Local Listings • October 18, 2018

NEW LISTING: Lynnwood Fixer Needs Your TLC

by Serena Heslop

18815 64th Ave .W.
Lynnwood, WA 98036
Listed at $380,000

Love & elbow grease & paint will make this house shine again! 1300+ sq ft level home with 3 bedrooms a good size kitchen & living room. Newer double pane windows, oak hardwoods, a serviceable kitchen & bath, Big back yard & off- street parking.

MLS #: 1374876
Taxes: $287 (2108)
Lot Size: 9148 SQFT
Type: Single-Family Home
Year Built: 1944
Style: 1 Story
School District: Edmonds
County: Snohomish County
Community: Alderwood Manor

Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.

Local Listings • October 16, 2018

NEW LISTING: Elegant Columbia City Craftsman Remodel

by Serena Heslop

4935 44th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
Listed at $899,000

Elegant 5 bed, 2.75 bath craftsman remodel. Sellers created their dream home then got relocated, boo for them great for you! The main & lower level are brand spanking new, kitchen has never been used! Gorgeous open sunny spaces on the main, all wood windows, refinished fir floors, & a gas fireplace with stone mantelpiece. Lower level has super high ceilings, 2 bedrooms, a full bath & kitchen, for a potential rental. Sunny back deck and yard, detached garage. In the heart of Columbia City.

MLS #: 1372704
Taxes: $6,422 (2018)
Lot Size: 4480 SQFT
Year Built: 1909
Style: 1 1/2 Story w/basement
Views: Territorial

Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.

Events • October 15, 2018

Windermere hosting “We’ve Got You Covered” Winter Drive for YouthCare

by Serena Heslop

Dear friends,

Windermere and the Seattle Seahawks have come together for another season to help #Tacklehomelessness in our community.

As part of that campaign, Windermere is hosting a “We’ve Got You Covered” winter drive for YouthCare, a non-profit that provides support and services to homeless youth throughout the Puget Sound area.

We are collecting NEW hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, and warm socks.

From October 15 through November 9, you can drop off donations to participating Windermere offices in King and Snohomish Counties, including my office, Windermere Mount Baker, located at 4919 South Genesee Street in Seattle, WA 98118.

Our friends at Gentle Giant Moving Company are generously donating their time and trucks to pick up all of the donations from our offices. Donations can also be dropped off directly to YouthCare, Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm, at 2500 NE 54th St, Seattle, WA 98105.

Each night, over 1,500 young people are homeless in King County. Please help them stay warm during the cold winter months by dropping off your donations to our participating offices.

Feel free to contact me for more information.

Serena

Local Listings • October 14, 2018

NEW LISTING: Big Lot with Multi-Family Home in Judkins Area

by Serena Heslop

901 28th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98144
Listed at $1,200,000

This LR2 zoned 8,250 sf lot, is situated in the heart of Judkins Park. House is in good shape, but value is in the land. There is a semi-paved alley on the north side of the property (originally Charles ST) New Judkin’s Link Light Rail station going to east side by 2023 will certainly increase values even more in this area. Survey will be available before offer review date.

MLS #: 1374261
Taxes: $8,352 (2018)
Lot Size: 8,250 SQFT
Style: Multi-Family
Views: Territorial
Community: Judkins

Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.

Local Listings • October 4, 2018

NEW LISTING: New-in-Box Mid-Century in Mount Baker

by Serena Heslop

2212 29th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98144
Listed at $875,000

New-in-box mid-century! Elegant profile in the kitchen cabinetry, pristine woodwork and stately sandstone fireplace. Honeyed hardwoods and generous living spaces both upstairs and downstairs. A lovely deck with built in benches connects the kitchen to the private garden. Just steps from many parks, 10 min walk to Lake Washington, 7 min walk to light rail. This house is in fabulous shape! Big garage with workbench. 4-bed/2-bath. One bedroom is non-conforming. Inspection and sewer scope available.

MLS #: 1365285
Taxes: $6,670 (2018)
Lot Size: 4,700 SQFT
Type: Single-Family Home
Year Built: 1953
Style: 1 Story W/Bsmnt.
Views: Territorial
Community: Mt Baker

Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.

Events • September 27, 2018

South Seattle Halloween 2018: Top 10 Events

by Serena Heslop

It’s here! Your ghoulish guide to celebrating the fall harvest and Halloween season right here in Seattle’s most vibrant community. From pumpkin carvings to haunted houses, tricks and treats to ghostly events and much more, this is how we get our thrills and chills in South Seattle!

1. Movie Night with LSPNA
Lakewood Seward Park Neighborhood Association is hosting Movie Night on Fri., Oct. 26, at the community club (4916 S Angeline). Doors open at 6:30 pm. Bring your refreshments, we supply the popcorn. Costumes welcome!

2. Freaky Friday Rainbow Bingo!
Eat, drink and be scary on Fri., Oct. 27, with the Southeast Seattle Senior Center as we play RAINBOW Bingo just in time for Halloween! Carve out some time to let the ghoul times roll with guest MC Bobbi Jo, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and all of your favorite friends. $20 advance ticket price includes 12 games. Beer, jello-shots, and food available separately. This event sells out – get your tickets soon. Price goes up day of event: $25

3. Halloween Party and Cider Press
Join Mount Baker Cooperative Preschool and Friends of Bradner Gardens Park for a family fun Halloween Party and apple press on Sun., Oct. 28, from 2 to 4 pm. Come in costume and enjoy trinket trick or treating. Bring washed, tart apples to feed the apple press and a clean container to take home some juice. In addition to fresh juice and mini doughnuts, there will be a Dia de los Muertos display, photo booth, crafts and games for kids, and a bake sale by donation. Chinook books will be also be available for sale. All proceeds benefit the Mount Baker Preschool scholarship fund.

4. Run Scared 5K
Earn your candy at the eighth annual Run Scared 5K, a Halloween fun run with proceeds benefiting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Held at Seward Park on Sun., Oct. 28, at 9 am. Prizes for best costumes, top runners and tons of random door prizes. Walkers welcome, no time limit. Dogs on short leashes and strollers also welcome. Candy corn tasting bar and pumpkin bread at the finish line. Maybe even a few spooky surprises along the way!

5. Halloween Ice Scream Social
Let the kids preview their Halloween Costumes by joining in the costume parade at Lakewood Seward Park Community Club’s Annual Ice Cream Social (4916 S Angeline St.) on Sun., Oct. 28, from 4 to 5:30 pm. Enjoy a scoop of Full Tilt Ice Cream (including a vegan option), scary music and a little too much candy. Party favors for the kids and lot’s of space to run around. Free for LSPCC Members and nominal donation requested for non-members.

6. The Fright On 44th Haunted House-Kid’s Night
Since the mid nineties, the Fright has been expanding by popular demand. It now consists of a backyard maze with live actors, props, attractions, tricks, treats, and the unexpected. Admission is free; donations welcome. Suggested for 5 to 9 year olds with their families. Sun., Oct. 28.

7. The Fright On 44th Haunted House
All ages are welcome but parental supervision is recommended. Wed., Oct. 31.

8. The Museum of Fright
Ghosts, witches, and bats take to the skies at the Museum of Flight’s annual Halloween celebration on Sun., Oct. 28 (9404 E. Marginal Way S.). Make your very own ghostly creature that floats through the air and have lots of spooky fun in the Museum’s galleries. Plus, get festive with ghost stories, monster bowling and spooky flight simulator rides. Cost: $5 to $10 (under 17 in costume free).

9. Boo Bash at the Beach: Rainier Beach Halloween Party
The biggest free Halloween event in the entire City of Seattle, Boo Bash at the Beach is a fun, safe Halloween Party and Trick-or-Treat event held in the well-lit, flat parking lot of Rainier Beach Safeway (9262 Rainier Ave. S.) with entertainment, magic, Thriller Dancing, and storytelling by award-winning local children’s author JL Cheatam. Open to all kids, and kids-at-heart! Wed., Oct. 31, from 4 to 7 pm; FREE.

10. 14th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration
Join El Centro de la Raza’s 13th Annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration on Fri., Nov. 2, featuring a free altar/ofrenda exhibit, community dinner and children’s activities from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Free admission, dinner & limited street parking.

Does your South Seattle business or organization have a fun Halloween event you’d like to share with the community? Add all the pertinent details to the comment section below and we just might add to our official guide!

Events • September 20, 2018

SAVE THE DATE: FREE Women’s Self-Defense Workshop

by Serena Heslop

Please join my office, Windermere Real Estate Mount Baker for a FREE Women’s Self-Defense Workshop on Saturday, November 10, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.

All levels of ability and fitness are welcome – because you need to be safe as you are!

Taught by Sifu Kimberly Bowen, 3rd degree black belt instructor, and head of White Dragon Kung Fu Seattle. Certified instructor: American Women’s Self Defense Association, Commando Krav Maga, American Council on Exercise

Register in advance at dragonkungfuseattle.com
or Contact Sifu Kim: 206.979.0459
kimberly@kimberlybowen.com

Events • September 13, 2018

SAVE THE DATE: Columbia City Community Fundraiser

by Serena Heslop

Please join my office, Windermere Real Estate Mount Baker at The Royal Room on Thursday, October 18, from 6 to 9 pm for our annual community fundraiser. There is a $15 suggested donation with proceeds benefiting South Seattle non-profits helping homeless children & families, including Rainier Valley Food Bank, Project Cool, Wellspring Family Services & more.

Last year’s event raised $11,900 for he following groups:

Rainier Valley Food Bank ($1,000)
Treehouse ($1,000)
Hawthorne Elementary ($1,000)
Kids Co. ($1,000)
Wellspring ($1,000)
Mount Baker Community Club
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship ($2,500)
Nova High School ($1,000)
Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness
Project Cool Back to School ($1,000)
Emerson Elementary ($1,400)
Graham Hill Elementary ($1,000)

See you there!

Case Study • September 6, 2018

SELLER SUCCESS STORY: Francis & Lemone Ride Off Into the Arizona Sunset

by Serena Heslop

Francis and Lemone Hubbard listed their house 20 years ago, and I met them as a rookie agent, representing my first ever buyer. We immediately hit it off and even though their house did not sell at that time, Francis has stayed in touch over the years and consulted me periodically about selling their home.

Finally, it was time for Francis to retire after working for 40 years at a hospital. They had always dreamed about moving to Arizona. So now it was time to set the wheels in motion to make that happen. Having lived in their house for 30 years and raised their kids there, they had a lot of purging to do! It took several months and a lot of hard work. We met many times and thankfully they followed my advice as to what to do and not do to make it market ready. Often sellers can go a little overboard and spend too much money prepping their house for sale.

My initial price opinion shifted a little as I saw that the market had slowed down by mid-August when it was time to list. The market does slow down a bit in the summer as folks are on vacation and this year it slowed even earlier, by mid-June.

Their house had been well-maintained, but it was really dated with all sorts of different wall papers and wall to wall carpet over the hard wood floors. How ever there was not much we could do about that, as they were still living there.

We really needed to find a buyer who wanted a project house and had the resources to fix it up, or a contractor who thought it would be worth fixing up and reselling.

Luckily the absolute best buyers came along who were renting very close by and had been looking for a year for just this type of project. It was the first house they wrote an offer on and it was full price and all cash! We could not have asked for a better offer, plus they gave Francis and Lemone 60 days to close.

Which meant they could go to Arizona and look for a house which they quickly did. Having looked at 12 houses they put an offer on the first one they saw, and it was accepted. It closed 2 days after their Seattle house, so they could ship their furniture down ahead of time, drive down and just move in!

As Francis said it was like magic the way it all came together! They are some of the sweetest people I know, and I was so happy that it all worked out for them in such a seamless way. I am really looking forward to visiting them in their 3,000-square foot ‘mansion’ as Francis calls it complete with a beautiful swimming pool!

Ready to sell your home? Go here to see what you’ll gain by having me by your side during this complex process. Ready to get started? Contact me today, or go here to learn more about me. Want more information? Check out my Top Secret blog post of FAQs for Sellers.

SOLD • August 17, 2018

SOLD: Solid Mid-Century & 19th Century First Hill Duplex

by Serena Heslop

4215 46th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
SOLD: $585,000

Solid mid-century, (with AC!) in an awesome location; light rail, Columbia City, the lake and tons of parks, are all super close. This freshly painted home has an open and bright living/dining area with newer windows, fireplace and oak floors, + 2 bedrooms and an updated tiled bathroom. The kitchen has brand new granite counters and a bamboo floor. A daylight basement with fam room and bath is ripe for expansion. Big west-facing private fully fenced yard, with a patio and hot tub. 1 car garage too.

1023 E Jefferson St
Seattle, WA 98122
SOLD: $879,500

Spacious, well-maintained craftsman style duplex, in a prime location. Super close to Seattle University, hospitals, downtown Seattle, freeways and public transportation. Walk score of 95! A great investment property, always rented, or live in one and rent the other unit. 10-foot ceilings, comfortable living spaces, big newer windows for great light, lots of original features, plus updated kitchens, bathrooms, and systems. Gas heat, washer and dryers in each unit, plus extra storage space in basement.

Ready to sell your home? Go here to see what you’ll gain by having me by your side during this complex process. Ready to get started? Contact me today, or go here to learn more about me. Want more information? Check out my Top Secret blog post of FAQs for Sellers.