Talus in Issaquah - A Mountain Village 20 Minutes from Seattle

The Talus Neighborhood in Issaquah offers a truly unique living experience. Located 15 miles from Seattle and just 25-30 minutes to most of the area's major employers, this "urban village" offers something for nearly anyone.

Enjoy hiking? Talus is nestled at the base of Cougar Mountain and has access to a trail network of about 200 miles a and nature preserve of more than 20,000 acres. Totaling 630 acres in size, you might think that Talus is quite dense and heavily populated, like the Issaquah Highlands, across the valley. However, only 25% of those 630 acres are developed and lived-in, leaving a great expanse of untouched nature surrounding and flowing through the neighborhood. Since there are such great expanses of undeveloped & "enhanced" wild areas, Talus residents will regularly see such wildlife as white tail deer, woodpeckers, raccoons, opossums and perhaps even the occasional bear or mountain lion. No animal attacks have been reported in the neighborhood, however.

Talus is divided into ten distinct neighborhoods, offering a wide variety of housing in all price ranges and geared towards varied lifestyles and life-stages. One of the earliest neighborhoods, tucked away at the lower end of the development is TreAris. TreAris has single family homes built by three different developers - Lozier, Conner Homes & the Kirkland Builders Group. These homes range from the somewhat basic, 2,000 +/- sqft range to the luxurious 4,000+ sqft. Even the more "basic" homes, however, are finished with a high degree of polish and curb appeal. Alley-loading garages in many of these homes create a warm, approachable curb-side where architecture and details can shine. Although yards aren't too large, you do get more space in this neighborhood than most others in Talus. Landscaping is thoughtfully done and there are public open spaces and a park in this area.

Next up is Wilderness Peak. Luxury is the name of the game here. Large view homes are carefully fit onto standard 4,000 to 6,000 sqft parcels, but the arrangement works well and provides for privacy in areas where it matters most. Homes here again range from the high 2,000 sqft to more than 4,000 sqft. Wilderness Peak was developed by the Kirkland Builder's Group, Rick Burnstead Construction, Boitano Construction and Schademan Country Edition Homes. As you might expect, the level of finish in these homes can be quite extraordinary and snowcapped mountain views can be had from most of the houses. The neighborhood is quiet and like TreAris, you wouldn't know it was there from nearby State Route 900. It hides behind the trees and retaining walls visible from the road.

Next to be built was Ascent, a townhome community offering 2 and 3 bedroom units with 2 car garages. Some units include dens, as well. This little village of just over 100 homes was loosely based on styling queues taken from Whistler Village, a premier ski resort in British Columbia, Canada. Homes here range from 1,090 sqft to more than 2,000. Built by Intracorp between 2002 and 2005, these homes are exceptionally well crafted and offer unique floor plans. More than 70% of Ascent homes are located along dedicated greenbelts and open spaces, affording peace, quiet and some spectacular Cascade mountain views. Standard finishes are ceramic tile, granite tile, laminate wood floors, black & stainless steel appliances and gas heat & cooking (in many units). Landscaping is very tasteful, with a mix of trees, lawns, natural/wild spaces and a small playground for little ones. Trail access is right in the heart of Ascent and there are even various pieces of exercise equipment spread out over the property so you can do some of your own "circuit training". Colorschemes, both inside and out are tasteful and even whimsical. Ascent leaves you with a happy feeling. We have sold many homes in Ascent, both as new construction, representing buyers, and as resales, representing sellers. Its one of our favorite neighborhoods and we are grateful to work for its residents on such a regular basis. Currently, we have this home listed for sale: 2088 NW Boulder Way Drive. Prices in Ascent run from the mid to upper $300's to the mid $400's.

As Ascent was being completed, ground was being broken on another townhome neighborhood, CopperRidge. CopperRidge is located on the left side of Talus Drive as you enter the development from SR 900 and is another Intracorp community. Once again, you will find 2 and three bedroom homes, but a bit larger, with sizes ranging from over 1,300 sqft to more than 2,100 sqft. Some homes even offer loft areas and bonus rooms. These homes feature granite & stainless steel kitchens, laminate & tile floors and plush carpets, should you choose to upgrade a bit. Styling here is quite different from Ascent, both inside and out. We'd recommend that you have a look at both resale homes in Ascent and the new homes in CopperRidge before choosing one, since styling and feel are so different. CopperRidge homes can have a single or two-car garage, depending upon the plan. CopperRidge is laid out across the hillside in two terraced phases, vs. with the hillside, as Ascent is. This affords for some better views, but you lose a bit of privacy and there are no tall trees or mature landscape within the neighborhood itself. That being said, the landscape that's been installed is beautiful and features many native plant species. I have found maneuvering to park at homes in CopperRidge to be more of a challenge than in Ascent, due to a wide, landscaped center island that runs between the drives that serve each terrace. Large SUV drivers beware! CopperRidge is still under construction, with prices in the high $300's to more than $530k.

Intracorp has a major stake in Talus, offering not only Ascent and CopperRidge, but also MountainAire, a development of 72 detached homes in 4 floorplans. MountainAire is tucked up against the wooded hillside near the top of the development and homes offer some breathtaking views. I own a "Madrona" floorplan home in MountainAire and adore the house. It is a three level, 2,302 sqft home, with the entrance, a two-car garage and bonus/home theater room on the lower level. Great room, kitchen/dining room, den and a 1/2 bath are on the main level, with a large, covered deck out front and a nice patio out back. The upper level has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and the laundry (thanks for putting that with the bedrooms where it belongs!). Standard features and finishes included slab granite & ceramic tile countertops, hardwood & ceramic tile floors and a good quality carpeting. Spending only $10k in upgrades, we were able to put hardwoods on the entire main level (kitchen & dining room are standard), ad crown molding, tile main bath countertops, a Kohler under-mount kitchen sink, extra thick carpet pad and some extra wiring for future uses, such as ceiling fans, etc. Click this link to see some photos of our home: Our Madrona . Other MountainAire floorplans include the "Cascara", a master on the main floor layout with 2,700+ sqft, a slightly smaller version of our "Madrona", called the "Birch" (less the lower media room) at 2,123 sqft and the "Maple", a 2,452 sqft home with a large loft upstairs. All MountainAire homes are 3 levels, so that's a consideration to keep in mind if you're not a fan of, or have trouble with stairs.

Hawksridge at Talus is another Rick Burnstead Construction project. Homes here are some of the largest in Talus, with plans upwards of 4,700 sqft. Many of these homes not only have mountain views, but also views of Lake Sammamish. These are top of the line "McMansions", with prices currently ranging from just over $1M to $1.4M.

Aliante is similar to Hawksridge, with top of the line homes built by Conner Homes. Aliante is built along roughly the same plane as MountainAire, set high on the hillside. Many of the 7 floorplans are 3 levels and prices run from the high $800's to just under a million. Square footages run from 4,400 sqft to over 5,400 sqft. I've toured the models in this development and they are stunning, to say the least. Even the pickiest buyer will find satisfaction here.

Talus also offers apartment homes with The Estates at Cougar Mountain and a new project under construction called Rose Crest. There are many floorplans and styles to choose from, including flats and townhomes. Rents run from the low $1k to nearly $3k a month. I've helped newly-relocated Microsoft & other employees settle in there and they are nice units. Just a few years old and very well maintained. Appointments and finishes are quite nice and floorplans aren't your usual four walls. Island kitchens and gas fireplaces are just a couple of the nice touches, as well as architectural like columns and marble-like fireplace surrounds & mantles.

Finally, Talus will soon cater to the retired lifestyle with Timber Ridge, a new senior living community. This community offers "LifeCare", a virtually unlimited scope of assisted living options. This is not to say that Timber Ridge is for the infimred, however. Timber Ridge will accommodate folks at all stages of retirement. Amenities include an art studio, garden spaces, casual & formal dining, many cultural, social & recreation opportunities, a fully-equipped fitness center and business center/computer room. For those times when residents choose not to drive the short distance to downtown Issaquah, chauffeur service is available. Construction is currently underway on this massive project that will reside directly below CopperRidge.

I hope that you have found this overview of Talus helpful and informative. Its a great place to explore on a sunny Sunday afternoon. For more information about any of these neighborhoods or projects, feel free to contact us. As always, remember, if you already have one, take along your Realtor, or at least their business card, when visiting sites that are still under construction. The various sales staffs are friendly and helpful, but never go without a dedicated buyer's representative of your own - they will serve you well as you purchase your new Talus home.

Until next time,

Tim

Tim Andrews

TK2 Associates, LLC...powered by John L. Scott

425-444-2121

tim@tk2homes.com

www.tk2homes.com

New Listing to Share

Hello again,

These last two weeks have been busy ones here at TK2 Associates. We have listed four new homes and have been working with three different buyers looking for properties. Our latest listing is a super-cute 1911 Craftsman Bungalow in the Greenlake neighborhood of Seattle. It features 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths and is 1,300 sqft. The living room & dining room have brazilian cherry hardwood floors and the entire upper level is a master suite with its own private deck. The house also has a 1 car detached garage in the rear. Both lower bedrooms have new carpet and the main bathroom has just been updated. Its a great buy at $415,000.00

As promised, our next blog entry will be an overview of the Talus neighborhood in Issaquah.

Tim
Tim Andrews
TK2 Associates, LLC....powered by John L. Scott
425-444-2121
tim@tk2homes.com
www.tk2homes.com

Sonoma Villero - Community Profile

Today I thought I'd share with you a profile of one of the hottest townhome communities on the Eastside, Sonoma Villero. I lived in this community for about two years, from mid 2001 to Mid 2003. I owned a two bedroom, 2.5 bath townhome with a single car garage and a covered carport space. Others, depending upon their location, may have a tandem, two-car garage. My unit had a one bedroom condo located behind my rear garage wall and under my living room & spanning my neighbor's, as well. I bought my unit for $189,950.

Sonoma Villero was built by Polygon Northwest during 1999 and 2000. It is a 240 unit complex, comprised mostly of two & three bedroom townhomes, but it also has a few different types of 1 & 2 bedroom flats. Community features include a clubhouse, gym, pool & spa. The community is located on Juanita-Woodinville Way, just off of the 160th St. Exit from I-405 North of Totem Lake. The site is situated between Juanita-Woodinville Way and the freeway, with a thick greenbelt of trees screening most of the units that are along this buffer zone. The complex is visible from both North & South I-405.

Once built, all of the units were originally rentals, and then converted to condominiums by the developer, Pryde LLC. Renters were offered their homes first at a discounted rate or had to move out. Pryde offered a $10,000.00 "upgrade" package, which I selected as I was a bit cash-poor when I bought the home. Upgrades included new berber carpeting, fresh interior paint, new vinyl floors in the bathrooms and Pergo in the kitchens. Also included were pewter light fixtures. The developer made a killing on these upgrades, perhaps netting an extra profit as high as $6,000.00 or more per unit.

There was a lot to love about Sonoma when I bought there. For one, the location is great. It takes 2 minutes to get to I-405 from the development and there is a Park and Ride just over the freeway for bus commuters. Within 5 minutes there are gas stations and you can be in downtown Woodinville, where you can get anything else you want, or catch a movie at the great theater there. I also liked the architecture of Sonoma; the complex is loosely styled on a Tuscan village and actually won some design awards. Inside, high ceilings on the main level and vaulted ceilings with skylights on the upper level give you a greater feeling of space from the typical 1100-1200 square feet offered. Both bedrooms are suites, with attached baths. The master bath has a double shower, with two showerheads and twin sinks. The second bedroom has a tub/shower combo and a single sink. On the downside, finishes are lower quality than newer offerings and these units are pretty short on storage space.

In the townhomes, there are three basic configurations, with one or two exceptions. The two bedroom units offered a mid-placed kitchen with an island or an end kitchen. The island kitchen units are more attractive, I think. The builder had their model home set up as an island home with the dining and living rooms combined and then a small "Sunday Room" for sitting on the other side of the kitchen. This arrangement never made sense to me and I used the "Sunday Room" as the dining room, needing only to swap light fixtures to make it look like the natural arrangement. This allowed the living room to be almost doubled in size for a much more spacious feeling. The downside to the island kitchen, as I found out, was that you lost more than 50% of your storage space with this setup. It still felt better to me, however.

The end kitchen units have an enormous amount of kitchen storage and counter top space, but then scrunch the living & dining rooms together. This arrangement always looked & felt smaller to me, although the plans differ by less than 15 square feet. All two bedroom units are in the middle sections of each building of 8-10 homes. All end units are 3 bedrooms.

Speaking of 3 bedroom townhomes at Sonoma Villero, these are not too desirable. These units are just slightly larger (maybe 40 sqft) than the two bedroom units. The "third" bedroom is sandwiched between the other two on the upper floor, with a slight bump-out. However, to accomplish this, the master bath is reduced in size and you lose a sink in there. This third bedroom is really small, limiting its usefulness greatly. One benefit of a three bedroom unit is the fact that it has windows on three sides, for better light and ventilation. You only share one common wall, too, instead of two as you would in a 2 bedroom. Noise isolation is really good in Sonoma, however, as these units were built to condo specs when assembled by Polygon. Few of the homes I've ever been in (and I've been in many, as Keith and I have re-sold more of these units than any other agents) had squeaks in the floors or stairs and all have felt rock-solid underfoot.

These days, Sonoma Villero is starting to look its age. The once bright white trim paint is now dirty and has either flaked or been chipped off many of the boards. It is in desperate need of repainting. The siding is vinyl and in generally good condition, although I personally don't like the look of vinyl siding all that much. Unlike many projects built during this timeframe, however, Sonoma Villero never ended-up in a lawsuit with Pryde or Polygon for "building envelope" or water penetration issues. Many, many condo & townhome projects ended up in these situations & had to be re-sided. Cambridge, located right across the street from Sonoma Villero, was a victim of this and just recently completed their re-siding project. The landscape at Sonoma Villero is well-kept and the complex is generally neat and clean. Guest parking can be a challenge and spots can be hard to find during weekends & evenings.

Sonoma Villero has seen tremendous price appreciation over the last few years. I sold my unit for just $198,500 after nearly two years, but that very same unit, located on a greenbelt, will now easily command $290k+. As each home sells at a new high value, the bar moves up. Prices for 3 bedroom units are around the $310k point right now. Homes sell fairly quickly in this development, and the best units almost always have multiple offers, driving prices up even more. Units located along the freeway command about $10k less than those in better locations. Modifications such as accent walls, kitchen & appliance upgrades as well as wood floors make these units red hot when its time to sell. If you own one and are thinking of selling it, you'll more than make up the cost of doing some minor upgrades. Uniqueness (well done) sells!

Questions about buying or selling in Sonoma Villero? Contact Keith Zeiler or myself, Tim Andrews, for more information. We are truly experts in this development and always know what's available and what the values are or should be. Click here to see photos of my Sonoma Villero townhome: Unit 1715

Next time, I'll profile a neighborhood in Issaquah called Talus. Oh, and I have a new listing to tell you about. This one is a super nice 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath single family home located in the Canyon Park area of Bothell. It was built in 1999 and sits on .33 acres. A granite kitchen and oversized master suite are just two of the special features of this house. You can see it at our website by clicking on this link: A Masterpiece of design in Bothell

Thanks for reading!
Tim

Tim Andrews
TK2 Associates, LLC...powered by John L. Scott
425-444-2121
tim@tk2homes.com
www.tk2homes.com

Today I visited the sales center for a new midrise condo project in the heart of downtown Kirkland, called 128 On State. When completed in November of 2007, this new concrete & steel (rare, high quality construction) midrise building of 5 floors will bring 124 sparkling new high-end condos to downtown.

The site is located at the corner of 2nd Ave & State St, just steps from Peter Kirk Park, Parkplace Shopping Center, the library, public pool and all manner of shopping & dining experiences. Within just a short walk, you have everything from Wendy's Hamburgers to five star cuisine, antiques to fine art to skateboards & skis. Work is well underway, with the contrete retaining walls and rebar for the garage floors already laid.

Standard amenities in these units will be slab granite kitchen and bath counters, laminate, tile & carpeted floors, stainless steel appliances (all are included), tile bathtub/shower surrounds and secure garage parking. There are at least two contemporary color combinations (floor/carpet/cabinets/granite/tile) for each unit type. Floor plans range from "open" 1 bedrooms (studios) to 2 bedroom, 2 baths. Most will be 1 bedroom and 1 bedroom + den, 1 bath homes. Prices range from the low to mid $300k's to nearly $650k for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath top floor end unit. Prices are set to increase within the next few weeks once the project sells its first 30 units. Square footages are average for this type of property, with 1 bedroom /1 bath units in the 600+ sqft range and the two bedroom, two bath units topping 1,200 sqft.

The complex will be situated just South of The Boulevard, a sister project now nearing completion. Space between the two buildings will be an open greenbelt, with access to State St. & Kirkland Avenue. There are 31 different floor plans in the building, surrounding what will be a very nice courtyard with benches, tables, trees & sculpture. The sales center staff were very knowledgable and friendly, but as always, have your own agent with you or register your agent if you stop by - you always want someone who's working for you and your best interests to represent you when the time is right for you to buy.

In the market for a hip, current Kirkland condo? Enjoy the resort town lifestyle, just minutes to Microsoft, Bellevue & Seattle? If so, grab your agent by the ear and take them down to the sales center for 128 On State (located at the base of The Tera Apartments, at Central Way & 6th Ave) - you won't be disappointed.

Tim

Tim Andrews
TK2 Associates, LLC
425-444-2121
tim@tk2homes.com
www.tk2homes.com

Two Great New Listings to Share

Hello Everyone,

We won't be posting alot of "salesy" content on our blog, as we want to keep it informational and topical above all else. We do, however, want to share new listings as they become available, because many of you may know people that are looking for a home and perhaps we'll have the right fit for them.

The first home is a 1,509 sqft townhome at Ascent at Talus in Issaquah. Its got a great floor plan with lots of open space and a completely unobstructed 100 degree wide view of the Cascades. Its 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths & has a two-car garage. Price is $424,990. You can see it online at our website by clicking this link: Ascent at Talus Townhome

The second home is a 2,096 sqft single family home at The Falls in Snohomish. Its located on a sunny corner lot and has 4 bedrooms & 2.5 baths. Two of the best features of this home (and there are many great ones!) are the grand staircase in the entry and the huge, level & fully-fenced back yard. Don't miss views of Mt. Baker from the bedrooms, either. Price is $429,950. You can see it online at our website by clicking this link: The Falls

I'm off on a quick camping trip overnight Saturday, but will be back Sunday to post some new content. I'll be visiting a new condo development in Kirkland, called 128 On State, and will give you a rundown on it.

Cheers!
Tim

Tim Andrews
TK2 Associates, LLC
425-444-2121
tim@tk2homes.com
www.tk2homes.com

2006 Client Appreciation Party Photos

Our second annual client appreciation party was held in May of this year, and what a blast it was. We went a little more upscale this time, closing down Andiamo restaurant in Bellevue for our invitation-only event. We had an open bar, a great buffet dinner and lots of great prizes! Special thanks to Sue Tarabochia from First American Title (www.firstam.com), Angel Leyde from Countyrwide Home Loans (www.leydegroup.com), Cheryl Grubbs from Signature Escrow (www.sigescrow.com) & Jim Estrada from Property Inspector, LLC (www.propertyinspectorllc.com) for donating some really great gifts and helping to make the night such a hit.

See the photos at: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/trandrews1972/album?.dir=/ecf2scd&.src=ph&.tok=phh84WFB9ZOFgQxL

2005 Client Appreciation Party Photos

Hey All,

We've been wanting to post these photos for a long time, but have finally begun to do so. Check out all of the fun we had at Beppo's in Lynnwood in April of 2005. It was a quite a party and we had a great time!

Click on this link to see the pics!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/trandrews1972/album?.dir=/4205scd&.src=ph&.tok=ph5y4WFB8yLJVewG

Our First Post - A Little History About Us

Well, this is the first post of our new blog. We thought that we'd give you a little history about ourselves to get things rolling and start the conversation. We hope that you will find our blog interesting & fun, and that you'll become an active participant in it. Your feedback is more than welcome, as well as any questions you might have about real estate here on the Eastside.

Just like you, perhaps, we didn’t always call the Seattle area home. Originally from Alaska, Keith came to town eight years ago in search of a better life—and no more snow! He found that life initially in Seattle, working in the telecom business, which he had also done in Anchorage. He then moved on to the insurance industry and quickly rose through the ranks at Safeco Insurance to become a team leader in Claims. After two years in insurance, he knew that he needed a change. He had always had an interest in real estate and owning his own business, so, with a little prodding and reassurance from Tim, quit his job and became licensed as an agent. He's been practicing real estate for about 5 years now and has just been nominated by our clients as one of Seattle's "FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction Real Estate Agents" for 2006 by Seattle Magazine. (Look for more details in December's issue).

Since starting in this new field, Keith has never looked back. He knows that this is his passion and what he'll be doing for a long time to come. He's totally devoted to his clients and is one of those rare people who will "tell it like it is". In his spare time away from the business, Keith loves to spend time with friends & family, as well as traveling. He is also very active as the volunteer coordinator and a counselor for Camp Ten Trees, a summer camp for youth that have been through tough times and often, the pitfalls of the foster care system. Keith has a really big heart and a passion for people and their dreams.

A native of New Jersey, Tim’s folks flipped a coin one fateful day in the late 1970’s and moved, sight-unseen, to Redmond, where Tim grew up. He could have landed in Denver, Colorado, but fate led his family here to the Seattle area instead. Tim has seen a great deal of change since then, and just like Keith, loves introducing new residents to the Eastside. After 10+ years playing many roles in the wireless telecom business, Tim was rapidly approaching burnout. Needing a change of pace, he became certified as a residential property inspector. Before he was able to start his business, however, Keith's had grown to the point where he needed a full-time partner. So, Tim went back to school and became licensed as an agent. Like Keith, Tim loves spending his spare time with his family and traveling, as well.

Business has been great and in 2005, we formed our own company, TK2 Associates, LLC, (http://www.tk2homes.com/) working under the John L. Scott Real Estate banner, based in Issaquah. We've formed some very strong alliances with a local lender, property inspector and escrow company that all share our customer-focused view. In house, we've got a great transaction coordinator that keeps us all on track. Our clients have mainly been people from our local high-tech firms & large employers, such as Microsoft, Boeing, Google, Amazon.com, Safeco Insurance, Verizon & T-Mobile, but we've also worked with people from all different walks of life. That's one of the things we find so enjoyable about our work - the diversity and unique qualities of our clients. We primarily focus on the Eastside communities of Issaquah, Redmond, Sammamish, Bellevue and Kirkland, but routinely do business in Seattle, Bothell, Everett, Renton, Duvall and Snohomish, too.

We have some really exciting plans for our business and are looking to expand our team this fall. We'll be bringing on an assistant and hopefully another agent before next summer. We're going to bring some new services and features to our clients that we think are pretty unique to the industry. Our friends and clients in the high-tech arena will surely enjoy what we've got planned. I can't say what we're up to just yet, but it'll be exciting, to say the least!

Stay tuned for more details.....