Come on by! We’re holding two open houses the next three Saturdays (March 9, 16, and 23) from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both these condos are fantastic investments. The Queen Anne unit has Lake Union views and a timeless location, and the Ravenna unit is a top-floor corner condo that’s FHA-approved (if you don’t know what that means: 3.5% down—more information below).
1800 Taylor Ave N #211
Queen Anne
$428,000
This is why you want to live in Queen Anne. With incredible panoramic views of Lake Union and the Cascades, this charming mid-century building has been lovingly maintained with all the original charm still intact. Offering two bedrooms and one bathroom, hardwood floors, and an oversized living room with a wall of windows, you won’t want to leave. Sun-filled from morning to early afternoon, and a quaint updated kitchen with views, as well. Covered parking space included and close to everything.
9508 Ravenna Ave NE #307
Ravenna
$389,000
Great top-floor, FHA-approved corner unit in a well-managed complex. Updated kitchen and bathroom. Plenty of cupboard and counter space in a kitchen that opens up to dining area and spacious living room with wood-burning fireplace. Oversized windows look out to green space, and trees provide complete privacy. Large master bedroom with walk-in closet and 1/4 bath. Full bathroom remodeled with newer counters and ceramic tile tub surround. Full-size washer and dryer, and new hot water heater in 2017. Well-behaved pets are welcome.
A quick note about FHA approval
FHA Condo Approval doesn’t just open the door to a much wider prospective buyer pool—it’s a government endorsement of a condo building. FHA carefully reviews any condo project before approving to confirm that the building has adequate reserves, a minimally acceptable dues delinquency rate, acceptable owner-occupied ratio, reasonable bylaws, etc. FHA-approval means you’re buying into a stable, thoroughly vetted condo project. Long-term, this means higher property values and smoother management.
An FHA loan is government-backed and insured by the U.S. Federal Housing Administration. It requires a down-payment threshold of just 3.5% of the total home purchase, and it’s geared toward homebuyers with low credit scores. If you have a FICO credit scores as low as 580 and bad credit, you can still meet FHA loan requirements. Even borrowers with a credit score as low as 500 can still qualify for an FHA loan (although they’re expected to make a down payment of 10% of the total home purchase.)