Seattle Condo Review: Blog with News & Advice about Seattle Condos

Seattle Condo Market update

Spring is here so let's see how the numbers are looking.  For the month of March, inventory remains high in Seattle at 52.43% compared to same time last year.  Year-over-year pending sales dropped 27.76%. In fact, from January to March 08, we have seen a consistent drop in closed sales over the same time last year.  However, in March, median price for Seattle condos increased by 4.11%. 

Days on market remains longer than same time last year for all the neighborhoods.  Months of inventory in Belltown/downtown has recovered from early this year.  In January, Feburary and March, the months inventory has been shrinking from 14, to 8.3 to 7.6.  It looks like we are moving from a buyers' market gradually to a balanced market in Belltown/downtown.  Kudos to those buyers who picked up great deals in January.

Summary: More property is on the market and staying on the market longer than last year; however, sellers are not slashing prices nearly as much as some had expected.  Most homebuyers are taking a little bit longer to decide on their purchase knowing that there is not as much urgency.  Sellers on the other hand are still holding on to the prices they believe their condos ought to command and in some cases are making a symbolic reductions in the price but rarely more than 10%.  For the sellers who can wait, they are opting to rent out their condo to capitalize on the strong rental market.

Flashback: I was curious how many readers were right about their prediction on the market for March 08 compared to Fall 2007?  22% of SCR voters were right that the market will perform the same in March (~5% change in median price) compared to September 07 but sell at a slower rate.  About half of the poll takers incorrectly predicted in October that the pricing in the spring would drop by up to 30%.

-Wendy

Trio Update

The recently completed Trio project started moving in home buyers this month.  The project is almost 50% sold.  During the initial launch, Trio did not get much attention from Realtors and homebuyers. This was largely due to what many people considered unrealistic pricing.  Since then, the developer has made some price adjustments which are more in line with the market.  Ironically, they probably ended up making bigger reductions than they would have had to had they launched with more reasonable pricing to begin with.  (Of course, such observations are always easier in hindsight.)

              Trio                                              Matae

I had been to the construction site a few times for hard hat tours last year but decided to take another look this weekend now that it's done.  Here are a couple of oberservations during a recent visit this weekend:

- The common areas (e.g. club room, roof top deck) turned out nicer than I expected compared to other wood-framed condos in Belltown, especially compared to the Matae (which exterior looks similar to Trio from the outside).

- One floor plan that is worth checking out is their northeast facing unit which has a outdoor deck right off the living room.  You don't get much of a view but the generous outdoor area maybe a nice hangout when you have friends over.

- The developer is offering incentives such as Plasma TV and furniture when homebuyers purchase a unit.  On top of that, they are also offering a price guarantee to new homebuyers. Looks like developers are starting to pay attention and follow suit after the recent announcement of Olive 8's pricing guarantee.

Overall, Trio is a decent condo with a slightly better amenities that its competitors.  If concrete and steel prices are out of your budget and you prefer to be close to a park, this project is worth a look.

-Wendy             

Western and Blanchard: Reader Survey Results

We had quite a handful of readers participating in the Western and Blanchard survey. Here are some highlights and key takeaways from the results. __________________________________________

Summary:

1. Close to 2/3 of the participants feel that there are too many planned amenities for this project. I wonder if they are more concerned about higher dues that are associated with more amenities or they simply do not need them.
2. Not surprisingly, 58% of the participants find that the location is a major selling point. It is really hard to argue about the location when it is only a couple of blocks from Pike Place Market.
3. 65% feel that a finger print scanner at the front entrance is a neat feature but not important to them.
4. 40% feel that the reputation of the developers is extremely important to them. With all the reports about leaky condos and delays in construction, I would have imagined more homebuyers would find that as a major consideration.
5. Out of the various green features (green roof, solar powered common are lighting, high efficient heating and recycled builidng materials), 64% picked high efficient heating.
6. Half of the participants are willing to pay $10,000 for air-conditioning in their unit.   

For full survey results, click here.

-Wendy

Western and Blanchard- Help Design It?

 

I've been learning about a new Belltown project summarized below. I also interviewed the developer as well as agreed to post an SCR survey to give my readers the opportunity to help design the project and to help make sure they build something that people want. Feel free to fill out the 10 question survey, it'll take you a couple of minutes and I'll post results in a couple of weeks so we can all see what people thought.

Western and Blanchard, a mixed-use project will be located on the parking lot west of Continental Place Condos. (across the street from Belltown Billards). This project would be a 6 story wood framed building with approximately 116 units, 80 of them will be around 600 square feet. The top 2 levels will feature views of the water while other units may have either Space Needle or City views. Most of the units will be priced under $400,000. Interiors will feature 10' clear ceilings. Amenities would include (2) media rooms, fitness center, business center, roof top deck and perhaps part-time concierge.

Sample floor plan for their small "price point" units

Projects done by the same developer, Murray Franklyn :Bellora, Pomeroy, Austin Bell, Cristalla and Madison Tower.  Click below to read my interview with the developer and for a link to the survey.
 

Condo Purchase Post Mortem Analysis

In a recent post, we looked at three projects completed last year and how closely the developers delivered on what they promised. Nothing beats hearing first-hand experience from homeowners who actually bought into these condos. I interviewed three buyers and summarized their responses below.

Two of these homeowners were represented by me and one is an SCR reader for whom I worked on a different subsequent property. If buying a pre-sale condo as your primary residence is one of your New Year's resolutions, you may want to get some insights from some folks who preceded you in the Seattle condo market.

Mosler Lofts

1.) What sold you on this condo?
    
Primarily the location but also the price per square foot and the particular unit available.

2.) How closely did the developer deliver (concept, compared to the rendering, architectural design, model unit versus your unit, overall finishes etc.)
         
Very accurate on the concept. Did not review a model unit but floor plan was pretty close to the actual.

3.) How was the overall buying process for you?
         
Unsatisfactory delays and poor communication by developer and developer's agent.

4.) Do you have any advice for first time new construction buyers?
          
Review the developer's track record and also the developer's agent. Negotiate upfront remedies for delays and/or be prepared for them.

Belltown Recovery?

It's still very early but I noticed there was a slight uptick in activity in the core Belltown resale market in December. 

In November, there were only two 2BR units in the $400-600K range in Belltown that went from Active to Contingent. In December, there were four units that went from Active to Contingent status (note: Decembers are historically a slower month than Novembers).

Perhaps this is an early indicator that some buyers, who seemed to be price inelastic over the last few months, are starting to pull the trigger once again. 

Stay tuned.

-Wendy

Where in Seattle will the investor money go in 2008?

Pre-Construction Marketing versus Reality

One of the questions new construction home buyers often ask is, "How do we know that the condo we are buying is going to be close to what is being promised, the perfectly lighted model unit, and dainty plastic diorama?"

The truth of the matter is that the display model, renderings, brochures and any advertising materials are tools for the developer to communicate a concept but they have (and will excercise) the right to make modifications during the actual construction. The best developers and marketers will not overpromise and stay very true to the spirit of the concept marketed. In terms of legal recourse, there's a wide grey area between the developer making some tweaks and serious false advertising. This kind of risk only increases the value of buying from a developer and the project's marketing firm which both have long, verifiable, and positive track records of promoting and delivering well-designed, quality product on spec, and on time. 

So how good are developers at keeping their promises? When I started this blog almost two years ago, many new construction projects were already in the works. I thought it would be neat to take a look at a few examples: Mosler Lofts, Lumen and The Parc and compare their marketed concepts to the actual delivered product.

Mosler Lofts (Marketed by Williams Marketing, Developed by Schuster Group)

       Advertised                             Actual

I have to say that among the three condos marketed a couple of years ago, Mosler Lofts's exterior is extremely close to what was advertised -- many people feel it looks even better than the pre-sales renderings. Its glass and brick combination has a very solid feel, almost a cross between Avenue One and Bellora condos. As for the interior, the finishes presented in the sales center are also very close. One nit: some pre-sales buyers were surprised by the large exposed metal ducts below the ceilings and unpainted concrete ceilings. (To be fair, these ducts appeared on the floor plan documentation but I've heard from a few buyers that it wasn't obvious to them when they were at the sales center.)

Lastly, Mosler Lofts was projected for June 2007 occupancy and started the move-ins in November 2007. This was partly due to a 1 month concrete strike in August 2006 and partly a bad estimate.

      Avenue One                               Bellora

Most Read SCR Posts of 2007

In case you missed any, here were the most popular posts of 2007.  Happy reading!

-Wendy

1. Escala Update

Summary of the project and Q&A with the Escala sales manager.

2. AVA

Summary an interview with Ava marketing manager.

3. Carbon 56

Summary and scorecard of the Carbon 56 project.

4. Seattle Condos 2.0

What's next?

5. 2200 Westlake Flippers....Still Waiting to Flip

Plight of flippers and discussion on why they were hurting.

6. Four Seasons Update

Summary of project and Q&A with sales manager.

7. Vine, Ellington and Klee

Summary of top Belltown resale buildings.

8. Lumen

Summary of tour of completed project and scorecard.

9. October Market Update

The game of chicken begins between buyers and sellers.

10. The Pittsburgh

Review of historic seattle condo.

Seattle Largest Condo Project- Insignia

The site of Teatro Zinzani will soon become home of Seattle's largest condominium project. Occupying the whole lot between 5th and 6th Ave and Bell and Battery Street, Insignia condominiums will begin construction next year. The twin tower condos will feature a whopping 643 units ranging from one to three bedrooms and from about 763 sf to 2,650 sf. Read more.

Seattle Condos 2.0

-Wendy

Seattle's Best Looking New project

Fifteen Twenty One               Escala                             AVA

        1 Hotel                        Olive 8                      Four Seasons

 

Art House

So besides the recently completed Parc, Gallery and Alex (which are still in the works in Belltown), what else is in the pipeline for home buyers who are looking for an urban dwelling in trendy Belltown?

Art House: a new project nestled between two apartment buildings on 2334 Elliott Ave and one block away from the water's edge of Elliot Bay. Details are thin on this project but it's worth keeping an eye out.

The 9 story building will feature 117 units of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and 2 story town home style floor plans. Prices will start at the high $200,000's. Judging from the website's rendering, the design has quite a substaintial amount of glass.  Will be interesting to see how they balance letting in lots of natural light and views while protecting privacy.

-Wendy

Alex Condos Update

When completed, Alex Condos will be in the epicenter of Belltown on the corner of 1st Ave and Bell St. The project started construction a few months ago and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008.

Developed by Saltaire and designed by Snell Partnership, this 9 story new addition to the neighborhood will feature one and two bedroom floor plans. Prices range from $500,000 to over $2 million and home sizes will range between 600-1,200 square feet. On first glance, these prices seem way out of line with the market -- not sure if there are lots of people looking to pay half a million for 600 square feet or $2M for 1,200 square feet -- we'll have to see if the developer continues to aspire for those prices and if the building can really attract buyers at those price points. 

Nevertheless, I am impressed with the choice of concrete and steel structure for a fairly short building and the proposed classy look of the exterior. You also can't beat the location if you're a true urban dweller. The building's exterior is inspired by Seattle's historic brick buidings and features muted red brick and dark green window frames. A classic canvas canopy will cover the residential entrance, and iron and glass canopies adorn the sides. A locally designed mural will also be displayed along Bell Street.

Unit interiors will use a combination of classic materials, refined fixtures, imported appliances, and extensive floor to ceiling case work.

Address :2233 First Avenue

Estimated occupancy : September 2008

Construction : Concrete and steel

Amenities : Pre-screened Housekeeping, dry cleaning, meal delivery, grocery delivery and reservation services available through a private "cyber" concierge

The project aims to create a historic design with a mural on the street fascade. Artwork will also be installed on the sidewalk to create a more interesting personality for the building.

Snell Partnership portfolio of projects located near Alex:

        Pomeroy                     Austin Bell

Award winning 8 story     Restoration and seismic
concrete building with     upgrade of 1893 buidling.
52 condominum units.

Related Posts:

Alex condos- Epicenter of Belltown
Pomeroy

-About Wendy

Featured Listing- Queen Anne Studio

The Parc Update

The Parc has started closing on their units and home buyers have already started moving in to the building. Earlier this week, they had their grand opening to showcase the model unit. So far, they are about 90% sold with 25 remaining units still available.

Here are a couple of my observations:

• Compared to its sister project, Avenue One, The Parc has a slightly more appealing lobby with water features and modern design. However, the clubroom does not have the outdoor deck like Avenue One.
• Even though both buildings are constructed on a slope, Avenue One has more units closer to street level (especially the east and south units) with windows facing either the parking garage right across the alley or the street.
• The quality of the finishes in the Parc is consistent with Avenue One.

• 

         Avenue One Club room                    The Parc Club room

So how was last week's condo tour for them? As it turns out, close to 850 visitors turned up. Most of the visitors were folks from the east side taking advantage of the tour to check out some of the new developments in the more interesting side of the lake ;-)

Related Posts:

Best ROI poll results
Rent a condo or hotel?
The Parc

Available units on the market.

-About Wendy

p.s. I'm hosting an open house for a 2BR condo in Belltown this Sunday from 1-4PM.  Feel free to swing by and say hello if you'd like to talk about the market or other projects.

Microsoft Supports Belltown Condo Market?

I was walking my dog this morning and noticed a number of MSFT employees congregating on the corner of First and Wall.  Apparently, Microsoft is now offering a regular shuttle service from First/Wall in Belltown (and other Seattle locations) to the tech giant's Redmond campus! 

This is great news for Belltown condo owners / MSFT employees.  In fact, this is literally on the same block as the lucky folks at Belltown Court.

Here's the official release from MSFT.

-About Wendy

Seattle Condo Tour

This month, Fisher Broadcasting has organized a Condo tour for homebuyers to check out a list of participating new construction and conversion projects in several neighborhoods. If you have just started the search process, this may be a good chance to make use of their map to get around to check out the condos. (You may also find my SCR Map useful.)  Fisher Broadcasting is providing a complimentary shuttle service to cart you around from sales center to sales center.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan on using a Realtor to represent you if/when you buy, be mindful when you register at the sales centers. Just fill in your Realtor's name when they ask if you are working with a Realtor, otherwise you risk needing to pay more out of pocket or getting limited service should you retain the services of a Realtor later.   

When: September 22nd & September 23rd (Saturday & Sunday)

Where :Shuttle service starts at Fisher Plaza (11.00am)

List of condos : visit www.SeattleCondoTour.com

Related posts:

Do you really need a buyer's agent?
Pre-construction purchase
Picking and working with a Realtor

-About Wendy

1,400 Microsoft employees in Seattle

Happy news for condo owners: Microsoft announced today that they will be expanding its office space in Seattle, eventually adding almost 1,400 employees in the area. The expansion will include a lease of a 126,000 square foot office in the Westlake/Terry Building in the South Lake Union neighborhood and two other new locations in Pioneer Square and 505 Union Station. 

Related news:

Microsoft setting up new office sites in Seattle
Microsoft moving into Paul Allen project in Seattle
Microsoft plans expansion into Seattle

-About Wendy

Condo Investments - Not for the Faint of Heart

A lot of my clients are experienced investors. However, I also work with first-time investors as well. For those folks who aren't planning on using their new property as a primary residence and haven't bought and sold investment properties before, there are some things I generally go over before we even consider touring the first unit: 

• Buying a property for zero down and renting it out expecting you'll make a monthly income after dues, taxes, and expenses is highly unlikely to happen. Perhaps you can find a really under priced dated unit and are able to do the renovations yourself but in general, investors experience short term losses and reap their profits in the medium to long term at selling time. 
• Especially if it's primarily an investment property, buying a pricey unit today that is in a hot building may not leave a lot of head room for appreciation a few years out. Consider units that are attractively priced and/or in areas that are still developing (and priced accordingly).
• Run the numbers. Make sure you whip out your Excel and see what your monthly costs, taxes, and expected resale value will be to see if the figures pencil out. If the numbers don't work out on paper, they probably won't in real life either.

Hope this helps!

-About Wendy

Matae

Completed in 2006, the Matae is located on the north edge of Belltown on Denny Way, the road that separates Belltown and Queen Anne. "Built Smart," the Matae's exterior is comprised of corrugated metal siding, exposed concrete, and innovative fiberglass windows.

This is a six story would framed building with concrete on the lower floors.  The building features studios, one bedroom plus den's, and two bedroom units. Amenities include a roof top deck, club room and exercise room.

Some of my observations of this building:

• So far, the units that I have viewed come with hardwood floors throughout the living area. This is kind of unusual for a wood framed building considering many homeowner assocations face the complaints brought up by their neighbors on noise.
• Since there's nothing particularly outstanding about this building, this is probably not top condo of home buyers' minds but nevertheless, a decent condo to consider if you prefer to be close to the Belltown and Lower Queen Anne and might be priced out of more popular buildings.
• North facing units will deal with the road traffic noise from Denny way.

-About Wendy

Technorati Tags: Matae condos, Matae Belltown, Seattle Condos, Seattle Real Estate

Pomeroy condos

The Pomeroy is a quitely elegant building located in the heart of Belltown on 1st Ave and Battery. Interestingly shaped like a triangle, this 8 story concrete and steel building houses 52 condominiums which comprise several open and enclosed one bedroom, one bedroom plus den, two bedroom, and two bedroom plus den units along with one 2,700 square foot penthouse.

The open one bedroom units feature a layout with a raised platform bedroom right off the entry way. While this is a bit unconventional, what you also get are high quality finishes, a spacious layout, and a great amount of windows.

Pomeroy's most outstanding amenity is the roof top deck, probably one of the best in Belltown. This exclusive perch allows residents to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the Puget Sound while grilling summer dinners. One might think that since it is located so close to the viaduct, traffic noise is unbearable. You would be surprised since the units have excellent sound insulation, air conditioning, and the overall quality of construction is top notch.

Alex Condos: Epicenter of Belltown

Alex condos, a new condo project on 1st and Bell has announced itself with some signage on the construction site generating lots of intrigue from local folks and savvy investors who understand the value of this prime location. With only 32 units in the building, assuming it's not extremely forward priced, it's likely this one will move pretty quickly.

I'll be doing some more research in the next few weeks to find out some more details on this project.  In the meantime, feel free to comment if you've heard anything.

-About Wendy

alex seattle condos belltown condos seattle real estate

Seattle Condos 2.0

Though many new condos like Escala, Vulcan's projects, Cosmopolitan and Hotel 1 have been receiving a lot of attention in recent months, many home buyers are wondering "what's next?"

For those who have time or don't like what's on the immediate horizon, the good news is there is another wave of projects currently in the incubation stage as we speak. Some of these may not make it but many of them will.  Here are some highlights of the new projects in the pipeline.

A few interesting projects :

Skygarden              2301 6th Ave                 2nd and Pike
(First Hill)               (Belltown)                     (Downtown)

Seattle Condo Expo Update

Sponsored by the Seattle Times and The Seattle Post Intelligencer, the “Mega Open House”, Seattle Condo Expo and Realtor Symposium took place yesterday with approximately 2,500 visitors. The expo included exhibitors from many of the high profile new construction projects in the core of Seattle as well as Bellevue.

The main highlight was the presentation given by Senior Principal and land use economist, Matthew Gardner, and Blaine Weber, principal from Weber + Thompson Architects.  Matthew touched on the inventory coming on the market as well as the outlook for the next few years. Here is some interesting data he presented (Here is my own analysis from May 12th):

• The average project size for new construction is around 150 units for 2007-2009 inventory and 300 units for 2010 inventory.

• Condos completing in 2007 are mostly sold out. 50% of 2008 inventory is reserved and 9% of 2009 inventory is reserved.

• In Seattle, the biggest portion of inventory, approximately 3500 units is proposed for 2010. However, these inventories may not all come through.

Vine, Ellington and Klee

Even though there’s been a lot of condo inventory coming from new construction projects in the Belltown and Downtown areas, many home buyers are finding themselves unable to afford the goods in the various and sundry pricey new showrooms. If you are a home buyer who has a flexible purchasing timeline and feeling that you are not getting the bang for your buck from the latest projects, the market for a condo that’s a few years old may be your next best alternative.

Let’s look at a few early 2000 condos that may not have the fanciest finishes or latest features but will probably meet most of your home criteria and allow you to experience stylish urban living.

The Vine

The Vine

The Vine, located on Western Ave between Cedar and Clay St, is the winner of over 16 Regional and National Awards including the “Attached community of the year 2003.” The condo is made up of a 12 story high rise with an adjoining 6 story mid-rise with a rooftop terrace. The interior home concepts were designed by local renowned designer, Garret Cord Werner. One interesting floor plan available is their one bedroom plus den. It gives the homeowner the flexiblility to open up an interior opening from the bedroom into the living room.

More info:
Vine condos slideshow
Vine condos currently on the market

The Ellington

The Ellington

One of many Intra-corp projects in Belltown, the Ellington has two 12 story buildings connected by an enclosed hallway. In terms of finishes, Ellington is very similar to the Vine.  Some buyers complain that the windows are a bit on the small side but the location and overall quality of construction are quite attractive.

More info:
Ellington condos slideshow
Ellington condos currently on the market

The Klee

The Klee

Named after Paul Klee, a Swiss artist of German descent, the Klee is an apartment bulding which was converted to condos in 2004. Designed by Hewitt Architects, the same firm who also designed Lumen in Queen Anne, the Klee comprises two buildings with a central courtyard. The north concrete tower contains 98 condominiums and the adjacent southern wood-frame building includes 42 units. 13 open flat lofts are located between the two buildings. The Klee is best known for its open one bedrooms. If you like a lot of privacy, this may not be an ideal floor plan for you but you can generally get a lot of bang for your buck regardless of what floor plan you end up picking.

Featured Listing- 2BR/2BA Condo- $455,900

More info:
Klee condos slideshow

Seattle Heights

Every now and then, clients will ask if I can find a condo in the heart of Belltown that is also quiet and safe. One would think that might be hard since you are after all picking an urban neighborhood; however, there are exceptions.  Seattle Heights on 2nd Ave between Wall St and Cedar St has always been a client favorite.

This 26 story high rise condo was built in 1994.  A few years ago, it had water intrusion problems and the building was wrapped up for more than a year. New siding and windows were replaced. Now, the building is looking as good as new. Unlike the typical high rise condo in Belltown, Seattle heights has a fairly unique architectural shape.

        

         Before repair                   After repair

It also has very diverse floor plans ranging from studios to 3 bedroom’s including a number of rare two story condo units found on the 5th level. Its location is ideal for home buyers who don’t want to deal with the urban weekend noise yet still want a location near the center of all the action.

Pros

- Open layout and oversized windows

- Great amenities (one of the few in Belltown with a pool)

- Diverse views of the City, Puget Sound, Queen Anne neighborhood and Lake Union.

Cons

- Homeowner dues are higher than other condos built around the same time.

- Interior finishes may feel slightly dated compared to more recent buildings.

Exterior:           Good

Interior:           Good

Location:         Good

Value:             Good

View:           Very Good

Amenities:       Good
   
Overall:           Good

Final Thoughts:

One of the best overall combinations of value, quality, and location in Belltown.  If you don't need the latest in finishes and amenities, this is a building most people should at least strongly consider.

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: Seattle Heights, Seattle condos, Belltown condos

1915 2nd Ave- coming soon

A new project is planned between Pike Place Market and the downtown retail core, one block away from Cristalla, this 24 story condo will feature 175 units with retail space on street level. Perhaps 1915 will measure up to Cristalla and Escala and form the luxury "Triangle" in the midtown area.

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: 1915 2nd Ave 1915 2nd Ave condos, Midtown condos, Seattle condos, Intracorp, Cristalla, Escala

Woof Woof- Where are the pet friendly condos?

I have been told many times by my husband not to dress up my dog. How could I not, she looks great in them. Many homeowners are just like me, we treat our pets as part of the family. Even when it comes time to move, looking for a pet friendly condo is one of the most important criteria.

I've been asked by some readers to write up a list of condos that are pet friendly. So for all the pet lovers out there reading this blog, this post is for you.

In general, most condos allow cats and dogs and up to 2 pets per unit.  A number of condos do have restriction on the breed of the dogs, aggressive breed like pit bull and rottweiler are usually not allow. Many condos have different rules when it comes to pets, so be sure to read them on what you and your pet may or may not do. Here is an example of common rules and regulation for owners with pets.

Do keep in mind that homeowner association may change their pet policy from time to time and it is always advisable to check with them or the management company regarding their current pet policy. You don't want to be surprised at the time of move in that your pet has to be left at the door.

I'll be updating this post periodically, so do check back on the neighborhood that you are interested in. If I have missed a condo (which I'm sure I certainly will, there are a few thousands of condos near the core of Seattle!!!), feel free to leave a comment.  If you have a pet story to share about living in a condo, please do so. I'm sure many pet owners would love to hear your experiences.

Pet friendly and unfriendly Seattle condos.

Off leash parks.

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: Pet friendly condos, Seattle condos pet friendly, Seattle condos, Seattle pet friendly buildings

Concord

Located on the north end of Belltown and only two blocks away from the new Olympic Sculpture Park is the Concord condo. Built in 2000, Concord is a two tower 13 story building designed by Driscoll Architects, a local firm who also designed The Meridian on First Hill.

If you are in that neighborhood, it’s hard to miss Concord’s appealing outdoor water features on both side of the entrance. The exterior architectural design is very “Vancouver-ish” with lots of glass and sturdy concrete. Large windows can be seen from all sides of the building allowing a good amount of sunlight into most of the units.

Concord has a diverse selection of floor plans ranging from studios, one bedroom, one bedroom plus den, two bedroom and 7 penthouse suites. All units have access to decks or balconies with penthouse units having their own private roof deck.

Units feature high end finishes, granite slab countertops and stainless steel appliances. How could we not have any of these finishes nowadays? Overall, a solid high-end condo that, despite it’s numerous young competitors, has continued to prove itself over the years as one of the most desired condos in Seattle. 

Pros

- Comprehensive amenities and premium construction

- Proven track record with regards to high physical quality of the building as well as consistently strong resale market demand

- Walking distance to the Sculpture Park

- Higher floor westerly face units have unobstructed view of the Puget sounds

Cons

- Price per square feet is higher than most condos built around the same time.

- A bit further from Belltown core than other Belltown condos.

Exterior:          Very good

Interior:          Very good

Location:             Good

Value:                 Good

View:             Very good

Amenities:       Very good
   
Overall:           Very good

How does Concord compares to Bellora? Read more.

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: Concord condos, Belltown condos, Seattle condos

7th & Westlake

A new addition, 7th and Westlake, is coming soon to the Denny Triangle neighborhood revitalization project. The new neighborhood is designed to encourage a vibrant and diverse community with retail, office, residential life sciences research and public transportation.

Located near South Lake Union, the a