Does Everybody "Have a Number"?

Do You have a Number? Compass Launches

“Make Me Sell”

In this 2-minute read you'll find: Real Estate Stories: Do you think "everybody has a number?" COMPASS wants to figure it out through "make me sell." Do you worry if your kids will be able to afford to buy in Seattle? How to address the question. Listings Update: Buyer behavior changes when purchasing townhomes. Here's how.

Do you have a number? COMPASS launches "Make me Sell"

This is so cool and makes me so proud that I chose to move to COMPASS in 2020. We have a challenge in the industry: low inventory. COMPASS is an innovative company with the resources to make something happen.

COMPASS thinks we can attack low inventory by asking homeowners, "What's your price?" We make that price visible to 30,000 COMPASS agents nationwide. Your house is not publicly listed, your name is not used, but you get to float your "aspirational price" and maybe find a buyer. This is a big deal. Call me if you want to do this. There's no downside.

Tell me more about Make me Sell

Will your kids be able to afford Seattle?

I grew up in Denver, but moved to Seattle to be close to my wife's family. I have loved being close to a family that spans generations. But now I think, "Can this continue? Will our kids be able to buy in Seattle?"

My wife Sara has two sisters. One lives with her family in Mercer Island, and the other in Tacoma. And until recently, her parents lived in Gig Harbor. I don't have a large extended family, so big holiday gatherings were something new to me. I love it!

Over the past ten years I've started to wonder, "Can this type of life continue? Will my kids be able to buy in Seattle?" I'm not the only one thinking about this. It's hard. My clients ask me the question a lot. Over the next couple newsletters, I'll share with you how I've approached this question personally and what I've learned by working with clients and industry experts. Here we go....

Have you considered investing in a Rental?

I know this is not a simple thing, and that not everyone has resources to consider it. But it's a very tangible way to help your kids get a foot into real estate. Consider this... my wife and one of her sisters went to SPU from 1991-1997. The median price in Queen Anne has increased 438% since 1995. You could have bought a house for $150,000. My father in law always kicked himself for not buying a house for them on Queen Anne. (When we moved here permanently in 2003, I could have kicked him too.) I didn't want to end up kicking myself. I bought a rental in White Center and another in Maple Valley. These might not be the homes my kids want to move into, but they could be leveraged to function as downpayments. It gives me options to have them. One of them is cash-flow positive. The other is not, but it's close. That's okay with me because net cash flow is not my first priority here. Don't be afraid of renting in Seattle. I'll tell you how I've done it, and how my clients have done it. I am for you, and the creation of wealth for you and your family, so you can flourish over generations.

Above is the Seattle housing index from 1992 to 2024. It never ceases to amaze me. Every time I visit other major cities and examine their real estate prices, I am convinced Seattle has more room to grow.

A quick aside: what do you bet on? An estimated $1.39 billion was spent on Super-Bowl LIX betting this year! (That's a lot of money for a nation that is apparently decimated by inflation!) It equates to roughly 17,000 $80,000 down payments on a $400,000 home "Don't bet against Mahomes in the playoffs" ... how did that work out for ya? I'd suggest betting on the housing market is a wiser bet! You can do this.

I helped Dawn buy two rentals. Here's her advice.

My client Dawn is a landlord and a bee-keeper--here's my son scraping honey at her house a couple years ago. Her advice for renting: "Renting is some work, but it always pays off over time. Find stable neighborhoods that attract good tenants. Matthew helped us find quliaty units in high-demand neighborhoods and they have been profitable for us." You can do this.

In all aspects of my business, my goal is to empower and delight the people I am connected to.  I’m glad you are part of my community. Would you please refer me to a family member or a friend? Thank you!

Contact me today

Matthew Koenig Lic. Realtor® M: 206.234.5574 matthew.koenig@compass.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

marketingcenter--

This is so cool and makes me so proud that I chose to move to COMPASS in 2020.

We have a challenge in the industry: low inventory. COMPASS is an innovative company with the resources to make something happen.

COMPASS thinks we can attack low inventory by asking homeowners, "What's your price?" We make that price visible to 30,000 COMPASS agents nationwide.

Your house is not publicly listed, your name is not used, but you get to float your "aspirational price" and maybe find a buyer.

This is a big deal.

Call me if you want to do this. There's no downside.

---

Will Your Kids Be able to Afford Seattle?

I grew up in Denver, but moved to Seattle to be close to my wife's family. I have loved being close to a family that spans generations. But now I think, "Can this continue? Will our kids be able to buy in Seattle?"

My wife Sara has two sisters. One lives with her family in Mercer Island, and the other in Tacoma. And until recently, her parents lived in Gig Harbor. I don't have a large extended family, so big holiday gatherings were something new to me. I love it!

Over the past ten years I've started to wonder,

"Can this type of life continue? Will my kids be able to buy in Seattle?"

I'm not the only one thinking about this. It's hard. My clients ask me the question a lot. Over the next couple newsletters, I'll share with you how I've approached this question personally and what I've learned by working with clients and industry experts. Here we go....

Have you considered investing in a Rental?

I know this is not a simple thing, and that not everyone has resources to consider it. But it's a very tangible way to help your kids get a foot into real estate. Consider this... my wife and one of her sisters went to SPU from 1991-1997. The median price in Queen Anne has increased 438% since 1995. You could have bought a house for $150,000. My father in law always kicked himself for not buying a house for them on Queen Anne. (When we moved here permanently in 2003, I could have kicked him too.)

I didn't want to end up kicking myself. I bought a rental in White Center and another in Maple Valley. These might not be the homes my kids want to move into, but they could be leveraged to function as downpayments. It gives me options to have them. One of them is cash-flow positive. The other is not, but it's close. That's okay with me because net cash flow is not my first priority here. Don't be afraid of renting in Seattle. I'll tell you how I've done it, and how my clients have done it.

I am for YOU, and the creation of wealth for you and your family, so you can flourish over generations.

Above is the Seattle housing index from 1992 to 2024. It never ceases to amaze me. Every time I visit other major cities and examine their real estate prices, I am convinced Seattle has more room to grow.

A quick aside: what do you bet on? An estimated $1.39 billion was spent on Super-Bowl LIX betting this year! (That's a lot of money for a nation that is apparently decimated by inflation!) It equates to roughly 17,000 $80,000 down payments on a $400,000 home "Don't bet against Mahomes in the playoffs" ... how did that work out for ya? I'd suggest betting on the housing market is a wiser bet! You can do this.

I helped Dawn buy two rentals. Here’s Her Advice

My client Dawn is a landlord and a bee-keeper--here's my son scraping honey at her house a couple years ago. Her advice for renting: "Renting is some work, but it always pays off over time. Find stable neighborhoods that attract good tenants. Matthew helped us find quality units in high-demand neighborhoods and they have been profitable for us." You can do this.

---

In all aspects of my business, my goal is to empower and delight the people I am connected to. 

I’m glad you are part of my community. Would you please refer me to a family member or a friend?

Thank you!

---