Issaquah Highlands Undressed

issaquah Highlands, High Above, Yet So Near To Lake Sammamish

The recent hydroplanes visit to Lake Sammamish State park and the great weather we have had these past days inspired me to take a trip on Flickr for photographs of Lake Sammamish boats. I wasn’t disappointed. Enjoy some of what is seen on Flickr’

by Kables

Click here for a fun slideshow of Mark Griffith’s Photos

by  kurthu

by phlog

You don’t often see hydros, you do see many others, and when the weather is good you see picnics, swimming, and all types of fun on the shores of Lake Sammamish and in Lake Sammamish State Park.

Tags: lake+sammamish, hydroplanes, hydros, picnic

Who is your neighbor? Where Are They From? Is This Their Only Home?

Issaquah Highlands is the friendliest place I have lived. We all could be a little more, but this place is great. For those that want to participate their are numerous committees to serve on, there is game night at Blakeley Hall, fun environments at local eating places, and lots of social events. Here are a few photos we have taken of Issaquah Highlands neighborly opportunities.

We have new neighbors… where are they from? Is it their second home? One neighbor has another home in the Snoqualmie Pass area. We have two neighbors that are nurses. Some of our neighbors work in Issaquah shops. We have a fireman that is a neighbor. Several are computer techies. One is a CPA. Some are retired. One neighbor couple just got married. They met at work. One neighbor is a mechanical engineer.

It looks like in an emergency, we have all the bases just about covered. Speaking of emergencies, have you mapped your neighborhood? Many Issaquah Highlands neighbors have met and done that. We want to do that with our neighbors. We spoken with some that have done that. They were glad they did it as they both got to socialize and they like the idea of a plan in case of an emergency. They were only sorry J J didn’t attend.

See, you just may not know who is your neighbor, unless you reach out. Go Mariners.

Tags: issaquah+highlands,  map+your+neighborhood

You Don’t Have To Pay High Prices In Issaquah

Sure, we all want like to dream about that nice mansion.

That is why watching my wife Kathleen make Street Of Dreams mansions award winners was so fun. But as I speak with a lot of people where we shop in Issaquah, the perception is that only the rich can buy here.

Starter home prices have been falling, in fact all across the board prices have dropped.

Not only that we are the beneficiaries of the ARCH program. There are many ARCH controlled, or approved, homes on the market. It is a bit of headache going through the ARCH approval process, but at this time it isn’t necessary.

After a reasonable period of time the seller may sell an ARCH home to anyone. The income restrictions are removed. ARCH still controls the sales prices, but that seems to be reasonable, in fact in this market gives a buyer an advantage.

We are experienced with ARCH, we want our local merchants employees to live here, in Issaquah - even Issaquah Higlands. If you investigate, you may not have to work in Issaquah and drive to Puyallup.

FHA financing is also available for ARCH which give people an easier qualifying situation. I am extremely experienced in FHA. FHA helps with lower down payments and when recent credit has been good, but where there may be a credit score problem or past credit problems.

Give us a call if you want some help. Lar

Tags: ARCH, Issaquah

Issaquah Highlands Is Public Transit Friendly

photo courtesy of Flickr and decidedlyodd

The very popular Issaquah Highlands Park N RIde is a great local benefit. Sure the garage fills up fast during peak hours, but the benefits are many. A hidden benefit to some is the possible use of the parking garage after hours for dare we say it, “A Cinema Complex”. We have heard this is a critical agreement that Port Blakely must obtain.

I say, do it.

Not only are we served by Metro, but as pictured above, the typically microsoft quality buses frequent our neigbhorhood.

Even with the great service we now have, the service will increase starting next September. More frequent service on existing route 269 will begin and in 2010 route 200 will be expanded to the higlands.

Metro, Issaquah, Port Blakely, and Talus will spend some of their meager resources to fund this service expansion.

So picture this dear friends. You love the highlands some much, you never leave. Yep, you grow old here. We finally get a grocery store so you stay nourished. The shopping Mall is built. Your darling grandkids can jump on a bus and visit. And to top it all off – you spend your time at the new mall and movie theator so the entertainment isn’t the destruction of your lovely home.

Tags: park+n+ride, issaquah+highlands, metro

How About Some Humor?

AARP Bumper Stickers:
“I’m so old, restaurants ask for their money up front.”

“One good thing about Alzheimer’s – you get to meet new people every day.”

“Experience is a wonderful thing – it enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.”

Rob Chrisman

The Desk Of A Realtor

Yep, it is from here, high on the hill looking over Issaquah Highlands your friendly Realtor surveys the market. Two screens you see if you look close. One has the MLS on, the other Blog Jet that posts on Real Estate Undressed, helps on Issaquah Issaquah Undressed, and keeps the pace on Issaquah Highlands Undressed.

It is fun and helpful in keeping up with the market. Technology is at an amazing place. There are so many tools to assist in selling real estate. There are many more in keeping generally informed.

I wonder, how many of you use feed readers. Hey it’s Issaquah Highlands, it’s “techie ville” you all do don’t you? One says no! Amazing. Contact me, I will help you get it set up and show you how to use it for shopping on Craigs List. Larry

Xnovo Coming To Issaquah Highlands?

Kathleen and I attended the Issaquah Highlands Traffic Safety Committee meeting this week. It seems that because people are driving so fast past the school on Park Dr that amendments are being drawn to our master community home owners association. Those amendments would require all IH residents to exclusively drive the new Xnovo.

Click to learn more about the Xnovo

French company Sidam is considering offering a three-wheeled tilting scooter at a discount to Issaquah Highlands residents. Builders will be required to include two with every home purchase.

Seriously, it was pointed out that driving from the school to the light at Caffe Ladro 10 miles per hour faster than the speed limit saves a whopping 1.7 seconds. Whoopee and drive safely, the child you save will be grateful.

Tags: IH

A Few Of Issaquah Highlands Residents Are About To Leave Us.

In nearby Talus a huge new project is about to open. Former neighbors of ours are to be some of the first to occupy Timber Ridge at Talus. This Retirement Community is easy to find as you enter Talus Master Planned Community. This URL takes you to their website: http://www.timberridgelcs.com/

Good by good neighbors, we will miss you.

Issaqauh Highlands Is Most Green

The Issaquah Press recently covered the selection of Issaquah Highlands being in the top 10 best Built Neighborhoods by Natural Home Magazine. Ryan Piersol does a complete and interesting story on this recognition on page A8 January 16^th issue, of every Issaquah Residents favorite newspaper, The Issaquah Press.

What Is It About Issaquah Highlands Anyway? Why Is It So Popular?

To me, these are the top 10 reasons Issaquah Highlands is so popular:

1– J J Putz lives here. (now I have to list 11)

2– They are going to build a second road out of here. (now I have to list 12)

3– The variety of homes and options for living that are available.

4– Easy access to I -520

5– It is mostly well maintained. Some parts don’t have home owners associations, and their yards can look a little bad, but that is rare.

6– The shopping center we believe will come some day will wrap up a pretty convenient place to live.

7– The views: So many lots have them. Those that don’t have ample ways to particpate.

8– Nice big yards. OK, I lied here, except there are a few of the 2.5 acres pieces yet to buy.

9– Small parks big park…. Evan one called Bark Park. They are all over the place. That makes up for the small yards doesn’t it?

10– Sidewalks and walking trails. This type of planning makes the community more walkable, even a bit hostile to vehicles, as the roads get a little tight. It reminds me of Andreas – Duany architects model communities.

11– Resale values. So far no community has had better results in King County.

12– Wildlife: Most of us have seen the deer in our yards. Some of us the bear. All of us the Geese. Some of us the Heron and the (what is that guy that flies straight to the water and looks like an arrow going straight down?) the uh uh uh (time for google) Osprey. Have you seen the buffle head ducks, we have. Walk behind The Cottages in Katsura and you will see numerous types of birds, it is like an aviary. I don’t like the bullfrogs and noise, thank you Heron and Osprey, you have done your duty I think.

What is your opinion?

Tags: homes, resale, parks, birds, bear, deer