Get to Know the Woodridge Community

By Ken Urman, Realtor®

Woodridge is a community of 5,116 (2010 census) within Bellevue, WA. It includes the neighborhoods of
Woodridge Hill and Norwood Village, and accounts for about four percent of the City of Bellevue. After World War II, most of Woodridge Hill was an undeveloped tangle of blackberry vines, trees, and undergrowth. The area was developed over the next two decades, and was annexed by the city of Bellevue in 1966.

The Woodridge Hill neighborhood is located immediately south of downtown and east of I-405, and a long strip of multi-family, office, and light industrial development flanking Richards Road. Woodridge Hill is a neighborhood of quiet streets and family homes -- many with views of Lake Washington, downtown Bellevue, or Seattle.

Much of the community’s daily life revolves around Woodridge Elementary School, located at the top of the hill within this neighborhood. Woodridge Elementary School was rebuilt completely in 2007. The 2012 enrollment was 574. Many people consider Woodridge Elementary to be one of the best elementary schools in Bellevue.

Norwood Village was built on Woodridge Hill in the late 1940s by and for World War II veterans. This development began in 1947, when a nonprofit veterans’ organization acquired 48 acres and developed it into Lower Norwood. Local architects designed these homes and positioned them on lots to take advantage of the spectacular views. This prevented the neighborhood from having the uniformity of other post-war tract housing neighborhoods. The community was considered so unique that it was featured in home and garden magazines in 1952. Norwood Village is the oldest community in Washington

State with continuous water fluoridation. Today, it is a Historic District of post-WWII architecture. Before there was a Bellevue, there was historic Norwood Village!

The average household size in Woodridge is 2.2 people, and the average family size is 2.8 members. Among all households, 50.6 percent are married couples, and 19.1% of households include children. The median household income in 2009 was $83,178. Residents are well educated, with 53.6% holding at least a Bachelor’s degree and 12.1% a Master’s degree.

Both Woodridge Hill and Norwood Village built their own community swimming pools, still prized by

residents. The pools provide a range of activities for all ages, and provide swim lessons and competitive swim teams.

There are three parks within the Woodridge Community: Bannerwood Ballfield Park, Norwood Village Park, and Woodridge Water Tower Park, which offers a trail that is well shaded by tall trees and a good spot for serious bird watching. Residents also have immediate access to the Woodridge Open Space, a 20-acre upland forest that is part of the Richards Valley Greenway.

Currently there are five homes listed for sale in the Woodridge area. Here is one example. In the last 180 days, 31 properties have sold in this area, ranging in price from $160,000 for a condo to $851,000 for a 4,140 square foot single family home. The average travel time to work for 75-80% of the population is 10 to 20 minutes.

Keep up with all the news from the Woodridge community with the Woodridge blog.
If you would like to see the homes available today or you wish to learn more about Woodridge, please contact me 206-230-0833 or email me, kenurman@comcast.net.

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  Ginormous Kitchens: Are They Really a Good Choice?

  Bottom line for me is open kitchens work. Size is a separate consideration.  With an open kitchen I love being able to interact with guests while cooking or washing dishes.  Everyone is together and that's really good!  Good pros and cons presented in this article.

  
  
  Huge, open kitchens continue to grow in popularity, getting bigger and bigger. But is bigger really better? Read

Copyright 2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

The 5 Best (and Worst) Movies Set in Seattle

Not directly related to Real Estate, but I find it interesting that occasionally filmmakers come to Seattle to make a movie.  No doubt we have terrific scenery, but with our rain and grey clouds it's hard to make a movie here.  Never the less many good ones have been filmed here. From this list I learned of about a movie that I had no idea was filmed in Seattle...I've seen it many times.  McQ with John Wayne.....I think it was one of his last big films.  Read more

Since Tinseltown doesn't always get that appeal right, we've decided to run through the best and worst depictions of our town. From the high times of '90s grunge to some truly embarrassing geographical blunders, here's Seattle in the movies. 

Get To Know the Faben Point Community

Get To Know the Faben Point Community

By Ken Urman, Realtor®

This post is the eighth in a series offering insights into the unique characteristics of specific neighborhoods on Mercer Island and communities surrounding Lake Washington, including Parkwood, Tarywood, Woodridge, Judkins Park , and Newcastle.

Faben Point is a community with a rich history and a collection of some of the most expensive luxury homes on Mercer Island. In addition to an ideal location very close to water, parks, and freeway access, many homes in this community have views of Seattle across Lake Washington.

In the early 1900s, there were about 25 ferry landings on all sides of Mercer Island. The northwest side of the island has four prominent points, all of which were ferry landings. The eastern point, in Luther Burbank Park, is Calkins Point; the west side of the middle point is Roanoke Landing; the point on the northwest corner of the island is Faben Point; and the point about 0.7 miles south of I-90 is Proctor Landing. It is not surprising, therefore, that many of the island’s oldest communities arose near the landings.

Faben  Point was named for prominent Seattle attorney/judge and boat racing enthusiast Vincent 'Vince' Faben, who owned a summer home there until his death in 1927. He raced a launch named the 'Dolphin' and was sometimes called 'Captain' Faben.  In records of the 1906 Labor Day, Mid-Winter, and Fourth of July Regattas (powerboats), Faben was listed as Commodore of the races. In 1931, his Mercer Island property was platted into large lots, with 60-80' of waterfront, 200-370' deep, and sold at auction. Many of the homes at Faben Point were built between 1927 and the end of World War II. Many of the older homes have been replaced by large luxury homes.

Faben Point is part of the beautiful north end “Gold Coast,” consisting exclusively of waterfront properties. Seven homes in Faben Point have sold during the last seven years, with prices ranging from $1,110,000 to $9,250,000. Another home in this beautiful neighborhood is currently on the market, listed at $3,125,000. One home in this community, which was listed in 2007 for $28 million, is featured on one real estate website as one of the ten best pools in the US.

Another bit of Faben Point history, brought to light in recent years with the sale of a green vinyl bar that was restored to the Harvey family. John Harvey booked bands for regional venues in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as promoting musical events. His grandmother, Laura S. Harvey, owned the waterfront home just down the street from him. Some of the bands stayed at Laura Harvey’s home during their trips to the Seattle area. According to family lore, a number of rock-and-roll stars shared meals with the family at the green vinyl bar, including Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and possibly Led Zeppelin.

Residents of Faben Point during the early 1990s were inconvenienced with the construction of the I-90 floating bridge. However, accessibility to the highway and access to the Park on the Lid and the I-90 bike trail are clear benefits for residents today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To learn more about the Faben Point community, or to learn about homes available in this area, please contact me at 206-230-0833.

 

 

Mercer Island Homes In High Demand

After a very busy week, I am delighted to announce that the house at 8631 SE 63^rd Street, Mercer Island, where I hosted open house on April 20 and 21, is now under contract. I would like to thank all who read about the listing here and came by to see this very attractive house. The owners received many offers for the home and after careful review of each offer, we were able to accept the offer that was most attractive for the sellers.

 It is comforting for any Realtor to see that their marketing efforts are creating interest in homes in desirable neighborhoods, but the frenzy we witnessed last week is a clear commentary on the market, as well. It was also gratifying to have prepared my clients for the high level of interest we would see for their home. They were prepared for the excitement, the need to review multiple offers thoroughly -- but quickly -- and to allow me to consult with them to identify and accept the offer that is best for them. I am always thrilled when my clients feel so good about the experience of selling a home.

The level of interest in this home is typical of the interest level in Mercer Island homes, particularly homes is this price range. I am honored by the trust placed in me by homeowners who have decided it might be the right time to sell and called me. I enjoy helping people decide if it is the right time for them to sell and to price their home for a seller’s market. If you are wondering if it is time to sell your home, please call me (206-230-0833).

Today, the owners of 8631 SE 63^rd Street, are another step closer to finalizing the sale of their home. Both the seller and the buyer are thrilled with the terms of the sale. On their behalf, and my own, thank you, readers, for your interest in this beautiful home. If you are looking for a new home, please watch here for my next announcement, or give me a call.

By Ken Urman, Realtor

7 Tips for Choosing the Right Colors for Your Kitchen or Bathroom

I often struggle with choosing paint colors for a property I am working on.  Often I consultant a professional.  Today, I found this article that has some great tips and information. Here are the 7 over riding tips.  More details in the article.

1. Pick one element as the foundation of your color palette
2. Start by picking the foundational color/design for the least flexible element
3. What are you attracted to?
4. Don’t be afraid to make changes
5. Don’t be afraid to pick bright, bold colors
6. Pay attention to lighting
7. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help 

Link to article with details     

Recovery

Can't always buy into what economist (number crunchers) say, however this article from NWREporter a newsletter for Washington Realtors provides strong evidence about how well the Real Estate Market in our area is recovering.

Although the recent market correction was unlike any prior ones, a strong, fundamental recovery is under way, marked by solid demand, booming apartment construction and the ingredients for "tremendous price appreciation," according to the keynote speaker at a meeting of builders. Read more

Get to Know the Groveland Community

Mercer Island’s Groveland neighborhood occupies a site once used as a Bible camp for off-island groups. The homes in Groveland are an eclectic blend of architectural styles, ranging from houses built in the early 1930's to newer custom estate type homes. Many of the original homes were built in the 1930s as lakefront weekend homes. Today, only a few of those homes remain. 

Groveland is a smaller, secluded Mercer Island community with few homes on large lots. The approximate boundaries of the community are West Mercer Way on the East, Lake Washington to the West, SE 59^th to the South, and SE 56^th to the North. The Groveland community is known also as Groveland Park, because the hub of the community is the park. Access to the park is at 80^th Avenue SE and SE 57^th.  The Groveland community also includes Christian Church Camp Subdivision. 

Some waterfront homes have private docks. Groveland Beach Park is in this neighborhood, on land purchased by the City of Mercer Island in 1965. The park provides waterfront beach access, swimming, limited fishing and boating (hand-carried boats), restrooms, a playground, and picnic/barbeque facilities.


 

The streets in Groveland have a country lane feel, due to different curbing, no lane dividers in streets, and presence of numerous shade trees. Many of the lots in this community run from street to street.

The park, and the proximity to the lake, give this community a lovely feel and make it a desirable Mercer Island community. Currently, there are two homes for sale in Groveland. Over the last 12 months, only three homes have sold.

If you have any questions about Groveland, please contact me at 206-230-0833.

Big Predictions for Housing for Next 2 Years

More positive statistics that support the real estate market improving into 2014.  I believe in our metro Seattle region we will see even better improvement and performance. 

Fannie Mae economists predict that existing-home sales will rise by 10.5 percent this year, and by 6.2 percent in 2014. The economists made even bolder projections for new single-family home sales -- growing 15.1 percent this year and 44.1 percent in 2014.Big Predictions for Housing for Next 2 Years