InHaus, Redfin Join Forces on Seattle Condo Development

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

Seattle—Acclaimed sustainability developer InHaus and technology-driven real estate brokerage Redfin are coming together to unveil a new condominium development in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. Solo Lofts, a boutique 20-unit building being created by InHaus, will provide buyers with a stunning modern aesthetic while also delivering highest-rated environmental sustainability.

USA Today and Seattle Magazine have both called Ballard “best Seattle neighborhood.” Ballard is also one of the hottest real estate markets in the Emerald City and is rapidly becoming the epicenter of green design in Seattle.

Over the past 15 years, condo prices in Ballard have risen an average of 5.62 percent annually, and are up 10.5 percent year over year as of October 2013.

Construction on Solo Lofts is scheduled to commence in early 2014 on an infill site at 2018 NW 57^th St. in the downtown district of Ballard.

The seven-story condominium building was designed by award-winning Seattle firm Chris Pardo Design and is seeking a BuiltGreen 4-star rating, with a focus on high-efficiency design and healthy living.

“Solo Lofts will be the second condominium project out of the ground in Seattle, following Nat Bosa’s massive Insignia project, since the market headed south in 2008,” Redfin vice president, analytics and new business Adam Wiener, tells MHN. He added over the past three months 39 condo units sold in Ballard, and only 17 remain on the market. “It’s clear that adding additional inventory will provide some much-needed relief for Ballard buyers and renters,” he adds.

The condos at Solo Lofts will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, polished concrete floors, contemporary European faucets and under-mount sinks, ceramic tile backsplashes and quartz countertops, oversized mirrors and contemporary dual-flush mirrors. Regular units will feature 9-foot ceilings, while the two penthouse homes will offer 18-foot ceilings.

Residences will range in size from 500 to 1,200 square feet. Sweeping views will be offered on the rooftop green space to be shared by all Solo Lofts owners.

Solo Lofts’ will offer solar panels, Xerscape water conservation landscaping, heat recovery ventilation system, Energy Star appliances, including laundry, energy-saving “smart wiring,” intelligent thermostat, ultra-efficient lighting, premium window package, Formaldehyde-free cabinetry, low-VOC paint and finish materials, high-efficiency, on-demand hot water and enhanced insulation.

Within a one-mile radius, residents of Solo Lofts will be able to find scores of highly rated restaurants and shops, as well as one of the region’s favorite year-round farmers’ markets. Solo Lofts will share a block with the Greenfire Campus and a new Ballard Public Library.

“InHaus needed a real estate brokerage that could support the launch with targeted marketing, and help InHaus make informed decisions about the property,” Wiener says. “Thanks to Redfin’s marketing expertise and online real estate resources, Solo Lofts will get a lot of exposure, and InHaus will receive valuable information on buyers’ preferences and purchasing patterns.”