Archive for Blog
A picture is worth a thousand words
Imagine driving by a house, snapping a photo of it with your iPhone, and then obtaining relevant data about the home and surrounding community. It’s possible with the HomeSnap app by Sawbuck
The housing market gets a boost in April
Housing starts in April were strong, increasing by 4.7 percent to a 685,000 annual rate, according to the median estimate of 80 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News . The Associated Press reports a slightly higher annual pace of 717,000 homes, based on Commerce Department figures. Time reports these strides in the housing market: Construction went up for both single-family homes and apartments.
Spotlight on Pacific NW gardening
Everything comes alive in the Pacific Northwest with fair May weather.
Seattle touts job growth and sustainability
Seattle ranked fifth in the nation for job growth during the period between January 2011 and January 2012, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal .
Modernize your grandmother’s kitchen
Homeowners Desiree and Brian Bell wanted to change the look of their 1950′s kitchen into a room they could call their own. Lauren Lake of Spice Up My Kitchen recreated the old space into a traditional one with modern flair and functionality. See the results on this HGTV video
Kitchen islands aren’t going away
Better Homes & Gardens The kitchen island is often the hub of the home, the place where family members and guests gather to eat and socialize. While the island’s function remains the same as it has been for years, its look and feel are changing. “Pare it down to the basics, and anything else is a great addition but not necessary,” says Samantha Emmerling, a senior editor at House Beautiful, as reported in the Chicago Tribune . She notes that since most homeowners want an area for prep, additional counter space, seating, and storage, the form of the actual island ought to follow its function
Housing news for April
Housing prices for King County in the month of April were strong, and inventory was down 37 percent from one year ago, reports the Seattle Times based on data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. The median house price in King County went up to $360,000, which is 9 percent better than last month and about 3 percent higher than April 2011. Snohomish County’s median house price jumped to $255,502, which is almost 10 percent better than a year ago. A total of 741 homes were sold, 25 percent more than the number closed in April 2011
Nation’s biggest warehouse rolls out mortgages
Costco Wholesale Corporation has added home loans to its growing list of financial services, reports CNNMoney . The biggest warehouse membership chain is partnering with First Choice Bank, a New Jersey-based community bank, and 10 other lenders. Thus far, Costco’s partners have loaned 10,000 mortgages to members. Lauren Kutschka, manager of financial services, expects this number to grow as the program moves from its testing phase into a full-scale retail offering
Seattle is one of America’s fastest-growing cities
Seattle makes Forbes’s top ten list for the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.
The real estate market blooms
“The fear factor is all but gone.” So says Mark Prather, broker at ERA Buy America Real Estate in La Palma, Calif. Momentum around the nation is building for a stronger spring housing market than we’ve seen in the past five years, according to the Seattle Times.
