1. 

   Anonymous
   

   offline

   Unregistered

   Ballard, I fell in love with you the day we first met in 1992. I am an aspiring first time home buyer who wants to buy a home that I will live in for as long as I can foresee--which means this home needs to be in Ballard. I want to garden, I want to plant fruit trees. I want a push mower. I want a place where I can restore my grandfather's wooden boat. I want to borrow and lend cups of sugar to my neighbors. But Ballard, your real estate market is totally nuts -- and I'm just not cut out for the out-bidding, pre-inspection cutthroat craziness that you currently demand of non-six figure income professional prospective home buyers.

   So, good people of this community, I turn to you. Are any of you, or someone you know in Ballard, considering selling your home? If so, do you want to save 6% on real estate fees by selling directly to a pre-qualified buyer ready to put 20% down and close quickly?

   I have all my ducks lined up and ready to go. I love the idea of dealing with a seller directly. I like to think that reasonable good people dealing directly with reasonable good people is a big part of what makes Ballard such a special place.

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   Alysse
   

   offline

   Member

   Look a little further north. I live in crown hill where there are not side walks. The lots are larger, the neighbors are friendlier, but the prices are cheaper.

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   teigyr
   

   offline

   Member

   And the boxes of wine are a-plenty :)

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   Anonymous
   

   offline

   Unregistered

   Boxed wine is much better than it used to be. When I land, you're invited over for some!
   I cannot wait to bid final farewell to apartment living.

   I am looking at near Ballard neighborhoods, too. I had an offer on a place a year and a half ago in Crown Hill. Super cute tiny little thing -- but it fell through. As things go. Try and try again!

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   Dweezil
   

   offline

   Member

   I'm looking to buy within the next year. I feel your pain with the ballard pricing and have been eyeing crown hill. I love Ballard, but just don't see myself being able to afford it much longer.

   Anyhow, if you have not tried Redfin.com, they have a pretty cool search tool. I don't work for them, nor am i endorsing their services. Only their search tools.

   Good luck out there.

   Posted 1 year ago #
6. 

   Anonymous
   

   offline

   Unregistered

   Thanks, Dweezil. I am working with Redfin, actually, and they're great! I'm seeing everything in my price range within 24 hours of it hitting the market, but nothing's panned out yet...it's been a LOT of looking!

   Posted 1 year ago #
7. 

   boardbrown
   

   offline

   Member

   What is your price range Shannon?

   Posted 1 year ago #
8. 

   Question
   

   offline

   Member

   Good luck, Shannon! Be extremely cautious about the neighborhood you choose. I have met with overt hostility and harassment as a single female homeowner in Ballard. I know, I know, it's hard to believe in this day and age...Blame the victim and let the flame wars and torpedoes begin, but it's true. (I have lived in other parts of Seattle and did not encounter this type of behavior.) Just take it for what it's worth and keep your eyes. wide. open.

   Posted 1 year ago #
9. 

   Anonymous
   

   offline

   Unregistered

   Hi Brownboard - at or under $350k.

   Hi Question, thanks for the advice. That's so strange (and obviously really unfortunate!). What kind of unwelcome did you experience?

   Posted 1 year ago #
10. 

    crownhiller
    

    offline

    Member

    I was going to say there's like 5 houses that have been for sale for quite a while on our street, but I think they are all considerably over that price range.

    I know what you mean though - it took us quite a few before we lucked into our place. It's out there waiting for you - its all in the timing - and actually, now that I think about it more, we would never have gotten our house without our spiffy agent who found out it got no offers on their deadline day and made us race over to his office, sign an offer and magically got us this house - at the asking price no less!

    So sometimes, it's who you know too, I guess :o) I'm sure it will happen for you - good luck!

    Posted 1 year ago #
11. 

    wally
    

    offline

    Member

    That is incredibly odd, Question. I was a single female homeowner in Loyal Heights (on a single-family residence street) for years and had zero problems/issues. What kind of hostility/harassment were you subjected to?

    Posted 1 year ago #
12. 

    boatgeek
    

    offline

    Member

    There's a 4 bed/1 bath little teeny house out near 30th and Loyal Way that's under that price figure, but the new roof it looks like it needs will bring the true price up.

    Posted 1 year ago #
13. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Thanks CrownHiller. Who were you working with?

    I appreciate the tip, Boatgeek. I saw that house last weekend. It was in pretty rough shape, aside from needing a new roof. Too bad, because a lovely neighborhood and great flowers!

    Posted 1 year ago #
14. 

    lbr44
    

    offline

    Member

    Looks like a super cute one right at $350K came on at 80th and 16th. Probably need to move quickly!

    Posted 1 year ago #
15. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Ha ha...I'm seeing it tonight! Thanks lbr44! :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
16. 

    lbr44
    

    offline

    Member

    Good luck!!

    Posted 1 year ago #
17. 

    PDaddymom
    

    offline

    Member

    to Question: I too am curious as to what you are talking about. What makes you feel like a "victim"? I am a single female and know of many single females living here in Ballard and we all find it a great place to live for single females. In fact, it seems quite welcoming for single people in general. No flaming here,and I am not really sure why you would think that would occur for a comment such as yours?

    Posted 1 year ago #
18. 

    lifeisamazing
    

    online

    Member

    Hi Shannon, you're doing it right! Do the work yourself as well as working with searches etc. My late husband and I found our house 14 years ago in Crown Hill in the newspaper. I called and met with the realtor just as he was putting the lock box on the front door. We wouldn't have found this house if I hadn't been doing my own footwork!
    Question, I'm so sorry that has been your experience. How strange. Did all the weirdo single woman hating people move onto the same street?! After hearing that I feel very blessed that I have such nice neighbors as I have owned this house alone for the last 13 years.

    Posted 1 year ago #
19. 

    Apple
    

    offline

    Member

    Shannon: Sounds like you have the right idea. It may take a while to find the place you like/can afford. It took my wife and I four years to find our current place. Keep looking. Every place you see will help you form a mental data base so you know a good house/price when you see it and can move quickly. Also, posting here and in other places is a good idea since you might be able to avoid using a realtor. A six percent discount on a house is a big deal and enables you to look at slightly higher priced homes. Good luck.

    Posted 1 year ago #
20. 

    Samkin
    

    offline

    Member

    We actually looked at the one on 16th years ago right before we bought our current house, and it is a super cute place... the current owner is a friend and fellow Ballardite who just moved to a bigger place. I hope you like it!

    Posted 1 year ago #
21. 

    angeline
    

    offline

    Member

    Did you see this one: 121 NW 48th St, Seattle, WA 98107? It's $320,000. I think it is a short sale.

    We're expecting our house to be listed around $440,000, otherwise I'd be happy to talk to you about selling direct. (In answer to your question on the other thread)

    Posted 1 year ago #
22. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Thanks everyone!

    Angeline - thanks, and I recommend Robin at Redfin and Jane Johnson at Windermere. Both are very savvy. Jane was the seller's agent on a house that I had an offer in on and it ended up selling for almost $50k over asking. She's sharp. I've considered asking her to be my buyer's agent because she seems to really understand the market and definitely seems more than capable in doing right by her clients (I just wasn't a financial contender in this case.)

    I'm working with Robin currently, and she's great. She gets houses, gets the market, and is strategic. I'm sure she'd serve you well.

    Samkin - your friend's home is indeed ABSOLUTELY lovely! They've done lovely work and it was a real treat to tour. I laughed at the filbert shell pathways in the backyard -- my dad's a huge filbert harvester and I've used the shells myself to create walkways. It was a very nostalgic crunch walking along the garden paths. :)

    Thanks again everyone for the well wishes, tips, and goodwill. Hope to be your neighbor someday soon!

    Posted 1 year ago #
23. 

    BuffaloHawk
    

    offline

    Member

    Shannon I just came accross this site on MSN homepage I thought about your thread. I am not sure if you are using it so hopefully it helps http://realestate.msn.realtor.com/:)

    Good Luck

    Posted 1 year ago #
24. 

    Pokerguy
    

    offline

    Member

    What makes you so special that you feel you have a right to live somewhere you can't afford?

    Posted 1 year ago #
25. 

    pennygirl
    

    offline

    Member

    Ooh!!!

    Posted 1 year ago #
26. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    PGuy! This is Facebooking awesome.

    Posted 1 year ago #
27. 

    pennygirl
    

    offline

    Member

    Teigyr...

    I'm a little tired tonight but PGuy's reappearance woke me right facebooking up :-)

    Posted 1 year ago #
28. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Pokerguy, it's not that I can't afford to live in Ballard. There are plenty of people looking to sell homes in my price range. I'm just here to see if any want to deal with a buyer directly.

    Do you have anything constructive to offer here, or are you just ranting?

    Posted 1 year ago #
29. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    Me too! I think I can tolerate another Facebooking three hours of work. It's almost like old times though. Stopgo, Pokerguy, who is next?

    Posted 1 year ago #
30. 

    pennygirl
    

    offline

    Member

    Cesar. That would make my night.

    Posted 1 year ago #
31. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    Cesar most definitely. I wonder what Cesar is up to?

    Posted 1 year ago #
32. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

    offline

    Member

    Oh no-- not facebooking Cesar. What the Facebook?

    Posted 1 year ago #
33. 

    pennygirl
    

    offline

    Member

    I'm not even going to try to answer that SA. Or Teigyr for that matter :-)

    Posted 1 year ago #
34. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    I am sure he is proudly discussing hamsters and benifits and toys. Or hamsters WITH benifits. I think our Cesar had some unusual traits.

    Posted 1 year ago #
35. 

    Pokerguy
    

    offline

    Member

    "and I'm just not cut out for the out-bidding, pre-inspection cutthroat craziness that you currently demand of non-six figure income professional prospective home buyers."

    certainly seems to me like you can't afford it.

    Want something constructive, move to Pullman.

    Posted 1 year ago #
36. 

    pennygirl
    

    offline

    Member

    Didn't he put something in shoes? Or were the shoes too small?

    Posted 1 year ago #
37. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    He was discussing shoes for dogs which throws a whole new spin on it.

    Posted 1 year ago #
38. 

    pennygirl
    

    offline

    Member

    That's it! The shoes were too small!

    Posted 1 year ago #
39. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    Perhaps he is now wealthy from his pay to click scheme. If that's the case, he can afford bigger shoes :) Or a smaller dog.

    Posted 1 year ago #
40. 

    Oly
    

    offline

    Member

    Your post sounds like a scam or someone that is into flipping houses. Take your pick.

    Posted 1 year ago #
41. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    Actually Oly when I read it with that frame of mind, I see it too.

    Posted 1 year ago #
42. 

    Oly
    

    offline

    Member

    Exactly.

    Posted 1 year ago #
43. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    Good call. Well done on their part though - was more subtle than most.

    Posted 1 year ago #
44. 

    angeline
    

    offline

    Member

    I don't know. Right now we are moving because of lucking into a FSBO when we were not actively looking to buy a house. Without the agent fees this house has gone from just above our price range to squarely in it. It's a pretty sweet deal all around, though not without hassles. OP should not assume it will be easier to deal direct -- for us it has been pretty hard, actually. And while we are saving overall we have some upfront costs paying an attorney to deal with the forms and that sort of thing.

    Just don't see the problem with putting out feelers that might result in a better deal that satisfies all parties.

    Posted 1 year ago #
45. 

    teigyr
    

    offline

    Member

    I think Oly's point was OP might be misrepresenting themselves. It's plausible.

    FSBO would scare me but I don't know enough about it all to know what I'm doing. Am glad it worked despite all the stress!

    Posted 1 year ago #
46. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Misrepresenting? Um, sure...that's possible. And yet, not the case. Wow, a fair amount of cynics on this forum, I guess?

    Some people are actually of honest intentions and their word (even if electronic). Sounds like some of you might need to interact with a few more of them? And maybe I should have used a handle instead of my real name. W-O-W.

    Posted 1 year ago #
47. 

    BuffaloHawk
    

    offline

    Member

    Shannon C +1

    I think the Happy Hour crowd had a few to many last night. I don't understanding being hurtful. Have a great Friday and hopefully you will find something sooner rather than later.

    Posted 1 year ago #
48. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Thanks for the nice words, BuffaloHawk.

    I'm putting an offer on a tiny fixer today. There's a less competition in that arena, elbow grease is free, and it would be a fun project, so I've got my fingers crossed. :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
49. 

    BuffaloHawk
    

    offline

    Member

    I hope you get it so you can create your own place. I would rather get a house that requires cosmetic work as opposed to other needs. In the end it is better to paint it according to your desired taste and it is also fun to do.

    Posted 1 year ago #
50. 

    GAM
    

    offline

    Member

    Shannon C-

    Once you've owned in our 'hood for a while you'll start to be hit with "authentic" letters that sound very much like your post. Consider it a Ballard homeowner's right of passage. In any case, I'm not surprised many eyed your post with suspicion. It's certainly not the sort of thing I'd take personally if I were you. Unfortunately the scammers outnumber the honest folks by a wide margin, so with no other information to go on, you can understand how folks may come off appearing cynical. They're just drawing on experience. Good luck on your hunt!

    Posted 1 year ago #
51. 

    great idea
    

    online

    Member

    it was funny how the conversation drifted to a former poster (Cesar) who was just some poor guy trying to make a living, to Shannon C trying to pull the wool over all our eyes and possibly trick one of us into giving her our house.

    well it won't work Shannon. we may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer here at myballard, but we know a con-woman when we see one. they're usually wearing pink dresses and swinging from picket fence gates. :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
52. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    BuffaloHawk, I totally agree. I don't want to pay for someone's ideas about what looks good. I have *plenty* of opinions of my own, and none of them involve Pottery Barn.

    GAM - you're right. There are a lot of people who prey upon other people's trust, and I shouldn't take it personally. I did for about 5 minutes, then promptly got over it.
    Thanks :)

    Angeline, glad your FSBO situation worked out well for you!

    Posted 1 year ago #
53. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    Now, I just need a Boston Terrier and the rouse will be complete!

    Posted 1 year ago #
54. 

    Anonymous
    

    offline

    Unregistered

    um, "ruse."

    duh.

    Posted 1 year ago #
55. 

    BuffaloHawk
    

    offline

    Member

    Shannon-Whenever I pick a color to paint with I refuse to let someone else use it if they ask for it. I don't want to be a clone :)

    earthtones FTW

    Posted 1 year ago #
56. 

    Question
    

    offline

    Member

    So, Shannon C, keep your attennae out: If something seems strange about your potential new neighborhood, even though you cannot absolutely identify what that may be, walk away. The harassment I've experienced has ranged from small things like icecream bars left to melt on my doorstep and coffee thrown on my stairs to explosives (like pieces of dynamite--cardboard and string left behind as evidence) blown up in my driveway and yard, trespassing, verbal threats, chemicals dumped on a corner of my my property resulting in denuded land that once was a thriving raspberry patch, and huge dogs barking so loudly and persistenly that my home office was virtually unusable. More than one neighbor has contributed to the nightmare. Think deep south meets urban ghetto in a neighborhood that has a veneer of nicety.

    I had never experienced anything like this in my life prior to moving here. I hold a job with a well-known Seattle institution and have long and enduring friendships, both at work and in my personal life.

    I've learned from talking to "old timers" that much of Ballard was known, until recently, to be a not-so-nice place with a decent share of common "thugs." Pockets of that ignorance, for lack of a better term, are alive and well today. Based upon my experience, I encourage any single woman, elder, person of color, or any other "vulnerable group", to buy elsewhere or buy with great caution.

    I'm very happy for all of you who have fantastic neighbors in Ballard. I do hope everyone who moves to Ballard is as lucky as you and blessed with the same good fortune.

    Posted 1 year ago #
57. 

    GAM
    

    offline

    Member

    Wow, I've never heard of anything like what is in Question's post, let alone experienced it. A truly unfortunate, but it would seem isolated, situation. Now, Fremont in the 1970s, maybe.

    Posted 1 year ago #
58. 

    great idea
    

    online

    Member

    I have also never heard of such ridiculous antics played (preyed) upon neighbors.

    are you sure this was because you were a single female home-owner?

    I think most of my neighbors would welcome the groups you mention question. believe me we have all types. I don't think those demographics should necessarily look elsewhere (especially with Ballard changing and all with most of the 'thugs' moving on/cashing in at some point.

    Posted 1 year ago #
59. 

    Alferd Packer
    

    offline

    Member

    There have been at least a couple examples of neighbors similar to Question's here in the forum, though not near as bad.
    1) pennygirl's trailer folk neighbors
    2) missjulie's experience with facebooking a**holes blocking her egress

    Then there is the random meanness of young punks/thugs to add to the mix. I'm saying this as I gaze over a neighbor's yard, house and tree decorated last night with ten or so TP rolls (unrolled of course) getting soggy in the drizzle. She hasn't a mean bone in her body.

    Posted 1 year ago #
60. 

    racerX
    

    offline

    Member

    Shannon-Whenever I pick a color to paint with I refuse to let someone else use it if they ask for it. I don't want to be a clone :)

    Are you joking?

    Posted 1 year ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply »

You must log in to post.