Natalie Malin's Real Estate Blog | Mercer Island, WA | Buy a House, Condo, First Time Home Buyer, Mortgage, Real Estate Agent

Inside Real Estate
Let Me Help You!
(206) 232-3240
Follow My Blog
RSS
nataliemalin
Natalie Malin
Managing Broker

    Masters Degree
    CRS: Certified Residential Specialist

Direct: (206) 232-3240

Email Me

» About Me » Visit My Website
Company Info

Coldwell Banker Bain Associates

Real Estate Tools
Schoolsschools
Communitiescommunities
Calculatorscalculators

Real Estate

Mercer Island Real Estate… Convenience and Affordability!

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

This past weekend I attended a beautiful wedding up at the Salish Lodge overlooking spectacular Snoqualmie Falls, and it only took about 30 minutes to get there from Mercer Island.  Regarding the convenience of living here, for those of you who may not know, we are centrally located on our beautiful Island between Seattle and Bellevue.  Another great thing about Mercer Island which is quite unique is that we are the only area locally where the entire city is within just one zip code, with one high school and one middle school where our students get to know each other and have a sense of community unlike any other.  Plus we have such interesting citizens: so bright, so talented, so helpful and caring.  And we have an enviable lifestyle with beautiful surroundings and exciting activities for every age group from infants to retirement.  Speaking of lifestyle, like many other Island neighborhoods, our neighborhood has great “block parties” where all ages come together for good food and camaraderie.

Mercer Island Real Estate is the best investment now…fantastic properties are selling at a fraction of their recent costs-many far below assessed value!  Interest rates are still very low and we have great affordable waterfront homes and spectacular view homes, as well as very desirable homes of all types in wonderful neighborhoods.  If you would like more information about Mercer Island living or about the available homes or condos here, please call/text/email me (although I understand that email is already passé).  I’m here to help you!

The great two bedroom Mercer Island condo I have listed for just $219,000 has a wonderful brand new kitchen with beautiful slab granite counters with “bull-nose” finish; brand new stainless steel appliances; “under mount” sink; tall faucet – ideal for soup pots; and lovely new cabinets.  Its light and bright window walls and neutral palette will enhance your favorite décor.  The sunny west facing private deck is covered for year round enjoyment, with a view of the private park setting below.  Please call/text me to see it-you won’t believe the value for this price!

P. S.  I have other exciting Mercer Island listings coming on the market soon.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE ON MERCER ISLAND?

Monday, August 31st, 2009

What a lovely day today (Sunday)!  We enjoyed buying fresh fruit and vegetables at our Mercer Island Farmer’s Market (which continues through the end of October), and the great pizza there as well.  Then we had the pleasure of seeing our wonderful Youth Theatre Northwest’s outstanding production of “The Pajama Game”.  What a talented group of young people we have-the singing and dancing were great!  One of the talented actors, Lexie Showalter, was a girl I first met when I sold her parents’ home here many years ago when she was quite young.  This was her last play at YTN since she is graduating, and I predict-as do others-that she will be an outstanding actress we’ll be hearing more about in the future.

We then enjoyed the last of our sunny “Mostly Music In The Park” series, put on by our own great Mercer Island talent, “The Raretones”, who played and sang all the old favorites so beautifully.  The foot-tapping rhythm (it was hard to keep still; many in the audience got up and danced) and melodious harmony were amazing!

Pardon me if I always seem to be raving about all the many benefits of living here on our beautiful Mercer Island.  I think everyone who lives here feels the same way.  We’re so fortunate to have such a wonderful lifestyle.

And, speaking of living here…we have so many beautiful, affordable properties here on Mercer Island, you’ll want to at least see some of them before prices/interest rates go up again.  And if you live here and are thinking of selling, Mercer Island homes are selling readily again.  By the way, my great new Mercer Island listings should be ready to put on the market in a few weeks!  Please call, text, or email me to get started!  My 30 years of experience selling Mercer Island properties will help you accomplish all your Real Estate goals, while enjoying the process!


Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Real Estate | 4 Comments »

MORE MERCER ISLAND NEWS!

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Although Mercer Island’s “Mostly Music In The Park” series has now officially ended, there will be one more performance, on August 30th from 6-7:30 PM at Mercerdale Park, by the “Raretones”, a Mercer Island band (Rock & Roll Oldies) that was rained out earlier.  Fortunately our amazing Farmer’s Market will continue on Sundays from 11:00 to 3:00 through the end of October.  If you haven’t tried the “Mercer Island Special” pizza there, you’ll be pleasantly surprised-it’s great!

We just enjoyed a wonderful private function held at our great Mercer Island Country Club.  What a lovely facility!  I’ve been a member for 39 years now, and although the physical structure has been enlarged and improved, most of the same delightful group still belong, many of whom I’ve known for most of those years.

A note about coming changes in Mercer Island’s “CBD” (the Central Business District).  We’ll welcome having additional (angled) parking in front of Noah’s Bagels.  That will free up more parking spaces across the street at the north end QFC, where people have chosen to park in the past–that has gotten to be such a busy block.  And speaking of Mercer Island’s north end QFC, the cake decorator there is an amazing artist who can actually put the picture of your honored guest on the frosting (and it’s even edible).

As for Real Estate, Mercer Island homes are selling-at great prices-so you’ll want to begin your home search now, if you haven’t already done so.  I look forward to helping you with all your Real Estate needs/questions/purchases/and sales.  I also have some superb listings coming on soon.  Just call or text or email me at your convenience.  I actually answer my phone, text messages, and email right away so you’ll be talking to a live person, not a frustrating prompt as to which number to push to get through.  Hope you have a great week!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

MERCER ISLAND RANKED #1 AGAIN!

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

For the second year in a row, Seattle Magazine ranked Mercer Island as the number one suburban neighborhood out of 50 Seattle area suburban neighborhoods.  Neighborhoods were ranked according to crime rates, parks, schools, commute distances and other factors.  Mercer Island made it to the top of the list as a quiet, residential community with “great schools, big trees and pretty views.”  Of course, we have much more than that.

In the overall rankings of both urban and suburban neighborhoods, Mercer Island ranks fifth.  Seattle Magazine explains that Mercer Island loses points only for affordability because of the high median home price, but “is ahead of all others in all quality-of-life categories.“   Our mayor, Jim Pearman, congratulated everyone, including all citizens as well as City employees on this wonderful honor.  He said “The foundation of our community is the commitment of our citizens to their neighborhoods.”

Again this past week, we enjoyed our great “Mostly Music in the Park” series and we were able to purchase the most amazing organic fruit and vegetables from the many vendors at our Farmer’s Market on Sunday, and the music there was just outstanding!  Hope you can attend also-it’s every Sunday from 11:00 to 3:00 right in the heart of town in front of Mercerdale Park.

For your chance to buy a home/condo here on our coveted Island call/text/email me.  We have incredible homes/condos/land here for enticing prices.  I can work with you however you prefer.  Please contact me for all your Real Estate needs.  Thank you-I look forward to “hearing” from you (that’s now an antiquated term)!


Tags: , , ,
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

Enjoy The Sunshine on Our Beautiful Mercer Island

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

We have three wonderful public beaches, plus numerous “Street End” beaches which are open to the public. Groveland Beach on the west side boasts a great swimming beach, picnic area, and play equipment. Clarke Beach on the East side also has a wonderful beach and picnic area. While Luther Burbank beach on the North end has a day dock, beach, trails, an “off leash” dog area, a performance stage, and lots of room to play.

Our clubs with regulation pools and tennis include the Mercerwood Shore Club in the north end with a dock, the Mercer Island Country Club with its amazing tennis programs for all ages in the south end, and the Scenic Mercer Island Beach Club–where one overlooks the beautiful pool to boats gliding across Lake Washington–with its sandy beach, play equipment, BBQ picnic area and tennis courts.

And, starting June 21st, we’ll have our ever popular Sunday Farmer’s Markets at Mercerdale Park, with “heirloom” varieties of local fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The “heirloom” produce is naturally pollinated to create their fruit, and take it from me they are all incredibly delicious. If you would like to volunteer, the kick off meeting is Thursday June 4th at 7:00 in the north end Fire Station.

Here is a video of a new listing. It was built by an excellent Mercer Island builder, who was raised on the Island, for his family’s year-round enjoyment at Snoqualmie Pass. And fortunately for the lucky buyer, it’s now on the market at a great price!

I have compiled a list of Mercer Island properties that have sold in the last few months-an amazing number have sold, along with all the statistics. Please let me know if you would like that report and I will email or send it to you. Our Island is always popular with excellent schools, and a myriad of activities for all ages. Want a tour of Mercer Island? Just contact me-I’ll be happy to show you the many benefits of living here!

Posted in Condos, First Time Home-Buyers, Property, Real Estate | 1 Comment »

Our Real Estate Office is Buzzing With Activity!

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

It is so encouraging to see the Real Estate market picking up. Last week I sold one of my own listings, and another of my Mercer Island listings sold. This is great since in both instances, the Sellers needed to sell in order to move on to their new living arrangements. Other Realtors I’ve spoken with are also starting to see more action than they’ve seen in a very long time. The Real Estate offices are now buzzing with activity!

I believe that the rest of the economy will soon be helped by a more active Real Estate market. Once Sellers adjust to the new market value prices so they can sell their homes and move on, they will need home improvement products and services. Also, builders will be more apt to build spec homes-utilizing those products and reactivating those related industries so they are able to retain more of their employees, who in turn will be able to purchase more goods…and the beat goes on.

Wow! With sunshine streaming in, the flowers in bloom, and hope on the horizon, Islanders and others I’ve spoken with lately at social gatherings, seem much more optimistic. And, as we all know optimism is catchy-almost as catchy as “swine flu”, but with opposite results. I hope you’re soon able to catch the former, and not the latter.

If you have a home to sell, please call or text or email me to help you. I am uniquely qualified to get your home sold in the least amount of time for “top dollar” in today’s market, and with the least amount of hassle for you. Bottom line: I care, and I’ll go the extra mile to be sure your experience is a pleasant one. Thank you-I look forward to “hearing” from you!

Tags:
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

What An Amazing Time To Buy Real Estate!

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

What an amazing time to buy real estate! Home prices are at an all-time low; inventory is high with so many beautiful Mercer Island properties available; and interest rates are also at an all-time low. And in fact, many seller’s are willing to buy down the buyer’s interest rate even further. It’s now just as reasonable to buy a home as it is to rent one. The word is getting out so that we are seeing more Real Estate activity on the Island. If you have been wishing for a home better suited to your lifestyle, and if you have a good credit rating, you couldn’t ask for a better time to buy a superb Mercer Island home or condo.

And well-priced homes in other nearby areas are also plentiful now. I currently have listed an excellent custom home in Issaquah, in a similar ravine setting to many of our Island homes, on over 1/3 acre of beautiful Cougar Mountain for only $438,000. It will be held open Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd from 1:00 TO 5:00. Come take a look to see for yourself, and while you’re there I can also fill you in on some exciting Mercer Island buys available now. Also check out this condo that has been listed on Mercer Island.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

Market Recap

  • Avg. Sales Price: $1,893,471

  • Avg. Days on Market: 160

Free Market Alerts

Get local reports delivered to you
 
Recently Asked Questions
    Ask Me a Question

    Do you have questions you need Answered?

    market alert newsletter

    Get free market reports delivered to you. » Sign up today

    - Copyright © 2010 Inside Real Estate, LLC

    Inside Real Estate does not endorse the agents on this site, and does not guarantee the content submitted by the site's members. Blog and page entries, content, and other information contributed by agents that are members of the site are accountable to the particular agent.