PuyallupSouth Hill PuyallupThings to do October 16, 2013

Great new food venues on South Hill in Puyallup!

If you're looking for fun, new restaurants to visit on the South Hill area in Puyallup, I can recommend a couple.  First, Epic Donuts serves "the tastiest treats in the galaxy", hand-crafted, fresh donuts.  This donut shop is locally owned, open seven days a week and has become the talk of the town due to its fabulous donuts and exceptional customer service.  Next, MOD Pizza (Made on Demand) has opened its doors and is a big hit!  Again, service is fabulous and the product is fresh and delicious.  Make time to visit both of these new food venues!

PuyallupPuyallup StatsUncategorized May 29, 2012

April Trendgraphix Stats are out!

I have been surprised and delighted to receive comments from readers thanking me for sharing statistics in a reader-friendly manner, plus requesting that I keep the updates coming.  OK, so here are Trendgraphix April stats for Puyallup:  for short sales, there are 127 active short sales, 24 pending shorts and only 9 closed sales in April.  This is a measurable decrease in all short sales categories, particularly the closed transactions.  Not sure why, but I will be investigating.  Bank-owned stats stayed pretty similar, i.e. foreclosed properties are selling quickly! April shows more traditional sale homes listed – very typical for this time of year – and fewer pendings than the previous month, fewer closed sales for traditional sale properties.  I found that surprising, since the market remains busy and I, on a personal note, have closed mostly traditional sales (versus shorts or bank-owned sales) this past month.

 

 

 

PuyallupThings to do May 21, 2012

Congrats to the Lady Jags! – 7th in State!

Big high-five to the Lady Jags water polo team at Emerald Ridge High School.  They placed seventh in state this past week.  Very proud of their hard work and determination!  Sophomore team member, Elizabeth Schuster, is a favorite of mine, so I asked her for some details about the tournament.  Elizabeth shared that it was such an exciting time for the team, particularly because it was their first time participating at the state level and also because of placing 7th. On a related note, this season included a win against the Curtis ladies – a first ever for the Jags against this consistently winning team.  Finishing so well this year, the girls can’t wait to see what next year brings.  Meanwhile, they are gearing up for one last game of the season – taking on the Emerald Ridge boys!

PuyallupThings to do May 21, 2012

Bradley Lake Park – Bring on the picnic!

Looking for a wonderful way to relax and unwind?  Try beautiful Bradley Lake Park, just at the base of South Hill.  This great park features walking trails, fishing for the kids, lots of green grass, picnic tables and the tranquility of the lake.  My daughter, Shannon, and I enjoyed a picnic on Mother’s Day!  This is a sweet time of year to be there – lots of little ducklings have hatched and you can see them waddling along the lake and practicing their new-found swimming skills.  Bradley Lake Park – another great reason to live in Puyallup!!

PuyallupPuyallup Stats May 11, 2012

The value of Zillow

No doubt, Zillow is perhaps the most-visited real estate website.  Many of my clients frequent this site.  However, be advised that all the information shared on Zillow, comes with this Zillow disclaimer:

The Zestimate (pronounced ZEST-ti-met, rhymes with estimate) home valuation is Zillow’s estimated market value, computed using a proprietary formula. It is not an appraisal. It is a starting point in determining a home’s value. The Zestimate is calculated from public and user submitted data; your real estate agent or appraiser physically inspects the home and takes special features, location, and market conditions into account.  We encourage buyers, sellers, and homeowners to supplement Zillow’s information by doing other research such as:

* Getting a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent

* Getting an appraisal from a professional appraiser

* Visiting the house (whenever possible)

BOTTOM LINE: Continue to reference Zillow for home sales information, it’s a great place to begin.  However, add a second step and enlist the support of a Realtor for the most accurate information with regard to a home’s anticipated market value, substantiated by actual comparable sold properties.

For assistance with determining your home’s actual market value, please give me a call!  Happy to help!

PuyallupPuyallup StatsThings to do May 3, 2012

Hooray, Downtown Puyallup Farmer’s Market has begun!

Looking for a wonderful way to spend Saturday or Sunday morning?  Try the Farmer’s Market in downtown Puyallup.   Best fresh flowers around, fruits and vegetables, too!

Pioneer Park, S Meridian & 4th Ave SW

Saturdays 9:00 to 2:00    April 14 – October 13
Sundays 10:00 to 3:00 May 27 – September 2.

If you live in downtown Puyallup, it’s an easy stroll or quick bicycle ride.  Great reason to live downtown! Other persuasive arguments are the library, restaurants and coffee places (love the new Anthem!), Pioneer Park and summertime concerts, the fairgrounds.  And downtown Puyallup is affordable. Trendgraphix reports an average sale price of $140,000 over the past few months.  Attractive pricing, indeed, so don’t wait too long to move on a property you might like to purchase; inventory is low and homes sell quickly –  8 out of 10 homes are selling and average days on market is 68.  As always, for more information about the Puyallup real estate market, please give a call, send a text or an email.

 

 

PuyallupPuyallup Stats April 27, 2012

Puyallup homes – Should I buy a short sale?

I have lots of clients who call and say “I want to buy a short sale”.  My response always is: ” Short sales are a great option, but not always a great fit for every buyer, in light of their goals. Why do you want to buy a short sale? And let’s talk about your goals.”   The most recent statistics (March 2012) show that there are 158 active short sale properties listed in Puyallup (including Edgewood).  Stats also show only 28 pending short sales in March and even fewer – 23 – closed this past month.  Not very good odds, unfortunately – about 1 in every 6 are actually closing the sale.  Also, most listing prices for short sales are not bank-approved prices, so there’s no guarantee about the attractive price tag.  On a positive note, the majority of my clients who have chosen to purchase a short sale home have been successful – they just require some flexibility and a lot of patience! For more information about short sales, please give me a call!

 

Puyallup Stats April 17, 2012

Puyallup Homes – how many are bank owned?

Well, it’s clear that the bank-owned properties are winning when it comes to statistics of how quickly homes are selling in Puyallup (including Edgewood).  March stats show 37 active bank-owned properties (about 1/16 of the market of all 518 active properties in Puyallup), 59 pending bank-owned homes (those that have caught offers and are waiting to close the sale); and 52 sold/closed bank-owned homes.  Average price per square foot for these homes is $81; average days on market is 68, and average sales price is $163,000.  There is less than a one-month inventory of homes, meaning that they all sell fast!  Bank owned properties are a great choice, but they do have their unique characteristics (priced compellingly, often times multiple offers, many are cash-only or able to be financed only with a rehab loan, etc.). If you’d like more information about purchasing a bank-owned home, please give me a call!

Things to do March 29, 2012

Saturday Nightlife on South Hill

Looking for someplace fun to enjoy some nightlife on South Hill?  Try the NorthWest Vintage Wine Bar in Sunrise Village.  My daughter and I stopped in a couple of Saturdays ago, just to enjoy a glass of wine and a nice chat, only to find great music added to what’s already a wonderful, relaxing atmosphere.  Musical entertainment is offered every Saturday evening, think it starts at 7 pm.  But plan to get there early, as seating is limited in this cozy establishment.  If you live in a neighborhood south of 144th and Meridian, this will be a convenient place to unwind, not more than a ten-minute drive.  Living in Sunrise, it’s become a regular favorite for my friends and me.   Service is great and wine selection is wonderful.

Check them out online:

http://nwvintagewinebar.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NorthWest-Vintage/278200107593