Having lived in Kirkland since 1979 may qualify  me as an "almost native" and I have seen several waves of changes in housing and lifestyle near downtown. So let's focus on the neighborhoods in a radius of say 2 miles from the downtown business core. Here are my top 5 reasons to love living in these neighborhoods?Walking  to get a cup of coffee  instead of driving allows one to talk to neighbors- a lost art of modern society.The diversity of home styles is exciting. Have you seen the fabulous redo of the older home on Waverly Way into an Italian cottage? Beautiful.Kirkland has one of the most vital park systems around the Eastside. Parks are the face of a city and Kirkland has done a very good job.More and more good ( ok great) places to dine. What are your favorites?Community involveme... 09/20/2007

"It is in the quiet crucible of your personal, private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born, and God's greatest gifts are given for compensation for what you've been through."These were the words shared with us by Wintley Phipps at Brian Buffini's Mastermind Summit, that I attended in August.  One of the songs he shared with us at the event was God Bless America.  I found the performance on you-tube and thought I would share it with you. 09/17/2007

 For Single Family Homes: (not condos)Kirkland's median price continues to climb.  Last month median pries were up 44.41%, this month they rose another 6.;69%  Overall inventory rose another 20 units from last month and was up 14.57% over last year.Here are the Kirkland Breakdowns:Area 560 Kirkland/Bridle Trails median prices were up 6.69%. Last month median prices were up 40.41%. Listing inventory was up 14.57% and pending sales were down -21.61%LISTINGS: 386 (2007) vs. 337 (2006) +14.54%(Last month there were 366 listings in this area.)PENDINGS: 55 (2007) vs. 72 (2006) -23.61%MEDIAN: $746,250 (2007) vs. $699,475 (2006) +6.69%Statistics compilied from, but not publised by the NWMLSby Greg PerryKirkland RealtorKirkland Washington 09/15/2007

Ten Principles of Value While many property owners could probably make a fair guess as to the value of their property, they would still be unable to identify all or most of the factors that contribute to that value.  The knowledge of precisely what those factors are how they influence value is part of what lends credence to a professional estimate of market value. The basic value principles are interrelated and their relative importance will vary depending up on particular local conditions.  When analyzing a property to determine market value, it is important to consider it in light of all the following principles. 1.     Highest and Best Use.   The use that provides the greatest net return over a period of time.  It could be determined by current zoning or changes in the zoning. Reside... 09/12/2007

Last month I partnered with Jonerik Johnson, to facilitate a Food Drive for Hopelink.  Jonerik is a Realtor and takes an active role in the PTA in our community.  He was aware that many school children receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year, but then go hungry in the summer without support.  This paired with the shortage at the food bank due to most donations coming in during the holidays motivated his idea to do a Food Drive in our community.We covered a two mile area by hand delivering flyers to each of our neighbors asking for their support.  Thank you to Minuteman Press for a reduced printing fee.  A big appreciation and thank you to Kinko's for free printing.  We were able to deliver about 300 pounds to Hopelink to help feed the children and stock their shelves.I i... 09/04/2007

By Greg Perry, Kirkland RealtorMonday's inspiration. Sunrise"The grand show is eternal.  It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising.  Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls."                                                    John MuirWhen we stay on Maui, I"m almost always up to witness the sunrise.  Here's a photo take from our room of the morning sun kissing the palm trees with the Lanai and Molokai in the background.  Watching an island sunrise naturally creates thoughts of gratitude and hope in me.  www.425realty.com  09/03/2007

Understanding Real Estate supply and demand -- PENDING sales, your most important number! Why do some homes sit on the market longer than others?  Why does a home sit for a long period, then all of a sudden receive multiple offers?  Why does the small rambler in the neighborhood sell for more than the larger  2 story down the street?  Real estate markets fluctuate based on supply and demand, right down to the neighborhood, house style and size!Traditionally, when you are looking to determine market value of your house, a real estate agent will do a "CMA" (comparative market analysis).  To do a CMA, agents look at ACTIVE inventory, PENDING inventory, the EXPIRED inventory and the SOLD inventory.  When agents are working to determine value, they typically tend to put the most "weight" on ... 08/30/2007

One of the joys of living in Kirkland Washington is being able to hang out Downtown and stroll over to Lake Washington...and even put your feet in and pretend you are one of the ducks :)My grand daughter has been visiting with me for the last week and I have to say I have enjoyed Kirkland more with this soon to be 3 year old child, than I have in the last few years.  By taking the time to explore with her, I am realizing what a wonderful place Kirkland is to live in, especially if you have small children.Saturday there is a Neighborhood Picnic in the park just a short walk from my house.  I hope to get some photos there to post here, before my grand daughter heads back to L.A. on the 28th. 08/23/2007

Go Seahawks! 2007 Seahawks Football Schedule Sunday     09/09     Tampa Bay          1:00 pm FOXSunday     09/16     @Arizona             1:00 pm FOXSunday     09/23     Cincinnati            1:00 pm CBSSunday     09/30     @San Francisco    1:00 pm FOXSunday     10/07     @Pittsburgh         10:00am FOXSunday     10/14     New Orleans         5:00 pm NBCSunday     10/21     St. Louis              1:15 pm FOXWEEK 8 BYESunday     11/04     @Cleveland          1:00 pm FOXMonday     11/12     San Francisco      5:30 pm ESPNSunday     11/18     Chicago               5:00 pm NBCSunday     11/25     @St Louis            10:00am FOXSunday     12/02     @Philadelphia       10:00m  FOXSunday     12/09     Arizona                1:00 pm FOXSunday     12/16     @Carolina            10:00 am FOXSun... 08/22/2007

Did you see Greg Perry on King5 news last night? Last night evening around 4pm, Jim Forman, reporter for King 5, called Greg Perry and asked to interview him for the 10 pm and 11 pm news.  He found Greg's article "Mr./Ms. Seller, your number one concern now is "Will my house close", written on the Seattle PI Real Estate Professionals blog and wanted to do an interview around it.Greg met Jim at one of his listings in Woodinville (that closes today) for the interview.The piece aired last night.  Greg was pleased with how it came out.  We hope you were able to see it!www.425realty.com 08/18/2007

  If you're like me, you feel as if there is no home improvement project that you can't handle.  I'm not saying you should handle it.. just that you think you can!  Home improvement projects range from replacing the garbage disposal to replacing the siding, and in every scenario big or small on thing in consistent: If you have it planned out it will go much smoother.  here are some simple guidelines to make any project more efficient.1.  Set your goals:  Do you want superior craftsmanship, or just enough for you and your other?  Determine this and you will know what direction to move in.2.  Estimate the Cost:  I promise, it will cost more than you estimate in your head when your driving down the road to the Home Depot.  take the time to shop for prices and determine the amount of materi... 08/18/2007

Friday's Did You Know? Kirkland, the Gateway to Seattle. Did you know?  On May 18th 1926 the city of Kirkland's chamber officially adopted "Kirkland, The Gateway to Seattle" as the city's official slogan?  The chamber offered a whopping $10 prize to the citizen that could come up with a better one.  Despite the communities best efforts, the chamber stuck with the slogan they'd been using for years.  The most well like slogan in the contest  came from the Kirkland's womens club.  "Kirkland, the Glad Town", recieving 10 votes.  They got their 10 bucks.. but not the slogan used.  Historylink.org has a complete list of slogan entries.  I have picked some of my favories.  Imagine the pride we could have in these slogans:Kirkland, Fruitland, Eggland, My LandLet Kirkland Feather Your NestFollo... 08/17/2007

I went over to Flat Ben's today, planning to spend about four hours getting the "first impression" portion of the house to look a little bigger and brighter.  By the time I arrived, Ben had some of the things moved where I had asked him to move them.  This is a small bungalow, and we're not trying to turn it into a McMansion, but we are trying to make it show bigger and brighter.  For me, staging is not decorating, and cozy sells for less.  So I want to highlight the best features of the home, which in Ben's case are the newer windows.  I don't want them all hidden behind plants and furniture.  So after Ben moved the bookcases to frame the best feature, the window, I had him move the plants outside.  I did all the small plants, but I couldn't lift these big guys.  This is what it looked... 08/15/2007

Mr./Ms Seller, your number one concern now is "Will my house close?"By Greg Perry, Kirkland RealtorKirkland, WAMortgage liquidity......1. Took away RISK aversion from the lenders, creating exotic, and low and no qualification loan products.2. Masked the true cost of housing.3. Gave the middle class the illusion that it was richer than it was with "imagined wealth". Homeowners borrowed cheap money and leveraged themselves to the edge. These "responsible" homeowners (not the subprimers) created credit lines against their large home loans filling their lives with stuff - from filling their homes with furniture to financing travel and toys.Mortgage liquidity ruled the day -- until the spring of this year when the correction came. Subprime lenders all over the US started failing one after an... 08/15/2007

If I'm lucky, I can usually find a Significant Other when valuing a property.  I took a walk over to Flat Ben's, who lives about five blocks from me.When looking for Significant Others for this house, it's best to try to stay right on 7th Avenue.  We're in luck.  Ben mentioned he was hoping to sell it as a "teardown".  No staging.  No people coming in and out bothering him.  Let's see what the price differential might be for a tear down vs. an owner who will live in it.A few doors down is an "almost completed" something.  Looks more like a 95% remodel than new construction.  It clearly looks a whole lot better in the artist's rendition in the mls than it does standing out in front of it.  But whatever it is, the lot is the same size and the same assessed value and sold for $552,500 in A... 08/11/2007

I LOVE this SHOW! It's interesting to see how people are trying to sell their house but don't understand what the Buyer is looking at. I have gone into many Seller's homes and noticed how their personal touches distract me from seeing the features of the house.I think that Agents need to make it clear to Sellers what they need to do to 'appeal' to the mass market to get their house sold. It is CRUCIAL! Especially since the market has changed and it takes longer to sell a house.It can take about $1000 or more to stage the house if you do it yourself. I would even rent out furniture to stage the house and sell it quickly. There are also professional stagers available.Take note when an Agent tells you to put away your personal belongings, pack up your closets, change things in your house. ... 08/10/2007

With Foreclosures on the rise and lending guidelines have tightened up, buying and selling properties have become a challenge. What options do you have when you are in foreclosure??Determine if you have enough equity to sell the property.Call your lender to determine what the payoff amount is on your mortgage. Be aware of pre-payment penalties. If you order a payoff, your lender will charge you for it. Try to get a verbal at no-charge.Most agents will say that it will take 9-10% of the sales price to sell the property. We use 15% to take into account negotiations and repairs for the house.Determine if you want to keep the property or just sell itIf you want to keep it and can't afford the current payments we can request for a modification. If you qualify, the lender will modify your loa... 08/09/2007

 Kirkland, WashingtonOne of the most striking things about Kirkland, the core of Kirkland composed of Downtown Kirkland, West of Market, East of Market, Moss Bay, Norkirk is that they have a vision of what Kirkland should be.  Mostly Kirkland should be "not Bellevue".  It's pretty much a rivalry. Bellevue, Washington While Downtown Bellevue wants to be more like Downtown Seattle, Kirkland wants to be quaint.  So far they have pretty much maintained that character and charm. When I first moved here the controversy was over developing the open parking area at Lake and Central.  That was struck down with a very big noise that caused at least one City Council Member to leave the room and never return.The current controversy is over the proposal to expand and improve Park Place.  Kirkland We... 08/09/2007

Eastside Real Estate Market Statistics -- July 2007By Greg Perry, Eastside RealtorKing County's Eastside turned in a strong July performance for residential sales (single family homes) in  NWMLS areas of 500-600 in July 2007, Year over Year (YOY) Median prices were up 10.43% ($640,500 vs. $580,000). Inventory numbers showed 3253listings on the Eastside this year compared to 2,281 last year (Up 42.61%). PENDING sales for the month were only off 3.7% from last year (773 compared to 803 last year).  Overall inventory levels were about the same as 2003 levels.NWMLS Area500  S. Bell./Iss510 Mercer Is520 W Bellevue600 N.Kirk/WdvMedian 2007$710,000$1,164,500$1,450,000$598,900Median 2006$640,000$1,125,000$1,080,000$545.000%10.94%3.51%34.20%9.89%Active 2007469141205205Active 2006345117135135%35.... 08/08/2007

My wife and I had a meltdown... no not at each other, it was at the TV tray that is always in the way, and the two lamps in the living room that make no sense.  It was at the rug positioned the wrong way to make the room feel small and cramped and the TV that was in front of the southern window in the living room.  We had a clutter meltdown, and decided it was time to Feng Shui the place.What is Feng Shui?  Its an ancient art that has been practiced in China for centuries.  Feng Shui literally means wind and water.  The art of Feng Shui has is used to create a harmonious home environment and can be applied to most any decorating styles.  In addition, using Feng Shui can and will attract potential buyers by increasing the perceived value of your home.Here are some Feng Shui tips to help... 08/02/2007