Category: Real Estate & Housing

As a real estate agent, and working in construction, I have a deep interest in the subject. Also, I care about housing as a social justice and sustainable world issue.

Video, Shoots, and Real Estate: Thoughts on the Future

Carl Setzer

Did a video shoot today with the owner of the company I now work for. It was his first video with a videographer, so he had to work though nervousness and his desire for perfection. I was quite pleased with how things went. And that he came away with a ton of ideas of how we can make the next one better.

Preparing got today reminded me of the one below, where I am on camera. I’ve been behind the scenes many, many times. I do like being in front of the camera, I should do more of that. Maybe, once I have my real estate license back, I’ll go full on into being a YouTube agent. One of many possibilities to explore.

So, the video below is one I made with the C & K Real Estate Team. I really enjoyed making it and have thought, many times, it would be a blast to do more.

What do you think? So many options, do little time.

Growth, Planning, Development, and Seattle

Carl Setzer

​Saturday I had a meeting in south Everett, on 128th to be more specific. Well, traffic on that road was wretched, but I improvised, taking side streets back to Lynnwood. I ended up driving past the door where the Puget Park Drive-In used to be. Now it’s a medical center and apartment complex.

Along this street are now many multifamily/higher-density housing projects. Several duplexes, apartment,s and condos, within this area that was semi-rural single-family homes a generation back.

This got me thinking about density. That we’re going to see the greater Seattle area become increasingly densified (is that a word?). I expect this whole region will become mostly multifamily in the next dozen to two dozen years. The economic forces will drive that hard. I’ve long thought that the Growth Management Act’s limits on development will combine with our region’s continued economic expansion to drive this.

Many will see it as something to lament, and to resist. Me? I see it as a mixed blessing, so to speak. And as something that good planning can make a great thing. Planning for a transit system that will accommodate this load will be crucial. A predominantly car-centric system will not work. When the majority of commuters take transit, things will be more manageable.

So, what do you think?

Some thoughts a week in on the new job

Carl Setzer

Well, one heck of a week, and weekend. First week at the new job. My new team is awesome! One of my challenges is to stop working and head home. Good problem. Now, this coming week has some significant demands, so I expect I’ll be more effective at leaving on time.

While I was working at Eagle Country Construction, I opted to let my license lapse. Now I’m going to renew it. Fortunately, my license wasn’t that far expired. I just need to take a bunch of classes and pay renewal fees, plus and “late” fee. I will have that done in a few weeks. After that, I can provide you and counsel.

Not sure all I will do with the license, but I am confident that real estate will be the main part of the next few years at least. What’s fun is the wide array of opportunities that entails. Besides your traditional buyer/ sellers agent, there’s commercial real estate (I definitely want to understand that better), portfolio analysis property management, portfolio management. Plus my experience in construction and permitting adds a lot of options, too.

I’m excited about the next stage in my career. There’s so much potential.

Please give me a like and follow. It helps things out a great deal. Plus, it’ll be easier to stay in touch.

Check out this new construction in Snohomish, built by my team 

Carl Setzer

This project is one the first I’ve seen from concept to build. It’s of particular importance to me. I was at the site anyways, and thought it would be fun to share it with you. Check it the video below.

Yeah, I realize I shot all the clips in portrait. Ugh! 

Anyway, this house is for sale. Have your agent put an offer on this one! Don’t have one? I can fix that for you. 

We’re looking forward to getting someone in there. That’s the best part of this job. 

Keyboxes, Wild Goose Chases, and This Afternoon

Carl Setzer
Lavery - 15811 Three Lakes Road, Snohomish

In the Seattle area, we real estate agents use electronic keyboxes to access houses. Which means, when we list a home, someone needs to zip to the property and put one on. My team put a house on the market yesterday, and we really wanted to get the keybox on today. So, after getting copies of our keys, I head out. This home isn’t too far from my office, but with afternoon traffic, it took me over 1/2 hour to head out to Snohomish. Oh, a key (see what I did there?) element of this house: it’s new construction…and under construction. Now, per our schedule, the doors are on. And per reality, they’re not.

It was a true Laugh Out Loud moment to walk to the house, past the construction team with a keybox and look at the non-existent front door. So, I’ll be heading back…at some point in the near future.

Live and learn…live and learn.

 

A few recommended Real Estate articles

Carl Setzer

As you may know, I work in the real estate industry. I’m a licensed real estate agent, though currently don’t have my license with a brokerage, and work in the construction sector. With that, I watch the industry closely. These articles below cover national trends, which do impact us at a local level, somewhat.

So, a few interesting articles about the national market.

Enjoy!

Real Estate – Construction Thought Of The Day

Carl Setzer

A client saved a lot of money by buying house plans off the internet. However, the savings are being chipped away at by the needed engineering of the plans in order to make them compliant with local zoning and Washington State laws. Not sure if, in the end, they will still save money or these additional costs will raise bring up higher.

My advice: if you find a house you adore online, then, sure, go-ahead and buy those plans. Recognize that there will, most likely, be some additional costs associated with bringing the plans up-to-code locally. Make it about what you love, vs saving a few bucks here or there.

Hey, I fully support saving money. Just, well, make sure you’re not spending more money to save. Or, as a friend likes to put it, don’t step over dollars to get to nickles.