Kirkland, Washington-based real estate broker David (“Dave”) Leonti efficiently matches buyers and sellers of in-demand properties. Capitalizing on a background in construction, Dave Leonti also acquires and renovates homes that can be resold at a profit.Remodeling for resale is as much an art as a science, with successful projects reflecting not only the needs of the building and its prospective tenants, but also the expectations of buyers in specific markets. The key to achieving this cost effectively is to seek out properties that are for sale well below market value. This can often be accomplished through providing cash up front and closing the purchase with minimal hassle.Another key to a successful rehab project involves setting budget and timeframe parameters that accurately reflect the sales value that can be obtained. Make sure that upgrades are appropriate to the local market and add the type of value that buyers really notice. At the same time, don’t shirk on quality. There are situations where the property cannot be readily sold and is managed for an extended period of time. Having things work properly can limit expenses and save tenants from frustration over the long run.
A real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty, Dave Leonti divides his work between finding properties that fit buyers’ criteria and remodeling and flipping homes. Possessing more than two decades of experience in the construction industry, Dave Leonti is skilled at creating a realistic budget and timeline for home remodels.It doesn’t take much for a home remodel to exceed a budget. Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce remodeling costs; the following are a few examples:- Use light tubes: Light tubes easily slip between roof rafters and are a great option for increasing natural lighting within the costly process of installing windows. These items help sunshine travel from the roof into a small living space, such as a hallway, thus brightening them up.- Buy supplies: In many cases, contractors offer to purchase supplies for remodels. However, these supplies may come from a single source and not be the most cost-effective. Instead, homeowners can purchase supplies on their own and search for the best deals available.- Keep drain lines: Rerouting plumbing is extremely costly and may add several thousands of dollars to remodeling costs. For this reason, it is best if homeowners plan a remodel around their existing plumbing.- Get imitations: Homeowners should strive to get the highest-quality supplies possible, but that doesn’t always mean they need authentic supplies. For example, hardwood floors made from real wood cost around six times as much as engineered wood flooring. If remodeling costs are high, look for imitations that offer lower prices.
Dave Leonti has worked in the real estate industry for over 20 years. He is a licensed real estate broker who also serves as a property manager and equity owner in Casa Dolce Homes, a professional house-flipping company based in Sammamish, Washington. In both capacities, Dave Leonti’s success requires a thorough understanding of the trends and prospects of the Washington State housing market. Currently, Washington State is experiencing record home prices, particularly in the Seattle area. Seattle leads the nation as the hottest housing market, with home prices increasing by more than $100,000 over the past year. On average, home prices across the state increased by over 12 percent in the first quarter of 2017, when compared with the same period in 2016. The latest data indicates that the median price for a home in Washington State is between $320,000 and $330,000, with Seattle single-family homes averaging around $700,000. The condition of Washington’s real estate market can be attributed to a number of factors. As job opportunities and income in the state rise, so do the population and demand for houses. Sellers often perpetuate the problem. With increases in demand, some confident sellers decide to hold on to their homes, in anticipation of the value increasing even more. Others who would otherwise sell are reluctant to do so because buying another home is no longer affordable. These factors have attributed to a dearth of inventory in a market where demand shows no signs of slowing down.
For more than two decades, Dave Leonti has worked in the real estate and construction industry. Dave Leonti divides his time between flipping homes and managing construction budgets as a project manager for Casa Dolce Homes and selling properties as a broker for Keller Williams Realty in Kirkland, Washington.According to Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), a service that aggregates home listings for most of Washington State, buyers may have better luck finding a home during summer. In June 2017, NWMLS reports that 13,658 new listings were added. This is the highest number of new listings added in one month since May 2008, which had 14,176 listings added. However, total inventory for June 2017 is still lagging behind June 2016. Total active listings for condos and single-family homes reached 14,482 in June 2017. While this number seems significant, it is 14 percent lower than the total June inventory last year. Still, real estate professionals feel positive about the real estate market in the state due to the fact that total inventory increased by 16 percent between April and June this year.On top of June’s increase in total and new inventory, brokers also reported a 3.4 percent increase in pending sales when compared to one year ago. However, this number does vary between counties. While King, Snohomish, Kitsap, and Pierce Counties experienced record-setting pending sale numbers, nine other counties in Washington saw year-over-year decreases in their number of pending sales.
