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Does Microsoft Still Have a Big Influence On Seattle's Eastside?
Does Microsoft still have a positive affect on Seattle’s eastside? Yes! Microsoft still has a huge impact on the eastside.
The map below shows only some of the eastside campuses:
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Microsoft+Computer+near+156th+Avenue+Northeast,+Redmond,+WA&sll=47.647756,-122.133025&sspn=0.038741,0.113811&ie=UTF8&hq=Microsoft+Computer&hnear=156th+Ave+NE,+Redmond,+King,+Washington&ll=47.584406,-122.229424&spn=0.281495,0.25636&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
Recently, the news has focused more on layoffs. There are a number of people who have been laid off and are struggling, which is truly unfortunate. This post is not an attempt to minimize what those who are without jobs are going through, but to focus on the strong influence Microsoft still has on Seattle’s eastside.
There’s little said about the increase in the number of Microsofties on Seattle’s eastside since 2007. There are now over 40,000 employees in the area. Back in 2007, there were just over 35,000. Imagine the impact these additional 5,000 employees and their families have on the eastside economy and quality of life. Imagine the impact of 40,000 people on the local economy. Since 2007, these five thousand more people are renting or buying homes, going out to eat, buying goods at stores and using local services.
Microsoft has had a huge impact on the real estate in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Bellevue and Redmond neighborhoods near Microsoft have consistently performed better than any other area on Seattle’s eastside. The number of homes that sell compared to the number that are for sale, the absorption rate, is almost always the strongest on the eastside. Most every month of the past few years, the Microsoft area of Redmond and Bellevue has had more homes selling when compared to the number for sale.
Does this make this area more expensive?
No, not by a long shot. The good news is there’s been a huge benefit to the whole eastside because of Microsoft and there are homes in most price ranges in the area.
The least expensive home in Bellevue is on the market for $227,000. The most expensive Bellevue home is a waterfront property on Lake Sammamish for $4,250,000. Most of the homes in the area are priced under $500,000. Most homes for sale right now, almost 1/2, fall into the $300-500,000 price range.
These 40,000 jobs help keep our economy and our real estate market going, even with the lay offs. The real estate market is still challenging, but homes are still selling. Clearly, the competition is tougher for the sellers right now as pricing and condition are everything. This very realistic real estate market should continue for a year or so.
The eastside, particularly near Microsoft, should fare better than many other parts of the country as the economy improves. People will continue to move in and out of the area for jobs.
What do you think?
How Was The Seattle-Eastside Condo Market in October, 2010?
Seattle Eastside Condo Sales Through October 2010
(The absorption rate, the percentage of condos selling, is the number of condos for sale in any given month divided by the actual number of condos sold that month. So if the absorption rate or chance of selling is 10% that means out of 100 condos for sale, 10 received offers and sold.)
October, 2010 1375 condos for sale 147 condos sold 11% odds of selling.
September, 2010 1448 condos for sale 130 (was 155) condos sold 9% (was 11%) odds of selling.*
October, 2009 1363 condos for sale 200 condos sold 15% odds of selling.
*Adjusted from previous month’s original numbers to reflect the actual number of condos sold and closed. Some of the sales originally reported last month failed and did not close. Some of the reasons sales fail are the buyer and seller don’t agree on the building inspection, the condo does not appraise for the sales price or the buyer’s financing does not come through.
The number of Seattle-eastside condos for sale dropped considerably as there are about 75 less condos for sale. The numbers are back down to March’s numbers. It’s pretty typical, no matter the kind of real estate market there is out there, for there to be more condos for sale in the summer than at any other time during the year. The decline in the number of condos for sale should continue until the end of the year. So if you plan to sell next year, start early in the year. Don’t wait until summer.
If you’re selling your condo now, can you be one of the 11/100 who gets the offer? Yes, if price and condition beat all of your competition.
What do you see happening with condo sales in your area?
How Was The Seattle-Eastside Condo Market in September, 2010?
Seattle Eastside Condo Sales September 2010
(The absorption rate, the percentage of condos selling, is the number of condos for sale in any given month divided by the actual number of condos sold that month. So if the absorption rate or chance of selling is 10% that means out of 100 condos for sale, 10 received offers and sold.)
September, 2010 1448 condos for sale 155 condos sold 11% odds of selling.
August, 2010 1499 condos for sale 140 (was 152) condos sold 9% (was 10%) odds of selling.*
September, 2010 1407 condos for sale 206 condos sold 12% odds of selling.
*Adjusted from previous month’s original numbers to reflect the actual number of condos sold and closed. Some of the sales originally reported last month failed and did not close. Some of the reasons sales fail are the buyer and seller don’t agree on the building inspection, the condo does not appraise for the sales price or the buyer’s financing does not come through.
The number of Seattle-eastside condo sales in September is very close to last year. In fact, if you look at most of the months on the above chart, March and April stand out. All the other months, except one, have fairly similar condo sales numbers. March and April totals, which were so much higher than the other months, were because of tax credit. Buyers rushed to beat the deadline of the tax credit during those months. Ironically, that impacted May’s sales record. It was the really low month of this year because so many of the buyers bought before May.
It’s too bad so many people rushed to buy then, because there is less competition among buyers and better interest rates.
As I mentioned last month, expect to see the number of condos for sale to keep dropping, which is a good thing for both buyers and sellers. It will help to bring a little bit more balance to the market, although it will be a long time before there is a balanced market between buyers and sellers.
If you’re selling your condo, can you be one of the 11/100 who gets the offer? Yes, if price and condition beat all of your competition.
What do you see happening with condo sales in your area?
What Were The Chances of Selling Your Seattle-Eastside Condo in August, 2010?
Seattle Eastside Condo Sales, August 2010
(The absorption rate, the percentage of condos selling, is the number of condos for sale in any given month divided by the actual number of condos sold that month. So if the absorption rate or chance of selling is 10% that means out of 100 condos for sale, 10 received offers and sold.)
August, 2010 1499 condos for sale 152 condos sold 10% odds of selling.
July, 2010 1552 condos for sale 128 (was 144) condos sold 8% (was 9%) odds of selling.*
August 2009 1429 condos for sale 168 condos sold 12% odds of selling.
*Adjusted from previous month’s original numbers to reflect the actual number of condos sold and closed. Some of the sales originally reported last month failed and did not close. Some of the reasons sales fail are the buyer and seller don’t agree on the building inspection, the condo does not appraise for the sales price or the buyer’s financing does not come through.
Sales of Seattle-eastside condos in August of this year are very close to last August’s sales activity.
There was a significant drop in the number of Seattle-eastside condos for sale in August from July’s high of 1552. I expect more condos to come off the market as we head towards fall and winter.
What do you see happening with condo sales in your area?
Which Homes are Selling on Seattle's Eastside?
Seattle-eastside Real Estate Sales 2010-1st quarter
The eastside sales here include South Bellevue and Issaquah all the way up to the Snohomish County line and from Lake Washington out to North Bend, Duvall, and Carnation.
If you look at the real estate statistics above:
Almost half of these Seattle-eastside real estate sales were below $500,000.
Over 80% of the eastside home sales were below $750,000.
Twenty-seven home sales were below $250,000.
Thirty-six home sales out of the 1119 were priced above $1,500,000.
Only 2% of the sales were above $2,000,000. Out of 1119 home sales, only 18 were priced above this $2,000,000 mark.
24% of eastside sales were short sales or bank owned properties, contrary to what many think. Most of the homes were sold by the actual home owner.
The sweet spot in Seattle-eastside real estate is between $250-500,000, with many of the homes priced between $350-500,000. Pre-2008, the sweet spot was the $500-750,000 price point.
Make More Money Selling Your Home, Part 6, Replace Your Carpet
Mr and Mrs. Home Seller ask: “Why don’t we let the buyers pick out the new carpet? We don’t know what color they may want.”
New carpeting Creates a Fresh, Clean Look
This is one of the most common sentiments I’ve heard over the years from home sellers. Sellers often think it’s best to leave the old carpet, offer a carpet allowance if needed, and let the buyer choose their own carpet.
Is this right? Do buyers want to choose their own carpet?
NO. Not in the Seattle-Eastside real estate market. Buyers DO NOT want to choose, pay or replace carpet when buying a new home. In this area, Seattle’s eastside cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Issaquah, etc., buyers want to buy a home that’s move-in ready.
On Seattle’s eastside, the typical buyer is a very busy person(s) who may work a lot of hours. Most buyers aren’t looking to do structural or cosmetic updates to a home. They don’t have the time or the inclination. They want to move in and continue on with their lives with the least amount of disruption. They don’t want to be replacing carpet. Besides, there are lots of Seattle-eastside homes to choose from and many of the other homes have been updated and are ready to go.
Most home sellers don’t want to replace carpet either, but think about it. The buyers don’t have to replace your carpet because they don’t have to buy your home. They have other homes to buy. However, as the seller, you have only one home to sell and so you’ve got to do it. Remember, if you feel like you don’t want to replace the carpet, the buyer probably feels the same way. The catch is, they don’t have to do it, they can buy another home.
So if you want to get an offer to buy your home and make the most money while selling your home, replace your carpet if it’s worn, discolored, has stains, you name it. Make sure it looks fresh and clean, otherwise it will cost you money in the sales price for your home and it could even cost you getting a buyer.
Should you spend a lot for expensive carpet? Absolutely not. You should put in a good grade of carpet, but one that is similar to what builders install in new construction. Make sure you pick a neutral color and install a good 8 lb. pad underneath the rug. A thin pad with new carpet won’t work. It’s easy to tell that either the carpet or the pad are thin the minute you step on it. It feels like you’re on cement.
Looking for some other tips to get the most money when selling your home? Read Parts 1-5, planting some “green,” when to set the sales price, yard clean up, dressing up a front door, and replacing moldings and doors. Pick what your home needs to get it “dressed up” to sell in the competitive Seattle real estate market.
Should Cul-De-Sacs Be Banned From Future Development In Washington?
Neighborhood cul-de-sac
There aren’t going to be any more cul-de-sacs in new developments in the State of Virginia. Yes, Virginia will have no more cul-de-sacs. Cul-de-sacs have been banned from new neighborhood developments. Cul-de-sacs are the quintessential icon of the 1980’s-2000’s American suburb.
Here on Seattle’s eastside, new neighborhoods were generally built all over with cul-de-sacs sprinkled throughout. If the neighborhood was a new pocket neighborhood on infill lots in an older part of Kirkland or Redmond, as an example, there might not be room for cul-de-sacs, but if you look everywhere else on the eastside, cul-de-sac neighborhoods were the standard. Woodinville, Sammamish, Issaquah, Snoqualmie, Redmond, and Kirkland all have neighborhoods where cul-de-sacs prevail. Streets with cul-de-sacs were the prized streets to live on, the premium lots, the more expensive lots. Realtors and builders would tout the benefits of living in a cul-de-sac:
- No through traffic
- A place to play
- A place for neighbors to congregate, meet and greet each other at the mailbox.
So why did Viriginia ban cul-de-sacs in future development?
Cul-de-sacs unite the people who live in the cul-de-sac, but separate them from other streets by foot and by car. It’s harder for fire and emergency vehicles to respond quickly when a neighborhood doesn’t consist of through streets. Road maintenance is more expensive with cul-de-sacs instead of through streets.
The New York Times magazine finishes each year with an issue highlighting the great ideas from the past year. The most recent great ideas issue had an article about the cul-de-sac ban in Viriginia. The concept fits with the new sensibility rising in many places as highlighted by the popularity of sites such as walkscore. Walkability and connectivity are this decade’s buzz words for living. Planners are looking more for connectivity, walkability, and better traffic flow for neighborhoods. People are now looking for easy commuting, more connectivity, and more places to walk.
What do you think? Should cul-de-sacs be banned from future neighborhoods? What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages?
