benkjls' Blog: All Categories


Home Search From Your Desktop

photo benkjls

Soon home buyers will be able to view home search listings right on their computer desktop. John L. Scott Real Estate is launching a Desktop Delivery tool that’ll enable home buyers access to the most up-to-date home search results. Users who download the gadget will receive new listings that meet their home search criteria on their desktop. The tool updates every two hours and works only with Vista.

According to Lennox Scott, John L. Scott’s CEO, “Visitors can download a gadget for any (and every) saved search, enabling them to have the most current, relevant home search information right on their desktop,” said Scott. “It’s like having a miniature slide show of your favorite homes for sale right at your finger tips.”

Home Search Tool

In the past six months, John L…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 345

2nd Quarter Seattle Condo Update

photo benkjls

With the exception of Northeast Seattle, the 2nd quarter 2007 figures exhibit an active condo market and healthy growth rate, compared to the same period last year. City-wide, the median price increased 8.4% with a 23.2% increase in units sold.

However, not reflected in the figures below was a 46% increase in city-wide new listings for the 2nd quarter 2007 (1,923) compared to the 2nd quarter 2006 (1,317). The increase can be attributed to new construction listings in the MLS, a plethora of conversions hitting the market, investor flips and resales.

While I did not include 1st quarter 2007 figures in the chart, compared to previously posted 1st quarter results, the 2nd quarter showed an increase in sales activity but a decrease in median prices,…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 370

Seattle Condo June 2007 Market Update

photo benkjls

Seattle’s condo market continued to show growth through June. Compared to a year ago, city-wide median prices for condos increased 9.9% to $301,950 along with a 6.5% increase in closed unit sales. Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, North Seattle and West Seattle realized a double-digit increase in median price over the prior year.



While the year-over-year figures do show a robust market, the trend is showing a softening of the market. Compared to the prior month, city-wide, the number of active listings increased 14.3% while closed sales reflected a 3.4% decrease. Median prices, for the most part, remained stagnant.

With the exception of Northwest Seattle, most areas realized fewer closed sales compared to the prior month. However, the spike in the…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 343

Seattle Condo Play Doh Challenge

photo benkjls

As previously mentioned, the John L. Scott Foundation on behalf of the Seattle Children’s Hospital is sponsoring a Play Doh drive.

Due to the serious illnesses and compromised immune system that many children at the Children’s Hospital have, a jar of Play Doh can only be played with once. As a result, the hospital goes through more than 2,000 jars of Play Doh every year.

The Seattle Condo Blog is issuing a challenge to our readers. Bring in a new jar of Play Doh by July 31st and we will match the first 100 jars we receive, doubling the fun for the patients at Children's Hospital.

Please drop off your Play Doh contribution to the John L. Scott Seattle Center office in Belltown at 2601 4th Avenue (map). Please be sure to identify the donation as part of…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 846

Conversion Conundrum

photo benkjls

The condo conversion market is continuing to feel the effect of a softening market. In the past few weeks a number of notable conversion projects have taken price reductions ranging from $5,000 up to $30,000 with most of the reductions being around $10,000 to $15,000. Some are offering other incentives for both the buyer (buyer bonuses, free TVs) and their agents (commissions as much as 5%).

  • CityView - Leshi
  • Denny Way Condos - Capitol Hill
  • Harwood - Beacon Hill
  • Market Court - Ballard
  • Nine Cherry Square - First Hill
  • Serana - Lower Queen Anne
  • Tobira - Downtown/ID
  • Vertigo - Capitol Hill

I’m still receiving inquiries from apartment owners looking for developers to sell to, but with the increasing difficulty in…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 350

Play Doh Drive For Children's Hospital

photo benkjls

The Seattle Children’s Hospital is conducting a drive for Play Doh. The hospital goes through more than 2,000 jars of Play Doh every year. Due to the serious illnesses and compromised immune system that many of the children have, a jar of Play Doh can only be used once. And, thus, it’s a considerable expense for the hospital.

Please consider making a Play Doh donation to Children’s Hospital.

Donations will be accepted through John L. Scott offices and not at the hospital. Our office is located at 2601 4th Avenue, Ste 100 in Belltown at the corner of 4th & Vine, however, all JLS offices will accept the Play Doh donations.

The drive runs through July 31st.

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 378

Green Lake Condo Info

photo benkjls

The Green Lake neighborhood in North central Seattle is centered around Seattle's most active recreational spot, Green Lake Park.  The lake is ringed by a 2.8 mile path popular with a diverse group of patrons including joggers, bicyclists, rollerbladers and those wishing to take a casual stroll.

For years Green Lake has moved along slowly in respects to real estate development.  However, since 2004, the condominium market in the neighborhood has taken off and it's now undergoing a significant transformation.  Here's a look at what's going on in Green Lake. 

 The Greenlake - The Greenlake was one of the first major condominium developments in the Green Lake neighorhood.  Completed in 2004, the 6-story complex includes 106 homes just two blocks from Green…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 638

Queen Anne Condo Review

photo benkjls

Queen Anne Hill sits majestic as it overlooks the Emerald City below.  Originally home to many of the city's prominent citizens, Queen Anne still reflects its heritage with its many turn of the century mansions and Queen Anne style homes.  As the city grew, Queen Anne evolved and is now home to a diverse group of people, businesses and activities.

Current condo developments in Queen Anne include a mixture of revitalized conversions (apartments to condos) as well as new construction.  Here's what's coming up in the neighborhood.

Expo 62 - Expo 62 is the newest condo development, planned in the lower Queen Anne area next to the world-famous Space Needle.  This new project includes 114 homes.  Read more about Expo 62.

22 West Lee - This small boutique…

Read Full Post

Posted: 1 year ago, Comments: 0, Average Rating: Views: 558
<< 1 2 3 4 >>
REW Blogs User Stats
Currently Online Users: 0
Total Users: 1,874
Entries: 5,706
Unique Views: 3,238,454
Total Views: 3,377,407
Total Comments: 6,202
benkjls

benkjls Seattle Real Estate Consultant and condo expert specializing in urban city lifestyle living. Ben maintains Seattle's most popular condo blog (Seattle Condos and Lofts) and also provides content to the Seattle NBC affiliate, King5 TV. Read More

This User's Stats
Blog Entries: 26
Average Blog Rating: 0
Unique Views: 13,989
Total Views: 14,412
Comments Posted: 0
Comments Received: 0
Listed In