Numbers Worth Knowing Lately I have been working with a lot of numbers and I have been reminded of their power. While numbers themselves are non-emotional, often they bring up a lot of emotion and therefore, are sometimes avoided. Anyone who has ever not opened their credit card statement or avoided revisiting their commission statements knows exactly what I am talking about. But numbers can also bring great joy! I was reminded of this just this week when not one but two of my clients shared with me that they had reached their commission and transaction goals for the year. These were two agents who had a specific goal in mind for quite some time and had been striving tirelessly to get there. Because they had those particular numbers in their head, they could visualize getting there, ma... 09/09/2016

Bright Contemporary Living at Moderne Sale Price $350,000 Condominium Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,025 sqftYear Built: 1965MLS #: 1026161 Location 11525 Greenwood Ave N#301Seattle, WA 98133 Description Mid-Century modern living in this 1025 sqft 2 bed 2 bath end unit at Moderne Condominiums. This well-kept unit boasts a light filled living area that flows seamlessly into the kitchen and eating areas. Stainless appliances, cherry cabinets, and sleek slab granite make the kitchen pop. Large balcony off kitchen/eating area with beautiful views of the sound and mature trees, great for entertaining or a relaxing morning to yourself. Designer paint colors and Berber carpeting continue into the 2 bedrooms. Master has an en suite bath with tile shower and bright lighting. One... 09/08/2016

Incredible Sunset from 20,000 Feet by Robert Swetz 09/03/2016

  $212,000 Condominium Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,518 sqftYear Built: 1975MLS #: 432622 Location 13730 15th Ave#C102Seattle, WA 98125 Description Remodeled elegant ground floor 2 bedroom 1.75 bath condominium is luxury living in renowned gated Chambery Park. Wonderous flow of light in 1500 sqft. New hardwoods run room to room, tile plays on entry and bathrom floors. Attractive kitchen with granite, stainless appliances, new cabinets. Posh wet bar in dining room, marble mantle on living room firplace impresses. Covered patio showcases arboretum-like grounds. Huge master with private bath, his and hers closets. Lots of storage, 2 parking spaces. Fabulous clubhouse with pool and tennis courts. Near golf, shopping, dining, and much more of Seattle's best!! Easy highway ... 09/02/2016

Refined City Living in Prime Location $475,000 Condominium Main Features 1 Bedroom1 BathroomInterior: 769 sqftYear Built: 2009MLS #: 525785 Location 820 Blanchard St#1503Seattle, WA 98121 Description Sophisticated 1 bedroom, 769 sqft condo in desirable SLU Enso building. High-end finishes throughout the smart layout. Open floor plan with living room, dining room and kitchen - great for entertaining. Stainless appliances, concrete counters, wine rack. Dual sided fireplace in bedroom and living room. Huge picture windows with views of city and Lake Union. Master bath with floating vanity, artful tile shower, walk-in closet. Bonus laundry room. Parking, storage, and cable included. Prime location close to Whole Foods and transit lines. A Seattle masterpiece sure to sell fast.   Listing co... 09/02/2016

Vintage Seattle Home Overview Maps Photos Features Market Stats $545,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms1 Bathroom1 Half BathroomInterior: 1,973 sqftLot: 2,700 sqftYear Built: 1908MLS #: 582720 Location 3249 26th Ave WSeattle, WA 98199USA Description Truly charming 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1,973 sqft historical 1908 Magnolia home with new paint and fixtures. Expansive views of Queen Anne, Ballard and Elliot Bay. Front porch with swing. Large living room plus dining area with beautiful hardwood floors. Bonus den or 4th bedroom. Spacious kitchen with Stainless appliances and eating area. Master bedroom with peaked ceilings, reading nook, big windows. 1-car garage with lots of storage and room for shop. Newly terraced backyard with professional landscaping. Full bath upstairs with... 09/02/2016

Your Work-Life Balance Check-Up I would like to take you back to December 31, 2015. You might have been with friends celebrating the new year, traveling with family, or perhaps curled up with a cup of hot cocoa next to the fire, but wherever you were and whatever you were doing, you had probably been giving some thought to the upcoming year and how it was going to be different than previous years in terms of structure and in terms of protecting  your family time. Fast forward to September 1, 2016; Labor Day weekend and the symbolic end of summer. Take a moment and grade  yourself on how well you did with  your work-life balance. Did you have rules for protecting your personal time that you enforced? How well did you juggle your personal and professional personas either at the beach or ... 09/02/2016

Striking Modern Northwest Home $439,000 Townhouse Main Features 3 Bedrooms2.5 BathroomsInterior: 1,430 sqftLot: 2,343 sqftYear Built: 2012MLS #: 768197 Location 3031 S Nevada St.Seattle, WA 98108 Description Striking, modern NW home with open layout & stylish finishes in flourishing Columbia City. Main floor has dark wide-plank hardwoods, living room fireplace, sunny dining room. Stunning kitchen has granite, SS appliances, rich cabinets. Covered outdoor space for BBQ & relaxation. 3 beds upstairs, all bright with deep closets; Master is a sanctuary, wwith huge windows, en-suite bath with granite, dual vanity, designer shower. 1-car garage with extra space & security system. Near light rail, downtown. Urban living at its finest in this Seattle Townhome!   Listing courtesy of: Kevin Mey... 08/31/2016

626 4th Ave W #306, Seattle 981193rd Floor light-filled SW Facing Corner unit in lively Lower Queen Anne. 92 WalkScore means the best shopping, dining and entertainment that Seattle offers is at your fingertips. This renovated unit features granite countertops, stainless appliances, hardwood bamboo floors, 2bed/2bath, newer windows and exterior, HUGE balcony and 2 full parking spaces in secure garage! Enjoy Sound and City Views from the rooftop deck. This is a great rental investment or owner occupied property, no rental cap! Tyler Kirages(206) 579 - 9738Keller Williams Western Realty 08/30/2016

The Market is NOT Falling! I have received so many emails this month asking me if the market is going to crash just because pending sales in their area have decreased slightly. When I ask them what area they are in and when I look the stats up on the MLS I confirm what I know which is that the slight decrease is completely normal for this time of year. Real estate markets everywhere fluctuate not only when markets are tumbling, they fluctuate based on what is happening in each local area. For example, the last week of August in many areas traditionally slows down because buyers are busy getting their kids ready to go back to school or enjoying the last few weeks of summer. Healthy markets breathe, they move, they sway and they fluctuate. What matters in any market is the overall health... 08/26/2016

265 NE 50th St, Seattle 98105 Spectacular Wallingford 1925 Craftsman oozes original charm and character with tasteful renovations. Classic hardwood floors, millwork, tall ceilings and crown molding with tons of space, storage, fresh interior paint and open layout. Big corner lot with vegetation, 1 car garage + additional parking and huge outdoor deck for entertaining and summer bbq’s. Sip morning coffee from your upper balcony and enjoy Cascade Mountain views. Walk to cafe’s, dining, shopping and grocery! Easy access to I-5, UW and GreenLake. Tyler Kirages206-579-9738Keller Williams Western Realty      08/19/2016

Seattle Floating Homes In Lake Union & Portage Bay Market Update August 2016 PLUS the tour info....Seattle floating homes for sale are limited to three two that are currently for sale  ($925,000 in Portage Bay on The Shelby Group dock and $3,200,000 at Wards Cove in Eastlake) on the market in the NWMLS and a handful of off market options that Molly and I have heard about.  These are the Seattle houseboats that are the floating homes type..as opposed to FOWRs (floating on water residences) like vessels, barges, etc. There are five pending  in the MLS ranging in list price from $475,000 to $1,395,000. The Seattle Floating Homes Association is having their biannual  floating home tour this year - September 11th from 12 to 5 PM and tickets are already half way sold out.  Molly and I volunte... 08/06/2016

 13717 Linden Ave N #308, Seattle 98133Bright &spacious 2-bdrm condo in the Bitter Lake Community.Enjoy sunshine through the solarium windows &cozy up to the fireplace in the winter months.Live comfortably in this over 1000sf well-maintained condo. Features washer/dryer in-unit, reserved parking in shared garage, private storage &secure lobby entrance.HOA dues cover W/S/G plus basic cable, &this is a well-managed, clean, quiet complex.Building is FHA approved w/no rental cap.Walk to bus, amenities, lake &playfields nearby.A must see!  Tyler Kirages(206) 579 - 9738The Ben Kinney TeamKeller Williams Western Realty 08/03/2016

Activerain Meetup #12 this Friday, July 22, 2016If you're in the Seattle area please come join us to celebrate our 12th Activerain Meetup at the 14 Carrot Cafe in Eastlake...14 Carrot CafeJuly 22, 2016 8:00 am to @ 10:00 am 2305 Eastlake Ave E Seattle, WA 98102I’ll be co-hosting with chief inspector / master blogger Charles Buell. Come join us for breakfast or coffee and some great conversation. We'll be talking about all kinds of stuff including blogging, real estate, mobile marketing, our local markets, interesting people, and I'm sure Pokemon Go will get a mention too! Past Activerain Meetups... Seattle, Fife, and Vancouver I’m looking forward to spending some face to face time with Charlie, members, and friends. I can’t wait to hear some new stories and what's going on in your life!... 07/18/2016

What is Your Back Up Plan? Have you ever wondered what you would do with your business if you received a call that required you to drop everything and divert your attention to an issue more important than business?  The call may come from a family member needing your help with an emergency or about an aging parent that needs your FULL attention now. Or worse, that call may be notice that someone you really cared about was at the end of their life. Or maybe the challenge is that YOU need to attend to a an urgent personal medical issue. Inevitably something will call for your attention at some point in your business life if it hasn't already. I realize this may not be something you want to read about today, but if you are reading this it is because you need to hear it. So, what is your b... 07/15/2016

Evaluating Neighborhoods: 4 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Home in NE SeattleFrom finding the right agent to discovering the home you can truly feel comfortable in, there are a variety of things involved in the home buying process. However, it’s important not to get caught up in the home and ignore altogether the community you’ll be living in. If you’re planning a move to a new neighborhood, here are some things you should look into before putting in an offer.Local Northeast Seattle Amenities A peaceful, picturesque community is ideal, but if there are not a lot of resources nearby for your family, it’s possible that your new neighborhood may not be the best fit. Instead of having to get in the car and drive everywhere, ensure you research nearby community centers, green spaces ... 07/11/2016

Learning to Delegate and Let Go When I first started selling real estate, I was a young "whipper-snapper" who wanted to set the entire industry on fire. I had it all planned. I was going to be the Number One real estate agent in America - no, the WORLD! - and I was going to do it alone. Being young and naïve, I truly believed I didn't need anyone else. I wanted to do everything myself. I wasn't going to ask anyone for help.  I wanted to be successful and thought that the definition of success was doing it all myself... how wrong I was. My, how time changes things! Now I look at that girl with her new agent's license and laugh. If only I could step back in time and tell her all the mistakes she was going to make. But she wouldn't listen anyway. Probably the biggest difference between Me... 07/08/2016

I headed up to the Eastlake neighborhood in Seattle the evening of July 4th to watch the fireworks on Lake Union. We have an escrow branch there with a fabulous view of the Seattle Skyline (from the north), the Space Needle, and look west over Lake Union at Queen Anne Hill, the Aurora Bridge, and on clear days we enjoy views of the magnificent Olympic Mountains on the peninsula.The sky was overcast, but fortunately the cloud cover was high. For me, the weather was perfect, just a gentle breeze from the west and a comfortable cool. This is just a share, no big production. I shot it with my iPhone 6 Plus and was surprised how well it did at night with bright rockets a glare. Night is usually a good recipe for fuzzy. Also, no additional apps or fancy editing. I just put a couple of clips t... 07/07/2016

The Seasons in Your Business The calendar turned to a new season week, it had me thinking about how there are different seasons in a business as well. These don't necessary follow a calendar or the Earth's rotation. Instead, they tend to follow what is happening for you personally or for others in your personal life. For example let's take look an agent with a steady home life. There are no kids at home or aging parents with special needs. There are no demands on the on this agents time from anyone. Furthermore, this agent has time to exercise daily and is in good health. This moment in time - this season - seems like the perfect time to grow his or her real estate business and perhaps implement a new lead generation system or a website complete with thought-out content. This is the se... 07/01/2016

Story of a Seattle, WA Junk Remover  Being a garbage remover for in Seattle, WA is a remunerating employment and one that requires interminable tolerance and a serious hard working attitude. We should separate what a Seattle, WA  garbage remover does every day while working his/her day of work. 1) Setup And Decide PickupsThe initial step starts with the affirmation procedure. Where will the garbage be grabbed from? Is it from a private or open customer? Where is it in Seattle? These determinations are made at an early stage in the day preceding advancing forward. 2) Routine ChecksThe vehicle and gear used to finish the procedure are presently evaluated. This is to guarantee the wellbeing of both the garbage remover and the devices being utilized. It will be assessed taking into account ... 06/25/2016