SIR.COM Wins WebAwards

We are proud to announce that the recently revamped Sotheby’s International Realty^® website was recognized by the Web Marketing Association with the “2015 Outstanding Website WebAward” and by W³ with the “2015 W3 Gold Award.” With a great focus on creating the best possible user experience, the new sothebysrealty.com continues the brand’s tradition of revolutionizing Luxury Real Estate in the digital space.

The new design changes include an increased focus on full-screen, high-definition video throughout the site, from the homepage to property detail pages, to allow for a more immersive consumer experience. High-resolution photography also plays a more prominent role. The property detail pages feature: slideshows that tell a home’s story via the captions, custom video, location overviews that provide insight into the local area via video and text, and a seller or expert quote that offers a personal view of the property.

About Web Marketing Association: Since 1997, the Web Marketing Association’s annual WebAward Competition has been setting the standard of excellence for Website development. Independent expert judges from around the world review sites in 96 industries. The best are recognized with a WebAward which helps interactive professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to the outside world.

Explore SIR.COM >>

Sotheby's International Realty Brand Welcomes Cape Cod Firm

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC recently announced that New Seabury Real Estate on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is the newest member of its real estate network and will now operate as New Seabury Sotheby’s International Realty. The firm, which is owned and operated by Christopher Burden Jr. and Amanda Prince, has three offices around the Cape and will service New Seabury, Popponesset and the greater Cape Cod area.  With this addition, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand now has four member companies on Cape Cod including: Atlantic Bay Sotheby’s International Realty, oldCape Sotheby’s International Realty, Sotheby’s International Realty – Falmouth Brokerage and Sotheby’s International Realty – Osterville Brokerage.

“Christopher Burden and his team are seasoned real estate professionals who have extensive market knowledge about the community in which they serve,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.  “We are proud to welcome New Seabury Sotheby’s International Realty to our network.”

The firm has served the greater Cape Cod area since 1970.  “Affiliating with Sotheby’s International Realtyallows our company to have access to high caliber marketing opportunities and technology, as well as worldwide exposure,” said Burden.  “We are thrilled to be a part of a globally recognized brand.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 17,000 sales associates located in approximately 800 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide.  New Seabury Sotheby’s International Realty listings will be marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website.  In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

Sotheby's International Realty Brand Welcomes Block Island Firm

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced that Sullivan Real Estate on Block Island, Rhode Island, is the newest member of its global real estate network and will now operate as Sullivan Sotheby’s International Realty. The firm, which is owned and operated by Cynthia “Cindy” Pappas, has served the greater Block Island area since 1967.  Throughout the years, the firm actively participated in local land preservation and is proud to have contributed to the efforts that led to Block Island being named one of the “Last Great Places” in the Western Hemisphere by the Nature Conservancy.  With the addition of this firm, the Sotheby’s International Realty network now has three independently owned and operated member companies in Rhode Island, including: Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty and Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty.

“Block Island is an iconic New England town located 12 miles off the shores of Rhode Island.  Its unique beauty and acclaimed quality of life has often attracted buyers seeking a second or third home, making it an ideal market for our brand,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.  “With its established and reputable presence in the community for nearly 50 years, we are proud to welcome Sullivan Sotheby’s International Realty into our network.”

Offering residents a respite from their mainland lives, Block Island presents the opportunity to live the sought-after island lifestyle.  The brokerage is committed to providing exceptional service to its clients and making the transition to island life as seamless as possible.  It has also been involved in contributing to the island’s year-round vitality.  “Affiliating with Sotheby’s International Realty allows us to showcase our luxury homes beyond the island shores to a world-wide market,” said Pappas.  “Being a part of a globally recognized brand, we look forward to expanding our reach, learning from the experiences of our fellow brokers and gaining valuable insights on other real estate markets around the world.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 17,000 sales associates located in approximately 800 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide.  Sullivan Sotheby’s International Realty listings will be marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website.  In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

Volunteer Sunday, September 27th at the Harvest Fair

On Sunday, September 27, come celebrate our local food producers and the community that supports them at the 29th annual Harvest Fair on Bainbridge Island. This community oriented, family friendly event includes great local music, locally sourced foods, exhilarating rides, agricultural-educational lectures, freshly pressed cider and a pie making contest.

To make this day a success for the 3,000 expected guests, Friends of the Farms invites you to volunteer and experience and celebrate the day first hand.

Volunteer roles include:

·  Set-up and tear down ·  Helping with rides and kids activities ·  Selling pie ·  Welcoming guests ·  Shuttle drivingWe are looking for volunteers to fill in shifts from: ·  10:30am - 1pm ·  1pm - 3:30pm ·  3:30pm - 5pm

Friends of the Farms provides volunteers with an experience of a life-time, a free Harvest Fair shirt designed by Howard Block from Bay, Hay and Feed, and the opportunity to celebrate our farming heritage.

If you would like to volunteer, contact Kevin Haggerty, Program Coordinator at Friends of the Farms

c)  925.303.6344 e) kevin.haggerty@friendsofthefarms.org

Sotheby’s International Realty Brand to Expand Luxury Presence within the Middle East

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced plans for the brand’s expansion into five additional Gulf countries, complementing its existing presence in the United Arab Emirates. Within the next year, the brand’s affiliate brokerage in the region, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty, is expected to enter the important new markets of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, greatly increasing the brand’s presence in the Middle East. “Increasing our brand presence in the Middle East is yet another example of our commitment to providing the Sotheby’s International Realty network’s exclusive real estate services in luxury property destinations around the world,” said Phillip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.  “The Middle East continues to be one of the most important sources of cross-regional capital into the global real estate market and we are proud to support Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty as the company expands its footprint and continues to provide robust regional market intelligence to its clients.”

Currently operating in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty is led by Chairman George Azar.  The firm intends to open seven new offices around the region including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and also in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

“We are excited to be growing our company and widening our range of services to span the Middle Eastern region,” said Azar.  “Our goal is to achieve the highest sale price for our clients, but achieving this means equipping investors with sound intelligence about the property market and its potential. Our clients are sophisticated high net worth individuals and institutional investors who need to understand the underlying fundamentals of the markets in which they invest. This is why we have consistently surpassed our own sale price targets in 2015, despite the slowdown in the Dubai property market.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 17,000 sales associates located in approximately 800 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide.  Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website.  In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and their clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

Evergreen Dreaming: Californians Flock to Washington State

According to recent Census data, California sends more new residents to King County than any other state in the US, as noted in a recent Seattle Times article. The trend makes a lot of sense considering that the two states share a time zone, a love for the ocean and a propensity for employing high-tech workers, as recently highlighted by The Wall Street Journal and the Puget Sound Business Journal,which described that the average home costs nearly $600,000 less in Seattle compared to Silicon Valley. A delegation of RSIR brokers and owners recently visited the Bay Area to explore these trends firsthand.

Thousands of Californians moving from the Golden State to the Evergreen State. For the year ending July 2015, nearly 22-percent of the 16,999 new residents in Washington came from California, according to State of Washington Department of Licensing:

“Many inbound Californians recognize that Washington offers a bounty of opportunity with a much lower cost of living,” said Dean Jones, President & CEO of RSIR. “I joke that we’re the Evergreen State not just because of the lush forest and landscapes but because we have no state income tax. Washington’s a good place to get wealthy and stay wealthy, whereas California has the highest combined tax rates in the US and top earners can pay up to 13-percent state income.”

Jones says one of the trends is for affluent Californians to buy a principal residence in Washington State and keep their current home in California as a second home. By becoming a Washington resident and living in the Puget Sound region for the majority of the year, passive income earners can avoid paying state income tax in California and invest those savings in building equity in two homes instead of paying the government.

Californians remain a targeted consumer group for RSIR, as have immigrating Asian home buyers, who comprise the second largest relocating demographic in Washington.

What's Next: Your Weekly Event Calendar

I am thrilled to bring you this week’s event calendar! Your comprehensive guide, take a peek at what’s going on! From TONIGHT'S Homebuyer Symposium in Kirkland, to this weekend’s Tomato Battle at Pyramid Alehouse and the Cedar Suede concert on Bainbridge, here’s what’s happening around the sound:

Select Links Below to View Full Calendar of Events in Each Community

Bainbridge Island Events>>>     ♦     Seattle Events >>>     ♦     Eastside Events >>>

Signs of a Housing Bubble? Not According to the Daily Journal of Commerce

In an article released by the Daily Journal of Commerce, Matthew Gardner describes his confidence that we are not currently in a housing bubble, ten years after Alan Greenspan first said he had no concerns regarding the housing market just before the recession hit.

Where does Gardner's confidence come from? He breaks down his top four reasons why there is no "national bubble on the horizon":

1. The flippers have left the building - "Data supplied by RealtyTrac suggests that the percentage of homes that were bought with the intent to 'flip' has dropped from a peak of 6.7 percent at the beginning of 2014 to 4 percent today . . . signifying a more normalized market."
2. Lending standards remain very stringent - "there are several components of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that provide substantial safeguards when it comes to irresponsible lending practices, such as requiring lenders - through the qualified mortgage rule - to ensure a borrower's ability to repay."
3. Home prices are up, but not to pre-bubble levels - at the national level, the bursting of the housing bubble led to a 27 percent drop in the index. The index has risen but is still 9 percent below the prior peak."
4. Interest rates are (eventually) going to rise and cool the market - "the growth in employment, and the subsequent drop in the unemployment rate, will lead to wage growth, and increasing incomes will take some of the sting out of any rate increase."

Open August 15th & 16th: Manzanita Bay Waterfront Home

This Saturday & Sunday, August 15th & 16th, you are invited to tour our GORGEOUS Manzanita Bay Waterfront Home from 1-3PM.

Sunny & casual west-facing waterfront home with coveted deep water dock in sheltered Manzanita Bay. Spectacular views & French doors to decks from every room. Airy & bright with cathedral ceilings, open layout and wide plank pine floors. Level entry & romantic main floor master with fireplace. An entertaining sized kitchen with new steam oven & high end appliances. Extra room upstairs with endless possibilities. Indulge yourself in an accessible waterfront lifestyle – sandy beach & 253′ dock suitable for 50′ sailboat.

Located at: 6506 NE Monte Vista Drive, Bainbridge Island, WA 98033

SIR Significant Sales: Volume IV, 2015

The latest issue of Significant Sales features top sales from around the world beginning with soaring Central Park views in New York. Also featured is a gated enclave in Colorado, an award-winning home in Connecticut and more than twenty other properties from around the globe.

$18,500,000 USD | New York, USA | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage

New York - This exceptionally rare Upper East Side duplex, pre-war Condominium offers 8 bedrooms and 8 baths over approx. 7,500 square feet. The size and scale of a sprawling townhouse with the services and security of a white-glove service building, enter through a key-lock elevator onto a private landing with marble entrance gallery and an expansive corner great room boasting Central Park views.

$17,500,000 USD | Colorado, USA | Aspen Snowmass Sotheby's International Realty

Colorado - Located in the private, gated enclave of Pyramid Point, this captivating estate is on a 5.4-acre lot with views of Aspen Highlands and Pyramid Peak. The slopes of Tiehack and the Maroon Creek Golf Course are just down the road. Features include spa area with steam room, sauna and massage, exercise room, recreation room, three bars, theater, wine room, two offices, eight fireplaces, three-car garage, large patios with fire pit, waterfall, two hot tubs, and an expansive lawn area.

$17,000,000 USD | Connecticut, USA | Sotheby's International Realty Greenwich Brokerage

Connecticut - This extraordinary stone Georgian home has been fully executed by the award-winning Judith Larson and Bill Gardiner residential design team. A pristine and prestigious property over 8.7-acres with two gated entrances includes an additional building site for the potential of an extensive family compound. Lush, level grounds are perfect for ardent lawns and formal gardens. Exquisite chef’s kitchen and catering kitchen by Smallbone of Devizes, herringbone floors, 12’ ceilings, 55’ indoor pool, sauna, squash/basketball court, exercise room, in-law/staff wing, fiber optics for trading floor, theater, wine cellar, generator, and more complete this ultimate Greenwich residence.

$15,000,000 USD | Texas, USA | Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Texas - This estate is unmatched in grandeur and luxury, with a sprawling 5.3-acres and 14,139 square feet of living space. A picturesque drive along a tranquil creek reveals a truly breathtaking facade of classic stonework and slate roof. Inside reveals gold leaf accented ceilings, Venetian plaster corridors, rooms draped in rich textures of leather, hand-scraped herringbone and marble, a hidden stairway, a 2,200 bottle climate-controlled wine vault and a 10-car garage with six climatecontrolled spaces make this estate exceptional in every way.

$13,750,000 USD | Florida, USA | One Sotheby's International Realty

Florida - Spectacular lower penthouse exquisitely designed by Italian architect Marina Nova. This magnificent 6,557 square foot apartment features five bedrooms, five full and one half bathrooms, den, impressive and elegant living and dining rooms, state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen, Venetian walls, private elevator, fully integrated security and entertainment system, double ceilings and indirect lighting. Expansive terraces showcase amazing panoramic ocean, golf and Miami skyline views.

Explore More Significant Sales >>>

What's Next: Your Weekly Event Calendar

Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty (RSIR) is thrilled to bring you this week’s event calendar! Your comprehensive guide, take a peek at what’s going on! From this weekend’s Seafair Air Show and a Farmer’s Market in Issaquah, to next week’s Art Walk on Bainbridge Island, here’s what’s happening around the sound:

Select Links Below to View Full Calendar of Events in Each Community

Seattle Events >>>     ♦     Eastside Events >>>    ♦    Bainbridge Island Events>>>

UPCOMING EVENT: Cycle Saloon Tour of South Lake Union

Connect. Discover. Experience.

Are you thinking of buying a place in one of Seattle's HOT downtown neighborhoods? If so watch for our brokers, mortgage bankers and recent homebuyers peddling around town on July 28th from 3-6PM and hear their story firsthand. Talk about purchasing power! 

Register today to learn about upcoming homebuyer information events!

SPACE IS LIMITED, SO SIGN UP HERE! RSVPS ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE.

If you are thinking of buying a home in downtown Seattle, contact me. I can connect you with a Belltown real estate broker. 

Chinese Buyers Surpass Canadians in US Home Purchases

Huge news from the Bloomberg Business, as Prashant Gopal and John Gittelsohn announced that Chinese buyers now outrank Canadians in purchasing homes in the U.S. The article, entitled “Move over; Canadians – Chinese buyers now No. I buyers of U.S. homes,” says that “buyers from China spent US $28.6 billion on U.S. homes and made up 16 per cent of transactions by foreigners in the 12 months through March, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors. Canadians, which had led international purchases since 2008, ranked second with US $11.2 billion in spending and a 14 per cent share of sales.”

The article likewise notes the movement of Chinese buyers into the U.S. in recent years, “amid growing affluence by residents of the world’s most populous nation, where the U.S. is viewed as a safe haven for wealth.” And not only is Seattle one of these “safe havens,” it has also become somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon in China, thanks to the wildly successful film, Finding Mr. Right.

As Dean Jones, President & CEO of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty (RSIR) told The Globe and Mail  in early June, the film was “massive advertising, and there has been a lot of response.” He continued that “it’s not just the high-net-worth people looking for lifestyle or a financial safe harbor. It’s that people want to have their version of the American dream, if you will.”

The Globe and Mail also highlighted RSIR’s “Asia Desk,” which features a collective of agents “fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and other Asian languages” who “cater to the continuing, broadening influx of buyers.” The team’s most recent endeavor was the release of a documentary entitled East Meets West, which helped explain the meteoric rise in foreign direct investment and immigration in the Puget Sound region.

Henderson Road Featured in Sea Magazine's June Edition

I'm excited to announce that my storybook home on Bainbridge Island is featured in the most recent print edition of Sea Magazine!

Whether it’s the French Riviera, a private island in the Caribbean or living by the many rivers, lakes or sea in the Puget Sound region, our brand artfully unites extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives both at home and around the world.

Each waterfront market is as unique as the buyers that seek its privileged lifestyle, so keen information and expert representation are paramount. There is a reason why waterfront is the leading lifestyle search on our website (and why 45-percent of our online visitation originates from outside the US)—savvy consumers know that to enjoy the best of the Pacific Northwest you just need to add water.

Thinking of listing or buying a waterfront property? Contact me today for a complimentary consultation. Working with the right broker makes all the difference in the world.

Does Refinancing Now Make Fiscal Sense?

While interest rates are at historic lows, does it make the most sense to refinance? Many people around the country are taken with the great rates, but are left in a state of wonderment as to what these low rates actually mean to them.

It's important to realize that although it can lower monthly payments and shave years off of total repayment (thus reducing overall interest paid), the cons of refinancing can actually outweigh the pros, especially when the balance remains above $350,000. Number crunching is essential when considering essentially another, new 30 or 15-year mortgage loan.

Be sure to read the full Washington Post article here>>

Featured as the "Home of the Day"

I am excited to announce that my Storybook Home is featured as the Home of the Day on the Puget Sound Business Journal!

A story book home and setting, offering wonderful features with 1.42 acres of rolling lawns and exuberant gardens, overlooking spectacular views of Puget Sound and the Olympics. A custom kitchen, a sunlit atrium with removable windows, brings the outdoors in. Majestic trees provide dappled shade, patios and decks soak up the sun and embrace the views. Delightful studio and greenhouse, and a 3-car garage. Escape to your beach playground and private permitted buoy. Beach, water, mountains and sunsets, are all yours!

14881 Henderson Road NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Offered at $1,689,000

See the feature on the Puget Sound Business Journal

RSIR Helps YWCA Bring Extra Cheer To Children This Easter Holiday!

 

In the spirit of Easter, RSIR recently teamed up with the YWCA to bring a little springtime cheer to the more than 1,000+ children in the Seattle, Snohomish & King County area that would love to have Easter baskets this holiday. Thanks to the generous support of our brokers and friends, RSIR was able to surpass its goal of filling 20 baskets, to being able to make 28 in total! Additionally, the YWCA was able to accept other donated goodies from RSIR to help with filling even more baskets within its organization.

Each basket will make a difference to a child in need.  The YWCA opens doors to opportunity and self-sufficiency for women and families facing poverty, violence and discrimination. Their homeless shelters are a safe haven to the families they serve for up to 6 months and we hope to remind them of the life they are working so hard on getting back on track.

A special thank you to Storyville Coffee Company for providing treats for our volunteers putting together baskets.

Tailoring Your Business To Millennial Homebuyers

It's no secret that the Millennial generation is coming into the home-buying market in full force. And it is also no secret that this is the first generation to have grown up their entire lives with the computer and Internet at their fingertips. As such, the demand for innovation and ingenuity for the real estate sector has never been higher.

In a recent article from Inman, a real estate news source for realtors and brokers, Jason Turner breaks down what brokers should and shouldn't be doing amidst the growing rise of new media and marketing strategies.

The more open and approachable a broker is, the more appealing to a Millennial buyer. Despite such innovations as being able to search for homes from the convenience of their smartphones, Millennials are really searching for a personal touch from a dedicated broker that is going to be able to mentor and be available to them with indispensable knowledge from firsthand experience.

Read the full story on Inman>>

Seattle Magazine Consults RSIR on “How Foreign Investment is Changing our Neighborhoods”

In a print article entitled “How Foreign Investment is Changing our Neighborhoods,” Seattle Magazine’s Jenny Cunningham prominently featured Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty, an expert on the latest in this massive trend. After “quizzing” her readers about the most expensive housing market in North America (Vancouver, British Columbia) Cunningham describes that “in recent years, mainland Chinese have been buying Coal Harbour condos and Shaughnessy megamansions, and the general consensus is that these rich immigrants are the main reason for Vancouver’s skyrocketing housing values.” She then asks, “could Seattle be next?” Elucidating the tendency for Chinese investors to come to the Seattle area in search of homes, Cunningham says “statistics from the University of Washington confirm that trend” as “there are more students from China at the UW than ever before.” She even adds that “believe it or not, Seattle is trending as a sexy city among China’s college-age kids.”

Another point of influence in the article? The EB-5 Investment Program. When Canada ended their popular direct foreign investment program back in 2014, Dean Jones predicted in an interview with Jake Whittenberg from King 5 News, that many investors would likely “prefer the Seattle and Eastside areas,” supported by census data at the time which revealed that Asians were “the fastest growing demographic in Washington State, with many Eastside communities comprising between 25% to 50% of the population.” This trend has come into fruition with the recent rise of developments, highlighted when RSIR attended two high-profile ground breaking ceremonies: the Portola Tower by Dargey in Belltown and the Southport Hotel by SECO Development on Lake Washington in Renton. Cunningham likewise describes the significance of the EB-5 Program, as she writes that “Chinese investors are also building market-rate housing and creating jobs for locals under [it],” and citing Kevin Stamper who told her that “85 percent of applicants are from China.”

So, Cunningham finally asks, “Who’s betting on China?” RSIR is listed as one of three companies behind this trend, as the article reads: “‘China is a top focus for us right now,’ says Dean Jones, CEO of the Seattle-area offices of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. Jones has traveled to China several times recently to raise awareness of the value Seattle offers, compared to other West Coast cities. Realogics launched an ‘Asia Desk’ in its Kirkland office in January, complete with tearoom and staffed with Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean speakers who can help foreign clients with everything from travel arrangements to finding a school for their children. Jones predicts this is just the beginning of an influx of buyers from China. ‘What is really surprising is that China hadn’t discovered Seattle earlier.’”

Vintage Beach Cottage Featured as the "Home of the Day" on the PSBJ

I am excited to announce that my Vintage Beach Cottage is featured as the Home of the Day on the Puget Sound Business Journal!

Rare vintage beach cottage tucked in the trees w/wide open Seattle and Mt Rainier views. Wonderful sunny, level yard in natural setting with conservation land next door, public beach access across street. Tastefully updated to retain original charm - newer main floor master suite and lower level family room, new 3 bathroom septic system, newer furnace, public water. Cozy fireplace, hardwood floors, clerestory windows, kitchen with classic eating nook covered porch. Beautiful sunny deck on view side.

View the full feature here.

Home of the Day is a feature presented by the Puget Sound Business Journal & Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. It is your invitation to view some of Puget Sound’s most-luxurious properties. Come inside and take a look around.

Vote for your favorite "Home of the Week" here!