On Your Bus and In Your Business Whether you run your own real estate business, work for a company, or are part of a real estate team, there are people who you rely on day to day to help the business run smoothly. These are the people I call "on your bus". In an ideal world, the bus runs smoothly. This means that the right people are on board, in the right seats, and the bus continues to move forward towards its destination. But what happens when you have the wrong people on the bus? Have you ever worked somewhere and there was that person who was obviously not good for the team? Perhaps that person oozed negativity, gossiped, never took responsibility, didn't get tasks finished, didn't communicate well, or just did not produce? When the wrong person is on the bus, the bus cannot move ... 06/24/2016

Three Important Words in Real Estate Marketing I know you've already heard that old saying that in real estate, the three most important words are, "Location! Location! Location!" Today though, the three most important words that you the real estate agent need to know are, "Database! Database! Database!" The quality of your database and how you use it directly affects your success. I've said it many times before - your database is your personal goldmine. Did you know that the average real estate agent meets over five-hundred new people per month? That's friends of friends, social media acquaintances, parents at events your children attend, your mechanic and people at the grocery, at your church and at your athletic club. The longer you think about it, the more people you will identify.... 06/16/2016

Seattle Waterfront Living - One thing is for sure:  There is a lot of waterfront property in Seattle.  Greater Seattle and all of Puget Sound for that matter offer an abundance of waterfront living opportunities for all of you water babies. Greater Seattle is blessed with an abundance of both freshwater and saltwater waterfront property options. There are lakes - in all sizes, rivers, streams, and the lovely Puget Sound.   There are interesting Seattle waterfront living options including Seattle floating homes. The More Affordable Seattle Waterfront HomesMore affordable freshwater options in the immediate vicinity of the City of Seattle are to the North of the city in Seattle suburbs like Lake Stevens or Lynnwood where you can find cool places like Martha Lake Waterfront Homes or other ... 06/15/2016

This picture goes back to my childhood, processed in May of 1969.  My family gathered for every holiday.  We’d eat, laugh, joke and play cards.  We had multiple generations gather, my great grandfather at times, Great Aunts, Uncles first, second & third cousins. We didn’t always know how we were related, just that we were.This picture was taken at a house on 9th Ave N on Queen Anne Hill.  That home saw countless family gatherings and memories burned into my soul.  When I help someone buy or sell a house, I pay attention to the value and quality of the home, but I know that what will be invested will be quality memories, just like we had in this house. 06/15/2016

6732 41st Ave SW, Seattle 98136 This is the West Seattle custom built home you've been waiting for! From the Saudi Arabian custom tile work, to the grand spiral staircase, every inch of this home was thoughtfully designed. Tranquil views of the sound and Olympic Mountains can be found from most of the rooms in this Gatewood home. High end stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, a Jacuzzi master bath and french doors are just a few of the many perks this luxury home has to offer. Alicia Shope(206) 939-3623Keller Williams Western Realty 06/15/2016

Tucked back from the hustle and bustle! This modern townhome has it all from lower level office to secure garage parking plus an add. parking space deeded to the unit. Well designed layout with main level great room & bedrooms each with private baths & laundry on upper level. High end finishes throughout including: granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, new carpet & dark hardwoods. Enjoy lower utilities with gas on demand hot water, fireplace & range. 1 Year Home Warranty Included!Click Here For Listing. Click Here For 3D Virtual Tour. 06/11/2016

Alki living at its best! This contemporary townhome is only 2 blocks from the water and right in the middle of Alki's tasty restaurants.Click Here for the 3D Virtual Tour. UPDATE - Pending! 06/11/2016

Lessons Learned from Skee Ball Photo copyright Scott S. A group of kids playing tag the other day reminded me of the importance of having a strategy and sticking to it. As I watched, I realized that each kid who was it had his own strategy for tagging others. Some relied on the taunt and tag while others depended solely on their speed and agility. But then one of kids was it and it was evident that this kid had no plan at all. He made a feeble effort to run after anything that moved. He took a few steps this way and that, taunted a few kids, tried stalking kids around the safe area, but he was tired, not thinking straight, and had no plan. I finally couldn't take it anymore. I called his name from the sidelines and said, "Pick one kid and stay on him until you tag him. You need a strat... 06/10/2016

Speechless Sundays: Me myself and i... Phone.  06/05/2016

The Power of Gratitude Think about your last transaction. Was it a tough one? Were there moments when you didn't think it would close or was it smooth with barely any bumps along the way? Whichever path the transaction took, I bet there were some standout people involved that helped it across the finish line. Really think about this. Who stepped up and took care of your clients? Was it: The inspector who, despite being slammed, made time for a last minute inspection? The lender who worked with the underwriters to approve the buyers despite their qualifying with self-employment income? Your managing broker who gave you great advice on handling a low appraisal? The escrow company who worked with your out-of-area clients and coordinated their signing from afar? You know the saying, you ca... 06/03/2016

Mountain & Sound View Home for Sale in Olympic Manor  8733 21st Ave NWSeattle, WA 981174 Bedrooms, 1.75 Baths Call Jirius Isaac at 206-841-9976 to see if this property is still available and arrange a showing  This Spacious 4 bedroom View Home for Sale in Olympic Manor This is your extraordinary opportunity to own a home in the highly sought after Olympic Manor community, a wildly popular corner of northwest Seattle  Enjoy the Sound and Mountain View from the large patio or from inside the Wall of Glass in the Great Room.  This View in Olympic Manor is protected!  You and your guests’ will be thrilled being outdoors while you host a barbecue, or whatever you would like to imagine in this gorgeous setting.   The home itself has 4 bedrooms, a family room, a great room, a living room,a rec... 06/02/2016

History of Real Estate Crowdfunding Part II – The JOBS Act   If you haven’t read The History of Crowdfunding Part I, it is the early history of Crowdfunding. Pabst Blue Ribbon, believe it or not, was instrumental in paving the way for Crowdfunding to be legalized.   Ironic that a bunch of beer drinkers helped the American Public to invest but hasn’t beer always helped the American People?   Pabst Blue Ribbon brewing Corp was for sale and two marketing executives, Patrick and Brian, heard about Crowdfunding, and as a joke started a website called BuyABeerCompany.com and they collected $282M in pledges before the SEC shut them down.  U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry heard about this and realized that there was a new and different way to invest, or for business to raise money.  He thoug... 05/31/2016

   By Matt Stark Lead Broker | Search Homes NW GroupSearchHomesNW.com Bidding wars are very common in the current real estate market, most notably when it comes to higher-end properties that are in desirable locations. More recently, in the Seattle area aggressive bidding wars are more prevalent and can be very nerve-racking, even discouraging if you are on the losing end. Having watched hundreds of bidding wars over the past several years, there are a few results that are seen more often. The bidder coming in with the crazy offering price makes the decision simple – money almost always wins.It is not uncommon to have multiple winners. In a typical batch of offers, there are usually low, medium and aggressive bidders with the aggressive bids landing in an extremely similar price range. ... 05/28/2016

APRIL 2016 was another RECORD SETTING MONTH FOR SEATTLE REAL ESTATE!!!  The median price of a Seattle home is now $ 624,975.  This is a new record.    There were 495 PENDING sales in April | 680 transactions CLOSED | There were 298 ACTIVE listings in the Seattle real estate market.There is .6 of a month supply of inventory | The .6 ratio is a strong SELLER’S MARKET INDICATOR.Any ratio under 3.0 is a seller’s market indicator. Any ratio between 3.0 and 6.0 is a neutral market indicator. Any ratio over 6.0 is a buyer’s market indicator.   The story remains LACK OF INVENTORY. EPIC RECORD SETTING LOW INVENTORY!!!In the month of April, the AVERAGE list price vs sales price for Seattle was 106%. So the average home sold for 6% over the asking price.   The AVERAGE days on market for a Seattle ... 05/28/2016

Flying out of Seattle yesterday ...Robert Vegas Bob Swetz flew into Seattle Washington early Tuesday morning and spent the rest of the day playing around the city.And wow what a huge city Seattle is compared to little old Anchorage Alaska!Later that evening I flew to Las Vegas Nevada where I am now taking care of some business before I head out to California.Here is a photo of Seattle I took from the jet.  05/11/2016

2500 Western Ave #406, Seattle 98121 One bedroom condo near everything you need! Walk to the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Downtown Seattle or hit up any of the nearby restaurants. Washer and dryer in unit. Secured building with onsite manager, landscaped courtyard, gym and community room. Don’t forget about the rooftop with city and water views. NO RENTAL CAP and pets allowed. Zachary Allen(206) 457-7714Keller Williams Western Realty  05/09/2016

2721 NE 145th St, Seattle 98155 Here's the fixer upper you've been waiting for! Where else in Seattle proper can you find a 3 bed, 1.75 bath property for $300,000? Bring your contractors and your ideas. Original hardwoods through are just waiting to be brought back to life. A partially fenced yard, 2 car garage and deck are just a few of the nice features of this home. Alicia Shope(206) 939-3623Keller Williams Western Realty 04/22/2016

Robert Swetz wants to work at Facebook, Google, YouTube, Apple or Microsoft Robert Swetz is wondering how he can get a job at one of these companies with no college degrees in technology, computer programing, etc. Robert Swetz has been fascinated by the computer industry for so many years that he would like to be more involved then through personal activity.And at my age I don't feel like going back to college in order to get qualified to land certain employment at these companies.If anyone reading this post knows how to achieve employment at Facebook, Google, YouTube, Apple or Microsoft without certain college degrees please call Robert at:  702 443 7156 Or email Robert at: VideosByVegasBob@gmail.comAnd until Robert Swetz figures out how to find employment at one of these Tech Corporat... 04/15/2016

Wow 117% Over List Price!Impeccably maintained, this charming mid-century north seattle bungalow is situated back on a spacious lot in a prime neighborhood for walking/commuting. It sold for 117% over list price in only 7 days on the market.  If you are a home seller in the Pinehurst area, this is really good news. However if you are a homebuyer looking for homes here or in nearby Northgate, Maple Leaf or Roosevelt areas, it could spell trouble.Year over year prices are up 17.6%.  And homes here are selling fast, only 8 days on average.Market Snapshot - Pinehurst (98125)Some of the Single-family homes in the Pinehurst area have been on the market 84 days while the average time is 20 days. Homes that sold in the last 3 months have taken up to 150 days while the average time is 42 days. T... 04/06/2016

Hi all: As an outsider, I've been thinking about if we're due for another real estate meltdown. I would say yes but in a different way.The last meltdown was due to easy money and too much new inventory. Although lenders have tried to ease their lending criteria, it's still pretty tough to get a loan as compared to 2006, for example. Also, there is really no housing inventory to speak of. It may look like builders are building anew but not to the scope of earlier.The one thing I am seeing is an overbuilding of mutifamily. Rents are already flattening or slightly on the decline here. Housing prices are expensive here in Seattle. I wouldn't be surprised if these moderate a bit too.In sum, I could see a bubble on the commercial real estate side and a moderation of pricing on the residential... 04/06/2016