May 19th, 2008
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
Issaquah Highlands has many great events for us to participate in. The biggest one of the year is coming up. It is sort of our 4th of July Celebration. HIGHLANDS DAY! June 28th. It may seem far away but time flies and there is lots to be done.
I have been told it takes about 200 volunteers to put this all together. Have fun, get to know your neighbors and help at the same time. There are carnival games, rides, food, a parade plus much more. Can you help? Contact christy.g@ihcouncil.org
There are also chances to promote your business. Business booths are available Contact Lorrie.t@ihcouncil.org.
May 17th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
Since March I have been updating and posting real estate sales information on this blog. It is in map format. I am posting it this way for those who want a quick look by neighborhoods. To me, looking a a list of homes for sale or homes sold is a bit cumbersome. I like the map and hope you do to.
The map includes sales of both condominiums and homes.
Because these are closed real estate transactions I can post both the listing price and the sales price. Check the balloon icon to see that info.
Click Here For the Map of Issaquah Sold Homes.
Note the different colors represent different months.
Larry Cragun
Tags: issaquah+highlands, sold+homes
May 16th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
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
May 12th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
As one of the writers for The Seattle P I Real Estate Professionals Blog I was invited to be the judge on this weeks Carnival Of Real Estate.
Each week blog writers submit articles to be judged. This week had some very interesting entries. Click here for The Carnival of Real Estate #90
May 9th, 2008
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
What do you find on Magnolia Street? Magnolias of course, but………………
…also you will find Magnolia Park and our featured Home of the Month! This is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Issaquah Highlands. Very seldom does a house right on the park come up for sale. Almost no traffic and the park is just a few steps out the front door. Just right for inspiration for a new monthly feature on our Issaquah Highlands blog.
The house: 3448 NE Magnolia St, Issaquah Highlands, 98029
It has more going for it than just the park. It has obviously been very well maintained. It was built by Burnstead so you expect and get that quality of construction. The floor plan is very livable, approx. 2410 sq feet, it has 4 bedrooms and a den, along with 2.50 Baths. If you love jetted soaking tubs the MBR bath has that too. I noticed the kitchen has a very large pantry plus a huge storage area near by. All the kitchen appliances stay.
Other features: a fenced back yard and a 3, yes, a 3 car garage! If you want to see this house , call Larry Cragun at 206-618-3724. It is listed at $624,950. MLS # 28070655
This house is listed by Jodi and Zack Hill, Agents with John L. Scott Realty, we used information and some of their pictures with permission.
May 8th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
In the last two weeks there have been 20 homes and 30 condominiums closed and sold in Issaquah. Good news for those not living in Issaquah Highlands, much of the activity has been in Talus, Klahanie, Mirromont, and downtown Issaquah. Click here for the Issaquah Homes Sold Map.
Tags: issaquah, real+estate, sales
May 5th, 2008
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
When a nice day is on the horizon, people come out. Sunshine beckons.
In Issaquah Highlands, the question is which park shall we go to???? Let’s see, there is
CENTRAL PARK………… DAHLIA PARK…………. SUMMIT PARK…………….
HARRISON PARK……….. VILLAGE GREEN…………….. ASHLAND PARK
BLACK NUGGET PARK……….. RAVENNA PARK…………. or perhaps
BARK PARK…………… LOGAN PARK…………. MAGNOLIA PARK……….
GRANDVIEW PARK………… KIRK PARK…………. MULBERRY PARK
Which do you go to? What is your idea of the best park in Issaquah Highlands?
May 5th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
Free foreclosure and homeownership counseling is available from the State of Washington.
Contact the Washington State Homeownership Information Hotline at 1.877.894.HOME (1.877.894.4663) or visit www.homeownership.wa.gov for a list of counselors in your area.
May 2nd, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
Our local MLS, NWMLS has received information from members about various prospective property buyers whose activity is questionable. Some situations involve prospective buyers representing themselves as investors, or agents of investors, arranging complicated financial loans with various parties, and seeking substantially greater financing than the property is worth.
Suspicious, mortgage activity has risen by over 40% from 2006. The number of suspicious activity reports had already grown by over 40% in 2006 from 2005. These statistics, while sounding very high, may understate the level of suspicious activity because many borrowers have or will refinance their loans.
For yourselves, your clients and your customers, please verify that people are who they say they are, be watchful for unusually complicated terms, and stay alert to behavior that indicates a lack of sincerity.
April 29th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
I am told a couple of our nearby neighbors are joining me in an interview to be published in the June Issue of Seattle Magazine.
We have posted a few articles on http://IssaquahUndressed.com/ and http://IssaquahHighlandsundressed.com/ about our local bears. They were found by the Seattle Magazine and I was able to connect the reporter with a couple more people who have had bear encounters.
I am told you can read about it in the June issue.
In the meantime, here is an appropriate cartoon from the Bergen Record newspaper
Watch for Kathleens upcoming article on the Arbor Day Festival. She learned a lot of interesting info about bears there.
Tags: bears, issaquah, seattle+magazine
April 28th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
We are posting the closed homes, what they sold for vs what the lising price was on a map for your convenience. We find that this method is easier than reading a spreadsheet. We use a different icon for each month, so check the legend on the top right part of the map. Let us know if we can provide information not here.
The data is taken from our MLS listed homes sold.
Larry Cragun: 206.618.3724 or you can contact me by email: larrykcragun(at)yahoo.com
Click for the Issaquah sold homes map.
April 25th, 2008
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
MK Ballet has opened its doors in Issaquah Highlands. The Studio is located at 2520 NE Park Drive, in the Starpoint north building. MK teaches the Art of Classical Ballet. They teach classes for all ages and experience levels. Michiko Black is the Art Director and owner with her husband Robert.
Other classes will be offered as well including Yoga and Pilates. They are open to community interests as they determine them.
Following is part of an article on MK Ballet from IssaquahUndressed.com
MK Ballet has recently opened their doors after much hard work and effort to provide a beautiful studio for their students. Owners are Robert and Michiko Black. Pictured here is a photograph of Michiko. Michiko is a beautiful and gracious woman. She will undoubtedly cause her students to idealize her as she is extremely professional, kind and yet firm. I watched her teach a class of ten little girls, ages from 3 to 5 years. I couldn’t stop smiling as I observed even the very littlest try so hard to follow Michiko’s instructions.
Michiko has much to teach as she performed professionally for the Tokyo Ballet, and has had ballet studios in Tokyo and in Washington for many years. It is a pleasure to watch her dance.
One thing I noticed was how each child received individual attention. That is not easy with ten small fry. Her husband said that is not done by many ballet schools.
Follow the rest of our pictures and see if they don’t put a smile on your face…………….. CLICK HERE for related article from IssaquahUndressed.com.
For information and registration, contact Michiko at 425-442-3226 or
RABlack@comcast.net
For info on ballet classes and also pilates classes by Heidi Marten http://heidimarten.com/
April 25th, 2008
Posted by Larry Cragun
Click here for the open houses in Issaquah this weekend
click here for the recent Issaquah sales maps. (with asking vs sales prices)
Here for IssaquahUndressed.com
