7 Hikes for Seattle-Based Seniors

Ask someone what they love about living in Seattle, and odds are they’ll mention hiking. Unless they’re seniors. Health risks, long car rides, and the physical demands keep many older people off the trails. It doesn’t have to be that way. Hiking trails span a huge range; there’s a difference between climbing up Mt. Rainier…

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New Bike Lanes Where We Need Them

Bicycles are great—in theory. You can skip traffic, savor fresh air, get some free exercise, and save the planet one pedal at a time. But then there’s the matter of hills. Especially here in Seattle. No one likes riding up hills and showing up for work drenched in sweat, barely able to walk. Especially not…

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$2,000,000 for Our Neighborhoods

The City of Seattle wants us—you, me, and our neighbors—to decide how to spend $2,000,000 on small-scale neighborhood improvements. Does your community need a new crosswalk? How about a median? Or a flashing beacon, repaired sidewalk, curb ramps, park benches, or trail improvements? That’s what this project, “Your Voice, Your Choice,” aims to accomplish. As real estate…

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How Racist Real Estate Shaped Seattle

We all know the “bad” neighborhoods. We all know the “rich” neighborhoods. So, too, did 1936 Seattle. Much of the city we live in today was shaped by early 20th-century home loans, as you can see in this Great Depression map from the Home Owner’s Loan Corporation (HOLC). HOLC took all sorts of data from mortgage…

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People on People on People

Seattle is now the #10 U.S. city for density. Density isn’t what usually comes to mind when most people think of our city. I know I used to picture the waterfront, the comfortably impressive skyline, and the charming village-esque neighborhoods. But I’ve watched more and more people move into those charming neighborhoods, and I’ve noticing…

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Noisy Neighbors

Quiet neighbors and a peaceful environment often influence our clients’ home-buying decisions. At some point or another, we’ve all experienced living near that obnoxious house of college kids who party wayyy too late every weekend. Some of us might have even been those obnoxious college kids back in the day! When you buy a house…

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Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance

Do you know the new rental licensing requirement, SMC 22.214 (Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance)? The Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO) requires landlords to register ALL rental housing units in Seattle, from single-family houses to large apartment buildings. ALL properties must be registered from 2015 to 2016, with specific deadlines based on the ZIP code where…

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Photo Contest: Seattle Bloomin’

It’s springtime in Seattle! For May’s photo contest, send us pictures of nature in bloom. Step 1: Take 1-3 photos of blossoms. A flower, a tree, a blooming onion. They’re all fair game. Step 2: Email your photo(s) to josh.realestategals@gmail.com with: • Your name • A brief caption Step 3: We’ll post your photos on our Facebook page. The photos…

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Paseo, Paseo: What Do We Do Now?

Paseo has closed. You might have heard it already from the stunned news reports and neighborhood gossip that flurried through Seattle on Tuesday. Paseo, celebrated Cuban sandwich shop. Paseo, #2 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in America. Paseo, Seattle treasure. Closed. The news came as a shock to just about everyone. One day…

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Trick-or-Treat!

All of Seattle’s best trick-or-treating options, here in one place: Fremont Annual Trick-or-Treat Oct. 31 (3 p.m. – 6 p.m.)   University Village Trick-or-Treat Oct. 31 (4 – 6 p.m.)   Montlake Fall Festival Oct. 30 (5:00 – 7:30 p.m.)   Magnolia Lil Spooky Things Oct. 31 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)   Magnolia Trick-or-Treat…

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What does your zip code say about you?

  Age? Check. Income? Check. Neighborhood? Check. Overall lifestyle? Check.     It’s creepy, but once you get past the creepiness, it’s actually a useful tool for house-hunting and neighborhood-shopping, and, in a spying-on-the-Jonses way… it’s fun. Esri released an interactive map that analyzes your zip code information. You can zoom into Seattle and see…

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Seattle Restaurant Week: REGals’ Picks

Mark your calendars and make your reservations—it’s almost Seattle Restaurant Week! “Dine out and celebrate the fall run of Seattle Restaurant Week, October 19-23 and 26-30. More than 170 local restaurants are serving up three-course dinners for just $30—and many of them are offering two-course lunches for $15.   **Price is per person and does…

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