tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post115047972375552324..comments2023-10-08T06:24:07.089-07:00Comments on Seattle Bubble: Seattle 2010 = Vancouver, BC 2.0?The Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14832570891451659976noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150758561216240892006-06-19T16:09:00.000-07:002006-06-19T16:09:00.000-07:00It is too bad seattle started with this too late. ...It is too bad seattle started with this too late. we do need increased density in this city.<BR/><BR/>Maybe the Home builders will use seattle as their "last chance stop" and keep building here right through the bitter end?<BR/><BR/>we can only hope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150678629138998372006-06-18T17:57:00.000-07:002006-06-18T17:57:00.000-07:00synthetik said... For the record, there is no way ...<B>synthetik said... </B><I><BR/>For the record, there is no way those condos will be built. At least not until the next RE up cycle. </I><BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I agree. Seattle is too far into the current cycle to support this many new units. If these had broken ground in 2003 this would be a different story. However, it looks like the majority of these units are going to be (or would have been) on the market at about the time when everyone believes that RE is an underperforming asset. <BR/><BR/>I think it's really unfortunate since this type of urban density is exactly what is needed to revitalize downtown and provide an attractive alternative to commuting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150601914355395092006-06-17T20:38:00.000-07:002006-06-17T20:38:00.000-07:00cite, FYI, I ride an electrically-assisted bicycl...cite, <BR/> <BR/>FYI, <A HREF="http://seattletraffic.blogspot.com/2006/04/about-blogger.html" REL="nofollow">I ride an electrically-assisted bicycle</A> to work and many other places, and I'm in great shape. Also, I never said that wanting a condo was crazy or foolish. Chill out, dude.The Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14832570891451659976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150599200881133152006-06-17T19:53:00.000-07:002006-06-17T19:53:00.000-07:00Just because you and your friends don't want to li...Just because you and your friends don't want to live in a downtown condo doesn't mean it's crazy or foolish. Personally I think it is nuts to live in some soul-less, ugly suburban box where you and all the other fat-asses drive everywhere, using up what little oil we have left and spewing poison into the air, helping to kill us all off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150500553111807982006-06-16T16:29:00.000-07:002006-06-16T16:29:00.000-07:00What I'd like to know is how we're expected to sus...What I'd like to know is how we're expected to sustain this growth. Sure there are schools planned, but who's gonna raise more than 1 kid downtown? When the cheaper places are going for 630 a sqft... let me tell ya, getting that third bedroom doesn't look pretty. <BR/><BR/>I am just happy I bought into this crazy market when I did. <BR/><BR/>By the way, most of us Vancouverites have an affinity for Seattle... it's like our sister!Raincouverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194393993142609669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150497347457479622006-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:002006-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:00easthawaii,Where in hula land can someone find 1 a...easthawaii,<BR/>Where in hula land can someone find 1 acre for $45K? A relative just sold 1/4 acre lot w/3br house for 40% more than she purchased it for just a few years ago in East Oahu and we're not talkin' a measly $45k price point (note: value in land, house is teardown). But, had it sold a year ago, she would have realized a 100% gain. I am aware that Hawaii's prices have been tanking of late, but it always cycles up and down by large margins.<BR/><BR/>Brings up an interesting point. Is the bubble half empty or half full. From 1 year ago, sure, prices dropped significantly. Call it a crash if you want. On the other hand, she realized a 40% gain on investment. I think the same can be said about Seattle's market as well.<BR/><BR/>ex-canuck...I'll be the first to say Seattle can't match the West End. One important element the West End has are families and schools. From the article, it doesn't sound like that's going to happen here. Also, weren't most of the land by False Creek owned by the city and sold to developers rather inexpensively to facilitate building those highrises? But, at least our buildings will start looking like Vancouver's since a number of them will be built by Vancouver developers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150486114562082472006-06-16T12:28:00.000-07:002006-06-16T12:28:00.000-07:00This article raises the issue that the cost of bui...This article raises the issue that the cost of building is going up very fast here and everywhere due to rising building materials costs and rising labor costs. I've been thinking about this recently because I may want to build a house in a few years instead of buying an existing one.<BR/><BR/>So the question is: if the housing bubble busts and we get a housing downturn in the PNW (and maybe also a national recession) - what will happen with the cost of building a house vs buying an existing house? Also, what will happen to the price of land (if you can find any)? <BR/><BR/>I would think that if we get a recession, particularly a global recession led by a downturn in US consumption, that demand for building materials would decrease and prices would have to fall when fewer construction projects are started. I would think the same thing would happen to land although I don't know whether land would fall less or more than existing house values. I would also think that labor costs might fall some with less work available.<BR/><BR/>I'm curious if others have any insight?sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150482567941983942006-06-16T11:29:00.000-07:002006-06-16T11:29:00.000-07:00Having moved from Vancouver to Seattle in the last...Having moved from Vancouver to Seattle in the last five years, I can say that Seattle has a lot of great things going for it. The downtown area, however, is a joke compared to Vancouver. I am not going to rant about the lameness of downtown and the reasons for it, but if Seattle is going to have any chance of making things better, it needs a critical mass of downtown residents. And for #@$%’s sake, bury that Viaduct while you have a chance!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-1150480817280916242006-06-16T11:00:00.000-07:002006-06-16T11:00:00.000-07:00I'm planning to do just the opposite. Once the pri...I'm planning to do just the opposite. Once the prices come down, I'm looking to buy somewhere more in the country east of the metro. The trick will be finding a place that will still allow me a modest commute to the 'burbs for work. I'm sure there would be perks livng downtown, but I'd rather have space and quiet. I lived in apartments for 12 years. I'd rather not buy one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com