February 2014

Now that the recession has ended, the divorce rate is back on the rise. The number of Americans getting divorces rose for the third year in a row to about 2.4 million in 2012, according to census data. The divorce rate had plunged to a 40-year low in 2009. "Whatever the social and emotional impact, the broad economic effects of the increase are clear: It is contributing to the formation of new...

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014 Now that the worst of the foreclosure crisis is in the rearview mirror, former home owners who lost their homes to a short sale or foreclosure are re-entering the housing market. They've spent the last few years rebuilding their credit — and they're ready to buy again. "We're about three years past the peak of the foreclosures, and that's...

Investors Target 'Hipster' ZIPs for Flipping DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014 Hipsters usually refers to a subculture of 20-something or 30-something men and women who follow the latest lifestyle trends and fashion. Many hipsters have delayed forming their own households and are living with their parents longer to get more control over their finances and find steadier...

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 Mortgage delinquencies nationwide have plummeted to their lowest level in more than five years, as more home owners are coming out of the red on their payments, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion. The number of borrowers who are at least two months behind on their mortgage payments dropped to 3.85 percent in the fourth quarter of...

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2014 Strong year-over-year price gains are starting to take a bite into housing affordability, particularly in the West, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ latest quarterly report. The median single-family home price rose in 73 percent of the markets, or 119 out of 164 metro areas, in the fourth quarter of 2013, with 26...

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2014 The spring selling rush may already be under way, as some home owners are already throwing their properties on the market to take advantage of rebounding home prices and improved equity. Paul Reid, a real estate agent in Temecula, Calif., says some sellers are listing properties earlier than usual in anticipation of the spring...

I don’t know of anything that could have been done better, to assist in the closing on our home purchase.  Tony worked numerous days in the research of, and touring 20-30 homes.  He provided invaluable information about areas, neighborhoods, and local environments.  The negotiating process went smoothly, and resulted in a very positive conclusion. Tony took our input for house-interests, and...

Here are the latest market charts from the MLS. Click on each image below for a larger version. Active Listings vs. Sold Listings Number of Pending Listings Median Sales Price For more information our the Seattle and Eastside Real Estate Market contact Tony Meier...

KIRKLAND, Wash. (Feb. 5, 2014) – Home sales during January may not have been as super as the Seahawks’ performances, but brokers cite several reasons for optimism during 2014. “We are finally going to be looking at the ‘housing crisis’ in the rear view mirror,” said Mike Gain, CEO and president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate. “In 2014 we are definitely in full...

Advice site Lifehacker.com recently reminded its readers to protect against four different kinds of infestations: spiders; mice, rats, and other rodents; attic critters such as squirrels and raccoons; and bugs that nestle in firewood. A partial solution shared by the first three problems is making sure that all points of entry are sealed, from tiny cracks to holes in the roof. Once that's accomplished,...

If You Want to Flip, Do It Now DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2014 In 2013, home flips snagged sellers a tidy profit. But the trend may not continue. RealtyTrac's Home Flipping Report for the fourth quarter of 2013  showed single-family home flips were up 16 percent from 2012 and up 114 percent from 2011. The average gross profit for a home flip—defined as a home being...