RainCityHouses.com: Seattle Real Estate » Brier Washington Real Estate

Brier Homes For Sale – Seattle Suburbs Real Estate Offerings…

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:41:05 +0000

Seattle Suburbs Real Estate: Brier Homes For Sale: We have some great Brier homes for sale right now, but Brier in general has some cool properties at very good prices. Brier is a Seattle suburb which happens to be quite convenient to all directions of commuting. On top of that all the best shopping and restaurants are all in close proximity. Schools are good and homes are well priced – especially now.

The transit system all around Brier is quite advanced with newer transit stations in all directions..Canyon Park, Lynnwood, and Mountlake Terrace are all newer transit stations (MLT even has solar) for quick commutes to Eastside (Bellevue and Kirkland or Redmond0, North (Everett) or South to Shoreline and Seattle. Even in heavy traffic, Downtown Seattle is a half hour bus ride tops form the Mountlake Terrace Transit Station.

Brier homes for sale right now:

2931 224^th PL SW: This is a 3 bedroom spacious home right in the heart of Brier – close proximity to all city offerings and good floor plan – large lot – ask about Bonuses. 3 bedrooms/2.25 baths 1812 sq ft Built in 1984 on a large lot – 12632 sq ft! 2 car attached garage, large rec room, more – private quiet road $309,950

19207 Locust Way – not quite in Brier city limits, but close to Brier and enjoys all great Brier amenities. 3 bedroom/1.75 home on 2.42 acres!!!! This home is in a great location in Lynnwood and has wonderful park like spaces – Big bonus on this one, too… $887,400 or Best Offer

22424 Old Poplar Way – practically a stone’s throw from Brier City Hall – giant horse or farm property with AMAZING spaces – this one even has a giant 5 car garage with RV parking and a shop. Expansive 1933 home with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths – 2558 sq feet – It is like Sunset Boulevard in Brier – horse facilities already in place and only a quick jaunt to Brier’s own Equestrian Arena! Looking for a Seattle Equestrian Property???? THIS IS IT!

Want to see these and other Brier Real Estate? We are happy to show you anything in this nice Seattle Suburb. Brier has a lot to offer! realestate@cooperjacobs.com

Why I Am Loving Seattle Suburbs New Construction

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:57:05 +0000

I haven’t always been one of those Realtors who is hot on new construction. The plain truth is that in a stronger Seattle real estate market new construction wasn’t always the best deal. In fact, Seattle buyers who insisted on new construction usually paid a premium for it. There simply was not much in the way of negotiation.

Good things about new construction:

Wonderful big open floor plans
New Everything – nothing to fix
Maintenance up front is usually cheaper because all systems are new
Wonderful features designed for how we live now – bigger bathrooms, etc.
Builders are definitely starting to lean towards energy efficiency and Built Green aspects

Less Desirable points of new construction to some buyers:

Bigger price tag (negotiable!!!!)
Small Yard or no yard in most cases
Inconsistent architecture when new construction is plopped down in the middle of somewhere
Those funny retaining ponds
Some cookie cutter designs at times – definitely not custom in most cases

There is a very different story in Seattle new construction and Seattle suburb new construction now. If you are a non contingent buyer (meaning the sale doesn’t depend on you selling your current home) then you are in a window of golden opportunity right now! You can negotiate on price, perks, upgrades, and bonuses – plus get your closing costs paid in most cases. In addition, I like to make sure my buyers get a refrigerator and sometimes a washer and dryer of their choice!

Seattle suburbs new construction areas that have some nice developments right now:

Lynnwood, Everett, Snohomish, Mountlake Terrace, Brier, Bothell, Redmond, Mill Creek Marysville, Lake Stevens, and Lake Forest Park

These are all in different price points – there are townhomes, too, but also larger homes. The developments I am touring have some nice features and are definitely worth a look if you are interested in Seattle suburbs new construction.

Courtney Cooper ….For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County. Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs! Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services: Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Green Lake (Greenlake), Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park), Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!

Seattle Real Estate: Buying Houses with Redfin: At Least Let’s Be Honest, ‘Kay?

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:14:25 +0000

Seattle real estate has gotten trickier in recent months and I honestly believe that most traditional buyers need to work with a full service REALTOR. But if you are going to go with a company like Redfin who provides a different business model in return for lower fees in the form of a rebate, please plan on shelling out the extra money and paying Redfin to be your buyer’s agent.

I should clarify right now up front that I am not attacking Redfin. I am all for free enterprise and coming up with a different business model that does suit a small minority of extremely experienced and knowledgeable buyers. These buyers don’t want or need the hand holding and constant diligence that I can offer them before, during, and after a transaction. Fine.

I am not attacking this alternative business model because simply put, they are not my competition. The fact is when I was with a larger regional company I was already the real estate agent renegade because I have always given my own clients rebates in the form of closing costs, etc. alongside my FULL SERVICE. I opened my own brokerage partially so that I could do what I wanted to do for my clients without having to ask my broker for permission. I genuinely want to help my buyers financially to ease the stress of the transaction and improve their quality of life. So – before you call me greedy, please don’t.

The point is that even though I was going to help out my buyers financially, I didn’t decide to discount my service based on this fact by sending them out to call listing agents and making these other hard working agents do my work as a Full Service buyer’s agent. To quote another saying, I just don’t believe in building my business on the backs of others. In my opinion: it is a listing agent’s job to show the listing to a potential unrepresented buyer, but it is a buyer’s agent’s job to show a represented buyer a property. This is a point that can be argued back and forth in both directions to no end, so I will gloss over it for now except for this:

There is just too much potential liability associated with dual agency to not acknowledge that buyers and sellers should be represented separately and with this separate representation comes a clear delineation of duties on each side.

So that’s my opinion on the matter and here is my problem with some of Redfin’s clients:

Although I have seen it stated very plainly in black and white that Redfin absolutely does not encourage this behavior and I applaud them for doing so, every single Redfin buyer I have run into in the last twelve months has lied their pants off to me!!! It seems that even though they discourage misrepresentations to a listing agent, by charging touring fees after the initial free ones are gone, Redfin is still encouraging their budget conscience buyers to act in some really sneaky ways that may be out of character for them normally.

Seriously, I want to sell my listings to you, Mr. Redfin Buyer, but for goodness sakes, just tell me the truth!!! I am not stupid. Please don’t use a fake name, and then when I explain that I ID new buyers for my own safety, side step and break down and tell me the truth. In addition, this couple didn’t even show up when I agreed to open the house up!!! I am not some crazy gate keeper that needs to be lied to. Please don’t call me pretending to be interested in working with me as your buyer’s agent and ask me for all my professional contacts that I have worked so hard for (inspector, appraiser, lender, etc.). Please don’t pretend that you are unrepresented when you are a Redfin buyer because just like you can smell a real estate agent a mile away, I can smell a limited service buyer even more quickly.

I have no problem with you as a limited service buyer. I really don’t! Just tell me the truth.

Be honest that you don’t want to pay the relatively small fees that Redfin charges to show homes after your initial free tours are exhausted. It really isn’t that much money relative to the rebate you can get and it is the right thing to do. Or….hire a full service Seattle REALTOR. Just my two cents.

Seattle Real Estate: Flood Insurance or Not?

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:06:41 +0000

On my way to Ocean Shores, WA recently, there were still remains of dirt and debris that had washed over the highway in the big December storms…. That latest blast of weather in December 2007 got me thinking about insurance in Seattle neighborhoods and Seattle suburbs again. Flood insurance, specifically, is what I want to look at and whether or not I should purchase a flood insurance policy for my Seattle, Washington area home.

Flood insurance wasn’t actually very accessible until the late sixties when a national flood insurance program was put into place. With this program came the availability of flood insurance for anyone who needed it and lived in a community that participated in the program. In addition, regulations in the form of floodplain maps were also put into place to provide specific levels of risk for any given area.. Flood coverage is required by your lender if you live in any of these high risk areas, but is not included on the standard home owner’s policy of the majority of real estate in Seattle and its suburbs.

This is a question each homeowner in Seattle and the entire Puget Sound should ask themselves. Do you live on low ground? At the bottom of a hill? Near a waterway? How is your property drainage? These are all factors which increase your risk of water intrusion and each homeowner should take the time to consult with an insurance agent and evaluate their own risk. I live on a hill and have sufficient drainage for my property. I keep my gutters in proper working order and also regularly monitor my weatherproofing plan. I do not have flood insurance. It is important to note that if you do decide to purchase flood insurance for your Seattle property, keep in mind that there is a thirty day waiting period in most cases.

Seattle Real Estate: Primo buying window getting smaller…

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:49:04 +0000

Seattle’s real estate market may be a bit soft right now, but the rates are incredibly low for qualified buyers and as a result the good Seattle lenders I have talked to recently are incredibly busy – and even backed up in some cases. Sure, there are going to be refinances in this mix of increased business, but the savvy Seattle buyers are out there in neighborhoods and suburbs right now trying to scoop up some deals before others realize that the market isn’t as bad as they thought! The truth is that Seattle has a booming real estate market in 2008 – it is just a very different market than we have seen in recent years. Seattle sellers, agents, and buyers need to adapt and stop looking to the media for “expert information” because the media seems to be gripping more of a doom and gloom Seattle bubble attitude. Instead, ask someone out there who is actually listing and selling houses in 2008! WAMU might be backed up because they cut their staff down to the bone, but other lenders are busy, too!

The weather is beginning to turn in Seattle – I always know when the woodpeckers start banging on my chimney to attract mates that spring is near! More and more buyers will be out as warmer days set in and with this will come some competition. Sellers should have their full service agents price their home competitively. They should pay the extra money and have an accredited Stager help them get their home ready for the market if their Realtor suggests it. Spring on its way doesn’t mean that Seattle sellers don’t need to put their best foot forward so that a buyer’s first impression is the best it can be. The 2008 Seattle market is still strong, but just trickier and it takes savvy on your agent’s part and on your part to sell your home.

Smart Seattle buyers who are out there right now: it is possible to get incredible prices, deals and bonuses from these sellers without completely low-balling them on your offer! Have your Realtor be aggressive, but write a strong offer and choose where you want to negotiate rather than beating down the offer from all directions. The window of primo opportunity is getting smaller as more buyers realize how enticing Seattle real estate is right now!

Courtney Cooper ….For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving Seattle neighborhoods and Seattle suburbs in both North King & South Snohomish County. Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs! Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services: Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle neighborhoods (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Greenlake, Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park) or Seattle suburbs (Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett) or other Seattle Suburbs!

Seattle Sellers: Seller Tips For a Buyer’s Market

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:34:20 +0000

Sellers in Seattle: Take note!

The market has changed, but you can still sell your Seattle house with good results!

Now that Seattle has found itself in a buyer’s market, many home sellers are having to adapt. In order to be competitive in Seattle’s new buyer’s market, Puget Sound sellers should have every edge possible! Here are some of the things that could help your home get noticed!

Hire a full service
Seattle Realtor!!!!! This is probably one of your biggest investments – not the time to cut corners! You need the superior quality help to have the edge in this market!
Staging – I have an accredited Stager help me with my listings to make sure they are stunning when any buyer walks in. I want them to walk in and fall in love! It is amazing how dressing your home up like a Pottery Barn catalog can help to emotionally sell it!
Housekeeping/Lawn Maintenance – Hire a housekeeper and a yard maintenance team! You want your home to shine! The extra money will most likely be worth the investment.
Process – This is something I have to go through weekly in my own house. I call it processing. It is simply going through clutter and sorting it into piles – charitable contributions, trash, give away to friends, recycling, keep. It is helpful to do this regularly, but taking the time to do a big process job on your garage and closets can really pay off!
Dress Your Cabinets and Closets – Your Stager might do this, but if not, you should. Take the merchandising approach and color code your closets – hang clothing by shades of color and really make your closet look like a rack at The Gap! The same thing can be done with your kitchen cabinets – turning all the labels on the cans outward and making sure the pantry is organized and not cramped is vital.
Storage – Make the investment to store extra furniture or clothes that clog up closets and garages. Clear your kitchen counters of appliances and clutter. Your home needs to scream spaciousness and plenty of storage.
Be gone – Leave your house well before showings! You want the buyers to be able to picture themselves in your home. They can’t do this with you in it. It is also uncomfortable for buyers to be in your home with you there.
Buyer Incentives…Offer to pay closing costs or some other from of bonus to “sweeten the pot” for a buyer when they are making a purchasing decision. They have lots to choose from right now!
Selling Office Commission: Don’t discount it – that agent is the hero who is bringing you a qualified Seattle buyer!!! I would even consider offering an agent bonus! It might encourage them to bring even more buyers back!
Price your home right! Doing all of the above won’t matter if you don’t price your home correctly. Again, your full service Realtor is qualified to do this! Also please keep in mind that starting a bit lower could get you multiple offers even in this market. More importantly, starting lower would save you thousands and thousands in carrying costs that your home would be incurring while it sits on the market at a higher price!

Use some or all of these and look for good results! Just because it is a buyer’s market out there doesn’t mean it is a bad time to sell. Houses are still selling and in some cases with multiple competing offers. The last three deals I have done involved multiple offers and back up buyers so I know it is happening! The important part is positioning your home correctly in this market!

Courtney Cooper ….For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County – Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Call me if you are looking for a home or investment property in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!

Seattle Suburbs – Do we need a Starbucks Coffee on EVERY corner????

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:33:25 +0000

Seattle suburb Mountlake Terrace has some pretty great features, but it hasn’t always been true. Mountlake Terrace real estate has been historically undervalued and ignored in some cases until recently, but the residents have always had one bright shining light:

Chad & Vicky’s Espresso! (BTW – that is a picture of Chad and Vicky dressed up for Halloween 2007) – a great Seattle neighborhood place to go!

I should start this by saying that I am not by any means an anti-Starbucks girl – I love my lattes and was more than pleased to see a local Starbucks within twenty miles from my parents’ remote home outside of Scottsdale, AZ (although they left me high and dry when they closed for Christmas……), but enough is enough in some cases! There are already at least two locations on this particular side of town in Mountlake Terrace!

OK – Back to Chad & Vicky!!!!

Chad & Vicky’s Espresso has served me the most yummy lattes for almost nine years and I am sure they served many more before that. The combination of low prices, delicious drinks, and extremely fast and friendly service has always kept me coming back even during some of my most crazy diet kicks. No matter how many times I switch drinks, Chad always knows what I drink!

Chad & Vicky’s Espresso is on the corner of 228^th Street SW and Cedar Way in Mountlake Terrace. It is inside the south side of the Chevron station building. They have a convenient drive-thru and no matter how busy they get the service is still fast, consistent and friendly. Chad & Vicky get patrons from both the cars going in and out of the drive-thru line as well as the Mountlake Terrace and Brier locals who like to come inside and have a chat with them or in some cases have a longer talk.

So, Starbucks is putting in a brand new store right next door to Chad & Vicky’s Espresso! Chad was literally standing in its shadow as he served me my coffee this morning with a smile on his face as always. I am honestly disgusted by the audacity of a company that thinks they can thrive in the Mountlake Terrace market by parking themselves right next to the city’s most beloved local coffee fixture. I will even go a step further to say that I doubt anyone really did their research on this one. I could have given Starbucks far better locations to look at, and honestly, Chad probably would have given them some helpful tips, too, if they had asked him because that is the kind of guy he is.

I am pleased for the Mountlake Terrace residents who seem to have finally had their real estate values “validated” officially by Starbucks deciding to move in to a location that has previously hosted one failed business after another, but the blatant disregard for a community’s culture is not only disrespectful, but also just plain stupid from a business perspective. I would think a local company would care more for the local businesses, but I guess that is just me.

Courtney Cooper ….For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County. Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs! Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services: Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs! If you are thinking of relocating to Seattle, I am an expert at Seattle Relocation services and can help you find the perfect home while making sure it is a solid financial investment!

Seattle Suburbs Real Estate: Getting Around in the Seattle Suburbs

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:10:49 +0000

Seattle Suburbs offer more than giant shiny new houses and builder perks galore! Open spaces, trails, beaches, lakes, shopping, and more! But how do you get around the Seattle Suburbs?

Easy Transportation in and out of major cities like Seattle, Everett, and Bellevue -

Going green? Even if you aren’t, don’t forget about these local Seattle suburb Park and Rides!!! This transportation system is wonderful and already improving further in some Seattle suburbs (Look at the Seattle suburb Mountlake Terrace system for a prime example!)! We are lucky to have this transit system in Puget Sound! We complain about it, but the truth is it works very well! Our traffic is bad during peak hours, but grab a book or your iPod and let someone else do the driving for you! Be green and save on gas and take some “me” time!

If you think you might be interested in relocating to Seattle Suburb real estate, make sure and have a FULL SERVICE experienced Realtor help you find the community that is best for you!

Seattle Real Estate: Seattle Suburb Parks: North Suburbs Skate Parks….

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:43:14 +0000

Seattle suburbs have a lot to offer and the Seattle park systems are absolutely incredible! I recently found out that Brier WA is putting in its own skate park – a Brier skate park!

Did you know there were skate parks in the Seattle burbs? The cities of Edmonds and Lynnwood WA got together in 1999 and created a 5000 square foot concrete skating structure at Lynndale Park for the local Seattle suburb skaters.

Lynndale Park: Lynndale Park is located at 7326 Olympic View Drive and has parking and bathrooms. It was built in 1999.

Features: 5000 sq ft surface, snake run, quarter pipe, six foot deep bowl, banks, ledges, hips, rails, curbs

Bothell Skatepark: Located at 9815 NE 188^th St in Bothell – this Seattle suburb skate park originally opened in 2000, but recently had a facelift – among other features, it has a six foot half pipe.

Other Seattle suburbs looking at putting in skateparks: Mountlake Terrace, Brier

Even Ocean Shores WA is looking at putting a skatepark in!!!! All parks seem to be skate at your own risk, but do have guidelines and rules from what I can see. Make sure to check out the rules and safety precautions.

Courtney Cooper ….Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services – For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Realtor serving Seattle and Seattle Suburbs! North King & South Snohomish County – Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs! If you are thinking of relocating to Seattle, I am an expert at Seattle Relocation services and can help you find the perfect home while making sure it is a solid financial investment! Check out my Seattle real estate and Seattle suburb real estate blog at http://www.raincityhouses.com/!

Seattle Suburb Real Estate January 2008 Market Updates

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:30:25 +0000

Seattle Real Estate & Seattle Suburbs Real Estate…….. Seattle Relocation Information

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Check out these January 2008 Seattle Suburb Real Estate Market Reports:

Brier Wa 2008 Real Estate Market Report

Mountlake Terrace WA 2008 Real Estate Market Report

Woodway WA 2008 Real Estate Market Report

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services – for all your real estate needs in Seattle and Seattle suburbs!

Courtney Cooper

Owner/Broker & Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services

p 206-251-5948

For more information: courtney@cooperjacobs.com

No matter what aspect of buying and selling Seattle area real estate you need assistance with, Cooper Jacobs can help! Areas of expertise: greater Seattle and Seattle Suburbs including Lake Forest Park, Shoreline (including Richmond Beach), Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Bothell, Brier, Mill Creek, Kenmore, Snohomish, and South Everett. Each of these Puget Sound Real Estate market areas have their own unique qualities and it is important to find a qualified Realtor to guide you.

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services….For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County – Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them!

Seattle Suburbs: Brier has Big Plans for its Parks!

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:45:15 +0000

Seattle suburbs: Brier Washington is a great place to live and work in the Seattle suburbs, but now the City of Brier is giving you more reasons to buy Brier Washington real estate and move here! The parks are getting some upgrades, additions, and facelifts and you won’t believe what is in store!

Brier is getting a skate park! How hip! The teens around here are impressed! The goal is to have it up and running by this summer!!!! Tune in for more details on that one later! I can’t wait to get pictures!

Brier already has a great trail system between the neighborhoods and schools which make it easy to get around or walk for fitness. The next step? A trail system to link the parks of Brier! The first? A marked trail from Locust Creek Park to Brier Park.

A dog park in Brier? Maybe…The city council is still looking at options….

There is more, too! The city is also currently seeking funding to upgrade Bobcat Park among other projects. Look for great things to happen in Brier in 2008!

Courtney Cooper ….For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Associate Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County – Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs! If you are thinking of relocating to Seattle, I am an expert at Seattle Relocation services and can help you find the perfect home while making sure it is a solid financial investment!

Seattle Suburbs..What are the best Seattle Suburbs to move to and why?

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:53:53 +0000

I recently saw this question on the internet: “What is a nice area Suburb near Seattle WA to move to?”

*Updated Feb 2009*

Seattle neighborhoods and Seattle suburbs have a ton to offer! I love this question and thought maybe it deserved a post – I love Seattle real estate and the real estate in all of the Seattle Suburbs, but I think that you really have to look at dividing the Seattle Suburbs up into different categories to try and get a grasp on them:

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North Seattle Suburbs
REALLY North Seattle Suburbs
The Eastside
Further expanding Eastside
Southend Seattle suburbs
Ferry Suburbs

North Seattle Suburbs include Lake Forest Park, Shoreline (including Richmond Beach), Kenmore, Brier, Mukilteo , Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Mill Creek, Lynnwood, Woodway (including new construction Woodway Highlands and older Olmstead Woodway) and South Everett (including Silver Lake). Lake Forest Park and Shoreline are the closest to Seattle and both boast natural scenes like trees and water views. From Richmond Beach in Shoreline, sweeping Sound Views and salty air are abundant. Lake Forest Park offers a ton of trees and Lake Washington views. The Seattle suburb of Kenmore is just north of Lake Forest Park and has its own seaplane airport! Just north of Richmond Beach is the tiny town of Woodway – It has amazing houses, but has opted out of the public library system so if library is important to you, then maybe go with Edmonds. Edmonds sits on top of the Puget Sound and is a wonderful Seattle Suburb with a ton of shops and wonderful restaurants. Just north of that is Mukilteo which also has a ton of Waterfront. Mountlake Terrace offers a huge range of housing – the schools are good and the parks are big – plus there is easy commuting access to downtown Seattle, Everett, or the Eastside! Brier Real Estate is good and this city also offers easy commuting to all of these areas! Brier has a nice range of housing and is known for its larger lots and also horse properties. Lynnwood has a nice downtown and also the Alderwood Mall. It also has a mixture of housing options from apartments to larger new construction. Mill Creek is a developed city on a golf course. The neighborhoods are nice and neat and the area is ever expanding as more and more people decide to move into Mill Creek. South Everett touches Mill Creek and more and more Seattle suburb buyers are deciding that South Everett is a more affordable option in some cases – plus the new construction is extremely attractive and especially so when mixed with a fairly smooth commute option to Seattle.

Here are good starting points for looking at these North Seattle suburbs:

Shoreline Real Estate (Richmond Beach Real Estate), Edmonds Real Estate, Lake Forest Park Real Estate, Woodway Real Estate, Mountlake Terrace Real Estate, Brier Real Estate, Lynnwood Real Estate, Bothell Real Estate, Mukilteo Real Estate, Mill Creek Real Estate, Kenmore Real Estate, Everett Real Estate

***Also see my post on most bang for your buck in the Seattle Suburbs******

OK – moving further North……..

Really North End Seattle Suburbs include Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Snohomish, Maltby and Arlington. These are still accessible to Seattle for commuting, but do take just a bit longer to get to. Prices in this area are usually considerably less and there are a ton of new construction perks and buyer bonuses right now if you are interested in checking out the deals available. Luckily, the transit system in the greater Seattle area is improving to the point that these suburbs are becoming more and more popular! Look at prices and search for homes in these Seattle suburbs.

Everett Real Estate

Eastside and more Eastside – The Eastside has a lot to offer – mountains and water – views and waterfront. Bellevue has a thriving downtown business center and a mix of shopping and restaurants with plenty of choices in housing. Right next door is gorgeous Kirkland. Kirkland is so quaint and defintiely my choice for Eastside communities. The waterfront is beautiful and the cute little downtown is just breathtaking. Sammamish and Redmond are Microsoft hot spots and offer a huge array of housing options – plus they are right next to the River Trail for easy bike commuting both local and Seattle commutes. You can choose large houses, large land plots or zero lot line townhomes – either way, you can still be in the heartland of these cities.

Check out Sammamish Plateau for the best deals from builders and a very nice neighborhood. Woodinville, Issaquah and Maple Valley round out my Eastside picks. Woodinville has gorgeous horse properties and sweeping neighborhoods. Issaquah has a wonderful downtown area and wonderful parks and shopping centers. The Issaquah Highlands is a newer development in Issaquah with huge views and its own retail center. It is a planned community with everything residents need right there! Walking trails and coffee shops are right there with townhomes and houses. Mercer Island is off the SouthEast of Seattle and offers waterfront property and gorgeous scenery almost everywhere you look. Look at prices and search for homes in these Seattle suburbs.

Woodinville Real Estate, Kirkland Real Estate, Redmond Real Estate, Bellevue Real Estate, Bothell Real Estate

The Southend – There are a ton of communities between Seattle and Tacoma and prices are usually more reasonable than those of the Eastside or Northern communities. New construction is abundant and builder perks are everywhere! Kent has some amazing new developments with beautiful houses and lush landscaping. I know of one builder that is throwing in so many buyer bonuses that it is worth a look! Renton is booming and has a huge commercial district and its own shopping and restaurants. Federal Way has changed more than any city recently with improvements going in left and right. Burien and Seatac have easy access to the freeway and airport. Des Moines has a nice waterfront and easy access to the freeway. Of all of these, Kent is my top pick for the amazing deals you can get right now! Look at prices and search for homes in these Seattle suburbs.

Ferry Seattle Suburbs…You don’t have to live in a close by driving Seattle Suburb to work in downtown Seattle. Bremerton to the South and its surrounding cities are extremely reasonable and absolutely booming as far as development goes! Living in Gig Harbor or Purdy and working in Seattle is easy with the Bremerton Ferry! Bainbridge Island is just a half an hour ride across the Puget Sound to downtown Seattle. Kingston is a shorter ride from Edmonds, Wa and has gorgeous waterfront and treed lots. Look at prices and search for homes in these Seattle suburbs.

Bainbridge Island Real Estate

Price, Schools, etc……………

Price is usually a factor when looking at Seattle suburbs real estate. Generally the Eastside suburbs of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, and Sammamish tend to be on the pricier side. Some of the ferry suburbs (Bainbridge Island) should also be considered to be in the pricier category. Some of the immediate Northern Suburbs can have some more expensive neighborhoods (Lake Forest Park, Brier, Richmond Beach in Shoreline, Mill Creek) as well. Each of these Seattle suburbs also have some economical choices so they can also be a good choice in any price range.

Check out the Seattle suburb schools.

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services realestate@cooperjacobs.com for more suburb info.

Seattle renters: Take note – Renting vs. Buying

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:26:02 +0000

Some benefits of renting:

Flexible – nothing to tie you down
Less out of pocket in the short term (although in some cases, a mortgage is the same or less than your rent)
No home maintenance to deal with

Seattle real estate and its surrounding suburbs are the best investments you can make! Despite a bit of a slow down due to the current lending environment, we are still one of the most undervalued real estate markets on the West Coast! Even in this cooler market, Seattle houses are appreciating! Seattle real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth today.

Not convinced? Let me give you just a few more good reasons why you need to buy Seattle real estate instead of renting!

Pay yourself instead of someone else by building equity each time you make a house payment
Tax benefits – The interest you pay on your home mortgage is tax deductible in most cases!
Freedom to decorate and make yourself really feel at home!

If you think you might want to look at buying a Seattle house or a house in the Seattle suburbs, now is the exact time to make that move! We are in a buyer’s market for the first time in a long time and there are some good buys out there! The inventory is plentiful so you can choose your very perfect house and the rates are low on top of it! Need help with your closing costs? I can help you get your closing costs paid for! In addition, there are buyer perks out there that make buying Seattle real estate too good to pass up!

Call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!

Flood Clean up in Seattle Suburbs….State of Emergency Declared

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:12:22 +0000

Seattle Suburb Flood Aftermath : Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, and Brier Wa – Horses, roads, and clean up….

Seattle Real Estate Suburb: Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, and Brier Wa Flood Aftermath Update

Among others, 214th was flooded and horses were being brought in left and right. The hillsides were flowing, but luckily the water has receded. Unfortunately for some residents, though, there was damage as a result of the December 2007 storm in Washington state. The Cities of Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, and Brier all declared some type of state of emergency in order to clear the way for clean up funding. This means that affected residents might be eligible for some reimbursement from the federal government for flood damage caused by this latest storm.

Seattle Real Estate: Remodeling: Remodel or Move?

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:52:23 +0000

Seattle real estate is so much fun and nothing is more fun for me than walking into a house and seeing the remodeling that a client has done or is thinking of doing. I have a lot of clients who want me to come over and just take a peek at plans for a potential remodel. They know that I am the queen of knocking down walls, but still possess the sensibility to advise them of what will offer the best return on their real estate investment. Sometimes I can give them a few pointers to smooth out the rough edges of a potential remodel. I also have an army of remodeling contractors I can refer to them.

Some homeowners find themselves questioning whether or not they should remodel their Seattle house or just move. In some cases, remodeling is not the answer. You can remodel that little house on the busy street to your hearts content, but if it being on the busy street is still going to bother you in the end, then you should consider a different type of remodel. Instead of the extremely high end finish work you would prefer to live with, do some simple upgrades and cosmetics to help it sell faster and for more money. On the flip side, if you love your Seattle neighborhood, but your house is just too small, consider adding on.

I have one client who needs an extra bedroom in her Seattle suburb home. Her house is perfect except that it is missing a bedroom so she finds herself looking at bigger houses, but always coming back to the realization that she loves her house. She has gorgeous twenty foot vaulted ceilings just off the landing loft upstairs above her dining room so I suggested contacting one of my architects or contractors and looking at putting in that extra bedroom above the dining room. The high ceilings are nice, but the bedroom would not only make her house more valuable, but also make it more livable for her. . She wonders why I would tell her not to buy a house when I am a real estate agent, but the truth is that I want my clients to be happy and she would never be happy living in a different neighborhood – I know her this well after other investment property dealings I have gone through with her. Remodeling is the best choice for her.

Sometimes it takes an extra set of eyes to decide whether or not remodeling in Seattle is the right decision. There are a lot of factors that go into the choice of buying another house in Seattle and moving or hunkering down and coming up with a sound remodeling plan for your current home or real estate investment property. Seattle has a lot of fabulous contractors and many that specialize in specific areas of remodeling. Unfortunately, there are always bad with the good so make sure you get referrals from people who know and have worked with the contractor. Also, make sure you get at least three estimates or bids before choosing one.

If you need someone to come and take a peek at what your plans are and give you an honest opinion, please feel free to send me an email – I am happy to let you pick my brain on the decision to remodel or move in Seattle. I also might see an idea you hadn’t thought of before… courtney@courtneycooper.com

Contact info: Courtney Cooper phone (206)251-5948 email: courtney@courtneycooper.com

Brier, Wa – Don’t forget about Santa!

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:54:43 +0000

Brier, Washington, Don’t forget that Santa arrives tonight in Brier Park!!!! The annual tree lighting for the city of Brier, Wa is tonight and Santa arrives at 6:30! Also don’t miss the Holiday Parade of Boats where local Brier, Wa residents dress up their boats and parade them at the event!

Seattle Sellers: Is your home sitting on the market? My top ten tips for Seattle Sellers!

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:43:46 +0000

Seattle Washington Real Estate is still an excellent market, but has changed from what it used to be and sellers need to take note!

Obviously the mortgage industry has played a major part in this new Seattle buyer’s market. Loan programs are stricter and as a result the pool of qualified buyers has dwindled down. Even though this means there are less buyers competing for your home, you can be sure that the buyers out there are stronger more qualified buyers! Now that Seattle has found itself in a buyer’s market, many home sellers are having to adapt. In order to be competitive in Seattle’s new buyer’s market, Puget Sound sellers should have every edge possible! Here are some of the things that could help your home get noticed!

Hire a full service
Realtor!!!!! This is probably one of your biggest investments – not the time to cut corners! You need the superior quality help to have the edge in this market!
Staging – I have an accredited Stager help me with my listings to make sure they are stunning when any buyer walks in. I want them to walk in and fall in love! It is amazing how dressing your home up like a Pottery Barn catalog can help to emotionally sell it!
Housekeeping/Lawn Maintenance – Hire a housekeeper and a yard maintenance team! You want your home to shine! The extra money will most likely be worth the investment.
Process – This is something I have to go through weekly in my own house. I call it processing. It is simply going through clutter and sorting it into piles – charitable contributions, trash, give away to friends, recycling, keep. It is helpful to do this regularly, but taking the time to do a big process job on your garage and closets can really pay off!
Dress Your Cabinets and Closets – Your Stager might do this, but if not, you should. Take the merchandising approach and color code your closets – hang clothing by shades of color and really make your closet look like a rack at The Gap! The same thing can be done with your kitchen cabinets – turning all the labels on the cans outward and making sure the pantry is organized and not cramped is vital.
Storage – Make the investment to store extra furniture or clothes that clog up closets and garages. Clear your kitchen counters of appliances and clutter. Your home needs to scream spaciousness and plenty of storage.
Be gone – Leave your house well before showings! You want the buyers to be able to picture themselves in your home. They can’t do this with you in it. It is also uncomfortable for buyers to be in your home with you there.
Buyer Incentives…Offer to pay closing costs or some other from of bonus to “sweeten the pot” for a buyer when they are making a purchasing decision. They have lots to choose from right now!
Selling Office Commission: Don’t discount it – that agent is the hero who is bringing you a qualified buyer!!! I would even consider offering an agent bonus! It might encourage them to bring even more buyers back!
Price your home right! Doing all of the above won’t matter if you don’t price your home correctly. Again, your full service Realtor is qualified to do this! Also please keep in mind that starting a bit lower could not only get you multiple offers even in this market. More importantly, starting lower would save you thousands and thousands in carrying costs that your home would be incurring while it sits on the market at a higher price!

Seattle Suburbs: What’s in it for me? Builder perks, Parks, horses?

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:54:38 +0000

Seattle Suburbs offer more than giant shiny new houses and builder perks galore!

Easy Transportation in and out of major cities like Seattle, Everett, and Bellevue - don’t forget about the Park and Rides!!! They are everywhere and they are improving on top of that (Look at the Mountlake Terrace system for example!)! The transit system is wonderful in the Puget Sound! We complain about it and are constantly improving it, but the truth is it works very well! Our traffic is bad during peak hours, but grab a book or your iPod and let someone else do the driving for you! Save on gas and take some “me” time!

Large open spaces - Seattle offers some wonderful parks and places to play in city, but look at what the Seattle suburbs have to offer! Besides loads of parks to play in and enjoy, there’s more! Like horses, dogs? Brier, Washington has its own horse arena at City Hall. Woodinville is just one of the communities with horse trails. Check out the dog parks in the various towns and don’t miss the dog oriented events!

Trails and more trails!!! Want to bike, run, walk, or hike in the Seattle Suburbs? Wanna hike? There are tons of neighboring trails and parks. Bike on the Burke Gilman trail through Lake Forest Park or Kenmore and all the way down to Wallingford and beyond if you feel like it. Mill Creek, Brier, and Mountlake Terrace are just a few Seattle suburbs that have interconnecting trails for their residents.

Beaches and Lakes???? Besides heading to the sandy beaches of Edmonds, Washington or the shores of Lake Washington, there are also many smaller lakes including Martha Lake in Lynnwood – or Silverlake in Everett. If you want a water event, just look around!

Shopping! When I lived in city, I had to drive forever to find anything – Luckily, Northgate Mall is being revamped, but try Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood if you want everything from Macy’s and Nordstrom’s to PF Chang’s, William-Sonoma, and J Jill. The shopping is good in the burbs!

If you think you might be interested in Seattle Suburb real estate, make sure and have a FULL SERVICE experienced Realtor help you find the community that is best for you!

Seattle Suburbs: Look no further for Great New Construction Deals!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:18:44 +0000

Check out the burbs!

Seattle is a beautiful place to live and work, but if you are craving the open floor plans and large spaces of new construction, then look no further than the many beautiful Seattle suburbs! In the south, wonderful developments are popping up in Kent, Renton, and Des Moines. If you go east, you can still find some wonderful new construction in Bellevue and Kirkland, but the trend is heading towards the mountains with more activity in Sammamish and Issaquah – and even Cle Elum, North Bend, and Roslyn. Real estate is going crazy in North Seattle with areas of Lynnwood Washington like Martha Lake and Mill Creek still growing considerably. Edmonds, Richmond Beach and Woodway have some good options – some of them complete with views of the sound! Lake Forest Park has some beautiful custom homes going in. Even Brier and Mountlake Terrace have new construction going in! South Everett and Snohomish just North of Mill Creek are probably the most active and the homes being put in are loaded with all the new features buyers are looking for today.

Granite? Stainless? Seller Paid Closing Costs? No Problem!!!

Granite and stainless steel seem to prevail as standard rather than being an option and builders are throwing in perks left and right – plasmas, gift cards, you name it! Seattle Suburb builders have finally realized that they are in a buyer’s market and as a result, Seattle buyers are getting some amazing deals! On top of that, the housing interest rates are low so Seattle buyers are getting the best of both worlds!!!! Buying in the Seattle suburbs is a good choice because the price is right – right now! Home maintenance costs are lower and you can actually sit back and watch your equity grow rather than have to dip into it to make costly improvements or repairs.

Get in there and Negotiate for you!!!! Your experienced full service Realtor can help you get the best investment possible! Take advantage of the buyer perks available right now! It doesn’t happen very often!!!!

Seattle Real Estate: Seattle Suburb Holiday Happenings… Some people in Brier, WA making a difference!

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:37:49 +0000

Brier, Washington’s Timberline Park is in its 11th year of their lighting tradition. If you haven’t seen it, it is definitely one of Seattle’s must do activities for the holiday season! These Brier, Washington Residents go all out with gorgeous handcrafted painted figurines and beautiful lighting schemes.

It isn’t all for the lights – these beautiful people collect non perishable foods and cash for the Lynnwood Food Bank. According to their website, just in the last four years alone, they have collected over $100,000 in CASH and roughly 40,000 pounds of food!!!! They just opened up a couple of days ago and already have almost six hundred dollars as of yesterday. These guys are making a difference!

You can find Brier Lights at 3700 228th St SW, Brier, WA 98036….

If you are interested in other happenings in Brier Washington Real Estate, call Courtney Cooper….For all your Seattle Washington area Real Estate Needs!

Seattle Washington Real Estate Agent: Courtney Cooper – Associate Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County – Experienced and with a background in accounting – I love my clients and work hard for them!