Real Estate Information

Historically homes in South King County have proven more affordable for Employees relocating to the Puget Sound because of their distance to the Metropolitan areas of Seattle and Bellevue.  

 Maple Valley has long been an attractive option to the Bellevue/Eastside area for relocating families due to the strength of the Tahoma School District and lower prices.

As a convenience for those researching South King County markets, I've compiled a side by side comparison of various information from school districts which include:  Auburn, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Enumclaw and Tahoma (Maple Valley).

At every grade and subject level but one, Tahoma WASL scores all South King County districts. Here's a snapshot:

I have a full comparison of all grades and subjects by School District. If you would like a copy, please email me and I'd be happy to send it your way! 

There's been much speculation about how our local market will perform in the first quarter of '08 in light of all the doom and gloom of the National news media. The Pacific Northwest in general has such a positive economic outlook many are wondering if the recent local housing slump isn't more of a bump.

Although it's much too soon to tell, it appears very low interest rates and seller price reductions may be luring buyers back to the bargaining table here in Maple Valley. Two weeks into the New Year, and there are 13 pending Sales and 7 Listings with contracts accepted "Subject to Inspection" . 

Granted, it's not blazing hot activity, but considering last week was the first full "post-holiday" week, I think it's a sign of good things to come for the Maple Valley area.

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley Washington. She has been representing Residential Buyers & Sellers in King and Pierce Counties since 1990 but specializes in the greater Maple Valley Market.

According to CoStar Group, Maple Valley's Hagen Plaza has been purchased by Bellevue Plastic Surgeon Sepehr Egrari for $4.59 Million. At the time it was on the market, the retail/office space was fully leased with 11 tenants. the City of Maple Valley being one of them. According to County Tax Records, this property last changed hands when purchased by Lakeside Park Properties LLC in 2003 or 2004 (it is unclear from tax records when the actual transfer occurred) of which home builder Curtis Lang was a member. The sale was recorded on December 14, 2007

Perhaps it was Maple Valley's surprisingly HIGH commercial rental rates which Dr. Sepehr found so attractive?

www.ColleenFish.com          www.MapleValleyRealEstate.com

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate in Maple Valley Washington, a suburb 20 miles Southeast of Seattle.

Technology Comes to Tahoma Snow Days!

I'm sitting here enjoying my first cup of coffee, Carson snoring at my feet, and looking out at the light snowfall we had overnight. What I'm NOT doing, is scanning the internet or going back and forth between TV channels to determine school delays or closures. In the past, it has happened where a delay became a closure and I hadn't heard. But this morning, I received a phone from the school district alterting me that school was delayed 2 hours.

The automated phone call is part of a new system the Tahoma School District is using to notify parents of absences and other special announcements. This is the first time it was used to announce a delay, but I have to admit, it was very nice. I got the information "from the horses mouth" and feel comfortable knowing if it's changed (from a delay to a closure) another call would go out.

Nice job Tahoma!

 But, um.....can you call me a little later than 5:30 am next time?  I still need my beauty sleep!

Colleen

http://www.maplevalleyrealestate.com/        http://www.colleenfish.com/

Specializing in the Maple Valley area since 1990!

I've always been a little skeptical about Real Estate Sales People who put themselves on a pedestal based on statistics of unknown origin. You know , the guy who's the #1 Realtor of "insert very broad community or area name here"? Or the gal who is the #1 choice with home buyers in "insert community name". I have a name for this type of Salesperson. I call them the "Puffer" And I think what they're blowing Stinks!

Although in real estate this term usually refers to the unethical practice of an agent making statements and opinions which are non-factual or over-the-top  to enhance the desirability of a property, the practice also happens with respect to an agent touting his/her own reputation to make their qualifications or services more desirable and I think it's equally unethical.

There are a few Puffers in my marketplace and it distrubs me to think consumers may be making decisions on whom to hire based on these statements...self-appointed titles which are unsubstantiated and offered without statistical footnotes.

Here's one I came across the other day:

Agent "X" claims his team sells 20 times more homes than the Industry Average. His team has sold 80 homes and (according to him) the Industry Average is 4. Where did that stat come from? Now, selling and closing 80 properties a year is no small feat,  So why the need to make it seem even greater than it is by using numbers which aren't easily verifiable? Because the public has no idea whether 8 homes or 80 homes sold in one year is good or bad. But by claiming his production to be 20x more than the industry, he is putting his sales into a more appealing and easier to understand format for the consumer.

The problem is, I can't find any source which quotes the industry standard of sales is 4 per year ( and I've spent some time looking). I'm not saying it's not out there somewhere, but what's it based on?  Is that 4 per year in his area? Is it 4 per year in his MLS? Is it 4 per year in the World? What year was that average?

Another agent here likes to claim he's the #1 Realtor in a neighborhing town. Number One in what? Number of Listings Sold? Volume? Gross Commissions?  The marketing of Emu farms which border shopping malls? I honestly don't know whether it's as big a deal as he claims it is because I don't know what he's basing it on.

Guess what? I'm a #1 Realtor too. I'm the # 1 Realtor living in Maple Valley WA, who has a yellow lab named Carson, is the mother of 3 boys and works at RE/MAX Select. (I had to throw the last part in as a safety net just in case there IS another Colleen who lives in Maple Valley, sells real estate, has a yellow lab named Carson and has 3 sons....See? Full disclosure!)

If you're in the process of hiring a Real Estate Professional to represent you in the purchase or sale of real estate, I'd like to suggest you focus on factual representations rather than unverifiable, vague accolades. If a Sales person is puffing him/herself, ask for more details. Focus more on hard facts, awards won, number of sales and listings, testimonials which come with a name and phone number upon request.

In other words, don't be blown over by a Puffer.

Here's to your Success!

www.ColleenFish.com     www.MapleValleyRealEstate.com

Everyone I know who has lived on the Cedar River here in Maple Valley says it is the most peaceful experience, listening to the rushing water, watching the salmon spawn upstream in the Fall. If you've always dreamed of living on river front property, here in Maple Valley the Cedar River is it!

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Here is a Market Snapshot of Maple Valley Riverfront Sales for 2007 

 Many of the homes along the river have loads of charm and unique features. There is definitely an eclectic mix from which to choose.

Enjoy!

Colleen

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley Washington. She has been specializing in marketing and selling Maple Valley properties since 1990.

This information is taken from unimproved properties, or listings where the value was in the land, within the Tahoma School District which were listed through NWMLS and closed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007

 Winter is a great time to be looking to buy vacant land. You can see where all the standing water is and if a "Winter Perc" is required, you won't have to wait...it can be done now!

-Colleen

Specializing in Maple Valley Real Estate since 1990!

My husband and I put our oldest son Ryan (pictured with our youngest, Connor) on a plane back to school last Friday. He will be graduating from St. Mary's College of California in May. I know it's cliche, but it really does seem like just a year ago Russ and I were driving him to school, our SUV (now his) loaded down with "stuff" we thought he'd need (and of course didn't!). We were all so excited about the possibilities ahead but also filled with trepidation and nervous "what-if" questions swirling in our heads.

So here he is, almost four years later moving toward the ending of one chapter of his life which will inevitably lead to the beginning of another.

TS Eliot once said, "What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”

I look forward to the "beginning of this ending" with boundless excitement and, as I am every year, filled with trepidation and nervous "what-if " questions swirling in my head.

Happy New Year!

May this ending be your best beginning ever! 

Colleen Fischesser

If you have considered adding a rental property to your investment portfolio in 2008 (and might I say it's an excellent time to do so) you may be curious as to what the rental market is looking like in our area.

Year to date 23 properties have been listed & rented through NWMLS in Maple Valley. The average rental price is $1625 with the lowest rent at $950 and the highest at $2990. This average rental rate is up approximately 6% over rental averages for 2006.

Interest in rental properties is increasing as buyers find it more difficult to qualify for "low down" financing programs and find themselves needing to rent while saving for that downpayment.

Although my husband and I haven't ventured into the world of Landlords just yet, it's definitely on the agenda for this year. There are just too many excellent opportunities out there right now!

Enjoy the Ride!

Colleen Fischesser