REAL ESTATE KIRKLAND
MARCH 2011
Your guide to Real Estate and home buying & selling
What Motivates Today’s Buyers?
KIRKLAND WINE COUNTRY WL
NE
HOUGHTON S
D OL
Stunning Houghton 4-Bed/2.75-Bath/ 2570sq Ft Home W/Lake View. Gourmet Kitchen With SS Appl, Granite Slab & Hardwoods. Lots Of Nat’l Light. Quiet & TreeLined Private Drive. – SOLD $575K –
D OL
HIGHLANDS
Contemporary Highlands Recent Remodel Impressive/Open Design w/ Gourmet Kitchen, Granite Slab/SS Appl. Lovely Tree-Lined/Cul-De-Sac & Quiet/Private/Fenced Yard. Easy 405/520 Access. – SOLD $492K –
S
Debbie Walter, Realtor
®
“Your Real Estate Consultant For Life!” CDPE, CRS, GRI, ABR, SRES, Green Certified, Realtor, Platinum Club Producer & Hall of Fame Achiever
Cell: 206.930.8699
RE/MAX NW Realtors Servicing the Greater Puget Sound Area
Clive Egdes 206-251-1680
Windermere Real Estate/Central, Inc.
Clive@Windermere.com www.Kirklandhomelistings.com
Specializing in Kirkland Properties.
“Exceptional Service, Extraordinary Results”
FORBES CREEK
Impeccable 1.45acre Mini ESTATE w/Remodeled 3210sq ft home. New Windows/Gas Furnace/AC/Hardwood Flooring/Granite Counters & More. Open Floor Design w/Vaulted Ceilings. Lovely & Quiet Tree-Lined Street Completely Private w/Natural Light Pouring In. Walk to Lk Wash Schools & Wineries/Brewery. MLS #188389 $554,500
G
IN IST
outlets, and neighborhood parks and schools will also help create value. Don’t underestimate the importance of valuable up[ more WALTER page 10 ]
465601
and stop paying rent” motivated them to buy, according to the Wall Street Journal. Another influence was the desire for more living space. According to the Wall Street Journal the survey reported that 28% of the respondents said, “They bought a house because they wanted more living space or a larger property.” However, 11% of those surveyed said that “potential financial growth” motivated them to purchase a home. This response is similar to the answers received in the survey’s first year (2005) when respondents answered the question, “What motivated you to purchase your home at this time?” A sharp drop (12%) was reported by respondents who said they bought a house in 2010 due to relocation. The figure was the same as 2009. However, it’s a decrease from 20% in 2008. Real estate experts believe that buyers are still motivated by the potential financial growth, but indeed a good value in the form of low interest rate and discounted home prices is the driving force these days. So, if you are listing your home for sale, focus on value. Detailed marketing materials that showcase your home’s amenities, walking-distance to retail
Meticulous & one-of-a kind 2-story on private/ quiet/tree-lined street. Assessed Value=$378K! Completely turn-key & Pottery-Barn cute w/rare 2-car gar! New ext/int paint, new carpet, fncd yrd w/large deck, all applc stay + AC, 2 car gar. Vaulted ceilings, tennis & basketball courts/ parks/trails/min to DT Kirkland/waterfront/I-405. $199,900 MLS #129536!
E ALU V AT GRE
NORTH JUANITA
Spectacular $85K Remodel And Impeccable Open Design W/New S Paint/Hardwoods/ Carpet/Gourmet Kit/ SS Appl & Granite Counters. All New Lighting Makes This Home Incredibly Light/ Bright. 2-Car Gar + Prime Cul-De-Sac Location & Min To Lake Washington Schools & I-405!
D OL
� SOLD $360K�
“Because You and Your Home Deserve the Very BEST ” • Staging • Professional Photos • Virtual Tours • Video Commercial • Beautifully Colored Flyers • Your Home Showcased on YouTube, Google, MSN & 62 other websites!
See All Available Listings at www.DebbieWalter.com
465611
T
he Wall Street Journal is reporting that “affordability” is the top reason for home buying in 2010. That makes sense, especially in unstable market conditions. Buyers, as always, are looking for a bargain but more than ever, they’ve been enticed by low home prices and low interest rates, according to surveys conducted by National Association of Realtors. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 72.1% of all homes sold during the third quarter of 2010 were classified as “affordable” for someone making the nation’s median income of $64,400. That number is down just slightly from the mark of 72.5% set in the first quarter of 2009, and was the seventh straight quarter in which it remained over 70% nationwide – a mark it has never reached before last year. The NAHB says that before 2009, the index only rarely hit 65%. What about pride in home ownership? It appears that buying a home because they didn’t want to rent, was not the driving force. Instead, it came down to price. This differs from survey results five years ago when respondents (26%) said, “the desire to own their home