Thursday, April 27, 2017

找房子和找男女朋友有什麼共通點?



最近西雅圖的房市白熱化,有些人因為買不到房子而感到沮喪,要找到一間自己喜歡的房子不容易,好不容易找到了,又要面對其他幾十個買家的競爭,簡直比追求林志玲還困難。之前房市沒進入春夏旺季的時候,現金買家還有一些優勢,到了春天購屋旺季,平均超過六成的買家都是現金買家,現金買房成為一個基本門檻,已經沒有太大的優勢了。在這種情況下,要怎麼才能買到物超所值的房子呢?辦法如下。

買房子就和人生其他某些重大的選擇一樣,一個人可以選擇單身,單身並沒有什麼不好。但是如果他希望結婚,卻又遲遲遇不到Mr./Ms. Right,就需要思考一下如何改變這個狀況。

改變的第一步,就是放寬標準、放開心胸地多看多了解。連續劇給我們帶來的最大問題就是讓人活在夢中。生活中哪裡來這麼多的又高又帥又多金兼體貼的夢中情人,還死心踏地地愛著你。找房子也是一樣,一間坐北朝南、A級地段、名家設計的豪宅絶對不會用低於市價的價格等著你上門買。如果希望買到房子,第一步就是把一些不是最重要的條件刪除,然後多看物件。我們都以為很了解自己,但是事實是,當你放開心胸學習接觸更多的選擇後,你往往會發現你真正喜歡的和你所想像的不同。大家都夢想自己的另外一半是一個高大上的帥哥,如果再加上有才華更好。我等了幾年後,符合條件的人終於出現,高挑挺拔、名校畢業、為人熱心正直又幽默、最重要的是他允文允武又會彈琴,但是我愛上他了嗎?並沒有,因為我們之間少了最重要的化學作用⋯即使所有客觀的條件都具備了,少了那一份悸動,始終還是説服不了自己。買房子也是一樣,你要的不是一間完美的房子,而是一間有某些特質的房子,讓你願意去接納它其他的不完美。

Saturday, April 22, 2017

尋尋覓覓的家

你是否曾經一進到一個房子ㄏ就覺得它是你的家了? 這位在西雅圖的 Stuart McLeod 有這樣子的經驗。

Stuart McLeod是兩間西雅圖知名餐廳的老闆,早在十年前他就看上了現在住的這間房子,當時他有出價也以為自己買到了,後來才發現房子被其他出價更高的人買走了 。但是在他耐心等候之下,第二任屋主終於將房子賣給了他。

一個人居住的地方反映了他的性格跟品味,房子就像朋友一樣,有些人,看了第一眼,就默默地感覺會是一輩子的朋友,有些房子,踏進去一步,就知道它是屬於自己的。

下面的聯結有Stuart McLeod詳細的故事。

http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/a-three-story-kirkland-home-blends-northwest-warmth-and-contemporary-coolness/

Friday, April 14, 2017

2017年美國房市最火的城市,不是加州,而是華盛頓州

Experts continue to predict spring will see the hottest housing market in recent memory, and housing data from March seems to further confirm that prediction.

A survey recently reported a sharp increase in home prices and indicated that 2017 remains the fastest housing market on record.

In fact, the market is so fast that the reportshowed homes were typically under contract within eight days in markets such as Denver and Seattle. Even in the next fastest markets, Oakland and San Jose, California, homes flew off the market in just 13 and 14 days respectively.
The report also outlined the most competitive markets in March by measuring the number of homes sold above asking price. So, without further ado, here are March’s most competitive housing markets:

1. Tacoma, Washington
Homes sold above asking price: 44.4%
Because who wouldn’t want to live in a city with the view Tacoma has? The name Tacoma stems from the Indian name for Mount Rainier, Tacobet, meaning “mother of the waters.”
2. Seattle, Washington
Homes sold above asking price: 56.6%
But that might be expected given the amount of time it’s had to establish itself. The city of Seattle has been inhabited for more than 4,000 years.
 3. Oakland, California
Homes sold above asking price: 65.9%
It may not compare to other cities population-wise, but this city is well equipped to handle growth. Oakland is the seventh largest city in California at 54 square miles, compared to San Francisco’s seven square miles.
 4. San Francisco, California
Homes sold above asking price: 66.7%
But hey, if you’re looking for a sure return on investment — you may have found it. During the Great Depression, not a single San Francisco-based bank failed.
 5. San Jose, California
Homes sold above asking price: 69.6%
Of course the most competitive market is at the heart of Silicon Valley. And San Jose does have time on its side. San Jose is thought to be California’s oldest settlement, founded in 1777 as a farming community.