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Spring is heating up the greater Seattle new home market

April 11, 2012 By Alicia Goff Leave a Comment

Well gang, the market is H-O-T, hot!  We are getting offers submitted at a fever pitch right now.  Sales are up all over King and Snohomish Counties and it is getting national media attention.  MSN reported recently that Seattle, Bellevue, and Everett are in the top 10 markets for inventory shortage.  Our local market is down 36% in inventory from less than a year ago. Less homes on the market mean more competition and quicker sales than we’ve seen in a long time. You don’t have to take my word for it. See for yourself in this article:

http://realestate.msn.com/going-fast-strong-demand-has-melted-away-inventory-in-some-housing-markets

We have seen in influx of relocation buyers hired on at Boeing and Microsoft and they all are interested in a new home.  This strong demand has made it important for buyers not to sit on the fence very long.  If you wait, you may very well miss out on your first choice.  Last week at Larimer Highlands we signed four sales and we have already signed three this week and it is not even the weekend yet!  Our sales team has been doubling up on weekends to meet the high demand and sheer number of visitors that come through to see our homes.

Not only are we seeing a large increase in the number of offers, we are now, once again seeing multiple offers on many homes.  The competition is fierce for quality homes in desirable communities. With prices at their lowest level since mid 2004, affordable interest rates, and some seller’s still willing to negotiate closing costs for buyers, the market has come back at a very fast pace in our area.

Indicators point to the return of a seller’s market in the very near future. There are still great values to be had, but doesn’t sound like for long. Don’t wait and miss your opportunity to make the purchase of a lifetime. Read for yourself here:

http://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Seattle-house-prices-up-again-3462799.php

It’s true what the experts have been saying these last few months. There’s never been a better time to buy a new home in greater Seattle!

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New home community in Lynnwood now open

March 22, 2012 By Cara Currey 2 Comments
Family room inside furnished model home for sale near Boeing

The furnished model at Belle Meadows is open from 1:00-6:00 Mon, Thurs, Fri and 11:00 - 6:00 weekends and also for private showings by appointment

I want to tell you about Belle Meadows, an exciting new home community of Pacific Ridge Homes in now open in Lynnwood.

Located on a quiet cul de sac close to Alderwood Mall and Paine Field, this new 33-home neighborhood is about one mile from both I-5 and I-405, making all the amenities and opportunities of greater Seattle and Snohomish County readily accessible. Boeing workers will surely appreciate the close proximity to the Everett plant for a commute to work that’s short and sweet! And with the Alderwood Mall and all of its outstanding dining, entertainment and shopping right out your back door, you’ll always have something to do or a great place to eat.

One of the new homes for sale in Lynnwood, WA at Belle Me

This 1916 sq ft Jefferson plan is just one of the eight new home plans available at Belle Meadows in Lynnwood.

Belle Meadows features eight different and unique new home plans in three and four bedroom configurations ranging from 1,484 – 2,377 square feet. As with all Pacific Ridge homes, there are hundreds of customizable options to choose from to put your own personal touches on your new home. Upgrade your kitchen cabinets, add some engineered hardwood flooring, or opt for a cozy gas fireplace in your family room. You dream it and we’ll build it.?

2377 sq ft home for sale with gourmet kitchen with island, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood flooring

The kitchen in our furnished model - the Shasta II: 2377 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths

Standard features on all Belle Meadows homes are impressive. Items like high quality black GE appliances, warm toned birch kitchen cabinetry with concealed hinges, chrome Moen and Olympia faucets, state-of-the-art cabling and network wiring, high-efficiency forced air natural gas furnaces with programmable thermostats are all included with every home in the community. You get a lot for your money with Pacific Ridge.

Master bathroom with two sinks, large soaking tub, shower stall.

This wrap-around view of the master bath in the Shasta II model featuring seperate his-hers vanities, soaking tub and separate shower enclosure. The large walk-in closet (not shown) is also accessed from inside the master bathroom.

Prices in Belle Meadows start at $221,195 and that is pretty impressive, given the location of the community and the quality of the homes.

Our furnished model home is open Thursday-Monday until 6:00 pm but, I encourage you to give me a call at 206-734-4226 to schedule a private showing.

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Two More Reasons to Buy a New Home

May 26, 2011 By Alicia Goff Leave a Comment
Seattle ranks as the best US city for homebuyers.

Seattle is a great place for homebuyers

A recent article posted at CNN Money, “Buy vs. rent: These days, buying wins“, has affirmed what we’ve all been saying here at Pacific Ridge in the recent months. It is truly a great time to buy a new home in Seattle. The article cited a study done by Florida International University and East Carolina University which found that across the country home prices have dropped enough and rent costs have increased enough to make buying a better deal for most people. Of the 23 cities the study examined, Seattle is the best place to buy a home right now. And CNN’s case for why buying in Seattle beats renting has some pretty solid numbers backing it up.

Here’s the second reason to consider buying. Interest rates have dropped enough recently that we are able to offer a promotional interest rate on all new Pacific Ridge homes of 1% on our 5 year ARM. One percent – That is as low a rate as we have ever seen here!

The 1% rate applies for the first year, then moves to 2% in year two, and remains at 3% for years 3, 4 and 5. This promotion will not last long as it is subject to market fluctuations, so if you are considering a new home, check out great selection of new, Seattle area homes today.

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Making the Rent or Buy Decision

January 4, 2011 By Heather Andreini Leave a Comment

Thinking it is finally time to stop renting and to buy a new home of your own?  In most cases it’s better to buy instead of rent, and to buy as soon as you can afford to.  There are a few cases when renting might be a better option, and here are a couple of reasons NOT to buy.

  • You intend to move or have a job relocation within a couple of years.
  • Your current rent is very low.
  • You don’t expect to live more than another 15 years.

There are also some additional expenses that come along with homeownership. Things like:

  • Closing costs
  • Interest on your mortgage
  • Property taxes
  • Property insurance
  • Private Mortgage Insurance (if your down payment is less than 20%)
  • Required property maintenance

But even with the added expenses, the benefits of homeownership are undeniable:

  • Assuming you opt for a fixed rate mortgage, your monthly payment is locked in for 15 or 30 years.
  • If you keep renting your rent can increase each year.
  • Your house gets more valuable over time.
  • You can deduct mortgage interest and some home maintenance on your income taxes.
  • If you stay in the home long enough to pay off your mortgage, you will no longer have mortgage payments.

Now that you have the basic facts, you can make the “rent or buy” decision.

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Real Estate In Washington State

December 10, 2010 By Admin

Homes are now priced at deep discounts, and they are offered by established and well managed real estate developers like Pacific Ridge Homes who were able to prudently navigate the recent crisis which drove many other developers out of business.  Recent studies have pegged Washington State as the market most likely to recover the fastest and strongest, and local home buyers are now developing the confidence to once again make the large investment entailed in purchasing a new home.

When taking into consideration equity appreciation opportunity, tax benefits and today’s low interest rates, owning your home now is most often cheaper than renting a comparable property.

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