Ben Kakimoto

Hi Tasha - Bear in mind this building is a co-op not a condo. In Seattle, only a handful of lenders provide financing for co-ops. So, if you're specifically interested in this building then check with Cobalt Mortgage or First Horizon (I have no affiliation with either). - Thu Oct 23 2008, 15:53

Oh come on now, the agent is the owner/seller and will only allow prospective buyers to view the interior with a signed around purchase and sale. He's selling his own property and he can't work with his tenants for interior photos? - Fri Oct 3 2008, 11:22

Kary, if you actually read the home page of the assessors website, which I specifically linked to, it states right there that it's based on three years of sales. - Mon Sep 29 2008, 19:22

Please see the King County assessors link below. Essentially, the assessed value was computed based on the three years preceding Janaury 1, 2008. So, it contemplates values when the marketing was strong, and before market values began to fall this year. - Mon Sep 29 2008, 15:53

Wow, I'm flabbergasted by the responses you've received. Seems most agents are trying hard to protect their commissions with dire warnings if you don't use a full-service, full-commission agent. I'm full-time agent with a traditional full-service firm in Seattle, but a lot of the answers are making me cringe. It also seems that agents are answering without even reading your statement thoroughly.

I do agree with James, I believe your friend would rather you offer him/her the opportunity, even for a reduced commission amount (assuming you'd want him/her to rebate the amount over 1%), than not being considered at all. I think what many people below fail to realize is that you're not taking away your friend's ability to earn a living, you're giving your friend the opportunity to transact a deal and earn a commission (assuming of course that you've yet used the services of said friend). Personally,I'd probably be offended with a friend asking me to rebate the majority of my commission, but I'd be more hurt by a friend bypassing me altogether. But, only you know how your friend is likely to react. And, in this market, with sales around 50% of the level last year, I don't think agents have the luxury of being obstinate in how they work with consumers.

However, I do agree with the responses below that not all transactions are necessarily simple to negotiate and close. The value of real estate agents are in the negotiation, transaction management and closing processes, not in being the door opener.

In respects to Redfin, I'm probably one of the very few traditional full-service agents who welcome their business model. Though I haven't dealt with them directly, I've spoken with other agents in my office who have...they really are no different from traditional brokerages. That said, even with the 2/3's commission rebate that they provide, a full-service agent may be able to negotiate a deal worth more to a buyer than 2/3's of the commission. - Mon Sep 29 2008, 15:30

The county records are your best bet if you don't feel like contacting an agent. Most counties have it online but categorize it differently. For example, in King County you can either use the public records search or the parcel viewer search. In Snohomish, it'll be on the assessors website, etc. Though, it might take a few months for the counties to update their websites.

Alternatively, Zillow will have the info as well. - Thu Jun 26 2008, 16:13