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Seattle Ranks 5th on City Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Seattle

Seattle ranks 5th on an inaugural Energy Efficiency Scorecard that compares 34 of the most populous cities in the country. Leading the list was Boston, which achieved 76.75 points out of a possible 100, and scored well in all policy areas.

The other top-scoring cities were Portland, with 70 points, New York City (69.75 points), San Francisco (also with 69.75 points), Seattle (65.25 points) and Austin (62 points).

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) conducted the assessment using five, variously-weighted metrics: building policies; transportation policies; energy & water utilities and public benefit programs; local government operations; and community-wide initiatives. Seattle topped the list that measured building policies.

Read the article…

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Realty Researcher Expects Housing Rebound to Continue

Money

In a series of weekly blogs, analysts from John Burns Real Estate Consulting remain mostly optimistic about the housing rebound, but raised caution flags about flippers.

“We are advising our clients in areas with a high percentage of flippers to take into account the risk of artificial price appreciation,” stated a company vice president. “While successful flips are more likely to be reported than unsuccessful ones, the profits described to the public wildly surpass the reality of the recovering market.”

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Housing Activity “speeding along,” but Pace Slowing as Seasons Change

September tested the housing market’s resilience around Western Washington with fluctuating mortgage rates, record-setting rains, and persistent inventory shortages in some areas. By month’s end, however, both pending and closed sales outgained the same period a year ago, according to the latest figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service earlier this month.

Prices also increased compared to 12 months ago, but fell slightly from the previous month. Year-to-date figures through nine months show prices for homes and condominiums that have sold in the 21 counties served by the MLS are up 12 percent from a year ago.

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4 Outside-the-Box Ways to Sell Your Home

Moving

You found the perfect agent, your list price is dead on, and your property is pristine. Now what? If you’re committed to doing everything within your power to sell your home, but it’s not coming as easily as you’d hoped, it’s time to get innovative. Here are a few outside-the-box strategies for getting your home sold.

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“New Kind of Neighborhood” Breaks Ground in Bellevue

Neighborhood

Six years after being announced, a project that will transform a Bellevue warehouse/grocery distribution district into what developers call “a new kind of neighborhood” has broken ground. Called The Spring District, the 36-acre transit-oriented neighborhood will encompass “urban style housing,” plus offices, retailers, restaurants, parks, and a hotel, all built with a “focus on sustainability” and mobility choices, which will include nearby light rail.

Greg Johnson, president of Wright Runstad & Company, outlined the plans and timetable for the $2.3 billion project during a meeting of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. His Seattle-based company is partnering with San Francisco-based Shorenstein Realty Investors Eight on the joint venture.

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Save Big Bucks on Your Taxes

We’ve been looking at the new IRS regulations on how to classify repairs and improvements for tax purposes. The voluminous regulations contain some things that are pretty good for owners of residential rentals and commercial properties, and some things that aren’t so good.

Among the good things is a safe harbor for materials and supplies. An expense for any property that comes within this safe harbor may be currently deducted.

Exactly what are materials and supplies? Find out…

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3 Home Buying Compromises To Never Make

Thoughts

There’s no such thing as a perfect house. Whether you’re spending millions on an insane estate or starting out with a 5-figure tract home, there will undoubtedly be something you feel like you’re missing. Compromise is part of the game. That said, there are some items that buyers shouldn’t budge on, period. Here are Trulia’s top three.

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A Rental Management App for Small-time Landlords

Pendo Rent, a rental management software application for landlords with just a handful of properties to keep track of, launched earlier this month, with the ability to collect and track online payments, create to-do alerts and manage finances.

The Vancouver-based firm is targeting “citizen landlords,” those property owners who want a simple, organized way to manage tenant applications, and maintain tenant profiles, advertising and other aspects of renting a property.

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Relay For Life of Kent 2014

Finish the Fight

I’m happy to announce that I’ve agreed to Co-Chair American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Kent for a second year in a row! Since cancer touches everyone’s lives directly or indirectly, I remain dedicated to this cause that CELEBRATES all cancer survivors and caregivers; allows us to REMEMBER those we’ve lost; and to FIGHT BACK against this disease by raising valuable research funds. The 2014 season promises to be another exciting year with Lance Goodwin as my exceptionally experienced Co-Chair and most of the Leadership Committee returning. It’s hard to believe that Lance and I began collaborating over 6 years ago and I’m honored to be serving alongside him again. With the support of Kent’s community members, organizations, businesses, and friends like you, we will FINISH THE FIGHT!

Check out the Relay For Life of Kent website…

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Small Home Improvements With Big Returns for Sellers

Even in a housing market where inventory is low, buyers still want a move-in ready house and are willing to pay more for one that’s turn-key. Sellers can increase their listing price and decrease the time their home sits on the market just by doing a few home improvement projects, experts say. But not all projects carry the same return.

“A big mistake a lot of home sellers make is they upgrade the kitchen thinking they will make so much more money on the house. But the rest of the house still needs upgrading or repairs,” says Michael Corbett, Trulia’s real estate expert. Home sellers have to look at repairs as a whole rather than a sum of parts, he says.

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