June 10th, 2009
Posted by susan moore
Being outside is one of the great blessings of living in the Pacific Northwest. Being outside in the evening is even more gratifying.
Tuesday nights, starting July 7th through August 4th, Bellevue Downtown Park will host summer movie nights. These PG rated movies are not to be missed. With such an astonishing landscape, it’s sure to be a hair-raising, spine tingling, scene. Come share the excitement.
Admission is free. The movies will start a dusk, around 8:30/9pm, and will be featured on a 25-foot screen.
Summer Movie Nights Schedule
July 7: Hotels for Dogs
Hopelink Food Drive
July 14: Bride Wars
Overlake Service League Food & Toiletries Drive
July 21: Second Hand Lions
Eastside Domestic Violence Adult Sock & Toiletries Drive
July 28: The Express
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue Backpack & School Supply Drive
August 4: Monsters Vs. Aliens
Treehouse Youth Pajama Drive
March 26th, 2009
Posted by Larry Cragun
What was it like when you arrived? What would you tell another about Bellevue?
Not a lot would say forests. That is unless you live in Bridle Trails. My first journey to Bellevue was long long ago. Bridle Trails had the featured home of the week for the Seattle Times. What do I remember? 1- Lenny WIlkens lived there. 2- The site agent had a goal to be a millionaire. I wonder if he made it. 3- I couldn’t afford the home of the week, but just the thought of it should have made me start a Street of Dreams. Oh, where was my thinking cap? Love those Street of Dreams, especially those many that Kathleen was a designer for. Do you remember the Castle Home, the one with all of the Chihuly glass throughout. That was hers. 4- The riding trails 5- I was a young landscape sales manager. We landscaped a cool contemporary home. The owner was a rich insurance agent. He must have been, the home cost a whopping $175,000 to build and our landscape project came to $3,000.00 Those were the days, right?
So now I am a techie agent. Am I? Some think so. Lar
Photo from Flickr and by pmorgan
March 16th, 2009
Posted by James Lupori
Let’s take a quick look at home sale statistics for Bellevue. First, I’d like to show you some numbers from February:
A 13-Month Perspective
Click on the graph for a larger view
Click on the graph for a larger view
Click on the graph for a larger view
Bellevue has not been immune from the economic downturn in the national housing market. As you can see from the graphs above, since February 2008 there has been a steady downward trend in home sales and a rise in the days-on-market. The average price of a home in Bellevue has dropped as well. To put this in perspective, let’s look at what’s going on in the current month:
Mid-March Statistics
There is a relatively large inventory of homes on the market right now in Bellevue. The vast majority of properties are listed between $400,000 & $800,000 which is quite a spread; however, we have seen prices soften in the last several months which bodes well for buyers.
85 pending sales is a positive sign. Despite the difficulties facing buyers and sellers these days, homes are selling. One factor to keep in mind is that almost 25% of these pending sales are short sales (distressed properties). Recent history informs us that many of these sales don’t hold together.
There have been 10 closed sales since the beginning of March. It will be interesting to see how many more homes sell by the end of the month.
Posted by James Lupori: Author of www.kenmoreundressed.com
Statistics for the Utterly Confused courtesy of inju.
March 13th, 2009
Posted by Larry Cragun
Larry and Kathleen are long time real estate and mortgage professionals.
Larry has posted an article here on the future for real estate companies on Issaquah Highlands Undressed and here about the future for mortgage companies on Issaquah Undressed.
March 12th, 2009
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
A license plate on a car was the inspiration for the title of this article. What mall is THE destination mall in the Greater Seattle Area? BELLEVUE SQ MALL of course! When you want to go “To ‘d Mall” this is it!
Bellevue Sq and Lincoln Sq and Bellevue Place are all linked together with sky bridges, making it even more the mall to go to. Bellevue Sq has recently completed a face lift. If you haven’t been lately, get ready for a different look and some new stores.
New floors all around are part of the new look.
A New Clock, A New Elevator
March 9th, 2009
Posted by Larry Cragun
If you are unfamiliar with the Seattle area this shot of Bellevue gives a pretty good glimpse of some of the many reasons to live here.
If you are going to work in Bellevue, say Micorosoft, you may be in one of these buildings. The Redemond campus is about 15 minutes east. You can live and work near the same location.
It is hard to beat living in one of the high rise condominiums. The location will probably be near entertainment, work, shopping, eating out, bowling, the works.
Note the water, this is Lake Washington. Great for boating, even cruising around looking at Bill Gates home around the bend.
The bridge you see is the I-90 bridge. A short shot to downtown Seattle, with an exit at Qwest Field and Safeco Field. Hey sports fan, this is the year Seattle Sports bounces back. It all starts with the University of Washington Huskies winning the PAC 10 Conference basketball title. The University is a quck trip across the bridge and a few miles north.
Snoqualmie pass is within reach of Bellevue - 45 minutes to skiing and hiking. Issaquah is 10 minutes down the road: nice restaurants, The Cougar Mountain Zoo, Access to Lake Sammamish and Lake Sammamash State Park with its beaches and picnic areas.
Keep coming back, we will provide more detail about the great things to do within a short distance to Bellevue.
March 8th, 2009
Posted by susan moore
Come watch! The Newport Knights hook up with Bellevue, Skyline and Issaquah for some preseason jamboree action on Saturday, March 14. The varsity and jv teams play at Newport, while the freshmen squads travel to Bellevue High School. Games start at 11:30 am. Pancake/Sausage Breakfast
Fuel up for a full day of jamboree baseball by stopping off at the Newport High School cafeteria for some all-you-can-eat grub. Griddle is hot from 8-11:00 am. $3.00 at the door.
March 4th, 2009
Posted by Larry Cragun
Below is a photo of one of my favorite Bellevue homes.
Before dragging Kathleen into real estate she was a published designer. Many locals saw her work in many of the Street of Dreams she participated in. Kathleen is an expert when it comes to knowing what to do and what not to do when it comes to preparing your home for sale.
Our co-writer Susan Moore also has had considerable experience and plenty of talent in this area.
March 3rd, 2009
Posted by Larry Cragun
Our entire Pacific Northwest is a point a camera and shoot delight.
I first moved to the Seattle area many Octobers ago. The winter was unusual - it rained all winter and into the spring. Truly, I never saw the sun from the day we arrived until sometime in late March. As much as they say it rains here, a myth we now know, this was an extreme.
The upside that winter was my office. It looked directly at this beautiful mountain from the top floor of our Bellevue office.
Recently, my aunt sent me these great photos and in posting them I remind those new to our great country - always take your camera with you. Especially have it when you are in view of Mt Rainier. Have it ready at all times. Too many times the dances with the clouds have come and gone before I could capture them.
Thanks Aunt Ruth. Lar
February 26th, 2009
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
Garden at NW Flower and Garden Show
While visiting the Northwest Flower and Garden Show at the Seattle Convention Center, my daughter and her husband took me to a very yummy place to eat I had never heard of:
Specialty's Cafe
I just found out they have one in Bellevue Square Mall. I’m hungry. I’m GONE. I’m going there! BYE!
