

Co-housing is both a way of living and a  kind of housing. Co-housing is preferred by people who prefer to be part of a community with a high degree of interaction, interdependence, and cooperation. For many, their co-housing community is like an extended family. In cohousing, all members are expected to work together in managing the community and maintaining the common areas. Participation in community meals and activities is usually optional, but many find it a convenience that they couldn’t get anywhere else.

If you visit several co-housing communities you will find houses of all sizes and styles: large and small houses, condos, and townhouses.  The buildings are often clustered in one area, leaving another large are of open space to be shared by all members, similar to cottage communities or cluster developments.  In addition to common open space, there is also a common building or area for activities that members share, such as preparing and eating common meals, recreation areas, workshop, studio, or play areas. Buildings in co-housing communities tend to be greener, and built with more durable, longer-lasting materials, and are innovatively designed by their initial occupants.

Recently I visited a friend in Jackson Place, a large community close to downtown in Seattle. I was surprised at the diversity of ages of people living there. I think what surprised me the most was what an ideal place it is for families. When visiting, I entered into the courtyard that is surrounded by the structure and was struck by what a safe place this is for children to play in. Indeed, there are many families there, along with a good number of empty nesting singles and  couples.

The southern part of the complex is townhouse style units, whose back doors all opened to the common courtyard area. The back doors of the units entered to the kitchen area, which most of us consider to be the informal part of the house. It reminded me of my childhood, where friends visited each others’ homes in the back doors, and the front door was the formal entry, used more by more formal visitors who were not as close (or the Fuller Brush man). A 3+ bedroom townhouse unit I visited had a lower level with a formal entry on the street side. Also on the lower level was a room with a bathroom, that could be used as separate living quarters, and rented out. Another option could be a live-work situation, using the street entrance as an entrance for clients or customers. The main level was the living areas with a half bath, and the upper level had 2 more bedrooms plus a den area with a balcony. It seemed like a small space for a family of four, but cohousing spaces tend to be smaller, as a lot of life takes place in common areas.

The northern part of Jackson Place contains apartment style flats above the common areas. In the hallway was posted a cat-stitting schedule, where neighbors post when they will be gone, and other neighbors look after their cats. There was also the front entry lobby, which, of course, gets little use as an entrance because everyone enters from the back entrance! They are considering turning the lobby into a library.

What also struck me is that this complex is unique to any condo complex that I had ever visited, both from how it looked, and how it felt to be there. As my friend showed me around, more unique features came up, including the cat-sitting cooperative, a large workshop for projects, a very nice play area for kids including a tree house, and an on-site pea patch. Already, this has more and better amenities than almost any other condo complex. Then, there’s common dining  area and huge well-equipped kitchen, along with the system of assigning cooking or cleaning tasks for the members who partake in the community meals 3-4 days a week. It was explained to me that to participate, a member had to cook or clean only 3 times a month, nd contribute to the food, and in return could eat 12-16 meals there a week! The only downside it seems could be the amount of time it sometime takes to finish a meal that has turned into a conversation.

There are three communities in  Seattle, a couple in Bothell, Bellingham, and others on Whidbey, Vashon and Bainbridge Islands and in Port Townsend and Indianola near Polsbo. More are being planned. Starting a cohousing community is very labor intensive, according to those who have done it. As anyone who has built a house knows, there are easily over a million decisions involved in the process, and I am only exaggerating a little. Imagine the decisions in building a community with a group of people, using a  consensus decision making process! Apparently it is worth it.

Cohousing has been growing nationally. The best website to find out more is cohousing.org. A rapidly growing sub-group of cohousing is senior housing. The Elder Co-housing website tells more about that.

The local cohousing community is especially energized about the upcoming National Cohousing Conference they are hosting at the University of Washington this June 24-28.

There are two ways to live in co-housing, either get together with a group and found a community and participate in cohousing from the ground up, or buy into an existing one. As good a life as it is, usually units sell by word of mouth to people who are known to existing groups, and occasionally some do get listed on the MLS. For info on listed properties, contact Greg.

Thornton Place…..The New Northgate

Recently I visited Thornton Place, the huge new mixed-use development rising just south of Northgate Mall, in Seattle. It has huge promise as a major destination, combining Condos and Townhouses for sale, rental apartments, a huge IMAX theatre, shops, a retirement village, and the daylighted Thornton Creek weaving through it. See article.

The condo units available now are selling very slowly, the $450/sf pricing probably has something to do with it (Canal Station, a new development in the heart of Ballard has been selling at $400/sf). Although there are no elevators in the condos, combining adjacent parking it is possible for downsizers to have level entry to units on 2 of the levels. The units I saw were efficient and well-designed with lots of environmental-friendly materials, some had views of the creek and its natural landscaping.

Best of all is the synergy for a new neighborhood that comes from quality development on a well-located large piece of land. These neighborhoods are able to define themselves due to the quantity of housing being developed. Add quality retail and the transit station next door, and it becomes a destination itself. In fact. I think we can expect to see a ripple effect in the housing surrounding Thornton Place.

Buyer representation available form DownsizeNW. Contact us and we can set up a tour of Thornton place, or its neighborhood.

AARP Livable Communities Awards

Admitting that you are maybe finally beginning to get “up there” is not easy. However, I find myself running into AARP more often these days in housing issues. So, the last time their membership offer came in the mail, I sent it in. It’s the best $12 I ever spent! I cold go on about all the benefits, but I won’t bore you.

What is fascinating is what AARP has been doing lately in housing research. A recent survey they comissioned showed that of boomers who expect to move for retirement, (21%),  59% will look for a home that’s all on one level, 49% will look for a smaller home, and 50% will look for a newer home.

Their Livable Communities Awards, co-sponsored with the NAHB, shows the detail they get into when working with what makes our homes and communities livable. Go here to see more. By the way, one of the award winners was Vineyard Lane on Bainbridge Island!

Bothell Proceeding with Revitalization Despite Economy

The city of Bothell seems to be surviving the economic slowdown, and is proceeding with its downtown revitalization, including the relocation of two highways. Its strong technology employment base, along with the presence of the UW branch campus. Some projects are done now, and several others are planned. It will be an exciting place to live, and a good place to invest now. Times article.

Bothell’s location has been favored by families who work on both the East Side and Seattle, and the downtown offers both a small-town main-street type atmosphere, and the Bothell landing park along the river is a pleasant place to spend a summer day. Their new urban plan is very well done, especially the way it will blend quality mixed-use development with the Bothell-Everett highway.

Click here to see listings in Downtown Bothell   Houses Condos

San Miguel de Allende…Artist colony, to retirement mecca, to resort?

I remember hearing about San Miguel de Allende in Central Mexico as one of those best-kept-secret cool ex-pat places that very popular with artists and the tourists that like them.  A big part of its popularity is because it is off the beaten path of resort development so common in other areas of Mexico.

Here is a NYTimes article about it’s increasing popularity, and price, due to its new designation as a Unesco World Heratige site. Celebrities are showing up, and the paparizzi have not arrived yet, but may not be far away!

Yakima comes back to life

See the Seattle Times Story about Yakima.

Mexico, with a personal touch

Mexico is a big place, with many opportunities for owning a home or condo for vacations, or part-time or full-time retirement living. Dollars go much, much farther there for everything to everyday goods and services to health care, and real estate too. The best part is it’s a big place, with many opportunities for every budget and lifestyle. The challenge has been finding the best place for you. Until now.

DownsizeNW has recently teamed up with some Re/Max agents who know Mexico…all of it. From the different areas to consider..from beach resort cities to small colonial towns to university towns centers of art and knowledge. They also know the ins and outs of the real estate industry there, from buying new homes or condos from developers, or restored older homes, or building your own, not to mention the legalities of making sure you have good title, and wading through the bureacuracy of buying. They even know how to connect you with buyer’s agents to make sure you are getting the best deal and paying the lowest closing costs.

For more information, or to sign up for one of their local seminars or trips to Mexico, let us know!

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