Archive for Blog
A picture is worth a thousand words
Imagine driving by a house, snapping a photo of it with your iPhone, and then obtaining relevant data about the home and surrounding community. It’s possible with the HomeSnap app by Sawbuck. Walt Mossberg, personal technology columnist for the Wall … Continue reading →
The housing market gets a boost in April
Housing starts in April were strong, increasing by 4.7 percent to a 685,000 annual rate, according to the median estimate of 80 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News . The Associated Press reports a slightly higher annual pace of 717,000 homes, based on Commerce Department figures
Spotlight on Pacific NW gardening
Everything comes alive in the Pacific Northwest with fair May weather. The last frost of the season is likely behind us, and gardeners have the next 200 days, approximately, to cultivate the annuals, perennials, and vegetables of their choice. The … Continue reading →
Seattle touts job growth and sustainability
Seattle ranked fifth in the nation for job growth during the period between January 2011 and January 2012, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. Washington state was fifteenth in the nation. The W.P. School of Business at Arizona State … Continue reading →
Modernize your grandmother’s kitchen
Homeowners Desiree and Brian Bell wanted to change the look of their 1950′s kitchen into a room they could call their own. Lauren Lake of Spice Up My Kitchen recreated the old space into a traditional one with modern flair … Continue reading →
Kitchen islands aren’t going away
Better Homes & Gardens The kitchen island is often the hub of the home, the place where family members and guests gather to eat and socialize. While the island’s function remains the same as it has been for years, its look and feel are changing. “Pare it down to the basics, and anything else is a great addition but not necessary,” says Samantha Emmerling, a senior editor at House Beautiful, as reported in the Chicago Tribune . She notes that since most homeowners want an area for prep, additional counter space, seating, and storage, the form of the actual island ought to follow its function.
Housing news for April
Housing prices for King County in the month of April were strong, and inventory was down 37 percent from one year ago, reports the Seattle Times based on data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. The median house price in King County … Continue reading →
Nation’s biggest warehouse rolls out mortgages
Costco Wholesale Corporation has added home loans to its growing list of financial services, reports CNNMoney. The biggest warehouse membership chain is partnering with First Choice Bank, a New Jersey-based community bank, and 10 other lenders. Thus far, Costco’s partners have … Continue reading →
Add curb appeal
One of the best ways to increase your home’s value is to boost its curb appeal, which has everything to do with landscaping design, the color palette, and architectural interest. HGTV’s Curb Appeal highlights the transformation of one Cape Cod style … Continue reading →
Seattle is one of America’s fastest-growing cities
Seattle makes Forbes’s top ten list for the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. The Emerald City’s economic growth rate for the period 2011-2016 is projected at 3.7 percent with population growth at 1.2 percent. The current population is 3.54 million enjoying a … Continue reading →
