Blog - South Sound Property Group

Market Statistics, Tacoma Real Estate

Why is Tacoma a Top 10 Housing Market to Watch in 2016

Tacoma recently ranked as number 10 on Trulia’s top 10 housing markets to watch in 2016, a list that also included cities like Grand Rapids, MI, Charleston, SC and Austin, TX (see the full report here). Trulia’s rankings were based on a number of different criteria including strong job growth, low vacancy rates and high […]
Market Statistics

Census Data Suggests a Shift from King to Pierce County

According to an article in the Seattle Times, Gene Balk examined recent census data surrounding an emerging trend that points to a shift from King County to more affordable Pierce county. Gene notes, "It's no secret that newcomers are pouring into King County from around the country and the globe. In fact, we broke a record in 2014 for the […]
Market Statistics, North Tacoma, Tacoma Real Estate

North End Home Prices Weaken

After a very strong spring real estate market, prices for homes in the North End of Tacoma (zip codes 98403, 98406 and 98407) are weakening and inventory is increasing. With interest rates staying low and inventory on the rise the market has created a window of opportunity for buyers this fall. Click here for full […]
Historic Homes, North Tacoma, Tacoma Real Estate

The Vintage Y – Home in Tacoma’s Theater District

One of the things I love most about selling real estate in downtown Tacoma is introducing clients to the different condominium buildings there – some shiny and new and others tastefully restored. The Vintage Y at 714 Market Street falls into the tastefully restored category. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the […]

Market Statistics Why is Tacoma a Top 10 Housing Market to Watch in 2016 Tacoma recently ranked as number 10 on Trulia’s top 10 housing markets to watch in 2016, a list that also included cities like Grand Rapids, MI, Charleston, SC and Austin, TX (see the full report here). Trulia’s rankings were based on a number of different criteria including strong job growth, low vacancy rates and high […]

Market Statistics Census Data Suggests a Shift from King to Pierce County According to an article in the Seattle Times, Gene Balk examined recent census data surrounding an emerging trend that points to a shift from King County to more affordable Pierce county. Gene notes, "It's no secret that newcomers are pouring into King County from around the country and the globe. In fact, we broke a record in 2014 for the […]

Market Statistics North End Home Prices Weaken After a very strong spring real estate market, prices for homes in the North End of Tacoma (zip codes 98403, 98406 and 98407) are weakening and inventory is increasing. With interest rates staying low and inventory on the rise the market has created a window of opportunity for buyers this fall. Click here for full […]

Historic Homes The Vintage Y – Home in Tacoma’s Theater District One of the things I love most about selling real estate in downtown Tacoma is introducing clients to the different condominium buildings there – some shiny and new and others tastefully restored. The Vintage Y at 714 Market Street falls into the tastefully restored category. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the […]

Historic Homes Misconceptions about Tacoma’s Historic Homes and Neighborhoods There are a lot of misconceptions about historic homes and historic districts in Tacoma. As a Realtor, a former board member of Historic Tacoma and a current member of the Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission, I’m often asked about the potential impact that historic designation might have on a property. Many people worry that historic designation is a negative thing. I believe (and […]

Architecture What Makes a House a “Craftsman?” As a Realtor who comes from Pasadena, California (the birthplace of Craftsman architecture), and a current member of the Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission, nothing makes me crazier than real estate agents who incorrectly market houses as a Craftsman. It is our job as Realtors to understand houses! Craftsman is a distinct historic architectural style, and 95% of the […]

Buying A Home Five Major Considerations When Buying an Old House As a commissioner for the City of Tacoma's Landmarks Preservation Commission and a former board member of Historic Tacoma, I've had a lot of experience with historic properties. I've also been buying, renovating and selling historic homes myself for more than twenty years (45 houses and counting). Not surprisingly, clients often seek my advice when they're thinking about buying an […]

Investing In Real Estate Investing in Houses in Tacoma’s North End The demand for rental homes in Tacoma’s North End is high, with landlords charging as much as $1800-$2000 per month for a nice three bedroom house in a desirable location like Proctor or the Stadium District. Many homeowners were able to secure extremely low interest rates by refinancing when the market was low, which prompts […]

Lifestyle Top 5 Reasons to Live In Proctor The Proctor District is one of North Tacoma’s most popular neighborhoods. Historic homes, great public schools, tree lined streets, views of the water and a charming central business district are just a few of the things that make this neighborhood so special. For those who aren’t familiar with Proctor (and for those who are already […]

North Tacoma How Much is a Water View Worth in North Tacoma? With market values in Tacoma’s North End on the rise, we’re often asked by our clients to “keep our eyes open” for a house exactly like theirs but with a water view. The implication being that if they found a view home that was as nice as their current residence, they would want to buy […]

Market Statistics North Tacoma Home Prices End 2013 Just Above 2012 As we start the New Year, we thought it might be a good idea to take a quick look back at what happened to the housing market in Tacoma’s North End in 2013 and to make a few predictions about what to expect in 2014. The market in Tacoma’s North End essentially took two steps […]

Community Jeff Williams named to the City of Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission Congratulations to Jeff, recently nominated and approved by the Tacoma City Council to serve a two year term on the Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission. The mission of the group is as follows: The Commission reviews and approves applications for changes to registered Landmarks and buildings within local historic districts, reviews nominations and advises City Council regarding […]

North Tacoma The Value of a Garage in Tacoma’s Coveted North End Homeowners in Tacoma’s coveted North End really like their garages, whether they’re attached or detached, one car or two. Some people use their garages as workshops. Others use them for overflow storage. Some people actually use them the old fashioned way – for parking cars. Regardless of how it’s used, the presence of a garage in […]

Buying A Home List of Considerations When Buying or Selling Horse Property As a Realtor who also happens to be President of the Washington State Quarter Horse Association, I’m often asked to help clients who are purchasing or selling a horse property. Buying or selling a horse property involves a special set of considerations above and beyond those associated with a typical real estate transaction. Below is […]

Buying A Home Words of Advice for First Time Home Buyers If you’ve been thinking about buying your first home, you may be experiencing a whole host of emotions. Excitement, fear and confusion tend to top the list. The process can admittedly be daunting, particularly for first time home buyers, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. Step one – take a deep breath. Step […]

North Tacoma Thea’s Landing – Waterfront Condos in Downtown Tacoma Have you ever wondered about the multicolored contemporary building next door to the Museum of Glass on Dock Street? Well, wonder no more. The building is called Thea’s Landing, which makes sense given its location on the historic Thea Foss Waterway. The mixed use complex was built in 2002 and offers spectacular views of downtown […]

Historic Homes Tacoma’s Historic Stadium District Driving through Tacoma’s stylish Stadium district is a popular activity for out of town visitors and Tacoma residents alike, this writer included. The Stadium Seminary National Historic District was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and occupies the area between North I Street and the shoreline and between First Street […]

Tacoma Real Estate Why the Triangle Townhomes in downtown Tacoma are so great! We had dinner Tuesday night with a friend of ours on her rooftop deck at the Triangle Townhomes in downtown Tacoma. We helped her purchase her unit there a few years ago, and she couldn't be happier. The Triangle Townhomes were designed by Seattle-based Johnston Architects and built in two phases in 2005 and […]

Community Jeff Interviewed by Fox 13 News Regarding the City “Flipping” Houses I was was recently interviewed by Fox 13 News regarding a proposal going in front of the Tacoma City Council that recommends the city start "flipping" derelict properties. Given my experience flipping houses I feel that an $800K grant is not enough money for the city to impact the many derelict properties in Tacoma. I believe the […]

Market Statistics Western Washington – 2nd Quarter Economic & Real Estate Recap Western Washington | second quarter 2013, Volume XXII Posted in Market News by Matthew Gardner We have been looking for balance within the real estate market for several years now. During the crash, there were clearly far more sellers than buyers, but when we found the bottom of the market and prices started to rise, the tables were […]