Agent Guide to Buying & Selling Issaquah Highlands Real Estate
Before working with clients to successfully buy or sell a residential property in Issaquah Highlands, real estate agents should review this valuable information to ensure your transaction goes smoothly.
It is important agents follow community procedures for buying and selling residential property in Issaquah Highlands. Clients will also find this information useful.
About Issaquah Highlands
Issaquah Highlands is different — deliberately different — from “Any Suburb, USA.” Issaquah Highlands has a purposeful urban village design and a unique organizational structure rooted in the idea that Issaquah Highlands is a special place.
Real estate agents should familiarize themselves with Issaquah Highlands’ unique management structure and associated fees:
- Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA): Issaquah Highlands’ homeowners association
- Highlands Fiber Network (HFN): Community-owned fiber to the home
- Highlands Council: A community-building organization
- Issaquah Highlands Community Fund (IHCF): A philanthropic community organization
Discover what makes Issaquah Highlands “deliberately different”
Selling in Issaquah Highlands
Mandatory Listing Items
IHCA
- Assessments are charged monthly to all owned homes in Issaquah Highlands.
- Supplemental neighborhoods may have additional assessments.
- The IHCA is required to be named in the listing for any home sale (including condos) as a means to avoid being missed in escrow (additional fees apply). Refer to the escrow fee policy.
Highlands Council
Seller pays Community Enhancement Fee (a quarter of 1% of the gross sale price of the home at closing)*
*Community Enhancement Fee exempted when:
- Transfer is to a co-owner or a family trust controlled by the owner, or to the surviving spouse or child on the owner’s death.
- Transfer is to an institutional lender pursuant to a mortgage or upon foreclosure of a mortgage.
- Homeowner has received a one-time waiver because they joined the Covenant.
HFN
- Connection Fee: One-time fee (buyer pays $250 due at closing).
- Monthly Periodic Fee includes 10/10 Mbps internet service (min. $50/month by homeowner).
Signage & Open Houses
There are community rules about where and how you place your “for sale” sign on your listing and how to manage A-boards signs for open house events.
One (1) professional printed real estate “For Sale”, “For Sale by Owner”, or “For Rent” sign may be posted within the lot for a residential sale following industry standards for sign size, with a realtor T-Bar, and appropriate attached flyer box. Signs are not allowed to be placed in the street frontages. Approved signage for units located without street frontage may be posted in the Neighborhood Common Area. In addition, one (1) sign, not to exceed 9″ x 24″, may be staked in the front of or placed in the window of the unit for sale or rent. Other types of “For Sale by Owner” or “For Lease/Rent” yard or window signs are prohibited.
Sub-Neighborhoods may erect and maintain professionally manufactured Real Estate Yard Arm Signage at the entrances to the neighborhood. Realtors may display brochures in the attached flyer boxes. If there are more than six (6) listings on a T-Bar and a box is not available, the Owner should contact the IHCA office to coordinate postings.
Homeowners are responsible for repairs or damage to the lawn or irrigation system related to any sign installation. Open house sandwich boards and directional locator signs may be placed in rights of way, but may only be used on the day of the open house for the duration of that day’s showing.
Escrow Fees
When selling a home in Issaquah Highlands, contact the IHCA, the Issaquah Highlands homeowners association, before ALL escrow closings for information. The IHCA will collect fees for three organizations (IHCA, HFN, Highlands Council) through closing.
Please contact the IHCA by email or call 425-507-1119 for more information.
Buying in Issaquah Highlands
Resident Fees & Assessments
- IHCA assessments are charged monthly to all owned homes in the Issaquah Highlands.
- Supplemental neighborhoods may have additional assessments.
- Highlands Fiber Network (HFN) Connections Fee: One-time fee (Buyer pays $250 due at closing).
- HFN Monthly Periodic Fee includes 10/10 Mbps Internet service (min. $50/month by homeowner).
Escrow Fees
When buying a home in Issaquah Highlands, contact the IHCA, the Issaquah Highlands homeowners association, before ALL escrow closings for information. The IHCA will collect fees for three organizations (IHCA, HFN, Highlands Council) through closing.
Please contact the IHCA by email or call 425-507-1119 for more information.
Custom Home Construction
The IHCA oversees the Custom Architectural Review Committee (CARC). Due to the complexity of the building process, the homeowner’s design team works with the CARC throughout the building process.
The IHCA’s role includes orientation meetings, inspections, consultations, and dispute resolution. The IHCA has close working relationships with architects, landscape architects, and builders during construction to ensure job site compliance and conducts regular onsite inspections to help minimize the impact of construction on surrounding homes.
For more information about custom home construction and the CARC, call Jordan Rousu, IHCA CARC coordinator at 425-507-1126 or send an email.
Looking for photos of Issaquah Highlands?
Buying or selling a condo?
Download the complete list of Issaquah Highlands condo management companies.
