We're the last low-hanging fruit in the Seattle-overflow market and price appreciation here is about the same as Seattle's - around 12% - but with median prices about 2/3 of Seattle.

Looking for someone that can do things soup to nuts, light electrical, possibly some minor plumbing adjustments, then all the finish work including heavy tiling.

Unless you have a ton of cash to play with, or want to develop multifamily, that's the lowest-hanging fruit that I know of in Snohomish county.

People use AirBNB and VRBO and that is where I stay.Because I use them for bookings and payments, guests get the whole nut back.

The brokers work only when they want to and not because they are a hamster on a wheel trying to make a nut.

There is opportunity here, but the days of picking the low hanging fruit are long gone.  

They protect there own interest by bidding high, to make it worth it for them to leave there current job.However a $27,000 price difference is nuts!

And kinda nuts!

Additionally, the arrival of the Mediterranean fruit fly obliterated the large citrus industry.

Certainly, you know the area better from me, and if you confident you can sell it in the desired time frame without taking the loss, and you can afford the monthly nut, that's the better alternative.Lease option might be feasible, but won't be much different on a monthy basis that a pure rental.