We know you’ve all been checking email frantically each morning since the beginning of the month in search of our super original newsletter. This month’s missive was delayed and is ticking into the ides of September because we had to wait for our latest listing to come on line. Remember, at the end of the day, this thing is just a shameless plug for two real estate brokers who don’t want to do TikTok videos. 

And we also know we promised not to talk about pickleball for a year. But pickleballers — like crossfitters and vegans — just can’t shut up about it. In our defense, however, we did throw an incredible pickleball tourney in August, and a good time was had by all. Congrats to our first annual Tournament of Champions winners, Greg and Stephanie, who are now ready for the co-ed senior tour. And a shout out to our co-sponsor, highend athleisure brand, Rally Club, for the extra swag! Ok, enough of that. Back to our crossfit and pigless bacon chips.

In real estate news, we are all waiting excitedly for the first drop in interest rates in quite some time. And time will tell how much the drop moves the needle with respect to prices and supply & demand. But even if the needle quivers a little bit, that will be an improvement! Buyers are out there and listings are happening (see ours below), so let us know if you’re in the market or thinking about it.

ARTICLES & VIDEOS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE

What Washington homebuyers need to know about agent fee changes

There’s a lot of buzz out there about the NAR (National Association of Realtors) lawsuit and settlement which has initiated some nationwide changes in how real estate transactions and commissions are handled. Spoiler: In the Puget Sound Region, we are not directly controlled by that settlement so it is effectively the same process as it’s always been — just with more transparency — especially on the buy side. This article is helpful, but honestly, the whole thing is still confusing. Shockingly, the lawyers aren’t making it any clearer, but as a recovered lawyer myself, I’m pretty confident I have a handle on it enough to be of help. So call if you’d like to go down the rabbit hole.



Read here.

WATCH: Peyton Manning: Blind Side Spoof

Football season is finally here. This video is just plain funny and a great satirical play on the Blind Side…

Watch here. 

NEWEST & CURRENT GOTTESMAN CHAPIN GROUP LISTINGS

WE'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERY POCKETBOOK

18 Holly Lane Mercer Island

Offered at $11,988,000

View online here.

2728 63rd Ave SE, Mercer Island

Offered at $1,249,000

View online here.

8803 SE 54th St, Mercer Island

Offered at $1,995,000

View online here.

WHAT'S UP IN SEATTLE

September is loaded with epic events, from Def Leppard & Journey, UW and Seahawks games, to Chris Isaak and the Steve Miller Band—don’t miss out on the action!

September 4

Def Leppard & Journey at T Mobile Park

September 6

Doobie Brothers (Keep an eye out for Roger Thomas — now there’s an obscure Easter egg!) at the White River Amphitheatre

September 7

UW Huskies v. Eastern Michigan at Husky Stadium

September 8

Seahawks v. Broncos at Lumen Field

September 12

Chris Isaak at Chateau Ste Michelle Winery

September 14

Huskies v. Washington State at Lumen Field

September 21

Jam Band extraordinaire — Goose — at Remlinger Farms (see the song of the month below!)

September 21

Huskies v. Northwestern at Husky Stadium

September 22

Steve Miller Band (our old client!) at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. He’s ageless and still phenomenal in concert.

SUSAN'S STYLE TIP: MASTER CLASS IN DESIGN WITH SUSAN MARINELLO

No one knows interior design better than Susan Marinello, founder and CEO of Susan Marinello Interiors (“SMI”). For 30 years, SMI has been designing hotels, commercial buildings, and luxury residences nationwide in the high-rent districts.

This month — coffee table books! Every time my wife and I are over at Susan’s home, we are always drawn to the many coffee table books displayed throughout. Click the link here for Susan’s top 10 favorites and where to find them!

COOL STUFF WE'VE DONE LATELY

FIRST ANNUAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS PHOTOS!

DAMN DANIEL! PRODUCTS OF THE MONTH

ANTICA FARMACISTA

Antica Farmacista was founded in 2003 by Shelley Callaghan and Susanne Pruitt, with the vision of creating a luxury fragrance brand to elevate everyday experiences. What began as a home fragrance brand blossomed into a collection of over 20 captivating scents spanning both home and bath & body categories. Their offerings include diffusers, candles, room sprays, body washes, lotions, accessories and personal perfumes.

Antica Farmacista has earned its place not only in the homes of our cherished community, but also in some of the world’s most prestigious retailers and hotels, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, The Ritz Carlton, The Four Seasons, and The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Shop Antica Farmacista online here.

PREMIER CATCH

Joci and Ashley Besecker started Premier Catch in June of 2020 right in the heart of the pandemic. With a family history of over 50 years in the fishing industry and insider connections to incredible seafood, the Beseckers watched as families began cooking more at home and running out of healthy and diverse protein sources. This notion inspired Joci and Ashley to create a retail brand.

Premier Catch’s products are specially processed to create pre-portioned, bone-out, individually vacuum packed and flash frozen at the dock. Try their King and Sockeye Salmon, Pacific Halibut, Sablefish, Alaska Cod, and Dungeness Crab. And if you’re a canned tuna person — their canned tuna is unmatched in the market. It’s simply phenomenal.

Shop Premier Catch online here.

This month we are featuring some out of this world listings in Greece & Italy.

Lavish Mediterranean Villa with Vistas of the Aegean Sea

Afantou, Greece

View online here.

Residenza Rialto: unique charm and views

Venice, Italy

View online here.

A Mediterranean Villa Perched Gracefully in Front of the Sea

Lindos, Greece

View online here.

COLLEAGUE + COLLAB

This month we are featuring our friend and colleague, Philippa Ward. Philippa is an extremely talented broker in Napa Valley, but she’s cultivated her style and cut her teeth in New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She’s a no-nonsense negotiator and has a keen nose for the business.

After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Philippa returned to St. Helena in the Napa Valley to start her real estate career in her hometown. After nine years of brokering estate homes, vineyard land, and wineries, she moved to Manhattan, where she focused on the townhome and co-op markets. Philippa then moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where she added to her real estate proficiency by serving as the president of the Commercial Industrial Division of the Tri-County area. She also became a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) candidate as a result of her work in commercial real estate development and with investment clients. When not helping clients realize their real estate goals or representing her family's winery, Saintsbury in Napa, Philippa enjoys travel and professional sports as well as offshore fishing.

Check out one of Philippa's fabulous listings, The Calistoga B&B and Residential Compound. More information about this property online here.