We’re still awaiting the final results of Guess the Price Round 2 (the home went contingent on 09/29 at a list price of $569,900), but that doesn’t mean we can’t kick off Round 3, especially if the right house comes along… and wouldn’t you know it, the perfect house for a Seattle Bubble price-guessing contest just hit the market a little over a week ago.
Here’s a refresher course on how the game works. I’ll describe a home that’s currently on the market, giving you as many pros and cons as I can, and you guess what the final sale price will be when/if it sells, and the closing date.
Be sure to enter your real email address into the form when you leave your guess in the comments, because the winner gets a $25 gift card to the restaurant chain of their choosing. Don’t worry, I’m the only one that can see the emails that are entered. The winner is the person whose guess is closest to the final sale price, above or below. If there is a tie, whoever guessed closer to the correct closing date will be declared the winner. Contest closes to entries at midnight the morning of December 1st, or when the home goes pending, whichever comes first.
Today’s “Guess the Price” guest star is 7310 19th Ave NW in Seattle. With a current asking price of $437,000, this home has been on the market for 10 days, and is neither bank-owned nor a short sale. It sits between the Loyal Heights Playfield and Salmon Bay Park in the north end of Ballard, where the median sale price of single-family homes in October was $388,000.
Built shortly after the second world war in 1946, this 1-story home (with basement) has 3 bedrooms and 1.75 bathrooms. According to King County records, 880 of the home’s total 1,380 finished square feet are above-ground, with an additional 500 in the basement. There is also a 1-car garage in the basement. The listing agent claims that the home’s architectural style is “Cape Cod,” but it doesn’t look like any Cape Cod home I’ve ever seen.
At 4,080 square feet, this home’s lot is slightly smaller than the 5,100 square foot lot that seems to dominate the neighborhood. The house sits up quite a bit from the street, with nicely-landscaped terraces on either side of the ~25-step staircase that leads to the front door. Despite the home’s elevation above the street, there is no view to speak of.
Inside, you’ve got your typical hardwood floors throughout the first floor (save for the kitchen). The bedrooms are nicely laid out, though they do feel a bit small. Some of the electrical appears to be dated, with numerous ungrounded outlets appearing around the home. The living room has a wood fireplace, while the basement den sports a gas fireplace. The bedroom in the basement has only one small window near the ceiling (seen in the photo at left). The ceilings in the basement are about seven feet tall.
In a refreshing deviation from the bubble days, the kitchen counters are not granite, but are tiled instead. The cabinets are dated, but functional. There is no dining room, just a small extended area off the back of the kitchen, large enough for a small four-person table. There is a good-sized garden window off the kitchen’s dining area.
The back yard is small, but functional, with a few small raised garden beds and a sandbox. The brick patio is easily large enough for entertaining, though it is not covered. The home’s siding looks like it might be asbestos (though I am not an expert in this field), and the roof appears to be in good condition—probably less than ten years old.
Last time this house was sold (April 2005) it went pending in three days and sold for $42,250 over the asking price, closing at $431,200. This coming weekend the listing agent is hosting open houses on both Saturday and Sunday if you’d like a chance to see the home in person before making your guess.
Summary of 7310 19th Ave NW
- Pros
- Ballard location
- quiet street
- nice landscaping
- large brick back patio
- hardwood floors
- no obvious quality issues
- Cons
- ~25 steps from street to front door
- small, sloped lot
- low ceiling in basement
- no egress window in basement bedroom
- floorplan slightly cramped
- dated electrical, ungrounded outlets
- siding may be asbestos (?)
So, what say you? How much will this home sell for, and when will it sell?