Category: Seattle and Beyond

Reflections On The Week

Carl Setzer

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Another piece: Lynnwood’s highest price point seems to be east of 99. Many of those are newly constructed, especially the parts that abut Bothell. Of course, there are the view homes in Blue Ridge, but even they have been hovering in the high 500s, and I haven’t seen one break 600k recently. Just observations.

I also noted the number of condos sold in Lynnwood. Less that half the total sales, but a solid contributor to Lynnwood’s overall sales numbers. The lower price point really helps with affordability. Remember, though, that condo association dues play a part in financing. If your acceptable monthly mortgage payment is $2,000 and dues are $300, it’ll more like you’re financing $1,700. (This is not exact. Lender’s computations are more complex, so I always recommend developing a relationship with a good one. I know several I trust deeply, fyi)  I’ll take a deeper dive into condos soon. They are cool and provide some really affordable options.

Life’s getting easier for buyers. More inventory means less competition. But the summer buyers are coming soon. It’s going to be a zany few months. It’ll be fun!relationship

Home Maintenance Tip Of The Day: Driveways

Carl Setzer

I get many emails from a wide array of folks. Got the message below from a contractor acquaintance. Now, I must admit, driveway maintenance is not generally on my radar. However, it’s an important thing to do to maintain your home’s value. Messed up driveways are pretty annoying.

Anyway, read and learn!

Every driveway has a life expectancy, this is determined by two key factors, the base and the thickness of the asphalt.
However, the Pavement will eventually crack. When this happens don’t use liquid asphalt. while it might hide the problem for a month or two, that is all it will do. It is preferable to have a Professional come out and look at it, instead of trying to fix it yourself.
Small dips in the driveway will deteriorate faster than the rest of the driveway allowing puddles of water to collect and eventually form potholes in your driveway. These should be fixed immediately as not to cause long term damage.

An Edmonds Haiku

Carl Setzer

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Along the water
Clarity flowing inwards
A day in Edmonds

I love the tranquil feeling of walking along the Edmonds shoreline. One of my favorite places on earth. Memories; of my my grandparents, my mom, my wife and now watching my son grow up. All these upon the sandy shores near the ferry. Part of what makes the place home.

An Open House for some serious work in Lynnwood

Carl Setzer
City of Lynnwood Logo

Next Wednesday there will be an open house for this project. On 196th from the east side of Fred Meyer to just before I-5. Come and be informed, and give your thoughts and input. If you want to take the deep dive, here’s the project’s website.

 

PROJECT OPEN HOUSE NOTICE

196th Street SW Improvements:

48th Avenue W to 37th Avenue W Project

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

6:00 to 8:00 PM

Lynnwood City Hall, Council Chambers

19100 44th Ave W Lynnwood, WA 98046-5008

The City of Lynnwood is in the process of designing a widening of 196th St SW from 48th Ave W to 37th Ave W and invites the public and all other interested parties to an Open House. The purpose of the Open House will be to provide information regarding the project and seek public comment.

Project Information

The 196th St SW Improvements: 48th Ave W to 37th Ave W project will add two additional lanes (one lane in each direction), median barriers, wider sidewalks, and landscape features. The improvements are needed to accommodate future growth envisioned for City Center and to create an enhanced pedestrian environment with a boulevard appearance.

My memories of Mukilteo

Carl Setzer

I grew up one city south of Mukilteo. Until I drove, it was a commitment to travel there, but we’d make our way there a couple of times a year, mostly in the summer.

As a teen, it was a fun place to drive, though the police had little tolerance for bored adolescents. With the beach, fire pits and Ivar’s, it was a very convenient place to hang out.

In those days, the Mukilteo Speedway was mostly a country highway. Two lanes, through dense trees, quite dark at night. One would expect to hear banjos wafting from the trees. Jeeps and other off road types had plenty of fun in those old woods. The Pit was a large sinkhole that was smooth enough for trucks and such to climb their way out. There were several ways out, and each of the climbs had varying levels of challenge. I stayed on the sidelines watching the show. Usually by a fire.

I still have moments when I think of the Harbour Pointe neighborhood as new. I remember when they started construction in those old woods. Hard to believe that decades have passed, but such is life.

It’s now solidly suburban, clean and well designed, a great compliment for those Boeing execs and their families. Actually, there’s a nice array of housing options, from houses to condos to apartments, and a world class school district, good ol Mukilteo is a great place to live.

Exploring Mukilteo

Carl Setzer

Though quite grey, yesterday was rather dry. A friend who has been interested in exploring local trails called us, so off my son and went, with two dogs in tow.

A Mukilteo resident, she takes her dogs regularly to the Japanese Gulch Dog Park, where I’ve never been. First, though, we briefly hike around the gulch. The recent rain did leave the smaller trails muddy, but not that challenging. The trail we took from the dog park was pretty clear. A few water laden bushes drooped over the trail, and there some very narrow spots on the trail, but it was quite straightforward. Not accessible in a wheelchair, though. Some of the bridges over small streams were rather creative in their design, and materials chosen, like several narrow boards that are a bit slick. When we got on the larger trails, made of pressed gravel, the going was quite easy.  

After a short hike, we let the dogs go into the dog park.  The dogs played reasonably well with the others. The other dog owners were friendly and respectful. It’s a very neat part of Mukilteo.

Hungry, we opted to walk down the hill to grab fish and chips at Ivar’s, ate dinner at the park by the lighthouse, then grabbed ice cream at Diamond Knot before walking back up to the van. Got there just before an evening squall dumped quite a bit of rain. Nice timing!

Though not far from Lynnwood, I didn’t go up to Mukilteo much growing up. As a teen, we’d head up there every do often during the summer. Not too much has changed there. It’s still a fun spot to park and just hang out. With Ivar’s fish bar right there, it’s pretty convenient. Paying for parking down by the beach is a but of a bummer, parking up top and walking down is easy enough.

I’ve many memories of Mukilteo, from The Pit, a sinkhole that worked great for four wheeling, to the woods where Harbour Pointe is now. It’s changed so very much over the years, yet it delights me so see these elements stay the same.

A Thought About Today’s Real Estate In Greater Seattle

Carl Setzer

When we agents log into the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), we’re presented with some key market stats. The first one shows how many homes have been listed in the past 24 hours. When I logged this morning, there were seven. Yesterday, though, there were over 800. Today’s total inventory is 14,244, so over 6% of the listed homes for sale were listed in one day.

So, great news for our home buyers struggling to get an offer accepted: looks like the summer sales season has started. This burst of inventory should really help things stabilize.

For people interested in selling their homes, expect the price increases to calm. I expect that we’re near the highest point we’ll reach in awhile. If you’re waiting for THE peak…well, that’s a dangerous game. You only know where the peak WAS; retrospectively.

Anyway, I’m expecting those discouraged buyers will be heartened and get back into the work of home searching. Great news!

Hard to see the future well enough to game the system. But the signs point to good things.

Updated the Vlog

Carl Setzer

It’s been a bit, and I did commit to updating regularly. This one’s a photo montage of my recent wanderings around Edmonds and Lynnwood.

Changes in Lynnwood: Bye Safeway?

Carl Setzer

A couple of years ago I noted that Albertsons acquired Safeway. And here in Lynnwood we have an intersection with one of each kitty-corner to the other. I had a hunch that one of them was doomed, most likely Safeway. To me, the store always seemed to be struggling, always rather empty.

Then I noticed “guys with signs” (a modern incarnation of the town crier?) recently. They were sharing the news the they were liquidating the whole store. So, I guess my projection was accurate. If you’re a Safeway fan, there’s the store in Edmonds off of 99 and 236th (pretty sure it’s 236th). And the one off of 148th. I don’t know about the Edmonds store, but the north Lynnwood one is a busy and vibrant place. With its relatively recent remodel, it’s a rather pleasant place to shop. Good since it helped keep it competitive when Fred Meyers opened their Alderwood Store.

I find the Lynnwood Safeway’s migration to be interesting. My first memory of the store, it was located a block east where Big Lots is now. In the 80s (I’m pretty sure) it moved to its current location. What’s interesting to me is that Office Depot went into the old Safeway building. Then a decade or so later, it moved west into the retail space right next to Safeway. So I expect Big Lots will move to the space vacated by Safeway. Well, not really, but it’s a fun conjecture.

Driving up 196th is always telling for me. I remember many old businesses. Like where Shakeys Pizza used to be. Or Pizza Hut. Then I look and try to remember what was “in that spot”. Then there’s the sadness of the now long vacant Alfy’s. A place with many memories for me, and a study in bad management. But that’s a post for another day.

Realizing I have decades of this region’s history tucked into my brain is both rather cool, and a bit alarming. I don’t feel that terribly old! But I can talk about how this city was thirty/forty years ago. I guess it’s clear this place is home for me. No complaints. Nope, not one.