Aug 27, 2009

Seattle Mortgage Bankers Association

The next SMBA dinner meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Broadmoor Golf Club with three speakers: Deb Bortner and Scott Jarvis from the Department of Financial Institutions will discuss how new rules and regulations impact SMBA members, and Rob Story Jr., president and CEO of Seattle Financial Group and the incoming chairman-elect of the Mortgage Bankers Association, will discuss legislation at the national level. The event starts with a social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6:30. Cost is $60 for members and $100 for non-members. To register call Lisa Miller at (425) 673-8277, or (206) 271-2050 or send an email: LMiller@GolfSavingsBank.com

Home inspector licensing

OLYMPIA — A new law requiring Washington state home inspectors to be licensed goes into effect Sept. 1. The goal is to improve consumer protection and oversight of the industry. Home inspectors must take an approved training course, complete 40 hours of field training and pass a state exam. A licensing board will advise the department on professional conduct standards.

Coast Real Estate

Frank Linkous has joined Commercial Property Maintenance, part of the Coast Real Estate family of companies, as general manager. CPM offers maintenance, repair and construction services to commercial property owners in the region. He has more than 20 years of experience in construction, development, project management and real estate sales.

BRE Properties

San Francisco-based BRE Properties named John A. Schissel executive vice president and chief financial officer. He succeeds Edward F. Lange Jr. as CFO. Lange will continue to serve as COO. Schissel worked at Wachovia, Columbia Equity Trust and Carr Properties.

Appraisal Institute

Whitney Haucke will be awarded the MAI designation for appraisers involved in the valuation and analysis of commercial real estate by the Appraisal Institute. Haucke received her training at Schueler, McKowan & Keenan, and joined Cushman & Wakefield in 2006 as an appraiser. She was named an associate director in 2008.

NBS Financial Services

NBS Financial Services Executive Vice President Mike Wood has arranged $2.6 million in financing for Underwood Gartland 216, a 71,750-square-foot warehouse/distribution building in Woodinville. Symetra Life Insurance was the lender, and Underwood Gartland 216 LLC was the borrower. Underwood Gartland 216 was built in 1999. It was 65 percent leased at the time of the loan.

NAR green courses

The National Association of Realtor's Green Designation Course will be offered Sept. 9 and 10. This 16-clock-hour class covers green building principles in housing, commercial property and communities. Attendees will be encouraged to advocate for green principles. The Residential Elective Course will be offered Sept. 11. This 7.5-clock-hour class covers how to help buyers buying and retrofit green homes, and help sellers with listing and marketing green properties. Students who complete all 22.5 hours will be qualified for the NAR Green Designation. Contact the Seattle King County Association of Realtors' Claudia Crowell at (425) 974-1011 or see the Web site at http://www.nwrealtor.com.

Aug 20, 2009

Grubb & Ellis Co.

Andrew Hitchcock has joined Grubb & Ellis Co. as vice president, industrial group. Hitchcock will focus on industrial leasing and sales in the South Puget Sound area. Hitchcock previously worked at Colliers International, where he earned the Puget Sound region's “Rookie of the Year” award in 2004, “Career Bests” in 2006 and 2008, and the firm's International Award of Excellence in 2008.

Paragon Real Estate Advisors

Jeff Stoner and David Petersen with Paragon Real Estate Advisors represented the seller in the recent sale of the 10-unit Shamrock apartments at 3262 California Ave. S.W., Seattle, the firm said. The Shamrock, built by the seller in 1958, sold for $1.35 million, Paragon said.

Multifamily Team Lauded

Coast/Sperry Van Ness's Jansen Multifamily Team was the top performing sales team in the multifamily category for Sperry Van Ness affiliates nationwide through the first half of 2009, the firm said. Coast/Sperry Van Ness is located in Everett with associates covering the Puget Sound region. The Jansen Multifamily Team includes Josh Jansen, Todd Thompson and Matt Wilson.

Keller Williams Realty

Lynn Arends, Therese Bianchi and Tyrone J. Bafaro have joined the Keller Williams Realty Seattle Metro West Market Center. Arends, also a real estate attorney, has a background in short sales and loan modifications, the firm said. Bianchi has been in real estate for two and a half years and Bafaro for nearly four years. The Seattle Metro West Market Center at 4452 California Ave. S.W. was established in 2004 and has more than 70 associates.

See the Port of Tacoma from the water

The NAIOP South Sound Committee invites all NAIOP members and their guests to take a boat tour of the Port of Tacoma Aug. 27. Jack Hedge, the port's director of real estate and industrial development, will lead the tour. Boaters will get a look at existing terminal operations and some of the world's largest container cranes and ships, and learn about future port terminal developments. The port is a major regional economic driver which impacts local commercial real estate, NAIOP said. The tour costs $40 for members or guests. To register, go to http://www.naiopwa.org. The tour will leave from 1129 Dock Street, Gate 8, Tacoma. Boarding begins at 12:30 p.m., with the tour from 1 to 4 p.m. Food and beverages will be served.