Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category
-->
Mar
08
Posted by Matt Thomson
I’ve just listed a gorgeous new home in downtown Gig Harbor, complete with the famous Gig Harbor postcard views! Built in 2008, this nearly new home offers all of the luxury upgrades you’d expect. All of the living is on the main level, including an executive office with potentially distracting views! Downstairs in the walk-out basement you’ll find a huge bonus room that is a perfect play area.
If the thought of waking up to Gig Harbor Bay and sunrises over Mt. Rainier is appealing to you, this is the house you want! You can walk out your front door and be right in Gig Harbor’s historic Downtown District, complete with shops and restaurants. There are several view homes for sale in Gig Harbor, but only a select few that have “THE” Gig Harbor view.
Surrounded by homes nearing $1M, this home is also a great value at $815,000. Perhaps the best aspect of this home (okay, other than the view and location) is the incredible conveniences that the builder put into it. Begin with a great circular driveway and extra parking out front to accommodate all of the guests you’ll want to entertain. A main floor master, kitchen with fantastic views, and a private back lawn, everything you could want in downtown Gig Harbor real estate is here!
If you’d like a private showing of this amazing home, please give me a call.
Share
-->
Mar
06
Posted by Matt Thomson
Not even the most high end of neighborhoods in Gig Harbor can avoid the foreclosure bug. We have recently listed a fantastic, brand new luxury home in the Canterwood Golf and Country Club, one of Gig Harbor’s most sought after neighborhoods. Originally listed for $979,000, the bank is now offering this home for $799,000!
This is an artistic design by RC Barrett construction. The grand entry flows into a great room with massive fireplace, Brazilian cherry hardwoods, and attention to detail at every turn. 5 bedrooms including 2 masters on main floor and 4.5 bathrooms in this 3991 square foot home. Upper level includes a Media Center/Bonus room. The detail extends all the way to the exterior with amazing multi-colored stone and a matching stamped driveway.
Bank owned deals aren’t limited to fixer uppers. If you’re looking for a screaming deal on a brand new luxury home in a gated community with 24/7 security, give me a call. This home is worth touring!
Share
-->
Mar
05
Posted by Matt Thomson
There is no shortage of new construction homes on the market in Gig Harbor (74 currently active in zip codes 98335, 98332, and 98333). Trying to find a really good value on a new home is a different story. I recently found 3 homes, all built by the same builder, that I would consider among the best deals for homes for sale in Gig Harbor.
There are 2 homes, both listed at $299,000, right next door to each other in a great close in location just off of Olympic Drive in Gig Harbor. These are both 3 bed, 2 bath, 1500 square foot homes on over 1/2 acre of land. They are just minutes from Gig Harbor’s Uptown Center and HWY 16, so if being close to the action is important but you don’t want to be cramped by your neighbors, these homes would be a great option.
They’re a couple of months from being completed, so there’s the option of choosing your own finish work which is a huge plus. If buying a home in Gig Harbor for under $300,000 is a dream of yours (or someone you know), there aren’t any other options like these two.
The other home, also built by Eagle Homes, Inc, is a 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2200 square foot home on 1/2 acre for $415,800. Located off of Peacock Hill, this home puts you right around the corner from the Gig Harbor YMCA, Costco, Target, etc. while again giving you the privacy of a large lot. The finish work in this house is equal to what you’d find in the other new homes listed for $550k and up.
If you or someone you know is looking for a great buy on a new home in Gig Harbor, give me a call and we can take a look at these homes that Eagle Homes have built. See for yourself if you agree that they are 3 of the best buys in all of Gig Harbor real estate.
**Homes advertised on this site with written permission from listing agent
Share
-->
Feb
22
Posted by Matt Thomson
When it comes time to sell your home in Gig Harbor, choosing among the many Gig Harbor real estate companies can be confusing. I’m now in my 6th year as a Realtor associated with Keller Williams Realty, and I occasionally have clients and potential clients say they’re not familiar with KW. Before you choose your real estate company, consider the following:
- Keller Williams International is recognized in the Swanepoel Report as the #1 trend setter for 2009.
- Keller Williams Realty received the highest overall satisfaction rating by J.D. Powers and Associates.
- Keller Williams Realty was recognized in December of 2009 as the #1 real estate franchise.
- Swanepoel’s own survey of over 10,000 agents ranked Keller Williams as the most recognized real estate franchise brand as voted by the industry.
- Keller Williams recently surpassed ReMax to become the 3rd largest real estate company in the country. As of this month, we have well over 70,000 agents and 650 offices located throughout the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada.
So why isn’t all of this verifiable data being touted more readily? Because Keller Williams is agent-centric, not owner-centric. In other words, we believe that agents make the company, rather than the company making the agent. We don’t spend money on national (or local) advertising. We let the individual agents run their own businesses. The company’s belief is that if we have the best trained, most satisfied agents, then they’ll provide the most educated, most satisfying experience to our clients.
There are several great real estate agents in Gig Harbor, working for a variety of different real estate companies. Ultimately, you’re hiring the agent, not the company. But it is nice to know that when you hire a Keller Williams agent, you’re hiring someone with the backing of the nation’s 3rd largest company. If you’re moving to another area, or have a home to sell in another area before moving to Gig Harbor, chances are we have a Keller Williams agent there who can help. Just ask me and I’ll do the research to find the agent who is best suited to help you.
If you’d like more information on our company and our beliefs, just ask!
Share
-->
Feb
11
Posted by Matt Thomson
While not common, there are some “For Sale By Owner” homes for sale in Gig Harbor. There are several reasons home owners attempt to sell their homes on their own rather than hiring a professional, with the main one being the hope of saving money on the commission. I could go on about how FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sellers tend to net less money, but that’s not the point of this post. The point is, if you are looking to buy real estate in Gig Harbor, there are options beyond just what is listed on the local websites. Homes that are FSBO, homes that have expired from their listing agreements, and homes that were previously listed but cancelled for various reasons, although the sellers are still wanting to sell.
I spend a good deal of time each week researching homes for sale in Gig Harbor that aren’t on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) so that I’m prepared to find my buyers the absolute best home and so that I’m able to provide my sellers with the most accurate and current information on their competition.
One of the nicest homes that is being sold directly by the seller is just minutes from downtown Gig Harbor. It is a new construction home in an amazing setting just above Gig Harbor Bay and Crescent Valley Drive. Over 4000sf on 1.18 acres for $879,000! Here’s how the seller describes the home:
“Superbly Built NEW HOME in idyllic Estate Setting. Large towering windows and cathedral ceilings boast the most majestic natural light for a home in the northwest! The Modern Kitchen is enhanced by solid slab granite countertops with all Stainless Steel Appliances, surrounded by exquisite Coco-Glazed Maple Cabinetry. The Master Suite was built with comfort in mind with a dual view fireplace, heated jetted tub and double walk-in Shower! A Striking Place to reside and entertain guests on a beautifully landscaped yard!”
I toured the house shortly after it was completed, and it’s truly one of the finest new construction homes for sale in Gig Harbor. Great location, private gated entrance, gorgeous quality work. Why don’t homes such as this sell, then? Could be price, could be lack of exposure. If you are looking for an elegant luxury home for sale in Gig Harbor, you will want to take a look at this one! Give me a call if you’d like a private tour of the home.
Share
-->
Jan
27
Posted by Matt Thomson
If you’re looking for some Gig Harbor area real estate deals, I’d like to remind you of 3 that I have offered. I currently have 3 very different real estate listings…2 in Gig Harbor and one in the nearby commuter community of Fife.
As most of you know, the home buyer tax credits will be coming to an end within the next few months. You’ve probably also heard the rumblings this morning that interest rates are poised to start their rise. What’s all this mean? If you’re a first time home buyer looking in the Seattle or Tacoma markets, you may want to start getting serious. This home in Fife is a fantastic option, as you’re a quick jump onto the freeway for an easy drive up to Seattle or down to Tacoma or even Olympia. This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with 2069 square feet will entice you with upgrades such as a gorgeous covered back patio to enjoy the greenbelt behind your house and a newer heat pump for super efficient heating in the winter and A/C in the summer. Listed at only $285,500, this home will make someone moving to Tacoma or moving to Seattle very happy.
I’ve also got this 4 bedroom 2 bath view home listed in the heart of downtown Gig Harbor. Not only do you get a 2173 square foot view home on city sewer and water, you also get a buildable view lot! Imagine having a home in Gig Harbor that’s an easy walk down to the Tides Tavern and all of the other waterfront features, PLUS getting a valuable lot to build another view home! The home and lot together are only $450,000!
Finally, for those looking to build an affordable home in a great Gig Harbor location, I have this 1/2 acre lot available off of Artondale Drive for only $125,000! This vacant land is ready for your building plans. Gas, water, and electricity are available, and the soil has been perked for a septic design. Perfect set up for a daylight basement floorplan. You’re new home could be built just down the road from the Gig Harbor Golf Course and Wollochet Bay!
If you or someone you know is looking for some real estate deals in the Gig Harbor area, please give me a call!
Share
-->
Jan
23
Posted by Matt Thomson
I’ve just listed a view home in Gig Harbor that comes with a buildable view lot as well! Talk about rare! An easy walk to downtown Gig Harbor and the Gig Harbor waterfront, this property has a fantastic view of the Cascades and the Puget Sound! The house, built in 1960, is very livable but will certainly benefit from a remodel job. The view is wonderful. The additional lot, also with city sewer and city water, is an amazing bonus!
I don’t know of any other properties for sale in Gig Harbor that offer you this proximity to downtown, this view, and the ability to build another view home! Investors, you may consider taking the current home down and building two new homes, or just remodeling the existing home and building a second on the vacant lot. The choices here are numerous, opportunities like this are not!
Please call me to view this unique property!
Share
-->
Jan
13
Posted by Matt Thomson
I’m wondering, “Is there room for compassion in real estate?” Real estate is supposed to be a cut throat industry, right? An every man (or, since over 60% of NAR members are female) woman for herself business, right? A sale is a sale, and it doesn’t matter how you get it, right?
I don’t think so. Maybe I’m naive, maybe I just haven’t been in it long enough (nearly 6 years…can hardly believe it), but I still think that this business can be done with a heart. I’d encourage you to take about 4 minutes and read this blog post by a Realtor who recently lost his home to foreclosure. It’s a remarkably vulnerable story posted on perhaps the most relevant real estate blog site out there.
I’ll admit, at the start of 2008, as several Gig Harbor real estate agents were listing their own homes for sale I was a bit smug about my own success, my own wisdom in saving, and my choice of real estate companies that propelled me to heights above these poor souls. Then the rest of ’08 hit, and I started becoming more nervous than smug. Would I be next? Fortunately I weathered 2008, and even more fortunately had a very successful 2009. But the smugness is gone. There is nothing but shame left where smugness was. Real estate agents, bankers, school teachers, police officers, whatever…there are people in all walks of life who are still facing foreclosure and the pain that comes with it.
Maybe this new perspective is why I was so disgusted when I saw a local real estate company’s sign that read “Catch the short sale shuttle.” It would appear as though this real estate company in Gig Harbor now has a bus that will take potential buyers around to view local properties that are distressed and on the brink of foreclosure. Maybe it is just the biz, a sale is a sale. Maybe it’s even doing the distressed home seller a favor by bringing more buyers by their home, but sellers in a short sale position still walk away with nothing. Maybe it’s a really innovative move on this company’s part to tap into the main part of the market today.
Whatever it is, it just struck me as wrong, as ridiculously incompassionate. I’m curious what your thoughts are. Is a “short sale shuttle” a great move or is it a bit insensitive? If any agents from that company are reading this, I’d welcome your thoughts. Are you embarrassed by your company’s move or can you help me understand why this is a good thing?
Share
-->
Jan
08
Posted by Matt Thomson
I’m curious, do the Federal tax credits for home buyers and sellers impact you? To what degree would your decision to buy or sell a home be influenced by these tax credits? First, there’s the extended first time home buyer’s tax credit. This is the $8000 tax credit that comes to those who haven’t owned a home in the past 3 years (click on the image for larger size and more details).
The newest addition is the $6500 credit to those who are selling a home that they’ve owned for five of the past eight years (again, click the image to enlarge and learn more).
I’m wondering if these incentives are influencing the home buying population at all. Seems to me that $8000 is a pretty good incentive (how many months of mortgage payments is that? How many months salary is that for a first time home buyer?). I’d rather hear from you than just give my thoughts, though.
If you are looking for a great home for first time buyers in the South Puget Sound region, don’t forget about this great 3bd, 2.5ba home I have listed in Fife. Easy I5 access makes this a great location for anyone wanting to live near Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia. Several great upgrades will be found in this home that you won’t find in even the new construction homes in the area. For $285,500, any first time buyer in the Tacoma or Fife or Seattle areas will be proud to call this “home.” For a private tour, please give me a call!
Share
-->
Jan
06
Posted by Matt Thomson
Click to enlarge
The home buying process is an exciting time, but one that may bring additional responsibilities into your life. Many homes may need renovations or inspections, especially in areas that are susceptible to natural disasters. Having the assistance of an experienced and honest real estate agent will make this process smooth and stress free.
Some older homes may still contain obsolete building materials. Citizens of this great state are striving to move to a green lifestyle, advocating environmentally sustainable methods to be used throughout the state. Building or remodeling your homes with eco-friendly materials can lower utility and water bills, higher real estate value, purer air quality, reduced waste sent to landfills and conservation of natural resources.
Asbestos + Healthy Tips
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used in construction applications for the greater part of the 20th century. Often appearing as insulation, piping, roofing and flooring, homes and buildings could still contain asbestos materials if they were built prior to 1980.
If you locate any suspected asbestos in the home, most experts suggest leaving it un-disturbed until a home inspector can examine your property, take evaluations and determine the safest course of action. Sometimes the best action is no action at all. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air. The removal of asbestos must be undertaken by a professional abatement contractor who is trained in handling dangerous materials.
Exposure to this material can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a lung ailment associated with asbestos exposure. Though a cure does not exist, mesothelioma treatment options such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery may be available to patients to battle the disease. Mesothelioma compensation has become tough to predict for victims and their families because diagnosis can take 20-50 years. For this reason, many people refer to it as a silent killer.
Removal of asbestos in public facilities, workplaces and homes should be performed by licensed abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. They must wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves to avoid any exposure. The materials should be removed in as large pieces as possible and places in disposable bags.
Green Building Benefits
Each and every human being would like clean air to breathe and crisp water to drink. It takes a lot of effort and political advocacy to achieve this on a macro level. The implementation of eco-construction, green energy solutions will play an important role in the transformation to a healthier and sustainable world. Many locations throughout Alabama are swiftly changing their construction practices to suit the environment and the health of human beings.
There are many green, eco-friendly materials that replace the need for asbestos and can reduce energy costs annually. These include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Cotton fiber is quickly becoming a favorite for home builders and renovators. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof. Research has demonstrated that the use of eco-friendly insulation alternatives can reduce annual energy costs by 25 percent.
Implementing green methods of building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits. These include: Conservation of natural resources, enhancement of air quality, energy sustainability, increase property value, improve quality of life, improvement of pulmonary/cardiac health and reduction of waste.
**This was an email sent to me from Jesse Herman at the Mesothelioma Cancer Center
Share
