CeFiore makes some of the best-frozen yogurt I have ever tasted. I was in Kirkland a few days ago and decided to stop by and pick up a mid-size cup of their new favor "Acaiberry". WOW! It was just awesome, exactly what I needed to quench my palate. I was on my way to church and decide to buy one to go for my friend Misty that is expecting any day now. So I thought, "hey my wife loved it when she was pregnant so why not buy it for Misty". I ordered the Acaiberry Yogurt, Kelsey, a bubbly energetic girl that loved working there, helped me. She asked what I wanted for toppings and I ordered raspberries, coconut shreds, and blueberries. That's how Dionne (my wife) loved eating them so I got that. When I arrived at church I gave it to Misty and she was just beside herself. She said "I have ne... 07/30/2008

Another Entry for  Realty U's "I Staged It" Photo contest.  This room has two before and after photos taken from both sides of the room.  The BEFORE photos were the photos from the mls from when I bought the property.  The AFTER photos are how they will appear in the mls now that I am going to sell it.  I have lived here three years. BEFORE AFTER BEFORE AFTER I painted the triangle at the ceiling to highlight the height of the room and I painted the furthest wall back to create depth.  I always had the piano in the reverse position and it was actually Andy's idea for me to have it facing people as the entered the front door. As I look at these, it's hard to believe it's the same house.  I'm sure a few people will like it better in the BEFORE photos :) 07/18/2008

My good friend Andy Capelluto asked me to enter Realty U's "I Staged It" Photo contest.  So I have to submit lots of entries.  I'm a real estate agent and not a stager, but I did attend Barb Schwarz ASP Class, which was a blast, and do help clients get their properties ready for sale.  This happens to be my own house the way it was in the mls when I bought it (before) and the way it is now prepared for market (after) This room is part of "the great room" at the rear of the house.  The previous owner had a table in this huge room.  We usually have two sofas in an L, but for showing and photos for selling, I've removed one of the sofas and rearranged it. BEFORE We painted the walls a very light turquoise blue so the millwork around the windows would pop better.  We blocked the door to the... 07/18/2008

Kirkland, Washington is a City known for many thngs, but two of its biggest claims to fame are that it is a City built on a Lake and it is known for its many Art Stores. The stained glass "window of vases" on the stairway landing of my home are not part of the window,  They are free standing separate pieces that can be re-arranged.  The stairway window art was made by my sister Loretta, she was creating the effect of vases on a shelf.  The Mondrian paintings to the right were done by me.  To the left you see a hint of the colored glass pieces that decorate the home. The original house, built in 1921 had no second floor and no stairway up and this feature was added, along with the 750 sf master suite, in 1994 by the previous owner. As I continue to prepare the house for market, I will b... 07/17/2008

I'm starting to get the photos ready for listing my property right after I get back from Inman Blogger's Connect in San Francisco. I know you all know I'm a bit odd and eclectic.  It's a big decision not to neutralize everything in my house, but since I've painted the furniture to match the house...well I'm sure it's a stager's nightmare, but it is what it is. I have always loved ball and claw furniture and have had many traditional pieces in my younger years.  Back in Philadelphia everyone knew what Queen Anne vs. Chippendale and Ball and Claw were.  But on the West Coast no one noticed my balls and claws...well now they do.  The claw looks like the Grinch and the ball looks like the Grinch has got the world in his grasp. Here are a few of the photos I'm preparing for the mls below.  ... 07/16/2008

I took these from my bedroom window.  Enjoy!  Awesome!  And I didn't even have to leave the house!   07/04/2008

Eric Horner, from Omega Financial & Insurance Services, an Eastside casuality insurance company, has written a fine article on Condo homeowner insurance concerns.  Eric spent years as an insurance underwriter before joining Omega as an agent.  He specializes in assisting his clients with Home and Auto insurance needs.  www.425Realty.com is pleased to welcome Eric's contribution in writing about homeowner insurance concerns. More and more buyers these days are choosing townhomes and condos over the traditional free standing homes but once you decide to go this route how do you insure them properly? As a former underwriter turned agent, I have addressed this question often over the years and there are two main things to consider; how much insurance do you need and which type of policy sho... 06/24/2008

        Sometimes I feel as if I have walked thru so many new ideas and trends about Real Estate that I just want to jump off the train and let it head on down the road without me.             Embracing new technology in our business is a given.....but is all of it really necessary in order to just do the best we can do each day.?          I love some of this social networking stuff....it's fun and entertaining and cute and happy and makes people feel for a moment or two comfortable, happy and connected with another part of the world.    But I only have so many hours in a day to work and live;  personally I do not want to spent all of that time Twittering, Flickering, My-Spacing, Face-booking, etc., etc.  A few moments in the evening works for me.  Active Rain produces more income for m... 06/23/2008

Greg Perry, Kirkland Realtorwww.425Realty.com Once a year, Windermere agents everywhere take a day off.  We take the day off from real estate, that is.  Instead of heading in to the office or doing the routine of real estate, we assemble to work -- for our communities.  It's our way of giving back -- to say thank you.  Here are scenes from our Windermere Community Service Day, 2008. 06/23/2008

Seattle / Eastside Summer Fun By Greg Perrywww.425Realty.com   June 7-8      Tastin' n Racin' - Issaquah, Lk. Samm. Park             www.tastinracin.com 15       Father's Day Car Show - Bothell             www.countryvillagebothell.com /425.483.2250 21-22  Fremont Fair - Seattle             www.fremontfair.com 29        Seattle Pride Festival             www.seattlecenter.com / 206.684.7200 29        Seafair Marathon - Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue              www.seafair.com 29        Midsommarfest - Kenmore, St. Edward Park             www.skandia-folkdance.org 29-8/17 Seafair - various locations in Puget Sound              www.seafair.com July 4          Fourth of July events throughout the Puget Sound             Check with your local chamber of commerce 4-6      Lake Union Wooden Bo... 06/20/2008

A 425Realty.com Service Provider Spotlight -- Symbiosis Tree Care by Greg Perrywww.425Realty.com Trees  They are all around us.  What do we really know about them? Is this one healthy?  Is this the right tree for this location? Today we're going to highlight Certified Arborist Kurt Fickeisen.  His company is Symbiosis Tree Care.  Kurt knows trees.  Here's our 425Realty.com interview with Kurt. Tell us about who you are and about your company, Symbiosis Tree Care:After 11 years working as an arborist for other companies, I started Symbiosis Tree Care.  I started by offering standard services like pruning and removal.  I enjoyed the direct contact it gave me with customers.  Over time, my business focus shifted to evaluating trees for hazard, and appraising them for their landscape value.... 06/20/2008

4th of July Events - Eastside - Seattle - Puget Sound by Greg Perrywww.425Realty.com July is one of the best times of the year around Seattle and it's Eastside communities.  Here is a list of events happening near you.  From fireworks over Elliot bay in Seattle, to Demolition Derby's in Monroe, there is sure to be a Fourth of July event around Seattle and the Eastside for you! EASTSIDE Bellevue Family 4thBellevue Downtown Park4:30 pm - C-17 Flyover from McChord AFB6 pm - Live bands begin playing9:30 pm - Bellevue Philharmonic performance10:05 pm - Fireworks Display beginswww.bellevuedowntown.org Bothell's Freedom FestivalThroughout Bothell8 am - Pancake Breakfast, Downtown Fire House11 am - Children's Parade, Main Street12noon - Forth of July Parade, Main Street2 pm - Battle of Concord ... 06/20/2008

      There seems to be a subtle shift in the air with regards to how sellers and buyers are reacting to the constant movement and change occurring in our business.       I am not writing about buyers that always want a deal at 10 cents on the dollar; but the actual buyer who desires to own perhaps their first home or upgrading to another.  They are still gun shy and will not commit to a purchase, until every small detail in a home is answered, before a contract is written. Several agents have mentioned to me lately that they have had buyers that have cancelled on items or info that normally can be worked out among parties involved. They are very quick to cancel.  It is not about price. It is about commitment during these confusing times we live in.       At the same time sellers are fi... 06/19/2008

       This post is not about Real Estate---and yet it is.        This post is not about love and family and friendship---and yet it is.        This post is not cute and pretty and filled with wonderful photos.        This post is about how a very ugly part of my life changed me to become the man I am today.        The "Most Positive Experience" in my life culminated in 1984 in the back of a tour bus where I overdosed from heroin/cocaine and vodka. I was pronounced DOA and then brought back to life on the way to a hospital.   When I "came to" a few days later there were two shapes hovering over me and one of those shapes said : "you use again you die, for good!"  And I believed him.....       For many years I lived " The Rock and Roll Life ".  I looked good, got along with everyone I me... 06/17/2008

        I very seldom talk or bring up the past. In my years of living I concentrate on today and usually nothing else. So today an exception.         This past week I have been thinking a lot about my late father. Born in 1927 and died at 44 years of age in Feb.1971.  He never talked about himself or much of anything at all. Typical for his generation to grow up, serve during WW2, get married and work. He seemed like a nice guy when I was age 5 to 12. Taught me how to do things around a house, how to play basketball and his favorite ( and mine), baseball. We never really talked about life, love, pain, loss, anything of a personal nature.         By age 12-13 I was turning into some punk rebel kid hanging out with older kids who wore leather jackets and smoked, drank, etc.  My dad stopp... 06/13/2008

May 2008By Greg Perry, Eastside Realtor AREA 560 May-08 May-07 % Change Median Price $679,000 $799,950 -15.20% Inventory 530 341 55.40% Pending 51 107 -52.30% NWMLS Area 560 is Kirkland.  Kirkland and East Bellevue are the big trouble spots on the Eastside.  Currently there are 216 homes price over $1mil in this area with 1 - 2 years of inventory at the current rate of sale.  Inventory is building rapidly and it shows no sign of slowing.  To be successful, sellers must be very agressive in pricing.  Buyers should be able to negotiate sharply here.  Overall the area holds 52 weeks of inventory. Compiled from but not published or verified by NWMLS. 06/13/2008

George asked in his recent post what was the first song that impacted me in life and when did it occur.  When I responded in the comments of his post, "George, This kind of stuff makes me feel so old sometimes.  Since most of my life has been spent in the music business the first song that changed me is still of importance as it was the driving force for over 5 decades of work and life.  It was 1956, I was listening in my bunk bed to my new transistor radio and heard The 5 Satins " In the still of the night ".  For some reason this song sent me to a whole new place in time. To this day I listen to it with the same feeling. There have been many instances in my life when a certain song fit the moment and remain apart of me." George asked me to post the YouTube Video. I don't know if I can... 06/07/2008

     I am writing about this wonderful business we call REAL ESTATE.      For reasons sometimes unknown we have allowed our livelihood to slip away from the core issues and daily factors that propel us to do our job.       I have had conversations with countless Realtor's, agents and brokers about the continuing dilemma we face to either finish a transaction in place or work with new seller's and buyers.      This is not a post about lending, or mortgage. This is about how we have allowed the public and other business conditions to dictate how we function in today's world and still maintain some type of credibility for ourselves.     So:  I'm tired of having to pick up and redo a transaction by an inexperienced or otherwise incompetent agent to make something work for my client or one o... 06/02/2008

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The seeming lack of excitement coming from the eastside regarding Google's move to Kirkland / Houghton is hiding a very large fact: this is a major, major thing to be occuring in the local real estate market! The low key style that is the Northwest hides an obvious elephant sitting in the corner of the room. Values in the condo and casual luxury market have been stagnating for a year now and will most certainly rebound from this influx of hundreds of new Google associates. I don't think buyers at Boulevard have anything to worry about, considering how difficult it was to sell the last few units in late 2007. They took a very temporary hit from the downturn. In the long run, all residents will be considered geniuses for investing in new construction in downtown, east and west of market s... 05/07/2008