Even though my blog’s main topic is Seattle Real Estate, I’d like to venture away from home sales, marketing information, and my own opinions for a moment to share with you my newest feature. Each month, I’m going to be posting at least one article about a local home, sharing with you ideas for design and décor from some of the Seattle area’s most interesting (at least to me!) homes. To kick things off, I decided to begin with some amazing holiday decorations from the Bothell home of Vickie and Jim Kahlke. Each year, Vickie starts early and fills her home with creative and wonderful decorations for all of her guests to see at her legendary Christmas Eve feast. This year her home was filled with beautifully decorated trees and she turned her dining room into a snowflake-filled winter won... 12/28/2008

If you're trying to sell Bellevue Washington real estate, you should probably know that while it's important to put time and effort into the interior, the exterior requires even more attention to detail. As a matter of fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that exterior remodeling actually has a larger return on investment than that of interiors. Considering Bellevue Washington real estate buyers are few and far between, it makes sense that a buyer's attention needs to be grabbed instantly if there is any hope for a sale. This isn't to say that it's all about exterior curbside appeal when it comes to Bellevue Washington real estate. After all, those same statistics also show that taking the time to remodel bathrooms, kitchens and interior rooms have a seventy percent ... 12/10/2008

My oldest son Chandler, began playing junior football this year and I'm VERY excited that he's a Viking at my alma mater Inglemoor High School.  The Inglemoor Junior Football league is part of the Greater Eastside Junior Football Association and the love they have for one man runs very deep!Duane Ranstrom who was a coach and long time member of the extremely close knit family of football suffered a life threatening condition on June 7, 2008.  His heart suddenly stopped while watching his sons indoor arena football game.  He was deprived of oxygen for some time and is now in a persistive vegetative state.  Duane is only 44 years old!!!  In addition to his love of football, he was a member of the Circuit Riders, a country gospel band, and through his music he shared his faith with so many... 08/22/2008

As I'm sure you may have heard, both Countrywide and Paramount Equity, two very large lenders in the area, have been accused of predatory lending practices. It is important to remember that when dealing with large sums of money you should always use someone you know and trust. If you do not know of any lenders, I strongly recommend Amy O'Brien from Coulombe and Evered LLC. You can contact her at: Amy O'Brien: 425-462-6572 (Direct) or amyo@cehomeloans.com On a Personal Note My family and I certainly wish that summer weather lasted all year.  We simply can't get enough.  Consequently we've tried to get as much sun in as possible this last month.  First we purchased and installed a hammock for sun bathing on our bedroom balcony as an anniversary gift to each other (Bamboo fountain to follo... 08/13/2008

In a recent meeting University of Washington President Mark Emmert announced plans to expand capacity at several campuses including the University of Washington – Bothell.  Under the current plan, the UW Bothell would go from 1,900 to 3,800 students by the year 2017. This announcements come after plans for the construction for a University of Washington campus in Everett have failed to come together.  The primary reason for the failure was a debate over a location for a new school. Randy Hodgins the University of Washington Director of State Relations points out that increasing the size of the student body will also help the area students by giving them more academic choices. "They aren't quite able to offer the same array of programs and majors that, say, the Seattle campus is able to... 07/22/2008

I apologize for being delinquent in maintaining this blog.  I will certainly be more attentive from this point forward...   June... June is finally here! The Mariners are sucking it up and the weather is a little confused. But there is always good news. Summer will be here before we know it and we'll have to have warmer weather, with global warming and all. On a Personal Note . IT'S A GIRL!!! . We are currently 21 weeks along proud to say it's a girl.  After a lot of thought we've decided to name our baby girl Kealia after a beach on the East shore of Kauai just North of Kapaa.  The area used to be a sugar plantation (go figure) with a train  depot and interisland "Steamer" port.  Today, with all the development on the island, the area is home to the only significant dunes on the windwa... 06/20/2008

Welcome Home to Bothell Bothell is a wonderful community approximately 15 miles Northeast of Seattle.  The city offers several major employers, a variety of housing options, plenty of outdoor activities and a "small-town feel".   Bothell Employers  The major employers in Bothell include AT&T Wireless, ATL Ultrasound, Washington Mutual, Brooks, Matsushita, Icos, Phillips, and The Seattle Times. Bothell Homes Whether you are looking for new homes, acreage, condos, or your first home Bothell has a large variety of housing options.  If you would like to discuss the area and housing options, feel free to contact medirectly.  The median home price for the area is $424,950. The median income is $62,500.  The median home price is approximately $50,000 lower than in Seattle, and the median incom... 04/14/2008

Doyle Chiropractic in Bothell/Kenmore. Very good chiropractor and these are my reasons.    I have been using chiropractic care for about 20 years. I have been a patient of about 6 different Chiropractors. When I was a teenager I didn't know what I should expect of chiropractic care, but now that I am paying my own bills and have had many different chiropractors I have found one that stands out above all of the rest. Dr. David Doyle and his staff are very friendly and helpful. I am not just a number there. I usually have 2 or 3 people each visit ask me how my daughter and wife are. They greet me by name as soon as I walk in the door (even if I pop in without an appointment)  and within minutes I am back on a massage table waiting for my time with Dr. David.   In my past experiences with ... 03/19/2008

Seattle Suburb New Construction Buyers: Now is definitely a great time to be a qualified buyer! The North Seattle Suburbs have some amazing real estate and wonderful deals!  New construction in  the Seattle area has never been so well priced as builders try to move inventory.  In addition to having a larger supply to choose from while shopping for a brand new house, today's buyer can also rake in some other buyer perks...I have seen many extras being thrown in from closing costs to plasma TVs as builders try to sweeten the deal.  I sold one new house where I was able to get full landscaping upgrades for my buyers in addition to the other perks the builder was already offering.  It can be tempting, BUT......you have to look at price alone.The most important thing I try to get across to b... 03/16/2008

Greater Edmonds Washington State Chamber of Commerce Information: Thank you for visiting my blog. Below you will find the address, phone number and a link to the official website for the Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce. Please feel free to contact me for any additional information that you may require for any other Chamber of Commerce in the area or for any real estate relate question or concern. My website, http://www.washingtonrealestatepage.com/, has multiple pages of information including other Chambers of Commerce through out Snohomish County and FREE MLS real estate searches for homes and land for sale in each city located in Snohomish County or all of Washington State. My Contact Info: Bob Chapman - Associate Broker, Windermere Real Estate/Lake Stevens, Inc.E-Mail: bobchapman... 11/26/2007

Greater Bothell Washington State Chamber of Commerce Information: Thank you for visiting my blog. Below you will find the address, phone number and a link to the official website for the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce. Please feel free to contact me for any additional information that you may require for any other Chamber of Commerce in the area or for any real estate relate question or concern. My website, http://www.washingtonrealestatepage.com/, has multiple pages of information including other Chambers of Commerce through out Snohomish County and FREE MLS real estate searches for homes and land for sale in each city located in Snohomish County or all of Washington State. My Contact Info: Bob Chapman - Associate Broker, Windermere Real Estate/Lake Stevens, Inc.E-Mail: bobchapman... 11/23/2007

I was looking at the BRIO homes for sale, and noticed a few things the agents could do to improve the photos in the mls.  The 3 bedrrom Brookwood Place Townhome in Bothell was one that caught my attention. With properties sitting on market longer than usual since the middle of July, presentation of photos and condition of property has become ten times more important now than over the past 2-3 years. One of the advantages of having a Broker who also sells real estate, is the Broker can help you stage your properties and give you a few pointers so you can stage your own properties, rather than just taking photos in "as is" condition in the future.  Training is more than showing you which forms to use when it sells.   Training should be about how to get it sold. Jeremy Keener picked me up ... 10/08/2007

CITY OF BOTHELL 18305 101st Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011-3499 For Immediate ReleaseSeptember 27, 2007   Contact: Joyce GoedekePublic Information OfficerCity of Bothell 425.489.4871425.471.3483 cell joyce.goedeke@ci.bothell.wa.us City of Bothell Honored by Gov. Gregoire: 2007 Governor's Smart Communities Award Recipient Bothell, Wash. - Governor Gregoire presented a 2007 Governor's Smart Communities Award to the City of Bothell at an Olympia reception last night honoring statewide winners for creating livable communities. The City of Bothell is recognized in the Smart Choices Award - Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan category for its Capital Facilities Plan, a seven-year comprehensive financial plan and needs assessment that identifies and prioritizes funding for capital improvement pr... 10/06/2007

CITY OF BOTHELL 18305 101st Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011-3499 For Immediate ReleaseOctober 2, 2007   Contact: Joyce GoedekePublic Information OfficerCity of Bothell 425.489.4871425.471.3483 cell joyce.goedeke@ci.bothell.wa.us City of Bothell's Safe Halloween is coming:Trick-or-Treat on Main Street Bothell, Wash. - The City of Bothell invites the community to join in the Safe Halloween fun on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Bothell's Main Street merchants will open their doors from 5 to 7 p.m. to provide a safe, easy, and candy-filled way to celebrate Halloween. All activities are free unless otherwise noted. Main Street will be closed from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Traffic will be diverted in and around this area. For those interested in celebrating Halloween earlier in the evening, Safe Halloween will also t... 10/06/2007

Bothell homes are as diverse as they are affordable.  From quaint, manufactured houses to enormous, elegant mansions, buyers will always be able to find a Bothell home they love. Couples employed in two different cities will find Bothell homes to be located perfectly for any commute.  Even the quietest Bothell home is just a short drive from Interstate 405, the direct route to bustling Kirkland and Bellevue.  Redmond, the home of Microsoft, is only eighteen minutes away, and Seattle is just over a twenty minute drive.  The community also provides ample opportunity to live, shop, and work right within the city limits.  The Canyon Park neighborhood, for example, is a thriving business district boasting restaurants, shops, and some of the town's largest employers.  Historic downtown Bothel... 10/06/2007

If you have been thinking about selling your home in Bothell or even considering purchasing a home, make sure you get some facts about the current real estate market. You will need some key stats that will let you see what is moving and how long it is taking for homes to sell. On the flip side- if you are planning on making a purchase, these stats can help you determine how long homes are sitting in an area. Homes that average a long time on market may have a motivated seller that cannot wait. Receiving an offer that is lower than the asking price but still a reasonable offer may tip the scales in your favor in that situation.There are four price points in Bothell with the most home sales year to date. With 282 homes sold the $400,000-$449,999 price point has been the stellar performer ... 09/17/2007

The beautiful City of Bothell is approximately 12 miles northeast of Seattle, also known as the Eastside because it is on the east side of Lake Washington.  The great thing about Bothell is it is centrally located with a 20 minute drive to Bellevue, Redmond, or Lynnwood and 20-30 minutes to downtown Seattle or Everett for great shopping, restaurants and entertainment including cultural enrichment, The Mariners, The Seahawks, Seattle Center and the EMP to name a few.  Just under two hours you are in the mountains for skiing and about an hour puts you on some great fishing rivers.  The city of Bothell is a great family community with summer events like Music in the Park and Movie in the Park.  These events are held at a a wonderful park, Bothell Landing, where kids can play on the climber... 08/21/2007

By Brian Perry, Eastside RealtorThis Friday's did you know is a bit differen't.  This is a tribute to the city of Bothell's very own American Idol, Blake Lewis!  Blake was this years runner up on everybody's favorite show American Idol.. so about Blake, did you know?  These fast facts were provided by FOX.  You can read more about Blake Lewis here.Blake Lewis: Age: 25Hometown: Bothell, WAAudition City: SeattleVoted off: May. 23rdFavorite male pop artists?Robbin Thicke, Jamaroqui, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, U2, Gnarls Barkley, Half Past Forever, Michael Jackson, Prince, Sting, Eric Benet, Martin Sexton, Duncan Sheik, M-PactFavorite female pop artists?Bjork, Fiona Apple, Imogen Heap, Estmerd, Jill Scott, Tori Amos, Ella Fitzgerald, SadeWhen did you first start to sing?Age 5Do you have any form... 05/25/2007

  Sometimes a neighborhood just feels right.  Not to big, not too small, just right. Sort of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Ha! Verdera in Bothell is one of those communities that exudes that atmosphere.  Completed in 2006 this neighborhood  contains homes that have smaller backyards (read low maintenance) and good sized homes.  This would be a great location for small families and young professionals just starting out.  Located off of 35th Ave SE and 162nd St, near Mill Creek. The construction quality is great, and most homes have all the high technology built right in.  There is a community playground, and a fairly large field to make up for smaller backyards.  Families will get to know each other by socializing and having the little ones play in a safe area very near the resid... 05/05/2007

The Highlands at Canyon Park is a Bothell community graced with sidewalks, excellent landscaped homes and a quiet atmosphere.  Located southeast of the Canyon Park shopping area, it is an friendly community with great freeway access.  The homes are primarily 2 story structures but ramblers can be found scattered in the neighborhood.  Cedar shake roofs are found on most homes. School age residents in this neighborhood attend the highly desirable Northshore School District. 05/04/2007