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Seattle’s $475,000 Illegal Treehouse

Posted by Johnine Larsen on January 23, 2017

| General Interest, Seattle Life and Culture

| 0

The most private home in Seattle is illegal. It doesn’t have an address No driveway, no access roads. It doesn’t even have plumbing, electricity, or heat. But this illegal home is currently listing for $475,000—cash only.

It’s a treehouse in Magnolia, a quarter-mile away from the nearest road. You can only get there by boat or by walking (if the tide allows it), but once you do, you find yourself in a two-story, luxury treehouse complete with 280-square feet, a kitchenette, a queen size bed, and a view. Of course the view. It’s build on the side of a bluff just above the water, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more exclusive, private view anywhere else in the city.

This treehouse was built for Animal Planet’s “Treehouse Masters” TV show. It was paid for by Ronald Rae, a former lawyer who wanted to use the treehouse as a summer getaway. Rae had bought the property for $100,000 in 2013, and to develop it, the Animal Planet crew had to dock barges in Elliott Bay.

Rae has since decided that it is time to let the treehouse go. The listing has a few hurdles for prospective buyers, though. (Okay, a lot of hurdles.)

1) Permits

Rae and Animal Planet never got permits for the treehouse. It’s not up to code, and it’s not yet clear which code the treehouse needs to get up to. Is it a house? Is it a pavilion? Is it something else? A team of attorneys are sorting out the details, but they don’t have much time. Unless the treehouse meets the city’s requirements by the end of March, the treehouse will have to be torn down or Rae (or whoever buys it) will have to pay a $100,000 fine.

2) Cash Only

Because the treehouse isn’t a real house, buyers can’t get a mortgage for it. Cash only for this property. Because it’s so difficult to reach the home (the best access is by boat), potential buyers have to prove they have the necessary cash before they can see it.

3) Everything Else

The treehouse isn’t an option for long-term living. “It’s more suitable for somebody who lives in Seattle and can bring a sack lunch and then go home,” Rae told The Seattle Times. “Nobody should think that they are going to be able to pull off an inexpensive waterfront living arrangement. It’s not going to work.”

Despite all these obstacles, Rae has already been contacted by several prospective buyers.

More information from The Seattle Times

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Michael Ryan
19:04 10 Oct 22
We had a fantastic experience working with the Real Estate Gals to buy our first home in Seattle! Johnine and Tonya met with us before the pandemic and remained super patient and helpful with us as we went hot/cold on whether or not to buy *several times* over the past few years. When we finally... found the home we eventually bought, Tonya's help, advice, and feedback were all invaluable to us. She was also super responsive to calls and texts, and was just great to work with in general! Hopefully we won't be looking for a new house again soon, but we will absolutely go back to the Real Estate Gals when we do!read more
Kathy Sullivan
19:03 27 Sep 22
Johnine, Tonya and Scott have seen us through 4 houses and were with us every step of the way. I can't say enough about their professionalism, expertise and kindness in dealing with us for the last 27 years!
Simon Ninon
03:23 23 Sep 22
Unfortunately, my wife and I had a bad experience with Johnine.We were FTHB in WS. Our search was fast (under contract within 2 weeks, involving only 2 visits with Johnine, and 4 with Tonya as we did a lot of open-houses on our own). We were on top of everything and had an excellent lender (Ryan... Maxwell from Homestreet) allowing us to close 3 weeks later.We reached out to this agency after having a mediocre experience with Redfin. Given their stellar rating, we were expecting to be more lucky with Johnine and her team.After an initial meeting with Johnine, we had some trial visits with Tonya over one evening, and it was excellent. Tonya was scouting the different homes, taking the time to discuss with us, and sounded very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed our experience and were looking forward to keep working with her.After these visits, we only got to interact with Johnine.To say that Johnine lacked professionalism or represents too many people is an understatement.We only had 2 visits scheduled with her, and she had been significantly late for both (15-30 minutes), even though she is the one that set the time. Both time was because she was touring homes with another customer on the other side of Seattle and couldn’t make it on time for our visits.This was mildly annoying, but the second property was one we wanted to put an offer on, so we stayed put.Then, things turned chaotic. As we signified interest in putting an offer on that second property, it was a nightmare to schedule a time to meet with Johnine. The offer deadline was on a Monday, but Johnine could only meet us on the Sunday before. She had to reschedule that meeting 3 times, even though she was the one setting the time every single time.During that meeting, Johnine did not remember the offer Deadline correctly and thought it was on Tuesday. If I didn’t bring it up, Johnine was only planning to work on drafting the offer the following day and might have missed the offer.After our offer was accepted, communication became really abysmal. As a FTHB, I do not expect to be baby-sitted, but I was hopping that Johnine would at least detail us what to expect and when. However, she took the fact that we were on top of things as an excuse to not do anything than the bare minimum. This caused unnecessary stress on our end as we were trying to figure out stuff completely on our own. All we had from Johnine for the following 3 weeks was a brief “next step” email with poorly worded shallow details on what to expect, and barely understandable instructions regarding utilities. That’s it. Even at open-houses, listing agents distribute printed PDF with more useful information than what Johnine provided us.At no point did Johnine mention anything regarding a final walkthrough that we had to schedule ourselves and that we didn’t even do with her.The ice on the cake was closing day, where we had literally no idea what to expect the day of.Johnine was out of town and couldn’t get the key for us, so Tonya was scheduled to do it for us and meet with us the following day.But the day of, Tonya informed us BY EMAIL that she couldn’t make it, and that the seller’s agent left our home key under a rock in the garden for us to pick up anytime.Neither Johnine nor Tonya tried to arrange for another agent/staff to pick up the key for us to make sure that we were able to enter our property. They did not even bother calling us to check what was the best option for us or apologize for the inconvenience.I had to interrupt my work day in panic to go figure out what rock was the correct one and pick up the key.Johnine received a $27,000 commission out of that purchase where I felt she did not represent us better than a Redfin agent and put no effort to represent us at any step of the process. Beware.read more
Gunilla Eriksson
23:20 22 Sep 22
Johnine and Tonya were amazing helping me with the sale of a home. There were a few issues and they both handled them so well and found a great buyer. I would highly recommend the Real Estate Gals for your next purchase or sale.
Louisa Helms
17:48 21 Sep 22
Johnine and Tonya were so fantastic to work with on our first home-buying experience in Seattle. Tonya provided excellent advice on neighborhoods, trends in the market, and how our offer would be competitive. Tonya also facilitated a tour-de-force home showing day that helped us find the exact... right neighborhood fit we were after. We couldn't have asked for a better team and will absolutely be using them for our Seattle home buying/selling needs from here on outread more
Kyle McDermott
23:36 23 Dec 21
We sold our home and bought a new one in Seattle with Johnine and Tonya. Both were incredible and we'd highly recommend them! SALE: We got multiple offers and Johnine negotiated a great deal for us - dream price!! They had great suggestions for improvements and excellent contractor contacts that... helped us get top dollar! PURCHASE: Tonya had amazing patience as she showed us MANY houses and didn't pressure us to make a hasty decision. She has a great eye for detail and helped us get comfortable with pros & cons for each potential house. In the end, we found a great home in this crazy market and she negotiated a fantastic price for us. Very happy with the entire process!read more
Lil Be
17:21 25 Aug 21
We worked with Johnine and Tonya to sell our home, and that’s 15 years after working with Johnine to buy our home. It’s something to have a no-nonsense and savvy realtor to rely on, and The Real Estate Gals provide that savvy. We closed in June and are now pending closing on a new property. I can... recommend Johnine and Tonya and the whole gang at The Real Estate Gals.read more
Karen Lindenberg
13:42 08 Jun 21
We just closed on selling our longtime Seattle home. Tonya was a pleasure to work with. She was professional, responsive, and took it upon herself to ensure that our listing put its absolute best foot forward . When we found ourselves navigating multiple offers, she remained focused, explained all... the easy-to-miss details and ultimately helped us select the best buyer. We couldn't have closed this chapter in a better way. Thank you, Tonya and the rest of the Real Estate Gals team!read more
Katie W
18:50 19 Apr 21
Johnine is a delight. We worked with her five years ago when buying our first home, and when selling that home this year. Johnine is so much more than an agent -- she worked with us for almost a year in a tough sellers market when we first bought, giving us real, honest advice about when to bid... more vs when to give up (and not overpay).She helped us during the interim period -- with connections to contractors, but also with advice about where to invest our money (what would be a good investment if we decided to sell vs what we'd be doing for ourselves).That advice really came in handy when we did sell (for a profit) five years later. But what was the most impressive to me was that Johnine gave the advice willingly because that's the kind of person she is -- smart, helpful, and there for her clients...whether or not we ever sold our home again.read more
Bonnie Berntsen
22:22 26 Feb 21
Darcie Wells always goes above and beyond when it comes to selling or buying properties. Her years of experience makes it a smooth and seamless process. Our family is thankful for meeting her and creating a longtime relationship. I would recommend her for all your real estate needs.
Steve D
01:16 25 Feb 21
Darcie’s experience was key to making the sale and closing of our Seattle home a smooth and timely process. When questions or concerns would arise, she would respond with solid guidance and help.Darcie is professional, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. Furthermore, she’s a pleasure to work with... and we’re really happy with the results and overall sales experience.read more
Serena Sheehan
16:44 24 Feb 21
I can’t begin to recommend Darcie enough. She made our first home buying experience so wonderful! With her years of experience she was able to talk us through all the small details we didn’t understand-no question too small. She stayed optimistic and persistent throughout the process, never... pressuring us and always looking out for our best interest. She kept us in the loop on every step along the way, and helped to ensure everything went smoothly. Thank you Darcie!read more
Nadia Nerissa
03:01 23 Feb 21
Darcie was highly recommended by one of my good friend, I was looking to buy a townhome in N Seattle area; Darcie and her team (Tonya) went above and beyond to help me find a home within my budget. Darcie was very responsive (email/text), punctual and her flexibility amazes me. Often times she will... showed up early and check the house before I went in. Darcie and her team truly wants her client to get the best of everything. I closed my house within 30days and Darcie was very supportive to get me through the complicated house buying procedures. As a first time home owner, Darcie and her team really understand and very patience to walk through everything with me. Thank you Darcie and team!read more
N M
01:47 23 Feb 21
I sought recommendations for a real estate professional from a close friend. He recommended Darcie Wells after she worked with him on property sale. I’m glad that I connected with Darcie, she was a pleasure to work. She was informative and responsive in managing the sale process on my behalf. I'm a... happy new home owner and I gladly recommend Darcie with the strongest endorsement.read more
Rachel Brown
01:30 23 Feb 21
Darcie is a gem. We had the experience of buying our first home with her help and then selling it 8 years later under her care and expertise. Darcie is unassuming, good natured and friendly. She takes the often overwhelming experience of real estate and makes it digestible and tangible for her... clients. She is a good negotiator and her personable nature made us feel well-cared for and relaxed throughout the entire home-buying and home-selling process. She explains things clearly and is quick to respond to her clients. She has many years of experience and knows the Seattle market well. She gives great advice and guidance when asked for, but is ultimately supportive of her clients specific wants and needs. Darcie is who you want to cheerlead you through the process of real estate!read more
Dawn Mortara
22:53 22 Feb 21
Darcie Wells was our"gal" when we wanted to buy a condo in Seattle. We knew we liked her because she was our realtor when we sold our uncle's house. We had another excellent experience and highly recommend her
Lindsey Cooper
21:05 22 Feb 21
I could not have dreamed of an easier, smoother, more enjoyable experience than I had with Darcie. She helped me both buy and sell my first home. I was a novice, didn't know what to expect or what would happen. Darcie guided me through both experiences with knowledge, professionalism, confidence,... and support. I felt like I could go to her with any questions or concerns. Darcie is phenomenal and I cannot recommend her highly enough.read more
Shannon Deasy
22:51 09 Dec 20
We worked with Johnine and Tonya to buy our first home and it was a great experience! They were both super responsive from the first interaction when we weren't sure about our timeline and we just wanted to ask questions, to going to showings of houses I found same day, to showing us houses we... wouldn't have found on our own, and finally to putting through the offer and purchasing the home. We also used their recommendations for our loan officer, who was also super responsive and great to work with. We have other friends who did not enjoy their first home-buying experience in this difficult market as much, but we are grateful that we had Tonya and Johnine to help us, I highly recommend Real Estate Gals! I also enjoy reading their blog posts and emails.read more
Ilona Lohrey
00:23 30 Jun 20
We had the great pleasure of working with Darcie to find an investment property. It was important for us to work with a real estate company that is also a GSBA member and shows their commitment to equality.Darcie was fast, reliable and fun to work with.She knew exactly what we were looking for... and what was important to us.The property has since increased its value by 20%.From beginning to end, it was an easy process.Thanks Real Estate Gals and especially Darcie.We will definitely work with you again for our next real estate needs.read more
Danielle Thirumalai
04:18 26 Jun 20
Top notch team - the kind of people you work with over a lifetime and send holiday cards.Knowledgable team who want you to buy a great house, not just turn a commission. We have asked for advice on houses multiple times and they are always willing to share their opinion. Johnine even worked with... us while on vacation in New Zealand when we found a fixer-upper we were exploring.read more
Sandy Ruffin
01:21 25 Jun 20
Johnine and her team were amazing to work with. Johnine took a lot of time to understand what we needed and how to help us find the right home, and she's pretty fun to shop for houses with. Will absolutely work with them again if we ever sell our house.
Marian DiPerna, LMP
22:19 24 Jun 20
We had such a great experience buying our first home with Johnine - she was knowledgeable, patient, and knew exactly when to give us some direction and when to step back. We were thoroughly pleased with our purchase and have been in our home for over 10 years now. We give her name to all of our... friends who are looking to buy or sell!read more
Johannes James
21:23 24 Jun 20
The Real Estate Gals were a great team to have on our [buyers'] side when we purchased a home last year. I have read and strongly disagree with the negative review left below. We worked with both Johnine and Scott, who both expended a lot of effort and time to understand what we were looking for... in a home - which was a challenge due to our multi-family needs with preferences for large scale project space, but close to work in Seattle and in a tight budget. They quickly and accurately gauged what would work for us and helped us sift through the options with frank and straightforward feedback. When the perfect house finally turned up at the end of a long day touring around King County with us, they then burned some serious midnight oil slamming together the aggressive and fast-tracked offer that turned out to be critical for us securing our home. From my perspective, I cannot overstate the value of having a buyer's agent actually care enough to go these extra miles. I wouldn't be writing this from such a perfect home if it weren't for this team. I can only imagine these qualities have made them even better as agents during the pandemic. The Real Estate Gals will always have our gratitude - thanks especially to Johnine and Scott!read more
Susan Waller
20:34 24 Jun 20
I bought my first house with the Real Estate Gals many years ago. As a first time buyer, I was anxious and unfamiliar with the process. They walked me through it, and were there every step of the way. I have since bought (and sold) three more houses with the Gals, and it was a great experience... every time. They are highly respected throughout the industry, and know how to put together a winning offer. I wouldn't work with anyone else!read more
Shannon McFarlin
18:56 24 Jun 20
Hands down, Johnine Larsen and team are the best realtors I've ever worked with. I've never met a realtor so knowledgeable about the process, the market, and skilled at helping clients manage the stressful feelings that come up during such an important life event. We have worked with Johnine... through several transactions and felt she was an excellent advocate for us, extremely responsive and supportive, steered us in the right direction (including away from houses that weren't right for us!), helped us understand so many important things to be aware of when buying a home, and negotiated the best deal for us every time. On top of that, she's very real and authentic - we always knew she was telling us her true opinion and thoughts, and is an amazing, warm and caring person, which is all so important when you are spending so much time together!read more
Virginia Bunker
14:08 14 Feb 20
Johnine Larsen and her team are absolutely fabulous. I've bought and sold many properties over the years, and Real Estate Gals surpassed all of my previous experiences with agents. Johnine designed the perfect selling strategy. She then handled every detail leading up to the day we listed,... including cleaning, yard work, repairs, staging and more! Johnine has a heart of gold, and I can't say enough great things about my experience. Thank you!read more
linda wright
00:45 04 Dec 19
I have bought and sold many homes in my forty plus years of being a Seattleite and I couldn't be more pleased with the way Johnine Larsen and her team handled the sale of my previous home. I moved into my new place and they took it from there. Contacted the right people to do the minor repairs at... a reasonable cost, staged the home, and had professional photos done within a few weeks. The sale went smoothly as well. I am so thankful that I found her.read more
Paddy Lazar
23:42 03 Dec 19
I was lucky enough to work with Johnine and her very competent team to sell my home. I have to tell you how easy the entire process was. On her wise suggestion I had my home inspected, as there actually were a number of maintenance items that came up in that inspection and she even arranged to have... all of the repairs completed in a very short time. The only thing I had to do was to let the repair folks in. Then, to my surprise, Johnine , had all the windows and the whole house cleaned before listing it. She then had the house beautifully staged and had the yard cleaned up with even a little landscaping thrown in. The house sold within the week for OVER full price!Everyone I dealt with was always kind, helpful and professional, their communication was exemplary all through the process. I’ve decided to rent for a while but you can be assured that it will be Johnine and her team that I will go back to when ready to purchase a new house. I have sung her praises to all that I know.read more
soumak ghosh
00:00 14 Nov 19
They were representing the seller, and I was the buyer. Very limited communication from the agents. Waited days for a response for any email/text. I would eventually get an answer after multiple follow-ups. Almost cost us the deal.[Update]I have seen all the text/conversations of my agent with... your agency. Regarding the oil tank decommissioning, according to the contract, the tank was to be decommissioned 5 days before closing. When asked about so, 5 days before closing ( for which I have seen the text/email conversations of), you gave my agent very little to no information about it and even said it was on schedule. It was only after my agent called the oil tank decommissioning company herself that we got to know that it was not even scheduled 2 days before closing.Any buyer who was not as intended to buy the property as I was; could have walked away due to breach of contract. We got the final documentation 2 hours before the closing deadline. It was only after I wrote the review that your agents became responsive.read more
Sarah Donaldson
18:44 18 Jul 19
Darcie was such a joy to work with. She felt like family during the sale of our house and the search for our new home. We may have found our forever home, but if we ever need a Realtor in future, Darcie from Real Estate Gals will be our first call.
Brian Heagler
16:55 02 Jun 19
I have worked with Johnine and her team for 19 years and have always received personal, knowledgeable and professional service and attention! There is never and pressure and they will guide you away from a property when appropriate, which is always appreciated when a market is hot and the tendency... is to move quickly. I trust them and have never been let down!read more
Anne Slater
18:03 25 May 19
Johnine Larsen is fabulous! She listened and came up with ways we could get what we wanted in a house and stay within our limited budget. When we found the house we wanted, she moved super fast to get the house inspected and implemented creative ideas to make our offer appealing. And out of 13... offers, we were selected and got our house. I recommend her to anyone buying a home.read more
Amy Burdick
19:13 24 May 19
Real Estate Gals made sure we found our perfect house! Then, when we were up against other bidders, Johnine worked tirelessly to ensure we were tops! Her extensive real estate experience combined with exceptional character and integrity provided peace of mind throughout the process. She also made... sure we received the right value as a seller and got the transaction done quickly and efficiently. Simply stated: there is nobody better to help you find your dream home.read more
Bill Hollman
22:21 19 May 19
I'd give Real Estate Gals 6 stars if I could. We have used them multiple times, both in selling and buying homes in Seattle and the surrounding area. I can't say enough about the professionalism, knowledge, and patience they bring to the task of buying a new home, or selling your current... residence.And they know the Seattle area so well, they'll offer valuable insights into the pros and cons of any location you may be to considering.Look no further, call Johnine at Real Estate Gals. You will be glad you did!read more
Beth Guerra
01:14 18 May 19
Johnine was a breath of fresh air in the real estate market. She listened intently to our wishes and goals, and was tireless in her search for our perfect house. She is well versed in both Seattle and the surrounding areas. She made sure all the details were taken care of after the inspection, and... made the closing process seamless. She even gifted us with a housewarming present. Nearly 7 years later, we still receive holiday cards and well wishes. I highly recommend Real Estate Gals and will look no further in the future.read more
Joni Cervenka
15:55 17 May 19
Johnine has provided real estate expertise to me on several occasions and is very responsive and willing to give of her time and talent. I seem to always have questions about my rental property and she’s always happy to give advice. Although I haven’t bought or sold a house in over 20 years, I have... recommended her to many friends and they’ve all been pleased with her efforts and results on their behalf. She and her team truly care for their clients and they know their stuff!read more
Aidan Key
15:44 17 May 19
Johnine and the Real Estate Gals brilliantly took us through the home buying process two different times. Their willingness to educate (I was new), hear our home hopes, and support us through the process are a few of the reasons that I highly recommend this team. Speaking of a team, I love their... collaborative business model - it meant that we--the home buyers--always had a returned phone call and an ability to look at a house on OUR schedule. Truly felt like they place the customer first!read more
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