New Communities

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

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.

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

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!

Are gas prices downsizing suburbia?

A quick look at what is selling these days points strongly to in-city properties. Agents in in-city offices are busy, and their counterparts in suburban areas are just the opposite. Many buyers I talk to lately are concerned about gas prices, and are making the decision to locate in-city in a smaller home, rather than locate in larger homes farther out and put up with expensive commutes.

This is also making city planners who favor smart growth in infill urban areas very happy. The Wall Street Journal just did an article and video about efforts in Sacramento to promote pedestrian-friendly development.

Many in suburban areas who would like to relocate in closer are faced with a difficult decision: sell now at what seem to be too-low prices (compared to a year ago), or wait for values in the suburbs to go up again. It is a difficult decision, but one thing is for sure, in-city prices do not seem to be falling right now, making that decision more difficult.

A bright spot for the ‘burbs, though, is that smart growth development is taking place or planned in some of them. Some nearby towns and cities including Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Kenmore, and Bothell in the north, and Renton, Burien, Kent, Auburn, and Puyallup in the south, have plans underway for high density urban areas with a full range of services and walkable neigborhoods, all connected by amazingly efficient rail or bus service to major employment areas, especially downtown Seattle. This provides the combination of urban amenities and lifestyle combined wth small town living, within an easy bus or rail commute to work, and a relatively affordable price.

Get Your Neighborhood’s Walk Score

Along with the trends toward higher density and smaller households comes the new word “walkability”. Every urban agent knows that how close a property is located to stores, shops, restaurants, libraries, parks and especially coffee shops has a lot to do with its value, with the highest prize going to the properties that are a pleasant short walk from those amenities.

Now you can get your neighborhood’s walkability by the numbers at Walkscore.com

Update: The buzzword is growing legs…more about walkability here.

New Communities

When I talk to empty-nesters, many are looking for similar things: smaller, more manageable homes, easy access to our urban areas and attractions, safe neighborhoods, protected property values, urban village conveniences in easy walking distance. In many instances, I or one of my partners can help them find what they are looking for in many of our existing neighborhoods in the Puget Sound Region.

Now, there are some interesting new options to existing neighborhoods. In the Puget Sound area, several sites have become available that are large enough to create entire new neighborhoods with their own flavor and sense of place, some complete with shops and other amenities. Many of these are in spectacular settings, as they were formerly waterfront industrial sites from the old smokestack days of Puget Sound!

One that comes to mind first is Point Edwards, next to downtown Edmonds. It is in it’s final phase now, and has been a great success.

Another example is Suncadia off I-90 just over Snoqualmie Pass, on the dry side of the mountains. It’s focus is golfing and outdoor activites surrounded by the splendor of the Cascades, as well as the splendor of some outstanding architecture by some of the Northwest’s premier builders.

On the waterfront in Everett is the Port Gardner Wharf.

A similar project is getting underway in Tacoma on Point Ruston.