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Ballard Neighborhood News

November Market Update for Seattle Real Estate

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The Market Update report is compiled from statistics from the NWMLS’ InfoSparks using data from City: Seattle and Area 705 Ballard/Greenlake. In November, the median sales price of a Seattle home continued to level out, dropping only 1%.

  • The amount of homes for sale on the market dropped by about 20%, however that is in line with seasonal norms and market fluctuations as less people list their homes in November and December during the holiday season.
  • Days on market edged up slightly, with Seattle homes now spending about a month on the market before accepting an offer.
  • Due to the lack of new listings coming on the market, there was only 2.1 months of inventory (the amount of time it would take to sell all homes on the market if no new inventory were to come on.)
  • Total closed sales volume was down 20% from the previous month and sharply from November of 2017. In Ballard, it was down by nearly 50%! Not as many homes sold and people pulling back in the holiday season can explain the lack of listings and sales.

Got questions about Seattle real estate? Give us a call at 206-965-8205.

Should Sellers Decorate Their Homes for the Holidays?

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decorated living roomTo deck the halls or not to deck the halls? That is the question many Sellers find themselves facing when their home sale creeps into late November and December. Should Sellers show their holiday spirit, or should they just remain neutral?

Our broker, John Manning, was quoted in this article by Fresh Home, and he believes Sellers should err on the side of caution. “At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, we vote not. Buyers can hail from a variety of cultures and religious views, and if you want your home to appeal to the widest audience, you need to create a neutral environment. Buyers are walking through prospective homes envisioning their own life in the home, literally thinking, ‘Will this home suit me and my family throughout the year?’”

Furthermore, Anita Springate-Renaud, licensed partner and broker at Engel & Völkers Toronto Central, says elaborate or excessive decorations can distract from the parts of the home Sellers want to shine in any potential property walk-through. These include things like square footage, wall space, the quality of finishes and other amenities. How are buyers going to see how large your living room is with a 12-foot tree filling it up?

If you have questions about how to sell your home in Seattle or preparing your home for the market, we’re always here to help. Give us a call at 206-965-8205 or email hello@remaxonmarket.com. We’re always happy to provide a complimentary analysis of your home.

October Market Update for Seattle Real Estate

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The Market Update report is compiled from statistics from the NWMLS’ InfoSparks using data from City: Seattle and Area 705 Ballard/Greenlake. In October, the dropping prices in Seattle’s real estate began to level out, with only a 1% price drop month-over-month. Listings stayed level, suggesting that homes are moving and Sellers may be more cautious. Days on market edged up slightly, but not as much as previous months, and closed sales were up for the first month since July.

Got questions about Seattle real estate? Give us a call at 206-965-8205.

November 2018 Recommended Events in Seattle

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Lots of Dia de los Muertos events happening around Seattle:

Celebration and Art Show – Lake Forest Park
Dia de los Muertos Celebration – Lake City
Dia de los Muertos at MOHAI – South Lake Union
Dia de los Muertos at Seatac Airport – SeaTac
Dia de los Muertos Party – Burien
Dia de los Muertos – Phinney Ridge
Dia de los Muertos Community Event – Tacoma

Craft Your Own Terrarium
Thursday, Nov 1 @ The Works Seattle

Space Expo: Space Art and Tech
Friday, Nov 2 @ Charles Simonyi Space Gallery

Goo Goo Dolls
Friday, Nov 2 @ The Paramount Theatre
Dizzy up the girl and re-live the dreams of the 90’s with the Goo Goo Dolls.

Green Seattle Day!
Saturday, Nov 3 – all over Seattle, WA
Plant trees and beautify Seattle

Ballard’s Maritime Metamorphosis: Fishing Village to Urban Hub
Saturday, Nov 3 @ Starting at Marvin’s Garden
A Seattle Architecture guide will lead you on a path through the old fishing neighborhood of Ballard, once home to working-class fishers and mill workers and now a prized and pricey residential and business district.

Ballard Brewed Winter Beer Festival
Saturday, Nov 3 @ Hale’s Ales Palladium
Beers from local brewers and live music

Won’t You Be My Neighbor Screening
Monday, Nov 5 @ Seattle Central Library
The question isn’t how much you will cry. Bring your tissues for this Fred Rogers documentary on his life and impact as Mister Rogers.

General Election
Tuesday, Nov 6 @ Everywhere
Don’t forget to vote!

Vikings Were People Too
Thursday, Nov 8 @ Nordic Museum
Short, snappy, entertaining: Scandinavian 30 is a series of free, thirty-minute talks by UW Scandinavian Studies faculty held once each month at the Nordic Museum.

Ballard Art Walk
2nd Saturday @ Ballard

Seattle Winter Ciderfest
Thursday, Nov 8 @ Within SoDo

Seattle Restaurant Week
Oct 21 – Nov 8
Best way to try a variety of Seattle restaurants on the cheap. Restaurants participating in Restaurant Week offer a 3-course meal for $30.

Northwest Chocolate Festival
Nov 10th and 11th @ Smith Cove Cruise Terminal
Large gathering of chocolate makers from all over the world!

An Evening with Fleetwood Mac
Saturday, Nov 17 @ Tacoma Dome

Just Listed: Ballard Townhouse

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Ballard Townhouse

2452 NW 57th St
Seattle, WA 98107
MLS #: 1373350
Offered at $748,000

Bright & airy townhouse on corner lot in prime Ballard location. Well maintained home with high ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, balcony & gas fireplace. Two bedrooms upstairs, including master with large walk-in closet. Ground level bedroom has full bath & separate entrance to fully fenced sunny yard & patio. Radiant heat & one car garage plus private driveway parking. Located on pleasant tree-lined street. Walk score of 93! Nearby Ballard Locks, Burke Gilman Trail & downtown Ballard.

View Listing >>

NWMLS InfoSparks September Market Update for Seattle and Ballard

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The Seattle and Ballard Market Update is a monthly update using information from NWMLS’ InfoSparks using data for sold residential and condominium homes in Seattle and the Ballard/Greenlake area. September’s Market update key points include:

  • Median sales price is up slightly
  • Listings available are up 25% from last month. Not quite as much as July to August, but still a significant jump nonetheless
  • Closed sales were down again, a 28% drop from August to September
  • Average days on market jumped to 23 days for Seattle, increasing the months of inventory to 2.4. We haven’t seen that high of a month’s supply since Sep 2013.
  • Total sales volume was down sharply, by almost $200 Million

Have questions about buying or selling, or specific questions on trends in your neighborhood? Shoot us an email at hello@remaxonmarket.com. We’re happy to answer all your questions!

August Seattle Market Update

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The Seattle and Ballard Market Update is a monthly update using information from NWMLS’ InfoSparks using data for sold residential and condominium homes in Seattle and the Ballard/Greenlake area.

What’s going on in the Seattle Real Estate Market?

You may have been hearing that Seattle’s real estate market has cooled off considerably, or that it’s now a “buyer’s market.” That’s not necessarily true. While inventory is up, it’s still not up enough to meet current demands. Houses are also on the market longer, but in Seattle, that average is still only 15 days. We still have less than 2 months of inventory across all of Seattle, and many experts consider a balanced market to be 4-6 months of inventory. A much greater shift would have to happen for it to swing in favor of buyers.

Still, that doesn’t mean that new opportunities for buyers haven’t come around. Generally, you’re going to see less of the crazy price appreciation and multiple offer situations that we saw in 2017, giving buyers more time to make decisions between homes, and allowing ample time for inspections and other due diligence tasks.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Seattle? We’re always here to help! Contact us at 206-965-8205 or drop us a note at hello@remaxonmarket.com and let us know what you’re looking for. Our expert real estate agents are highly trained and experienced in Seattle area real estate.

September 2018 Events in Seattle

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ferris wheel

Washington State Fair
Aug 31-Sep 23, Puyallup, WA
Washington’s annual fair features food, carnival games and rides, a rodeo, and ongoing concert series. This year’s acts include Toby Keith, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, Macklemore, and Rascal Flatts.

Free Summer Concerts at Ballard Locks
Various Dates in September
Live classical music played by various local musicians. Relax and have a picnic at the Ballard Locks.

Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival
Sep 1-3, Seattle Center
Seattle’s premier music and arts festival held at the Seattle Center. Music, comedy, film, art and food at multiple venues throughout the grounds.

Washington Cider Week
Starts Sep 6th
Celebrate the region’s craft cider brewers with various cider-related events across Seattle.

Seattle Floating Homes Tour
Sep 9, Eastlake
Self-guided walking tour some of Eastlake’s eclectic floating homes showcasing the unique properties and lifestyles of the owners.

Fisherman’s Fall Festival
Sep 15, Ballard
A community educational event featuring fishing information, demonstrations, live music, food and family fun.

Fremont Oktoberfest
Sept 21-23, Fremont
Seattle’s largest beer festival featuring over 100 beers. Dogs welcome on Sunday.

Wooden Boat Festival
Sep 29-30, South Lake Union
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival celebrates the history, the craft, and the culture of traditional wooden boats. Food trucks, beer garden, and youth activities.

Home Buyer’s Pets a High Priority

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REALTOR study on pets
Graphic courtesy realtor.com®

A new survey out from realtor.com® shows that home buyers are more and more likely to forego other wants in their home search in order to accommodate their furry friends. In the survey, 75% of pet owners said they would not make an offer for an otherwise “perfect” home if the home didn’t have spaces suitable for their pets. Woof!

Home buyers with pets make up 80% of the home searching population, so these results are nothing to scoff at. Dogs were the most common pets, so outdoor spaces and large yards are common must-haves when searching for homes. Eighty-nine percent of younger buyers aged 18-34 said they have pets, and families with children were also highly likely to have pets, at 91%! However, dogs weren’t the only pets that made an impact on buying decisions. Pets like fish, birds, reptiles and rodents were also taken into consideration.

“It’s heartwarming to find that people will put their pets’ needs first, even when it comes to one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make. This survey shows that we really do consider pets part of the family — and that their needs are a critical part of finding the perfect home.”
—Nate Johnson, realtor.com®

Seattle is a notoriously dog-friendly city, with one Seattle Times’ article noting that we now have more dogs than children in the city. There are plenty of dog-friendly eateries and parks, including Norm’s in Fremont, Belltown Pub, and Fremont Brewing. See a comprehensive list of dog-friendly Seattle restaurants here.

Several of our own clients this year have been dutifully searching for homes that will be a good match for their pets. If you’re a Seattle renter searching for a home to make your own and looking for pet-friendly accommodations, give us a call at 206-965-8205 or email us at hello@remaxonmarket.com. We can help you figure out the best solution for your needs!

NWMLS InfoSparks Market Update for Seattle and Ballard

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The Seattle and Ballard Market Update is a monthly update using information from NWMLS’ InfoSparks using data for sold residential and condominium homes in Seattle and the Ballard/Greenlake area. July’s Market update key points include:

Listings are up compared to the previous month, leading to an increase in average days on market and months supply of inventory. This brings some relief for buyers but overall prices are still trending upwards.

Have questions about buying or selling, or specific questions on trends in your neighborhood? Shoot us an email at hello@remaxonmarket.com. We’re happy to answer all your questions!