Discover North Seattle: Discover North Seattle with Jay Silver (Keller Williams - Greater Seattle)

I've framed in the latest report from Trulia.com for those of you who live in the Bitter Lake area. Here are the stats for home sales in that area.

Don't let this be your Disaster Preparedness Plan!

How To Prepare For A Disaster

Your Seattle home gives protection for you and your family in most cases.  But there will be times that your home may not be enough.  That's why it is so important to protect yourself and those you love by being prepared.  Home fires are the most common disaster people face in Seattle, and also the most preventable.  Families need to take a few simple precautions to avoid tragedies, such as having working smoke alarms on every level of their homes and having family fire escape plans in place to help get everyone out of the house safely.  The American Red Cross recommends the following when creating your family escape plan:

• Identify two ways to escape from every room in the home.
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
• Select a safe location away from the home where your family can meet after escaping. 
• Consider purchasing and storing escape ladders for rooms above ground level and make sure to learn how to use them.
• If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out.  
• If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke. 
• Before escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it.  If it is warm, use your second escape route.  
• If smoke, heat or flames block both of your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed.  Place a rolled towel underneath the door.  Signal for help by waving a brightly colored cloth or shining a flashlight at the window.  If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and let them know your exact location inside the home. 
• Once you've escaped, stay out.  

Fires are only one disaster homeowners and renters need to be prepared for.  My friends at SeattleTimes.com have come up with a great checklist you can download and print out that can help you not only prepare for a disaster, but also to survive a disaster.

You can go to the Seattle Times web site here to download your copy of their Disaster Preparedness and Survival guide. 

I'm sitting here thinking about all the people I get to meet because of what I do for a living.  I am blessed to be so connected to the community and to meet so many people!  Honestly, this is exactly why I got into real estate in the first place.  I love connecting with people and being that person who can always say, "I know a guy..."

So I spent about 10 minutes thinking about different connections I have and thought I'd write a few down in case any of you were looking for a connection.  Life is too short to live on an island!  I think 6 degrees of separation is too much!

Here's a brief list of connections or people I know.  Some are fun to know, like Kendra Todd, winner of Donald Trump's "Apprentice", or Pro Bowl Fullback Mack Strong, or Blake Lewis (American Idol), but most are more practical.  You get the idea.  If you need help with something, I probably know someone I could connect you with in Seattle.  Just ask, 'cuz I love connecting people!

Attorneys

• Immigration
• Tax
• Real Estate
• Foreclosure

Home Repair

• Tile
• Roofing
• Architects
• Plumbers
• Inspectors

Spiritual

• Bible Study Groups
• Church/Community Functions
• Benevolence Opportunities
• Marriage Counseling

Financial

• CPA's
• Mortagage Advisors
• Financial Advisors

The list could go on, but just know that you can ask me anytime.  Connecting people is one of the best parts of my job!

I love getting a good deal whenever I can, especially in this economy.  So if you're looking for a fun time at the movies in Seattle without the heavy price tag, check out these cheap Seattle movie theaters:

In Shoreline 

Crest Cinema:

16505 5th Avenue NE at 165th
Shoreline, WA 98155
(206) 781-5755

I remember going to the Crest while growing up in Shoreline.  Of course, back then it was only about $1.00.  My, how inflation has skyrocketed prices.  Now tickets are currently $3.00.  Ooooh... big money!  We used to go to the 7-11 across the street to buy snacks and try to sneak them in.  I like the way the seats rock back like a rocking chair.  Too many memories to list on this one!

In West Seattle

Admiral Theater:

2343 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
Info: 206-938-3456

Another great Seattle landmark!  This one's a little pricier, but I think the movies are more current.  Tickets are currently $5.50.  You can even rent out the theater for a private event if you want.

Seattle and Tacoma have made it to the top of CNNMoney's list of 8 cities that are poised for the best real estate recovery.  This is great news for us, as we are all waiting for our homes to being appreciating again and return on our investment.  Here's the blurb for Seattle, from CNNMoney.com:

Median home price: $365,000 Value lost since 2006: 18.1% Forecast gain through 2011*: 3.2%

Seattle has become a world-class city with a diverse, vibrant economy. As a home to manufacturers, such as Boeing, and software providers, such as Microsoft, the job market has held up better than average, with December's unemployment rate sitting at 9.1%.

Home prices had a softer landing as well, dropping just 18.1% over the past three years, about half the national average, according to Fiserv, a division of Moody's Economy.com.

In the next six months prices are expected to grow 1%. After that, the market should gain momentum. By September 2011, the city could see a price gain of 5.5%.

And while that may not sound all that robust for those jaded by the annual double-digit returns recorded during the boom, that performance will be one of the best of any large city during that period.

Check out the blurb about Tacoma on the CNNMoney web site here.

There will be construction on the 15th Ave NE bridge starting this Spring, and it's going to last a while.  Above is a map of the detour routes you may want to think of using after March 2010.  The bridge has seen a lot more traffic over recent years and needs to be repaired, along with further work to deal with erosion underneath the bridge.  This means ALL traffic, including pedestrians and bikes.

You might want to get comfy with the detours - they say the construction will last about 11 months!

 You can learn more about the bridge work and its benefits by going to the Seattle DOT website for more info:  http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/bridge_rehab_15th.htm

 - Jay

Do you like mountain and water views from your living room?  Check out this Olympic Manor home for sale!

Click any of these pictures for more information about this great North Seattle home!

Greet the Olympics/Sound everyday from this completely updated classic home in Olympic Manor. Views from all front rooms & relaxing patio. Perfectly bright & flowing floor plan w/3 main floor bedrms. incl. master w/vast closets and double shower. Beautifully remodeled kitchen w/skylight, stainless, granite, cherry cabinets. Downstairs has 4th bedroom, huge family room, oversized 2car garage. With all new windows, hardwoods, 2 gas fireplaces & great yard, you'll love living in this exquisite home.

Olympic Manor is a wonderful neighborhood just North East of Crown Hill.  Tucked away in its own secluded area, Olympic Manor is a quiet space with great neighbors.  This is also a great place to go see beautiful light displays during the holidays!

I have good news about the real estate market! Surprised? Well, it's true - today's market provides a huge opportunity for first-time buyers to enter the market. 

Unfortunately, much of the media coverage of the real estate market has caused real fear in potential buyers. In reality, there has not been a better time to buy value in recent years.

If you know of anyone who has found themselves overwhelmed or discouraged from buying their first home, please send me their contact information or forward this blog post to them so that I can send them a free e-book. Your First Home: The Proven Path to Home Ownership outlines the process of home ownership in eight simple steps and is a must-read for anyone considering purchasing their first home.

With my experience, passion and knowledge of today's market, I am fully prepared and anxious to help your friends and family find their first homes. And as always, your referral is the best compliment that I can receive.

Ciao!

- Jay

Here's a real life success story.

To illustrate the beauty of the tax credit, take the example of Laura K. and her husband of Austin, Texas.

Laura, an exotic animal veterinarian, and her husband, a book editor, had spent much of 2008 in search of the elusive perfect home. They worked with their real estate agent over several months and found two homes they really loved. But unfortunately, two consecutive deals fell through and their dreams of home ownership were put on hold. "It was exhausting and unfortunate," says Laura. "I really had had enough."

Reassured by her husband, who hated paying rent toward someone else's mortgage, and inspired by her mother, who had found great success investing in real estate over the years, Laura let patience guide her toward a better opportunity. By March of 2009 she and her husband had saved up more money and were ready to pounce. Their patience proved fruitful as their real estate agent found them a bank-owned condo within their preapproved price range in a fabulous neighborhood just a five-minute walk from downtown. (Five minutes from downtown! Woo-hoo!)

They secured financing and entered into a scary multiple-offer situation. As fate would have it, they beat out two other buyers when their offer was accepted. Armed with 30-year conventional financing at a rate of 5 percent, they were now sitting pretty with very manageable monthly mortgage payments. And here's the kicker: They earned themselves a big, fat check for eight grand from Uncle Sam.

With the money they received, they could now fully furnish their new condo, make a donation to their favorite charity, and Laura could treat herself to monthly pedicures. All this and her husband embarked on a variety of challenging landscaping projects. Laura is now thrilled to be a homeowner. "The tax credit was a gift. Even though our previous offers fell through, I could not be happier."

So there's some real-life inspiration for you. Now go get that home of your own and the $8,000. And maybe you too can enjoy pedicures as often as you like.

- Jay