A Tribute to Courage. By Jen Hudson

If this can be termed “tribute,” then it is a tribute to one man’s courage.  To the courage that it took to overcome a broken home; to the courage that took him before he had reached the age of twenty to the battlefields of World War II; and finally to the courage it took to become a guide and inspiration to others.

Leonard’s earliest childhood was in a disrupted home. When he was eleven he was sent to the Washington Children’s Home and at thirteen was adopted by the Hudson’s. He was active in high school, taking part in school plays, boxing, and reading endlessly.

As a member of the Mt. Vernon National Guard, he was mobilized in September 1940 and was soon sent overseas to the Philippines.  It was overseas in the Battle of Leyte in 1944, where Leonard Hudson lay unattended for 48 hours with shrapnel in his right shoulder. Quiet with courage, Leonard waited until the corpsmen arrived to take him home to face his greatest battle. Back home the shrapnel wound became cancer.  Leonard underwent operation after operation having his right arm and shoulder amputated.  You wouldn’t have known that, as Leonard didn’t talk about those things.  Facing this challenge head on, he went on to attend Western Washington University on the GI Bill to become a teacher.

A husband and father with three children, Leonard continued to go to classes and work, with a will and courage trumpeted by too many and possessed by too few.

Leonard learned to do more with his left hand than most do with both hands.  He built toys for children, hobby horses for his own and others, learned to type, and carried on just as he had before. It didn’t stop there. He faced each day with courage and lived to the fullest.

In his studies he wrote “I shall not be a teacher, but a guide.  I shall try to show the child the wisdom of relying on himself.  I will try to show how to do a thing rather than tell.” He delighted in helping eager young minds grow, and in turn they loved him because he made their paths straighter.

In April 1949, Leonard passed into immortality, leaving behind a legacy of courage and faith that will never die.

Following his passing, Leonard’s students came together in honor and formed a scholarship fund in his memory.  With the archives we have today, it was hard to tell how many years that fund remained active with the college, but the sentiment is both inspiring and enduring.

I never knew my Grandpa Leonard.  It pains me more that my dad never had the opportunity to get to know his father.  There is no doubt that Leonard would have been proud of the person his son has become.

In honor of my family, I re-instilled the Leonard Hudson Memorial Scholarship in 2014.  It is awarded to graduating high school seniors who have shown qualities of leadership and courage.  That first year, I was able to start with just one award.  This year, I am humbled by the opportunity to help three young adults begin the next phase of their journey.

With your support and referrals, I am able to continue giving back to our local kids through the Leonard Hudson Memorial Fund.  With the help of my father, the fund has now become an official non-profit 501 (c) (3) and is engaged our local community here and now.

Memorial day may come once a year, but for me, I am routinely inspired by Leonard’s story of triumph and courage in the face of adversity.  It speaks volumes when a fallen hero from 70 years ago has such an impact still.

In a world that seems to rotate faster and faster each day, take a moment to remember the sacrifices made and realign your sights and actions with the future you want to see.

Jen Hudson

“God grant that courage like yours not be lost to the world.” – G.P. February 4, 1949

Good news. And bad news. There is a new REET in town. by Jen Hudson

I’ll take “What is REET” for $400 please.

The REET is the Real Estate Excise Tax.  Think of it like sales tax when you sell your property.

Washington State has (2019 and prior) a flat excise tax of 1.28% across the state.  In addition to this 1.28%, individual jurisdictions such as cities or counties can levy an extra 0.50%, for a total of $1.78%.

For example, almost everywhere in Snohomish, King, Skagit, or Whatcom county is a tax of 1.78% total.  The exceptions here are Darrington and Skykomish, at a total of 1.53% instead.  There are others throughout the state, those are just the ones we work most frequently with.

That means, if you want to sell your home, in most areas you will pay a total excise tax of 1.78% at closing to the Department of Revenue.

Right now, it does not matter if your property is worth $300,000 or $3,000,000, your excise tax is the same rate at 1.78%.

Is the REET going to change?

Yes.  Starting January 1, 2020, the real estate excise tax rate across Washington State is going to change.

The good news? 

Home and property owners with sales prices at $1,500,000 or below will see either no change or a reduction in this rate.  Properties valued below $500,000 will see a reduction of 14% from 1.28% down to 1.10%.  The properties between $500,000 and $1,500,000 will remain the same.

The bad news?

Property owners with sales prices above $1.5mil will see their taxes more than double, with rates at 2.75% for $1,500,000 – $3,000,000 and 3.0% for $3,000,000 and above.

How does the new REET work?

This new REET system is going to be a graduated or tiered structure.  While the lower end of the market will benefit from these new rates, the middle stays the same, and upper end will owe more in taxes at closing.

New REET Rates for Washington State (State only, local jurisdiction is extra)

REET Price Example – $350,000:

For example, if you sold a property for $350,000 in Everett, you would pay $6,230 today (1.28% plus 0.50% = 1.78%).

If you sold that same property in 2020, your tax is now $5,600 (1.10% plus 0.50% = 1.60%), which is a $630 savings.

REET Price Example – $2,500,000:

The other end of the spectrum looks a little different.  Let’s say your property is worth $2.5mil.  Today, your tax is $44,500 (1.28% plus 0.50% = 1.78%).

In 2020, those same taxes will increase to $58,300 ($8,000 + $17,800 + $32,500), which is an additional $13,800 cost.

1st tier $500,000 of sales price x (1.10% + 0.5% = 1.6%)  = $8,000

2nd tier $1,000,000 of sales price  from $500k-$1.5mil x (1.28% + 0.5% = 1.78%) = $17,800

3rd tier $1,000,000 of sales price from $1.5mil-$2.5mil x (2.75% + 0.5% = 3.25%) = $32,500

Is there anything else I should know?

Keep in mind these rate changes are to the state portion of the real estate excise tax, not the local city or county jurisdiction.

If you live in a location such as Everett or Arlington where you currently pay 1.28% to the state plus 0.50% to the local jurisdiction, then you will still pay your state fee between 1.10-3.0% (in the chart above) plus the extra local percentage on top of that.

One more thing. 

While a 1031 tax deferred exchange is usually a great weapon to combat your tax bill, unfortunately it won’t work here.  In Washington State, the excise tax is due on the sale of your property to the state and local jurisdiction, and is not one of the taxes that can be deferred later, such as capital gains or the recapture tax on depreciation.

As Sun Tzu says “Strategy without Tactics is the slowest route to victory.  Tactics without Strategy is the noise before defeat.”  We excel at helping you plan and prepare, to make sure you get to the finish line in the best way possible.

For more information about local tax rates or to talk strategy, give us a call at (206) 466-4020 or send an email to info@hudsoncreg.com.

Cheers!

Jen Hudson & Duane Petzoldt

Emotions vs Decisions. The 3 Monsters We All Fight. By Jen Hudson

I write a lot of stuff.  Sometimes good.  Sometimes bad.  People seem to read it, and many times they will contact me because of it.

Each week, I talk to a bunch of strangers.  People that I didn’t know until that moment, but who reach out to me to help with the challenges they are having.  I regularly talk with hundreds of people about some of their most intimate problems.  These are not the problems you discuss with the checker at the grocery store.  No, the problems I tend to discuss with strangers are usually the kind of problems that are life changing decisions.

I realize this is a unique point of view that very few people will ever have.  I can’t say it is good or bad, it just is.  Lately, I have begun to get concerned… about our future.

Why you ask?

Let me explain.

It used to be that the people I would talk to understood which actions they had taken to put themselves in a certain position.  Maybe they didn’t like the consequences that came with their decision, but they understood and accepted how they got there.  Even in bad situations, there was a level of accountability.

Now?  That accountability seems to have gone out the window.  I don’t understand why, but I think I’m starting to see the how.  I believe there are 3 monsters who are fighting against our basic human traits, and sometimes they get the better of us.  Those 3 monsters are:

  • Personal Accountability vs. the Herd. As people, we make decisions every single minute that will impact our lives.  Those decisions can be anything from what to eat for lunch to who to give my estate to after I’m gone.  No one forces us to place another order with Amazon.  No one forces you to post on Facebook.  No one forces you to buy a home.  These are all things you decide to do for yourself and your family, because you believe it will meet a need or provide a better outcome.  Take responsibility for your actions.  Even if you don’t like the outcome, that doesn’t change the fact that you made the choice to get there.  You can’t blame the herd mentality monster for your own decisions.
  • Patience vs. Automation. The automation monster is running rampant.  As Amazon continues to change the face of most everything we know, we have forgotten what it is like to have to wait.  I don’t mean wait for the box of unnecessary stuff to show up at the door.  I mean wait for anything.  Can you get a mortgage in as little as 8 days right now?    Are you really going to wake up one weekend and decide to upend your life and then be packed and ready to go by the following weekend?  I doubt it.  Some things need time, even if they don’t take time.  Read that again.  When it comes to important life decisions, you need the time to consider all the implications of that choice you are making.  If you are confused on making choices, please see personal accountability above for more details.
  • Generosity vs. Greed. Amid the “I want it now” and “It’s not my fault” lies that you tell yourself is the biggest underlying monster.  That monster is named greed.  Greed is tricky because it tends to hide in the shadows, but has his fingers in most everything you do, even if you don’t realize it.  As our society shifts and the way we do business changes, it makes it even easier for greed get what it wants.  Maybe greed wants a hamburger at a drive-thru because it’s easier than cooking at home, or sits on the couch to binge Netflix instead of shooting hoops outside, or wants to pop that extra Ibuprofen pill instead of drinking more water because its easier.  Just this week, I saw offers from more than one lender for loans with “up to 110% of appraised value” for repairs and “no income, no asset” mortgage options on an investment.  When used properly, these are good mortgage tools and products to have.  It’s only when greed raises its ugly head that good things often turn bad.  Think of it like medicine.  If a little bit of something is good, a lot of it doesn’t mean it’s better.  In many instances, a lot of something means an overdose and a ride in an ambulance or body bag.

The next time you find yourself making snap judgments or decisions, remember to keep it in context.  Don’t let the herd automate your greedy desires.  There is a solution for that.  It is called you.  Hold yourself accountable for what you need and act accordingly.

When you need a real human adviser to help you through your Snohomish County real estate decisions, give us a call at (206) 466-4020 or info@hudsoncreg.com.  We are the closest thing to an easy button that comes with a real human experience.  And, we only work with honest, down to earth, and strategic minded people.

It all starts with a simple conversation.  How can we help you today?

Cheers!

Jen Hudson

Don’t Be a Space Alien. By Jen Hudson

These past few weeks, I’ve found myself at a number of community meetings.  I’ve listened to a few mayors try to connect with the people and offer reassurance they are doing good things.  I’ve listened to city planners, county executives, and parks officials try to explain both processes and visions.  I’ve listened to homeowner associations, law enforcement, educators, and passionate neighbors talk about the best ways to keep their kids and their communities safe.  And, I’ve listened to the people at each and every one of these meetings too.

Despite the new plans, future goals, and impressive growth… after hearing from nearly every area of Snohomish County, I was both a little pleased and saddened at each stop.  Why?  Because so many people have turned into Space Aliens.  Let me explain.

You know how in the movies, there is the space ship full of aliens who manages to land in the middle of a large crowd?  After the initial frenzy, the audience gathers around as the king alien appears and basically says “let’s all work together, but with my rules”.

Then the humans say “Hey wait, you just landed here.  How can you tell us what to do?”  And chaos ensues.

Whether we are talking about leaders of countries, municipalities, organizations, or households, it’s been pretty perplexing lately.  Even downright confusing and troublesome at times.  In my opinion, they should all go sit in timeout.

At each meeting, all I heard was “I’m afraid.  Don’t ask me questions.  Do it my way.”  Whether it was the heads of households, or the heads of state, they both had their fair share of stage time in the complaints and frustrations category… yet didn’t get many points in the understanding and solutions section of the test.

With all of this “what’s in it for me?” crud, where did the problem solvers go?  You know, the people who had to think through an issue and look at the facts and options in order to find a solution.  A solution that worked for many, not for one.  And a solution that included a bigger picture, not just now.  I’m sorry, but you can’t ask Siri or Alexa for a quick answer here.  That algorithm is flawed.

After listening (truly listening) to all sides of each situation, I kept hearing the same thing over and over.  People wanted to protect their values.

The thing about values, is that it starts with expectations.  “Values” on their own, just aren’t a thing.  Expectations are.  (You can read that again if you need.)  I don’t know how you can walk into a conversation with someone and then dictate a solution, unless you understand where they are coming from first, what their expectations are, and then address it directly.  That’s negotiation 101.

I don’t care if you are red, blue, green, purple, or rainbows with your expectations.  The next time you walk into a setting with other human beings, put a little more focus on the “being”.  Drop your iPhone.  Look someone in the eye.  And, have a real honest conversation.

That’s what we do.  We are amazing at helping people sort out their real estate questions.  And, we’ve done it hundreds of times.  It requires a lot of thought and exploration in order to find a solution together that makes sense.  Different people have different needs.

We don’t take our role lightly, and you shouldn’t either.  In order to “add value”, it means we need to ask questions and understand your expectations before we can develop a solution that matters.  It’s not hard, but it requires discussion.  After all, I can’t just tell you where to live or invest, but I can help you find something that makes sense for your family.

To add value to your future, that the others have forgotten how to do, give us a call at (206) 466-4020 or info@HudsonCREG.com.  Thanks for reading.  Remember, don’t be a Space Alien.  We sure aren’t.

Cheers!

Jen Hudson

2019 Windermere Everett’s Economic Update Event. By Jen Hudson

What did you miss?  Here are the highlights from March 7, 2019.

What was this “Kick Off Event” again?

Kickoff Event on March 7, 2019 at the Everett Golf & Country Club. Photo by Jen Hudson.

Every year, we work with our Windermere office to put together an informational and fun evening filled with quality speakers, a few appetizers, and a lot of really good people at the Everett Golf and Country Club.

Sounds good.  Who was there?

In addition to the roughly 150 valued clients and colleagues, we had a great line-up of presentations with Gary Cohn, the Superintendent for Everett Public Schools; Cassie Franklin, City of Everett Mayor; and Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist and one of the few economists who can brings a sense of humor to statistics.

Interesting.  Who was the opening act?

Gary Cohn kicked off the evening with a focus on kids.  He discussed some basic facts and figures to start.  Did you know that there are approximately 20,500 students in Everett public schools, with a projected growth of over 9% or another 1,858 students by 2026?  He addressed the income disparity in some of our local communities, emphasized how poverty is the single biggest factor that affects children, and noted that unfortunately almost 40% of our students are impacted.

Despite some initially startling numbers, there were many good points.  First, graduation rates.  The 4-year graduation rate from Everett schools is currently at 95.7% (oh yeah!), up from 81.7% in just 2009!  And, he talked at length about how after you adjust for poverty, Everett schools test above the trend line on everything from test scores to life preparedness.

Those numbers are surprisingly good, but where are all those extra students going to go?

The new Tambark Creek Elementary School, on track to open this year in fall 2019.  Currently, there are 17 Elementary Schools, 5 Middle Schools, and 4 High Schools.  The addition of Tambark Creek brings the district to a total of 27 schools over 39 square miles.

How do we prepare our kids to become future leaders?

Career Pathways.  In 2013, Everett Schools became a K-12 STEM District.  Rather than limiting curriculum to the typical Science Technology Engineering and Math, they took it a step further.  After completing basic high school requirements, students have the opportunity to enter a career pathway and gain the academic, technical, and workplace knowledge and skills.  This will allow them to transfer seamlessly into their next level of schooling, pursue graduate programs, or transition to the workforce.

What about Everett? 

After 14 years, the city of Everett welcomed their new Mayor Cassie Franklin in 2018, who is also the first woman elected to the office.  This change allowed the city to rethink some of their old practices and take a fresh look at how they spend and invest resources and how to partner with more community organizations and the public for support and feedback.  Over the past 12 months, the results have spoken for themselves.  The city’s budget is not only balanced for 2019, but also achieved $5.6mil in ongoing savings through technology investments, changes to programs, and staff reductions.

What are the top issues for the city moving forward?

Quality of life.  Mayor Franklin wants to see Everett as a place that is walkable, livable, and safe.  This past year was a focus on youth gang and gun violence with prevention and intervention programs, the city’s first ever Gang Response Unit, and a firearm safety campaign which all contributed to a 40% reduction in gang-related offenses.

Another area of public focus is homelessness and addiction.  Recently, Everett has partnered with Cocoon House, HopeWorks, and the Safe Streets Housing and by 2020 will have completed 170 new supportive housing units in three new projects.  They have introduced Treatment Without Delay to help combat the opioid crisis.  And, the partnership with Bridgeways is allowing individuals to connect with new employment opportunities.  While Everett’s challenges mirror many other communities, they are ahead of the curve when it comes to seeing results and finding solutions through their unique partnership programs and approaches.

Everett’s Mayor Cassie Franklin

Economic Vitality.  Mayor Franklin has a vision that people who work in Everett also have the opportunity to live in Everett, that businesses of all sizes feel connected and supported to the City government, and that Everett is a leader in regional economic development.

Everett is, of course, proud to be home to the world’s aerospace leader, Boeing, who recently achieved a new record of 806 planes delivered in 2018.  Aerospace and Manufacturing wouldn’t happen without a close connection to the Port of Everett.  The Port has had one of their busiest years as well, with plans for the biggest capital project in the Port’s history and the largest maritime construction project on the West Coast today:  The South Terminal Modernization project.

Waterfront – West Side.  Construction has begun on 266 new housing units at the Port’s Waterfront Place with a planned grand opening in 2020.  With 86% of the units already spoken for, there is a lot of excitement at the Waterfront.  Hotel Indigo is also planned to open this summer, which should double the capacity of lodging on the Waterfront.

Waterfront talk isn’t complete without mentioning Naval Station Everett.  While 2018 saw some changes, Everett has been a Navy town since 1994 and shall remain a key partner with the City moving forward.

Riverfront – East Side.  Polygon has sold nearly 320 single family homes and townhomes, with over 1,000 more in works.  The Riverfront construction is poised to take off soon for development on a new commercial center later this year that includes plans for a movie theater, grocery store, retail and restaurants.

In addition to these major projects, the Port’s Riverside Business Park is also under construction, which should bring approximately 800 new jobs to Everett that will be alongside the existing Northwest Aerospace Technologies and newer FedEx Freight facility.

Another important industry in our area is health care.  In Everett, Providence Regional Medical Center is one of our largest employers and continues to expand in the region.  Other industry leaders, such as the Everett Clinic, Kaiser Permanente and Seattle Children’s Hospital have been opening new clinics and bringing in additional jobs as well.

The vitality of Everett comes from both businesses and residents.  In the downtown sectors, we are seeing our businesses stay for longer periods of time, expand to new locations, and attract new business partners.  One of those newer additions is Funko, who have added 175 new jobs over the past 2 years.  Imagine Children’s Museum is an amazing asset to the community with major expansion plans this year as well.  The Angel of the Winds Arena saw ticket sales increase in 2018 with an incredible and diverse line-up for 2019 including the Seattle Storm, the Backstreet Boys, and more.  And, there are many new additions to our restaurant scene and downtown retailers.

Courtesy www.PortofEverett.com

Transportation and Mobility.  Economic development needs a strong transportation network.

We are fortunate to have Sound Transit, Community Transit, and Everett Transit all serving our community.  This year, the city will begin planning for 2 light rail stations for southwest Everett.  They will also begin replacement of the westbound US 2 trestle to address the current choke points with the State.  It’s estimated that by 2022, Everett will have a total of 18 electric buses on the road that will save an estimated 10,000 gallons of diesel each year.

Downtown Rucker is in the process of becoming a more pedestrian friendly corridor, along with a current parking study that may help relieve some of the challenges, as well as a pedestrian bridge connecting Everett Community College to the Washington State University (WSU) Everett campus.  2019 will see improved bus stops on Broadway, and new amenities such as shelters, benches, and bike racks.  On the other side, Grand Avenue Park Bridge will open in 2020 bringing a new connection to the waterfront.

After seeing great results from the Business Improvement Area (BIA) around the downtown corridor, there will be a new BIA around Everett Station.  There is substantial potential growth here and an understanding that the Metro area will continue to be the hub for and attract further development and future growth.

Commercial Air.  One of the biggest topics locally has been Paine Field.  Commercial air is a game-changer for Everett.  With a lodge-like design, 18 flights daily through Alaska Airlines, and additional flights from United Airlines beginning March 31, 2019, Paine Field has put Everett on a whole new map!

This year in 2019, Everett will continue to build their alliances with Snohomish County, Tulalip Tribes, and the Port, as well as all the other major sectors and businesses of all sizes in the area.

Courtesy Everett Public Schools

Education and Workforce Development.  In addition to the notes from Superintendent Gary Cohn, the local school districts have encouraged students to take dual-credit classes, earning both high school and college credits, and have seen an impressive increase of 876 percent more enrollments!

The Mukilteo School District includes Sno-Isle TECH, and gives students the opportunity to earn high school credits while gaining hands-on experience.  Everett Career Link is a summer internship program that provides real-world experience for high school students at businesses in their own backyard!  These programs see participation from a variety of businesses, including Providence and Kaiser Permanente as some of the most recent to enroll.

Aviation Maintenance Technician School at Everett Community College has opened for evening and afternoon classes to help meet the increasing demand for skilled technicians.  The Lab @ Everett opened last fall and has wide spread support from businesses and education communities, including power players like Amazon and Microsoft.

Wow.  That’s a lot of information on Everett.  What’s the take away?

Everett and our surrounding community will look very different in just a few years, and for many good reasons.  We have already seen advancements with increased activity, investment, and improvements to infrastructure.  Combine these advancements with nearly 300 acres of parks and green spaces to explore and a beautiful natural setting featuring both the Waterfront along the west side and the Riverfront along the east side, and you’ve got a winning combination for many years to come.

We believe you should be informed before you make decisions about your future.  After all, Everett is just one city and we didn’t even get to the economics part of the story yet.  There are still casino & mall expansions, improved roadways, new highways, and a whole new manufacturing industrial center in works, just to name a few projects in works in Snohomish County.  Stay tuned as we update you on progress.

For more information about the developments in the area or to see how your real estate is positioned with these opportunities, reach out to us at (206) 466-4020 or info@HudsonCREG.com.  You’ll be glad you did.

Jen Hudson & Duane Petzoldt

Left-to-Right: Daniel Volkert with Real Property Management, Duane Petzoldt with Windermere RE/M2, Greg Love with Windermere RE/M2, Chris Bodin with Guild Mortgage, Kevin Black with Anderson & Black Insurance

Angels and Monkeys. By Jen Hudson.

Please don’t misinterpret this post.  I really like Monkeys.  This one is a Vervet monkey.

Recently, I was talking with a friend.  I thought it was going to be a quick conversation.  The water cooler kind.  I thought we might touch the surface of the problem, but then brush it off and move to the next task at hand.  I was wrong.

Instead, it turned into a moment of full disclosure.  The raw, heartfelt kind.  As I listened to my friend go on about their issue, I felt like I was on the other side of a glass wall just watching the events unfold.  It was heartbreaking, but not because of the story being told.  It was heartbreaking because of the way they were telling it.  My friend was clearly listening to their monkey and was fully absorbed by it.

You know about your Monkey, right?  Your monkey is the little voice that comes out when things get tough.  It sits there on your shoulder and starts whispering in your ear.  Your monkey doesn’t whisper “sweet nothings”.  No, your Monkey feeds you lines of garbage.  Things like “You were a fool to do that.”  “What are you thinking?”  “You’ll never be able to succeed.”  “People will laugh at you.”  The feelings that follow your Monkey’s sermon are really where you’ll start to spiral.  Your Monkey brings insecurity, doubt, self-hate, depression.  I know I’ve fallen victim to my Monkey.  I know that you have too.  We all must battle our little bastard Monkeys on occasion so that our Angels can sing.

After listening to my friend tell their story, dancing on a ledge between tears of grief, full blown anger, and denial, all I could say was “bull*%!$”.

Now, I didn’t mean for it to come out so abruptly.  I meant it with my most honest intentions.  In the blink of an eye, my Better Angel threw the entire conversation off balance.  Looking back, it was probably the best thing that could have happened.  The last thing my friend needed was coddling or someone to make them feel better.  What my friend needed in that moment was someone to wake them up to the reality they couldn’t see.

I have known my friend for many years and have seen their better side.  The side that is strong, smart, fearless, loving, and knows how to be a leader.  But their little bastard Monkey was clouding their vision, and had been for a while.

My Better Angel knew that.  Without thinking, my Angel put it all out on the table.  It was a confident gesture of love and understanding.  It wasn’t arrogant.  And I wasn’t agreeing with all the bad things going on.  While those terrible thoughts might have felt real to my friend, they needed someone to wake them up from the daze.  A simple hand up to get back on the right path.  My Angel knew that instinctively, and immediately you could see the change start to happen.

We can all get trapped by our Monkeys.  Maybe it’s uncertainty as the world moves faster, frustration with a loved one, lacking confidence in a job, depression from your own struggles, fear of losing someone, or anxiety of not being good enough.  I have been there.  And, so have you.

If you’re at a point in your life where you aren’t sure which direction to go, try to figure out which voice is your Monkey and which is your Angel.  When it is uncertainty about whether you should buy or sell, or take over the world, or run and hide… maybe we can help.  Our business is selling real estate, but it’s really about making sure your future is in order.  Sometimes, you just need help tuning out the noise.

If you’re having trouble putting a muzzle on your little bastard Monkey, then give us a call.  The market is what the market is.  Buying.  Selling.  Investing.  Stop just reading headlines and stumbling around in the dark.  It’s always a good time when you know what to look for.  Knowing the real facts and helping people make informed decisions is something we have been doing for our clients for the last 15 years.  We can help you too.

Today, you should plan for tomorrow.  Call us at (206) 466-4020 or info@hudsoncreg.com.

Cheers!

Jen Hudson

P.S.  This post is inspired by one of my favorite real estate instructors, Joe Still, CCIM

P.P.S.  I really do like Monkeys, but the furry kinds not the ones noted here. 

Where is the Market? Hiding in Plain Sight. By Jen Hudson

This week I was down in Seattle looking at property for investors.  I know we’ve all seen them: the cranes.  The cranes downtown seem to keep working on more and more apartments, condos, and mixed use developments.  Those cranes have been around so long, you may not even notice them anymore.

It looks like there is an endless supply of apartment units coming soon. Apartment construction in top markets across the country has surpassed a 24-year historical average.

With all these apartments, you might not notice that Continue reading “Where is the Market? Hiding in Plain Sight. By Jen Hudson”