April 2015

If you have not bought or sold a home in a few years (or maybe decades) it is likely that there are more than a few new trends in real estate that you will encounter as you begin to interview real estate agents. One particular trend now common among many real estate brokerage firms is called the practice of “going paperless.” This can be a bit scary for some people, especially senior adults who...

Last month, we reported that billionaire John Paulson believes in the financial advantages of homeownership. He has often repeated: "I think, from an individual perspective, the best deal investment you can make is to buy a primary residence that you're the owner-occupier of.” However, he has not been the only billionaire to give such advice. As a matter of fact, that same advice has been given by...

Recently, Freddie Mac published a blog post titled Mortgage Rates: Still the Deal of the Century. They explained that, if you are planning to purchase a home, now may be the time: “If you are in the market to buy a home, today's average mortgage rates are something to celebrate compared to almost any year since 1971.” And they let their readers know that there is no guarantee that rates will...

Last week, we reported on the financial reasons purchasing a home in today’s market makes sense. The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University performs a study every year surveying participants for the reasons that American’s feel are most important in regards to homeownership. The top 4 reasons to own a home cited by respondents were not financial. 1. It means having a good place...

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Yesterday, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their Existing Home Sales Report. The numbers shocked many analysts as they revealed a 10.4% increase over the same month last year. This is the highest number of sales since September 2013. Sales have increased year-over-year for six consecutive months and the 10.4% increase is the highest annual increase since August 2013. March's...

Though the real estate market has improved, we still have one item holding it back from a full recovery – a robust supply of homes for sale. Demand has increased dramatically. At the same time, housing inventory is decreasing especially at the lower price points. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently revealed that there is a pent-up seller demand caused by the uncertainty created by...

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In a speech delivered earlier this year, Secretary for HUD Julián Castro, called 2015 “A Year of Housing Opportunity”. A recent report by The National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that investment home sales decreased 7.4% in 2014 to an estimated 1.02 million. What does this mean for the ‘typical’ homebuyer? Lawrence Yun, NAR’s Chief Economist gave some insight: “Despite strong...

Listed for $200,000 - Click here for more details Move-in ready rambler on quiet street in Kent. The open floorplan features 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,350 s.f. on a sunny 7,630 lot. Spacious living room has large windows overlooking the front yard. Dining room with slider to patio - perfect for BBQing or entertaining! Big kitchen with sunny skylight, ample cabinets and counter space, white appliances...

The National Association of Realtors just released their 2015 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey which revealed that vacation home sales boomed in 2014 to above their most recent peak level in 2006. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said favorable conditions are driving second-home sales: “Affluent households have greatly benefited from strong growth in the stock market in recent years,...

Every seller wants to get the best price for their house. We learned in high school that the best price for any item will be determined by the demand for that item relative to the supply of that item. We have reported that the inventory of houses for sale is well below normal numbers. There is historical evidence that the demand for housing is about to increase dramatically. Each year, more homes...

Everyone knows the social advantages of home ownership. However, some question the financial benefits of owning a home. Three recent studies shed some light on the issue. RealtyTrac recently released a report comparing home price appreciation to wage growth over the last two years. The study revealed that home price appreciation has outpaced wage growth in 76% of U.S. housing markets during that...

Listed for $430,000 - Click here for more details Incredible location within The Pointe! Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac, in the back of the neighborhood, overlooking a huge greenbelt, sits this 2 bedroom, 1.75 bath rambler home. Approximately 1,330 s.f., this home has been meticulously maintained and updated. It features new carpets, extensive hardwood floors, updated kitchen and baths! The large living...

If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are surely getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in real estate. Let’s look at whether or not now is actually a good time for you to buy a home. There are 3 questions you should ask before purchasing in today’s...

There has been a lot of discussion about how difficult it is to get a home mortgage in this market. There is no doubt that the process is not as easy as it was eight to ten years ago and that’s probably good news. However, it does appear that availability to mortgage money is increasing with each passing day. The Mortgage Bankers’ Association publishes the Mortgage Credit Availability Index...

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...

The most recent Pending Homes Sales Index from the National Association of Realtors revealed that homes going into contract in February increased to their highest level since June 2013. The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed,...

  Website   |   About Tony   |   Client References   |    Blog    |    Search Listings   |   Featured Listings The Eastside Home Report  April 2015 Edition Electronics Recycling and Shredding Event - April 25th, 2015 You’re invited to my FREE Annual Client Shredding & e-Waste Recycling Event Saturday, April...

Matthew Rognlie, from the Department of Economics at MIT, recently released a paper: Deciphering the Fall and Rise in the Net Capital Share. One of the major findings of the report is that homeownership is and has been for the last fifty years a major component to family wealth. An article on the study in The Economist notes one of the findings of the study: “The return on non-housing wealth, in...

KIRKLAND, Washington (April 6, 2015) - Buyer anxiety is rising as the pace of home sales is faster than brokers are able to replenish inventory, according to members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Figures just released for March show 11,408 pending sales during the month while only 10,505 sellers listed their homes for sale during the same period. "The frenzy market has returned and is in...

Some Important Points To Consider: The latest Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey reports the 30-year fixed rate at 3.7%. Freddie Mac's projection for Q2 2016 is that the rate will be 4.7% (a full percentage point higher) The Home Price Expectation Survey predicts that home prices will appreciate by 4.4% during this same time The impact waiting a year to purchase your dream home can...

In today’s market, where demand is outpacing supply in many regions of the country, pricing a house is one of the biggest challenges real estate professionals face. Sellers often want to price their home higher than recommended, and many agents go along with the idea to keep their clients happy. However, the best agents realize that telling the homeowner the truth is more important than getting the...

Whether you are a first time or a move-up buyer, there are two factors that will impact the amount of house you can afford in your price range: home prices & mortgage rates. Let’s look at what the experts are predicting over the next twelve months for these two areas: PRICES Over 100 economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists were recently polled as a part of the...