Five Star Professional

Stan Chang & Shannon Woodcock
The Cascade Team Real Estate

We have great news – you have been selected as a 2011 Seattle Five Star Real Estate Agent.

You are among a group of fewer than 7 percent of real estate agents in the Seattle area. You might already have received your official award notification letter in the mail – this email also confirms your selection.

Seattle magazine asked Five Star Professional to conduct research with clients, peers and industry experts to determine the real estate agents in the Seattle area who rated highest in overall satisfaction. The award winners will be listed in a special advertising section in the December 2011 issue of Seattle magazine

2842 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

ssapproved_200

Short Sale Search Here

Daily Real Estate News | Friday, August 26, 2011

Banks are agreeing to more short sale transactions, and short sales are taking less time to sell, which is helping to clear large inventories of distressed properties more efficiently, says James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac CEO, in releasing new housing data this week. 

“This is a glimmer of hope that lenders are getting more realistic,” Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, told Bloomberg News. “It’s a win for borrowers who avoid foreclosure, buyers who get a house in better condition and banks that lose less money, which is also a win for taxpayers.”

During the second quarter, the number of homes nearing foreclosure accounted for 12 percent of total home…

2639 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Southern California’s real estate market remained geared towards home buyer's in the month of August, despite relatively strong demand from investors and others paying cash for homes. Prices have trended down slightly over the last couple of month, but many potential home buyers appear to still be on the sidelines and may still be waiting for a bottom in prices or a relaxing of the mortgage guidelines to allow more people to qualify for homes.

As of August 26th, 2011, the median price for a single family residential home in Carlsbad fell to $699,900, with an average of 131 active days on the Carlsbad real estate market.  In addition, there were 51% of the active MLS listings that had price reductions, just slightly less than last week,…

3336 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

mortgage-app_400

Yesterday, a recent losing streak for loan pricing boiled over and Mortgage Rates rose across the board.  Today offered a slight reprieve to yesterday's losses, but only in terms of improved borrowing costs.  BestExecution rates were unchanged.

Our ongoing guidance recently has been to take advantage of recent rate offerings as soon as possible, noting that "the frustration of missing out on "high 3's" and instead getting "low 4's" seems nowhere near as bad as the frustration of missing out on a refi opportunity (moving from 5% to 4.25% for instance) altogether." 

CURRENT MARKET*: The Best Execution 30-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.25% to 4.375% depending on your lender/scenario.  Several lenders are still willing to offer lower rates,…

3444 Views, 1 Comments

Read Full Post

foreclosure_for_sale_460

Daily Real Estate News | Thursday, August 25, 2011

Foreclosures made up about one-third of all home sales during the spring quarter (April to June), and sales were about six times the percentage of foreclosures in a healthy housing market, RealtyTrac Inc. reports.

Foreclosure sales likely would have been much higher too if so many banks hadn’t slowed their foreclosure processes while state and federal officials continued to investigate possible faulty practices. Foreclosure sales — which include homes purchased after they receive a notice of default or that were repossessed by lenders — peaked two years ago at 37.4 percent of sales, compared to 31 percent in the April to June quarter.

During the second quarter, 265,087 homes sold were in…

3195 Views, 1 Comments

Read Full Post

"abellahomes" has done it again! 

 

We have been named a 2011 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent for 4 years in a row!  

 

Stan & I will appear in the December issue of Seattle Magazine and we will be featured in the 2011 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent Special Section.
 
Thank you for believing in us!  We couldn't have achieved this without you & appreciate your continued support over the years! This is truly a great honor!!!
 
This really means so much to us!!!


Thanks:)
Marisa & Stan

www.abellahomes.com

2985 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Property Website

Priced at $694,000

Bedrooms:  4 Bathrooms:  2.75
Home Size:  3,560 sq.ft. Garage:  1
Lot Size:  34,013 sq.ft. Community:  Canterwood
County:  King Property Type:  Single Family Detached
Year Built:  1989

Property Description

Meticulous estate setting with perfect floor plan! Privately set back on a stunning .78 ac, this 4 bedroom, den, bonus home easily lives like a 5 bed (main floor bed and bath)! Unmatched heart of the home: gorgeous granite island-kitchen, HUGE eating area with super custom built-in buffet opens to soaring ceiling family room. Quality custom built-ins in laundry/mudroom and family room for superior storage! Entertainment deck, hot tub, BIG bonus room, AC, newer 50-yr roof, stellar Northshore schools!

2218 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Sales Dropped 3.5% Last Month

By Blake Ellis

 

POSTED: Thursday, August 18, 2011 UPDATED: 10:56 am EDT August 18, 2011

REAL ESTATE NEWS HERE

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Sales of existing homes fell unexpectedly in July, as strict lending and low appraisals prevented consumers from scooping up some of the cheapest houses since 1970.

 

Sales of previously owned homes tumbled 3.5% last month to an annual rate of 4.67 million, down from 4.84 million in June, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Economists had expected July sales to come in at a much higher rate of 4.87 million homes, according to consensus estimates from Briefing.com.

 From the same month a year ago, sales are up 21%. Meanwhile, the national median home price in July…

2192 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

CNN Money Magazine has issued their annual ratings of the "best places to live." Sammamish has once again finished high in the "small town" category.  Sammamish has made the list in previous years.  

See below:

Year     Rank

2007 11th

2009 12th

2011 15th

It wasn’t long ago when Sammamish was incorporated, on August 31, 1999. I’m a proud resident of Sammamish.  It’s no surprise to Sammamish residents that this is a wonderful growing & thriving city. We have grown over 10k in the last decade according to the US Census, reported by Sammamish Review. Sammamish had recently celebrated “Sammamish Days” celebrating the diversity of many cultures. Both school districts that serve Sammamish (Lake Washington School District & Issaquah School District)…

10379 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Come celebrate many diverse cultures found in Sammamish!

 

Event Information

Date: August 13th
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: City Hall Plaza (Sammamish Commons)
Cost: Free

 

Today’s festivities are:

  • 2 Stages of Entertainment (Main Stage Pavilion Performers & Library Performers)

  • Story telling amphitheatre

  • Food from around the world

  • Learn different dance styles

  • Ethnic arts and crafts for sale

  • Food, crafts and entertainment from all over the world,etc...

 

All ages are welcome. More information; http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/events/SammamishDays.aspx

www.abellahomes.com

 

2622 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post