HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Poinsettia "Tree" from Molbaks's 2010
Need some “green” suggestions for last minute gifts, recycling ideas, and getting rid of that holiday trash?
Think “green” while you are being merry this holiday season.
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Thanks to Councilwoman Nancy McCormick
In Uncategorized on December 16, 2009 at 11:27 amI wish Councilwoman McCormick all the best with her future endeavors and her continued work for the city on the Code Rewrite Commission. I thank her for her all she has contributed to the quality of life and responsible growth in Redmond. 
Microsoft Bridge Over 520 and Stimulus Package Funds
In Local information, Microsoft, Redmond, Uncategorized on April 1, 2009 at 1:37 pmStimulus funds for a bridge over highway 520 by Microsoft? It’s on the books and some people are not happy. Proponents of the bridge believe it will help congestion in the Redmond area in general. Others feel it is a gift to a large company, Microsoft, that needs no gifts. Redmond traffic around Microsoft is terrible. Every time I have an appointment in a neighborhood near Microsoft, I try to avoid the main campus area, especially at about 9:30 AM when so many engineers are coming to work. This traffic impacts many of the nearby neighborhoods of Redmond which fall along 156th Ave NE, NE 40th, and Lake Sammamish Parkway.
- Gov. Gregoire defends the stimulus package money for this bridge for the following reasons:
- Microsoft is contributing $17 million of the $36 million needed for this project. The stimulus package is contributing $11 million.
- Gov. Gregoire feels this is perfect leverage of public and private funds.
- This bridge over 52o has been in the Overlake development plan since the late 1990′s.
- Approximately 42,000 jobs are in the Redmond/Microsoft area at, obviously, Microsoft, Nintendo, the Overlake Shopping area, etc. ( No wonder traffic is bad!)
View Larger Map
The map above shows where the bridge is scheduled to go in over 520, at NE 36th St. The overpass at NE 40th is not clear on the map, but there is an overpass both at NE 40th and NE 51st. Both overpasses have been built since I moved here in 1986. This was the year the growth began to explode. The Overlake area has always been one of the big traffic nightmares on Seattle’s Eastside. I’ve watched the traffic get increasingly worse over the years. If you’re looking for more information about Overlake/Redmond/transportation, The Washington State Transportation Department has information about plans for Overlake area on its website.
What’s your opinion about the bridge and stimulus funds?
Did Redmond, Washington Have A Link to the Civil War?
In Local information, Redmond, Redmond Washington history, Things to do in Redmond, Uncategorized on January 5, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Justice White House (taken by D. Sinick)
Find out on January 10th. The following is from the Redmond Historical Society’s latest newsletter:
“The Civil War ~ in Washington
That’s the topic of our January talk by noted historian, Dr. Lorraine
McConaghy.
“In 2011, we will mark the first year of the sesquicentennial of the
Civil War, a war fought over principle that claimed nearly 600,000
American lives,” says McConaghy, who works for Seattle’s Museum
of History & Industry. “We associate the war with battlefields in the
southeast, but the Civil War was a national
war, that involved its citizens on the
Pacific Coast.
“This presentation will explore
some of the ways in which settlers
in Washington Territory became
involved in the politics and violence
of the war,” she adds. “Settlers did
not leave the war behind them, but
brought the war with them.”
Join us on January 10 for histories and
images from our ties to the war.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10
10:30 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON
at the
OLD REDMOND
SCHOOLHOUSE
16600 NE 80th Street”
Happy Holidays to Redmond, Washington
In Uncategorized on December 24, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Happy Holidays
Be Happy and Healthy
Spend Time with Your Friends and Family
Have a wonderful 2009
(Weekly real estate statistics will return after the first of the year)
Real Estate, Redmond, and Real Estate Signs
In Local information, Real Estate news, Redmond, Uncategorized on December 15, 2008 at 5:35 am“Sign, sign,everywhere a sign” (Lyrics from the 5 Man Electrical Band) There have been signs all over Redmond for all kinds of things. Real estate signs, signs for new construction neighborhoods, signs for mattress sales, signs for store sales, signs for store closings.
The Redmond City Council revisited the sign ordinances. The writers of the Redmond blog sent me a link to a post about the changes in Redmond city sign ordinances. Bob Yoder thought I would find the article interesting because Realtors are known for posting signs all over a neighborhood when selling a home.
- Will the inability to put up arrow signs on street corners advertising a home for sale damage a home seller?
- Do homes listed for sale need to be advertised with signs on street corners or does a sign in front of the house do the trick?
Arrow signs posted at street corners are no longer necessary. These signs don’t do it anymore. 
in fact, I think the preponderance of real estate arrow signs can actually hurt someone trying to sell a home. The number of signs gives the impression there is a fire sale happening. Posting arrow signs is from the old school of real estate marketing.
In today’s world of real estate internet marketing, home buyers find the homes they wish to see on the internet or through their Realtor. Most real estate company websites have great mapping software accompanying the listing for a home. Google maps with street level photos also adds a pretty exciting dimension to “viewing” some of the home online. Company and individual Realtor websites have maps which accompany a listing for a home. Here’s a sample of how you can find a home online with Google Maps. The map link is for a home I have listed for sale in the Gleneden neighborhood in Redmond at 18503 NE 25th St.
View Larger Map
My personal website, www.debrasinick.com has a page giving all the details about this home, including a link to a parcel map showing the property lines from the air. The Windermere Real Estate website also has a map page showing the location of the home. You can get directions from Google Maps or from Mapquest.
Do I believe open house A-boards are still necessary for both the public and Realtors? The A-Boards help advertise a specific event, an open house, unlike arrow signs which are posted in the ground on street corner, continually advertising a home for sale. The A-Boards allow Realtors and people buying a home to travel more quickly from home to home. Redmond allows 3 A-Boards for each open house. This is still a good thing!
Not allowing arrow signs on street corners will not hurt the consumer, the home seller, but will help to keep the integrity of the neighborhoods for everyone.
Redmond Washington Real Estate, Microsoft, and hiring
In For Buyers, For Sellers, Real Estate news, Redmond, Uncategorized on December 9, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Microsoft is doing less hiring. I heard about this a few months back from friends and clients who work at the company. Now Microsoft’s hiring slowdown is more public, being reported on in last week’s Seattle P-I. This is big news for Seattle/Eastside real estate, but particularly for those who live near the main Microsoft campus in Redmond.
For 22 years, I’ve been selling homes in the West Redmond area, around the main campus and the Redwest campus of the company. Microsoft employees live all over the Puget Sound region, but many of the Microsoft employees live close to work. Redmond and Bellevue real estate has been hugely impacted by the company.
The neighborhoods around Microsoft has been the strongest on the eastside for selling a home for several years. Most months of 2007-08, the Redmond/Microsoft area had a higher percentage of real estate sales than any other eastside area. The real estate sales activity I report on each week on this blog is directly impacted by Microsoft.
Does the change in Microsoft’s hiring affect Redmond real estate sales activity? Yes, but fortunately, there are other reasons why Redmond will continue to be a one of the stronger areas on the eastside for real estate investments.
- Redmond is close to employment centers in Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Seattle.
- Redmond’s location provides shorter commutes.
- Available public transportation.
- Some of the more affordable housing on the eastside. The eastside is not an inexpensive area, but the majority of homes in the Redmond area fall in the $500-750,000 range. The number of homes available in the $400+ range is also increasing.
- Good schools.
- Convenient shopping centers, such as Redmond Town Center.
- Great parks.
These are only some of the reasons Redmond will be continue to be one of the more popular places to live. Real estate sales are slower and prices have taken a tumble, and may be for a while, but Redmond, Washington has the amenities which will help it come back faster than other areas.
Sustainable September, An Opportunity To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
In Uncategorized on September 15, 2008 at 1:39 pmSustainable September is a series of classes and events designed to provide more information about eco-friendly remodeling, landscaping, energy audits and more. Events are free to all. I attended the first set of classes and reported about it on my eastside blog. Great information was made available regarding “green built” products and sustainable landscape design. The next set of classes, on Saturday, September 20th, will include an opportunity to learn about home energy audits from Puget Sound Energy, a timely issue since fall will soon be upon us. Check out the link for more recommendations for ecoo-friendly materials.
If you can’t make the classes come on down to The Wednesday Farmers’ Market in Kirkland on the 17th for a “green built” fair and street dance. More information is available at the Sustainable September website.
The “New” Grasslawn Park in Redmond, Washington Is Almost Here!
In Exploring Redmond, Local information, Redmond, Uncategorized, WA on June 24, 2008 at 10:29 pm
It’s almost ready. I stopped by Grasslawn Park in Redmond, Washington the other day and it’s looking pretty great. The new basketball court is ready and the park is almost done, just in time for summer.
This just in from Timothy Cox of the City of Redmond:
“The new playground nearest the basketball courts will open this weekend. The basketball courts are now open. The new neighborhood gathering building and restrooms near 148th Ave will take 2-3 weeks to final and then open.
The central playground is scheduled to reopen the third week of July.”
(By the way I think the building looks terrific!)
So in a few more weeks, the fences should be down around the new community building. Take a look. It looks just great and is a wonderful addition to the Grasslawn and Redmond city parks.
West Redmond Real Estate Buzz
