Beacon Hill

Columbia City is the place to hear the best live music in the city. For five nights from June through October between 4pm to 9pm on the second Sunday of the month, BeatWalk places an extraordinarily talented and diverse range of musicians in our neighborhood businesses, from the book store to the fitness center, the salon to the deli. All sorts of music from all around the world spills into the streets, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Beatwalk is funded solely through sponsorships and donations.Click HERE to read more. 

Named after Christopher Columbus, this neighborhood has aspired to be great. With its community pride and historic buildings, Columbia City has kept its personality even with a rising popularity.

From the Andrew Carnegie-funded Columbia City branch of the Seattle Public Library to the Rainier Community Center - the second-largest community center in the state - and the gorgeous flowers from the farmer's market, some great cheese and lots of neighbors, this is what makes Columbia City so special. Check out MORE on this historic landmark district in Seattle. 

Check out MORE on this historic landmark district in Seattle. 

SEARCH COLUMBIA CITY HOMES!

Heartfel restoration of our inner city Seattle community park - beautiful acreage coming to life!

Hundreds of volunteers have worked for years to clear invasive ivy and blackberry remove garbage, and build a trail system in the 10-acre Cheasty Greenspace at Mountain View, located just south of Alaskan Way and west of Rainier Ave S. in Seattle’s Rainier Valley. Next up is the 33-acre section of the park, where a planned complete restoration will bring hiking and mountain bike trails. Source: CHEASTY GREENSPACE

Bread, cakes, and pastries oh my! What a great find off the main drag in Columbia City. The aroma of freshly baked breads will arrest your senses and the greatest gesture of hospitality will keep you coming back for more. From croissants to whiskey coffee cake, this fine bakery makes them all and does its work superbly. Check them out on your next visit to Columbia City. COLUMBIA CITY BAKERY.

Since 1996 Bike Works has worked to educate and empower youth to build sustainable communities by educating youth, promoting bicycling, and making bicycling accessible and affordable to the Seattle community. They offer youth and adult programs and include a non-profit community as well as a recycle program. Click HERE for more information about this company and how they are inspiring the community. 

I'm sure you've heard that King County home prices are on the rise but how much, you say? This chart, courtesy of Seattle Times, shows exactly how high. 

In short, buyers have become more aggressive. Fearing higher interest rates, they are offering high prices with less terms in the face of a record low inventory of homes. For those buyers who come to us saying, "I don't want to get into a bidding war." In this market, that's like saying, "I want to play basketball and not bounce the ball." Good luck with that! 

The median price for single-family homes sold in King County has recovered the ground lost since the last peak in 2007. Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service (Garland Potts / The Seattle Times)

With all of it's hills and waterways, Seattle as a city has always had to be pretty creative with their transportation system. Here are some pictures of how Seattlelites used to get around town, and their more recent counterparts. 

While the Seattle Monorail hasn't changed a whole lot over the years, the view from the ride has changed quite a bit.

Did you know that the Washington State Ferry system is the largest in the country, and the fourth largest ferry system in the world? We love our water travel.

Electric overhead lines are still used a lot for the Seattle Metro routes in the city, less exhaust fumes are created between our buildings.

It's clear that transportation in Seattle

Are you a first-time home buyer?  

Help is on the way...

http://www.realtor.com/advice/5-tips-minimizing-first-time-home-buyer-stress/

We are here for you!  http://www.upagents.com/contact.php

I am happy to hear this news for our buyers who get detained in FICO credit jail - barred from buying because of this issue. This just in from David Haley of Mortgage Today:
 
Fair Isaac announced it is changing how credit scores are calculated. It will stop including any record of a consumer failing to pay a bill if it has been paid or settled with a collection agency, and adding less weight to unpaid medical bills that are in collection.

David goes on to explain...WHAT IS FICO?
- The FICO score is the most popular credit score model in the country. It's a statistical calculation based on the information in your credit profile.
- FICO reports several types of scores. Each is tailored for a different purpose, such as a credit card, personal, installment, auto

Has anyone else noticed that thing called the sun in the sky, recently? I have - and I’m taking it as a sure sign of summer! One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to wander down to a local farmers market, sample the juicy raspberries and find a beautiful flower bouquet for my kitchen table.

We’ve compiled a list of local farmers markets, so you can enjoy the experience as well!

Alki
West Seattle Farmers Market
Sundays, 10am to 2pm, year-round
44th Ave SW & SW Alaska St, Seattle, WA 98116

Ballard
Ballard Farmers Market
Sunday, 10am to 3pm, year-round
Historic Ballard Ave

Beacon Hill
Proposed, but no existing Farmers Market

Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill Farmers Market
Sundays, 11am to 3pm, year-round
Broadway Ave E and E Pine Street

Central District
Madrona