I can tell you one Thing – High end Great Location is still Selling 📊 @eXp Realty and Ron Rougeaux knows how to Invest 🕵 in PNW. . Look I can’t tell you the right time to buy or sell. I can let you know what is going on in the market. I can watch the numbers and stats and see the patterns. Right now I am seeing High end great location homes are selling, and there is still a demand out there. Most of the buyers are coming from California and other states. And depending on your plans and if you are ready to sell, there are buyers for you in the high end range with great locations. . Now the middle priced homes the prices are starting to auto correct and the demand is just not there right now. Mainly because of interest rates. But you have to remember if you are renting then buying now is definitely better instead of wasting money on rent. But you have to be in the right spot to buy, we can’t tell you when that is. But if you buy now and interest rates keep going up well that is better then waiting and buying a cheaper home up the rates are in the 10+ mark. And if the rates do go down, then all you have to do is refi and you now made money on both the price and refi. . As trust me once the rates start to drop the buyers will be running our of the woods like a horrid of zombies and bam we are backing into a bidding war and prices go back up in the market. And now you are back in the spot of losing homes and being furstrated and back to still renting and now 2 years have gone by and you have less 40k+/- and that all could have gone into your home equilty of the home you bought now. . Think about it are you wasting money and can you buy. If you don’t know if you can buy CALL ME – 360-338-8355 – but I don’t want to force you to buy if you are happy renting. And if you are looking to move and have any amazing high end home call me as there are definitely buyers out there. That are making the move now instead of waiting for the spring or summer as they know what might have and don’t want to take the risk of higher interest rates or a huge buyer demand come back again in the summer. . #exprealty #expproud #pnwhomesgroup #realestatemarket #realtor #realtorlife #pnw
@eXp Realty and Ron Rougeaux knows how to Invest 🕵 in PNW." data-content="https://ronrougeaux.com/2022/10/29/i-can-tell-you-one-thing-high-end-great-location-is-still-selling-%f0%9f%93%8a-exp-realty-and-ron-rougeaux-knows-how-to-invest-%f0%9f%95%b5-in-pnw/" title="Share on Tumblr"data-posttype="link">Share on Tumblr
Right now the sun is shining bright and the weather is hot (smoking hot) and summer is here full force. This is why we live here in the PNW, best summers. You have the mountains on the cascades and olympics glittering bright with the snow reflecting the sun, just enticing you to come hike. With the waves in the Puget sound and rivers and lakes throwing the sun right back at you, saying come in and swim and fish in our waters. Yep nothing better in the summer than in the PNW and with no abundance of mosquitoes at least where we live at the lake. You can just setup your chair and really enjoy one of the last slices of nature before you head to Canada and Alaska. Of course in the high woods and mountains, yes we do have bears and Mountain Lions, coyotes and wolfs.
With real estate I believe everyone has learned or is finally learning – Location is everything. And yes sometimes you can’t get the perfect location. But when you can, nothing is better than that amazing location. In my opinion these are my 3 top locations for a Primary or Investment home.
Waterfront pure and simple. Nothing is better than having water at your back or front door and being about to jump in for a swim or paddle/boat off into the sunset. It is the best spot to be in the hot summer days and everyone will want to becoming over for that bbq and swim/boat time. Now with that said, yes some waterfront is not good. (If you are in a flood zone or a very swampy location). Remember even with waterfront there are prime locations, good spots, and then just okay spots. With regards to the PNW in Washington state we have Salt water and Fresh Water locations. We then can go further with location here in Washington state as we have a lot of choices to pick from. Would you prefer lake or river/stream or would you like salt water bay/sound or oceanfront? This is totally up to you and to be honest, all waterfront in my mind is a solid purchase. Of course there are levels of prime locations on the water front as well. For example on the lake a clean spot for swimming and dock with boating in front of your house is perfect. But as the same lake if it is marshy and you can’t really swim and too shallow for a boat, while again you are waterfront but less desirable location. Budget will also have a huge determining factor on what you can pick/afford. And at the end of the day, I believe water front is 100 times better than a cookie cutter home with pavement and homes all around you.
2. Land and great large raw land with maybe a creek/river or pond or if you are lucky to have large land with salt water. Land is becoming harder and harder to find. There are many factors to why there is less land, the obvious is more people and more people wanting land instead of living downtown or in the cities. The big chunks of raw land that are clean, by clean I mean no wetlands or gophers to stop you from being able to build. Also flat with some hills is good, but steep and extremely hard to build on lots is also not the best. So you will always have different levels of land that is Best to not the best. I will say when the land is private and doesn’t have eye sores around it, being that of either man built/living presence or views such as mud flats or swamps. The really nice pieces of land usually get sold off market to investors/developers or if you are hunting for land, a really good real estate broker will call around for you to see if any owner is looking to sell. Another great way to buy big chunks of raw land is to look for timber land from logging companies. Sometimes these lots are further out in the country. But if you can afford to buy and hold on to the property until it is built up around you or development has come close to the big chunks of land you can make a good penny developing the land or selling to a developer/investor.
3. Downtown Residential/CommericalDowntown Residential/Commerical is amazing and can always be fun and exciting living or living/working close to all the action of a downtown city. Depending where the city is, you can have key locations downtown, if there is water then of course closer to the water or even better on the water is of course the best of the best you can get. If you have a residential of condo on a nice corner spot with restaurants and bars with cute stores, this again is very attractive and definitely helps the value. I really like if you can find a building to buy that has residential on top and a commercial unit on the bottom that you can either rent or use yourself for a business. These always are great buys, but harder to find sometimes. If you are just looking for commercial buildings, I usually recommend making sure the buildings are in key locations, unless they there in gentrification going on through the downtown key areas. These area are called opportunity zones and have awesome tax advantages and if you hold them for a key time period are a great investment, as long as it is just not sitting there vacant.
Please Call ME instead of just getting sent a random Real Estate Market Report. Yes the reports are fun to look at and if you know what you are reading, awesome. But wouldn’t you rather talk about the market while seeing the numbers in person or on a zoom meeting.
Any realtor can pull reports and send them to you. There is a huge difference if the realtor can sit down and explain the reports, actually show you what is going on in the local market. Even better is if the realtor has rentals and investment homes, and can show you their success in the real estate market.
And yes it is cool to know the US Market statistics at the Macro level, but ultimately the micro level of the area you are wanting to buy and sell is huge. We can take this on multiple levels depending on what you are wanting to accomplish in the real estate market. Are you wanting to invest, sell a home, buy and flip or buy in another part of the country? All of this requires you to look at different graphs and compare what your ultimate end goal is. So yes getting a report is great, if you are bored and want a Sunday read. If you want a specialized report for your specific needs, call me and we can talk. And then I can make you a detailed specific report and show you what the market is actually doing for what you are looking for.
The capital of Washington State is 60 miles south of Seattle on the southern end of Puget Sound. Budd Inlet goes right into the center of the city. Olympia is a perfect place for those who love the outdoors as well as love the city. The ocean is a little way to the west, and the mountains are a little way to the north and east. Tacoma and Seattle are a short drive.
Olympia has a decent cost of living – definitely more affordable than Seattle and Tacoma. They are very proud of their public transportation system with the Sounder Train and an extensive bus system. Amtrak also has routes to Tacoma and Seattle by train. Many people work for the government, but great jobs are available in technology, distribution, healthcare, and hospitality.
If you love the outdoors (and the rain), you’ll enjoy the many parks, forests, and waterways. Rock climbing, backpacking, and kayaking destinations are right outside your door. Mt. St. Helens, ocean beaches, and Hood Canal are a short drive. Heritage Park is next to the State Capitol, Capitol Lake, and downtown Olympia. The Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a national natural landmark with 275 migratory bird species, marshes, and an abundance of salmon.
Those who like the performing and visual arts will not be disappointed in the selection of theaters, concerts, and art museums. The Squaxin Island Museum teaches visitors about native tribes in the area. The Wet Science Center is all about water.
Living in Olympia, WA
Children attend the Olympia School District. There are 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. There are several private schools, as well as good support for homeschooling families. South Puget Sound Community College and Evergreen State College provide associate, bachelor, and master’s degree programs for higher education.
With 33 neighborhoods on all sides of the inlet, moving to Olympia is all about finding your perfect home. Some have gorgeous views of the water, some have great proximity to downtown, some are great for families, and some are on the outskirts where it’s quiet. Here are a few highlights to get you started.
Cain Road
Cain Road has 835 newer upscale homes supported by an active homeowner’s association. Home prices vary from $350,000 to $930,000. The majority of the homes were built in the 1950s through the 1990s. Most homes have 3-4 bedrooms. The average commute time is 10-19 minutes. The median household income is nearly twice that of the rest of Olympia. There are two local parks in the area – Watershed Park and McGrath Woods Park. Children who attend the Washington Middle School do not have to go far.
Castlewood
Castlewood is a larger community with a population of 1266 and a median home price of $325,000. This is a family community with residential homes and amenities. There are several parks in the area, including LBA Park, Margaret McKenny Park, and Chambers Lake Trailhead Park. Johnson Berry Farm is close by for berry picking. Children attend Margaret McKenny Elementary School and Washington Middle School.
Related Post
The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide To Hilltop, Tacoma READ MORE
East Bay Drive
A narrow neighborhood right on the coastline, East Bay Drive has condominiums, waterfront properties, and gorgeous homes. There are beaches in your backyard, and nearby at Priest Point Park. Take a hike on the rocky beachfront alongside Ellis Cove. East Bay Drive has a population of 193 and a median home price of $850,000, with homes selling as high as $1.2 million.
Eastside
Eastside is a mix of residential and businesses and is close to downtown for easy commutes. One of the older neighborhoods in the area, its history dates back to the mid-1800s. Homes are modest in size, with a median price of $394,000. The active neighborhood association sponsors community events such as the Annual Summer Picnic.
Indian Creek
A quieter neighborhood with an older population, Indian Creek has 539 residents. This is a great place for retirees and those looking for a safe and secure area. The median home price is $327,490. There are several parks for walking, including Woodland Trail / Frederick Street Crossing and McGrath Woods Park. There are also several churches in the neighborhood, including Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Church of Living Water.
Nottingham
With a taste of England in the neighborhood and street names, Nottingham is a delightful area. With a population of 203, this small community is one of the most affluent and safest. It’s very close to shopping and restaurants. Schools in the area are Pioneer Elementary, Sunrise Beach School, and Olympia High School.
South Capitol
Located south of downtown and the state capitol building, this neighborhood is excellent for those who work in the downtown area. The median home price is $577,000, and the homes are older with established trees in their yards. The city’s oldest school – Lincoln Options Elementary (built in 1922), is in this neighborhood. Tennis courts, picnic areas, and turf ball fields are found at Stevens Field. Young professionals and families make South Capitol their home within walking distance of restaurants, coffee shops, arts events, and a produce market.
South Westside
Many of the more desirable neighborhoods are on the east side of the inlet, but South Westside is an exception. This is one of the largest neighborhoods in terms of population. Homes here average in price from $420,000 to $530,000. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, and fitness facilities. The Capital Philharmonic is located in South Westside. It’s dog-friendly and walkable. There are several public and private schools that children can attend. There are plenty of green spaces and access to the inlet at Marathon Park.
Moving to Olympia, WA
For an area with great schools, friendly tree-lined neighborhoods, plenty of outdoor activities, special events, and fresh produce and seafood, you can’t beat Olympia, WA. With views of Mt. Ranier and Puget Sound, there’s city life in the middle of an outdoor mecca. Find the local hangouts and enjoy the best of the pacific northwest.
Survived Crazy heat Wave Record! With no central AC in the house, and tinfoil on the windows, and 2 roll ac units in the kids bedrooms we made it. We started the morning off normally and dropped the kids off to summer camp which they were so excited about (add day camp/yay for us parents). Then I was crazy busy with real estate with morning home showings and getting 1 seller and 1 buyer under contract and 1 new listing. Then I wrapped the morning up with a relaxing Pedi, yes it was amazing lol, they had AC.
When I arrived home about lunch time, @brandy and I were busy tin foiling the windows and I jumped on the roof for the sky light. Of course I didn’t wear shoes, and the roof was scorching. So I quickly taped my feet then back to tin foiling the skylight. After that I keep myself busy with paperwork for the county with building permits for our new build. (Seemed appropriate sweating a filling out multiple forms Thurston county seemed very symbolic).
Then with many jumps in the lake and then laying on the floor in the kids rooms watching a show on the lab top with brandy, eating a lot of watermelon, watering all the plants multiple times a day, hosing down all the animals and fans on them, picking up the mail and getting my adventure magazine that seemed extremely appropriate for the day. We had a busy day, but I was so happy as the PNW is beautiful even in record breaking heat and of course with Brandy by my side it is always an adventure.
I love the heat, Brandy and pets not so much. And the kids chilled in their rooms on Ipad after summer camp. But overall it builds character and reminds me why I work so hard – to pay for all the electric for all the fans/ac units running. I love reminding Brandy we live in the PNW and we don’t need AC, which never goes over well, lol. Although maybe the future will change with hotter weather, central AC may be required.
Here is the real advice you will want to hear when you are moving to a new home, and it should be your first question. – Where to move to? – and I will always say Choose Wisely!
What I mean by that is do your research on the area you want to live first and foremost. And start with the city you like or are moving to. Then narrow down the search from there. I find to many people search by homes that catch their eye and then research where the home is located. And eventually they buy the home and not the location. Remember location is everything! I repeat Location will and alway be everything! Sure the home maybe amazing, just that perfect style you have been looking for and truly connect with. But if the location not good with regards to stores/amenities, school district is not up to standards for your kids, or even HOA/CCR’s and even bad neighbors. Nothing is worse then buying the home you have always envisioned, and then wanting to move because one or all issues arise as you start to live and adjust to your new home.
Here is how I start.
First 1. I research the city I am moving to – Easy or Not depending on what is making you more. If you are from the city already, easy you now know more of the city and location on where you would like to live. (move to step 2). If you are moving from another state for work or service, then picking your city will require more focus on what that city has to offer for you and your family. If you are single, there is definitely cities I would stay away from if you could help it, as they maybe more sleepy family cities that do not offer the lifestyle required or would be appreciated by a single person. If you are a family moving to the city, please look into the school district, parents are finally starting to pay more attention. But here is some more information, you need to really find someone who has their eye to the ground on the schools/boards and what is going on behind the scenes. Even through a lot of websites you google say one thing. Go find either a local real estate agent, school teacher, even go talk to the school first and find out what is really going on behind the scenes. I can not stress this enough if you are worried about your kids future at a certain school.
Step 2. – Drive the City if possible – If not possible please use Google Maps. And I mean to both items either driving or google maps spend time in this area. One of the most crucial areas for a solid foundation for starting to actually pick a neighborhood/location in the city you would like to live. And if you really want to do it right, do both driving and google maps. So with driving I like to do at least 2 – 3 drives and sometimes even spend at least 1 night in the city to see different locations in the morning, noon, evening. Trust me a day showing could be quite different from an morning or evening showing. For Example – (When you go look at a house at 2pm during the weekend, and it is quite, nice, even charmingly romantic. Now you go back to that same house on a Monday morning 8am and you see the school buses pile up, parents and traffic running around to school and work, and the road your home is on now turns into a major highway. And Friday at 5:30pm and you notice traffic jams, as everyone uses the road your home is on as a short cut though town, and now it takes your an extra 20mins to get home and forget about even turning in and out of your home). Now this example is true, not all are this bad, and Yes I have even seen worse. — As a Real Estate Broker Ron Rougeaux– I know what roads to avoid and when to avoid, I know what is going or try to know as much is possible within the city with new construction, developments, and upcoming projects that could affect the home you like. I have saved a lot of buyers from purchasing in an area that would be harmful for the lifestyle they are looking for, or even worse re-sale where they lose money and can not afford to move out of a bad situation. Trust me please drive and take you time looking at certain areas you are considering buying, have lunch near the location, walk the streets and stores. Then when you get home google map where you drove and see what you missed, maybe you might see a cool store to check out next time or that the huge mushroom farm may not smell so good when the wind blows a certain direction. If you don’t have time or can’t drive the area you are looking at. Second best is use google maps and drive the locations that way, not as good, but still will definitely help out.
Step 3. – Pick your Neighborhood/Location – Once you pick a location of neighborhood let your real estate agent set you up on home search so you can receive email alerts right away once a home pops up in that area. Likely hood is there will be a lot of people interested in the same area you are, and the key is to be at the home and view it as soon as possible. (Also you want to time to again – revert back to step 2 now, on more focused area just around that home). – What I mean is even if you like the home and it is in your key location/neighborhood. Now you need to research what is on the sides and in front/behind the home. Is it a corner lot, or in front of a street where headlights go through your windows. Does one or all the homes around it look run down or multiple cars in the driveway. Basically look for Red Flags, that will be a problem once you are actually living in the home. Now just remember nothing is ever going to be perfect, but also you don’t want to buy a home where you just can’t stand living there, no matter how nice the home is.
Step 3X. – Extra Bonus Step – Go knock on the neighbors door in the evening of the home you are looking at purchasing. Yes I know this could be a little nerve racking, but wouldn’t you like to know who you could be possible living next door to if you buy the home. And I guarantee you they will tell you all the information you would ever want to know about the current owners trying to sell the home and all the drama. This could be huge and very insightful.
Step 4. – Win the home – If the home matches and fits all your criteria then make the offer and win that home. Use an agent that knows the area. Has the sales to back them up. And please make sure that agent has at least a minimum of a few years under their belt. Trust me I have been doing this for a while, and I can guarantee you need someone that does 40+ sales a year and runs into all kinds of situations, because this is the backing and advice you need to succeed. And Bonus if that real estate agent has rental properties, and has flipped homes. Trust me boundary lines, to permit uses, to everything you can’t imagine I have ran into, and yet their is still more out there even for myself to learn.
Next Blog – Learn how to actually win a Home with Multiple offers. Trust me if you find the perfect home and location. Chances are you are going to have a battle to win it. And you always want a seasoned fighter on your side – I love to Fight – And even More I love to Win! — I can Win for you!– Ron Rougeaux
The saying goes “Where you hang your Hat” is Home. Well I can say I absolutely love living in the PNW, in Washington State. Or more accurately Lacey, WA or Olympia, Wa as everyone just groups us in with Olympia – The Capital of Washington State.
I have live a lot of places, and loved all of them, but my heart will always bring me back home to the PNW. Sometimes its hard to describe, and understand. For the locals it is a no brainer, fresh air, fresh water, mountains, trees and desert all in one state. We have Canada to the north and Oregon to the South and the Pacific Ocean to the West. You can’t beat how this is the furtherest north you can go in the continuous 49, expect for Alaska.
When you look around, and especially in Olympia, it is like a time warp. Yes its the capital of the state, but when I walk into the county court house for real estate permits. It is like traveling back into time, a simpler time, the smells, the sights all reflect an era that is long and gone, except for in Olympia, WA. When you walk down the streets and go into the shops and restaurants. It is a friendly warm welcome, as if you have always been a local. I would even say you get more room to make this city your own, as the constraints of a big city or new age era is so structured and ridged with protocols, where here you have the luxury of more freedom.
Some will see a different side, but if you know what to look for, this place is as good as it gets in my mind. I am so happy we decided to make this our home, not only for our children. Where they can have a glimpse of the world I grew up in, it helps them understand that there is more then just being a robot with standardized structure. Here you can you, see the old with the new. A launch port for exploring the world outside the United States. Plus Washington state in its self is almost a replica of the entire US, in a complete small scale minus the east coast atmosphere and south.
If you are looking for a place to call your own in the PNW – Call me – 360.338.8355
*** I will make sure to tell you the history, the legends, the facts and everything you should and need to know when buying out here in the PNW. And if you do make the change, welcome to the last wild west country in the United States!
Olympia, WA has always been a sleepy town and a great place to raise a family. What has finally started turning the corner is the home investors are finally really coming out of the wood works and noticing that there is more and more people moving to Olympia. With this flipping homes has become more and more of a popular item. The catch is the home prices have risen so much that finding a home for a great price to flip is harder and harder.
I am very lucky to have the opportunity to flip three more homes on waterfront on Long Lake, in Lacey, WA. The homes all home plenty of land, there are two waterfront lots, and the third home lot, can be subdivided in two 4 lots.
Stay tuned as I take you through the entire process of how I flip the homes.
Here is some starter pics.
Also please check out my website at PNW Homes Group Website if you are looking to sell or buy a home.
There are a lot of home buyers in Olympia right now. Most of them have been looking for a while. If you are a new buyer just coming into the market, there are a few things you should do to get started:
Get a pre-approval letter
Find a lender that you are going to use and that you also trust
Get an agent that you like and trust
Go look for a home.
However, because there a so many current buyers, if you are just getting started you need to be proactive in your search. But it shouldn’t just be you. Your real estate agent should also help you stay ahead of the game.
If you are ready to buy a home, call, text or email me and I will help you get started.
When you think of waterfront in the woods with a cabin and friends and adventures await you usually will go towards the movie “The Great Outdoors”.
This cabin on Summit Lake is what I think of with regards to the movie “The Great Outdoors”. When you look around all you see is trees, and the water is beautiful with 2 docks on the property and a boat house. The cabin with 2 bedrooms and bath make you feel right at home and the solid new deck really allow you to relax and enjoy the wilderness settings. If your style is fishing, relaxing and just taking in the surroundings, this is you lake front home.
Waterfront living & views! Adorable 2 BR cottage right on Summit Lake in a great location with a deck overlooking the lake, boathouse, and has 2 docks. Adjoining property has a fire pit. Sited on a private lane. 3 parcels total included in sale with over 100 feet of waterfront.
Link to see more pictures and details on the Lake front cabin home.
Ron Rougeaux 