City Living Seattle Real Estate - January 2018

Home & Real Estate

SERVING NORTH SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS SINCE 1922: BALLARD, FREMONT, GREENLAKE, NORTHGATE, PHINNEY/GREENWOOD, RAVENNA/ROOSEVELT AND WALLINGFORD

Real estate market will continue to stay hot in 2018

BY DAVID FLOAN

According to the National Association of Realtors, the sale of homes across the United States is expected to increase 3.7 percent in 2018 compared to 2017. Driving the increase will be a continued lack of housing inventory to purchase.

Low inventory is a huge problem around the Puget Sound region as listings sit at record low levels with not much change expected in 2018. The result: not many homes to purchase. When homes are available, they are often off the market in a few days. Popular neighborhoods also continue to see bidding wars, cash offers and sometimes foreign buyers. These conditions make it challenging for anyone looking to purchase a home at any price point.

Expectations for Madison Park are no exception. Zillow estimates that the median home value in Madison Park is $1.285 million. This is an increase of 5.8 percent over the past year and that price is expected to rise another 3.4 percent in the next year.

As the local market remains hot, potential buyers need to take steps to prepare to buy a home before they start trekking from open house to open house. Potential homeown-

ers looking to buy in the Madison Park market in 2018 should sit down with a trusted mortgage lender and ensure they are in the strongest position to purchase a home.

At Evergreen Home Loans, we recommend our homebuyers get preapproved so potential sellers know you are in a strong position to close. Preapprovals involve completing an application and providing income information along with documenting the borrower’s assets. This process goes beyond a basic income verification, so the lender is able to issue a loan approval amount. It also provides homebuyers with their budget constraints as they search for the perfect place to call home. It’s also critical to enlist the services of a local real estate agent who is prepared to move quickly to put an offer on your dream home. As a buyer you need to be prepared to go in with the strongest offer possible. If you drag your feet on a home you love, you will most likely miss out on moving in

5 Rules for a More Organized Home in the New Year

(StatePoint) After the hectic holidays, it’s no surprise that many people commit to getting better organized in the new year.

There are plenty of reasons why people obsess over organization and resolve to master it year after year. Household items become easier to find. Rooms all of a sudden seem bigger and more welcoming. Each walk past a tidy linen closet -- where there was once an avalanche waiting to spill forward -- comes with a small sense of accomplishment.

Whether you’re after smarter storage or looking to cut clutter, successful resolutions begin with a thoughtful approach.

Think Small

While it’s fun to dream about a largescale routine reset, smaller sustainable actions are key to lasting change. Take it one room or even one drawer at a time to keep momentum positive and to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Doing so also allows you to focus, leading to more creative solutions for taking advantage of under-utilized areas. For example, you may find using over-the door organizers a great way to free up space in home offices and craft rooms.

Say “No” to Clutter

Everyone has items they keep around for no real reason that aren’t particularly meaningful and don’t serve a purpose. Being able to objectively identify these items makes everything easier.

Paring down possessions doesn’t have to be painful. That cardinal shaped cookie jar that you’ve always been on the fence about? It would make an incredibly thoughtful “just because” gift for an ornithology-obsessed aunt. Often, less can literally be more: Consignment shops and eBay make it easy to turn four or five pieces of furniture you “kind of like” into one piece you absolutely love.

Store Decor Wisely

Everyone loves holiday decorating. Taking down decorations afterward... not so much. It’s difficult to preserve items in a haphazard collection of cardboard boxes, plastic bags and mismatched bins, all crammed into the corner of a garage or basement. Stepping up storage containers can make a big difference. For a wide selection of storage solutions specifically designed for holiday décor, check out Improvements, which offers everything

a few months down the line.

The local real estate market is a challenge, but it’s still a great time to buy a home. Interest rates have only slightly increased from record lows and there are strong financing options for all buyers, even first-time homebuyers. Preparation and putting yourself in the strongest position to buy is the key. With a trusted mortgage lender and a real estate professional at your side, you will find yourself with a competitive advantage that hopefully sees you moving into your dream home in Madison Park in 2018.

David Floan is executive vice president of loan production for Evergreen Home Loans.

New GOP tax plan means fewer deductions for homeowners

Homeownership in the U.S. has been declining for most of the last decade. According to the October 31st report released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the rate of homeownership in the U.S. is currently 63.9 percent, down from the alltime high of 69.2 percent reached in 2004. The new GOP tax bill is expected to cause homeownership to decline further.

Ray Akers

ASK RAY ABOUT REAL ESTATE

The Republican tax reform plan delivers a large gift to corporations and the children of wealth, while attacking the sacred cow of the middle-class; the mortgage interest deduction. As many as two-thirds of current homeowners are likely to feel the impact. The new tax legislation hurts homeownership three ways: Today, taxpayers can deduct interest on home mortgages up to $1 million dollars.

The Republican tax bill drops the cap to $500,000, limiting the value for real estate buyers in cities like Seattle and San Francisco where average home prices are higher.

The GOP tax bill also undermines homeownership in another, more subtle way, by

doubling the standard deduction that all Americans can claim, increasing the standard deduction to $24,000. That will mean fewer taxpayers will itemize their taxes, further reducing the incentive to own a home.

Lastly, the GOP tax bill caps the property tax deduction at $10,000. While this change mostly affects the wealthy, it will be felt by plenty of middle-class homeowners in Seattle. (The good news: the titans of Wall Street won’t be able to deduct as much of their property taxes on their Manhattan penthouses.)

That homeownership will be negatively affected by the GOP tax bill is not up for debate. The question is, how much will homeownership be impacted? According to Moody’s Analytics, the Republican tax plan will “deflate” real estate prices nationwide. Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi suggests home prices will decline by about 3 percent.

(c) djma/stock.Adobe.com

How to Add Security, Comfort and Convenience to Your Home Your House is More Attractive Than You Realize!

(StatePoint) When making home updates, why not consider connected devices that can add security and convenience to your home? Start with a few basic smart home products and add to or change your tech over time as needed.

Start with the Basics

Get started with a hub that serves as the brain of your smart home, allowing the rest of your devices to communicate with one another and giving you control of your home wherever you are.

While you’re away, monitor your home and receive notifications on the status of things like “is the door locked?” “did the lights get left on?” and “who’s home?” through an app. Many Z-Wave hub options like Wink, SmartThings, and Nexia work with popular voice assistants like Google Home and Amazon Echo, so your family can easily control home devices

with simple voice commands like, “Alexa, close the blinds!” and “Hey Google, set dining room lights to 50 percent.”

Once you’ve selected a smart hub, mix and match any Z-Wave device you want to customize your smart home. Hubs also let you set customizable sequences called scenes, so you can do things like program your lights or music to turn on when you walk in the door.

Smart outlets make any device or appliance “smart” by adding the ability to be controlled from your hub’s app or by voice command. There are over 2,100 certified Z-Wave products from a variety of brands to choose from, so you can start with the basics and expand as you go.

Be Safe

Adding smart security devices protects your home,

(StatePoint) Beyond keeping your refrigerator art in place, you may not think about magnets all that often, but, magnets are the driving force behind many products you use every day.

Magnets can be found in nearly every room of your house, from your computer’s hard drive disk that’s coated with tiny magnets to store data, to your vacuum cleaner, which may have an electric motor that runs by magnetism. Magnets are everywhere -- in your doorbell, microwave and even your blankets!

Magnets even have the power to improve your shower. For instance, in the case of Moen’s Magnetix magnetic-docking showerhead, magnets provide added functionality and convenience. To learn more ways magnets can make life easier, visit Moen.com/Magnetix.

As manufacturers create and innovate, you may find magnets are the driving force behind more items that you use daily.

How to Find the Right Home Mortgage So You Don’t Overpay

(StatePoint) Ample bedrooms and bathrooms? Check. A roomy kitchen? Check. A nice-sized backyard, storage space in the attic and just the right amount of curb appeal? Check, check and check.

Once you’ve found your perfect home, the next step is finding the right mortgage -- which can sometimes feel like you’re competing in a contact sport, being blindsided by confusing requests or financial surprises as you go through the application process.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 63.7 percent of Americans own their home. But getting there wasn’t necessarily easy. A 2017 NerdWallet survey reports that 42 percent of homeowners felt the home-buying process was stressful, a third said it was complicated, and 21 percent found it intimidating.

To help make you a mortgage all-star, Ally Home has created “The Mortgage Playbook,” a free, easy-to-read resource. Authored by members of the Ally Home Team, a dedicated group of loan experts, the “Playbook” features four sections that cover the entire field -- from a gettingstarted game plan to approval and closing on a mortgage. It also breaks down confusing financial terms, helping applicants avoid pain during the home buying process.

To help you prepare for your mortgage game day, here are three top tips from the experts at Ally:

• Maximize your financial fitness. There are five steps consumers should take to improve their “financial fitness” before applying for a mortgage. These include demonstrating stable employment, managing debt, paying down credit accounts, accumulating assets like savings or retirement accounts to boost credit histories, and reviewing (and correcting, if necessary) your credit reports.

• Know your numbers. Borrowers can take advantage of free online tools, such as the Affordability Calculator available at Ally.com, to determine how much house they can afford. Using two pieces of data -monthly income and monthly debt -- a borrower can quickly calculate their debt-to-income ratio. In most instances, this ratio should not exceed 43 percent, meaning your monthly mortgage payment and other debt obligations (car loan, school loan, credit card payments) should not comprise more than 43 percent of your gross monthly income.

• Know what type of mortgage is best for you. One of the biggest decisions borrowers make is whether to get a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage. When interest rates are low, a fixed-rate mortgage may be the

Home & Real Estate

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Subscriber Services | Circulation: Chris Lemmen 206-461-1337 or ppccirc@nwlink.com

Vice President of Operations/ General Manager: Robert Munford

Physical address: 636 S. Alaska St. Seattle, WA 98108-1727

Smart Home Savvy:

6 Ways to Add Technology to Your Living Spaces

(StatePoint) A smart, connected home is what’s in style. In fact, since 2014, research shows smart technology has increased in priority during renovations, especially for firsttime home buyers.

Wondering what options are out there? Here are six ways to add tech to your space.

1. Stay Cool and Comfortable

Certain smart thermostats on the market today intuitively understand when to turn on heating or cooling equipment based on your home’s unique energy profile, the weather outside and thousands of other data points -- making sure you’re comfortable 24/7. Some units even claim to save homeowners enough energy to pay for themselves.

2. Design the Perfect Shower

The first Wi-Fi/cloud-based digital shower on the market, U by Moen shower, allows users to precisely set shower temperature and flow with an in-shower digital controller or from their smartphone, thanks to a helpful app. Need extra snooze time? Power on the shower from bed and it will alert you when it’s ready. Picky about your shower preferences? The ability to set up to 12 custom pre-sets in the app ensures you get your perfect shower every time.

 Security, from Page 2

3. Keep Your Eye on Fido

Ever wonder what your dog is up to while you’re away at work? Now, there are fun, tech-based ways to check in on furry friends. HD pet cameras enable owners to monitor their pets with a wide-angle view, day and night. Some even offer an app that allows owners to toss a treat to their dogs or play a game of catch. Plus, a barking sensor sends notifications to your phone so you can see what’s happening and calm down your pooch via two-way chat.

4. Be Hands-Off in the Kitchen

Ambiance

The perfect lighting is now right at your fingertips. Instead of a regular incandescent bulb, smart lightbulbs allow homeowners to control lighting with a few taps on your smartphone or tablet. Want to turn on lights when you’re away or adjust their brightness and color? No problem. What’s more, the bulbs last longer and even help save energy.

6. Make Food Prep Smarter

Imagine the convenience of having a kitchen faucet turn water on or off, without a touch. Faucets with Moen’s MotionSense Wave touchless technology feature single-sensor hands-free activation, allowing users to easily activate the faucet with the wave of a hand. It’s perfect for when your hands are too full or messy to turn on the faucet, and also helps minimize the spread of dirt and germs, since you don’t have to touch the faucet.

5. Create the Right

offering you peace of mind and added convenience. Keyless smart locks like August or Yale give you remote access and control of who can enter your home. Door and window sensors, like options from Fibaro or Sensative, send you a notification whenever someone enters or exits. DIY security solutions, like Piper NV and abode monitor your home and can even provide video clips.

Boost Comfort, Save Energy

Manage smart lighting from your phone. You can also create scenes with smart lighting devices like Eaton’s light dimmer switch, Enbrighten’s smart bulb or Jasco’s wireless on/off switch to activate the lights when you wake up or turn them off when you leave and lock your front door. Smart thermostats ensure that you conserve energy by keeping your home comfortable when you’re there and efficient when you’re not.

Add Fun

Get creative with voice control speakers, like Amazon Echo and Google Home. Smart speakers can activate smart home scenes and can also play music and videos with easy voice prompts. Set colorchanging LED strips from Aeotec to activate in your favorite colors, when you play music, wake up in the morning, or even watch a movie.

For smart home inspiration, shopping and more, visit Z-Wave.com. With any budget, you can give your family a smart home, adding on more devices and capabilities as you go.

Not sure how to blend your favorite concoction? Vitamix Ascent Series blenders have you covered. These high-performance, Bluetooth-enabled blenders are compatible with a family of Self-Detect Containers that sense which container is being used and automatically adjust settings. The Ascent Series machines also connect and communicate with the Vitamix Perfect Blend Smart Scale and Recipe App to seamlessly guide you through recipe preparation.

From customizing your kitchen to creating a luxurious bathroom, smart home devices can now cater to your preferences, elevating everyday experiences.

from ornament and gift wrap organizers to wreath and garland storage bags.

Keep a Place for Everything

Nobody likes wasting time gathering or searching. Make storage more convenient and efficient by streamlining. Items frequently used together should be kept together, from coffee supplies to vehicle maintenance tools.

Make a Plan

Create a schedule so nothing is overlooked. Knowing which project is next gives you time to prepare and purchase any storage items you might need. When scheduling, designate specific rooms and spaces for certain seasons. For example, the first warm days of spring are made for cleaning out the shed or garage.

More organizational inspiration can be found by visiting improvementscatalog.com.

Successful resolutions are essentially new habits that become part of a lifestyle. Deliberately choosing to incorporate small acts of organization on a daily basis will pay off tremendously throughout the year.

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Streaks of Sunshine for the Winter Garden

Steve Lorton

TREE TALK

Yellow: Considered the most beautiful and prestigious color in Imperial China, yellow was the Emperor’s color. It was to royalty what purple represents in Western culture. The Chinese aphorism that “Yellow generates Yin and Yang” implies that it is central to all things. Indeed, it is the color of the sun. Little wonder that this color is so present in the interiors of Scandinavian homes, where dark season light is in short supply.

Long ago I was looking for something to bring light and color to a corner of my winter garden. I’d settled on a large pot of variegated needlepoint ivy— masses of small leaves, predominately white with celadon edges extending in every direction with

long, leafy tendrils. Knowing my goal, a very wise nurseryman led me to a similar ivy that was rich yellow edged in green. “This will work better,” he told me. “White is cold. Yellow is much better at warming up and lighting up the garden.” Right he was, but finding yellow to enliven the winter garden isn’t easy.

Then, three years ago, Rolland Hebert, at City People’s Garden Store, steered me to an Acer palmatum ‘Bihou.’

“You need this for your Winter garden. It’s a beautiful tree but out of leaf, it will be like streaks of sunshine against the dark skies.”

So I bought one and planted it. Right again, Rolland.

The tree was a bit of a sensation in horticultural circles. It was billed as “an exciting new introduction.” A small, upright tree, it promised tiny pinkflushed yellow-green leaves in spring, turning green in summer, then bright yellow tinged with red in fall. All that came to pass. But it is the defoliated winter form and bark color that has me totally besotted — yellow at the bottom, stretching up to young branchlets which

are orange to apricot-yellow. This time of year, I walk out my garden gate and my eyes are immediately caught by this delicate and colorful sculpture. I feel the promise of warmer days to come and celebrate the stark beauty of the season at hand. I feel like an emperor. My Yin and Yang are propelled into Kung Fu force as I cope with the gloom. OK… that may be over the top, but the tree does cheer me up.

Like all Japanese maples, give Acer palmaturm ‘Bihou’ a spot in full Sun or part shade. It will thrive in our rich acid soil. Plant it where you’ll not disturb the root zone once it is in the ground. I put several evergreen ferns to grow up around the base of mine. In ten years expect this plant to be 7 feet tall, about 3 feet wide. Light pruning, to edit out crossing branches and overly ambitious shoots, will be all that is required. Water it well through the dry season, but be certain to locate the tree in an area that has good drainage. Japanese maples are longlived. So with proper care, you can expect to have these streaks of sunshine through the rest of your winters.

Neighborhood Marketplace

Bethany Bear’s Preschool admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin or religion to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on any basis including race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs. Bethany Bear’s Preschool, 2410 N. 46th, Seattle, WA 98103. Published in City Living Seattle: Jan. 12, 2018.

5 Easy Ways to Update Your Home Office for Greater Productivity

(StatePoint) If you work from home, you likely spend a lot of time in your home office, which makes its design just as important as the rest of your home. If it’s not up to par, it’s time to bring new life to the space.

A few easy updates will help you feel more comfortable and inspire you towards greater productivity.

1. Let in light

Update your window treatment to maximize natural light and get more direct sunshine, and swap out drab lamps for eye-catching fixtures that offer brighter light. Make sure your office is a well-lit place where you can see what you’re doing without straining your eyes.

2. Update your tools

Having up-to-date tools makes working in your home office that much more efficient and enjoyable. Swap out older tech with newer tools offering the latest advancements, such as Casio’s HR-170RC next generation compact printing calculator. It has a host of features, including two-color printing (red/black), a tax calculation function, a clock/calendar and a power adapter.

3. Decorate

Ditch the bare walls and add an interesting focal point -- whether it’s a tapestry, cool shelving or an art print that matches your interests and inspires you creatively.

4. Go green

It is said that certain plants and flowers can promote health at home. Add some plants or fresh cut flowers to your home office to reap the benefits.

5. Get organized Flight clutter and make important items and documents easier to locate with organizational tools like filing cabinets, folders and bins. A clean and tidy work zone will help you to feel more on top of your work, and may encourage you to form other great habits.

 GOP, from Page 1

The National Association of Home Builders is one of the loudest critics of the new tax bill, warning it is likely to cause “a national housing recession”. The National Association of Realtors (of which I am a member) says “Eliminating or nullifying the tax incentives for homeownership puts home values and middle-class homeowners at risk”.

The GOP is taking a big risk with their new tax bill. The legislation delivers huge tax breaks to corporations like Boeing and Amazon and pays for them by cutting the most popular middle-class tax deduction. This may set the stage for a high-stakes battle in the mid-term election in 2018. Will you vote for the candidate that stands up for corporate tax cuts, or the candidate that is standing up for every homeowner in America? You can expect the mortgage interest tax deduction will be a major campaign issue next year.

Ray Akers is a licensed Realtor for Akers & Cargill Properties in Seattle. Send your questions to ray@akerscargill.com or call 206-722-4444