January-February Yield Nine Escrow Closings
Do you Have a Plan B or a Plan Maybe Later?
Top Dollar Sellers Chose Strategic Marketing Utmost
Four Closed Purchases Launch 2018
Here’s what sold in January
| Model | Northwest Multiple Listing Number | Original Asking Price | Asking Price when Sold | Final Sale Price | Days on Market | |
| 1 | Discovery | 1212886 | $608,000 | $608,000 | $600,000 | 31 |
| 2 | Union | 1199972 | $648,800 | $628,750 | $615,800 | 83 |
| 3 | Whidbey | 1217807 | $719,950 | $714,950 | $690,000 | 26 |
| 4 | Oakwood | 1222620 | $999,999 | $999,999 | $987,000 | 11 |
Home in Bold & Green; the Elephant serving Sellers!
Given temperatures in the teens, rain, ice and snow, one sale per week is not a bad kickoff to a new year. In 2017, yours truly was blessed with having the first and last closings. Once again, feeling fortunate, our Whidbey closing of January 4th got the ball rolling for 2018. The Oakwood provided an early start for our prestigious Estate Collection, followed by the Union and the Discovery, sliding in with closings on the 31st of January.
Five Finish Up in February
Here’s what adorned February!
| Model | Northwest Multiple Listing Number | Original Asking Price | Asking Price when Sold | Final Sale Price | Days on Market | |
| 1 | Townsend | 1217092 | $587,500 | $558,000 | $574,654 | 56 |
| 2 | Discovery | 1232674 | $579,000 | $579,000 | $593,000 | 4 |
| 3 | Union | 1232332 | $629,000 | $629,000 | $629,000 | 24 |
| 4 | Madison | 1239582 | $675,000 | $675,000 | $672,000 | 7 |
Home in Bold & Green; the Elephant serving Sellers & Buyers, Respectfully!
Full Color Glossy Fold Out Flyer Click to View Entire Flyer
The Port and Lakes Collections monopolized the February Sales. It’s not unusual for higher priced homes to get their signs out front a little later in Spring. Soon, the snow-birders will return to their fair-weather abodes, some for the final season, and yard arms will appear. Back when, many contemplating selling, may have invested in their Forest or Estate homes for a similar price to the mostly attached, smaller products shown above. Who’d have known we’d reach the day when $500,000 is an entry level home in Trilogy. Notwithstanding, it still proves to be a great investment as the only resort community of its kind just 25 minutes to one of the largest Metropolitan cities in the USA. Whether coming or going, you’ll be A-Okay!
Seven Working Through Escrow
Here’s What’s Currently “PENDING” the Close of Escrow
| Model | Northwest Multiple Listing Number | Original Asking Price | Asking Price when Offer Accepted | Days on Market | |
| 1 | Discovery | 1232031 | $608,000 | $589,000 | 31 |
| 2 | Orchard | 1244725 | $590,000 | $590,000 | 5 |
| 3 | Orchard | 1245154 | $620,000 | $620,000 | 4 |
| 4 | Bainbridge | 1245845 | $749,900 | $749,900 | 12 |
| 5 | Hemlock | 1231292 | $924,950 | $924,950 | 9 |
| 6 | Maple | 1248026 | $950,000 | $950,000 | 5 |
| 7 | Nice | 1245659 | $1,029,000 | $1,029,000 | 6 |
Home in Bold & Green; the Elephant Representing Sellers!
Full Color Glossy Postcard Mailing – Click to View Listing
After a long Winter to pent up demand, the first listing of the year decided to quickly drop the asking price $19,000 after just 13 days on the market. This Discovery, listed by Brokers boasting a 2% savings on their listing fee, was quick to reduce by 3.125%. There go the savings with the final closing price yet to come. Accordingly, ordinary photos, green slime on the driveway and only offering the Broker who brings the Buyer a 2.5% commission vs. just about everyone else who offers 3% didn’t make this property overly attractive or exciting to show. Finishing up in February, the Pachyderm closed the lovely Union plan for $629,000. The home backs to Trilogy Parkway but was properly prepared, presented pleasingly, promoted well and priced perfectly so we didn’t have to apologize for the price. We held out for 24 days getting what we asked using “Premium Service” we call “The Elephant Way.” Oh, the very successful Buyer’s Agent brought us a very well-to-do, CASH Buyer and earned a well-deserved 3% commission. Congratulations to our wonderfully tidy and cooperative Sellers!
One Lonely Maple Needs Somebody to Love
| Model | Northwest Multiple Listing Number | Original Asking Price | Current Asking Price | Days on Market | |
| 1 | Maple | 1242684 | $972,500 | $959,000 | 21 |
Photography reveals a crisp, gloomy day with ominous clouds below a large house high on the hill. It’s not a home yet and brings to mind how Edward Scissorhands may have felt all by himself in that vacant castle he gloomed about thinking “I am not complete”. The Maple is a gorgeous 2013 house with no neighboring home to the East thus uninhibited views of the cool, snow-capped mountains and adorns Solar to keep you warm at minimal cost. The Elephant likes the Espresso cabinets encasing stainless steel appliances, crown molding and loads of attractive hardwood floors but it’s still a house and it still vacant, after 3 weeks, in a Seller’s market, at least as I write this report. There are no top up-bottom down shades to showcase the pleasing and cover the not so great. For me, a $3,500 professional staging job would likely have been a better choice than reducing $10,000 more than that. Sadly, few have gifted enough vision to overcome very evident, large mesa-walls on two sides out the windows. None-the-less, some smart Buyer should grab this spacious, almost new house with lots of warm home potential.
Remember: This inventory is as of the last day of the month. Statuses have likely changed by the time you read this. We pull data after midnight the last day of the month then, analyze and report. It takes a bit of research. We share what is available at the first of the month for consistent and measurable month over month reporting. All currently available listings are posted at www.DevinSanfordHomes.com. Hover over the Trilogy tab and select “Current Trilogy Listings” from the dropdown list.
Do you Have a Plan B or a Plan Maybe Later?
You may recall an article I wrote in the September edition titled, “Preparing for Life After Trilogy”. We addressed how overwhelming the whole move thing can be and beginning to eat that Elephant one bite at a time, as you prepare. We touched on beginning to purge, not discarding possibly valuable items and more. Serving the unique needs of our Trilogy Members really is a passion for me. Even deeper, I believe it to be my life’s purpose and serving goes beyond making a living
“I don’t typically take meetings, but I had a very productive one recently. I thought meeting with this person could be one more great way to serve my readers. What I found was much more and it just might be a way to change your lives! I met with a Senior Housing & Care Specialist named Arianne over coffee and we spoke at considerable length. I’d be remiss if I didn’t share I found her compassionate, highly knowledgeable, sincere and kindhearted. She proposed a big question for many of you, “Do you have a Plan B or a Plan Maybe Later?” Arianne shared, “As we get older, we all have fun plans for travel, volunteering and spending time with friends and family. You have an estate plan, but have you made a plan for the time when you might need help?” Eventually, 70% of Seniors will need help with activities of daily living such as bathing and med management. 45% of Seniors 85+ have some form of dementia. My own Father is going through it now.
Many of you have already downsized to a more manageable home in a 55+ community and have done the big sort. Arianne shares, “If you need help, in-home-care is running $28-30 an hour with a four-hour minimum. Four hours a day will run you $3,100 a month. If you want to stay in your own home, 24/7 care runs $10,000-20,000 a month! There is often a tipping point when finances, it no longer is safe to get behind the wheel or isolation make it the right time to consider new housing options.” Knowing just where to start is mind-boggling. There are 150 Independent and/or Assisted Living communities with 1,100 Adult Family Homes in King County and Arianne knows the ins and outs of most of them.
Did you know there are Senior housing specialists who can educate you on best fit communities that match your future care needs and what you enjoy doing? She says, “It’s often at no cost to you, as most communities pay our fee. Our goal is to save you time and relieve stress. We can also help with immediate needs and temporary respite stays. We do all the leg work while protecting you from endless marketing. We pride ourselves on best practices and what is right for our clients. I love knowing people are happy and comfortable and well taken care of.” I must say, she fits right in with the Elephant Way.
Putting a fully refundable deposit down at the community you like, will keep your options open should you want or need to move. Some places have two plus year wait lists or health and/or financial requirements to enter. Arianne conveys, “All Seniors say they don’t want to be a burden to their children yet often they are because they didn’t plan ahead, and the kids find themselves having to select a place during crisis.” You know I’m here to help you maximize the net proceeds from your Trilogy home and I trust you’ll let me know when the time comes. Now, my new-found friend is happy to sit with you and answer any questions you have and talk about what is important to you in your next move. She adds, “No one regrets being well informed.” If you’d like to chat with me regarding the marketing and timing of your Trilogy home, I’d be delighted to meet with you. If you’d like to meet with Arianne about where might be the best choice for you afterward, again, just give me a call. I’ll hook you up.
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
[State of the Union Address January 11, 1962]”
― John F. Kennedy
Here’s a Recap of Year-to-Date Sales:
*New Days on Market (D.O.M.) Watch!
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | YTD | |
| $old | 4 | 5 | 9 | ||||||||||
| Pending | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||
| Active | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||
| $old D.O.M. | 38 | 19 |
It’s a bit of a slow start with initial sales down by 25% over January and February of last year. Then again, inventory is low. I’d look for similar numbers to last year’s 102 total sales. Activity will ebb and flow such is the Trilogy M.O… Interest Rates and Property Taxes are on the rise and the shortage of inventory continues to keep prices creeping up. What was one week of inventory has now become three, still far below a balanced market of at least four months but this won’t last forever. I’d expect the neighborhoods targeting good schools for kids and close proximity to high-tech jobs to continue to force multiple offers and bidding wars. When we hit two or three months of inventory, Buyers will cool theit heals and be more selective and less hasty. For Trilogy, the days on market are increasing a bit so a strong presentation is going to be necessary to capture more than one buyer to fight for your property. Remember, due to our demographic, we’re six months to a year ahead of the price soaring phase and we’ve seen the best of it. Now, we’ll appreciate at a more normal rate. I wouldn’t count on your home to sell itself without some decent marketing.
That’s a wrap for February. We hope these facts have been helpful. We measure our success by how well we serve others, so if you have a real estate need, please, give Devin a call. (425) 501-8424.
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Enjoy!