Following a record apartment construction surge that delivered more than 12,000 new rental housing units in downtown Seattle, it’s curious that, since 2011, only 866 condominiums were added. What’s more extraordinary is that so few of those new condominiums remain available to purchase today. Simply put, 99-percent of what was built for sale in the last five years has been sold and more than two-thirds of what’s planned for delivery by 2019 is already reserved through priority pre-sale.
Among the few planned condominium buildings in the downtown area is NEXUS – a 41-story, 382-unit high-rise, located at 1200 Howell Street, is slated to break ground in January 2017 with occupancy by mid-2019. Its developer, Vancouver-based Burrard Group, took a unique stance on the market by choosing to build for sale, while 94-percent of the historic supply was built for rent. A demand to own was clearly underscored by hundreds of pre-sale buyers lining up on June 4th, some of which slept overnight, in order to secure a reservation for priority pre-sales. Reservations are offered for a $5,000 refundable deposit and provide prospective home buyers with a unit specific and first right of opportunity to purchase when the homes are officially released for sale in the New Year.
NEXUS reservation holders are savvy and now enjoy a preferred position in the next development cycle, according to Michael Cannon, Sales Director for the development.
“Our buyers realize the market is rising and see the value of securing an option to purchase without fear of multiple offers, price escalation or worse – missing out on the opportunity to purchase a home in one of the few developments likely to deliver before 2020,” said Cannon. “NEXUS isn’t quite like anything that has been offered before in downtown Seattle – progressive architecture, flexible floor plans, robust amenities, and high-tech features – NEXUS has become an exclamation point on the buy vs. rent debate.”
Cannon believes an unprecedented number of apartment dwellers are considering their options with ownership, especially at more attainable price points below $600,000, as down payments require are set at 5-percent of the purchase price and mortgage payments are typically the same as prevailing rents in comparable apartments.
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