Zillow Advice RSS: Question-Discussion-Guide,Local Topics,Tacoma- WA

When the bank says they can sell a house for a reasonable rate what do they really mean?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:56:00 GMT

I have been trying to get my house's mortgage modified and they bank told the Lawyers they would help me sell my house for a reasonable rate because they refuse to help me by modify my loan What do they really mean? Are they really saying they will do a quick sale? What do they mean?

2 replies

FYI - I moved to the Central area 4+ years ago; the demographics you site have changed drastically.

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:09:00 GMT

As your statistics suggest, the Central Neighborhood is diverse. Â However, we are much more diverse than the suggestion that the population is comprised primarily low to moderate income residents. Â We are also diverse educationally, and socioeconomically.

1 reply

Tax forclosed homes

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:40:00 GMT

I have a tiny budget and was wondering where I can get information on tax forclosed homes are the commercials for real can I get more home for my money on a tax forclosed home. I have found less than a half dozen homes that will qualifiy with the type of loan I'll be using {see wanted add on creigslist under homes for more info

3 replies

How do I find out about tax forcloure homes

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:35:00 GMT

I have a tiny budget for buying a home and wanted to know more about tax forclosed property

1 reply

Confused by how the zillow determines values

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:13:00 GMT

just got a call from an agent wanting to know if I wanted to buy a duplex about 4 blocks further from the Chambers Creek Golf course and the Puget Sound than my fourplex is. Let me share the comparisons with you and perhaps someone can explain this to me. Both properties are in University Place WA:

Address 8216 40th st. West UP WA
Duplex: year 1966, size <1,600, bedrooms 4, baths 2, carports 2, size of apartments less than 800 s/ft 2 bedroom, 1 bath, neighborhood and location to Puget Sound good

Zillow estimator: 269K decrease of 8k since recent adjustment
Agent starting price 280k. Thats $175 s/ft. The average around here is 114 s/ft.

My Address 9702 52nd St. West UP
My Fourplex: year 1978, size 3,890, bedrooms 8, baths 6, garages two 2 door, fireplaces 3, size of yard 1200 s/ft, each apartment 1000 s/ft 1/5 baths fireplace and garage and washer and dryer in each unit.
Location to Puget Sound and Golf course excellent.

Zillow Estimator: 473K decrease of 43K since recent adjustment

How can a duplex that is less than 800 s/ft, 2 bedroom, 1 bath and a carport be going for $175 s/ft and my fourplex with 1000 sq/ft, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, fireplaces and garages be going for $118 sq/ft?
My location is better, my home is newer and more space and features and yet the duplex went down $8,000 and mine went down $43,000?
As near as I can tell there has been no major upgrades in either property.

Also, there are six identical fourplexes in a row on my street. the first 3 are around 430k and they wend down around 11 -13k, while the other 3 over 450k went down 28k, 31k and 43k for mine.

It doesn't make sense. The only think different in mine is that my property taxes was less this year as I am disabled.

2 replies

Downtown Business Improvement Area Extension Approved

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Members of the City Council approved an ordinance that re-establishes the Downtown Business Improvement Area for a 10-year period starting in May through April, 2018. BIA services include enhanced security, maintenance and enhancement of common areas and professional management, planning and promotion. For more information, visit the BIA Web site.

There has also been talk of extending the BIA area further west and north. And for some people unfamiliar with the BIA they provide the security (yellow shirts/jackets) you see on bikes around Downtown. They are always out with the streetsweeper cleaning streets and the powerwasher cleaning sidewalks.

No wonder we have one of the cleanest downtowns around!

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Live or Work Downtown? Take This Survey

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Complete the downtown Tacoma survey by Feb. 29 to help make our urban heart more vibrant

The City of Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Department is working to develop an economic development strategic plan for downtown Tacoma, and only one week remains for all Tacoma citizens to provide input on this initiative.
The Community and Economic Development Department is partnering with AngelouEconomics, www.angeloueconomics.com , an Austin, Texas, based economic development consulting firm, to develop this plan that will provide a blueprint for increased investment in Tacoma's downtown and provide more jobs for the region's residents.

To create the strategy, AngelouEconomics has conducted interviews, focus groups and visioning sessions and the City of Tacoma is looking for feedback from the entire community through an online survey.

All Tacoma citizens are invited to complete two brief surveys - one is available for residents and another is available for business owners. This community input will help AngelouEconomics and the City of Tacoma better understand the dynamics of downtown and prepare recommendations for the strategic plan.

To date, 535 residents and 113 business owners have completed the survey that will be available until Feb. 29.

For more information about this initiative, and to complete one of the brief surveys, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/downtownstrategy .

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Should Tacoma High-Rises Soar Above 400 Feet?

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:19:00 GMT

Dan Voelpel wrote an article on Sunday in the TNT about the possibilities of raising the height limits in Downtown Tacoma.

Click Here to read the story

Currently the Downtown Commercial Core (DCC) zoning allows for 400' tall buildings. The question is will allowing the taller buildings attract new business to Tacoma? Will it help keep Russell Investments in Tacoma?

Also if we are going to raise the height limits in the DCC zoning shouldn't the other Downtown zonings be raised? The next tallest zoning is Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) and Warehouse Residential (WR) with 100' height limits followed by Downtown Residential (DR) with 90' limits.

Just think if we had a few new 500' towers in the DCC then all the sudden all of the buildings go down to 90-100' or lower.

We need more of a staggered drop in height limits.

Here is an option the city should look at:

DCC: No Height Limit

DMU: 250' Height Limit

WR: 150' Heigh Limit

DR: 150' Height Limit

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2008 Downtown Tacoma Condo Tour

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:26:00 GMT

Downtown developers unite for KIRO Radio condo tour
Several of Tacoma's downtown developers have banded together on a partnership with 710 KIRO Radio to produce a Tacoma Condo Tour that will take place April 19 to 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Projects that will be represented in the tour include The Walker, 505 Broadway, Marcato, Esplanade, Granville, McCarver Village, Metro City Homes, City Steps, Point Ruston, Commencement Bay and Midtown Lofts. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage will be the financial sponsor.
This tour is focusing on introducing Seattle-area dwellers to downtown Tacoma homes and overall quality of life. Tacoma residents are encouraged to participate also.
Starting on March 31, more than 700 advertisements about the tour will run on 710 KIRO AM, 770 KTTH AM and 97.3 KBSG FM. More than 500 streaming commercials will also run on www.mynorthwest.com.
The tour itself will begin at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, where frequent seminars will run with local community members discussing the value of living downtown and Tacoma's transformation overall.
From there, participants will hop onto shuttles that will run every 10 to 15 minutes between each of the properties.

It looks like a few developers decided not to join the tour. If you would like a expanded list of Tacoma Condos shoot me an email.

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Now is the time to buy!

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:51:00 GMT

Despite all the negative press in the news, NOW is a great time to buy a home. Affordability today is better than it has been in almost three years. Interest rates are now at 40-year historic lows. You shouldn't wait to buy real estate! Contact me now to recieve my Special Report: Home Buyers: How to Avoid Paying Too Much. Just call James Zumini at 253-307-5714 or visit www.homejamez.com and follow the links to Special Reports!

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recent demolition/rebuilding of townhouses/condos

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:46:00 GMT

I live at 43th and Lawrence and several home very close to us have been purchased and townhouses are being built. does anyone know the major purchasers or builders involved in these projects?

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Central Tacoma Home Values Continue To Rise

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:59:00 GMT

December 2007 year over year median home prices continue to rise in Central Tacoma (Central, Hilltop, and Downtown)

Central Tacoma $245,000 +12.4%

Central Tacoma continues to be one of the best values in the city. With the continued economic redevelopment of Downtown Tacoma and Upper Tacoma , the central area will continue to prosper.

Just to take note here are other Tacoma neighborhood stats:

North Tacoma $258,975 -11.8%

South Tacoma $200,000 -1.2%

Southeast Tacoma $192,450 -8.4% (East Side/South End)

Browns Point $377,450 +14.6% (NE Tacoma)

1 reply

City Posed To Pass 2nd Alcohol Impact Area

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:50:00 GMT

Tonight the Tacoma City Council read the first reading of the ordinance to create a new Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) in the city's Eastside and South End. The council is expected to approve the new ordinance next week.

The AIA will ban the sale of high-octane alcohol beverages. Some of the common drinks sold are Mad Dog 20/20, Night Train, Cisco, Thuderbird, and Old English.

The first AIA in the state was enacted in 2002 in the Downtown and Hilltop neighborhood. Soon after residents in the South End and Eastside started complaining of increasing public drinking and panhandling (panhandling for the most part is now illegal in Tacoma).

The AIA is somewhat controversial because it will most likely push the problem to other Tacoma neighborhoods or to unincorporated Pierce County to the south.

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Confused by how the zillow determines values

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:15:00 GMT

Renting out my Home for three or four months- funished

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:00:00 GMT

I'm look into renting out my home starting 1 December 07 for three or four months. This is a two bedroom home in the Proctor District. Rent would be $1,100 month, plus heat, utilities and security deposit. There would be a good renter refund each month of $50 if the home is not damaged and clean this encludes the yard.

Call Kathleen 360-695-1283

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