Hidey-Ho Neighbor!
In one of the latest issues of
Maple Leaf Life, an online blog for Maple Leaf residents, there is a crime report
that is issued on a regular basis by neighborhood members. What I love about this is the sense of civic
responsibility that you find in the Maple Leaf community. Sure, there is crime in any neighborhood, but
in Maple Leaf there is a sense of awareness that is very refreshing. This is a proactive neighborhood that is taking the necessary steps to make their neighborhood a great place for families to live.
Think about this for a minute. Not every neighborhood in Seattle is like this. Maple Leaf has a very great thing going for it: the people that live there. That’s not usually a selling point for most neighborhoods. Usually the highlights are the views, quality of schools, low crime rates, etc. But I’m here to tell you that on top of the usual good news proclaimed about Maple Leaf, there is the hidden value of having really great neighbors.
If it is Seattle real estate that you want, and a great neighborhood to live in, look no further than Maple Leaf Neighborhood in North Seattle.
Roger |
September 20 2012
The latest Freddie Mac rates are in, and another drop has been seen from last week.
The 30-year fixed rate dropped from 3.55 to 3.49 percent, and the 15-year rate, the rate most often
used by investors, dropped from 2.85 percent to 2.77 percent.
What does it all mean? Well, Fall is a time when we historically see a drop in home buying. Add to that
the fact that we are still recovering from the recession and investors and home buyers are still cautious.
This rate drop can be seen as an attempt to once again boost sales and keep the market moving in a
positive direction.
For all of your Seattle real estate needs, turn to Roger J Turner, your Seattle real estate expert.
Roger |
September 15 2012
Did you ever wonder where the Maple Leaf Neighborhood got its name? Often it’s good to know where we’ve come from so we can figure out where we are going. This is no different with a neighborhood. The foundation, if you will, that is laid can lead to long last affects. This is definitely true with Maple Leaf, and most of Seattle.
It’s often good to know where Well, back in the old days, like before Interstate 5, the neighborhood had a lot of Maple Leaf trees, a nursery, and a large orchard. When the neighborhood was first drawn up and platted it was listed as the “Maple Leaf Addition” to the Green Lake Area, and the name stuck. Simple as that. Or is it? There’s also a second story that it was named after the old Maple Saw Mill that operated nearby on Lake Washington. But, best of all, is the story that early in Seattle’s settlement the neighborhood was so far from Pioneer Square and Downtown that early Seattlelites said, “It is so far north it might as well be Canada!” and thus called it “maple leaf” alluding to the Canadian flag.
But there’s a lot more I bet you don’t know about Maple Leaf. Here’s two interesting facts about Maple Leaf:
- One of the highest points in Seattle is in Maple Leaf. At over 500 ft in elevation the point at 91st Street between Roosevelt Way and 5th Avenue is the second highest in the city.
- A pack of wild conure parrots makes their home in Maple Leaf. Splitting time with Seward Park these birds are the descendants of escaped (or released) pets.
Today it is a thriving neighborhood atop the 3rd highest hill in Seattle, and it is home to many restaurants and coffee houses, and a very strong neighborhood council that keeps neighbors informed of happenings community activities.
Roger |
September 13 2012
Not quite neighborhood of the year, but close enough!
The Seattle P.I. recently named Maple Leaf in its Top Ten Next Best Neighborhoods, saying that Maple Leaf offered a more affordable option than some of the other North Seattle neighborhoods.
The PI had this to say about Maple Leaf:
Please — don’t call it Northgate, and don’t call it Ravenna. This low-profile neighborhood is making a name for itself as an affordable alternative to sought-after North Seattle neighborhoods on the other side of Interstate-5.
Maple Leaf
That comes as no surprise to those of us who live and/or work in Maple Leaf. If you are new to Seattle or just looking to live in an up-and-coming neighborhood with great community spirit, take a look at Maple Leaf. Contact me! And I’ll help you move into this great neighborhood before everyone else does!
Freddie Mac just released their latest interest rates for August 30, 2012, and there was a slight change.
For 30-year fixed rates, the numbers dropped from 3.66% last week to 3.59 this week.
For the 15-year rates the numbers dropped from 2.89 last week to 2.86 this week.
What does it all mean? Very little most likely; this is just another slight adjustment as lenders try to find
that perfect balance that will lead to increased activity on the market. The rates had slowly risen over
the past couple weeks and now they are making an adjustment based on the data they have compiled.
If you would like more information on how interest rates will affect you please contact me in the form below:
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Freddie Mac released their latest interest rates and the trend towards slight increases continues.
On a 30-year fixed loan, the rate rose from 3.59% last week to 3.62% this week. On a 15-year loan the rates rose from 2.84% last week to 2.88% this week.
What does it all signify? Chances are we have seen the end of the record-breaking low interest rates. As the real estate market continues to stabilize, rates will rise gradually until a proper balance is found. Where that balance is remains a huge point of speculation.
All economic signs continue to point at a gradual improvement in the market. It remains to be seen, of course, what effect the national elections in November will have on the market, and chances are that we will see hesitancy on the part of investors until the political landscape becomes better defined after November.
However, for the average home buyer, if it makes financial sense, there have been very few times when it was a better time to buy or sell your home. If I can help, or you’d like a free newsletter to be kept up to date on Seattle real estate, please sign up for my newsletter!
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Photo by 401(K) 2012 on Flickr.
Maple Leaf is small, but it has character!
As a Seattle real estate agent, I have come to love the neighborhood that I not only live, but also love helping people buy and sell their homes in. Maple Leaf is a small neighborhood in north Seattle that has tons of character! It is a mostly residential neighborhood that is ideal for people in all stages of life. Close to I-5 and just a few minutes from downtown Seattle or on your commute to Bellevue this neighborhood is close to everything you need to access in your life. Approximately 20,000 people live in this compact yet homey neighborhood.
Today, I want to share two quick reasons I love Maple Leaf!
- Maple Leaf’s sense of community and activism. This is a group of neighbors who understand the
importance of knowing your neighbor and becoming involved in the community.
- The Maple Leaf Life blog! Check out www.mapleleaflife.com. For all of the most up to date news and community spirit there is no better place to turn than Maple Leaf Life.
It’s a short list, I know, but it’s the end of summer (I know, don’t say it, but it’s true!) and I’m excited for our little neighborhood and the many opportunities available to us here! Maple Leaf is a great place to live. If you’re ready to sell your home here or just wanting to take a look around, I’m here to help you. Won’t you drop me a line?
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Beautiful bus mural in Licton Springs
Homes sold in Licton Springs in May and June
Licton Springs (or sometimes called North College Park) is a small neighborhood contained in the Northgate district of North Seattle. With a natural spring (hence the name) at the north end of Licton Springs Park it is a very warm and welcoming neighborhood. It is primarily a residential neighborhood that its wedged between interstate 5 and Aurora avenue.
The following is a list of homes that sold in our Licton Springs Neighborhood recently. Do you wonder what your home is worth? The décor, the features and condition all have a bearing on the price a home will command. I have seen the interiors of most of the homes in this list.
| 9808 Linden Ave N |
$223,000
| 2 |
1 |
700 |
5/10/2012 |
| 8842 Midvale Ave N #A |
$305,000 |
3 |
2 |
1,270 |
05/01/2012 |
| 933 C N 97th St |
$320,000 |
3 |
2.5 |
1,560 |
05/24/2012 |
| 9532 Wallingford Ave N |
$340,000 |
4 |
1 |
1,810 |
05/10/2012 |
| 8521 Interlake Ave N #B |
$358,000 |
3 |
2.25 |
1,550 |
04/27/2012 |
| 9752 Densmore Ave N |
$389,000 |
3 |
1.75 |
2,040 |
05/18/2012 |
If you are selling your home, please let me help you. I would be happy to view your home, prepare a market analysis and discuss the details with you. I can provide you with useful information, such as a sales price that might be realistically expected in today’s market.Sign up now for a free monthly service. You can have Licton Springs home sales e-mailed to you every month. The e-mail will contain all of the homes that sold in Licton Springs for that month.
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Photo courtesy of Dan Cautrell on Flickr.
We’re moving up!
More good news for the Seattle Real Estate was released this week, with King County and Seattle home prices showing significant increases year-over-year. Home sales were on the rise as well, with increasing numbers even as inventory numbers continue to be tight.
Seattle home prices increased 10.4% in April as compared to the same month in 2011, while King County median home prices were up 3% in the same time period. King County home sales were 15% higher than in April of 2011, and total sales in the city of Seattle were up 8%. The vast majority of the market is seeing significant improvements and increasing seller strength, while the greatest gains have been in Seattle and the close-in Eastside.
Far more buyers are participating in multiple-offer transactions this year, as total inventory of Greater Seattle homes for sale is down 38% in the past year, one of the biggest drops we’ve seen in at least a decade. Spring selling season feels a lot like it did five or six years ago, with many aggressive buyers, with the big difference being the lack of quality homes available for sale.
More homebuyers chased slim pickings in King County last month, sending house prices to their highest level since December 2010. The median price of single-family homes sold last month was $360,000, up 9 percent from March and nearly 3 percent from April 2011, according to statistics released Thursday by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. It was the second monthover-month gain in median price. There were 1,769 houses sold in King County last month, 15
percent more than a year earlier.
“We’re at the beginning of the prime selling season, so to see this sort of strength coming out … this is very good news for the industry,” said Glenn Crellin, associate director of research at the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies. Rock-bottom mortgage rates and improving employment have set the stage for a stronger spring homebuying season than a year ago, but what’s on every broker’s lips is inventory. Inventory — the number of houses listed for sale — slid for the ninth month in a row, down 38 percent from a year ago. In April
2010, there were almost twice as many listings.
“The very tight inventory of homes available for sale coupled with the stabilizing prices are probably going to convince some sellers that it’s now safe to come back into the marketplace,” Crellin said.
Baby Boomers handing over the future to their children.
Leaning on the Echo Boomers
The next two decades in housing market trends will depend largely on the Echo Boomers. That’s according to panelists at the “Shifting Demographics and Housing Choice: A Whole New World?” session today during the Realtors 2012 Midyear Legislative Meetings & TradeExpo.
There are approximately 62 million echo boomers in the U.S. Also called “millennials,” echo boomers are currently ages 17-31. According to the 2011 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Younger home buyers – those ages 18-34 – represent 31 percent of all recent home purchases. “We know that although many young people may be delaying home purchases in today’s economic climate, most of them still aspire to homeownership,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “Realtors are committed to ensuring that the dream of homeownership can become a reality for generations of Americans to come.”
“Demography is destiny,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “In that vein, demographics can provide very useful insights into the future of housing and home-ownership, and the results of these reports indicate that certain generational shifts will have a significant impact on the real estate industry over the next two decades.”
NAR Economist Selma Hepp identified several key demographic trends on both ends of the housing age spectrum. The demand for affordable, accessible housing will increase as the 65-and-over population grows; at the same time, as seniors leave their homes and move into assisted living and other arrangements, they will add to the current supply of housing. Because of their sheer size, however, echo boomers will significantly impact the next two decades in housing.
Looking to the future
“Echo boomers represent a long-term opportunity for a housing market recovery, but they are struggling in the current economic crisis,” said NAR’s Selma Hepp. “Consequently, demand for rental housing is likely to climb in the near term.” As a group, the echo boomers are more racially and ethnically diverse than their baby boomer parents. While 65 percent of baby boomers are Caucasian, only 55 percent of echo boomers are Caucasian. Echo boomers are also more likely to be college educated than previous generations, and are remaining single longer.
Glenn E. Crenlin from the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington shared his insights into recent declines in homeownership and whether those declines indicate possible generational trends. “It is worrying that the homeownership rate for those under 35 has fallen more sharply than the rate for older Americans,” said Crenlin. “But I think we need to examine homeownership rates by generation in a more balanced way. Although the Millennial generation does not own homes at the same percentages of those in other generations, many of them are still in the early stages of household formation – in fact, some of them are still in high school.”
What will this mean for Seattle Real Estate? Only time will tell. But, with a flourishing tech industry supported by one of the most educated cities in America we are looking strong for the future of being supported by the echo boomers.
