Paul - Analyze This

“Stats are for losers,” said Chris Petersen, Head Coach, UW Football (and Bill Belichick and Jerry Jones and some dude named McAdoo – according to the G). Not true, not true!  Analysts of the world unite! Anyway, where were we? ...
Read More

La’Cee - Time to Get Prepared

Well if you haven’t seen 10 Cloverfield Lane, you should (with kids out of the room). Not only is John Goodman a national treasure, but look at what is happening in the real world. Mexico, Houston, Puerto Rico, the Virgin...
Read More

TeamBuilder - Houston is hurting

You can help by donating money.  There are several worthy organizations.  As part of the Keller Williams Family, KW Cares is fantastic.  Give what you can, but please give.
Read More

La’Cee - What not to do

New home marketing can get a little out of hand. While we can appreciate new ideas and creativity, sometimes it just gets silly and ideas can get old quickly. An article on Inman the other day called out some of the...
Read More

Paul - Finding Mr. Right

I like a good headline.  Here’s one that grabbed me, “Should Seattle tax foreign real estate investors?”  The article has a couple of quotes from Seattle mayoral candidates expressing some sort of view on to tax or not to tax...
Read More

La’Cee - So Bring on the Peninsula

We’re all getting squeezed for space; builders, developers, buyers, etc. Some relief can be found in the North and South Sound markets, as well as to the East. But let’s talk about the West. With 405, 167, I-5 and 520...
Read More

Paul - Drawing the Lines

So I’m not a millennial.  I think by the numbers I’m Gen X.  No, no, I am a Gen X’er.  Whew.  I feel better.  I’m defined. The M’s get a bad rap (trying hard to not say the word “millennial”...
Read More

Paul looks at the latest NWMLS PR

A broker remarked to me the other day “this market is crazy.” Yes, it is/was the overstatement of overstatements. Active listings are down 25% from this time a year ago, which translates to a 1.5-month supply of inventory. Buyers are...
Read More

The Brief Returns – January 2016

Welcome to The Brief, our monthly report of new home sales throughout the Puget Sound.

As the name implies, the goal of this report is to provide you with a brief overview of new home sales across a broad market at a macro level. All in under 2 minutes. We’ll include some analysis and thoughts...
Read More

Stacy Looks at a Big 2015

2015 was the second best year in sales since we began keeping these records 15 years ago. 2005 was slightly better in number of sales, but not by much. Prices increased by 8.6% over the prior year, and builders are...
Read More

Bill Looks at Black Diamond

The Puget Sound Business Journal just published an article by Mark Stiles that Oakpointe Communities, formerly YarrowBay Communities, has a new partner and is ready to begin construction on the 6,050 home project in Black Diamond. Oakpoint CEO Brian Ross said his...
Read More

Bill Looks at Best & Worst States

Forbes Magazine is always coming up with clever ways to present data. Here’s one. Their 10 Best and 10 Worst States to make a living, based upon healthy wages, manageable taxes, low cost of living and safe working environment. Data...
Read More

Stacy Looks at the Detached Home of the Future

There’s some innovative new thinking about future homes, merging planning, architecture and engineering. These higher density approaches are sometimes referred to as Architectural Blending or BayHomes. BayHomes are positioned to provide a panoramic view from the focal point, usually the...
Read More

Bill & Vija Meet with Ben Kinney

So Vija and I made the pilgrimage trip to Bellingham to meet with that Kinney guy….and we had a great time. Ben is always willing to share insights, ideas and opinions about the business, and we must have covered a...
Read More

Stacy Looks at Real Estate Bubbles

A recent Zillow survey found buyer confidence is waning in tech markets like Seattle. For example, according to their numbers only 51% of Seattle residents think this is a good time to purchase a home, down from 57% at the...
Read More

Bill Decides Not to Take the Bus. Again.

The 2014 American Community Survey is out, measuring journey to work data. This is pertinent given Kirkland’s coming proposal for bus rapid transit. The bottom line? U.S. commuters continue to travel to work using the modes that have dominated for...
Read More

Stacy Looks at November in 4-County Puget Sound

Though inventory is low, NWMLS shows year-over-year gains in pending sales, closed sales and prices. “The housing market continues to be red-hot on a seasonal basis, but this winter will be even more intense given the dangerously low inventory,” remarked...
Read More