Looking for a Beautiful Urban Retreat to Retire In

For this buyer, she had made the exciting decision to retire and part of that decision included relocating to Seattle. Looking for a small condo in South Lake Union, Downtown or Belltown she booked a flight to come up for a weekend and check out some condos.

Before we took her out on a tour of condos we thought it would be best if she had a detailed tour of the several neighborhoods she was interested in moving too. So we coordinated for her to have a chauffeured narrated tour of those areas. It helped her to narrow down the specific location she would concentrate her search on.

Property tours led her to focus in on 3 different condos. With price as her motivator, we wrote several aggressive offers that ended with Seller's who wouldn't budge on their prices. As of 3 months after her closing, those condos are still on the market! This led her to make her 3rd and final offer on a fabulous view condo in the Watermark Tower. After negotiating with the Seller we got the price our client was looking for and that is all it took for her to take the plunge! Closing in only 2 weeks, she was happily in her Puget Sound View condo in no time!

We are so glad you picked Seattle as your new home! I'm sure we'll see you at the Market!

A Second Home in the City

When we first met with this couple, we found out that they were looking for a small affordable condo close to the Fred Hutch Research Center. Living quite a ways out of the city, they were looking for a pied-a-terre that the wife could stay in during the week while working at Fred Hutch. They wanted to be close to a bus or the Streetcar for quick and easy access to work.

We focused our attention on South Lake Union and Belltown. After several condo tours these second home buyers decided proximity to the Streetcar was key. So we narrowed in on South Lake Union. Being a newly developing neighborhood there are not that many condo projects there to choose from, only 2200, Veer, and Enso so we focused our tours to those 3 buildings.

In the end, Enso had the perfect home for them. We were able to get the price down on a small open one bedroom unit making it fit in within their financial parameters and therefore fit the bill! They were able to close on this in-city gem in less than a month and move in allowing for many more days of no commute at all!

Enjoy in-city living you two!

Quick Closing Short Sale in Wallingford

This Seller had bought her view condo in Wallingford above Gas Works Park when she lived and worked in Seattle. When her life took a turn and changed and she could not sell her condo for as much as she had paid for it, she new it was time for a short sale.

When we first met with this Seller, we advised her to get advice from an attorney to best help her make this very difficult decision. Once she decided it was the right move for her in her current situation, we set out to help her get it done.

With fabulous views, a wonderful close-in location, updated finishes and situated above the beloved Gas Works Park we knew we could get this sold. Professional photographs, weekend open house, online marketing and an executed succinct marketing plan brought a full price buyer in only 10 days.

Next came the short sale negotiation. This is a long and tedious process and we enlist the work of our colleague whose speciality is just that, short sale negotiations. After working his magic, the lien holders approval was in hand in less than 2 months and we were off and running! The closing of this transaction left the Seller with a great sense of relief and we are just glad we could help and make the process quick and smooth for her.

Good luck with your future endeavors!

Magnolia or Bust

These buyers both lived in condos in different parts of our City, one in Capitol Hill and one in Ballard. And although they love those locations, when they decided to move in together they wanted to find a place that was 'theirs' in a new part of town, Magnolia.

Having started their search with an agent from a discount brokerage, they became disenfranchised with the slow response times and lack of attention, and when they put an offer in on a home and weren't told that the Seller could look at more than one offer at a time, which caused them to lose the house, they were done. And that's where we came in!

We scoured Magnolia for a place that would meet their needs. Having helped a previous client move to that part of town, we had already seen most of the inventory there which helped us move through the potential homes there quickly. They focused in on a newer home with huge deck they could use to enjoy the expansive territorial views. Once we locked in on a property it was negotiation time. We scored enough of a credit that this couple wouldn't have to bring any money for closings costs to Escrow. From there we guided them through the process step by step to a smooth closing.

Happy days in Magnolia to you!

Investor Purchase in Capitol Hill

When we were contacted by this Californian couple looking to invest in a rental property here in Seattle we were excited to help! These buyers knew that Seattle is a very stable market and felt that they could get more for their money here than in the Bay Area. And being UW graduates, they knew they loved the area and might some day return here to live.

They were looking for a unique condo or townhome in the urban neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Belltown or Downtown. Knowing they loved those urban walkable locations we focused our search there. Flying into town for only a weekend gave us a short time frame with which to locate the investment they were looking for. After seeing many options on their visit they began to narrow down the contenders.

But amidst their decision making a new condo came onto the market. When we saw it we knew they would love it! Being almost brand new with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a den, modern finishes, and on the top floor of a popular building in the heart of Capitol Hill it seemed to be the perfect fit. But what put it over the edge? The nearly 450 square foot private patio space! Unheard of in urban condos. Fabulous and unique! We took a detailed video of the condo and without ever seeing it in person, they made the move to purchase it. After facilitating a smooth long distance closing they rented it out with no problems!

Congrats on your first investment condo! Cheers!

In-City Retreat with Incredible Views

When we connected with these second home buyers, they were hoping to get an in-city retreat closer to work, but more importantly, with breathtaking views.

And we knew right away, that if someone is looking for luxurious finishes and an expansive view of the Puget Sound, Fifteen Twenty One is the perfect spot to check out. But we had to see all the options. After touring them through Seattle's most exquisite condominiumbuildings and through the units with the most unobstructed water views, they thought that Fifteen Twenty One might just be the one.

But since they currently lived on the eastside and never have lived in Seattle how would they be sure it was the right building and location for them? How about a free night stay in the guest suite? Our clients stayed one night in the building to try it on for size. And it fit! We then toured the remaining homes that met their needs and they selected the winner. After some great negotiating we were able to come to a price that worked as well as terms and some slight changes to the unit that made it truly the perfect home.

Enjoy all that Downtown Seattle has to offer!

First Time Buyer Looking for a Short Sale Up North

When one set of our first time home buying clients started their home search with us, they immediately referred us to a colleague who was also thinking about buying. So we met with this first time home buyer to find out what he was thinking. He actually thought he couldn't buy so was reluctant to met up. We hear this a lot. With affordability at its highest level in history we informed him that even though he wanted a large 3 bedroom single family home for under $250,000 that it was indeed possible! We walked him through the process, educated him about lending, explained what short sales and REOs were and he was convinced!

The tours began in his desired cities of Bothell and Edmonds. After several tours we found his perfect house and when his girlfriend gave him the thumbs up, it was a green light to move forward. This short sale house met all his needs and had a price that worked too. Negotiations got him an even better price and the closing cost concessions he needed to make this happen. With an FHA loan putting the down payment in reach, he was set to close and he did in only 2 months, which for a short sale is quite speedy.

Congrats on buying your first home, we told you it was possible!

Short Sale in Magnolia

After we sold these clients' adorable house in Ballard in only 3 days, it was time to hunt for the perfect house to move up into.

Magnolia was their desired location and their needs and wants were specific. After seeing every home in Magnolia from Cape Cods to brick Mid-Century homes in their price range, we still had not found the perfect match. Until one day, while scouring the options, a wonderful Craftsman home popped back on the market. It was a short sale, but we were ready for it.

Meeting at our usual location in Magnolia, the Starbucks, we penned up an offer on the Craftsman. Working closely with the Listing Agent we were able to put together an offer we all thought the bank would take but that was still a steal of a deal for our buyers. And low and behold, the bank accepted our terms. Having educated these clients on the short sale process we were completely prepared when we got the lien holder approval letters. The inspection had already been completed, the loan process started and therefore we were able to close in the 2 1/2 weeks the lien holders gave us to get this done!

Can't wait to see the house with all your personal touches Tim and Joelle!

The Perfect Spot in Ballard

This client needed a fresh start and one way to that was to buy a place of her own. So she contacted Marco, through the recommendation of a friend who was a past client of ours, to get the process rolling.

She had many of the same questions our other buyers ask, "what can I afford?", "how does the process work?", "why does the lender need so much information?". So, we thoroughly explained every step of the transaction so she would know what to expect and after getting pre-qualified with her lender, she was comfortable and ready to move forward with the search.

We looked in the quaint North Seattle neighborhoods of Wallingford, Fremont, Green Lake and Ballard until she stepped foot in the one! With a private patio, a large bedroom with walk-in closet, a fireplace, and the modern finishes she was hoping for, we decided to right it up! After reviewing comparables we were able to get the price she needed to make it work. Another smooth transaction for a happy buyer!

Enjoy Ballard! Can't wait to see the new yellow walls!

Selling for a Profit and Moving Up - It Can Still Happen!

These Sellers bought their house in Ballard, made beautiful improvements to it including a new kitchen, french doors to a great TREX deck and a much improved basement media room, and then decided it was time to move on. Yearning for more closet space and a 2nd bathroom they decided to put their Ballard gem on the market.

We met up with the couple on March 17th to discuss plans to get the house market ready. Suggestions such as updating their ancient furnace, paring down and rearranging their furniture, painting, carpeting, and more were thrown out to help improve the houses presentation. Remember, selling is all about presentation, promotion and price! It took about a month to get the house market ready. Once the professional photos were done, the virtual tour ready, and the marketing plan in place, we launched 7751 Dibble into the marketplace. After our first open house on April 18th, exactly 1 month after our initial meeting, we were sitting down with 3 offers in hand! After Marco's master negotiating we were able to get a super clean offer above list price and closed exactly one month after that on May 17th!

The whole process took only 2 months from start to finish and resulted in the house selling in only 3 days for more than list price!

Congrats and we can't wait to celebrate in your new house in Magnolia!

First Time Buyers Moving to Belltown

When we first connected with this first time home buying couple, they said they were wanting to get into the market and into a condo in Belltown. They were not sure exactly what they could get for their money so we started with a tour of different sized and priced condos to give them an idea of what was out there. But this tour was a bit unique in that we took the husband on an actual tour, videoed the condos, and sent them to the wife who was temporarily working and training on the East Coast.

After their actual and video tours, they settled on wanting a 2 bedroom as new and shiny as possible! Knowing that the wife worked for the Navy, we explained to them the benefits of using a VA loan, one of the only zero down programs still available.

After seeing new construction building, Marselle, in Belltown the husband was sold! So we took another longer and more detailed video and with that the wife was sold too! So we took to negotiating for them. After snagging them a great price, 2 parking spots, an air conditioning unit, and closet storage systems they were ready to commit. Their VA loan went smoothly with Sheila at Cobalt Mortgage, we were able to organize loan document signing from across the country, and we coordinated a smooth transaction through to getting them their keys.

Welcome to the neighborhood Wes and Leann! And trying out RePublic with you guys was great!

Family House in Bothell

This family, after having their second child, felt the need to buy their first house that they would raise their kids in and the search was on.

They came to us with a wide range of neighborhoods and cities that would work but a very specific need for a mother-in-law apartment for their live-in mother and enough bedrooms and bathrooms to fit the whole crew. There were actually several houses that they felt would work well for them but then it all came down to price.

We always say, the clients are the final decision makers, we are only here to help, educate and give you the best and most accurate information to help you make an informed decision. In this case, we wrote up an offer on a house they seemed to love but when the Seller wouldn't come down to the price we felt, based on research of comparable properties, the house was worth, our buyers let this one go. They were happy to know that even though they loved it, with our education and information, they were able to make the right decision and not overpay. And, as it turns out, it was meant to be! Because the perfect house, much larger, fitting their needs better, in a great school district came around! They were able to get into their first family house with all their needs met and in a house much larger than they ever thought they could get.

Congrats to Jacob and Shana! We can't wait to see the kids grow up there!

Something New - Condo on Eastlake at Ruby

When we first met this Buyer, she and her mom just wanted a condo for her to call home. A medical student at the University of Washington, she was looking for something that was low maintenance and close to school.

Marco toured them through condo options in the University District, Eastlake, Wallingford and more. Helping them compare the features of each building and unit, it was decided that for the best price, the best location, the most modern finishes and the lowest maintenance living, Ruby on Eastlake was the perfect fit!

And with summer upon us, her closing happened at the perfect time for her to move in to her new place and enjoy its huge private patio!

Best of luck to the future doctor!

Penthouse Living in South Lake Union at ENSO

This Doctor was looking to move from his fabulous Cristalla rental into something even more fabulous that was his very own. Looking to stay in the core of the city, Marco took him to check out condo buildings in Downtown, Belltown and South Lake Union. Desiring 2 bedrooms, 2 parking spots and something modern and fresh he saw some of the city's most beautiful buildings.

After several months of searching and some great negotiating, he found the right one at the right terms! A top floor penthouse at Enso. Motorized blinds, surround sound, views of the Lake, a wine cooler, walk-in closets with customized systems and more, this place had it all! An amazing space for an amazing guy.

We hope you love your new urban pad!

"Moving On" - #403 at Tavona Condominiums in Wallingford Sold

This Seller was unfortunately in a situation we know as being "upside down" in his real estate. Although his condo was not worth what was owed, he really needed to sell and was looking to move on from his Wallingford Condominium. So what did he do? He called us of course! After walking him through his options, it was determined a Short Sale would be best. We evaluated the market and determined the price we felt was best to get him a quick offer from buyers who were interested in snagging a great deal by participating in a short sale. After coming up with the pricing strategy and working our magic on furniture arrangement, staging and the marketing material, we put it up for sale.

And three offers later, it was sold! The glorious views of the city, Lake Union, and the Space Needle along with the amazing price made this is a no brainer for the buyers.

We worked closely with the seller's bank to get them everything they needed and after getting their final Short Sale approval we worked with the seller and the buyer's agent to complete this short sale transaction within only 60 days.

We wish this client the very best of luck in his new place and with his next chapter!

Moving On Up, But Not to The Eastside, to SLU!

When these two met, they were both living in their own homes. But when they decided to get married it was time for them to put those places aside and move into "their" place.

And we found that place in the trendy and up and coming neighborhood of South Lake Union. Both employees of Amazon, they looked toward the future and imagined the outlines of the new Amazon headquarters right down the street from Enso Condominiums and once they saw the hip and contemporary finishes inside Enso they were sold! They bought a place with enough room for their first bambino so they will be in no hurry to move out their brand new posh in-city digs.

We'd like to be able to walk across the street to work...we're jealous!

Congrats to Chris and Melissa!

Green Lake Condo Sold in only 2 weeks!

These Sellers found us through a mail piece they had saved from 2 years prior! They liked what we did for our clients back then and gave us the opportunity to put our expertise to work for them.

So we dolled the place up (that's slang for "rearranged the condo"), had professional photos taken, loaded the virtual tour, and set our marketing plan in motion. Within 2 weeks we had received an offer. These Seller's took this all cash offer and we were off to closing! As a second home for these out of town Seller's, this condo was pristine and the Buyers even wanted their furniture! This deal went smootly from start to finish, in fact, when we contacted the Seller's before closing to check in they said they almost forgot they were selling their condo becuase we made it so easy and stress free for them.

"Everything has been very professional and very efficient, well done!" - Ken and Bev

Happy clients = a happy real estate team!

It's Auction Time!

When our previous clients called us to say their daughter was in the market for her first condo we couldn't wait to start the search!

It turns out she was desiring something brand new and fresh in a vibrant urban location for a bargain. What did that bring to mind? Auction! With the Brix and Gallery Auctions on the horizon we set out pick which building suited her needs most, and it turned out to be Brix. Then it came down to finding which units she would be happy to live in and how much she would be willing to spend on them. Once the units were selected and the price caps were determined it was Auction time!

And, drum roll please, she was the proud and happy winner of a wonderful new open one bedroom with a huge deck in the eclectic Broadway area of Capitol Hill.

Enjoy your new digs Lindsay!

Lofted Spaces in New Construction

When this Buyer told us he was ideally looking for a 2 story lofted condo in a new construction building we knew just where to look. Gallery, Trio, and Veer. And then, it all comes down to price!

After some tough negotiating we were able to score the largest loft space for the lowest price. And with the ability to still pick flooring and paint, this buyer was able to put his personal touches on his first place, and he was able to make it all happen in time to get his $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit.

Congrats Josh! We want an invite to the first party you have!

Needed: Great House with a Pottery Studio Space

Having just gotten engaged this first time home buying couple wanted to get into the market and into a new house before the $8,000 tax credit was gone. So, they set out to find their first place.

What were the must haves? Large yard for their their beloved dog, 2 bathrooms, at least 2 bedrooms, gas cooking, but most importantly an out building that could house a pottery studio. A recent graduate of the Ceramics program at UW this was a very important criteria.

Let the scouring begin! And low and behold we found it! The perfect house with all the must haves including a pottery studio space out back.

Happy potting! And happy wedding planning! Congrats Bob and Amber!

Spacious Ballard Condo

This first time home buyer had been thinking about buying for a while but was tempted to take the plunge by the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit.

Wanting spacious interiors, updated finishes, a parking space and an in-unit washer/dryer in Fremont, Wallingford or Ballard we knew we could find the perfect place. And it happened to be the 2nd place we saw! So within one week we found her perfect place, wrote the offer, negotiated a killer price with the seller paying all of her closing costs! With over 700 square feet this condo had it all and the building amenities were great too.

Happy painting Jo!

The Great Capitol Hill Search

As a busy intern Surgeon at Swedish Medical Center, this client was relocating from Las Vegas and knew very little about Seattle. She wanted something close to work so when she is going back and forth at strange hours she wouldn't have far to go. Also on the must list, a bedroom with a door, modern interiors, a washer/dryer and parking for under $245,000. Does it exist? Of course it does!

It exists at the Mode in Capitol Hill. Here we discovered the place for her which was able to meet all her needs. Being so busy she had to leave a lot of the work to us, but that's what we are here for! We were happy to do it and in the end she was able to squeeze some time in her busy schedule to pick up the keys to her very own place.

And now if we ever need surgery we know who to turn to!

We Do Renton Too

The South End is Marco's old stomping ground so when a client wishes to purchase a house in the Renton area, we are ready to take it on.

Wanting a new construction house under the $300,000 mark isn't easy and maybe isn't possible in Seattle or Bellevue but it is in Renton. A great place and just a jaunt from both the aforementioned cities, Renton was a great place for us to begin the house hunt.

And when we went, we found. A large 4 bedroom house, brand new, backing up to a greenbelt, who could ask for anything more? And so our client swooped in and wrote an offer and did a little personal upgrading as well to make it just what he wanted.

Congrats Terry, we can't wait for the housewarming party!

Downtown It Is

Not all Microsofties have to live on this Eastside, this one wanted a downtown Seattle condo. Looking for a great value and a great location we focused in on Belltown and Downtown and looked for Developers clearing out their last inventory or Seller's with properties that have been sitting on the market for a while.

We hit the jackpot with a great unit in the new construction Parc building on Cedar and Western. With this never before lived in open one bedroom home on the top floor with 2 parking spots, we had found the one! And for a great bargain!

Cheers to urban living!

Cute Condo in Phinney

For this client, a cute condo will do! She was looking for something she could call home, and to her and her beloved cat, that meant comfortable, traditional, updated, and in a neighborhood that was, well frankly put, neighborhoody. Not a big city girl, but rather a girl from Nebraska, she wanted something in a walkable neighborhood but that was mostly residential.

So the search began and took us to Wallingford, Greenwood, Ballard, and then landed us in a 2 bedroom condo in Phinney. With everything she was looking for including a fireplace, deck, parking, granite, stainless, a washer/dryer, and 2 bedrooms she made the move!

Welcome to home ownership! Enjoy!

Meeting the Needs of the First Time Buyer

Hoping for 2 bedrooms, in the city, that allowed a dog, with granite and stainless, and parking all for under $210,000...is it possible? Yes, it is if you know where to look.

These first time buyers were moving into town so that she could begin her career as a resident Doctor at UW and he could lend his talents to UW doing research. Having never been to Seattle, condo tours also included neighborhood tours and informational sessions about what makes each Seattle neighborhood unique. Coming from New Orleans, Seattle definitely was a change but together we were able to find them what they were looking for.

Welcome to Seattle Greg and Claire!

Selling in Seattle to Buy in SF

This client packed up and moved to the City by the Bay for his job and never looked back...except of course to sell his Belltown Condo. Used as a rental income after his departure from Seattle, this condo needed to get sold so he could purchase a place in San Francisco!

Do you need to be here to sell your condo? Not at all, we actually never met this client in person, but via phone, email and fax real estate can be done no problem. We coordinated having the condo staged, cleaned, and got it ready for the market. Why? Because that's what we do, duh!

A modern and very large 1054 sq ft condo in the Bellora in Belltown, this condo had it all. Open kitchen and living room, 2 full bathrooms, an in-unit washer dryer, a walk-in closet with California closets, fireplace, gas cooking, parking, and wonderful modern touches this gem was begging to be purchased. And it was!

Good luck in San Francisco!

Oslo in Ballard - The Perfect Fit

Who says there is no more Zero Down financing? This client really needed it to make her first condo purchase a reality. So, we scoured the MLS and found the perfect place. A cute modern condo in her favorite neighborhood of Ballard offering a zero down financing option through the bank who secured the loan on the building when it was converted from apartments to condos. Perfect.

As a first time home buyer, we guided her through the purchase and helped make her dreams of home ownership a reality.

Now she is all settled in to her completely updated 2 bedroom condo all for under $250,000!

Enjoy Ballard!

Outdoor Space in Kirkland

These clients had two things on their minds: outdoor space and a view! Hoping to live in the heart of Kirkland, near the water and all the charming shops it has to offer, and also in a low maintenance condo with a large outdoor space we knew we would have a slight challenge on our hands.

So we began the search for the perfect condo with tons of usable outdoor space for her to plant and him to BBQ.

Good thing they were able to see beyond a Seller's personal tastes and really feel the potential in the condo we showed them that we knew would be the perfect find. It had a lot of stenciled paintings including cherubs and grapevines and quite a bit of red carpet (yes red carpet), light wood, and brass highlights. But with their remodeling goggles on they saw what we hoped the would, potential and a fabulously large patio! And don't forget its perfect location nestled in the heart of Kirkland.

We were able to get them $60,000 off the list price so they happily snatched it up. And with fresh paint, new appliances, new hardwoods, and a few tweaks here and there, they are loving their new place and all the outdoor space it affords them.

Happy gardening and BBQing!