Blog - Robin Myers

Bellevue, condominiums, home property values, real estate

Where Are the Bellevue Condominiums?

An article in the Puget Sound Business Journal this week compared the available local condominium inventory to New York City. Granted, NYC is a much larger and more expensive market, but currently NYC has 388 condos for sale priced less than $500,00. At the time the article was written there were only five condos available […]
Seahawks, supporting communities, Windermere, YouthCare

Windermere & the Seahawks Tackle Homelessness

Windermere Real Estate has partnered with the Seahawks this season to tackle homelessness. So far this year the #tacklehomelessness campaign has raised $14,600. For every defensive home game tackle, Windermere is donating $100 to YouthCare which provides services and housing to homeless youth. GO SEAHAWKS!
Downtown Bellevue, lifestyle, light rail

Bellevue Light Rail Tunnel Construction

https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/going-underground-east-link-light-rail-moving-forward-under-downtown-bellevue?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oct_digest No doubt the road closures throughout the city have been frustrating – be patient and flexible as those detours will continue for the next several years as the light rail construction progresses toward the 2023 opening. Those tall green walls at the corner of Main Street and 112th Avenue NE shelter the construction activity […]
Bellevue, condominiums, first time buyers, home property values, real estate

Buying a Home with Less than 20% Down

It’s a common misconception that a minimum 20% down payment is required to purchase a home. Buyers, saving to put 20% down on a home purchase, could be missing the opportunity to buy a home, and instead are watching prices continue to escalate. There are excellent loan programs available with 5% or 10% down (even […]

Bellevue Where Are the Bellevue Condominiums? An article in the Puget Sound Business Journal this week compared the available local condominium inventory to New York City. Granted, NYC is a much larger and more expensive market, but currently NYC has 388 condos for sale priced less than $500,00. At the time the article was written there were only five condos available […]

Seahawks Windermere & the Seahawks Tackle Homelessness Windermere Real Estate has partnered with the Seahawks this season to tackle homelessness. So far this year the #tacklehomelessness campaign has raised $14,600. For every defensive home game tackle, Windermere is donating $100 to YouthCare which provides services and housing to homeless youth. GO SEAHAWKS!

Downtown Bellevue Bellevue Light Rail Tunnel Construction https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/going-underground-east-link-light-rail-moving-forward-under-downtown-bellevue?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oct_digest No doubt the road closures throughout the city have been frustrating – be patient and flexible as those detours will continue for the next several years as the light rail construction progresses toward the 2023 opening. Those tall green walls at the corner of Main Street and 112th Avenue NE shelter the construction activity […]

Bellevue Buying a Home with Less than 20% Down It’s a common misconception that a minimum 20% down payment is required to purchase a home. Buyers, saving to put 20% down on a home purchase, could be missing the opportunity to buy a home, and instead are watching prices continue to escalate. There are excellent loan programs available with 5% or 10% down (even […]

Bellevue Bellevue’s Newest Lake-to-Lake Video There’s lots happening in the city. Watch the latest Lake-to-Lake video, produced monthly by the City of Bellevue. Meet Bellevue’s Newest 4 Legged Police Force Member Visit the Downtown Park Inspiration Playground Watch the progress of the light rail tunnel being constructed downtown With it’s thriving central business district, a vibrant arts and entertainment scene […]

Downtown Bellevue Does Commute Time Impact Home Value? How does commute time impact local home values and buyer’s decisions on neighborhood selection? According to the US Census, Americans rank having a short commute second only to low crime rates when it comes to determining where to buy or rent a home. One study found that New Yorkers will pay nearly $60 more a […]

Downtown Bellevue Another New Restaurant Downtown Another new restaurant, Henry’s Tavern, is scheduled to open August 30th at Lincoln Square. Henry’s Tavern is best known for its wide selection of beers on tap, its frosted bar rail to keep beers cold and a vast menu. This will be the sixth Henry’s Tavern for Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. Henry’s opened in Portland in […]

Community Service Day Windermere Community Service Day You may have difficulty getting in touch with your local Windermere broker today, but there’s a very good reason. Today is Community Service Day. A tradition at Windermere since 1984, each year Windermere offices close for the day to help make a positive difference in our communities. Over 30 years and more than one million […]

Bellevue Bellevue Downtown Park Completion The “Complete the Circle” project at the Downtown Park is underway with work scheduled to be completed in time for this year’s Fourth of July celebration. The nearly year long project includes completion of the last section of the circular canal and tree lined promenade, creating a new entry and water feature at the south […]

Bellevue 2016 Strong for Condo Sellers With only 24 resale condos listed for sale in downtown Bellevue there are very few choices for buyers ready to purchase. (Add in the 39 developer owned units still available at Washington Square and the total is barely over 60 in the entire downtown marketplace). Inventory is at historic lows, prices are at or near […]

Uncategorized A Thankful Time of Year I love what I do and enjoy the opportunity to educate and guide buyers and sellers through the process (and sometimes stress) of buying or selling a home. If you worked with me this year, or bought or sold a home through Windermere Real Estate, you are part of the Windermere Foundation and you made […]

condo financing Rising Interest Rates – No Need to Over React The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 0.25 percent this week, causing concern that increasing mortgage interest rates will follow, which could have a negative impact on the housing market. Its unlikely we'll see any significant increase in mortgage interest rates in the immediate future. Could they rise in the coming months, possibly, but not […]

Uncategorized Condos are Low Maintenance, But Not Maintenance Free One of the advantages of a condo or townhouse lifestyle is the low maintenance. Homeowners aren't generally responsible for maintaining the exterior of the structure, roof, landscaping, garage doors, etc. However, owning a condo or townhouse isn't "maintenance free". Home repairs often come without warning – the hot water tank or an appliance fails, the […]

Uncategorized Buyer Closing Costs First time buyers, and even homeowners who haven't purchased a home in quite some time, can be surprised when they learn there are closing costs in addition to their down payment required when purchasing a home. Early in the process, whether with your Realtor® or lender, closing costs should be discussed so those don't come […]

home property values How Smart is Your Home? I was recently approached for an on-the-street survey conducted by a major local tech company regarding smart houses, asking if I would value "smart house" features for comfort, convenience, energy conservation and security. The growth of "smart homes" has exploded worldwide. According to a recent article in Realtor® Magazine, approximately 100 million households will be […]

home property values Seattle vs. San Francisco – Affordability vs. Lifestyle Both San Francisco and Seattle have an abundance of tech jobs. Anyone in the tech industry casting a wide net in their job search could expect to find job opportunities in both cities. While both locations would provide career growth opportunities and a stimulating lifestyle, where would you move and how would make that choice? […]

condo financing Condo Financing and the FHA Condominiums offer a great opportunity for first time buyers to enter homeownership and begin to build wealth, equity and credit. FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans were a popuilar option for financing as they often offered more favorable interest rates and down payment options than conventional loans. In recent years FHA has placed significant restrictions on […]

Bellevue Condos Fill Affordability Niche in Bellevue Housing prices keep going up and available inventory keeps shrinking . . . this combination continues to drive prices upward with no immediate relief in sight. With Eastside home values appreciating on average 10%+ per year, finding an affordable home can be challenging. While the suburbs are popular with some buyers, the demand for urban […]

Uncategorized Remember to Pack Your Humor when Searching for a Home Follow the link below to a five episode series produced by Realtor.com featuring Elizabeth Banks reminding everyone that searching for and purchasing a home requires patience and humor. With mounds of paperwork required to obtain financing, weeks or months spent searching for a home, multiple offers, waiting to see if your offer is accepted, packing, cleaning, […]

home property values Walkable Neighborhoods Increase Property Values Walkable neighborhoods continue to grow in popularity with buyers placing high value on access to workplaces, entertainment, shopping and dining without having to rely on a car. A home's walkability is not only increasingly in demand, its also a factor in raising home values. Recent data shows that mixed-use transit oriented neighborhoods improve property values […]