1. 

   allisonw
   

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   How's everyone doing?

   We've got an offer in on a place we just LOVE--should know more on Friday morning. This process is not for the weak of heart.

   I don't know if anyone saw the cute green Tudor last weekend up in Teigyr's 'hood. Was interested until she filled me in on some crime problems. Well anyway THAT house (12 offers) went for some obscene number way over asking (those details stay private until deals close)apparently another FULL CASH offer. That's two of those in the last week. Where's all this gol durn money coming from? Who one earth would buy a house without an inspection?

   Anyone else look at the mid-century up off of 137th? That one was totes gorgeous and way underpriced. I think it was listed at 540K and I'm betting it goes for close to 700. It's a real gem of a house, that one!

   I really hope we get this one, it's perfect for our needs and will clean up real nice.

   Hot property of the week is definitely this one. Would be worth a look-see, but it'll go for a mint, I'm thinking. What a stunning reno! http://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/2244-NW-64th-St-98107/home/494737

   Posted 3 months ago #
2. 

   dsomers
   

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   Allison!

   Fingers are tightly crossed for you!!!!! <grin>

   D

   Posted 3 months ago #
3. 

   allisonw
   

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   Can't find your email address. Ping me and I'll send you a link to it.

   Posted 3 months ago #
4. 

   Curtis
   

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   Good luck!
   We bought our house in 2008, just as everything was going to sh*t! I would check my email in the morning to see what new set of documents I needed to provide the mortgage lender, listen to the news, and throw up a little...did I mention it was a "short sale"? Only took from September 14th till December 22nd...Ay Yi Yi!!!

   Posted 3 months ago #
5. 

   VeganBiker
   

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   Allison - good luck with your offer. That place you posted a link to is in a "low rise" multi family zoned area and one thing to be aware of is the houses around it. If there are any run down houses they will soon be bought out and will become multi-unit buildings and it could change the view dramatically. When the West side of 28th below 65th goes to "low rise" multi-family we are selling fast.

   Posted 3 months ago #
6. 

   VeganBiker
   

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   Every time I read about the horrors of buying a house I think back to 1975 when we bought a house in the Richmond Beach area for $18,000! And it is now appraised at $400,000
   http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/Dashboard.aspx?ParcelNbr=0126039201
   Wish I still owned it, bad move on my behalf.

   Posted 3 months ago #
7. 

   dsomers
   

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   Allison. d underscore s o m e r s at that email system with hot in its name.

   D

   Posted 3 months ago #
8. 

   allisonw
   

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   We're not even gonna look at that house I posted the link to. Yep, bad zoning down below 65th. Very unlikely we'd end up down there unless it was east of 8th.

   Posted 3 months ago #
9. 

   teigyr
   

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   I think there might be a degree of problems most places but we're getting run-off from Aurora (eeeuwww) and are greatly feeling the effects of the nuisance properties being shut down. You'd think there would be less "in your face" loitering and prostitution but now it's more out in the open.

   VB, interesting to know about the zoning. Our house (built in the 30's) used to have a view of the sound. In the '60s, I think, multi-family housing went in between our house and the sound and there went the view. I've seen pictures from way back when, it was pretty cool.

   Posted 3 months ago #
10. 

    allisonw
    

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    There's only one thing you can never change about a house, and that's the location. I honestly can't believe there aren't 30 offers on the house we're trying to buy. It's not a corner lot, and the lot is pretty small, but not having kids or dogs, we don't care.

    Posted 3 months ago #
11. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    teigyr - the parcel viewer and the zoning link are great resources.
    http://gismaps.kingcounty.gov/parcelviewer2/
    http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Research/Zoning_Maps/default.asp

    Posted 3 months ago #
12. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    allison - one can, in theory, move a house to a different location! It has been done many times.

    Posted 3 months ago #
13. 

    allisonw
    

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    Well yeah....but I don't see myself doing that....

    Posted 3 months ago #
14. 

    pennygirl
    

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    Also remember that the 'location' itself changes in terms of what is considered ok. Remember Ballard and Crown Hill 20 years ago? Popular? No.

    Posted 3 months ago #
15. 

    Ernie
    

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    VB that is a beautiful house, and lot? Was it that pretty in '75?

    Now if you really wanted a return on your investment you could have sold in '86 and and taken your approx. $63,000 (according to the tax assessment you linked) and used it to purchase Microsoft stock on the day of their IPO. After splitting 9 times and at today's price of $27.34 you'd be holding a cool $16,117,914. You could sure win some bidding wars with a stack like that!

    Posted 3 months ago #
16. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    Allison - I know, can you imagine the hassles involve with moving a house!

    Posted 3 months ago #
17. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    Ernie - that is also one of my "in-retrospect" miss-givings. We did sell it in the mid 80's for a bit more than that figure but it was a divorce settlement and didn't invest, can you imagine if I had, I actually was working with a guy that did invest in MS at that time and is sitting pretty now! Ah well, money is not everything.
    But yes, it was a cute house, there are two older pictures in the picture link and I believe the newer one of the two black and white pictures was just after we sold it. I built the flat deck out the front and we had re-modeled the bathroom that is the room on the right of the picture and that was it. It had a huge lot going all the way back to the school fence to the East and it appears that one of the owners after us, divided the lot and sold off the East portion. Great location, dead end street and very private and rural but not that far from town. I was working on Capitol Hill at the time and it was not a bad commute in a car (old days).

    Posted 3 months ago #
18. 

    pennygirl
    

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    But what about all the people who sold the MS stock before it spiked? Now that must hurt.

    Posted 3 months ago #
19. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    Ernie - Darn, I just re-read your post. What a thing that would have been!

    Posted 3 months ago #
20. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    pg - I can never seem to let go of anything, so I might have been OK. :)
    Well, I have been divorced twice so that statement is not quite true, but everything else I hang onto.

    Posted 3 months ago #
21. 

    allisonw
    

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    I bought my first house in Ballard 21 years ago, so yes, I DO remember what it was like "before".

    I gotta be honest, Even back then when Ballard was on the shabby side, I didn't look in any other neighborhoods, despite never having lived in Ballard before. I have an irrational connection to it, probably because two generations before me, it was all Ballard, all the time. My parents just didn't end up here. I moved to Ballard when I was 25 and it was PLENTY cool enough for me back then. I still see it as I did then, so why everyone wants to live here all of a sudden, I don't see why. Ballard is as pretty as she's always been to me.

    Posted 3 months ago #
22. 

    Ernie
    

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    My parents bought their place in '76 and still live there, they paid off the house a few years ago, 2006 I guess, finally got that $380/month mortgage off their backs! LOL.

    Posted 3 months ago #
23. 

    Samkin
    

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    Yeah, that house on 64th is beautiful, too bad the neighborhood is about to turn to condo hell... I have friends who use to live in the corner house there, so sad that all of that & the Viking, etc. will be gone in the not too distant future... And no matter how cute the house, no way I want to live that close to a six story construction project.... Sigh. Just saw that the beautiful old green house near 15th and I think 62? was smashed down to make way for more condos. We looked at it last Spring, it had so much character but was too close to 15th for small kids... So heartbreaking that it's just gone now...

    Never thought I'd say this, but living this far north (above 80th) is starting to look better & better!

    Posted 3 months ago #
24. 

    crownhiller
    

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    I confess, I am often glad to live north of 80th - but then I really moved to Ballard for love (of my then soon-to-be-husband) and not because I was dying to live here - never been much of a big city girl. We've started to make plans (of the 5 to 7 year kind) to move when the kid goes off to college. Who knows if that happens, gets accelerated or what but given my age bracket, I'd rather spend my "mature" years someplace where my money goes farther and traffic/parking don't play such a big part of my life. The kid is horrified at the "plan" - she loves big city hustle/bustle - me, not so much. But I wouldn't pick a different part of Seattle than Ballard if I had to ;)

    Posted 3 months ago #
25. 

    Samkin
    

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    Crownhiller, I just wish we lived south of the hill. Dragging tired kids up that hill is hell on my back. ;)

    Posted 3 months ago #
26. 

    Cate
    

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    Hey, Good Luck Aly. I hope you get this one.

    Posted 3 months ago #
27. 

    allisonw
    

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    Thanks, Cate. The more I think about it, the more this house is really perfect for us.

    I never expected to fall madly in love with a Ballard house built in 1967, but then, the human love of my life was similarly unexpected.

    Posted 3 months ago #
28. 

    great idea
    

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    vb-- when would you guess the zoning West of 28th will change?
    do you know when the area East of there changed last?

    I'm still glad I'm south of 65th. walking into the heart of ballard would be too much a hassle if I was farther north.

    Posted 3 months ago #
29. 

    allisonw
    

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    We got the house on 26th.

    Posted 3 months ago #
30. 

    Edog
    

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    Congratulations!

    Posted 3 months ago #
31. 

    pennygirl
    

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    Yippee! Excellent news Alli!

    Posted 3 months ago #
32. 

    Apple
    

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    Congrats on the house. As someone who used to live about six houses north on 26th, I can say it is an excellent street. Great group of neighbors. That said, it was a better area when Zagis was open.

    Posted 3 months ago #
33. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

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    Congratulations !

    Posted 3 months ago #
34. 

    allisonw
    

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    I should say the one north of 80th. The one south of is pretty ghetto.

    Posted 3 months ago #
35. 

    Frayed Knot
    

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    Well congrats there Allison. Welcome to the neighborhood. No need to mow the paved back yard eh? I kid.

    Posted 3 months ago #
36. 

    jburgh
    

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    allisonnw - I had a feeling that was you - I work for the listing agent. It is such a cool house and you will love living there. Congratulations!

    Posted 3 months ago #
37. 

    crownhiller
    

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    Had to work out sooner rather or later ;o) - congrats

    Posted 3 months ago #
38. 

    enatai70
    

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    Congrats!!!!!!

    Posted 3 months ago #
39. 

    allisonw
    

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    Jburgh, the listing agent really did right by us. I know the offers were almost identical, and I don't exactly know how we got it unless the estate wanted to leave it in the hands of a couple of local kids. I have a lot of old dead relatives from these parts that are probably smiling, wherever they are.

    That house is great--it's even better in person than in pictures. It had me at "hello."

    Posted 3 months ago #
40. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

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    Allison, How great is that feeling when you walk in and "Know"! I went to visit it online. It looks similar to my house in VT except for the backyard, which is nicely laid out; lots of possibilities. I'm sure you will enjoy personalizing it. I pass it often on my walks with Lillie when I am in my studio (few blocks away). It's good that you work away from home, though because the PA system at the school is very loud. I often feel like I am back in school when I hear that stern voice!

    Posted 3 months ago #
41. 

    lakreitz
    

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    Congratulations! I know you have been looking for awhile. Glad your frustrating search is over.

    Posted 3 months ago #
42. 

    Corvus
    

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    Yay Allison!!

    Posted 3 months ago #
43. 

    iPlod
    

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    Get a pic of yourselves pulling out the "For Sale" sign. Happy house forever to the both of you.

    Posted 3 months ago #
44. 

    pennygirl
    

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    Does anyone actually know which house Alli bought? I don't believe the link is in this thread. Or am I wrong? I don't see it anywhere here.

    Posted 3 months ago #
45. 

    pennygirl
    

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    Nope. Alli's new house is not in this thread.

    Posted 3 months ago #
46. 

    ballardgirl
    

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    Happy Dance!

    Posted 3 months ago #
47. 

    allisonw
    

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    I have described it so that you can find it on Redfin. That is more than I even should post, considering we haven't closed yet.

    Posted 3 months ago #
48. 

    LY
    

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    You going to keep that wallpaper?

    Posted 3 months ago #
49. 

    damoncreed
    

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    Hope you have a chance to share a dose of Severed Heads now & then with yr new neighbors!

    Posted 3 months ago #
50. 

    angeline
    

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    Wow, the wallpaper is something else -- especially the alcove with the curtains. Very cute house with a happy vibe. Love the basement with fireplace.

    Posted 3 months ago #
51. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    How lovely for you! I remember when my late husband and I bought our house. We hadn't moved in yet but the phone was hooked up. He was out of town and I called him from there. He had bought and sold houses before, I never had.
    He answered the phone:
    "Hello"
    "Hi"
    "Hi"
    "Hi"
    "....Uh, why did you call? You ok? What are you doing?"
    "Sitting on my stairs."
    "Uh... ok... that's nice...."
    "I've never had stairs of my own before"
    I love remembering the joy in his voice when he started to laugh- "Well, you enjoy them then, Sweetie"- knowing what a gift he'd given me.
    As we all know, houses are not just houses. I hope you and your sweetie have many wonderful years there! Happy happy house warming!! Hee!

    Posted 3 months ago #
52. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    After reading all the descriptions I wanted to see it so tried to look it up but redfin doesn't seem to have it listed anymore. :(

    Posted 3 months ago #
53. 

    teigyr
    

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    Chris Cornell's old house is for sale :) It needs some help but it's pretty cool.

    Good luck Alli, I hope closing comes quickly!

    Posted 3 months ago #
54. 

    allisonw
    

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    It's still listed, but it's now pending. There is an open house there right now if you're REALLY curious.

    Posted 3 months ago #
55. 

    Mondoman
    

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    Congrats, allison! Will you now be switching your article writing from hiking to home remodeling? :)

    Posted 3 months ago #
56. 

    allisonw
    

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    Sure, if someone wants to pay me to!

    Posted 3 months ago #
57. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    Didn't know you were a writer Allison! I go to a writers group every thursday. If you're interested email me at mpb700 at the y one

    Posted 3 months ago #
58. 

    Samkin
    

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    LIA, love your story.

    Posted 3 months ago #
59. 

    lakreitz
    

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    what Samkin said. That is a lovely story LIA.

    Posted 3 months ago #
60. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    Thank you. It made me happy to tell it.

    Posted 3 months ago #

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