NWMLS KIRKLAND, WA. (Dec. 5, 2011) – Northwest Multiple Listing Service members reported 6,103 pending sales during November, marking the seventh straight month of double-digit year-over-year increases. Last month's total number of mutually accepted offers was 22.4 percent higher than the same month a year ago. It also marked the first month since December 2006 that the number of pending sales...
2011
December 5, 2011 We recently utilized Tony Meier to assist us with the purchase of a rental house. As a real estate professional, Tony has an excellent knowledge of the market and provided us with exceptional service from house search to house closing. As our agent, he was very pro-active, responsive, trustworthy, and diligent. Our purchase offer was accepted the night before we left on vacation to...
Selling your home during the holidays means a few extra things to keep in mind. Below are some tips on how to keep your holiday-themed house buyer friendly and ready to sell! Don’t go overboard with the holiday decorations. They can make your home look cluttered and take attention away from it. Large Christmas trees can make a room look smaller. As can a ton of presents under the tree and too much...
Better times are ahead for the real estate market in the new year, according to several forecasts and recent surveys. Fiserv, a financial information services firm, predicts that 95 percent of the 384 metro areas it tracks will see prices rise in 2012. Many surveys and economists are forecasting a very modest increase for the housing market in the new year, but after several years of dropping prices...
Tony did a great job suggesting the right improvements and great contractors to make our home show best for our market. He did an excellent job taking photos and building a photo showcase and video to market our home that really made it shine. He did a great job helping us come to terms with the current market so we could set an appropriate price. The combination of these helped us generate a...
Thank you so much for all your help in selling our house. The whole experience was fantastic and we will recommend you to all our friends and family. Heather and Merrick Hill - Sold in Bothell -...
The Seattle Times confirms what I see too.... It is an incredible opportunity to buy a home today! "Thanks to declining prices and record-low interest rates, houses in King County are more affordable now than they've been in at least 17 years, a new score card says." For their complete story, click here. Tony Meier Making Real Estate Easy, Fun & Profitable! Serving Buyers, Sellers & Their...
Tony, you did a great job at communicating with us. Your responses were thorough and timely. You were very tactful at handling and calming these anxious first time home buyers! We greatly appreciate your services and will definitely recommend you to friends. Thank you again!! Annie & Josh Owen - Purchased in Bothell -...
Nationally, median list prices have risen 1.60 percent to $190,000, based on year-over-year data from September. However, some cities haven’t fared so well. California continues to have the most cities seeing some of the largest drops in median list prices the past year. Of the cities that have seen the largest drops in list prices year-over-year from September 2011, California cities make up half of...
Tony did a great job helping me prepare my home for sale and strategizing a competitive price. He took exceptional photos that showed my home to its best advantage and remained positive and upbeat throughout the process. I very much appreciate his assistance and expertise. Thanks Tony! Paula Worley - Sold in Redmond -...
Tony was recommended to us by our friends and he lived up to the expectation. He helped us sell our house as well as buy a new one. Through the entire process, he was very professional and patient. He was very knowledgeable about the area and the market. We looked at quite a few houses and throughout the process he stayed focused on our needs, gave us advice and gently nudged us along. Had he not been for...
My associates over at CW Title have prepared this great graphic to show the life of an Escrow. Click on the image for a larger version. Tony Meier Making Real Estate Easy, Fun & Profitable! Serving Buyers, Sellers & Their Referrals Since 1989 Windermere Real Estate/NE EastsideHomes.com – Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate...
I wanted to thank you for everything you did to support our family in this massive endeavor. I knew Wendy and I made the right choice in asking you to represent us after the first 5 minutes with you, back in May. Everything that has happened since then has done nothing but reinforce our decision. I appreciate your professionalism, knowledge, experience, honesty, and the simple fact that you...
We enlisted Tony’s services to buy a house in Woodinville and sell our house in Redmond. Throughout the process, Tony was extremely professional and virtually always available, in person, by phone, or by e-mail. He explained the processes of buying and selling very clearly and was helpful in many areas. He always had time when needed in critical situations. He helped us sell our house very quickly in a...
Tony was by far the best real estate agent I have ever encountered. He exceeded my expectations in all aspects of the sale. His aggressiveness and responsiveness to all of my needs were outstanding. I would highly recommend him to any prospective clients. Thanks again Tony, you truly are the best.... Steve Couey - Purchased in Woodinville -...
Tony, Your service level was great. You always answered my questions with honest answers. I was especially impressed with the people and companies that you recommended for getting the house ready to sell. They were professional and did what they said they would do when they said that they would do it. Thanks again Tony. Dick Anderson and Dorothy Anderson - Sold in Bellevue -...
The 10 Most Walkable Cities Buyers have expressed more preferences to walkable communities in home-shopping surveys. Walk Friendly Communities, a national recognition program, recently recognized the top places in the country for walking, taking into account such factors as safety, space in communities devoted to pedestrians, as well as whether walking is integrated into the city’s overall urban...
I met Tony a few years ago when I first considered selling my Bellevue home. I had asked three realtors for their input. Tony continued to follow up with friendly and useful mailings describing the general sales climate. When we were again ready to sell, I had already determined that Tony was the right choice for me. Tony helped me with solid competitive data to price the home, advice on staging,...
The Redmond Garden Club will be having their annual sale May 7th from 8am to 3pm. The sale will be located at 17817 NE 131st Street, Redmond, 98052. Follow the signs along NE 124th/NE 128th, Avondale Road, or Redmond-Woodinville Road All kinds of greenery and goodies including: Perennials Annuals, Vegetable Starts, Shrubs, Crafts, Planters plus garden related yard sale items and much more Come early...
March saw another increase in pending home sales, with contract activity rising unevenly in six of the past nine months, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 5.1 percent to 94.1 in March from a downwardly revised 89.5 in February. The index is 11.4 percent below 106.2 in March 2010; however,...
Since its birth as a National Holiday in 1914, the second Sunday of May has been dedicated to showering the Moms in our lives with love and appreciation. Here are some ideas to help you do just that: For a Craft-Loving mom: Make her a custom photo book full of fun family memories or give her some time to herself to spend flexing her creative muscles. http://www.snapfish.com For a Luxury-Loving...
Unfortunately, I have been assisting several people lately with short sales. During the process we discuss the serious impact this process will have on my clients credit score. The New York Times posted an article, that fills in the details further. Missed Mortgage Payments Hurt Credit Scores Missed mortgage payments, short sales, and foreclosures can all drastically bring down a credit score. Lenders...
Sales of existing-home sales rose in March, continuing an uneven recovery that began after sales bottomed last July, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 3.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.10 million in March from an upwardly revised 4.92...
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill Thursday that makes Washington the third state to adopt a foreclosure-mediation program, after Nevada and Maryland. By Sanjay Bhatt Seattle Times staff reporter The bill, the "Foreclosure Fairness Act," gives distressed homeowners working with housing counselors or attorneys the right to in-person mediation with the bank or company servicing their mortgage. Washington,...
We hired Tony in August 2011 to sell our house in the English Hill neighborhood of Redmond, as we were moving out of state. We interviewed several real estate agents before deciding on Tony. Tony was well-prepared for our first meeting and came across as an friendly person with extensive knowledge of the neighborhood. We hit it off almost immediately. This was the first time we were selling a house and...
Housing Shortage on the Horizon? Mike Castleman, founder and CEO of Metrostudy, which tracks real-time data of the country’s inventory of new homes, says a housing shortage is looming that will soon will create a huge surge in demand for new homes. As such, now is the time to buy, he says. In the 41 cities Metrostudy covers, 78,000 houses are either vacant and for sale, or under construction — that...
Generation X—young families and adults ages 31 to 45—are likely to lead the home-buying recovery as it gets underway, according to real estate experts who spoke at an educational webinar produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in partnership with Builder magazine. These potential home buyers are most likely to think it’s a good time to get off the fence—and have strong...
Australian builder plans 500 houses in Seattle market One of Australia's largest homebuilders is entering the U.S. market with a bet on King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. By Eric Pryne Seattle Times business reporter One of Australia's largest homebuilders is jumping into the Seattle market. Henley Properties said Monday it plans to build 500 houses in King, Snohomish and...
Just Listed - 16641 157th Ave SE - Renton at $285,000 Wonderful tri-level home situated on a nice greenbelt lot in Fairwood Greens. The home features three bedrooms, 2.25 baths, and 1,840 s.f. on a 9,525 s.f. lot. Many recent updates including vinyl windows & new carpet! As you approach the home you are greeted by nice tile roof and a paver driveway & path leading to the front door, the slate...
Just Listed - 9509 NE 139th St, Kirkland at $469,900 Nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac, sits this charming two story with daylight basement home. The gracious floorplan boasts 2900 s.f. and features 5 bedrooms, 2.75 baths with den & bonus on a private, south facing 12,097 s.f. lot which backs to a greenbelt! Recent updates include roof, carpet, vinyl windows and remodeled kitchen. Formal living &...
Buffett Says Buying His Home for $31,500 Was Third-Best Investment He Made By Kathleen M. Howley - Feb 28, 2011 Billionaire Warren Buffett said buying a home was the third-best investment he ever made, after the rings he bought for his first wife, Susan Thompson, and, after her death, his second wife, Astrid Menks. “For the $31,500 I paid for our house, my family and I gained 52 years of terrific...
One of our family's favorite events... The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. For 28 years, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival has been one of the most sought-after events in the Pacific Northwest. Come and enjoy the celebration of Spring as millions of tulips burst into bloom! Don’t forget to bring your camera! 25th Annual Tulip Run April 9, 9:30am www.tuliprun.com 30th Annual Tulip...
Generation X — adults ages 31 to 45 — are expected to lead the recovery in the housing market, according to real estate experts in a recent webinar produced by the National Association of Home Builders. During the event, speakers highlighted results of a survey of 10,000 buyers in 27 metro areas. While Generation X isn’t the largest population group — making up 32 percent of the population...
If you answered... not very, then you are like most people. The recent incidents in Japan heighten the awareness that we should be prepared for whatever mother nature or mankind can through at us! With this in mind... I have gathered a copy of the Washington State Emergency Resource Guide for you to download at the link below: Washington State Emergency Resource Guide I hope you will take the time to...
Tax Time Less Taxing for Home Owners With a little more than one month before income taxes are due, many of the nation’s 75 million home owners may be appreciating the value of home ownership just a bit more as they take advantage of the tax benefits of owning a home. “Owning a home offers myriad benefits throughout the year, but some of the financial advantages of home ownership are most apparent at...
h2>Become a moisture detective to keep your investment in good repair and get rid of household smells. It’s time to see what winter’s wind, rain and snow have done to your home and make fixes quickly to head off water-related damage. First, head outside. Outside Spiff up the front entry. One way to stay on top of your home’s maintenance and protect your investment is to look at it as...
Nearly 70 percent of buyers and sellers say they believe the housing market and property values will recover in the next year or two, according to a new survey by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services Inc. What’s more, 86 percent of the more than 1,000 buyers and sellers surveyed believe real estate is still a good investment despite the souring market conditions in many areas the past few...
The number of foreclosure notices filed in February declined 14 percent compared with last month, and foreclosure notices dropped 27 percent compared to last year at this time. That marks the largest year-over-year decline that RealtyTrac, a foreclosure tracking site, has ever recorded. The number of U.S. homes in some stage of foreclosure fell drastically last month, reaching a 36-month low, RealtyTrac...
Kiplingers 10 Best Cities for the Next Decade They're prosperous, innovative, and they'll generate plenty of jobs, too.By the Editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2010 We live in challenging times. Unemployment remains high, and the U.S. lead in technology and science is slipping as many foreign countries gain ground. But some U.S. cities,...
The uptrend in existing-home sales continues, with January sales rising for the third consecutive month with a pace that is now above levels a year ago, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 2.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million in January...
Housing markets: Best recovery bets 6 of 10 Seattle Median home price: $375,000 Drop since market peak: 24.4% Forecast gain by 9/2012: 3.7% Seattle is a good mix of new and old economies, with Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing offering good, well-paying jobs. And that has been key to getting the city's economy off life support, with the unemployment rate dropping below 9% in...
Tony Meier made sure that I was clearly informed throughout the 2 year search for my new home. I understood all my options and he helped me narrow down my choices. I appreciated his patience and perseverance, and his quick response. His knowledge and expertise were extremely valuable when I finally found a suitable place, and frankly I don’t think the deal would’ve happened without him. Tony...
Washington, DC, January 20, 2011 Existing-home sales rose sharply in December, when sales increased for the fifth time in the past six months, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 12.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.28 million in December from an...
We worked with Tony on both the purchase of our new home and the sale of our old home. Throughout the process, Tony proved to be committed, knowledgeable, and savvy while taking us through the purchase and sales process. Regarding the sale, even in a down market, Tony managed to get our house sold. Unlike many real estate professionals, Tony is a very good communicator and kept us informed and up-to-speed...
Washington, DC, December 30, 2010 Pending home sales rose again in November, with the broad trend over the past five months indicating a gradual recovery into 2011, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator, rose 3.5 percent to 92.2 based on contracts signed in November from a downwardly revised 89.1 in October. The index is 5.0 percent...