Just a quick, informal poll: How many of you would be interested in some sort of Seattle Bubble meetup? I’m not thinking of anything fancy or extravagant like the swank Urbnlivn shindig, just getting together at a coffee house or pub to hang out and put some faces to names.
Of course, I don’t want to go to a bunch of effort to plan something if nobody would even really be interested in showing up. So I’m posting this to gauge your interest in this sort of thing. If you would be so kind, I’d appreciate it if you would leave a comment stating whether you would come to a Seattle Bubble meetup, what day of the week / time works best for you, and any location suggestions you might have.
Depending on how much interest there is, I’ll try to throw something together for next month.
AndyMiami » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:25 am
Good idea, but could be scary in terms of putting faces to names..
ray » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:49 am
I will bring the free T Shirts!
Ray Pepper
http://www.500Realty.net
ray » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:53 am
Oh I’m sorry. I’m available anytime with a couple weeks notice. I also have 2000 sq feet with over 40 chairs but you would ALL have to drive South to Tacoma. 8225 South Park. Were just off I5. Follow the search lights!
Ray Pepper
http://www.500Realty.net
Ira Sacharoff » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:56 am
I’d show up. anyday but Thursday,and pretty much anywhere, coffee shop or bar or restaurant.
Of course, if the only responses you get are from real estate agents, cancel it.
Everett_Tom » Jan 21, 2008 at 9:23 am
Weekends are better for me, assuming my wife doesn’t “schedule” me to be somewhere else… :)
I got a good laugh out of this, thanks Ira!
squidier » Jan 21, 2008 at 9:28 am
I’d be interested.
Just don’t ask me to sign anything. :)
Dave0 » Jan 21, 2008 at 9:37 am
I’d be up for it.
Wm Swanson » Jan 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
C’mon Ira…..you cant have it all!
vboring » Jan 21, 2008 at 9:56 am
only if you can make the details of the meeting secret so that no real estate agents or underwater owners try to blow the place up.
joke
Ruisenor » Jan 21, 2008 at 10:00 am
Might be fun, vote for Pub versus Cafe.
Sniglet » Jan 21, 2008 at 10:19 am
I’d certainly try and make it.
Scuba Steve » Jan 21, 2008 at 10:33 am
Sounds interesting. I’m young, and my g/f is under 21 though.
Scuba Steve » Jan 21, 2008 at 10:33 am
arg, can’t edit… anyway what I was getting at is that if it’s somewhere that you have to be 21 to get into I probably can’t come.
Ben » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:01 am
I might be interested. Of course I would prefer something on the Eastside, rather than dealing with horrific parking over in the West.
Pub > Cafe
Alan » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:10 am
I would try and make it.
Pegasus » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hey Tim
If you are buying I vote that you fly us to somewhere warm. Maybe Costa Rica? Then we can sip mojitos and watch the bubble crowd arriving in droves to chase the next real estate bubble.
WestSideBilly » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:21 am
I’d be game. Weekends or evenings are obviously best for most people. A Saturday afternoon, 3ish, at a restaurant/bar (so we don’t keep any young’uns from coming)? I’d vote downtown as it’s central to most people, but Bellevue/Redmond area works good too.
WestSideBilly » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:22 am
We need someone to tap their equity ATM and pay for this trip. Come on, real estate always goes up, it’s free money!
Chris » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:34 am
Sounds dangerous. Some RE agent might go postal if we’re all in one place
Lake Hills Renter » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’d try to make it. Evenings/Weekends are my only option. If it’s in Seattle I’ll probably be late as I’d ahve to commute from the Eastside. Anyone that shows up trying to sell us houses will probably get trounced.
Buceri » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:57 am
I’ll take a HELOC and fly from Florida. I’ve got this e-mail yesterday; 1% interest!!!!! I am so lucky!!!
laxtosnoco » Jan 21, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I would be interested. Weekends work best and a place that serves adult beverages would be nice. Maybe Losh will offer up his bunker?
Joel » Jan 21, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I guess I’m the only one not interested. What would we talk about that hasn’t been discussed several times on the blog and forums? Plus putting faces to names I think would ruin the magic. I’d like to continue to believe you’re all not internet weirdos.
vboring » Jan 21, 2008 at 12:38 pm
i’m actually with Joel on this one.
if you guys find out i’m an internet weirdo, you might ignore my fits of crazy.
Ubersalad » Jan 21, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I can picture all that would show up to this meeting:
Real estate sales people + Tim.
S-Crow » Jan 21, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I could provide a slide show.
;>
The Tim » Jan 21, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Bleh. If that were really the only interest, I wouldn’t bother. I’ve already been to a party like that.
Ubersalad » Jan 21, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Logically why would anyone attend such meeting? Unless this is an IRC hook-up party…then you stand more chance of getting people to show up.
TJ_98370 » Jan 21, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Logically why would anyone attend such meeting?…..
Because The Tim would be buying the beer? :)
alex » Jan 21, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I’d be interested as well. but i’m an “above water” owner, so I’m not sure my vote counts :)
Schaum » Jan 21, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I think the gathering sounds cool. My husband was let down that there wasn’t some kind of Seattlebubble celebration when appreciation went negative.
I think we should hold the event at the “party room” in one of Bellevue’s giant luxury condo towers. More seriously, I’ll put in a vote for anywhere on the Eastside (e.g., Wilde Rover pub/restaurant in downtown Kirkland – it’s huge).
The Tim » Jan 21, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Hmm, not sure where you guys got the idea that I’d be footing the bill, but let’s call that notion… unrealistic.
[troll] » Jan 21, 2008 at 2:20 pm
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Ubersalad » Jan 21, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Let’s host it in a foreclosed abandon property somewhere in Seattle. Perfect theme for a bubble party.
softwarengineer » Jan 21, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I’d love to meet Tim and his band of Techies. I’d suggest Jazzbones on a HaHa Tuesday night….its in Tacoma, but the parking’s free and the pitchers are $3.50 with great comedians to watch too for like $5 cover….
Ubersalad » Jan 21, 2008 at 2:51 pm
this is SeattleBubble not TacomaBubble.
RefractedThought » Jan 21, 2008 at 3:03 pm
~~de-lurk~~
I vote for some forum policing on the troll up there.
As for a meetup? Maybe. I’d prefer downtown on a weekend, preferably Sunday. Get Shugy to come, and I’ll show for sure. :-D
David McManus » Jan 21, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Nostra"golly"Us said,
on January 21st, 2008 at 2:20 pm
“Sure, I’m signed up – are real estate agents excluded btw :)?”
RefractedThought said,
on January 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
~~de-lurk~~
I vote for some forum policing on the troll up there.
At least he finally admitted, although indirectly, that he’s an agent. Wow, he sure fooled us all.
Offers flying off the fax machines, Nostra?
WestSideBilly » Jan 21, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Considering that when I stumbled across this site, I was shopping for $350-400k houses that are probably worth $300-325k now, the least I can do is buy The Tim a beer (or similar beverage of choice) – yes, that’s an offer Tim :) .
I’ve also found most people to be much more likable in person, even when their opinions were not in line with my own.
Alan » Jan 21, 2008 at 3:45 pm
My only request is that invites be sent through private messages (or a restricted area) on the forums.
[troll] » Jan 21, 2008 at 4:10 pm
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biliruben » Jan 21, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Pub. Northend, preferably. Any worth visiting in Kenmore/Bothell, Tim?
I heard the one in downtown Bothell is decent.
As for time, probably never given my schedule lately, but pick a time and place and I’ll try to make it. Buying you a beer is a priority, and it sounds like several here feel the same way. So it should be close to your house, so you can’t turn us down!
I cc’ed Ardell for you, btw.
Johny » Jan 21, 2008 at 4:45 pm
To keep the bitter renter mood I think we should meet-up at someones apartment.
Lets all bring a RE magazine and laugh at the listings.
Then, maybe we could get a coffe and run down to the King County Public Records area and search for F@ borrowers.
Corney » Jan 21, 2008 at 4:56 pm
State unemployment, November 2007
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/state_unemployment/index.html
We were ranked 31st among 51 States.
Below average on the contrary to the assertion WA is very good.
Tired of hearing the lies.
Affluent Bitter Renter » Jan 21, 2008 at 5:26 pm
“To keep the bitter renter mood I think we should meet-up at someones apartment.”
No, no – remember, we don’t have apartments. To quote a noted Seattle Real Estate Professional, we are: “a buncha kids livin’ on their mama’s sofas blather about stuff they’ve only read about.”
So, who’s Mom is willing to have us over for milk and cookies?
Matthew » Jan 21, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I think to be fair to everyone in this blog, the meetup should be central, somewhere in Seattle. That way its an equal drive for people from Tacoma/Southend, Eastside, and North Enders.
Gizmo » Jan 21, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Can we contact John L Scott to see if they would sponsor this event?
disbelief » Jan 21, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I would be interested if there’s a metal detector involved. How about an airport bar on the other side of the security check :-)
Ubersalad » Jan 21, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I would be interested if there’s a metal detector involved. How about an airport bar on the other side of the security check :-)
That’s actually the best idea I heard so far…I hate to look behind my back for psychotic real estate agents out of job.
Moe Ronn - Realitor » Jan 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm
“If you treat the question as a projection of my own experience/truth, then yes, I am a real estate agent.”
WTF does that mean?
Angie » Jan 21, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I think it’d be fun to put faces to names, though I am afraid a few of you would pelt me with rocks and garbage….
EconE » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I’d rent out the party room at 2200 Westlake but you unwashed renters would probably trash the place…haha.
I also think that Tim is more worthy than just being bought a beer. Maybe we could pass around the “SeattleBubble tip jar” and contribute to his down payment!
I’ll be gone most of February however, so regretfully I’ll have to sign up for round 2.
Jillayne Schlicke » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I would like to attend.
I just posted an update for all of you on Merit Mortgage over in the Forum.
Lanny Poffo » Jan 21, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Great idea – during the dot-bust days my friends and I threw a “pink-tie” party that was a huge success. Half of my friends had been laid off or were looking for work, everyone was depressed – I had gotten my pink slip the week before and was filing for unemployment. The party was just the prescription to allow everyone to blow off steam . . .
For this there should be a theme & some sort of competition to get the spirit of things! The theme could be something like a “jingle mail” party or something along those lines (btw – I now personally know 2 people who have “jingle mailed” in the greater puget sound area since Jan 1 this year).
For a game we could have a round of “rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic” musical chairs!
What other themes or competitions would be appropriate for a Seattle Bubble party? :-)
rentfornow » Jan 21, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Better make it quick…the world markets are melting down, tomorrow looking crazy…
DJIA futures off 502 points.
S&P 500 futures off 62.
Markus » Jan 21, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Corney,
The unemployment numbers you stated include the entire state; farm and non-farm payrolls. Rural WA is has significant unemployment issues. For non-farm Seattle metro, the Nov/Dec unemployment rate is
Markus » Jan 21, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Sorry about that, my post was cut-off for some reason…
The unemployment rate is less than 2.8% in Seattle metro for non-farm jobs.
Also, although I would like to meet Tim & company, it might be better if we all remain anonymous.
Cheers!
Bitterrenter » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Is that urbnlivin thing for real? It reads like a bad Saturday Night Live skit.
dh » Jan 21, 2008 at 11:53 pm
funny you all mention this…i am new to this blog and actively reading for the past week and I was going to propose something similar.
would be fun to do some “break out groups” and a little group projections contest, business case or the like
Joel » Jan 22, 2008 at 6:28 am
Count me in…
Joel » Jan 22, 2008 at 9:35 am
Imposter! That wasn’t me on the 6:28pm post above.
Joel » Jan 22, 2008 at 9:35 am
AM. I meant 6:28AM.
Lila » Jan 22, 2008 at 1:01 pm
If the party is on the east side, my commute to the party would be a lot easier. So, yes, I would love to come. Since I don’t drink, hope that’s not an issue for anybody…
Howie » Jan 22, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I’d show up for a meeting. I’ve only posted a few things here. I’m more up on the economy in general, but read a lot of the blogs.
WestSideBilly » Jan 22, 2008 at 3:34 pm
We will force you to drink cheap beer until you acknowledge pink ponies are real.
Srsly.
tim » Jan 23, 2008 at 12:28 pm
i too would like to attend!
a BIG vote for pub over coffee house!
Just waitin' » Jan 28, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I’m in.
I vote for the eastside. Free Parking.
Seattle Bubble Meetup Next Tuesday, Jan. 20 | Seattle Bubble — News & discussion about real estate & the housing bubble in the Seattle area. » Jan 14, 2009 at 11:56 am
[...] some long-time readers may recall, a Seattle Bubble meetup is an idea we have tossed around in the past but haven’t ever followed through [...]