Thanks to the West Seattle Blog for this informative update on what's happening with the property at the southeast corner of the Junction. A builder/developer named Charlie Conner bought the property 11 years ago, with the intent of eventually re-developing it into a mixed use property. The most recent design was for a 200 unit , two-building apartment complex. They're putting the whole thing on the block however, I'll venture to guess it's because of the economy kind of. . . well, sucking. It also appears this project would have been something of a departure for Conner; Judging from their website, their emphasis has been primarily on single family residence projects in the suburbs (they even built a community outside of Walla Walla). Per the WS Blog, a firm called Turning Point Realty ... 08/09/2011

After reading a great post by Charles over at Portland Real Estate Blog,  a little could be added to our discussion about real estate negotiations. Is it always a Zero Sum Game?One of the first principles learned when studying negotiation tactics, is to make sure to leave your opponent feeling like they got a good deal.  This can be tough especially when using terms like opponent and zero sum. Homeowners hire agents to play this game tough and get the best possible price for their home. This is zero sum, what one side wins the other loses.But while our goal as agents is to get the best possible deal for our clients, we must remember that there are people on the other side of the transaction.  Now we're not talking about being easy on the other side. But, I have come very close to losing... 01/11/2008

Moving into a town home in Seattle can be challenging. Tight corners and stairwells coupled with a three or four story layout. As the density of our city increases, the number of town homes will inevitably increase, for several reasons to be discussed later. My wife and I live in a 1200sqft town home in the Alaska Junction neighborhood in West Seattle. It is by far one of the coolest areas in Seattle. We walk to everything. Some of the cities best restaurants and cafe's are within just a couple of blocks. However getting furniture into our home was a challenge and is for most town home owners. We bought a 9ft long sofa, it is soft and fuffy, but it wont fit through our stair well. For about a year we converted our first floor bedroom into a "TV" room and avoided moving it into our "livi... 12/31/2007

Figuratively, of course. When receiving an offer that is too low, and they all are these days, it is important to use everything you can to get an edge on your competition. Negotiation tactics are an edge that all top producing agents have. This post is the second in a series on Negotiation tactics and real estate. When an initial offer comes in the correct reaction is to "flinch." You want the bearer of the offer to feel like they just dropped a brick on your foot. "Ouch!" Then wait. Don't say anything. Nothing. Silence, is the next move. Almost like you are waiting for an apology from the brick dropper. Wait until they talk next, no matter how long it takes. I have waited so long that people have asked if I was still on the phone, like it was a dropped call. When I am shopping in the ... 12/19/2007

The market is changing, but I mean that the confidence bottom has dropped out of some real estate agents. I have always been a student of the human condition. How people react when their ego is hurt, what they do when they are in a position of power, or do they go on the defensive when threatened. A real estate agent is supposed to be your protection from these absolutely normal reactions to situations, especially when the bottom drops out of the real estate market. Barrier to emotion, is one of the benefits to using a real estate agent to negotiate. Any agent really, whether it is a sports agent or an actors agent, is a negotiating tool. When the seller, or buyer as it may be, comes back with an outlandish response, your agent is there to respond using wise tactics. All too often agent... 12/18/2007

Located in West Seattle on SW Alaska just west of 42nd next to the Alaska House, this park was planned for development in 2005. With 200,000 for acquisition costs with a projected construction start of Summer 2007, we are a little behind schedule in the Alaska Junction. Up until just recently this has just been a fenced off area, near the Alaska Junction. They have spread the grass seed and now we are watching it grow. With 2008 rapidly approaching I doubt we will see it finished this year, and by the looks of the design it wont be finished for quite a while. Here is what it currently looks like: I have to say that even this sparsely planted grass and yellow tape, it is better that the chain-link fenced gravel field that it used to be. The West Seattle Junction will be a better place w... 12/10/2007