We're buying people, us Ducheks. We drive the whole economy of the northwest US (or you'd think so based on how often we go to that damn Target store).
Anyway - today we noticed that the sales center for this new condo complex in downtown Redmond was open, so we stopped in. The 10 minutes we spent there was kinda strange. I've bought a home before, of course - but this is totally different. The people at The Cleveland have a very different approach to the whole experience. We're on a list, you see. #200 in the order of people who first contacted them about their measly 88 condos. As soon as we mentioned our rank to the staff in the center, they went all weird on us - insisting that we'll definitely get to keep our spot in the "rankings" and that we'd better get pre-approved for our loan right now. Here, you can speak to this loan rep from Wells Fargo right now if you like.
Weird, but not unheard of. It's obviously a high pressure sales environment, but it was also a little snooty. They don't even have prices listed for the place. The paint isn't dry in their model bathroom yet!
So I check out their website and see that they're offering somewhat sane pricing (~$200 to >$500 was the stated range, no specifics), and for a new construction, relatively luxurious condo that makes sense. I've not really priced out much else in town, but I think you can find a decent condo in Redmond for in that range (20 seconds on Housingmaps turned up a good find). Of course, things move so fast out here in the real estate market, I'm sure this will be gone in a flash.
Plus, it's not like there aren't other new construction condos going up in the neighborhood that might be better. The Cleveland folks aren't talking possession until Fall 2006 - so there's really no hurry. But still, prices like those might force us into one of those nasty interest only (gasp!) loans. What's a couple starting out (again) to do?
But us Ducheks... We're buyers you see. We buy. It's what we do.
Cheers!
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