Brad is a licensed Seattle gay Realtor and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has two degrees from Stanford University: an MBA and a BA in Economics. He has 30 years of professional business experience, including 15 years of selling real estate in Seattle. Brad and his partner, Curtis came to Seattle via Paris, San… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Washington State
Clark County Asks: Where Are the Condos?
There is a perception among developers that if you build a condominium you may as well be building a wasp’s nest. Veering into that market has gotten many builders stung by lawsuits over purported construction defects. Vancouver developer Elie Kassab has heard those concerns, but isn’t worried. People constantly ask whether he will build any… Read more »
Seattle’s Gayborhood – Shifting or Disappearing?
Capitol Hill, widely known since the 1970s as Seattle’s gay neighborhood, is changing. As development and gentrification sweep in, many longtime residents have moved out. But is the gayborhood dying, or just changing? To newcomers, it may be difficult to imagine that it was ever any different. But Capitol Hill didn’t always have the city’s… Read more »
Thom Butts – Gay Vancouver, Washington Realtor
As a 5th generation Oregonian, I have been around long enough to see the trends; I lived in NW Portland before it was “The Pearl” and was a home owner in Inner NE Portland long before it was hip. When I first meet with clients, I don’t do all of the talking – I listen…. Read more »
David de Maria – Seattle Gay Realtors
David and Jamie De Maria are Seattle gay Realtors and proud members of Windermere Capitol Hill, a prominent real estate firm in Seattle. David is a second generation real estate broker and has been exposed to the business since childhood. With over 30 years of combined experience, David and Jamie are a well-rounded and savvy… Read more »
Ken Latz – Gay Seattle Realtor
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals: Ken Latz has been a Seattle resident since ’88, and he is very familiar with the city and all of its diverse neighborhoods and suburbs. He with Gerrard, Beattie… Read more »
The Advocate’s Queerest Cities in America – 24. Seattle
Every year, The Advocate ranks the cities in the US for queer friendliness based on a number of criteria. This year, the criteria includes lesbian bars, trans events, gay rugby teams, theaters screening “Moonlight”, Misterb&b hosts, LGBT centers, and more. Here’s today’s pick: Like Long Beach, Seattle has an out mayor (Ed Murray) and a… Read more »
Evan Dyer – Gay Seattle Real Estate Agent
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals: Born and raised in Seattle, I focus my Real Estate Business in the greater Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond areas. I have experience in first time home buyers, relocations, and selling/buying…. Read more »
Best Cities for LGBT Seniors: #9 – Seattle, Washington
Beautiful Seattle is another one of the progressive hubs of America so it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most gay-friendly cities in the country. At almost 5% of the overall population, it has one of the most concentrated LGBT communities of any large city. Also, Seattle has been on the leading edge… Read more »
Brian Lavery, Gay Seattle Real Estate Agent
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals: I’m a Seattle native, and my family has lived on the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle for three generations. I graduated from Washington State University with a Business/Marketing degree,… Read more »
Seattle Condo Demand Rising Faster Than Supply
Luma is the first new high-rise condo tower on First Hill in more than 30 years and, as of last week, half of the 168 units have been sold. The 24-story tower at 1321 Seneca St. will open in June. Remaining units start in the low $500,000s, according to the sales team. This got the… Read more »
Toni Powell, Gay Friendly Seattle Mover
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals: Proud Member: GBSA-Greater Seattle Business Association Seattle Chamber of Commerce BBB-accredited; A+ AMSA-American Moving and Storage Association Washington Mover’s Conference Washington Trucker’s Association. Seattle is a city that makes… Read more »
Why Aren’t They Building Condos in Seattle?
Kyoko Matsumoto Wright is a real estate agent who dreams of being able to buy a new condo in Mountlake Terrace. She fears she’ll be waiting a long time. In downtown Seattle there are new condos for sale, but there aren’t many and soon there could be none. “We think it is a real possibility,”… Read more »
Brian Lavery, Gay Seattle Real Estate Agent
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. I’m a Seattle native, and my family has lived on the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle for three generations. I graduated from Washington State University with a Business/Marketing degree,… Read more »
Death of the Gayborhood: Queer Aging in the Time of Gentrification
Seattle is experiencing a new era of gentrification, one that doesn’t just bulldoze low income apartment buildings but is also wiping out traditional gayborhoods, severing the links between queer generations. Two artists respond with resilience. Seattle is “broverwhelmed.” Between the tech industry and the real estate developers catering to upscale tastes of the increasingly privileged… Read more »
Seattle Region At A Crossroads As Home-Buying Power Shrinks
If you own a home in the Seattle area, consider yourself lucky. The area’s rapid population growth is outpacing new-home construction and helping to drive up home prices faster than gains in household income. The run-up threatens to make homes unaffordable to a typical household and challenges policymakers to come up with solutions. In King… Read more »
Seattle Housing Shortage Worst in a Decade
King County is experiencing the worst shortage of homes for sale in more than a decade, driving prices higher and keeping more would-be buyers in apartments. The median price of single-family homes sold last month in King County was $499,950, a 13.6 percent increase over the past 12 months, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported… Read more »
Downtown Seattle Condo Prices Hit New High in October
The Mark Company’s Condominium Pricing Index for October is out and Downtown Seattle condo prices were up 5 percent in October, reaching a new high of $814 per square foot. That surpasses the previous peak of $808 per square foot in March and is now 11 percent higher than October 2014. New construction inventory also… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Real Estate Agent: Erik Cole, Gig Harbor, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. I have experience in foreclosures, short sales along with personal and professional experience with relocation. The West Sound area of the PNW is so beautiful and full of life… Read more »
Cold Weather Incoming!
We’ve had a brief spell of cold weather lately in Seattle, signaling that a climate  change is imminent. We know people like to get everything done before it gets too cold outside, so if you’re putting something off make sure to get to it! Wash your car, clean the gutters, clear out your garage, put… Read more »
Seattle Developers Say Condos Have Too Much Liability, Need to be More Expensive
Builders are opting for apartments over condos, experts say, because they don’t face the liability of being sued under the state’s condominium act. Some condo builders still bear fresh memories of multimillion-dollar settlements with homeowner associations. “You’re finding developers saying, ‘Why take the risk of building a condo?’\0x2009” said Matthew Gardner, chief economist at Windermere… Read more »
How Amazon Swallowed Seattle
Seattle is dead and Amazon killed it. The recent news around Amazon has focused on the company as a workplace. Much of it has been unflattering, all of it is accurate. But a more comprehensive indictment of Amazon would also describe its effect on the rest of Seattle, which used to be a great place… Read more »
Profile: Seattle’s Belltown
Like many Seattle neighborhoods, Belltown has undergone tremendous change through the years. The area was named by William Nathaniel Bell, an Illinois native and member of the first group of white settlers in Seattle. Bell lived in Seattle on and off until his death in 1887, and he left his mark on the city in… Read more »
“Death” of Capitol Hill Gayborhood is Progress
Like it or not, the death of “gayborhoods” is a sign of progress, even if it does bring with it some feelings of loss. That, despite an article in Salon.com that highlights one Capitol Hill resident’s complaint that Amazon killed his “gayborhood.” It’s a gripe I’ve been hearing a lot of lately, but it’s one… Read more »
Seattle Home Shortage Could Continue for Years
Typically home-buying activity falls off during the summer months, but not this year in the metro Puget Sound region, where buyers are competing to buy fewer homes while paying significantly higher prices. The lack of condos and houses for sale is nothing new as real estate agents have been clamoring for additional inventory for more… Read more »
The Future of Capitol Hill, Seattle’s Gayborhood
If CHS understands the way this works correctly, back in 1995, City of Seattle planners predicted $15 cocktails, drones, the demolition of Piecora’s, and Anarchists. And they did nothing to stop it. The good news is there is a chance to help influence the next 20-year plan and what place Capitol Hill, First Hill, and… Read more »
Featured Gay Real Estate Agent: Dustin Pruitt, Vancouver, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Licensed in Real Estate in Washington and Oregon, my journey to a career in real estate traversed through chiropractic school in Davenport, Iowa, a retail career with Starbucks, and… Read more »
Seattle Condo Market’s Moment of Truth this Summer
More than 235 condos at the big Insignia project under construction in downtown Seattle have been pre-sold, but what people are paying has not been disclosed. That will change this summer when a representative of the Insignia project says sales in the 41-story project – which is about four blocks from the Space Needle –… Read more »
Featured Lesbian Real Estate Agent: Marcy Mjelde, Bellingham, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Whether you’re planning to buy or sell a Bellingham home, you shouldn’t have to worry about your real estate agent. Marcy Mjelde takes the stress out of the real… Read more »
Low Inventory Drives Huge Price Increases for West Coast Condos
The value of new construction condominiums is up in downtown Los Angeles, San Francisco and downtown Seattle, according to The Mark Company Trend Sheets. The Mark Company reported the value of new construction condominiums in downtown Los Angeles inched up 1 percent in February, and was 26 percent higher than a year earlier. In San… Read more »
Gentrification on Seattle’s Capitol Hill Gayborhood
It was 3 in the morning last March when Ade Connere was attacked. Connere had been performing at the gay bar Pony on Capitol Hill and was wearing a shiny black coat over a dress. Connere, 36, is tall and lean and exudes a certain elegance, even without makeup or skirts. Two men were walking… Read more »
What Seattle Can Learn from San Francisco
Stefan Kaiser, a 24-year-old associate with Encore Architects in Seattle, has some ideas about how to make tech cities more equitable. He did research on the topic thanks to an AIA Seattle travel scholarship, which allowed him to spend time last year in San Francisco, Kansas City and Nairobi. Kaiser moved to Seattle in 2013… Read more »
Hate Crimes Discussed in Seattle Gayborhood
Is it safe for the LGBTQ community in Capitol Hill? That was the question discussed at a forum on hate crimes Tuesday night. Community and city leaders say something needs to be done to stop an alarming trend. Doug Hamilton has lived in Capitol Hill for more 20 years. He’d always felt it was a… Read more »
Featured Gay Real Estate Agent: Jay Iseli, Real Estate Agent, Tacoma, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay real estate agent in Tacoma, Washington – 7 Years experience serving Tacoma’s LGBT community. See Jay’s Expanded Listing on Gay Realty Network Here Gay Friendly Realtors and Real… Read more »
Who Killed Seattle’s Gayborhood?
Seattle is the fastest growing city in the country, and like thousands of other jerks who are ruining what used to be a moderately populated city with affordable housing, I’m a newcomer here. When I was looking for neighborhoods in Seattle, I decided on Capitol Hill — a densely populated area not far from downtown… Read more »
Out Traveler’s Top 10 US Gayborhoods #8: Capitol Hill, Seattle
We’re counting down the top ten US Gayborhoods, according to Out Traveler. The tenth place finisher is in Philadelphia: 8. Capitol Hill (Seattle), with 6.56 percent of the vote Seattle’s queer neighborhood may not have cracked the top five, but many of us know how lovely it is. We say give it a few more… Read more »
Prices for New Downtown Seattle Condos Drop
The Mark Company Condominium Pricing Index has released their report for August and according to their numbers, new Downtown Seattle condo prices decreased 3% in August 2014 over the previous month. At $701 per square foot, that pricing is still up 2% from August 2013. Also down was new contraction inventory, which was 6% lower… Read more »
Microhousing Coming to Seattle?
New city rules for “microhousing” apartments (backstory here) have just passed the City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee. We came in on the meeting broadcast late, but in time to hear the passage of two amendments – one requiring two sinks per unit (food-prep and bathroom areas), one that goes beyond microhousing, requiring… Read more »
Will New Luxury Apartments On Seattle’s Capitol Hill Eventually Become Condos?
“Condo Hill” is a term that seems to be popping up with increased regularity in reaction to the rapid construction of new, high-end buildings on Capitol Hill . It turns out, the nickname misses the mark by at least a decade as the vast majority of projects built on Capitol Hill today are for new… Read more »
Condo Prices Up Again Along the West Coast
Condominium prices rose again in June in downtown Los Angeles, San Francisco and downtown Seattle, according to The Mark Company’s Condominium Pricing Index. According to The Mark Company Trend Sheets, the value of new construction condominiums in downtown Los Angeles was up eight percent in June over the previous year. In San Francisco, the value… Read more »
Is the Seattle Gayborhood Vanishing?
Census data show the number of same-sex couple households increased in nearly every neighborhood in Seattle between 2000 and 2012.* Citywide, the number jumped 52 percent, bringing the total to about 7,500 households. The big exception: Capitol Hill. Seattle’s “gayborhood†experienced a 23 percent drop in same-sex couple households in this period. The Census Bureau… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Brad Hinckley, Seattle, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Based in Seattle’s Capitol Hill area, I’m an experienced, professional, friendly real estate agent with CPA license and 2 Stanford degrees. See Brad’s Expanded Listing on Gay Realty Network… Read more »
The Seattle Gayborhood is Changing
Pike/Pine is changing. The backside of Pike/Pine is changing. Capitol Hill is changing. The Gayborhood is changing. Seattle is changing. And in the midst of it all, there will be nearly 200 little kids and a playground on E Seneca right across the street from IHOP. CHS has learned that Bright Horizons, the nation’s “largest… Read more »
Seattle’s Condo Comeback
After a drought of new condo construction that spanned four years between 2009 and 2013, condos are making a comeback…and just in time, too. The massive Insignia Condo project on the edge of Belltown was the first out of the gate. Covering an entire city block, Insignia is on target to be the largest condominium… Read more »
Four New Residential Towers Planned in Seattle’s South Lake Union Neighborhood
As we previously posted in November, Onni Group out of Vancouver BC is planning to construct 4 new towers in South Lake Union. They have released some new information on what will be built on the site, which is between Boren Ave N and Fairview Ave N and from Denny Way to Thomas Street. According… Read more »
Jogging Through Seattle’s Gayborhood
I’m on the streets before dawn, racing the sun in a city famous for its gloom. My destination: Louisa Boren Park. It’s two mostly uphill miles from my hotel and the name that came up first in my search for “best places to watch the sunrise in Seattle.” I’m a little too goal-oriented sometimes, perhaps,… Read more »
Where Are Seattle’s Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods?
You’re not too late to take advantage of several up-and-coming neighborhoods. By buying now, you can be part of the renaissance of those neighborhoods in the coming years. Seattle offers a number of investment opportunities in locations that have been overlooked. Even in the perennially popular neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Capitol Hill, you can… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Tony Navarra, SeaTac, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Tony is a fun, easy-going professional real estate broker who loves helping you make the deal happen. SeaTac is halfway in-between Seattle and Tacoma. See Tony’s Expanded Listing on… Read more »
Seattle Waterfront Gondola Proposed
The family that owns the Great Wheel Ferris wheel on the Seattle waterfront is proposing a downtown gondola line that would carry tourists and commuters on elevated cable cars. The proposed gondola would travel above Union Street between the waterfront and the state Convention Center with a stop at the Pike Place Market. The goal… Read more »
Found Your New Home? Prepare for the Move!
ARE YOU PREPARED TO MOVE INTO YOUR NEW HOME?  Here is valuable information to help you deal with movers: “Valuation†Coverage When scheduling your move, there are many things to consider. One that is often overlooked is coverage for items that may be damaged during the move. Damage claims are infrequent for most moving companies,… Read more »
Are Seattle Renters Being Priced Out of the Market?
In the next few years Amazon said they will hire an additional 12,000 employees and they all have to live somewhere. But at what cost? The rapid redevelopment could become an epidemic for all of King County. The average one bedroom in South Lake Union costs $2,200. That’s more expensive than many of the trendy… Read more »
Eight Condos Sold in Seattle This Year for more than $1 Million
We ran a quick analysis of 1 million plus sales in Bellevue and Seattle (2014). Thus far, Bellevue has yet to post a million dollar sale, while Seattle has 8 year to date. For those looking, you’ll find that Bellevue has 12 condos currently listed over a million dollars. They range from 1,050,888 to $2,999,000…. Read more »
The Seattle Condo Market Rebounded in 2013
The Seattle condo market rebounded significantly last year after bottoming out in February 2012. For many buyers, the market depicted quick turnover, rising prices and increased competition with multiple offers. Overall, Seattle realized $863,589,200 in total condominium sales volume in 2013, that’s a 17% increase from 2012 with unit sales rising 15.8% to 2,507 condos… Read more »
Seattle’s Densest Block
Construction continues on the corner of 3rd and Cedar, at the north end of Belltown, on a 27-story, 298-unit project that will create Seattle’s most densely populated single block. The new project, Dimension by Alta, is scheduled for completion in Spring of 2014. No word yet on rental rates, but the amenities will include a… Read more »
Are Condo Conversions on the Horizon for Seattle?
style=”margin: 6px;”Apartment developers in Seattle will start looking at converting for-rent units to condominiums this year, a new report states. Commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap, a national company with a Seattle office, issued its 2014 apartment report Monday. The report paints a generally rosy picture of the market for apartment landlords, forecasting rental… Read more »
The Advocate’s 3rd Gayest City for 2014: Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the home of our nation’s lust for lattes, our lust for lust (thanks in part to Dan Savage’s sex advice and his homemade porn film festival), and our lust for cool, lo-fi boutique hotels (the city is where the Ace Hotel chain sprouted). Capitol Hill is its gay headquarters, with lots of venues… Read more »
US Condo Prices on the West Coast Continue to Rise
West Coast condominium prices were up in December, with sale prices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle all rising at a double digit clip. The rise shows how the nexus of urban living, the booming technology sector and an influx of foreign buyers has condo demand outpacing supply. According to the Mark Company, a… Read more »
Seattle Home Sales Showed Surprising Decline in November
Seattle home sales surprisingly declined in November for the first time in 29 consecutive months. Peoples Home Equity finds that the Seattle real estate may be showing an opportunity for the high number of employed first-time home buyers to enter the market on recent weakness. According to DQNews.com, on January 2nd, total Seattle home sales… Read more »
Chinese Investors Inflating the Seattle Real Estate Market
Seattle real estate has recently been the target for a growing number of foreign investors, especially from China. While many of them buy houses or condos using all cash, first-time homebuyers in Seattle are finding it hard to compete. “Most of the international investments are with cash. And they might seek to refinance later, but… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jan Bristow, Seattle
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Serving our community since 1980 with pride. Seattle is beautiful and extremely Gay supportive with tons of resources. See Jan’s Expanded Listing on Gay Realty Network Here Gay Friendly… Read more »
New Seattle Hotel/Condo Highrise Planned for Denny Triangle
Officials of GIS International Group said Wednesday that they’re starting to plan development of a hotel-condo building in the Denny Triangle area of downtown Seattle. The project is planned for the corner of Stewart Street and Minor Avenue, according to a press release on GIS’s website. The site, which is now a parking lot, is… Read more »
Seattle Has the Most Same Sex Couples of Any Large US City, By Population
Once upon a time, San Francisco was flying its freak flag high as the gayest city in America, if not the world. After years of resting on its leather daddy laurels, the City by the Bay has been usurped by none other than the plaid capital of America, if not the world, Seattle. According to… Read more »
Large Condo Project Opens Sales in Downtown Seattle
The first major condo project launched since the real estate bust started sales this past weekend. Insignia, under construction at Sixth Avenue and Bell Street, will have twin 41-story towers atop a shared base. The first phase, set to open in spring 2015, contains 350 one- and two-bedroom condos, priced from a little under $500,000… Read more »
Seasonal Slowdown Hits Seattle Real Estate Market
It’s time once again for the monthly reporting roundup, where you can read my wry commentary about the news instead of subjecting yourself to boring rehashes of the NWMLS press release (or in addition to, if that’s what floats your boat). Oddly, the the NWMLS press release website is still showing last month’s release, and… Read more »
New Condo Tower “Insignia” Coming to Seattle
San Francisco real estate executive Alan Mark has sold 10,000 homes but he’s about to sell his first in Seattle. This month, The Mark Co. plans to open its first sales center in Seattle to market Insignia, a 41-story condominium project. He thinks now is a great time to start selling condominiums in downtown Seattle…. Read more »
The Most Gay Friendly Cities in the US?
If you’re trying to decide which city might be best for you, head on over to Ranker.com – they have a list of the most gay friendly US cities: List of the most gay friendly cities in America and gayest cities in the USA. These large cities and smaller towns are known for their large… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Ken Latz, Seattle
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. My goal is your excellent experience. I’m professional and fun. Call – I’ll prove it! Seattle’s bustling with gay/lesbian options. Many water, mountain and city activities to choose from…. Read more »
Jinkx Monsoon Talks Seattle Gayborhoods
Before she was crowned the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jinkx Monsoon gave NewNowNext her unique Seattle travel guide. We loved it so much that we brought her into the studio to serve up some hipster Seattle realness in an all new travel mini-series. Watch above as Jinkxy breaks down all of the city’s districts,… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Marcy Mjelde, Bellingham, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Enjoying life in Bellingham since 1989, Marcy makes your home buying or selling experience a pleasant adventure! Bellingham is a very gay friendly university town located just north of… Read more »
Living in Tacoma – Where Are the Gayborhoods?
Tucked between the big queer paradise known as Seattle and the little queer paradise known as Olympia you’ll find a resplendent medium-sized queer paradise: Tacoma, Washington. Equally damp and flannel-friendly as its neighboring cities, it’s pretty much raining lesbians in Tacoma. Tacoma hasn’t always had the most gleaming reputation, but over the past 15 years… Read more »