Page not found – Anita Italiane Hearl https://realestatewithanita.com Real Estate Fri, 17 Jul 2015 00:02:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Geometric is Back in a Big Way! https://realestatewithanita.com/2015/07/17/geometric-is-back-in-a-big-way https://realestatewithanita.com/2015/07/17/geometric-is-back-in-a-big-way#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2015 08:58:14 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=217 Geometric is Back in a Big Way! When it comes to interior design, geometric patterns are all the rage! They are popping up on television shows to the pages of popular magazines. When done correctly this trend can give your space an incredibly modern and polished look. There are a few components when choosing a pattern […]

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Geometric is Back in a Big Way!


Anita Hearl design tip

When it comes to interior design, geometric patterns are all the rage! They are popping up on television shows to the pages of popular magazines. When done correctly this trend can give your space an incredibly modern and polished look.

There are a few components when choosing a pattern that will go perfectly with your interiors.

1. Color Scheme!
Choose one that fits within your existing color scheme. Make sure you choose a correctly sized print that won't overwhelm the size of the room, and , of course, always make sure you choose a design that you love!

2.  A Little Goes a Long Way!
I
t should go without saying that patterns should be more of an accent role. Imagine how overwhelming it would be if a room was full of pattern, there would be no place for your eyes to rest. Instead, focus on choosing one or two design elements that could benefit from a few pops of pattern and make those the focus of the space.

3. Application
The good news is as far as geometric designs are concerned, you can pretty much fit them into whichever features of the room your heart desires. The common applications are wall decor and accent elements. Think patterned throw pillows or blankets for your couch. Or a patterned shade to adorn your table lamps. If you love wall art, consider choosing pieces that feature a geometric look!

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Crazy stats about Bill Gates’ Medina Mansion https://realestatewithanita.com/2015/06/23/crazy-stats-about-bill-gates-medina-mansion https://realestatewithanita.com/2015/06/23/crazy-stats-about-bill-gates-medina-mansion#respond Tue, 23 Jun 2015 01:02:43 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=209 Fun Facts! Crazy stats about Bill Gates' Medina Mansion – The mansion took 7 years to build and cost $63M. – The swimming pool runs 60' long and includes an underwater music system. – The home includes a 2500 sq ft gym. – When a guest arrives they are given a pin that interacts with […]

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Fun Facts!

Crazy stats about Bill Gates' Medina Mansion


– The mansion took 7 years to build and cost $63M.
– The swimming pool runs 60' long and includes an underwater music system.
– The home includes a 2500 sq ft gym.
– When a guest arrives they are given a pin that interacts with sensors in each room in the house. Depending on their preferences, the temperature, music and lighting will change in the house wherever they are. 
– Located somewhere in the home is Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century notebook, the Codex Leicester, which Gates purchased for $30.8m.
– The 2300 sq ft reception hall can seat 150 people for dinner or 200 for a cocktail party.
– The house contains 24 bathrooms.
– The house comes with a 23 car garage.

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5 Upgrades that “FATTEN” Your Sales Price! https://realestatewithanita.com/2015/06/20/5-upgrades-that-fatten-your-sales-price https://realestatewithanita.com/2015/06/20/5-upgrades-that-fatten-your-sales-price#respond Sat, 20 Jun 2015 18:44:15 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=193 To get the best "bang for your buck" put your money into these upgrades before putting your house on the market! 1. Start with the visual. An old roof that needs replacing or a home in need of exterior paint is visible when one walks up to the front door. First impressions give the buyer […]

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To get the best "bang for your buck" put your money into these upgrades
before putting your house on the market!

1. Start with the visual. An old roof that needs replacing or a home in need of exterior paint is visible when one walks up to the front door. First impressions give
the buyer an idea of the condition of the rest of the house and how a home owner took care of their major investment. 

2. Update the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it is also what
sells the home to many buyers. Reface those old cabinets, invest in new counter
tops and spring for that shiny new hands free faucet!

3. Refresh the bathroom. The bathroom should be an oasis. A minor bathroom remodel does not cost as much as a kitchen remodel but it also does not return
as much on investment. The recoup is about 70%.

4. Dig into the Landscape. When it comes to your investment landscape can
be one of the biggest bangs for your buck. If you are in need of a major over haul including sprinkler system and up lighting I tell folks to budget about 10% of your homes value! With landscaping I am including a new front door and new garage doors. All contributing to curb appeal! 

5. Hire a home stager. No matter how carefully you invest in home
improvements you may need some help in showing it off. We all fall victim of
holding onto furniture and/or furnishings that have sentimental value whether
they are in style, go with anything or fit perfectly in their given space. A home
stager accentuates your home with furnishings that help buyers see how to furnish
a space and their sense of spatial design helps to de-clutter ones mind when walking through a home and create that soothing experience.

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What it takes to buy an average home in Seattle! https://realestatewithanita.com/2014/05/28/what-it-takes-to-buy-an-average-home-in-seattle https://realestatewithanita.com/2014/05/28/what-it-takes-to-buy-an-average-home-in-seattle#respond Wed, 28 May 2014 14:29:14 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=183   Want to own an average home in Seattle? ….better make $73k a year! Mortgage website HSH.com determined how much a person would have to earn to be able to afford the principal and interest on a median-priced home in various cities around the U.S. Here in Seattle, that number is $73,851.06, the 7th-highest city on the list. Another […]

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Want to own an average home in Seattle?
….better make $73k a year!

Mortgage website HSH.com determined how much a person would have to earn to be able to afford the principal and interest on a median-priced home in various cities around the U.S. Here in Seattle, that number is $73,851.06, the 7th-highest city on the list.

Another recent report said that 53% of Seattle-area homes currently for sale are affordable for people making $69,718/year, which means there would be even less available at this new number.

The good news? According to Redfin, the median home sale price of $357K in the Seattle area went up 3.5% from the previous month and 8.2% more from last year. So even if you're not making that median salary, there's a few more house options out there now than before.

For more info, click here

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Anita Italiane Hearl 
Managing Broker at Windermere RE Co.
206.250.5944
ahearl@windermere.coma
www.anitashomesonline.com

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Sell or Rent Your Home Now!!! https://realestatewithanita.com/2014/02/19/sell-or-rent-your-home-now https://realestatewithanita.com/2014/02/19/sell-or-rent-your-home-now#respond Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:01:32 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=177 Low inventory in residential sales and residential rentals is making it a sellers market…..big time! Recently there were 30 offers on a home on Queen Anne and 20 offers on a home in Wedgwood. These are not low priced homes either! We are even finding agents asking owners with larger homes (3500+square feet) if they […]

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Low inventory in residential sales and residential rentals is making it a sellers market…..big time! Recently there were 30 offers on a home on Queen Anne and 20 offers on a home in Wedgwood. These are not low priced homes either! We are even finding agents asking owners with larger homes (3500+square feet) if they are interested in renting out their home for a year or two to recently hired Husky Football coaches etc who are having a tough time finding rentals in the city. There is some serious money to be made now in this frenzied climate. If you have ever wanted to live/work abroad…..now is your "perfect storm" opportunity!

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2014 Predictions! https://realestatewithanita.com/2014/02/01/2014-predictions https://realestatewithanita.com/2014/02/01/2014-predictions#respond Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:55:25 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=171 2014 PREDICTIONS   -Interest rates will rise. Some predict 5.375% by the end of the year and others are saying it could be closer to 6%. As the ecomony improves the FED will have no problem increasing them. –Home prices will continue to recover. We are up 15-20% over the peak of the market in some inner […]

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2014 PREDICTIONS

 





-Interest rates will rise. Some predict 5.375% by the end of the year and others are saying it could be closer to 6%. As the ecomony improves the FED will have no problem increasing them.

Home prices will continue to recover. We are up 15-20% over the peak of the market in some inner city neighborhoods.

The Luxury Home market will continue to surge. There was an increase of sales of homes over $1m last year. In the west it was up 25.4%, midwest 36.4%, south 30.1% and the northeast 45.3%

-Multi-generational housing will continue to be a need.

According to the AARP, in 2008, 5.3 percent of all households, or 6.2 million, were occupied by multiple generations of families. That number rose to 7.1 million households by 2010, or 6.1 percent of all households – a growth rate faster than the previous eight years combined for a total of 51 million Americans (U.S. Census Bureau). This trend and need for suitable housing to serve the needs of not only our aging boomer generation as homeowners, but more importantly, their needs as primary caregivers for their rapidly aging parents and relatives, is only going to accelerate in the coming decade.

The First Time Buyer will be back! With the economy improving, we believe they will finally be moving out of their parents’ homes and, when they compare renting versus buying, many will choose homeownership.

The Move Up Buyer will FINALLY free up some inventory! Over the last several years many homeowners were trapped in their home by negative equity. This prevented them from moving up to the home of their dreams. With home values rising and home equity increasing, this pent-up demand will finally be released and move-up properties will be in high demand.

Foreigners will continue to fuel our real estate market with their desire to park money here in the U.S. Typically they are all cash and they have a strong desire to invest in real estate here before the prices go up much further.

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The Resale Value of the “Man Cave!” https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/09/30/the-resale-value-of-the-man-cave https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/09/30/the-resale-value-of-the-man-cave#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:27:03 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=165 Man caves are becoming more and more on my male buyers wish list! Couples that are wage earners are feeling a need for not only family time, but also their own personal time and space. For that reason, having a dedicated place for the buyer to pursue personal interestes like video games or sports may […]

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Man caves are becoming more and more on my male buyers wish list! Couples that are wage earners are feeling a need for not only family time, but also their own personal time and space. For that reason, having a dedicated place for the buyer to pursue personal interestes like video games or sports may improve your home's resale value. It does not have to be in the basement. It can be a finished attic, the back of a very deep garage or even a separate building in the backyard! The true value is in having the space to have a "man cave".  You will not get your money out of it the way you would from a kitchen or bathroom renovation because the design of a space like this tends to be specific to an individual's interests. If you are concerned about resale value you should be careful not to personalize the space too much. You may not want to put in a rug design with a purple "W" to demonstrate your support for the Huskies. 



Still, there are alot of man cave features that are almost universally appreciated. The room definitely has to have some form of soundproofing, a large TV screen, comfortable furniture and some form of bar. It can also be a room that stores all of the husbands paraphernalia that the wife does not want to see, such as college team items etc. Having the space for an optional man cave can improve your value…….

and remember; there can be woman caves, too!
Anita Italiane Hearl 
Managing Broker
206.250.5944
ahearl@windermere.com
www.anitashomesonline.com

 

 

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National Pizza Ranks

Seattle #5 in Top 10

Contrary to what every New Yorker will tell you, the nation's best pizza isn't found in the Big Apple.
The best pizza in the country is found in San Diego. At least according to the reviews and opinions of TripAdvisor members. The travel site announced the top 10 cities for pizza in the U.S. determined by the highest average rating by city for all restaurants that serve pizza. San Diego which is known for its sunny weather, endless beaches and excellent Mexican food came out on top. 
Coming in at number 2: Las Vegas, noted for the pizza served at Grimaldi's, which everyone knows is actually a Brooklyn institute. A
At number 3: Boston, a place you might associate more with lobster rolls and clam chowder than pizza.
FInally, number 4: New York City. The web site notes Lombardi's, Di Fara's, and Patsy's as stand-out establishments.

 

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Buying beats renting in Seattle if you stay 3.6 years, says Zillow! https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/08/19/buying-beats-renting-in-seattle-if-you-stay-3-6-years-says-zillow https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/08/19/buying-beats-renting-in-seattle-if-you-stay-3-6-years-says-zillow#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2013 20:52:03 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=157  Buying a home is a better financial decision than renting for Seattle area homebuyers intending to stay in their home for at least three years and 6 months, according to a first quarter analysis from online real estate marketplace Zillow. Zillow's breakeven horizon incorporates all possible costs associated with buying and renting, including upfront payments, […]

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 Buying a home is a better financial decision than renting for Seattle area homebuyers intending to stay in their home for at least three years and 6 months, according to a first quarter analysis from online real estate marketplace Zillow. Zillow's breakeven horizon incorporates all possible costs associated with buying and renting, including upfront payments, closing costs, anticipated monthly rent and mortgage payments, insurance, taxes, utilities and maintenance costs. It then factors in historic and anticipated home value appreciation rates, rental prices and rental appreciation rates to help calculate the point, in years, at which buying becomes less expensive than renting. The breakeven for Seattle as a whole is 3.6 years. But at the neighborhood level, the breakeven horizon ranges from a low of 2.3 years to a high of 4.9 years. Those with the shortest breakeven horizon were Miami (2 years), Detroit (2 years) and Phoenix (2.1 years). 

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Will the Bubble Burst or Slowly Deflate?? https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/05/27/will-the-bubble-burst-or-slowly-deflate https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/05/27/will-the-bubble-burst-or-slowly-deflate#respond Mon, 27 May 2013 23:12:12 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=151 Most experts agree that at the moment we are in a housing bubble. To give you some King County stats….in April of 2008 we had 16,400 listings,  2400 sales, making it a 15% absorption rate. In March of 2013 we had 3860 listings, 3740 sales, with a 97% absorption rate. The question on every buyer […]

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Most experts agree that at the moment we are in a housing bubble. To give you some King County stats….in April of 2008 we had 16,400 listings,  2400 sales, making it a 15% absorption rate. In March of 2013 we had 3860 listings, 3740 sales, with a 97% absorption rate. The question on every buyer and sellers mind as well as realtors is will the bubble burst or slowly deflate. We need the shadow inventory to appear and interest rates to raise abit before we get to a balanced market of about 35% absorption.  Our listing volume has declined 425% while the sales volume has increased by 56%.

If you are thinking of selling DO IT NOW!!!!

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Your Neighbors Affect your Home’s Value! https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/03/19/your-neighbors-affect-your-homes-value https://realestatewithanita.com/2013/03/19/your-neighbors-affect-your-homes-value#respond Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:20:43 +0000 http://withwre.com/anitahearl/?p=145   Whether it's the perpetual yard sale, two feet tall grass, Christmas lights still hanging in July, dead trees, backyard roosters or cars parked everywhere – the condition of neighboring houses can make life awful and affect property values by 5 to 10%.  Studies by economists measuring the impact on a home's value after a […]

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Whether it's the perpetual yard sale, two feet tall grass, Christmas lights still hanging in July, dead trees, backyard roosters or cars parked everywhere – the condition of neighboring houses can make life awful and affect property values by 5 to 10%.  Studies by economists measuring the impact on a home's value after a registered sex offender moves nearby have shown a decrease in value of around 4%. The appraisal industry calls this neighbor “external obsolescence” which means this is a factor that is beyond your control…but it still affects your property.

The biggest form of external obsolescence has been with homes that have been foreclosed on. Many of these homes have gotten so run down and the weeds are so high. Many Cities are enforcing the real estate agents that take these listings from the banks to take care of the grass (or lack thereof) and make the curb appeal much better or there will be fines.

A home in disarray can end up being a city code violation, warns the City of Seattle Office of Department of Planning and Development. Of the 8,299 complaints filed in 2010 with the city, approximately 5,000 concerned problems with neighbors, including noise, vegetation and the ever popular "junk in the yard." There is an unwritten code that we all have to live by. Make sure you take care of your property, keep your music down, don't let the dog bark, that sort of thing.

 

So, yes, your neighbor’s house and neighboring homes do affect the value of your home. Try to get things cleared up before putting your home on the market if you can. Some sellers have paid for neighbors lawn clean up or paint job. In the end tho, living in the city, all jammed in together is not for everyone and a number of things are beyond our control!

 

 

 

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