July 19, 2018

Investing In Seattle: Team Diva’s Tips for the First-Time Real Estate Investor

Being a real estate investor requires patience, tenacity, and research. Thinking long-term isn’t just good for investors. It’s also better for the communities and cities where they buy property. This is not to say that short-term thinking can’t always pay off, but it isn’t always profitable. Let’s get started with our Savvy Real Estate Investor. Types of Homes a Savvy Seattle Real Estate Investor The kind of building you choose should depend on the kind of investor you are. The following list of investment property types is more or less ordered according to complexity (simplest to most involved). Condo Townhouse Single Family Home Duplex or Twin Home 4-Plex or Multi-Plex Condo Real Seattle Estate Investments This is not to say that investing in a condo is hassle-free, but day-to-day maintenance in common areas is handled by a condo association, as well as most structural issues. (That’s why you’re paying those monthly… Read More »

May 30, 2018

Get Out in Gatewood This Weekend: 5 Things To Do

All you in Divaland know that we have a special place in our heart for West Seattle. It has such great vibes, lots of green spaces, and pockets of retail and nightlife with TONS of character. The most popular West Seattle destination in summer is probably Alki Beach, but there is so much to explore on the south side, too. This weekend, we’re expecting more warm weather (but not too much intense sun) and we’re heading to Gatewood. Here are five things we think you’ll love in this part of West Seattle. See The Sound and Take a Swim at Lincoln Park A post shared by Don Wind (@thedonwind) on May 27, 2018 at 7:39pm PDT The rocky shores of Lincoln Park offer sweeping views of the Sound, the islands, and the Olympics…even the Vashon Island ferry leaving from the Fauntleroy terminal adds a picturesque quality. That’s not all, though.… Read More »

May 17, 2018

Southern Hospitality: 5 Reasons to Check Out Des Moines Real Estate

Like everything proximal to job centers such as Seattle and Bellevue, Des Moines real estate has seen rising prices. However, it is still much easier to find a lot of home at an affordable price. Some commuters think of Des Moines as the halfway point between Seattle and Tacoma, but this city of 30,000+ has a lot to distinguish itself. If you are looking to buy in the region and haven’t looked at Des Moines real estate yet, here are 5 reasons to rethink that. The Lively Municipal Waterfront The gentle, hospitable shores of Des Moines make access to the Puget Sound easy. That includes the city-owned recreational marina, which offers moorage, boat launching, and pier fishing facilities. It’s also a hub for community activities and the fabulous Summer Farmer’s Market. Adjacent to the marina, there is a beach park, as well, whose trails allow you to get closer to… Read More »

March 21, 2018

The Sweet Life in Woodinville: Homesteading In Style Close to Seattle

Woodinville’s rise as a hot real estate is a relatively recent development. It has been driven in part by rising prices throughout the region, but Woodinville is special. Its combination of great schools, stunning land, and urbane community is topped off with a concentration of local wineries. One can be in downtown Seattle in under an hour (and get to Redmond, Bellevue, and Kirkland even faster). And yet, one can also live an idyllic Woodinville homesteading lifestyle. Want proof? Look no further than our latest house listing in Woodinville. Here are six things we love the most about this community, this home, and how it makes it easy to slide right into the sweet life. Fresh Produce Comes Easy In This Organic Garden It’s March, which means that it’s time to start planting vegetables in the garden. (Check out this handy planting calendar for the best months to sow various veggies… Read More »

June 7, 2017

Get Outside this Weekend and Head to Phinney Ridge

Are you ready for another adventure? It’s time to head north to one of Seattle’s most coveted neighborhoods, steeped in history. Phinney Ridge separates Ballard from Green Lake, running north and south from approximately N. 45th to N. 85th Street. The ridge itself is named after Guy C. Phinney, who was a lumber mill owner and real estate developer. His estate was bought by the city and turned into Woodland Park in 1899. Phinney’s estate originally included a private menagerie, and the western half of the grounds became what is now Woodland Park Zoo. Visit Phinney Ridge and see for yourself why it’s so awesome! Our mini guide will get you started. Getting There and Getting Around Phinney Ridge is a fantastic, primarily residential neighborhood filled with quintessential Seattle Craftsman homes, some stunning Olympic views and a small business district that runs along Phinney Ave/Greenwood Ave. It also has an amazing… Read More »

March 17, 2017

How to Win in Seattle’s Hot Market – Spring 2017 Update

Congrats to Jim and Janine. They just won and closed on an amazing house in Seattle. How did they do it? First, they were awesome, loved donuts, had a cute kiddo, overcame some intense inspection hurdles, and went for the gold when the time came. As a result, they won a home below their price point in an awesome up and coming neighborhood. We are so proud of you guys! Below are Jim and Janine FIVE steps and SIX weeks to home ownership. The bottom line is that Seattle is one of the hottest markets in the nation. And it is not going away anytime soon. Why? Low inventory and we are more affordable than other tech cities on the west coast. As a result, we are seeing 10-25 offers on our Diva Dwellings this season. We have never seen an early spring market this hot in our careers. … Read More »

March 2, 2017

Prepare Yourself for Pre-Inspections

Pre-inspections are one of the first investments you are going to make in your process of purchasing a new home. Here are some of the most important things you should be aware of before you commit your hard earned dollars. Prepare Yourself for a Pre-Inspection Pre-inspecting a home is becoming the norm in Seattle. I’m personally not a fan of pre-inspections but it’s the way the game is played in our market. It costs a buyer upwards of $750 every time they have to pre-inspect a home and not all buyers win the first house on which they place an offer. Pre-inspection costs can add up fast, so you really need to be smart and savvy during this part of the process. Unfortunately for buyers, this is a seller’s market, which places sellers largely in the driver’s seat. Sellers are the ones to decide whether or not they are… Read More »

January 12, 2017

Team Diva Challenges REALTORS Stance on Education Funding

Kim Colaprete took a few minutes to sit down with her old friend Arik Korman to chat about why education funding is so important in our state. Arik is currently the Director of Communications at the League of Education Voters. He has incredible knowledge about the current condition of our state education system. The League of Education Votes is a bipartisan organization and has not yet taken a position on Governor Inslee’s budget proposal. Team Diva Wants a Fair Way to Fund Education In December, we broke ranks from our business association once we found out that they were taking a hardline stance regarding education funding. As we chatted with our fellow cohorts about the issue we realized that many of our Realtors friends are unaware of their association’s position on education. We also discovered that the local and state REALTORS associations not only disagree with us, but they have… Read More »

October 26, 2016

Diva Dweller Spotlight | Gary

Diva Dweller Wall of Fame – Gary Gary was introduced to Team Diva at the housewarming/remodel party of another lovely Diva Dweller and friend Stefanie. Upon meeting, we instantly realized this guy was smart, fun, witty, and above all else a super nice guy. Divaland is full of good peeps just like him so it was fate that our world came together. Gary was living on Capitol Hill for a long time and loving hill life. He knew this was an area of the city he wanted to live in or be close to. Gary started working with another agent with no success. He got to a point where all signs directed him to Team Diva. He set up a meeting with us and we hit the streets. Gary was a blast to look at condos with. Working together was awesome as we have similar tastes so we were looking at all of… Read More »

October 25, 2016

Appraisal Contingency- Should You Waive It?

Waiving Your Appraisal Contingency? I don’t like my clients waiving any of their contingencies. In this extreme seller’s market buyers are being forced to practically give away their first born child in order to win. I am seeing market conditions cause buyers to feel pressured to waive the appraisal contingency. In my opinion removing the appraisal is one of the riskiest contingencies a buyer can give up. However, this is an intense market and sometimes you have to take an informed risk to win. So What is an Appraisal and why Do I need one? When the bank loans you money on your home they want to make sure that you are not paying an overinflated price. To ensure this, the lender contracts an appraiser to evaluate the fair market value of the property. The appraiser is also making sure the home is in livable condition. If everything checks out the bank… Read More »