June 2017

We previously reported how a shortage of inventory in the starter and trade-up home markets is driving prices up and causing bidding wars, creating a true seller’s market. At the same time, in the premium home market, an over-abundance of inventory has started to see prices come down and put buyers in the driver’s seat, creating the beginning of a buyer’s market. Last week,...

In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the amount of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search. Even if you are in a market...

As residents in the English Hill neighborhood, we were familiar with Tony and his team because of his excellent and professional marketing. When we decided to sell our home, we felt confident that the "smart" decision would be to hire Tony. He has the experience and professionalism we were looking for in an agent, but, most importantly, he understands the English Hill neighborhood better than any other...

In Realtor.com’s recent article, “Home Buyers’ Top Mortgage Fears: Which One Scares You?” they mention that “46% of potential home buyers fear they won’t qualify for a mortgage to the point that they don’t even try.” Myth #1: “I Need a 20% Down Payment” Buyers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home loan. According to the First Quarter 2017 Homeownership...

We often discuss the difference in family wealth between homeowner households and renter households. Much of that difference is the result of the equity buildup that homeowners experience over the time that they own their home. In a report recently released by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), they reveal how valuable equity can be in retirement planning. Craig Copeland,...

You won't believe how happy we are with the recent blast success you have helped to secure in our recent home sale! Everything happened smooth and on schedule throughout the process. Tony explained the process and the grand plan before and during the marketing campaign and the end result was a blast. Our house sold within a week and that's with a big mark up. We couldn't be happier about the whole...

  Many real estate economists have called on new home builders to ramp up production to help relieve the shortage of inventory of homes for sale throughout the United States. The added inventory would no doubt aid buyers in their search to secure their dream home, while also helping to ease price increases throughout the country. Unfortunately for builders, there are many forces that are making...

CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 91,000 properties regained equity in the first quarter of 2017. This is great news for the country, as 48.2 million of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation. Price Appreciation = Good News for Homeowners Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist, explains: “One million borrowers achieved...

In a blog post published last Friday, CNBC’s Diana Olnick reported on the latest results of the FAU Buy vs. Rent Index. The index examines the entire US housing market and then isolates 23 major markets for comparison. The researchers at FAU use a “‘horse race’ comparison between an individual that is buying a home and an individual that rents a similar-quality home and reinvests all...

Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today, instead of waiting. 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 7.1% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 4.9% over the next year. The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to...

Tony and his staff were amazing to work with. From the beginning he set clear expectations for the selling process. His organization, communication and attention to detail are second to none. We were very pleased with the process and outcome for the sale of our home. We will continue to recommend Tony to anyone looking for a great agent! Thanks again. Sean and Christy Brogan Sold in Kirkland - April...

Team Meier exceeded our expectations. We planned the sale of our house over a year period and Tony was there to provide regular market updates and help us identify the optimal time to list our home.  Tony’s use of data to paint the picture of the market and how to approach pricing provided a methodical approach which appealed to our analytical nature. Once we were ready to list, he and Wendi...

You folks are the best!  You did a great job helping to plan for our sale, update our house and executed superb marketing that resulted in 6 day sale. We can't thank you enough and highly recommend your services. Bob and JoAnna Hollman Sold in Redmond - April...

Tony, I want you to know I was very pleased with the level of service you gave us. Thank you very much! After talking with you after you had been referred I knew I had full confidence in you. You were very professional as well as organized all the way through. I also appreciated you and Wendi coming by to help us stage the house... I also appreciated your communication! I would recommend you...

I've known Tony and Wendi for years, so when it came time to sell our home I knew they were the team to go to. The professional video home tour, beautiful photos and brochures were amazing. We couldn't believe how many potential buyers came to the open houses. In less than a week, we had 8 offers! We sold for more than asking, and we couldn't be happier. If you are looking for an expert in the...

Here are five reasons listing your home for sale this summer makes sense. 1. Demand Is Strong The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! More often than not, multiple buyers are competing...

If you’ve entered the real estate market, as a buyer or a seller, you’ve inevitably heard the real estate mantra, “location, location, location” in reference to how identical homes can increase or decrease in value due to where they’re located. Well, a new survey shows that when it comes to choosing a real estate agent, the millennial generation’s mantra is, “local, local,...

KIRKLAND, Washington (June 6, 2017) - Would-be buyers who have been shut out of the real estate market should test the "real estate waters" during the summer months suggests one industry leader. "Summer might provide some competitive relief for weary buyers," said Gary O'Leyar, owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Signature Properties, pointing to some of the newly-released statistics from...

According to the latest report from the US Census Bureau, more Americans chose purchasing a home over signing a lease to rent in the first quarter of 2017. This marks the first time since 2006 that the number of new homeowner households outpaced the number of new renter households. Of the 1.22 million new households that were formed in the first quarter, 854,000 were new-owner households making the...