Sweet Greenwood Listing! Only $449,950!

The location in Greenwood is fantastic -- across from Greenwood Park and just mere steps to anything you could ever want: grocery stores, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops, theater, antique stores, and the other eclectic fun shops in the thriving Greenwood community.
This classic turn-of-the-century Craftsman sits high off the street offering private front porch Olympic Mountain & sunset views. Built in 1911, the owner has taken meticulous care of this home with lots of updates and improvements while leaving the old-world charm and character in tact. Features include original hardwood floors, coved ceilings, fireplace, skylights, period moldings & built-ins. Classic floor plan with 2 bedrooms & brand new full bath upstairs along with a 3rd bedroom/den & full bath on the main floor. The basement has a large finished media room that could be used as a 4th bedroom, rec room, or even a home theater!
Extra unfinished basement space is very clean and currently used as storage but could easily be expanded for additional living space. The immaculate backyard is fully fenced and includes a deck perfect for barbecuing or sipping your morning coffee. A private alley leads to off-street parking for 3+ cars.
All of the systems have been updated and the interior was just freshly painted with designer colors. There is nothing for you to do but move in and enjoy your charming new home!

Click HERE for more photos or for a FLYER!

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Buyers -- What is your Motivation?

There are just 5 short days left to have an accepted contract and still qualify for the $8000 first-time home buyer tax credit or the $6500 credit for qualified current homeowners. I've been surprised that I do not know too many Buyers in the past month that seem motivated to take advantage of this opportunity. Now don't get me wrong, I completely understand that it is more important to find the "right" property then it is to rush just to get the credit, but when you've been looking for many months (some of my Buyers have been in the market for 10 months or more) and have found many great homes that would suit you perfectly but still haven't purchased, I think you really need to sit down and re-evaluate your motivation to buy at all. Are you looking for reasons to talk yourself out of homes that are a good fit? Or are you genuinely looking for that one special gem that is so radically different from everything else you've liked you will absolutely know that it is "the one" the moment you see it? Based on all the homes you've seen is this a realistic possibility? It may be, but are you sure you're not subconsciously sabotaging your home purchase by continually finding reasons NOT to buy? Instead of looking for reasons TO buy?

If you're a home buyer that has been in the market for a while now and has seen more than 50 homes, stop and ask yourself the above questions. What are you really waiting for or looking for? Interest rates will likely never be this low again in our lifetime, and Seattle prices are back down to 2004-2006 levels (depending on location and price points), AND the US government is willing to give you $8000 to buy a home!?!! It really isn't going to get any better than this folks. Trust me!
So you home buyers that have been "on the fence" for many months...I say get out there and start looking for reasons TO buy and stop looking for reasons NOT to buy!

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New rules will help distressed homeowners to purchase again in the future.

This may be very good news for homeowners who have lost their home due to financial troubles either through foreclosure or a short sale. As it stands right now, these people have to wait a minimum of 4 years before they are eligible to qualify for a new mortgage. Fannie Mae has announced that it is relaxing this 4+ year waiting period to a minimum of 2 years if the Buyer can come up with a 20% down payment or 10% down and can show the hardship was directly attributable to extenuating circumstances.
Buyers will also have to have standard qualifying credit scores, which likely means quickly getting their credit back into shape if it has been significantly damaged from the financial hardship. The new rules are scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2010.

So I guess the bottom line is that if you're a homeowner who has lost your home through financial hardship and you can get to work asap on saving for a 20% down payment and repairing your credit, you may be able to once again own a home in just 2 short years! Hey, it's not perfect but it's better than having to wait 4-5 years! :)

From another point of view, hopefully this will not cause more foreclosures or short sales by encouraging people to simply "walk away" from their upside down mortgages since the repercussions are now less severe. Hmm...

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Flash Mob Alert!

An estimated 1,000 people took part in this fun Glee flash mob on Saturday in downtown Seattle. How fun is that?!!

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Greenwood-Phinney April Art Walk

It's the 2nd Friday of the month again already! Sheesh does time ever fly!?! I love hosting the monthly neighborhood art walk at the office. I've met a ton of fabulous neighbors and business owners and am absolutely excited about being a part of the Greenwood-Phinney community!

This month we are featuring a very talented good friend of mine. He has some extremely unique pieces including a full wall tape mural and this piece that has real ladybugs! (Don't worry, they were dead before he got them...no ladybugs were harmed in the creation of this art!)

We'll be having the usual wine, cheese, a few beers, music and good conversation. Please stop by and say hello and check out Michael's lovely art!

Friday, April 12th from 6-9pm
Rockwell Realty
8315 Greenwood Ave N

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Re-Branding Rockwell Realty!

For the past 9 months or so we have been hard at work on a very special company re-brand for Rockwell Realty. With the help of Horsepower Design, we are very excited to be nearing the launch! This is our new for sale sign! Isn't it pretty? :) The cityscape mosaic represents our goal of having offices in "urban villages" throughout the city as well as abstractly showing our "Connected to Community" theme with the connecting lines. At Rockwell we are highly committed to being an active part in our communities through both monetary donations and personal involvement. About 4 years ago I moved over to the Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood in Seattle and absolutely love it! Both living and working in this neighborhood have allowed me to really feel like I am part of a community. I love it and just keep getting more involved and meeting more of my home & business neighbors everyday! Have I mentioned that I love it?! ;)

You may still see some remnants of the old Rockwell logo floating around with for sale signs, business cards, etc. but these are all being phased out asap. We are very excited about the direction and focus of the company and being "Connected to the Community".

Please feel free to stop in and visit us for an upcoming monthly art walk! The 2nd Friday of every month is the Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk from 6-9pm. Each month we showcase a new up and coming local artist and kick back and relax with some wine, cheese, and sometimes even live music! For a real estate office, how cool is that?!! Our Greenwood office is located at 8315 Greenwood Ave N, oh-so dangerously close to the chocolate shop! :)

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Amazing Views from this Fremont Treehouse! Just Listed for $520,000

I just listed this beauty of a townhouse in the heart of Fremont. Very hip & modern with outstanding mountain, city and territorial views and at 1776 sqft of finished space, is much larger than other new construction townhomes. Includes a fantastic top floor master suite. Owner completed $40K worth of custom upgrades. Bamboo hardwoods with hydronic in-floor heating throughout. Custom built-in bookshelf, designer tile, custom lighting, cherry cabinets, doors & trim. Quick walk to restaurants, parks, Burke Gilman trail, nightlife, & everything Fremont has to offer. Welcome home to the Center of the Universe! Click for Flyer or More Info

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March Art Up Greenwood-Phinney

It's that time of the month again! When we all love to wander the neighborhood looking at beautiful works of art in all different types of media and style.
This month we are proud to be featuring a very talented artist by the name of Jenny Gini.

"Expressions" by Jenny Gini -- Paintings focus mostly on women's faces or figures in both realistic and surrealistic depiction. In her large graphic portraits, the intrigue lies in the moody and mysterious expressions she captures: snapshot scenes intrigued the viewer with not only what they see but what is not seen. Her figurative work is often an optical illusion that morphs into the form of a flower or a surreal landscape creating two images in one.

Please stop by and say "hello" and enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling cider with us!
Friday, March 12th from 6-9pm

8315 Greenwood Ave N.

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New Listing in Meadowbrook!

I just listed this very comfortable and convenient home in Meadowbrook. It is quite affordable at only $265,000 and a very easy commute to downtown Seattle, UW, or the East Side. And unlike most comparable new construction, this one has ALL of the appliances included and custom window shades as well...bonus! 1370 sqft of finished livable space plus an additional 200 sqft garage. It has 3 bedrooms, and 2.5 bathrooms (one on each level). There is a fenced yard space perfect for a patio, pets, or gardening.
More information can be found HERE.

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New Seattle School Maps

Seattle Public Schools has released their recommended attendance maps. These maps show the schools to which students will receive an initial assignment, based on their address. You can look up your school's boundary map here.

For more information about the new Student Enrollment Plan for Seattle Public Schools, you can find the complete plan here.

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Backyard Cottages Citywide!

The Seattle City Council unanimously voted yesterday to allow backyard cottages on all eligible lots in the city. The backyard "cottage" was originally restricted to just Southeast Seattle where it was approved in 2006.
Council member Sally Clark said "This is a smart and modest step to create affordable housing options, help someone pay their mortgage, get older on their property, or to make room for a son or daughter moving back home."

The backyard cottages are limited to 800 square feet in size and are prohibited on lots smaller than 4,000 square feet or in a Shoreline District. The owner must live at the property for at least 6 months out of the year. The 5-foot setbacks are still in effect and the total lot coverage of structures is limited to 35%. Also, homes that currently have an attached ADU (accessory dwelling unit) are not eligible for a backyard cottage.

For more information the entire bill can be found here.

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More Condos Slated for Auction

Three more Seattle area condominium projects just announced they'll be selling units at an auction on Dec. 5th. Seattle Property Auction will be handling the sale taking place at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle at 1:00pm on December 5th.

The three communities will be available to tour daily from 11am - 5pm starting today until the day before the auction.

Avaview Condominium - 9056 Mary Avenue NW
Six of the eleven 1 & 2 bedroom homes with minimum bids will begin at $150,000.
More Auction Info.

Sunrise on the Lake - 13426 Greenwood Avenue N
Sixteen of the thirty-nine homes at Sunrise on the Lake will be up for Auction with minimum bids starting at $125,000.
More Auction Info.

The Summit - 900 Summit Ave E
All 14 homes at this newly remodeled complex in Capital Hill will be up for auction. Mimimun bids for these 1 and 2 bedroom homes will begin at $140,000.
More Auction Info.

*****Again, all three communites are open and available to tour daily from 11am - 5pm starting today through Dec. 4th. The auction is scheduled to take place at 1pm on Saturday, Dec. 5th, 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle.

More information can be found here: www.SeattlePropertyAuction.com

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Halloween Safe Trick-or-Treat in Greenwood

Please come visit us on Halloween (Sat, Oct. 31) from noon until 3pm! We'll be at our Greenwood office handing out treats as part of the neighborhood safe trick-or-treating. We also still have some fantastic art on the walls from Jamie Farage that is available for sale and is very fitting for this time of year! Hope to see you there!

Rockwell Realty
8315 Greenwood Ave N
Sat, Oct. 31st, 12-3pm

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Tax Credit Extended! *ALMOST!*

Senators agreed yesterday to extend the popular tax credit giving first-time homebuyers up to $8000. The plan was set to expire at the end of November, but the new proposal will extend it to buyers who are "in written contract" on a home by April 30th, 2010, and they have until June 30th to close the transaction. Now to clear up some confusion, nothing has been signed around yet so it is not quite official even though Senators have agreed.

In addition to first-time homebuyers, the program is now proposed to be opened up to repeat buyers who have owned their home for at least 5 years. The credit would be slightly reduced for repeat buyers at a maximum of $6500.
Opening it up to other buyers besides just first-timers is a great move and will hopefully help to stimulate some other price points a bit.

And just in case you still don't know what all of this is about, here's the cute video again that explains it! Enjoy!

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Viaduct Earthquake Simulation

I find the timing of the release of this video to be a bit questionable. With just a week to go before we go to the polls to cast our votes for Seattle's new mayor, this video might be accused of being political propaganda since the two candidates differ greatly on the big decision of rebuilding the viaduct or replacing it with a massive tunnel.



The general public may also be a bit misled since this video shows a good portion of downtown completely unscathed by such a massive earthquake (with the exception of a few broken windows), which we should all know wouldn't be the exact outcome. I realize the point of the video is to simulate what would happen to the seawall and the viaduct, but if you're not going to accurately depict what would happen to other buildings and areas of downtown that are built on top of "fill", then perhaps they should be left out of the video all together?

I also wonder...how would the proposed tunnel fare in such a quake?

Either way, not something us Seattlelites like to think about! Especially since most of us do NOT have any earthquake insurance! :)

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Foreclosures by State - Are Things Really Improving?

The Associated Press has released a great interactive map that charts the home foreclosure rate in all 50 states, every month from July 2005 until Sept. 2009. Take a look here.

In looking at this, it makes me question all of the media and hype that keep saying things are back on the upswing. Really? As far as Seattle goes, I feel like we have some specific neighborhoods and price points that are doing well, some multiple offer situations even, but overall I still think we have a long ways to go to be truly "recovered". Although if you look at the breakdown by "city" for Sept. '09, Seattle is faring much better than other major cities at 1 foreclosure for every 799 homes. Vegas on the other hand is 1 in 50, and the median average is 1 in 595 homes for the cities listed.

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Rockwell Realty is gettin' a new look!

We've been hard at work for the last few months on a new "brand" and identity over here at Rockwell Realty. Thanks to the folks over at Horsepower Design for their patience with us and their creativity helping us come up with a top notch brand!

We'll be unveiling the new look very soon, but just know that when a lot of real estate companies are tightening their belts and cutting back in this tough economy, we are striving to provide the best experience possible for both agents and clients alike.

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New FHA Condo Guidelines Delayed

I just received news that the FHA condominium approval changes that was originally scheduled to go into effect on October 1st, but was then delayed to Nov. 7th, has once again been delayed until Dec. 7th?!

The letter from HUD states:

"Implementation of FHA’s new policy guidance for condominium project approval and condo unit financing will be delayed until December 7th 2009. The new guidance, to be issued within the next two weeks, will: 1) offer additional leniencies to address the difficult market conditions and 2) augment some portions of FHA Mortgagee Letter 2009-19, providing additional information and clarification."

This is very good news! It seems someone is finally realizing how these changes have the ability to kill an already struggling condo market.

Hopefully in 2 weeks I will have more details to report! Until then, let's just sit tight and cross our fingers that the changes will help enough! And for at least a little while longer...the "spot approval" still exists!

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"Girls on the Run" Needs Running Buddies

Puget Sound's chapter of "Girls on the Run" is looking for volunteers to serve as Running Buddies for this year's 5K.

I'm a volunteer coach at Greenwood Elementary School this year and it is a blast! Please come join us in this year's 5K on Saturday, Dec. 12th -- it's non-competitive and you'll be helping an 8-11 yr old girl learn to live healthy and have a positive self image as she completes her first 5K, and we bet you'll have just a little bit of fun doing it too!

If you'd like to learn more about the program or other volunteer opportunities, please feel free to contact me (Stephanie) or go to the website: www.girlsrun.org

Running Buddies Needed

Fun & Inspiring Volunteer Opportunity!

Inspire, empower and have fun! Running Buddies are female volunteers who are paired one-on-one with a girl from the program to run/walk with her during the practice 5k and the New Balance Girls on the Run 5k. This volunteer opportunity is a low time commitment and highly rewarding!!! More info and how to sign up is available here.

We are still looking for 13 Running Buddies at the following program sites:

• Hiawatha Community Center, W. Seattle - 5 spots
• Old Redmond Schoolhouse, Redmond - 1 spot
• Pathfinder School, W. Seattle - 6 spots
• Thorndyke Elementary, Tukwila - 1 spot

New Balance Girls on the Run 5k

Save the Date!

Saturday, December 12th 10:00am @ Seward Park

Come out to join GOTRPS for fun-filled community run/walk! This is the graduation event for our fall program participants and is open to community members. Men, women, girls, boys, small children in strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome to participate! For more event info and registration click here.

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These Times They Are A-Changing!

Oh yes, these times they will be a-changing! And hopefully for the better! It's been a long road to this history-making election, and quite honestly I am thankful that it is finally over. So much time, money, and energy is put into the campaigns that I think the government and the American public get too wrapped up in it all which makes moving forward difficult at times. We fear we are in a state of flux and the unknown and therefore do not always make movements or actions. I am hopeful now that progress can and will be made towards fixing the mess our country is in right now.

Onto bigger and better things and the change this country needs! We will once again be not only stable but prospering and happy in a united country once more. We can do it...."Yes We Can!"

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