Last month, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan drafted a proposal known as the ‘Mercer Mega Block’. The plan presents a breakdown on how funds will be allocated from the sale of nearly three acres in South Lake Union. Alexandria Real Estate won the bid for the location, paying $143.5 million. A portion of those funds will be designated to address the homeless problem in Seattle, as well as affordable housing.
Read MoreIt was announced last week that Redmond’s Overlake East Center sold for $41 million to a San Francisco-based investment firm. Spread out over 90,235 square feet, the complex is located only a mile from Microsoft headquarters and in close proximity of the proposed Overlake Village light-rail station.
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Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a major update in the sale of nearly three acres in South Lake Union, dubbed the “Mercer Mega Block,” as it was revealed that Alexandria Real Estate won the bid, committing to a total of $143.5 million for the land and money allocated to provide services to the homeless. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Durkan’s proposal “would buy real estate to preserve and build affordable housing, work with employers to foster homeownership and provide financing of backyard cottages, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs).”
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According to a recent study by JLL, real estate investors are putting their money into cities with strong technological economies: GeekWire reports that the study “finds a correlation between the real estate investment dollars spent in a community and the strength of its innovation economy.”
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U.S. News recently completed their ranking of the Best States in the nation and our very own Evergreen State topped this year’s list! Washington’s impressive performance may be attributed to the State’s strong economy, coming in at third, second-ranked infrastructure, and health care and education, which both came in at fourth on the list.
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In 2019, the greater Seattle-Bellevue metro area residential real estate market picked-up significant momentum after going through a price correction that began in May 2018 and leveled-off beginning in October to December-January.
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Now that drivers are safely traversing the new SR-99 tunnel, the Washington State Department of Transportation is preparing to demolish the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the first in many steps toward revitalizing the city’s waterfront. As GeekWire reports, WSDOT has now released “an extensive online overview of what to expect from the removal of the old highway above ground — a process that should take about six months.”
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The Emerald City has seen a record number of construction projects in recent years and activity does not seem to be slowing down, as Seattle Times reports that there are currently 66 major projects underway in the city — that’s up by 1 compared to six months ago.
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I was recently holding an open house when a curious neighbor came into the home to check out the new improvements and ask about current market conditions. After showing her the home and added value/improvements made by the seller—and asking her to tell everyone she knew—I briefly explained that we are going through a market correction, which began in mid-May (like a light switch on May 10th), and touched on the probable causes. I went on to say that current market conditions seem to have stabilized: generally, sales have increased and inventory began decreasing around mid-October (I saw it October 18th). I summed it up quickly with, “I believe it’s a great time to buy.” She looked at me and said “yeah, but what would you say to your friend or a family member. How would you advise them?” I shrugged and smiled as I replied, “I just did.”
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LinkedIn recently released their monthly Workforce Report, which outlines national and local employment trends using data obtained by LinkedIn users. Here I outline key trends from Seattle’s report. In November 2018, hiring was 1.2 percent higher than it was at this same time last year, though seasonal adjustments revealed numbers slightly (0.2 percent) lower in November than October.
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