About Rosemary Pham and Kristen Meyer Lapriore
Creative real estate solutions for creative people.
We provide residential real estate services for buyers and sellers in the Seattle Metro area.
www.kristenandrosemary.com
Kristen and Rosemary were both chosen as 2009 & 2010 Seattle Magazine 5-Star Agents.
Testimonials:
"I've been in w/Kristen buying t… more »
We provide residential real estate services for buyers and sellers in the Seattle Metro area.
www.kristenandrosemary.com
Kristen and Rosemary were both chosen as 2009 & 2010 Seattle Magazine 5-Star Agents.
Testimonials:
"I've been in w/Kristen buying two houses in the past 5 years, with Kristen and Rosemary in selling a rental off in December, have dragged them all over the county looking at properties, and had them jump hoops for a house they told me not to buy but that my stubbornness wouldn't let me pass up until an inspection that essentially made the place a tear down. I recommend them highly. I have used Kristen as a soundboard since she became an agent as she is as well informed as anyone I have known in real estate. To have the two of them as a team is awesome. They sold a house for me in a terrible economy in 3 months, whereas I have watched many of my friends and neighbors houses languish on the market for more than a year. I trust both implicitly and refer all of my friends to them."
Chad
"Our initial hookup with Kristen and Rosemary came via a referral from a co-worker who had just purchased his first home with the two ladies. After our very first handshake with K&A, we knew. They were our soulmates...They were realistic about what our budget could afford us, but never burst our fresh-faced first-time homebuyer bubble. They listened intently to our needs and wants (over lunch at a local haunt in our desired neighborhood) and catered specifically to our situation. We always felt supported, confident, and excited with Kristen and Rosemary leading the way. It's a tough market out there, but Kristen and Rosemary never let us get frustrated or caught up in the little particulars. They made our experience fun, which is something we never thought homebuying could be. We want to scream their names from the rooftops, and believe anybody thinking about buying a home should meet these two awesome, smart, witty, and personable women."
Erika and Jackson
"'Working with Kristen and Rosemary was a real treat. As a first-time home buyer, the whole process seemed huge and somewhat terrifying. Kristen and Rosemary made it fun. Their patient, down-to-earth approach helped me make heads or tails of things, and they really took the time to get to know me and factor my interests and priorities into our search. When I got closer to making a decision, they gave me frank and constructive feedback that helped me figure out what was best for me. On top of all that, they both have a great sense of humor and know how to make a good time out of driving around looking at houses. Anytime anyone I know expresses even the slightest interest in looking at real estate I instantly recommend Kristen and Rosemary."
Nick
"When we set out to sell our house and find a new home all before the birth of our new arrival I really didn't think it would be possible. I had even gone through our current home and figured out how we could move things around if we had to stay because I was so sure we wouldn't be able to sell for what we needed in this market. During one of my first conversations with Kristen I told her this. Her response: "We are going to find you your dream home and have you moved in with plenty of time to nest." She was right! We couldn't be happier and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Kristen and Rosemary to anyone looking to buy or sell. They are professional, creative, positive and fun! They are looking out for their client's best interest and are truly experts at what they do. Kristen and Rosemary helped us sell our home in a very challenging market. Their professionalism and creativity got us into our dream home when we didn't think it was possible."
Beth and Ken
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Recent posts
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This is a situation that many home owners are encountering. I've had conversations with folks from the tax assessor's office to discuss options for appealing property taxes.
The amount you pay in property taxes is not directly correlated with the assessed value of one's home. So if one sees a decrease in value from the previous year, one can't expect a direct decrease in property taxes. There are other factors involved, such has which taxing district one's property is located and what budgets have been approved within each district.
This link provides a brief explanation of how property taxes are determined within each taxing district.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/AboutUs/HaraMessage.aspx
My suggestion would be to contact the assessor's office to see what your options are for some sort of appeal.
Good luck!
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I would also recommend another attorney consult, but make sure the HOA is speaking to a law firm that specializes in condo conversions. Email me off list if you need a recommendation. rosemary@kw.com
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In addition to cruising through the neighborhoods by car, bike, or foot, a great resource to get a feel for the communities are the neighborhood blogs. Most neighborhoods have their own blog that discuss a wide variety of topics such as new restaurants & shops, neighborhood events, crime stats, schools, etc. Examples would be the West Seattle Blog http://westseattleblog.com , Ballard Blog http://www.myballard.com , and Capitol Hill Blog http://blog.capitolhillseattle.com
For a list of many more Seattle neighborhood blogs go to http://tinyurl.com/cuqw5s
How you research a neighborhood may be tied to what's important for you. For example, if you are a parent, your focus may be more on schools and parks. These blogs are a good way to get an overall flavor for each individual area.
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If you are thinking about buying your first home, it'd be a great idea to run your financials with a lender and figure out how much you are qualified to borrow. It's easy to plug in numbers with any online mortgage calculator, but to get a more accurate figure, you should speak to a lender. They take an in depth look at your financials by pulling your credit, reviewing your bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns. This gives them a picture of your debt to income ratios which will allow them to figure out a monthly payment.
Your numbers seem in the ballpark, but your lender will have a more definitive answer on budget. Down payment amounts can vary from a minimum of 3.5% of the purchase price upwards to 20% or more. The higher down payment you are able to produce, the lower your monthly payment.
To answer your final question, the time to buy is when it's the right time in your life. How's that for vague?! There are a lot of factors to weigh that help towards making the decision to buy your first home. Consulting with a lender and agent will help you figure out if buying a home now is right for you.
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To chime in with the previous posts, a simple thing that goes a long way is to paint. It's an extremely cost effective solution to make any space feel updated and clean. The right color can also maximize the use of challenged spaces and can make any room feel warm and inviting.
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