Montreux Condominium : Seattle's Belltown District, Washington
Belltown's hot. If you're in the real estate business, you probably already know that. Belltown's one of the few areas in Seattle or the Eastside that can sell for $500 per square foot! That means a condo that's about 500 square feet would sell for pretty much $250,000.
Since most people aren't willing to pay a quarter of a million to live in a small condo, there's a different type of compromise in Belltown... get an even smaller place for a slightly smaller price. That compromise is called the Montreux Condos located at 425 Vine Street.
Most of the studio units at the Montreux are under 350 square feet (about the size of a generous walk-in closet) and between $155K to $170K. Despite the small size, the layouts offer everything for a working professional (even a stackable washer and dryer in each unit). The unit I owned even had a bed nook, which was one of the most desired features that people asked for when I showed clients the Montreux.
Now, I bought my unit on a whim, from a "for sale by owner" who was moving back to Arizona. At that time, I just wanted a place in Belltown so I could have a place to crash in Seattle, and because it's so close to Seattle Center (and when I bought it, the Sonics were playing great). Another reason I bought the unit is because at that time, Belltown was priced around $400 per square feet and (as high as that might sound) I just had a feeling that it was underpriced compared to some of the other communities.
Luckily, I was right.
The Montreux offered a lot for the money. My favorite part about the Montreux (and I'm sure a lot of residents there would agree) is the 360 degree views of Seattle from the rooftop. I could see Seattle Center, the Space Needle, the Puget Sound, Lake Union, the Olympic Mountain Range, and the Seattle skyline just to name a few things.
And here's another reason why I love Belltown, one of my idols (one of the creators of TV's South Park) owns a condo in Belltown. And if it's good enough for Trey, it's good enough for me.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Neighborhood Review : Pine Ridge Development
Pine Ridge Community : Issaquah, Washington
"Jay Boitano you're sitting on a gold mine!" That's what I would have said to him a year ago when he started development of the Pine Ridge Community at the base of Cougar Mountain in Issaquah.
Since December 2005, I'm the proud owner of lot 5 in this development.
The good about this community (and there are many)... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!! Like I said, it's at the BASE of Cougar Mountain, which means you won't spend 20 minutes and a gallon of gasoline going up the mountain just to get to your house once you're off the freeway. For me, it's 2 minutes tops once I get off at exit 13 on I-90.
LOCATION : It's still on Cougar Mountain, and most of the lots offer either a view of Tiger Mountain, Squak Mountain, Lake Sammamish, or all three!
The listing agent : Mary Thurtle with John L Scott was one of the kindest agents I have ever worked with. No wonder she represents Boitano in this development.
The bad : No one can figure out what our address is. Because our street is new, we get some mail that says we're "Place" while others say "Drive". Some people tell us PINECONE is one word, while others say it's PINE CONE. Comes with the territory though.
The mythbuster : Because it's so close to the freeway, people assume it must be loud at the house. It's not as bad as people think. The only time you would ever notice the traffic is if you went outside and tried to listen for it. Inside the home, or in the garage, you won't notice a thing.
As you can probably tell by my review of this place, I love it here. The homes are so high-end, I can't believe I live here and that I got it for such an affordable price (which is relative I guess). I feel like I have a house from Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Demand has skyrocketed, with some lots being sold before breaking ground. Rest assured, I can see the construction crew (led by Jordan) daily and they're working hard on building the rest of these homes. The 20+ straight days of rain earlier this month didn't help, but they're doing the best they can.
And PS - I've never met construction people who are as friendly as the guys from Boitano Homes.
"Jay Boitano you're sitting on a gold mine!" That's what I would have said to him a year ago when he started development of the Pine Ridge Community at the base of Cougar Mountain in Issaquah.
Since December 2005, I'm the proud owner of lot 5 in this development.
The good about this community (and there are many)... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!! Like I said, it's at the BASE of Cougar Mountain, which means you won't spend 20 minutes and a gallon of gasoline going up the mountain just to get to your house once you're off the freeway. For me, it's 2 minutes tops once I get off at exit 13 on I-90.
LOCATION : It's still on Cougar Mountain, and most of the lots offer either a view of Tiger Mountain, Squak Mountain, Lake Sammamish, or all three!
The listing agent : Mary Thurtle with John L Scott was one of the kindest agents I have ever worked with. No wonder she represents Boitano in this development.
The bad : No one can figure out what our address is. Because our street is new, we get some mail that says we're "Place" while others say "Drive". Some people tell us PINECONE is one word, while others say it's PINE CONE. Comes with the territory though.
The mythbuster : Because it's so close to the freeway, people assume it must be loud at the house. It's not as bad as people think. The only time you would ever notice the traffic is if you went outside and tried to listen for it. Inside the home, or in the garage, you won't notice a thing.
As you can probably tell by my review of this place, I love it here. The homes are so high-end, I can't believe I live here and that I got it for such an affordable price (which is relative I guess). I feel like I have a house from Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Demand has skyrocketed, with some lots being sold before breaking ground. Rest assured, I can see the construction crew (led by Jordan) daily and they're working hard on building the rest of these homes. The 20+ straight days of rain earlier this month didn't help, but they're doing the best they can.
And PS - I've never met construction people who are as friendly as the guys from Boitano Homes.
Neighborhood Review : Liberty Lake Condos
Liberty Lake Condominiums : Federal Way, Washington
I bought my condo at Liberty Lake as an investment. Well, technically, I didn't rent it out, I just let my dad live there while he was in town... but it was still considered an investment (for loan purposes) since I wasn't living in it myself.
This condo had it all. Lake view, lake side setting, workout facility, outdoor pool, on-site manager, great location... all for just $57,000 in 2004!! Still today, it's the best deal on a condo anywhere. The monthly payments were lower than my car payments were at that time.
Some other great things about this place were that I could walk to just about anywhere; Albertsons, the book store, electronics store, restaurants, or even Jiffy Lube. I figured if I ever lived there, I would just ride my bicycle around and save a lot of money on gas and get a good workout.
The downsides... hmmm... I guess one downside is that the complex is 1-block from the high school, although I never saw any students driving or walking on 14th Ave. And that could be a good thing for some families.
Other than that, it was another good real estate investment for me. I also think of it as the best value in homeowners dues. $170 per month paid for water, sewer, garbage, grounds maintenance, pool maintenance, on-site manager and the maintenance of laundry rooms and workout facilities. Units that I've owned in other complexes offered less for more, so I really appreciated their efficiency.
I bought my condo at Liberty Lake as an investment. Well, technically, I didn't rent it out, I just let my dad live there while he was in town... but it was still considered an investment (for loan purposes) since I wasn't living in it myself.
This condo had it all. Lake view, lake side setting, workout facility, outdoor pool, on-site manager, great location... all for just $57,000 in 2004!! Still today, it's the best deal on a condo anywhere. The monthly payments were lower than my car payments were at that time.
Some other great things about this place were that I could walk to just about anywhere; Albertsons, the book store, electronics store, restaurants, or even Jiffy Lube. I figured if I ever lived there, I would just ride my bicycle around and save a lot of money on gas and get a good workout.
The downsides... hmmm... I guess one downside is that the complex is 1-block from the high school, although I never saw any students driving or walking on 14th Ave. And that could be a good thing for some families.
Other than that, it was another good real estate investment for me. I also think of it as the best value in homeowners dues. $170 per month paid for water, sewer, garbage, grounds maintenance, pool maintenance, on-site manager and the maintenance of laundry rooms and workout facilities. Units that I've owned in other complexes offered less for more, so I really appreciated their efficiency.
Neighborhood Review : Monohon Condominiums
Monohon Condominiums : Issaquah, Washington
Among all the residential places that I've reviewed, Monohon Condos is the only place where I don't have first hand experience as a "resident" or "owner."
But as Bellevue potentially becomes the "next Seattle", does that mean Issaquah might become the next Bellevue? If this complex is any indication, then we may be in for more upscale, high-end condominiums near Lake Sammamish.
Monohon is the first condo in Issaquah (with the exception of the Bella Mira complex priced at 4 to 5 times the price of Monohon) to compete with Bellevue's luxury condominiums. Each unit in Monohon will feature granite and marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and high end flooring. Not even new condos in Talus, the Issaquah Highlands, and Black Nugget Road can compare to that.
Monohon offers a tempting alternative to living in a similar condo in Bellevue. While Bellevue offers many fine dining and shopping opportunities within walking distance (and some high priced condos offering views of Lake Washington), Issaquah's Monohon offers exactly the opposite, with views of Lake Sammamish standard in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range, and a great commute, low traffic and quiet neighborhood in exchange for longer drive times to get to your shopping and dining destinations.
It seems like many people are still waiting for a model home to open before making a decision on Monohon, but I have a feeling it might be another good real estate investment.
Among all the residential places that I've reviewed, Monohon Condos is the only place where I don't have first hand experience as a "resident" or "owner."
But as Bellevue potentially becomes the "next Seattle", does that mean Issaquah might become the next Bellevue? If this complex is any indication, then we may be in for more upscale, high-end condominiums near Lake Sammamish.
Monohon is the first condo in Issaquah (with the exception of the Bella Mira complex priced at 4 to 5 times the price of Monohon) to compete with Bellevue's luxury condominiums. Each unit in Monohon will feature granite and marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and high end flooring. Not even new condos in Talus, the Issaquah Highlands, and Black Nugget Road can compare to that.
Monohon offers a tempting alternative to living in a similar condo in Bellevue. While Bellevue offers many fine dining and shopping opportunities within walking distance (and some high priced condos offering views of Lake Washington), Issaquah's Monohon offers exactly the opposite, with views of Lake Sammamish standard in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range, and a great commute, low traffic and quiet neighborhood in exchange for longer drive times to get to your shopping and dining destinations.
It seems like many people are still waiting for a model home to open before making a decision on Monohon, but I have a feeling it might be another good real estate investment.
Neighborhood Review : Sammamish Pointe Condos
Sammamish Pointe Condominiums : Issaquah, Washington
I called Sammamish Pointe my home for 3 years (2002 to 2005). Other than the year I spent in a dorm room at college, it was the first time I had moved out of my parent's home. I lived in a 2 bedroom condo unit with an attached garage.
The best part about this complex by far was the convenient location. If I was commuting to work (I was working at Microsoft in Redmond at that time), I just took a right out of the complex and was at the main campus in less than 20 minutes. If I needed to go to Target, Safeway, or Costco, I just took a left and was shopping in less than 5 minutes. I also enjoyed how quiet the complex was. I lived here while I was finishing up my MBA and starting in the real estate industry and was able to get a lot of work done, whether in the daytime or late at night.
The residents there were a mixed bag. At first instinct, I expected mostly older residents because I assumed condos and townhomes were bought by people who were downsizing from their big Issaquah homes. But as it turns out, there was a even mix of retired people, young homeowners and working professionals.
I met plenty of really friendly people and didn't interact with some units at all. As with any complex, there were some people who took advantage of their right to file complaints and many who just let things pass... which is evidenced by the fact that a lot of people regularly receive notices from management to put their trash cans back inside after their garbage is picked up. Luckily, I only received one notice for garbage can violation while I lived there. And didn't get any complaints about noise or pets or anything like that.
It seems like all the residents had a dog, so if you plan on moving here and you want to make quick friends, get a dog. I remember meeting this Bichon named Butch, but forget the owner's name. Anyway, Butch inspired me to get a Bichon Frise for myself.
My only complaint with Sammamish Pointe is that too much attention (and cost) was paid to how the complex looked. And while that was always good news for homeowners (the landscaping always looked amazing), the rising cost of homeowners dues may scare away some buyers (although to be fair, the dues are much lower than some of the other complexes in Issaquah).
All complexes have their positives and negatives. My time at Sammamish Pointe was very pleasant and low maintenance. It was one of my smartest investment decisions and I almost wish I could have held on to my place forever. Maybe it'll be worth a million dollars by the time I retire. In general, I'm not a fan of living with bylaws and association rules, so I'm glad I moved back into a single family residence. Now I can turn my music up as loud as I want.
I called Sammamish Pointe my home for 3 years (2002 to 2005). Other than the year I spent in a dorm room at college, it was the first time I had moved out of my parent's home. I lived in a 2 bedroom condo unit with an attached garage.
The best part about this complex by far was the convenient location. If I was commuting to work (I was working at Microsoft in Redmond at that time), I just took a right out of the complex and was at the main campus in less than 20 minutes. If I needed to go to Target, Safeway, or Costco, I just took a left and was shopping in less than 5 minutes. I also enjoyed how quiet the complex was. I lived here while I was finishing up my MBA and starting in the real estate industry and was able to get a lot of work done, whether in the daytime or late at night.
The residents there were a mixed bag. At first instinct, I expected mostly older residents because I assumed condos and townhomes were bought by people who were downsizing from their big Issaquah homes. But as it turns out, there was a even mix of retired people, young homeowners and working professionals.
I met plenty of really friendly people and didn't interact with some units at all. As with any complex, there were some people who took advantage of their right to file complaints and many who just let things pass... which is evidenced by the fact that a lot of people regularly receive notices from management to put their trash cans back inside after their garbage is picked up. Luckily, I only received one notice for garbage can violation while I lived there. And didn't get any complaints about noise or pets or anything like that.
It seems like all the residents had a dog, so if you plan on moving here and you want to make quick friends, get a dog. I remember meeting this Bichon named Butch, but forget the owner's name. Anyway, Butch inspired me to get a Bichon Frise for myself.
My only complaint with Sammamish Pointe is that too much attention (and cost) was paid to how the complex looked. And while that was always good news for homeowners (the landscaping always looked amazing), the rising cost of homeowners dues may scare away some buyers (although to be fair, the dues are much lower than some of the other complexes in Issaquah).
All complexes have their positives and negatives. My time at Sammamish Pointe was very pleasant and low maintenance. It was one of my smartest investment decisions and I almost wish I could have held on to my place forever. Maybe it'll be worth a million dollars by the time I retire. In general, I'm not a fan of living with bylaws and association rules, so I'm glad I moved back into a single family residence. Now I can turn my music up as loud as I want.
Auto Review : 1992 Ford Ranger
Reviewed vehicle : 1992 Ford Ranger 2WD standard cab 5 speed manual
Approximate mileage : 145,000 miles
Relationship to vehicle : Owned since late 2004
Believe it or not, my truck has almost 150K miles and it still has the original clutch. This is my first truck and I love it! I can haul around just about anything and it takes me back to my childhood when my dad had a little Mazda truck that was very similar to mine and I would sit with him on the bench seats.
My Ranger has been surprisingly reliable. It always gets about 23 miles per gallon and has hauled everything from my two Bichon dogs to 2,000 square feet of laminate wood flooring.
I bought it on a whim because I was about to start fixing up homes. But I'm glad I bought it. It only cost me about $2K, a great deal (especially since I can still get about $2K for it today). Only a few times have I wished it was bigger with 4 wheel drive, but in general, I'm glad I have a manual 2 wheel drive standard cab edition. It's light and I'm usually riding around alone anyways.
Another great thing about it is that it's so barebones. There's nothing except an aftermarket CD player. There's no power windows, no power door locks, and no A/C (even though it's the XLT model).
The 3 maindownsides are that friends ask to borrow it (but hey, trucks are handy for everything), it's not a "good looking" truck, and that because of it's age, I'm afraid something on it will break and I'll be stranded all of a sudden.
Still, it's probably the best vehicular investment I've ever made.
Approximate mileage : 145,000 miles
Relationship to vehicle : Owned since late 2004
Believe it or not, my truck has almost 150K miles and it still has the original clutch. This is my first truck and I love it! I can haul around just about anything and it takes me back to my childhood when my dad had a little Mazda truck that was very similar to mine and I would sit with him on the bench seats.
My Ranger has been surprisingly reliable. It always gets about 23 miles per gallon and has hauled everything from my two Bichon dogs to 2,000 square feet of laminate wood flooring.
I bought it on a whim because I was about to start fixing up homes. But I'm glad I bought it. It only cost me about $2K, a great deal (especially since I can still get about $2K for it today). Only a few times have I wished it was bigger with 4 wheel drive, but in general, I'm glad I have a manual 2 wheel drive standard cab edition. It's light and I'm usually riding around alone anyways.
Another great thing about it is that it's so barebones. There's nothing except an aftermarket CD player. There's no power windows, no power door locks, and no A/C (even though it's the XLT model).
The 3 maindownsides are that friends ask to borrow it (but hey, trucks are handy for everything), it's not a "good looking" truck, and that because of it's age, I'm afraid something on it will break and I'll be stranded all of a sudden.
Still, it's probably the best vehicular investment I've ever made.
Movie Review : Wedding Crashers
Viewing Venue : Home theater room
Okay, so Owen Wilson plays an annoying and whiney character in this movie. But Vince Vaughn helped make it enjoyable still. For some reason, Vince Vaughn is funny even when he's just reciting lines in his normal voice. I keep thinking of his character in Be Cool when he's trying to cheer up the Rock chanting "E-Whee-Zee!" Or when he's telling his mom "I almost killed you right then!" in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
My only recommendation would be to watch the "theatrical" version on your DVD, because there's a reason they cut certain parts. On the "uncorked" edition, I noticed that some scenes dragged on.
At one point during the movie, I got so frustrated with the movie and said out loud "What's going on?" And everyone else in the room agreed. Like why did they have that scene where Owen Wilson pretends to be a waiter so he can visit Rachel McAdams' engagement dinner? He ends up getting tossed out by her fiancee and getting punched a few times, and that was it. He walks away and goes home. There was no point to that scene! Unless you enjoy watching the main character getting beat up, and then giving up.
Rachel McAdams looks great in this movie, so at least it was believable that Wilson's character would fall in love with her at first sight. I haven't seen her in any other movies except Mean Girls, but apparently she's a really good actress (Mean Girls and Wedding Crashers don't really show the extent of her acting abilities).
I ended up buying this DVD, and I got a free t-shirt out of it. But I have a feeling I probably won't watch it again unless a friend comes over who hasn't seen it and is dying to. If that ever happens, we'll be sure to watch the "theatrical" version next time.
Okay, so Owen Wilson plays an annoying and whiney character in this movie. But Vince Vaughn helped make it enjoyable still. For some reason, Vince Vaughn is funny even when he's just reciting lines in his normal voice. I keep thinking of his character in Be Cool when he's trying to cheer up the Rock chanting "E-Whee-Zee!" Or when he's telling his mom "I almost killed you right then!" in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
My only recommendation would be to watch the "theatrical" version on your DVD, because there's a reason they cut certain parts. On the "uncorked" edition, I noticed that some scenes dragged on.
At one point during the movie, I got so frustrated with the movie and said out loud "What's going on?" And everyone else in the room agreed. Like why did they have that scene where Owen Wilson pretends to be a waiter so he can visit Rachel McAdams' engagement dinner? He ends up getting tossed out by her fiancee and getting punched a few times, and that was it. He walks away and goes home. There was no point to that scene! Unless you enjoy watching the main character getting beat up, and then giving up.
Rachel McAdams looks great in this movie, so at least it was believable that Wilson's character would fall in love with her at first sight. I haven't seen her in any other movies except Mean Girls, but apparently she's a really good actress (Mean Girls and Wedding Crashers don't really show the extent of her acting abilities).
I ended up buying this DVD, and I got a free t-shirt out of it. But I have a feeling I probably won't watch it again unless a friend comes over who hasn't seen it and is dying to. If that ever happens, we'll be sure to watch the "theatrical" version next time.
Restaurant Review : Saigon Deli (Seattle)
Restaurant Review : Saigon Deli
Seattle's International District on Jackson Street
Wow, $1.75 to $2.25 (tax included) for a sandwich that's similar to a footlong at Subway. What a great deal. That pretty much sums up Saigon Deli for me.
Unfortunately, I speak no Vietnamese, so I've only had the courage to order sandwiches from the menu above (where everything has English underneath it to explain). There are a lot of ready-made foods in the display (kind of like at Safeway's China Express deli), but I have no idea what any of them are. They do look really tastey, however.
So the few times I have gone there, I've only had the sandwiches and have been perfectly happy with them. Most of the sandwiches are $2 (tax included) and any one of them will fill you up.
My favorite is the BBQ pork sandwich for $2.25. It's a nice alternative to Subway or Quiznos. The only downsides are getting in and out of the tiny parking lot, and getting to the International District. To me, it's totally worth it.
Seattle's International District on Jackson Street
Wow, $1.75 to $2.25 (tax included) for a sandwich that's similar to a footlong at Subway. What a great deal. That pretty much sums up Saigon Deli for me.
Unfortunately, I speak no Vietnamese, so I've only had the courage to order sandwiches from the menu above (where everything has English underneath it to explain). There are a lot of ready-made foods in the display (kind of like at Safeway's China Express deli), but I have no idea what any of them are. They do look really tastey, however.
So the few times I have gone there, I've only had the sandwiches and have been perfectly happy with them. Most of the sandwiches are $2 (tax included) and any one of them will fill you up.
My favorite is the BBQ pork sandwich for $2.25. It's a nice alternative to Subway or Quiznos. The only downsides are getting in and out of the tiny parking lot, and getting to the International District. To me, it's totally worth it.
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