In the Dog House

This past weekend the Seattle Animal Shelter held its first annual "Raining Cats and Dogs" auction benefit. Due to a number of stars misaligning I had to miss this event but heard wonderful reviews from my husband.

Two of our three dogs (I know, we are certifiable) were adopted from rescue shelters so we know first hand the work these shelters are doing. And of course, in this economic downturn, how hard their budgets and donations have been hit. So this posting is for all the dedicated volunteers and workers who are doing god's work with these homeless animals. 

A few years ago I listed a home with five, yes, five Jack Russell Terriers. The funny thing was, when I was there, I never saw them. When I asked the owners where they were she pointed to a clever little cabinet in their family room. That clever cabinet opened to the back yard where a much larger dog house was smartly tucked away.

This benefit and our growing family of pets got me thinking about dog houses. I decided to research what's available, on the market so to speak! Man was I surprised to see the number of designer houses available. The economy has not hit this market....it seems as if the real estate market is doing just fine in the dog house arena.

There is no end to the architectural styles available. I found a dog house to match just about any style of home.

Tres Modern

Going Green



Traditional and Classic

Cottage Chic



yes, there's even an RV available

It seems as if the concept of the dog house has been rethought from the ground up. For those dedicated to spoiling their amicus fidelis protectio fortis (faithful friend, strong protector) the options are endless. 

I am off to walk the dogs, until next week,

la chasse au bonheur

pay now or pay later

but either way, you pay! I am referring to home maintenance, specifically those jobs that land on your honey do list but often fall off having never been done turning your home into this.

This recent market correction, while excruciatingly painful, has had some positive impacts on our local real estate market. 

Most notably are the changes to lending practices and the return to proper qualification for loan approval. In the past, as prices soared at a staggering rate, buyers cobbled together all their resources to make home ownership work, and lenders were all too eager to approve a higher loan amount with higher monthly mortgage payments. This left the new owners with little reserves and a lower monthly cash flow to make household repairs and to properly maintain their home. 

As the market corrected down along with the general economy, household cash flow was squeezed even more making dollars even tighter for home repairs and maintenance.

As a result, homeowners turned a blind eye to replacing the rusting hot water tank, repairing peeling window sills, and leveling sinking foundations, not to mention repairing leaning fences, uneven walk-ways and replacing fallen roof tiles. 

A friend in college purchased a shiny new BMW for her graduation present. She had worked three jobs her senior year to come up with the down payment. As she headed off to her first career job and a monthly salary that barely covered her rent, car payment and top ramen (sound familiar?), I asked her how she planned to maintain such a high performance car. Her reply, "I'll skip every other maintenance check-up. That'll save me a ton and I'm sure the car doesn't need them all". You guessed it, within the year her engine seized and she spent thousands to fix it.

So back to the lending practices. Now that the lenders' hands are being forced and buyers are being approved for home loans they can actually afford, buyers now have the monthly cash flow to create a reserve for household repairs. 

I see hundreds of homes every month and I attend close to forty inspections each year. I find it shocking to see how few homes have been maintained with pride. Don't get me wrong, I see many shiny new kitchens  and baths and lots of fresh paint. But what I do not see maintained are those critical working parts of the house that, ahem, are not all that sexy, but man are they necessary for a healthy home. I am talking about furnances, water heaters, foundation, decks, etc.

Perhaps the best way to think of it is what we hear from our dentist each year - preventative maintenance. That's right, brush twice daily, floss and get your annual check-ups. The same is true for your home. Preventative maintenance is the key to maintaining the value of your home. 

Notice I said maintaining the value of your home and not increasing the value of your home. Many sellers think that because they have maintained their home that their home's value has increased. I am sorry to burst the bubble, but that is not true. Think of it like a credit score. When you pay on time and fulfill your credit obligations then your credit scores are higher. But there is no accounting with the Credit Bureaus for paying your taxes - it's assumed that a responsible adult will pay their taxes. Home maintenance is the same. It is assumed you will maintain the home. If you don't keep up with the maintenance however, your home will depreciate in value. I know, life's simply unfair. 

Which leads me to the other fall out of our corrected market - the buyer's attitude. No longer will they buy a home, unless it is priced accordingly, with deferred maintenance. Buyers are demanding more, which is forcing sellers to put a higher quality product on the market. Not bad!

In addition, as sellers weigh the cost of trading up versus renovating, many are taking hammer and nails to their home to make it better....reinvesting in their investment is what I call it. But anyway you look at it, it's good. We see more quality on the market than in the past. 

So, keep your home painted, sealed and water tight. Clean your roof yearly and repair any missing tiles right away, check your foundation periodically. Maintain the home's systems by vacuuming out heating ducts, servicing the furnace and hot water tanks. Repair any water issues immediately.  Prune trees and shrubs as needed to stay away from the roof and power lines.  Have your chimney checked every few years by a mason and make sure there are rain caps on the chimney tops. Keep dirt away from any wood on the house. 

If you would like a copy (available in hard copy and virtual) of my Household Maintenance Check List and/or my 2011 Resource Guide with over 190 qualified vendors, pop me an email. 

Until next week,

la chasse au bonheur

from sea to shining sea

Recent news of our nation's economic situation, congress, the stock market and of course, the real estate market, including the all time low mortgage rates, warrants a hard hitting post. But I just don't have it in me. It's still the lazy days of summer and a fluff piece seems more appropriate.

I have been working on my annual client appreciation calendar. Whether concentrating on entertaining ideas, gardens, interior or exterior spaces, this calendar is always a hit.

This year I wanted to showcase the varied styles of homes that dot our nation, from sea to shining sea. The following photos are homes that while are absolutely lovely, did not make the final cut for my 2012 calendar.

I hope you enjoy this short tour across our great nation and that it helps remind us that we are united under the red, white and blue.

January - A Cedar Home rings in the New Year in Utah

February - Winter in a Pueblo Style Home in New Mexico

March - A Cattle Ranch on the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana

April - Spring Break in Miami

May - Memorial Day in Maine

June - Summer in the City, Brooklyn Brownstones to be exact

 July - Happy Birthday America from a Federal Style home in Iowa

August - Mint Juleps on the Veranda of this Louisiana Antebellum 

September - Welcoming Fall in this California Bungalow

October - Vermont Farmhouse in Fall Foliage

November - Giving Thanks in an Oregon Farmhouse

December - Down for a long Winter's nap in Illinois

If you would like a 2012 Calendar just pop me an email and I will get one off to you this coming November.

Until next week,

la chasse au bonheur

Surf's up

Growing up in Lake Oswego, the beauty of the Oregon Coast was just a quick drive away. When I was young, our family took summer road trips whenever possible to this remarkable area. We spent endless days in surf and sand and nights in the modest beachside motels (virtually gone now) that flanked Route 101. 

Court Cottages, Seaside, Oregon

As I grew up so did the coastline. Child's play turned into long, romantic walks on the beach followed by weekend stays in charming inns that rival the world's most romantic getaways.  The sea, the ragged coastline, the wind swept trees are a big part of who I am. It is clear to say that the Oregon Coast runs through my veins.

Arch Cape Inn, Arch Cape, Oregon

It's no surprise then that I find myself back there. Not for me, but for my oldest daughter who has found a passion for surfing. As fate would have it, the stretch of coastline from Seaside to Manzanita is ideal for surfing!

Renee at 'The Cove/Avenue U', Seaside, Oregon

Renee watching the surf at 'Short Sands', Oswald West State Park, Oregon

 All this surfing, leaves lots of time to explore the string of quaint beach towns. 

Gearhart, Oregon

Loving the charm of a true cottage, I feel as if I have hit pay dirt. The younger version of me didn't appreciate the sweetness of these homes, rather I spent time dreaming of ice cream and boys. Now as I tool around the towns, up and down narrow lanes I relish in the sweet sights of these shingled beachside cottages.

It is no wonder I love these so, they're not too far off from the cottages I dream about in the UK.

I have always loved the look of the neutral Nantucket interiors. In fact, Pam Robinson, owner of Red Ticking, a store in Madison Valley, became a friend because of the countless hours I spent in her store. On my 'to do if I win the lottery' list is buy a beach house and have Pam appoint the interior with her incredible found objects and keen eye for all things perfect.

I did noticed a lot of 'for sale' signs during these past trips. It seems inventory levels are high right now at the coast. The economy appears to be putting a damper on vacation home ownership. With the high level of inventory in a corrected market, it seems that now might be the time to buy a cottage by the beach.

If you are considering buying a vacation property, here are some points to keep in mind. 

Location: Is it easily accessible or do you need to depend on a costly ferry or minimally maintained service road? Is it close enough to home that you can use it on weekends or is it just for longer stays a few times a year?

Looking ahead: Your family needs will change over time. You may face retirement or changes to your work situation. Teenagers may not want to spend time away from friends or may have work and school schedules that make family vacations harder. Could your children or extended family use the cabin without you there?

Financial factors: Beyond the initial expense of buying a vacation home, consider the ongoing maintenance, insurance, property taxes that you will need. If your plan is to rent the cabin out and offset some expenses, find out if rentals are permitted in that area. Then consider when you may wish to use it yourself. If you're there during peak times you will lose a portion of your rental income.  With a rental you will also have additional insurance and maintenance costs, and possibly property management costs. 

Vacation home ownership isn't for everyone. If it's not for you, consider renting a cottage by the week or month. There are plenty of management companies (big and small) who can ease this process.

And if that's not in the future, then how about pulling up a chair, pouring a Long Island Iced Tea and spending the afternoon lost in this month's Coastal Living magazine?  Just hang out this sign and exhale!

Here are some links that will help you explore the Oregon Coast. Lexie Hallahan is the owner and director of NW Women's Surf Camps and is an amazing teacher. I graduated High School with Lexie and have enjoyed catching up with her while she has been teaching my daughter to surf. Now I just need to get out there....next time! Enjoy the summer, wherever you may be. 

The town of Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals


NW Women's Surf Camps and Lessons


Cleanline Surf Shops, Seaside and Cannon Beach, Oregon

Until next time.

la chasse au bonheur

Backyard Cottages

Seattle, like most urban cities, is struggling to increase its residential density without destroying its single-family neighborhoods. As a real estate agent specializing in our distinctive in-city neighborhoods, I am carefully aware of our need to create affordable and sustainable housing while maintaining our unique neighborhoods. For me this means the return of the backyard cottage.

I recently listed a sweet home in the Renton Highlands. Hip clients Dirck and Diana are savvy homeowners pursuing creative endeavors. Combining talents they found innovative ways to eek out more livable space in their modest sized ranch. With plenty of off street parking, they first tackled their garage and created a shop for Diana, converting 240 unused square feet into a highly functioning work horse. 



Complete with heat, ambient and task lighting, new flooring, windows and French door, running water and wrap around porch, this once unused tool shed has become a fabulous backyard cottage.

Hankering for an artist studio for Dirck they turned their attention to the solid, but basic backyard tool shed. Rolling up their sleeves they transformed ho hum in to the perfect blend of function and form.

Just last month Seattle City Council's committee on the Built Environment reviewed a report on backyard cottage development in Seattle over the past 18 months. Their findings conclude that backyard cottages create affordable housing options and help increase land use density in the city. 

A great article in GOVERNING talks in-depth about the current buzz in urban zoning and what it means, both pros and cons, to Seattle and other urban areas around the nation.

There are many issues to think about when discussing zoning changes. Street parking immediately comes to mind. But having an open dialogue about the subject, chatting about what we can do as an individual and as a city is critical as we look forward.

For fun, check out these inspiring backyard cottages. Whether converted from old rickety sheds or newly constructed using pre-fab materials, I must say, they are charming.

Until next time,

la chasse au bonheur

Home away from home

First, I must apologize as I have been ignoring my blog of late. The usual - work, work, work got the better of me but so did some pretty special and not so usual events, most importantly was my oldest daughter's eighth grade graduation from St. Joseph's School; nine years with the same kids needed celebrating.

But a beautiful weekend away with my husband got things back on track. I tagged along to a conference he attended at the Skamania Lodge. Sited on the northern shores of the Columbia Gorge, this laid back lodge takes full advantage of the river and mountains. While he sat in what must have been some very engaging meetings I hit the trails and explored this beautiful region.

Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Washington

The view from the front lawn of the lodge

Having grown up just south of Portland, I was familiar with the Gorge but had never explored the Washington State side. I found it just as beautiful as the Oregon side. The towns were sweet, small and friendly. The people charming, kind and helpful. The vistas were extraordinary and most of all, serene.

Looking west from the 'Bench Trail'

My reward 

All this hiking and communing with nature got me thinking about scheduling a camping trip with the family. This of course led to thoughts of back pain, bug bites, deadly encounters with bear, cold fingers and toes, and the most dreadful of all - the midnight jaunt to the loo.

As you know, I love all things British and as always, those Brits know how to camp, well actually glamp. That's right, Glamping began in England. A recent trend stateside (love saying that), Glamping combines the best of two worlds - the rustic beauty of the great outdoors with the cozy comfort of home. Who doesn't like sitting in a cushy armchair after a day of hiking the wilderness and fishing the streams? Or drinking wine from stemmed crystal? Walking on a real rug? Oh la la.

For a better idea of what kind of camping luxury I'm talking about, just check out these photos.

Seriously, my bedroom at home isn't this nice.

Or this nice!

Can you imagine waking like this?

 

or this?

Even Shabby Chic goes au naturel

Love the added touch of the coat stand for hanging your garmets...
when I camp I wad my clothes up (at least the ones I'm not wearing) and use them for my pillow. 

There is no question that this is just sheer decadence, but why not? Who doesn't want the comfort of home? Wherever you are!

If you would like to check out some regional Glamping sites and tips, here are a few links:

Glamping Sites in Washington and Idaho

Glamping tips and ten essentials for family camping

Until next time (yep it's the summer)

la chasse au bonheur