Comments on: Poll: Favorite US city on this list http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/ News & discussion about real estate & the housing bubble in the Seattle area. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:02:55 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: RickB http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47851 RickB Mon, 12 May 2008 22:02:12 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47851 Alex, Also, for your "strong arm" to have any muscle, you have to be absolutely ready to walk away. And they need to be convinced of that as well. Just don't have already talked yourself into it before you enter negotiations. -Rick<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47851','RickB',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47851','RickB','Alex,\r\n\r\nAlso, for your \"strong arm\" to have any muscle, you have to be absolutely ready to walk away. And they need to be convinced of that as well. Just don\'t have already talked yourself into it before you enter negotiations.\r\n\r\n-Rick',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Alex,

Also, for your “strong arm” to have any muscle, you have to be absolutely ready to walk away. And they need to be convinced of that as well. Just don’t have already talked yourself into it before you enter negotiations.

-Rick

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]]> By: Alan http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47842 Alan Mon, 12 May 2008 21:15:35 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47842 Alex, Figure out how much you want to pay. Get something that proves your 20% downpayment. Get something from a lender that shows they are willing to loan you the money for the rest. Take this to them and make an offer. They will refuse. Leave the numbers with them and leave. Come back the next week and make a lower offer (by maybe $1000 dollars). Rinse and repeat. You might make them mad enough to try to scam you. Make sure that you have an inspection contingency if they accept your offer.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47842','Alan',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47842','Alan','Alex,\r\n\r\nFigure out how much you want to pay. Get something that proves your 20% downpayment. Get something from a lender that shows they are willing to loan you the money for the rest. Take this to them and make an offer. They will refuse. Leave the numbers with them and leave. Come back the next week and make a lower offer (by maybe $1000 dollars). Rinse and repeat.\r\n\r\nYou might make them mad enough to try to scam you. Make sure that you have an inspection contingency if they accept your offer.',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Alex,

Figure out how much you want to pay. Get something that proves your 20% downpayment. Get something from a lender that shows they are willing to loan you the money for the rest. Take this to them and make an offer. They will refuse. Leave the numbers with them and leave. Come back the next week and make a lower offer (by maybe $1000 dollars). Rinse and repeat.

You might make them mad enough to try to scam you. Make sure that you have an inspection contingency if they accept your offer.

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]]> By: SoCalXplant http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47835 SoCalXplant Mon, 12 May 2008 20:15:20 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47835 Well, my actual fave is Seattle. That's why we moved here, but it's not on your list, so... based primarily on weather, I vote San Diego. Being right on the coast, its climate is absolutely beautiful most of the year. Truthfully, if we could afford it, I'd live just north of the city right on the coast somewhere between La Jolla and Carlsbad.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47835','SoCalXplant',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47835','SoCalXplant','Well, my actual fave is Seattle. That\'s why we moved here, but it\'s not on your list, so... based primarily on weather, I vote San Diego. Being right on the coast, its climate is absolutely beautiful most of the year. Truthfully, if we could afford it, I\'d live just north of the city right on the coast somewhere between La Jolla and Carlsbad.',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Well, my actual fave is Seattle. That’s why we moved here, but it’s not on your list, so… based primarily on weather, I vote San Diego. Being right on the coast, its climate is absolutely beautiful most of the year. Truthfully, if we could afford it, I’d live just north of the city right on the coast somewhere between La Jolla and Carlsbad.
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]]> By: Bits_of_Real_Panther http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47832 Bits_of_Real_Panther Mon, 12 May 2008 19:06:02 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47832 Your arm will be strong enough six months from now to get your price IMO<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47832','Bits_of_Real_Panther',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47832','Bits_of_Real_Panther','Your arm will be strong enough six months from now to get your price IMO',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Your arm will be strong enough six months from now to get your price IMO
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]]> By: alex http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47831 alex Mon, 12 May 2008 19:02:48 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47831 Subject: Please Help Me Burst the Bubble ================================= You've seen me repeat over and over here that we must turn from "watchers" of the bubble to forces that make it burst, therefore making it pop sooner and have the market return to safe levels. With that in mind, I'm going to share with you all that I want to buy a new Harbor Homes in my Woodinville neighborhood, and I'll consult with you guys on a strategy for negotiating the lowest price (like the buffalo asking his posse for help in that video from yesterday). Background: nothing much is selling in the Wedge neighborhood of Woodinville over the last two months. There's a few *key* comps - two practically new homes that just sold: 1) a 2750sqft, for 523,000 2) a 3000sqft, for 535,000 3) a 3000sqft, for 490,000 (but that was a foreclusure) Objective: I want to strong-arm Harbor Homes into accepting those as valid "comps" for the new homes they're building. Right now, they have the entry-level 2140sqft houses with "starting" price at 470k. If I could make them take the $190/sqft ratio that is more or less shown above, that would become some $410k. Maybe that's impossible - but with your help, I want to get as close to that as I can. My question to you: what's the best strategy to strong-arm them? Also, I wonder if some of you would find that price attractive, so we could have a "block" of grouped consumers (hey, imagine 10 of us making a joint bid on 10 houses??)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47831','alex',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47831','alex','Subject: Please Help Me Burst the Bubble\r\n=================================\r\nYou\'ve seen me repeat over and over here that we must turn from \"watchers\" of the bubble to forces that make it burst, therefore making it pop sooner and have the market return to safe levels.\r\n\r\nWith that in mind, I\'m going to share with you all that I want to buy a new Harbor Homes in my Woodinville neighborhood, and I\'ll consult with you guys on a strategy for negotiating the lowest price (like the buffalo asking his posse for help in that video from yesterday).\r\n\r\nBackground: nothing much is selling in the Wedge neighborhood of Woodinville over the last two months. There\'s a few *key* comps - two practically new homes that just sold:\r\n1) a 2750sqft, for 523,000\r\n2) a 3000sqft, for 535,000\r\n3) a 3000sqft, for 490,000 (but that was a foreclusure)\r\n\r\nObjective: I want to strong-arm Harbor Homes into accepting those as valid \"comps\" for the new homes they\'re building. Right now, they have the entry-level 2140sqft houses with \"starting\" price at 470k. If I could make them take the $190\/sqft ratio that is more or less shown above, that would become some $410k. Maybe that\'s impossible - but with your help, I want to get as close to that as I can.\r\n\r\nMy question to you: what\'s the best strategy to strong-arm them?\r\n\r\nAlso, I wonder if some of you would find that price attractive, so we could have a \"block\" of grouped consumers (hey, imagine 10 of us making a joint bid on 10 houses??)',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Subject: Please Help Me Burst the Bubble
=================================
You’ve seen me repeat over and over here that we must turn from “watchers” of the bubble to forces that make it burst, therefore making it pop sooner and have the market return to safe levels.

With that in mind, I’m going to share with you all that I want to buy a new Harbor Homes in my Woodinville neighborhood, and I’ll consult with you guys on a strategy for negotiating the lowest price (like the buffalo asking his posse for help in that video from yesterday).

Background: nothing much is selling in the Wedge neighborhood of Woodinville over the last two months. There’s a few *key* comps – two practically new homes that just sold:
1) a 2750sqft, for 523,000
2) a 3000sqft, for 535,000
3) a 3000sqft, for 490,000 (but that was a foreclusure)

Objective: I want to strong-arm Harbor Homes into accepting those as valid “comps” for the new homes they’re building. Right now, they have the entry-level 2140sqft houses with “starting” price at 470k. If I could make them take the $190/sqft ratio that is more or less shown above, that would become some $410k. Maybe that’s impossible – but with your help, I want to get as close to that as I can.

My question to you: what’s the best strategy to strong-arm them?

Also, I wonder if some of you would find that price attractive, so we could have a “block” of grouped consumers (hey, imagine 10 of us making a joint bid on 10 houses??)

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]]> By: AndySeattle http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47828 AndySeattle Mon, 12 May 2008 18:17:25 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47828 I used to live in SD and wouldn't mind another go at it. Great weather, good people and lots of things to do make for a fun city. I just wish there was a bit more IT work down there!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47828','AndySeattle',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47828','AndySeattle','I used to live in SD and wouldn\'t mind another go at it. Great weather, good people and lots of things to do make for a fun city. \r\n\r\nI just wish there was a bit more IT work down there!',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> I used to live in SD and wouldn’t mind another go at it. Great weather, good people and lots of things to do make for a fun city.

I just wish there was a bit more IT work down there!

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]]> By: Bits_of_Real_Panther http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47815 Bits_of_Real_Panther Mon, 12 May 2008 16:52:40 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47815 I had to move to SF for work temporarily, been here for 8 months, and I can't wait to get back to the northwest, crappy winter weather and all. The Bay Area might have been fun for me 10 years ago at 30 but now I find it too crowded, too violent, and too dirty to make up for all of the good things. I voted for Boston, which isn't much better but it's the closest thing to Seattle on that list IMO. I'm actually more into the surrounding areas than the city itself (Skagit, Whidbey, peninsula, San Juans, etc...)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47815','Bits_of_Real_Panther',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47815','Bits_of_Real_Panther','I had to move to SF for work temporarily, been here for 8 months, and I can\'t wait to get back to the northwest, crappy winter weather and all. The Bay Area might have been fun for me 10 years ago at 30 but now I find it too crowded, too violent, and too dirty to make up for all of the good things. I voted for Boston, which isn\'t much better but it\'s the closest thing to Seattle on that list IMO. I\'m actually more into the surrounding areas than the city itself (Skagit, Whidbey, peninsula, San Juans, etc...)',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> I had to move to SF for work temporarily, been here for 8 months, and I can’t wait to get back to the northwest, crappy winter weather and all. The Bay Area might have been fun for me 10 years ago at 30 but now I find it too crowded, too violent, and too dirty to make up for all of the good things. I voted for Boston, which isn’t much better but it’s the closest thing to Seattle on that list IMO. I’m actually more into the surrounding areas than the city itself (Skagit, Whidbey, peninsula, San Juans, etc…)
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]]> By: Jason Y http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47772 Jason Y Mon, 12 May 2008 13:15:39 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47772 I lived in SF for years and it is a great city. That was when I was in my 20's though and now that I am older and married and family I wouldn't move back.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47772','Jason Y',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47772','Jason Y','I lived in SF for years and it is a great city. That was when I was in my 20\'s though and now that I am older and married and family I wouldn\'t move back.',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> I lived in SF for years and it is a great city. That was when I was in my 20’s though and now that I am older and married and family I wouldn’t move back.
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]]> By: TJ_98370 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47767 TJ_98370 Mon, 12 May 2008 03:16:55 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47767 Tim - I think you are being discriminatory with your limited selection :). I want to vote for a write-in candidate; Gorst, Washington <a>Gorst</a><div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47767','TJ_98370',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47767','TJ_98370','Tim - I think you are being discriminatory with your limited selection :). I want to vote for a write-in candidate; Gorst, Washington \r\n\r\n<a>Gorst<\/a>',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Tim – I think you are being discriminatory with your limited selection :). I want to vote for a write-in candidate; Gorst, Washington

Gorst

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]]> By: Ray Pepper http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47764 Ray Pepper Mon, 12 May 2008 02:04:57 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47764 El Paso Texas! Also its nearby city Juarez Mexico. A little slice of heaven! Ray Pepper www.500Realty.net<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47764','Ray Pepper',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47764','Ray Pepper','El Paso Texas! Also its nearby city Juarez Mexico. A little slice of heaven!\r\n\r\nRay Pepper\r\nwww.500Realty.net',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> El Paso Texas! Also its nearby city Juarez Mexico. A little slice of heaven!

Ray Pepper
http://www.500Realty.net

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]]> By: Everett_Tom http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47759 Everett_Tom Sun, 11 May 2008 23:46:44 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47759 What's about "None of the above"? I'd rather be in a smaller city..<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47759','Everett_Tom',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47759','Everett_Tom','What\'s about \"None of the above\"? I\'d rather be in a smaller city..',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> What’s about “None of the above”? I’d rather be in a smaller city..
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]]> By: Gill http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47758 Gill Sun, 11 May 2008 21:15:07 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47758 I've lived in SF and it is by far my favorite city in the US. Been to all the others on the list, too and even lived in some. It's the best city in the US if you love great food!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47758','Gill',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47758','Gill','I\'ve lived in SF and it is by far my favorite city in the US. Been to all the others on the list, too and even lived in some.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the best city in the US if you love great food!',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’ve lived in SF and it is by far my favorite city in the US. Been to all the others on the list, too and even lived in some.

It’s the best city in the US if you love great food!

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]]> By: b http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47757 b Sun, 11 May 2008 19:03:34 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47757 SF in the lead? Probably from people who have never actually lived here...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47757','b',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47757','b','SF in the lead? Probably from people who have never actually lived here...',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> SF in the lead? Probably from people who have never actually lived here…
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]]> By: Tejas http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47756 Tejas Sun, 11 May 2008 18:07:44 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47756 Born and raised in Houston. Moved to Seattle in my mid 20's and lived there for over a decade. Back in Houston now, due to family needs. Never thought I would go back to Texas, Dallas or Houston, although many job opportunities. If it were not for family, I would never have even thought about Houston again! The only reason a person would come to Houston is for the jobs, or in my case family. No one comes here for 'quality of life', (unless you started south of the border with all the attendant corruption and poverty.)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47756','Tejas',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47756','Tejas','Born and raised in Houston. Moved to Seattle in my mid 20\'s and lived there for over a decade. Back in Houston now, due to family needs.\r\n\r\nNever thought I would go back to Texas, Dallas or Houston, although many job opportunities. If it were not for family, I would never have even thought about Houston again! The only reason a person would come to Houston is for the jobs, or in my case family. No one comes here for \'quality of life\', (unless you started south of the border with all the attendant corruption and poverty.)',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Born and raised in Houston. Moved to Seattle in my mid 20’s and lived there for over a decade. Back in Houston now, due to family needs.

Never thought I would go back to Texas, Dallas or Houston, although many job opportunities. If it were not for family, I would never have even thought about Houston again! The only reason a person would come to Houston is for the jobs, or in my case family. No one comes here for ‘quality of life’, (unless you started south of the border with all the attendant corruption and poverty.)

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]]> By: matthew http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47752 matthew Sun, 11 May 2008 17:06:12 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47752 Lived in Houston for a few years growing up... Wouldn't move back there if you paid me.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47752','matthew',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47752','matthew','Lived in Houston for a few years growing up... Wouldn\'t move back there if you paid me.',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Lived in Houston for a few years growing up… Wouldn’t move back there if you paid me.
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]]> By: alex http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47749 alex Sun, 11 May 2008 15:28:56 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47749 The list is missing Dallas and/or Houston - major business hubs with dirt-cheap real estate... I'be curious to see what others think of those towns.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47749','alex',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47749','alex','The list is missing Dallas and\/or Houston - major business hubs with dirt-cheap real estate... I\'be curious to see what others think of those towns.',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> The list is missing Dallas and/or Houston – major business hubs with dirt-cheap real estate… I’be curious to see what others think of those towns.
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]]> By: uwp http://seattlebubble.com/blog/2008/05/11/poll-favorite-us-city-on-this-list/#comment-47745 uwp Sun, 11 May 2008 09:26:59 +0000 http://seattlebubble.com/blog/?p=1940#comment-47745 Voted NYC. But I was voting based on favorite city to go to, not live. Living, I would take Denver or San Diego.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47745','uwp',''); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47745','uwp','Voted NYC.\r\nBut I was voting based on favorite city to go to, not live.\r\n\r\nLiving, I would take Denver or San Diego.',''); return false;">Quote</a></div> Voted NYC.
But I was voting based on favorite city to go to, not live.

Living, I would take Denver or San Diego.

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