Month: May 2015

Today’s Online Real Estate Business

Carl Setzer

We agents have been getting blasted with information about the big online sites: Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com, mainly. It’s really ready to get caught up in the dialog. These sites are charging how people relate to real estate. But they’re but likely to change the relationship with agents. People still value the one-one connection.

The changes seem to be more about information, and it’s accuracy and timeliness. Zillow, et al, are not perfect, and that’s the opportunity for agents. But we have to be in our game, know the current market, what’s influencing it. It’s also good to know what Zillow and such say, do we can be better able to engage and educate.

So, no threats to us agents. Unless we aren’t willing to stay current, keep our knowledge fresh. And, perhaps, if that’s your mindset, failure should not be unexpected. I’m not sweating it, nor is my team.

13122 45th Ave W, Mukilteo

Carl Setzer

This is one of my team’s listings in Mukilteo. Not far off of 52nd Ave W/Beverly Park Rd, this is just a little south of the Speedway. Part of a very well maintained community with nicely manicured lawns and friendly neighbors, who you’ll actually see out walking. If you work at the Everett Boeing facility, or the surrounding support community at Paine Field, this is a very livable community with only a few minutes of commute. Biking would be quite easy! If you work in Redmond, say at Microsoft, this is easy jaunt onto Highway 525, feeding you easily on to 405. And if you commute to Seattle, it’s a short drive to the Mukilteo Sounder Station or the Ash Way Park & Ride. With a recent price drop, it’s quite competitively priced for the neighborhood. Take a look while it’s still available.

13122 45th Ave W, Mukilteo, WA

$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 3 (2 full, 1 half ) BATHROOMS | 1978 SQUARE FEET



Great Curb Appeal On a Corner Lot, With Nice Landscaping.  Simple, open, and clean kitchen with tile back splash and black tile counter tops. Plenty of cupboard space for storage. Slider off the kitchen allows access to your refurbished deck that will be great for entertaining. Master bedroom has attached bathroom with tiled shower and walk-in closet. Living room is open and naturally lit with a huge bay window.  Cozy fire place will keep you warm in the lower sitting room off the kitchen. Additional to the spacious bedrooms is an office.

Considering Sustainability

Carl Setzer

Sustainability has been a significant part of my journey for years. Perhaps the most obvious element was my time at Starbucks working in environmental affairs, but that’s really only a piece. Also, my time with the Episcopal Church, where I interacted closely with the Earth Ministry greatly expanding my learning. Just two of the more significant parts of my life. I’ve been exploring this idea for decades.

My goal is greater than just understanding sustainability, but finding ways to live it. Really, defining it is the easy part. It’s living it that’s tough. I’m paraphrasing my friends Brian and Mary Natrass with this definition: a sustainable society is one that takes no more then it returns to the ecosystem. Balance. And though the term “sustainble” gets thrown about a great deal nowadays, I’m not aware of any element or system in modern society that meets that description. Our consumer economy is, actually, the exact opposite. Continued exploitation returns nothing to our systems. Single use and dispose fails, too. There’s so much opportunity to progress and grow.

All may be distressing, but not cause for despair. Humans are highly adaptable. We will adjust and survive. My goal is for something beyond survival. Rather, thriving; with a new definition of thriving. That what I shall explore now.

Lost to Busyness

Carl Setzer

Losing myself in busyness is much too easy. Over the years, I’ve developed expertise in productivity and maximising work. I get so very much done, do meant todos checked off, but then feel like I’ve done nothing at all. This brings about a sense of emptiness. Losing sight of my “why” is the root. When my tasks are simply the responses to stimulus, not connected to adding value, I fall into this funk. For there’s no value. Remembering why we want, what the things are that we value counters that. Hence, why that planning and thinking time is so critical. Sadly, it’s so easy to get caught up in the cult of busy and devalue planning. And we end up miserable and morose. So, more planning and thoughtfulness in my life. There!