RainCityHouses.com: Seattle Real Estate » Seattle Suburbs Real Estate http://raincityhouses.com Seattle Neighborhoods & Suburbs Real Estate Fri, 18 May 2012 20:38:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Lake Forest Park Real Estate Update http://raincityhouses.com/lake-forest-park-real-estate-update/ http://raincityhouses.com/lake-forest-park-real-estate-update/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:18:29 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/?p=526 Lake Forest Park Real Estate:  It has been a while since our last Lake Forest Park real estate update, so we wanted to go ahead and get the latest numbers out there for you -

Gorgeous sandy beach of Lake Forest Park waterfront home on Shore Drive NE.

Currently there are 74 Active Lake Forest Park homes for . . . → Read More: Lake Forest Park Real Estate Update]]>

Lake Forest Park Real Estate:  It has been a while since our last Lake Forest Park real estate update, so we wanted to go ahead and get the latest numbers out there for you -

Gorgeous sandy beach of Lake Forest Park waterfront home on Shore Drive NE.

Currently there are 74 Active Lake Forest Park homes for sale in the MLS.  They range in price from $239,940 to $1,499,900 with a median of $493,811 and average days on market of 89 days.

Pending Inspection Lake Forest Park MLS Listings – There are 2 Lake Forest Park homes for sale that have offers subject to inspection right now – The are both priced in the low $300k range with a median price of $316,200 and average days on market of 69 days.   In addition, there are 3 Lake Forest Park homes for sale that are marked Pending – Back UP requested.  These range in price from $299,000 to $1,450,000 for a Lake Forest Park waterfront home on Beach Drive.

There are 11 Lake Forest Park properties that are pending in the MLS waiting to close.  They are in escrow and past any other contingencies for the most part.  These range in price from $310,000 to $675,000 with a median price of $474,500 and average days on market of 89.

In the MLS, 7 Lake Forest Park homes have closed in the last 30 days ranging in price from $266,000 to $918,736 with a median of $367,500 and average days on market of 64.  We also know of a Lake Forest Park waterfront home on Shore Drive that sold just this last week out of the MLS for $2,200,000.  It had multiple offers and Elaine Sandbeck who is currently a Managing Broker at  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate managed to secure it for her clients!

Let us know if you are interested in some of the most beautiful Lake Washington waterfront properties in the Seattle area:  homes@LakeForestParkView.com or call our office for your Lake Forest Park Realtor 206-251-5948

The Lake Forest Park real estate summary is lots of inventory we are trying to get through right now.  Homes in the lower and higher price ranges seem to be of most interest right now for the buyers who are out there looking.

Please let us know if you know of a home that has sold out of the MLS or if you have one to sell.

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/lake-forest-park-real-estate-update/feed/ 0 Tax Credit Impacts & Tactics According To One Seattle Suburb… http://raincityhouses.com/tax-credit-impacts-tactics-according-to-one-seattle-suburb%e2%80%a6/ http://raincityhouses.com/tax-credit-impacts-tactics-according-to-one-seattle-suburb%e2%80%a6/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:46:53 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/tax-credit-impacts-tactics-according-to-one-seattle-suburb%e2%80%a6/ Want to learn more about the tax credit and how it is impacting Seattle Suburbs? There were interesting stats over on LakeForestParkView.com about how the tax credit incentive might be affecting pending sales for Lake Forest Park homes for sale. We all expected that the tax credit would impact sales, but as the deadline approaches it . . . → Read More: Tax Credit Impacts & Tactics According To One Seattle Suburb…]]> Want to learn more about the tax credit and how it is impacting Seattle Suburbs? There were interesting stats over on LakeForestParkView.com about how the tax credit incentive might be affecting pending sales for Lake Forest Park homes for sale. We all expected that the tax credit would impact sales, but as the deadline approaches it is particularly interesting to watch the pending sales jump up.

Seller Tactics on The Tax Credit Getting “Out There” I also have been somewhat flabbergasted by some of the different approaches agents are taking on the tax credit for their listings. There is a tactic going around in the listing remarks where it says “all offers to be reviewed on” x date. And then that date happens to be right before the deadline. To me, this seems stupid because buyers scrambling around last minute to try and get something locked down under contract are going to seriously consider skipping the property and moving on to something they have the opportunity of locking down NOW.

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/tax-credit-impacts-tactics-according-to-one-seattle-suburb%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Brier Homes For Sale – Seattle Suburbs Real Estate Offerings… http://raincityhouses.com/brier-homes-for-sale-%e2%80%93-seattle-suburbs-real-estate-offerings%e2%80%a6/ http://raincityhouses.com/brier-homes-for-sale-%e2%80%93-seattle-suburbs-real-estate-offerings%e2%80%a6/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:41:05 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/brier-homes-for-sale/ 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 . . . → Read More: Brier Homes For Sale – Seattle Suburbs Real Estate Offerings…]]> 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.

Brier real estateThe 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 224th 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

Brier real estate19207 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

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/brier-homes-for-sale-%e2%80%93-seattle-suburbs-real-estate-offerings%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Bellevue Neighborhoods: Looking for a great housing option near Microsoft? http://raincityhouses.com/bellevue-neighborhoods-looking-for-a-great-housing-option-near-microsoft/ http://raincityhouses.com/bellevue-neighborhoods-looking-for-a-great-housing-option-near-microsoft/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:31:07 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/bellevue-neighborhoods-looking-for-a-great-housing-option-near-microsoft/ Bellevue Neighborhoods: Relocating for Microsoft?

The three areas I really like in Bellevue for the close proximity to Microsoft are Overlake, Lake Hills, and what we also just call Microsoft because it is so close – Microsoft is a huge part of the local economy and there are always people relocating to be here because of . . . → Read More: Bellevue Neighborhoods: Looking for a great housing option near Microsoft?]]> Bellevue homes for saleBellevue Neighborhoods: Relocating for Microsoft?

The three areas I really like in Bellevue for the close proximity to Microsoft are Overlake, Lake Hills, and what we also just call Microsoft because it is so close – Microsoft is a huge part of the local economy and there are always people relocating to be here because of it. Redmond and Sammamish are typically first on the list for Microsoft people moving in from out of state, but Bellevue neighborhoods are a great option and these three MLS areas are quite affordable when looking at a good combination of schools, walk ability, and amenities.

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services has a great house listed right now in the Overlake/Microsoft area of Bellevue – near Crossroads Mall and all the other great shopping centers right there. It has easy access to both 520 and I-90 and is on a private cul de Bellevue homes for salesac with a great walking trail to the major drag for easy transit or cycling access. You can check it out here:

15002 NE 9th PL

Bellevue homes in this neighborhood don’t come up for sale very often and this one has some great spaces. If you are looking at moving to Seattle and want a Seattle suburbs map or some direction on where you might start looking for your particular situation, please feel free to give us a call or drop an email. We have successfully helped many clients with their relocations to the Greater Puget Sound area!

Bellevue real estate:

You can find more great Bellevue Real Estate on our site! We have all listings by all companies and it sweeps the MLS every 15 to 20 minutes for changes. Search for free with no obligation to sign up, but you can sign up and save your searches, save your favorites, or set up custom email alerts so you are always notified when a new Bellevue home comes on the market that meets your needs!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/bellevue-neighborhoods-looking-for-a-great-housing-option-near-microsoft/feed/ 0 Mill Creek WA Real Estate: $500,000 to $600,000 http://raincityhouses.com/mill-creek-wa-real-estate-500000-to-600000/ http://raincityhouses.com/mill-creek-wa-real-estate-500000-to-600000/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:05:40 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/mill-creek-wa-real-estate-500000-to-600000/ If you are in the market for Mill Creek real estate right now, I can tell you that I spent a major portion of the last few days touring what is available in the $500,000 to $600,000 range. I have sold and listed Mill Creek homes quite a bit, but I am always delighted to go . . . → Read More: Mill Creek WA Real Estate: $500,000 to $600,000]]> If you are in the market for Mill Creek real estate right now, I can tell you that I spent a major portion of the last few days touring what is available in the $500,000 to $600,000 range. I have sold and listed Mill Creek homes quite a bit, but I am always delighted to go on a great tour a really compare apples to apples for a particular buyer. As a result of the tours and showings, I have found myself bombarded by Mill Creek homes for salelisting agents asking me for feedback.

Most of the Mill Creek homes have just been very nicely presented and all together great choices. I can tell you that there were a few comments from my buyers that Mill Creek sellers should think about – not because I am the expert or my buyers are the only buyers around, but just because it is the general consensus really.

Wall paper. I only saw one room that was pretty neutral, but overall buyers do not want wallpaper. It does not matter how designer or how pretty it is (or how awful), they just DO NOT WANT wallpaper. I always recommend to my sellers that they removed wallpaper prior to putting their home on the market. It is pretty general knowledge and so I was surprised to still see so much of it. I personally liked most of it, but most buyers do not and as easy as it is to take off (it really is most of the time, I swear!), it is a big factor when it comes to how a buyer feels about a home.

Landscaping – well thankfully I was within the Country Club boundaries most of the time and Mill Creek is known for its rigorous CC&R’s and landscaping so the yards were nice although I will say that I would highly recommend that you FULLY fence your back yard. Let’s face it – the majority of Mill Creek prospective buyers will most likely have children, but at the very least they will have a pet if not kids. Again, I know – small thing, but having big gaping holes in your fence line not only takes away from the privacy of the backyard, but overall just doesn’t quite feel homey to most buyers.

Updated kitchen – this was the biggest complaint. For half a million and up a buyer should expect to have at least granite tile in the kitchen and not the original cabinetry.

There are some impressive Mill Creek homes in the $500k to $600k range – if you might be even thinking about living in this highly organized community, then I would recommend looking now. Sellers, if you are thinking of moving out, there are some great buyers looking for quality homes. They like clean lines and updated kitchens. Updated baths are a bonus (please take the carpet out of the bathroom when you update it – no one likes that anymore).

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/mill-creek-wa-real-estate-500000-to-600000/feed/ 0 Seattle Suburbs Real Estate $300K & Under – There are Some Great Homes In Here! http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-300k-under-%e2%80%93-there-are-some-great-homes-in-here/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-300k-under-%e2%80%93-there-are-some-great-homes-in-here/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:14:23 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-300k-under-%e2%80%93-there-are-some-great-homes-in-here/ Seattle suburbs homes under $300,000 are blazing on to the real estate market right now and there are some good ones in here! Take that and add it to the upcoming deadline to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit and it makes for some good steamy competition in this Seattle real estate market! You can . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburbs Real Estate $300K & Under – There are Some Great Homes In Here!]]> Seattle suburbs homes under $300,000 are blazing on to the real estate market right now and there are some good ones in here! Take that and add it to the upcoming deadline to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit and it makes for some good steamy competition in this Seattle real estate market! You can Mountlake Terrace WAfind Seattle suburbs homes here, but just take a peek at these numbers!

Seattle Suburbs Real Estate $300k and under by city – look at these homes!

Edmonds WA homes under $300k: 32 of them ranging in price from $182,900 for a bank owned home to $285,000 – with most under $250k!!! That is a lot of houses in that range for a Seattle suburb like Edmonds!

Shoreline, WA homes under $300k: 43 of them listed right now! These Shoreline homes range in price from $192,900 for a bank owned foreclosure home to $300,000 and you can even find some of them in Richmond Beach!

Richmond Beach Real EstateLynnwood WA homes: 102! These are the residential only listings – no condos here, but you can find those, too! These Lynnwood homes start at $184,900!

Mountlake Terrace real estate: 25 homes here for under $300k! $171,884 for a bank owned home is the lowest and there are several that hover just above that low range as well – on up to $300k. Surprisingly, Mountlake Terrace has very few, but that is most likely due to the fact that people are seriously starting to see the value of this Seattle suburb that has long been ignored. Revitalization, new transit improvements, and quality businesses moving in can surely account for the improvement here.

Brier real estate There are only five homes in Brier WA for under $300,000. These Brier homes start at $219,000 and go up to $299,950 for a newly reduced 3 bedroom 1.5 bath rambler with 3 out of 5 of the houses under $250,000.

Brier homes for saleLake Forest Park Real Estate: Lake Forest Park has some great places, but nothing under $300k! I did bump it up to $350,000 and got 6 listings there – $324,950 to $349,500. There are some pretty nice choices in these.

Kenmore WA homes: Kenmore real estate has gotten hot again probably due to its recent mention as one of the best places to live in several media venues. There are 10 houses for sale in Kenmore WA that are under $300,000 so why not come find out what everyone is talking about here? In fact, you can get a home here for as low as $255,000 on Finn Hill! There is also a house in Juanita for $284,000 – it is bank owned and waiting for some love!

So there you go! 217 Seattle Suburbs homes under $300,000 and in close in suburbs to Seattle. If you are looking to take advantage of the first time homebuyer $8000 tax credit, then this is a great starting point for you! We can also help get your closing costs paid by the seller in most cases. If you want more info about using this credit, short sales, foreclosures, or more: realestate@cooperjacobs.com or call 425-502-5431

Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services: Serving Seattle neighborhoods and Seattle Suburbs with care.

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-300k-under-%e2%80%93-there-are-some-great-homes-in-here/feed/ 0 Eastlake Real Estate: Homes Getting Lots Of Interest From Seattle Suburbs Empty Nesters http://raincityhouses.com/eastlake-real-estate-homes-getting-lots-of-interest-from-seattle-suburbs-empty-nesters/ http://raincityhouses.com/eastlake-real-estate-homes-getting-lots-of-interest-from-seattle-suburbs-empty-nesters/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:07:21 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/eastlake-real-estate-homes-getting-lots-of-interest-from-seattle-suburbs-empty-nesters/ Seattle WA neighborhood Eastlake has been heating up lately – Eastlake has always been a great place to live, but lots of soon to be ex Seattle suburb home owners have made the move or are thinking about it! And why not? Eastlake has arguably the best of all worlds in Seattle as far as neighborhoods . . . → Read More: Eastlake Real Estate: Homes Getting Lots Of Interest From Seattle Suburbs Empty Nesters]]> Seattle houseboatsSeattle WA neighborhood Eastlake has been heating up lately – Eastlake has always been a great place to live, but lots of soon to be ex Seattle suburb home owners have made the move or are thinking about it! And why not? Eastlake has arguably the best of all worlds in Seattle as far as neighborhoods go. It is small and quaint, yet literally in the middle of everything going on in the heart of Seattle.

Nestled on the banks of Lake Union, Eastlake offers some of the best Seattle floating homes with gorgeous Western views and easy waterfront living. If houseboats are not your thing, though, Eastlake has a great combination of affordable view condos, older charming homes, cute duplexes, and new townhomes – some with cool Green home features like solar. Living on the West side of Eastlake Ave seems to be the most popular choice – anywhere on the West side provides you east access through a series of mini parks at the end of the streets – Roanoke& Lynn Street are great places to throw a kayak in and go, but there is also a little known tiny public dock for boats to launch and run into Pete’s Market where you will find one of the best selections of wine in the city.

Eastlake real estateEastlake Real Estate is a great Seattle waterfront choice that is close to it all! Interested in anything Downtown Seattle related? Well Eastlake is probably the best place to live for a combination of smaller neighborhood living and urban amenities. The streetcar can take you into Downtown Seattle and South Lake Union is still developing, but has some of the attractive Seattle suburban perks like Whole Foods! Want to go to a Sounders or Mariners game? It is all at your doorstep while still being close to I-5 for easy commuting if you need to head out of town.

Looking for easy living and low maintenance out of the suburbs? Eastlake is my number one recommendation and Eastlake homes have a lot to choose from! You can find easy no maintenance homes and wonderful spaces – some great townhomes, too. If you want more maintenance and closer waterfront living, then go for a houseboat – they are relatively affordable compared to other real estate today and what better way to enjoy Seattle’s waterfront living?

©Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services: Seattle Real Estate, Courtney Cooper is the Designated Broker, Seattle Realtor, EcoBroker, and member Built Green 206-251-5948

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/eastlake-real-estate-homes-getting-lots-of-interest-from-seattle-suburbs-empty-nesters/feed/ 0 Sunny Weather & Buying a Home… http://raincityhouses.com/sunny-weather-buying-a-home%e2%80%a6/ http://raincityhouses.com/sunny-weather-buying-a-home%e2%80%a6/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 23:29:51 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/sunny-weather-buying-a-home%e2%80%a6/ Today might seem like a great day to go out and look at houses, and please do by all means get out there and go look, but don’t make a buying decision today. It is absolutely too perfect of a day to decide whether or not to buy a house! We wait all year it seems . . . → Read More: Sunny Weather & Buying a Home…]]> Today might seem like a great day to go out and look at houses, and please do by all means get out there and go look, but don’t make a buying decision today. It is absolutely too perfect of a day to decide whether or not to buy a house! We wait all year it seems for a day like today! My morning tour was just amazing and the weather definitely helps to sell even an ugly little house, but luckily I saw a fabulous house!

Highlighted Seattle Suburbs:

Shoreline, WA: Shoreline is really close in to Seattle and a great place for schools, parks, and more! Shoreline real estate

Lynnwood, WA: Properly priced Lynnwood real estate is really moving right now! This city is also celebrating its 50th birthday with lots of events all year long.

Mountlake Terrace, WA: Mountlake Terrace is having major changes right now, from the solar Transit Center to major rezoning to give the downtown core a facelift, this Seattle Suburb is a great place to look for close in Seattle commuting and affordability. Highlights: Amorn Thai on 56th is the best Thai I have ever tasted and Cinebarre is moving into the old Mountlake 9! Look for great things to come for Mountlake Terrace! Mountlake Terrace real estate

Lake Forest Park, WA: Lake Forest Park is a treed paradise right next to the city and on the banks of Lake Washington. This is a great city for nature loving tree enthusiasts. Lake Forest Park real estate  or make sure and check out Seattle homes, too!

Coming Soon: A new map based search to find all homes listed in the MLS right on this site!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/sunny-weather-buying-a-home%e2%80%a6/feed/ 2 New Seattle Homes Search & Help With Closing Costs http://raincityhouses.com/new-seattle-homes-search-help-with-closing-costs/ http://raincityhouses.com/new-seattle-homes-search-help-with-closing-costs/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:09:59 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/new-seattle-homes-search-help-with-closing-costs/ Seattle suburbs real estate and Seattle homes searches are all offered for FREE on this site:

www.CooperJacobs.com

It sweeps the multiple listing service for changes and all listings form all companies are included. This is a great one stop shopping place if you are curious about any Seattle area real estate prices or conditions. There are neighborhood pages . . . → Read More: New Seattle Homes Search & Help With Closing Costs]]> seattle suburbs mapSeattle suburbs real estate and Seattle homes searches are all offered for FREE on this site:

www.CooperJacobs.com

It sweeps the multiple listing service for changes and all listings form all companies are included. This is a great one stop shopping place if you are curious about any Seattle area real estate prices or conditions. There are neighborhood pages and suburb pages to give you info about each market.

Other info?

$8000 tax credit for first time homebuyers – for more than first timers so get all the details to see if you qualify.

$1000 in closing costs

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/new-seattle-homes-search-help-with-closing-costs/feed/ 0 Hot Buys In The Seattle Suburbs: Looking For Bang For Buck? http://raincityhouses.com/hot-buys-in-the-seattle-suburbs-looking-for-bang-for-buck/ http://raincityhouses.com/hot-buys-in-the-seattle-suburbs-looking-for-bang-for-buck/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:49:02 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/hot-buys-in-the-seattle-suburbs-looking-for-bang-for-buck/ Looking for the best Seattle suburb real estate bang for your buck in 2009? There are so many wonderful properties out there to choose from right now, but here are just a couple of the areas that are really standing out as far as best bang for your buck with regards to square footage, . . . → Read More: Hot Buys In The Seattle Suburbs: Looking For Bang For Buck?]]> Looking for the best Seattle suburb real estate bang for your buck in 2009? There are so many wonderful properties out there to choose from right now, but here are just a couple of the areas that are really standing out as far as best bang for your buck with regards to square footage, schools, and commute – not to mention the amenities………………

Mountlake Terrace:

Mountlake Terrace real estate has always been a nice cheaper Seattle suburb option, and it is so close to Downtown Seattle! Mountlake Terrace already had some great perks: It is served by the quality Edmonds School District, and its Community Center s phenomenal with an amazing swimming facility. There is a huge gymnastics facility right in town, and the retail tax base is larger than many nearby suburbs.

The difference now is that the infrastructure and amenities have caught up and even exceeded what one might expect with the lower priced Seattle suburb housing. The new Park and Ride is set to open up this Spring at the I-5 236th St SW exit and with that comes even more possibilities further down the road with the rail system. The Downtown area of Mountlake Terrace has undergone some recent rezoning and is all set for a huge revitalization project which will make it a truly modern and inspiring place to live. In speaking with one of the city council members, I learned that there are more permits in for building and redeveloping the downtown area than ever before.

Two and Three bedroom Mountlake Terrace houses start in the low $200,000 range and offer larger yards than some may expect. I recently found a Mountlake Terrace house with 4 bedrooms and two baths for just under $300,000! My buyers are thrilled! You can search Mountlake Terrace real estate by clicking the link.

Lynnwood Real Estate:

Lynnwood Real Estate is pretty much a virtual bargain right now. New construction in particular is overabundant and builders are looking to move inventory. There are many buyer perks for taking one of these houses off their hands in the form of upgrades and seller paid closing costs, plus Lynnwood basically has almost anything anyone would need in the way of amenities. This city is filled with restaurants, movie theatres, and the amazingly redone Alderwood Mall – home of Macys, Nordstrom, Sears, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, J Jill, REI, and more.

Lynnwood already has amazing Park and Rides and the proposed lite rail system was voted to come up to the 164th Street Exit o I-5. The other great thing about Lynnwood WA is the fact that I-405 and I-5 meet right here making this an ideal spot to live whether you work in Everett, Seattle, or even the Eastside – Kirkland and Bothell are just a few exits away using I-405 with no bridges to cross.

Three bedroom homes in Lynnwood, Washington start in the mid-$250,000 range. Click here if you are interested in searching the MLS listings for Lynnwood real estate.

If you are interested in learning more about either of these Seattle suburbs, please feel free to drop me a line! realestate@cooperjacobs.com

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/hot-buys-in-the-seattle-suburbs-looking-for-bang-for-buck/feed/ 4 Lynnwood WA real estate could be where it is at as far as best Seattle Suburb commute… http://raincityhouses.com/lynnwood-wa-real-estate-could-be-where-it-is-at-as-far-as-best-seattle-suburb-commute%e2%80%a6/ http://raincityhouses.com/lynnwood-wa-real-estate-could-be-where-it-is-at-as-far-as-best-seattle-suburb-commute%e2%80%a6/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:12:31 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/lynnwood-wa-real-estate-could-be-where-it-is-at-as-far-as-best-seattle-suburb-commute%e2%80%a6/ I lived in San Francisco for eight or so years and I have to tell you that the highlight of being a teenager and then a member of the workforce in the Bay Area is none other than BART. BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit and it was brilliant. All the buses connected to the . . . → Read More: Lynnwood WA real estate could be where it is at as far as best Seattle Suburb commute…]]> I lived in San Francisco for eight or so years and I have to tell you that the highlight of being a teenager and then a member of the workforce in the Bay Area is none other than BART. BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit and it was brilliant. All the buses connected to the BART stations and this lovely commuter train could get me downtown in the blink of an eye. Seattle is FINALLY starting to catch up! The LINK light rail system is a good one, but incomplete. It is impossible to put a puzzle together without all of the pieces!!! There are whole lines of the LINK rail that are not there and not in the budget to be there. Sound Transit has finally voted in favor of putting the latest LINK extension plans on the ballot for us to decide!

What are we looking at here?

LINK light rail to Lynnwood within 15 years! This would be fabulous news for the entire North Seattle suburbs – Mountlake Terrace would get a stop along the way, and Lynnwood already has one of the greatest transit centers there is.

I think the overwhelming response might encourage Sound Transit to keep going and extend it to Lake Stevens which is growing like wildfire. The Northern Seattle suburbs already have such a great transit center system, but population has greatly increased in recent years making even the large Seattle suburban streets crowded at times.

So my best pick for Seattle suburb commuting?

Toss up between Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace for now…

(check out Mountlake Terrace Transit stuff, too…)

Are you interested in Lynnwood real estate? Seattle suburbs real estate? realestate@cooperjacobs.com Looking for a Lynnwood Realtor?

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/lynnwood-wa-real-estate-could-be-where-it-is-at-as-far-as-best-seattle-suburb-commute%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Seattle Suburbs Real Estate: Great Weather For Sprucing Up The Garden To Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-great-weather-for-sprucing-up-the-garden-to-spruce-up-your-curb-appeal/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-great-weather-for-sprucing-up-the-garden-to-spruce-up-your-curb-appeal/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:06:09 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-want-a-bettr-deal-than-a-seattle-short-sale/ Seattle Suburbs real estate – The weatherman was wrong…again! Well, I guess I should be thankful because the new perennials I planted in are doing very well without any HEAT!!!! The truth is that while the rest of the country is going through a bitter heat wave, Seattle has managed to stay in the 50′s and . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburbs Real Estate: Great Weather For Sprucing Up The Garden To Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal]]> Seattle Suburbs real estate – The weatherman was wrong…again! Well, I guess I should be thankful because the new perennials I planted in are doing very well without any HEAT!!!! The truth is that while the rest of the country is going through a bitter heat wave, Seattle has managed to stay in the 50′s and 60′s – pretty depressing when I think even parts of Alaska are warmer than the Pacific Northwest.

Now is a great time to spruce up your yard and make your curb appeal gleam. A few extra touches can go a long way in making a buyer choose your home when they are out looking at real estate. I have a giant six to eight foot tall rockery that backs to a six acre forest. We fenced out the forest at one point, but the top of the rockery is like its own forest. Between my work schedule here and there, I have spent the last month alongside my husband and anyone else we can sucker into helping. We have pulled weeds, laid down multiple layers of landscape fabric, and planted in low maintenance plants like lavender. It is a big project – the rockery is very long – it runs the entire length of our lot. We are only a third of the way through because we are both so busy.

Your project doesn’t have to be so intensive – just a few bits here and there can make a huge difference when it comes to first impressions. Weeds gone and a few spots of color can go miles. Go for broad strokes rather than really detailed labor. It might not look like much, but if you were to take a before and after shot, you would definitely see it! The added perk? Our weather is perfect for this kind of activity – no sunburns or overheating, and no water starved struggling new plants. I want my summer, too, but at this point, looking at the silver lining is vital to sanity!

Good luck! Happy weeding!

Interested in Seattle real estate? Seattle suburbs real estate? Seattle short sales? Seattle foreclosures? realestate@cooperjacobs.com

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 real estate, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf real estate, Green Lake real estate (Greenlake), Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park), Shoreline real estate, Edmonds, Brier real estate, Lynnwood real estate, Mountlake Terrace real estate, Lake Forest Park real estate, Bothell real estate,Redmond, Kirkland, Mill Creek real estate, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs real estate!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-great-weather-for-sprucing-up-the-garden-to-spruce-up-your-curb-appeal/feed/ 0 Seattle Suburbs Homes: Move to The Suburbs Of Seattle To Save Gas? http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-homes-move-to-the-suburbs-of-seattle-to-save-gas/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-homes-move-to-the-suburbs-of-seattle-to-save-gas/#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:34:11 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-homes-move-to-the-suburbs-of-seattle-to-save-gas/ Seattle suburb real estate and gas savings? Is she serious? Here is why I think this is a good idea:

Seattle suburbs offering the most gas savings bang for your buck and also good schools, houses, neighborhoods? Lynnwood, WA houses, Mountlake Terrace houses, Brier houses – these are all conveniently located right in that intersection of I-5 . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburbs Homes: Move to The Suburbs Of Seattle To Save Gas?]]> Seattle suburb real estate and gas savings? Is she serious? Here is why I think this is a good idea:

Seattle suburbs offering the most gas savings bang for your buck and also good schools, houses, neighborhoods? Lynnwood, WA houses, Mountlake Terrace houses, Brier houses – these are all conveniently located right in that intersection of I-5 and I-405 – perfect for transit commute to Everett, Seattle, or the Eastside – all have access to the large interconnecting trail system for biking across Puget Sound. The Park and Rides are fabulous, the shopping is amazing, and there are movies and restaurants galore…. Houses are available in all ranges and have not risen to the astronomical levels of other Seattle suburbs offering comparable properties. This is why these are my picks for gas saving suburbs…..

Interested in Brier real estate? Lynnwood WA real estate? Mountlake Terrace real estate?  realestate@cooperjacobs.com

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), Seattle Suburbs Homes in Shoreline, Edmonds, Redmond, Kirkland, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-homes-move-to-the-suburbs-of-seattle-to-save-gas/feed/ 0 Seattle Real Estate Going Green – Green Guide For Seattle Neighborhoods & Seattle Suburbs http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-going-green-green-guide-for-seattle-neighborhoods-seattle-suburbs/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-going-green-green-guide-for-seattle-neighborhoods-seattle-suburbs/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:19:47 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-going-green-green-guide-for-seattle-neighborhoods-seattle-suburbs/ Whether you are in city in a Seattle neighborhood, or in the Seattle suburbs, here is your guide to all things about being green in Seattle!

Being more green can save you money on top of being good for Seattle! I have a lot of good ideas about living green in the Puget Sound, but I know . . . → Read More: Seattle Real Estate Going Green – Green Guide For Seattle Neighborhoods & Seattle Suburbs]]> Whether you are in city in a Seattle neighborhood, or in the Seattle suburbs, here is your guide to all things about being green in Seattle!

Being more green can save you money on top of being good for Seattle! I have a lot of good ideas about living green in the Puget Sound, but I know that I got many of them from my friends, family, and clients. I can recall on many occasions exactly where some of these ideas were stolen from. For instance, I know for a fact that I should be bringing my own take out containers to restaurants that I frequent thanks to S&E.

?????S&E’s take out container idea: One day we went to lunch with S&E and after the meal they whipped old containers straight out of their canvas bag and started passing them around the table for us to scrape our left overs into. At first I honestly thought that they were crazy, but I complied and took my left over Phad Thai home in an old washed up cream cheese tub. I started thinking about the Styrofoam take out containers from most of the Thai places that I have been to and realized that S&E had it right, although they looked a bit hippy doing it. We can have a big impact on the environment by following their lead. So five stars to S&E for this one – it can really add up! (BTW, S&E also drive a hybrid car, use florescent lighting, and walk to the local farmer’s market to buy their organic groceries. They are a very good example for me to aspire to.)

I sent out the following email to many friends and clients:

I am doing a series on Going Green in Seattle online – I would love your tips and advice to include if you have time.  My clients and friends have always been so “in the know” about these things and I strive to put that good advice to use!  If you get a minute, I would love your top five ways to go green so that I can include them in the series?

Here are some of the basics in my own home that we strive for:

  • Recycle like crazy and reuse as much as possible (instead of recycling cardboard box use it to send something out). I honestly believe that recycling is the very basic thing that all earthlings should do. I was surprised to find while visiting another state that there are places that actually do not recycle their cans, bottles, paper, etc. To me this is such a foreign concept. Every household should recycle at the very least. Even hazardous waste should be disposed of properly and there are places that do this. Recently our yard waste containers are now able to have food scraps in them and that has seriously cut down on our garbage output – things like pizza boxes and paper napkins can go in there, but I also like the idea of composting in Seattle!Seattle recycling info, Seattle hazardous waste disposal info, King County Hazardous Waste info, Snohomish County Hazardous Waste info, Snohomish County recycling info
  • Less usage
    Turn the lights off if you aren’t using them and don’t use them as often as you think you might need to. Purchase the more efficient florescent bulbs for all your lighting fixtures – these come in an array of forms now and they actually look good now. We have been replacing all of our canned lights with the canned version of fluorescence over the last year. It is making a difference already in our bill and energy use. The only thing with these is to make sure proper disposal occurs because of mercury content. The hazardous waste sites take them and properly dispose of them.
    Lower the thermostat a degree or two in the winter for increased savings. Raise it a few degrees in summer if you need to use an air conditioner. I also use my curtains to help control the temperature in the house. Shorter showers (showers instead of baths), rain water to water plants outside – Less toilet flushes, never leave faucet running, Energy efficient appliances, hanging clothing out to dry in summer and washing clothing less (wear it a couple times at least if it is still clean…)
  • Less driving/more efficient cars I have a large family and need a bigger car, but I was still able to find a Flex Fuel version of the car. Driving a Hybrid makes a difference and I plan on purchasing a Hybrid car in the next year. In the mean time, I try to drive less and do more work over the computer. I am able to sign my clients electronically to save energy and also add convenience to them. I use the fax and internet more and more to save gas! I also clump my trips together so that I am doing a big circle errand and hitting all my stops at once rather than driving to each one individually. A little extra planning really helps cut down on wasteful driving time.
  • No Toxins in the house!!!
    Toxins in the house eventually reach our groundwater and streams….
    No chemicals in the lawn: We used to have a lawns service keep our lawn nice and green and it occurred to me one day that they were saturating my property with poisons that my children walk on and my dogs play in. I now have a patchy at best lawn full of moss here and there and bits of clover, but it is not leaching toxins into the groundwater. I occasionally will go outside with a tip from my hubby’s grandmother. She said to spray the dandelions at the base of the plant with a bit of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. It actually works like magic! They brown up in a couple days and go away for a while before I am out there with another spray bottle.No toxic cleaners…
    OK, I still have a few, but I am down to mostly Mrs. Meyers products and Method products. They work great, smell great, are better for the environment, and keep things tidy.

    No parabens – This one will probably make me look like a complete nut, but I do not allow products with parabens in my home AT ALL. No exceptions. Parabens are known to be endocrine disrupters and are found in just about everything – shampoos, lotions, make up, etc. – even found some in Huggie’s baby wipes! There have even been studies to suggest that they can cause breast cancer and low sperm count in men – just saying… So you rub the Body Shoppe Body Butter on your skin and shower it off into our water supply. Do some more research if you think I am off my rocker on this one, but I personally think parabens have a huge impact on our environmental health as well as our personal health. Products that I have found to be safe and paraben free: Oil Of Olay beauty fluid (just the basic stuff – I have seen parabens in their other products), Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo, Burts Bees – all products I have seen so far!

  • Eat local and organic food! If it is local then it didn’t cost a lot of energy to get here. If it is organic then less impact on the earth went into producing it – no pesticides! S (of the S&E take out idea above) recently sent me info on a pesticide study done on Mercer Island children… The study showed that the pesticides are definitely getting into our kids’ bodies, but that they quickly were rid of pesticides once they began eating organic foods only.

OK – On to some of the ideas from you guys so far (keep them coming by the way):

  • Jen says her cloth baby diaper service is awesome and she also uses canvas grocery bags. Here is a link to a Seattle cloth baby diaper service. There are pros and cons, but each site is very informative.
  • I noticed that Animal Care Center (one of the best vets in Seattle is Tracy Tomlinson) in Mountlake Terrace has some interesting posters up about Dog waste pollution and its impact on the environment. My friend recently mentioned buying or making a dog waste solution for her back yard.
  • I got flush the toilet less from both Rob & M – I would also add that buying a low flow toilet or dual flush model could go a long way. I personally have to recommend the Toto brand
  • Rob says cloth diapers, solar panels, fluorescent light bulbs and less toilet flushing. I also saw recently that REI among others are selling cool solar chargers for cell phones, etc.
  • Kathi likes rain barrels and I have to get at least two! Here is some info on attaching a rain barrel to your gutter system in Seattle. There are tons of Seattle rain barrel sources!

Look for more in upcoming segments – and please comment! Let me know what your amazing eco-ideas are for Seattle!

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, 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

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-going-green-green-guide-for-seattle-neighborhoods-seattle-suburbs/feed/ 8 Navigating the Sales Process: Seattle Real Estate http://raincityhouses.com/navigating-the-sales-process-seattle-real-estate/ http://raincityhouses.com/navigating-the-sales-process-seattle-real-estate/#comments Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:52:50 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/navigating-the-sales-process-seattle-real-estate/ With all the do it yourself business models out there, it is important to get a realistic view of some of the nuts and bolts that go into a typical transaction. This being said, I have yet to see a typical transaction and buying a house in Seattle or the Seattle suburbs is not something you . . . → Read More: Navigating the Sales Process: Seattle Real Estate]]> With all the do it yourself business models out there, it is important to get a realistic view of some of the nuts and bolts that go into a typical transaction. This being said, I have yet to see a typical transaction and buying a house in Seattle or the Seattle suburbs is not something you want to do yourself! Of course I am biased, but I equate it with me drilling my own teeth for a filling. Here is a general outline of how a “normal” real estate transaction flows, but it is not all inclusive and hiring a REALTOR is vital for your financial health as well as your sanity. A lot of buyers and sellers don’t realize just how much goes into the transaction between finding a house and closing on a house in Seattle!

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!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/navigating-the-sales-process-seattle-real-estate/feed/ 3 Seattle Suburbs – Do we need a Starbucks Coffee on EVERY corner???? http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-%e2%80%93-do-we-need-a-starbucks-coffee-on-every-corner/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-%e2%80%93-do-we-need-a-starbucks-coffee-on-every-corner/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:33:25 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-%e2%80%93-do-we-need-a-starbucks-coffee-on-every-corner/ 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 . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburbs – Do we need a Starbucks Coffee on EVERY corner????]]> 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 228th 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!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-%e2%80%93-do-we-need-a-starbucks-coffee-on-every-corner/feed/ 0 Seattle Suburbs Real Estate: Getting Around in the Seattle Suburbs http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-getting-around-in-the-seattle-suburbs/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-getting-around-in-the-seattle-suburbs/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:10:49 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-getting-around-in-the-seattle-suburbs/

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 . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburbs Real Estate: Getting Around in the Seattle Suburbs]]>

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!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbs-real-estate-getting-around-in-the-seattle-suburbs/feed/ 2 Seattle Real Estate: Seattle Suburb Parks: North Suburbs Skate Parks…. http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-seattle-suburb-parks-north-suburbs-skate-parks%e2%80%a6/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-seattle-suburb-parks-north-suburbs-skate-parks%e2%80%a6/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:43:14 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-seattle-suburb-parks-north-suburbs-skate-parks%e2%80%a6/ 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 . . . → Read More: Seattle Real Estate: Seattle Suburb Parks: North Suburbs Skate Parks….]]> 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 188th 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/!
 


 

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-real-estate-seattle-suburb-parks-north-suburbs-skate-parks%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Seattle Suburb Real Estate January 2008 Market Updates http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburb-real-estate-january-2008-market-updates/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburb-real-estate-january-2008-market-updates/#comments Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:30:25 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburb-real-estate-january-2008-market-updates/ 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!  . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburb Real Estate January 2008 Market Updates]]> 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!

]]> http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburb-real-estate-january-2008-market-updates/feed/ 3 Seattle Suburbs..What are the best Seattle Suburbs to move to and why? http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbswhat-are-the-best-seattle-suburbs-to-move-to-and-why/ http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbswhat-are-the-best-seattle-suburbs-to-move-to-and-why/#comments Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:53:53 +0000 Courtney Cooper, Realtor, Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, courtney@cooperjacobs.com, 206-850-8841 http://raincityhouses.com/seattle-suburbswhat-are-the-best-seattle-suburbs-to-move-to-and-why/ 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 . . . → Read More: Seattle Suburbs..What are the best Seattle Suburbs to move to and why?]]> I recently saw this question on the internet: “What is a nice area Suburb near Seattle WA to move to?”

*Updated Feb 2009*

Seattle suburbs map

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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  1. North Seattle Suburbs
  2. REALLY North Seattle Suburbs
  3. The Eastside
  4. Further expanding Eastside
  5. Southend Seattle suburbs
  6. 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.

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