By Kim, on April 28th, 2012%
Cute One-of-a-Kind Green Lake House Open This Weekend
Here’s the link to the listing: As a Phinneywood specialist and longtime resident I am holding a very special open house this Saturday and Sunday April 28 and 29th from 1-4 for National Open House weekend. This home is truly one of a kind in the area. Located just a couple of short blocks from the Woodland Park Zoo. A few years ago it was a neglected original Green Lake cabin from the beginning of the last century (maybe even older) then it was completely reinvented as a charming family home on a small foot print with a second story and a finished basement. It might have had one of the smallest floor areas five years ago, but it lives big now. Perched above the street it boasts privacy and and a quiet backyard complete with a water feature and granite retaining walls.
 Beautiful Lanscaping and Shade Gardens Safe to say you haven’t seen another lot like this, and the house is completely remodeled top to bottom. What was once a garage is now a finished bedroom (buyer to verify) or office space and a 3/4 bath. It’s the kind of house that you could easily drive right by on the street without noticing it perched proudly above the street and out of the way, but once you are inside you will find light filled spaces and views over Greenlake Park towards the Cascade Mountains and beyond in your own little private “treehouse”. The master is on the top floor along with another bedroom and a spacious full bath. The ground floor entry level has gleaming hardwood floors, a kitchen with granite counter tops and Stainless Steel appliances, the original brick fireplace in the living room, dining space and a powder room all in an open floor plan.
 Open Ground Floor Plan Downstairs is the laundry room and the converted garage. This house doesn’t scream” look at me”, tucked behind and underneath mature trees but you will appreciate the privacy the mature plantings provide when you are inside. Outside is a well executed landscape plan with low maintenance in mind and year-round color. It’s a charming oasis without a lawn to mow. Complete with a functioning pond,backyard deck and other outdoor “rooms”. OK, it might be a stretch, calling this a” treehouse” with it’s firm concrete foundation and traditional stick built construction. I am referring to how it feels to live in this space. Perched high above the street and sidewalk, placed well above the neighbor to the east, buffeted by the beautiful granite walls to the west (they don’t make them like they used to!), under the large tree to the back of the lot, and the unique tree south of the front door. What I am alluding to is the sense of peace and quiet and privacy with the views looking over the neighbor’s home to the views to the east from the master bedroom and balcony and to the views towards the south in the second upstairs bedroom and ground level.
 Bird's eye view from the sunny side of the street One can’t help but feel above it all in their own private light-filled spaces away from whatever might be happening down below at street level. It’s a very walkable neighborhood, zoo concerts blocks away in the summer along with the Woodlawn and Greenlake parks just down the hill. Up the hill with a Walk Score of 69 is Phinney Ave North with all the restuarants, pubs and galleries. The PNA has zip cars as well as classes and it’s myriad of other activites. To learn more about this special jewelbox of a home please contact: Kim Mulligan kim-mulligan.com kim@cooperjacobs.com 206-579-9066
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on February 16th, 2012%
Should I buy a Co-op?
“Should I buy a Co-op?” asked my client. Hmmm…good question! We’ve been looking at condominiums in a higher end neighborhood in Seattle. It’s a good shoe-in for an expensive neighborhood.
I think we can largely agree it’s a good time to buy real estate in general right now. But let’s back up for a sec. First let me answer the question what is a condo association and what is a co-op association.
Condominium is a big building with individual units. Each unit has a tax parcel number and the owner has ownership of the interior walls inside. They also own the Title for the unit. Each owner pays a home owner due (HOD). Which it turn goes into an account managed by the home owner association. If there are any needed assessments (aka repairs) on the building or lawsuits to pay out, it is debited from this account. You qualify. You buy. You’re in.
Co-Op is a big building with individual units. The building is the company. The units are the shareholders within the company. You don’t hold Title. The co-op committee does. And usually the building is one big parcel number. There are home owner dues just like condo ownership. You interview with the co-op board. You buy. You’re in. Oh yeah, and no dogs (usually) and no leasing (usually).
Should you buy a co-op? Yes, you should. If you are a person who likes people, who likes sharing, who likes working together for a common goal, then yes buy a co-op. If you like relinquishing some of your control issues and collaborating with your fellow shareholders, then yes you should think about buying a co-op. If you don’t want to pay 1.78% excise tax as a seller in King County, co-op is a way to avoid this tax.
Should you buy a co-op? No, you should think twice about buying a co-op if you own a dog (usually), if you like larger buildings (co-ops are generally smaller buildings), if you are an investor/landlord and intend to rent. Oh, and perhaps you don’t want to know who your neighbors are.
Financing is no different for co-ops. You can do an FHA loan if you want. Just make sure you ask for the Financials Addendum from the building. This is similar to the Resale Certificate for a condo building. It contains meeting minutes, financials, and future assessments.
Hope this bit of info helped you make the right move. Questions? I’m here.
Ciao.
Molly@cooperjacobs.com
206.841.6800
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on August 18th, 2011%
Have you ever walked, biked, drove past a house a million times on your way to work and thought to yourself “I wonder what that house looks like inside?”. As soon as you see a for sale in the yard, you immediate make a b-line to the colorful flyer hoping to find a price, just out of curiosity of course.
 I had one of those today. This really cool, perfect starter home in Green Lake has been on the market just a short time which is on my way to Duke’s Chowder House one block southwest. I’m very smitten of the beautiful fir tree in front for privacy, convenient alley, and an acutely maintained yard.
Once I walked up to the welcome mat, the house is better than I imagined. Clean, mid-century lines, updated kitchen with eating nook, two bedrooms + full bath up and a completely refurbished lower living space including a cozy fireplace around the oversized sofa, another bathroom and extra storage. The soft carpet under my feet compliment the twist of a modern edge throughout the home. It’s a nice touch of the old and the new – which translates Green Lake homes to a “T”.
Great home, great price – under $500,000 – and close to everything in east Green Lake. You can walk your kids to Daniel Bagley Elementary (Montesory to 5th grade) on 80th Street, get some amazing Pho Vietnamese soup, or just kick it at Green Lake park in the wadding pool. Perhaps you’re in need of a 3 mile jog with your dog. If you do, grab a beer on the outside deck at Duke’s Chowder House on your way home to this totally efficient Green Lake home. 
Will you be impressed as much as I was? Give me a ring or email and I’d be happy to show you the thoughtfullness of this home and why I think it’s such a great deal.
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on June 23rd, 2011%
Twins!
My client is pregnant with twins. And while this new experience is super exciting for her and her husband, the four story townhome is not so much exciting. There is literally a bedroom on every floor. Not screaming practical here.
Time to stock up the car with plenty of bottled water and m&m’s.
They live in the uber-urban neighborhood of Wallingford and didn’t want to venture too far away since schools are a major focus now. So my checklist reads:
- Great Schools
- Walkable and Safe Neighborhood
- Practical Floorplan with Four Bedrooms, 2,000 sq ft.
- Easy Commute to Work
- Updated
- $500,000 to $600,000 Range
Do any of these ring a bell?
 Green Lake Beach First we look in Greenwood because of an amazing 2011 home just built. Almost a perfect fit: 4 out of 6. Bonus: Two car garage! Overall, the neighborhood wasn’t for them. No sidewalks (one of those things I keep hearing about Greenwood) and walkability was poor. And I’ll give it a 5 out of 10 on the school-meter.
We look in Ballard. Too far West for commuting purposes. Plus they weren’t familiar with the neighborhood and I think this psyched them out a bit.
Wallingford was up next. They found some wonderfully updated bungalows in this uber-urban neighborhood. They were shocked by the price per square foot and really – when you’re having twins plus a nanny – you want square footage.
I guess I left the best for last. Green Lake was our final destination. Bingo!
 Wallingford Park and Wading Pool It was a Sunday afternoon and I was at an open house for my own Green Lake listing. She and her husband went to an Open House and fell in love with it. Who said Open Houses don’t sell houses? We wrote it up the next day. They can walk to PCC, Green Lake Park is across the street and when they get hungry they can walk to Duke’s, Blu Water Bistro then Ben and Jerry’s for dessert. Daniel Bagley Elementary is one of the top desirable k-5 elementary schools and they also have a Montessori. If private schools are more your thing, St. Joseph’s is right up the road on 80th Ave.
Happy Mommy. Happy Daddy. And soon to be Happy Twins this Fall.
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on June 10th, 2011%
Welcome to Green Lake, New Home Owner!
 My Favorite Yellow Castle Congratulations if you are one of the lucky 26 people who can call Green Lake home. The month of May turned out to be a successful month for sales in this paddle-boarding, bike-riding neighborhood. The previous two months – even more successful! Crazy to imagine 87 homes were sold in the last three months – all of which have 1, 2, 3…5 each in a household. I know of a couple households which sold their Green Lake home only to move two blocks away. It’s nice to know growing families want to stay here. So let’s look at the numbers in a glance:
March 2011 - Booming! 34 homes sold with an average of 84 days on the market. Okay – that last number is not so great. Probably just people getting out of the winter hibernation. We want days on market to be more like 30. Homes were also selling on average for roughly $423,000….better (if you’re a seller) than the average price today.
April 2001 – Sweet! 27 homes sold with an average of 49 days on the market. Okay – better! People thinking ahead for summer and school changes. Homes were selling on average for roughly $406,800…better (if you’re a buyer).
May 2011 – Looking ahead! 26 homes sold with an average of 41 days on the market. Okay – getting there! More sun, longer days. Homes were selling on average for roughly $397,500….really better (if you’re a buyer).
So what if you’re a seller? Yes, the average prices have come down in the last three months IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT AVERAGES. See the thing with averages are there might be a million dollar home that sold…which happened in March ($1,225,000 to be exact) which then shoots up the average.
 Southwest Flare Then you look at April and the highest house sold was $698,500..which went OVER asking price. Yay! In May it looks like $785,000 was the highest house sold.
If someone were to ask me what the average price of a Green Lake home is, I would say a solid $500,000 with 3 bedrooms /2 bath, garage, and logical upgrades on a great avenues like Corliss and Bagley.
 Corliss Ave Tangletown has really sprung into action too. Tangletown is known around here by mostly the locals. Here’s the equation:
Dive bar/nice bar/ to die for sushi,/cafe complete with free wi-fi/ hip salon/dentist/ dry cleaner, and of course you got your quick market + many zig zag residential (walkable) tree lined streets = tangletown.
Oh yeah, and it’s four blocks from the lake. Bam!
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on May 6th, 2011%
Cindo de Mayo in Green Lake
Looking for Margarita-ville? It’s on the corner of Green Lake Way and 2nd Ave NE in Green Lake. Another year (that makes it 10 years running) that Tacos Guaymas kicks off their Block Party.
This isn’t just any Block Party. These guys are serious! Party goes from 11am to 1pm complete with a beer garden, margarita bar and, of course, jalepeno eating contest. Sing with the mariachi band while sippin’ on margaritas and celebrate Mexico’s independence day!
3,000 sombrero-wearing, pepper-eating amigos partied here last year. Bring your water bottles to cool down cause this is going to be HOT!
Oh and if you’re strolling down Green Lake Way and like what you see, contact us for real estate home sales.
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on April 28th, 2011%
New Construction in Green Lake
“What’s THAT?”, asks a client.
I’ve been getting that question since 2008.
“Oh, that’s The Hole”, I reply.
The Hole has made its bed in Green Lake since 2008. Vitamilk used to occupy this entire 3 acre city block until they sold it to some developers that year.
Unfortunately the developers had a major fall out with the main tentant (heard it was Whole Foods or maybe Metropolitan Market) and the site has sat empty for all these years. And sits. And sits.
2011 brings promise! It’s been reported that PCC has stepped up to the plate and will be the main retailer anchoring the ”the hole” in Green Lake. Above PCC will live about 295 apartments. Might be competition with Circa, which is the other apartment/mixed use building, replacing my beloved Alberton’s years ago.
The Hole will be starting their new construction soon and the new 55,000 mixed use space will become Green Lake Village slated for completion in 2013!
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on April 8th, 2011%
98103: More Homes Selling
Green Lake, 98103, witnesses an uptick in sold homes for March, as compared to February 2011. Trendgraphix noted a 43% increase (1430 homes sold in 98103) and 34% are pending to close compared to February numbers.
 Courtsey of Trendgrahix The average active price is $571,000 for 98103 selling at 96% of asking price. Not bad! Inventory has picked up but the under $400,000 is still a HOT market.
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on February 12th, 2011%
It’s spring fever in February! Green Lake, Tangletown, Wallingford, and Ballard-areas are all fired up with fresh, new listings that are flying off the shelf. Just as the for sale signs are speared into the ground, the buyers and their agents are making offers. One, two, three days on the market for some of these ripe listings.
I toured all the new listings in these areas on Wednesday (two days ago) and three are pending inspection. Pending inspection doesn’t necessarily mean other buyers are out of the running. They just have to take a back seat in the form of a back up offer. Home prices across the board ranging from $449,000 to $849,000 are being snatched up and if you blink, you might just miss out.
What’s the motivation all of a sudden? Well, the motivation has always been there. It’s the inventory which has been a bit stagnate. Inventory is up, school is back in session, the big holiday plans and vacations have happened and now it’s back to routines and work.
For more Seattle neighborhoods, visit Cooper Jacobs Real Estate’s home page and find the map you’re looking. Condos, houseboats, scheduled open houses for any area you’re looking for can all be found here.
By Molly Cartwright, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Molly@CooperJacobs.com, 206-841-6800, on February 8th, 2011%
Green Lake Real Estate For January ’011
Sometimes you forgo the strategies of buying real estate and offer full asking price. Beauty (cosmetically and/or structurally) are in the eye of the buyer. Fifteen homes sold in Green Lake so far this year. Three of those sellers got a full price offer.
In January, there were eleven homes under $500k. Yep, the median sales price of $430,000 (or about 95% of asking price) sold in 92 days or less on the market in Green Lake.
What does that tell us for our beloved Green Lake? Homes are holding steady but buyers want to see a deal: either in price (fixer upper) or finishing touches…turn key homes.
Green Lake inventory is low. The craftsman bungalows are desirable - and with low choices, it forces buyers to wait. If you’re contemplating selling your home in Green Lake, make sure you get an idea of what has been selling and sitting the last 180 days. Feel free to contact us if you’re interested in knowing the Green Lake market at 206-841-6800.
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