Happy Halloween from your Windermere team

Seattle this week

• Sunday, October 25

  Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs

  8:20 pm kickoff at Lumen Field · seahawks.com

• October 26-31

  Falloween at The Bellevue Collection

  Halloween photo sets, interactive displays, and free coloring totes while supplies last · bellevuecollection.com

• October 30-31

  BOO Seattle

  Two-night Halloween electronic music festival at WAMU Theater, 800 Occidental Ave S · wamu.org

Mortgage rates

Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of 2026-10-22. National averages, so your rate depends on your situation.

Market snapshot

Source: Zillow Research (median sale price, King County single-family homes).

Worth knowing

• Federal Review of Real Estate Marketplaces: There is some new news about federal regulators looking into how real estate marketplaces operate. This could eventually change how we all navigate the home buying and selling process. I am keeping a close eye on these developments to see how they impact you.
• Madison Park Community Events: There are a couple of great events coming up in Madison Park. The neighborhood is hosting a welcome event for new residents and a big community auction later this month. I love seeing the community come together like this. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Catch the drift

The day Ballard mourned becoming Seattle

Ballard incorporated as a city in 1890 , and for nearly two decades it was a thriving place in its own right. By 1900, its 4,568 residents made it the seventh largest city in Washington, and the population continued to boom, growing to 17,000 by the time of annexation in 1907. It had its own police force, fire department, city hall and mayor.

But growth was quickly overwhelming the city's ability to provide services, and a safe water supply was a continuing problem. In 1902, Ballard made an agreement with Seattle to tap into its water system, and was using more than 5 million gallons a year. This expenditure was adding to the city's debt. In 1905, residents voted to stay independent. However, enough minds were changed 15 months later that annexation won out on the second vote.

On the day the City ceased to exist, the Ballard City Hall was draped in black crepe, and the flag on the city flag pole hung at half mast. The Ballard Newspaper reported the fire bell rang 22 times and the flags were lowered. Many of the citizens, while favoring annexation to Seattle, wore a look of sorrow as the former city went out of existence.

One bell survived. Today, the iconic Centennial Bell tower stands with the bell and columns that came from the original Ballard City Hall building.