CoBuy • April 30, 2018

Learn More About Co-Buying A Home with My New Video

by Don Koonce

I recently announced that I’ve become certified to work with CoBuy–an exciting new company with an online platform that makes it easier to buy a home with one or more other people–be it friends, family members, or both. Well, the folks at CoBuy have just released a video featuring yours truly as their latest certified agent, and I’d love to get your feedback.

Real-estate licensed CoBuy Pros are not your traditional real estate agents. Your time is valuable and the CoBuy platform was designed with this in mind. CoBuy minimizes the need for superfluous face time, while I’m there to support you in what could otherwise be a rather risky and complicated process.

Once you’ve decided to co-buy a property with one or more friends or family members, you can sign up for an account on the site. Here you will be guided through co-buying a home at your own pace. You’ll have access to resources and tools, and you are able to contact a CoBuy Pro for additional support at any point.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Real Estate News & Information • April 30, 2018

Market Update: Economic Vitality Leading to Robust Housing Demand

by Don Koonce

The following analysis of the Western Washington real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

The Washington State economy added 96,900 new jobs over the past 12 months, representing an annual growth rate of 2.9%—still solidly above the national rate of 1.5%. Most of the employment gains were in the private sector, which rose by 3.4%. The public sector saw a more modest increase of 1.6%.

The strongest growth was in the Education & Health Services and Retail sectors, which added 17,300 and 16,700 jobs, respectively. The Construction sector added 10,900 new positions over the past 12 months.

Even with solid increases in jobs, the state unemployment rate held steady at 4.7%—a figure that has not moved since September of last year.

I expect the Washington State economy to continue adding jobs in 2018, but not at the same rate as last year given that we are nearing full employment. That said, we will still outperform the nation as a whole when it comes to job creation.

HOME SALES ACTIVITY

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Case Studies • April 30, 2018

SELLER SUCCESS STORY: Hard Work Pays Off With Multiple Offers & 10% Over List Price

by Don Koonce

Our hard work paid off with four offers and 10% over list price.

Bill and Helen were aging out of their tri-level Bellevue home that they had occupied for 30+ years. They moved into an assisted living situation leaving a home full of treasures that they no longer had room for, as well as a house that needed some sprucing up for selling.

Their two grown children both lived out of the area, so I helped Bill and Helen coordinate with an estate sale company that could sell the contents of the home as well as dispose of anything left over after the sales were over. Once empty, I obtained estimates for painting, cleaning, sewer repairs, landscaping, window-washing, and roof and gutter cleaning.

Since we were on a tight budget, and I love to garden, I did the yard clean up and pruning myself and used the leftover funds on items that would give them the most return on their investment, such as painting, carpet cleaning, cleaning, window washing, roof and gutter cleaning, and pressure washing.

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Events • April 25, 2018

SAVE THE DATE: Annual Client Appreciation Wine Tasting & Lawn Bowling

by Don Koonce

Dear friends,

Please join my office, Windermere Real Estate Mount Baker for a fun evening of wine tasting and lawn bowling on Thurs., May 17, from 6 to 8 pm at Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club on Beacon Hill. Great wines – including a fabulous award winner! If you find something you like, purchase it direct from the vintners at a discount. We will also have some yummy appetizers, and free drawings for a delicious bottle to take home.

Feel free to contact me for more information.

Don

Events • April 5, 2018

SAVE THE DATE: Windermere Mount Baker’s Spring Art Show

by Don Koonce

Dear friends,

This month, my office, Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate will host our Spring Art Show reception with a wonderful visual interpretation of what “Home” means to 12 different artists, at a time when the importance of home is more significant than ever.

Local artists include Amy Hyden, Gabriella Duncan, Heidi Devereux, Isobel Davis, Larissa Anderson, Mita Reitchardt, Sally Drew, Sarah King, Susan Cole, and Tara McDermott.

The event is scheduled for Friday, April 2o, from 5:30-8 pm. Refreshments will be served, and a portion of proceeds will beneﬁt Youth In Focus, a non-proﬁt empowering urban youth through photography.

Please call me at 206-250-7291 for more information.

Hope to see you there!

Don

Community News & Information • March 27, 2018

Libraries on the Loose: 10 West Hill/Renton Little Free Libraries

by Don Koonce

Jack’s Library can be found in Upper Rainier Beach.

The West Hill neighborhoods of Bryn Mawr, Lakeridge, Skyway, and Earlington are dotted with Little Free Libraries—tiny, usually homemade book shelters serve as “take-a-book, leave-a-book” stations where neighbors can share their favorite literature and stories.

“This is an area where a lot of kids walk to school,” said one West Hill neighbor with a Little Free Library. “Also there is a fire station and food bank and post office. A young neighbor moved in and has motivated myself and others to own the neighborhood an help make it a better place to live.”

According to littlefreelibrary.org—a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world—the movement began in 2009 when a Wisconsin man built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His friends and neighbors loved it so much that he built several more and gave them away. Each one had a sign that said FREE BOOKS.

“We wanted to have a little free library in our neighborhood,” said another West Hill neighbor. “I went looking for some materials at a local recycle material store and found that they had old newspaper boxes for sale. I modified one, giving it a roof and a basement.”

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Real Estate News & Information • March 21, 2018

FROM DON: Thinking About Co-Buying A Home? I Can Help!

by Don Koonce

Dear friends,

I’m excited to announce that I’ve recently been certified to work with an exciting new company. CoBuy is an online platform that makes it easier to buy a home with one or more other people–be it friends, family members, or both.

Long popular in Europe, co-buying is gaining traction in the U.S. As property prices rise and cities grow, pooling resources to co-buy is becoming increasingly attractive.

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Case Studies • March 20, 2018

BUYER SUCCESS STORY: Single-Mom & Kids Find Home to Call their Own

by Don Koonce

It may not be the most glamorous, but it’s hers.

Claudia is a single-mom of two who needed an escape from the ever-increasing rental market. We connected through HomeSight–a South Seattle-based organization dedicated to preserving and promoting economically and culturally-diverse communities through affordable homeownership, business development, and community advocacy.

Once we started talking, and Claudia realized that home prices were also high, she became concerned about the need to go further south to find something that fit her budget, which would increase her commute to her Columbia City job and cut into the time that she would be able to spend with her children.

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Events • March 14, 2018

SAVE THE DATE: Free Recycling & Paper Shredding Event

by Don Koonce

Hi friends,

Are you wondering what do with all the stuff you’ve piled up while spring cleaning? Not to worry, we can help!

Next month, my office, Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate will host our annual 7th annual Free Recycling & Paper Shredding Event at Rainier Community Center (4600 38th Ave. S.).

Bring your old laptops, BBQs, phones, cameras, and TVs. Empty out your old paper files and bring them to our big shredding truck for immediate destruction.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, from 10 am to 2 pm.

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Events • March 7, 2018

SAVE THE DATE: Earthquake Preparedness Event in Mount Baker

by Don Koonce

Dear friends,

My office, Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate is hosting an evening of Earthquake Preparedness next week at Mount Baker Community Club (2811 Mount Rainier Dr S.). The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 15, from 6:30 to 8 pm.

Stop dreading disasters and embrace the power of being ready!

Disaster Preparedness Consultant JoAnn Jordan presents the information in a fun and relaxed way. You will learn the best ways to be safe in an earthquake and how to share the information with those you love. You will also learn ways to get ready for the consequences of a disaster that are simple, quick and affordable.

Please call me at 206-250-7291 to RSVP.

Hope to see you there!

Don