What does this mean?  The Case Shiller 10-city index looks at home prices by tracking home values not home sales to come up with their index.  Some consider it a more accurate measurement of the housing market. The ten cities that make up the 25% loss are some of the most depressed in the country. That's why the bad headline.The Seattle market is down a modest 10.2 percent for the year.  Overall, this puts prices back to March of 2004.    I see this index bottoming out mid 2009 which would put prices down another 1-2% before prices level out and later start to rebound.  01/07/2009

I apologize for making you go someplace else to read this post.  But it's long and it took a lot of time and Google doesn't like it when I cut and paste from one site to another. I think it is an important read for every agent and anyone who has anything to do with mls systems and how they function. Thank you for taking the time.  Open Letter to NWMLS and Local Agents   01/03/2009

It's a sure sign of the Holidays. The 2008 Christmas Ship Festival has begun on the waterways of Puget Sound. This year the lighted up ships will sail past 45 water front communities. This is the 59th year for the Christmas Ship Festival.   The Argosy Christmas Ship™ festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for 59 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season. From our flotilla of ships to the crowds of people who gather onshore, this celebration is one of the gems of the holiday season.   Each night, from Saturday November 29 through December 23rd, the Argosy Christmas Ship™ sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, over 45 in total. Choirs onboard sing 20-minute performances to these communities, all ... 11/29/2008

Here it is just a few days before the end of November and hours until Thanksgiving. My words of Gratitude and Thanks are shallow compared to what others have written. We all have things that we are Thankful for. For most of us it is Family, Health, Security and normal everyday Joys. Each of us have things that we should be Thankful for, but don't fully realize it or understand what it is we have. Things like Schools, Due Process, Our Constitutional Rights and the ability to be whoever or whatever we want in life. It may be best to sit alone quietly for a few minutes tomorrow and reflect back on all the good that has touch our lives in the past year and to look forward to all the good that we will be able to carry to others in the coming year. Giving Thanks should be a private personal p... 11/26/2008

Sunday November 16th 2008 beginning at The Marina Pavilion at Marina Park (25 Lakeshore Plaza Kirkland WA) will take place to raise money for HopeLink, a local charity. This is a family friendly 5k (3 mile) walk that goes along Lake Washington from Marina Park and ending at Carillon Point. There will be Live Music, Food and Beverages prior to the walk. For more information and to register go to Hopelink's Firstgiving page Event Details Walk-up registration begins at 12:00pm. The Turkey Trot begins at 1:00pm. The route is along the waterfront from Marina Park to Carillon Point Date: Sunday, November 16. Live music and food and beverages before the walk! $20 per person. Families or teams of four or more can walk at a discounted rate of $15 per person. Strollers and anything on four legs i... 11/16/2008

Henry Ford and Benjamin Franklin were both considered geniuses. What did they listen to the most? Their imagination! Only when you learn to listen to your imagination can you find the things no one else can see. I'm reading a book right now that talks about making mental maps of what your thoughts are, and using them to help you achieve the impossible. When you build mental maps, you can change them anyway you want in your mind until you have the outcome you desire. Great imaginations equate to ingenious solutions. 11/07/2008

I am getting agressive about expired and canceled listings. I want to get them to re-list with me. In order to do that I have a 8x8 Campaign that I have just started to do. I will track the results and post them here at the end of each week for the next 6 weeks. Here is my 8x8 Plan Day 1 -- Phone call to introduce myself. Also mail a Letter. Include a TrendGraphix Report for their Zip Code Day 2 -- Phone call to ask for an appointment. Also mail a letter Day 3 -- Phone call to check the received my letter and ask for the lsiting Day 4 -- Letter Only Day 5 -- Phone call to ask for their business Day 6 -- Letter Only Day 7 -- Phone call to ask for their business Day 8 -- Phone call to ask for their business, referrals and let them know you will put them on your 33 Touch Campaign. Look for... 10/27/2008

Here is a quick look at the average price per square foot of homes and condos in Kirkland for the last two years. The chart starts off at $305.61 per square foot in October 2006, then peaks at $350.38 per square foot in the May 2007. As of September 2008 the price is $294.65 per square foot.     If you would like to more about home price trends in a particular area, feel free to contact me. Posted By: Tony MeierEastside & Seattle RealtorEastsideHomesBlog.comEastsideHomes.comSeattle's Eastside Real Estate Resourcetony@eastsidehomes.com 10/27/2008

I am taking a break from working on updating my real estate website and soaking up a little Vitamin D....huh How many of you work from home and find yourself starting the day at 7am, head straight to your computer with a cup of coffee and dwell right into the endless daily to to list...Then before you know it, it is almost 4pm in the afternoon and you haven't exercised, eaten lunch or get your butt off of the chair to take a break?  Oh well, the pros and cons of being self employed. 10/22/2008

Great Home in Kirkland Washington  for rent 1595.00 offer by-  RD House Real Estate & Property Management 206-728-6063 Do you ever feel you listing is under a glass and know one can touch it but you!   Not all rentals houses ARE equal come see why/ remodel to perfection 1595.00 This home is located 14 miles across Lake Washington from Seattle- and just not renting It's not because it's not being shown- This home has upgrade everywhere hardwood floors s/s appliances Gas Two cars covered parking view of Lake Washington An Apple tree two nice bedroom up stairs and one remodel bath Basement can be third bedroom or play room with fireplace with a remodel bath and washer and dryer Rent 1595.00 Security1095.00 Small Dog Ok under 20 lbs Yard is not fenced- but very nice level yard- this home wo... 09/24/2008

Kirkland, WA Home market statistics - Residential            2- Bedrooms          3 Bedrooms          4 Bedrooms          5+ Bedrooms          All Bedrooms          Active     #Units 40 228 268 87 623       Average List Price $889,956 $869,305 $1,045,947 $1,455,349 $1,028,457       Average Market Time 112 83 109 134 103       Average Square Feet 1726 2205 3050 3939 2780            All Off Market     #Units 2 28 30 5 65            Pending     #Units 1 9 9 2 21       Average List Price $380,000 $548,655 $669,400 $3,723,500 $894,738       Average Market Time 25 73 53 111 66       Average Square Feet 0 1752 2544 6040 2416            Sold     #Units 1 19 21 3 44       Dollar Value $460,000 $10,724,900 $16,851,683 $2,188,500 $30,225,083       Average List Price $488,000 $583,549 $826,828 $73... 09/08/2008

I've always liked boxwoods, and while walking home this afternoon in my town of Kirkland WA, I saw this very boxlike boxwood.  I just love the idea of being able to form shaped hedges.  I think I've liked the idea since I visited Versailles.  What magnificent shaped gardens they have. I have a "doughnut" boxwood. At least that's what I call it.  I can display anything I want in the middle of it.  Right now the geraniums have "center stage".  At Christmas time it's a tree of swirled lights with a star on top that stands 5% tall.  My boxwood below creates a stage and I can see whatever I put "on the stage" from my living room window and front porch. The simple pleasures of life are always within reach.  I love that about my life. 09/07/2008

  This is the "house" a couple of houses down and across the street from me in Kirkland, Washington.  If you look closely, you will see a cave opening shaped whole in those bushes.  Everyone once in a while a beat up red car comes in and out of there. I once heard someone joking that it was Kirkland's "Batcave" :) I love small town living.  I love the idea that people can pretty much do as they darned well please with their homes.  I don't like a bunch of rules that tell people how to keep their homes and how to manage their lives. This is Kirkland, Washington...and Characters are Welcome! 09/07/2008

Have you ever been to Mongolian Grill Restaurant? I went to the one in Juanita / Kirkland last week. I was meeting with a friend to have lunch and we weren't sure where to go, as we drove to Juanita and noticed Mongolian Grill. We were SO hungry that we both decided to eat there as Dustin raved about how good and fresh the food is. Dustin outside of Mongolian Grill Restaurant in Juanita. When we walked into Mongolian Grill you could see that it was a clean and inviting restaurant. Dustin handed me a bowl and asked me to follow his lead. He went ahead of me and started adding vegetables to his bowl, so I did the same, but in bigger portions. Fresh vegetables and sauces on the back table. The center table has table wear, water, and your to-go boxes in the event you cant finish all the foo... 09/06/2008

Welcome to the Kirkland Marina, my favorite park in Kirkland. The marina has many attributes and activities that anyone can enjoy. Great restaurants, shopping boutiques, ice cream shops, and large parks that sit on the edge of Lake Washington are just a few highlights. It's by far one of the most active always-moving parks.  If you like boating, this is the place to do it, I mean the cost is inexpensive and you have easy access to Seattle by crossing Lake Washington. Main entrance to Kirkland Marina. Condos on the right and and far back. You can pick up a summer boat cruise that will tour you around Lake Washington for under $20.00   The place to hang out and moor your boat. Most of the locals moor the boat and go into the local restaurants. Wide selection of food, Italian, Mexican, Fre... 09/04/2008

If you are thinking about moving to The Seattle Area, chances are you'll have to choose between Seattle and The Eastside.  If you are coming to work at Microsoft, the large campus is in Redmond WA and growing into Bellevue, though some Microsoft employees are in Seattle and some in Issaquah. Above is the City of Bellevue taken from across Lake Washington just over the I-90 Bridge in Mt. Baker - Leschi in Seattle.  If you see mountains to the East as in this photo, they will be The Cascades.  If you see mountains to the West behind Seattle, they will will be the Olympics. Mt. Rainier is part of the Cascade Range.  For me the most notable feature of the Olympics is "The Brothers" shown below.  Besides knowing which direction you are facing, you can tell you are looking toward the Cascade... 08/28/2008

This weekend marks my favorite Event Weekend for Kirkland WA!  The Concours d'Elegance Car Show.  Below is a photo of last year's Best of Show winner, the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 CSS Teardrop    The 2006 Best of Show was this 1937 Bugatti T-57 I guess you could say that 1937 was a Very Good Year! If I only attend one event a year in my town of Kirkland WA...this is it!  For any and all Kirkland Events Info, visit http://explorekirkland.com/ and let's all hope for some decent weather!  These cars won't do well in the rain, especially the open convertibles like the Bugatti. 08/28/2008

Often a home inspector will call the gutters as overflowing and clogged, based on their outward appearance.  When you pay someone to go up and clean "out" the gutters, make sure they also clean the gutters themselves, while they are up there. Besides giving your home that extra sparkling curb appeal, dirty gutters are a sign that there is a problem.  So when you get the problem fixed, remove the affects of that problem too. How many home sellers get mad at the inspector for being "wrong"?  If you have a 3 story house, often the inspector won't be climbing up to check those gutters.  So get them nice and white, after you resolve the problem that is causing them to overflow for the length of the gutter. 08/25/2008

Have you ever craved McDonald's French fries? Well I did and it all started when I finished my open house in the Rose Hill, Kirkland area, and I was so hungry that I was tempted to go to the Costco store off 85th street and buy a hotdog and a pop for $1.50, but due to long lines I settled for McDonalds. I was on my way to pick up my last open house sign and I could smell the fries. It then reminded me of when I would go to this specific McDonald's after school and buy only fries (lets not forget the sauce, BBQ & ranch) and devourer them for lunch. So, I picked up my sign and went to the drive thru and ordered a combo # 6. It was a Crispy BLT Chicken sandwich, large fries and coke, plus the "sauce". I pulled up and they took care of my hunger needs really quick. I parked the car in a sta... 08/23/2008

Is Sonoma Villero Condominiums getting a remodel?  I received an email from the WSDOT asking me to provide my point of view on a possible re-sale impact of a sound wall being built in Sonoma Villero Condominiums, Bothell, WA.  Here is a brief summary of what they asked me: "We are doing some work for the owners of the Sonoma Villero condominiums and would appreciate your input into the potential sales impact associated with a right of way project.  We see from mls listings that you have sold a number of units in that complex within the last 18 months and so would be familiar with the location.    WSDOT plans on building a sound wall along the west side of the condominium complex.  The wall will be constructed to mitigate for increases in traffic noise associated with widening 405.  It w... 08/23/2008