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,...

Some Highlights: Historically, the choice between renting or buying a home has been a tough decision. Looking at the percentage of income needed to rent a median-priced home today (29.2%) vs. the percentage needed to buy a median-priced home (15.8%), the choice becomes obvious. Every market is different. Before you renew your lease again, find out if you can put your housing costs to work by...

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...

The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 3.5% less expensive in San Jose (CA), all the way up to 50.1% less expensive in Baton Rouge (LA), and 33.1%...

Some Highlights: Whether you are selling your home, just purchased your first home, or are a homeowner planning to stay put for a while, there is value in knowing which home improvement projects will net you the most Return On Investment (ROI). While big projects like adding a bathroom or a complete kitchen remodel are popular ways to increase a home’s value, something as simple as updating...

As home values continue to rise, some are questioning whether we are approaching another housing bubble. Zillow just reported that: “National home values have surpassed the peak hit during the housing bubble and are at their highest value in more than a decade.” Though that statement is correct, we must realize that just catching prices of a decade ago does not mean we are at bubble numbers. Here...

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...

According to a recent report by Trulia, “buying is cheaper than renting in 100 of the largest metro areas by an average of 33.1%.” The report may have some people thinking about buying a home instead of signing another lease extension, but does that make sense from a financial perspective? Ralph McLaughlin, Trulia’s Chief Economist explains: “Owning a home is one of...

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...

Sold for $723,000 Click Here for Details Gracious and flowing home in Sunrise on English Hill. The light filled 2,478 s.f. floorplan features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths on a flat 7,605 s.f. lot. Upstairs features refreshed paint and new carpet. Living room with vaulted ceiling, slider to rear deck and wood burning fireplace. Dining room with large window. Big kitchen and nook with vaulted ceiling, ample...

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...

Some Highlights: Interest rates have come a long way in the last 30 years. The interest rate you secure directly impacts your monthly payment and the amount of house that you can afford if you plan to stay within a certain budget. Interest rates are at their lowest in years… RIGHT NOW! If buying your first home, or moving up to the home of your dreams is in your future, now may be the...

  To start the year, housing experts all agreed on one thing: 2017 was going to be the year we would see mortgage interest rates begin to rise. After years of historically low rates, and an improving economy, the question wasn’t if they would increase but instead how much they would increase. Some thought we could see rates hit 5-5.5% by the end of the year. However, the exact opposite has...

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...

  According to a recent survey conducted by Genworth Financial Inc. at the Annual Mortgage Bankers’ Association Secondary Market Conference, mortgage professionals say that first-time buyers still believe a 20% down payment is necessary to buy in today’s market. Nearly 40% of mortgage industry professionals surveyed believe that a lack of knowledge about the home-buying process is keeping...

The residential housing market has been hot. Home sales have bounced back solidly and are now at their fourth highest pace over the past year. Demand has remained strong ­throughout spring as many real estate professionals are reporting bidding wars with many homes selling above listing price. What about your house? If your house hasn’t sold, it could be the price. If your home is on the...

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...

Some Highlights: 95% of first-time homebuyers are willing to sacrifice to make homeownership a reality. The top item that buyers sacrifice is new clothes, at 54%. Even repeat or experienced buyers say they sacrificed taking a vacation or buying a new car to buy their last...

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...

As we head into summer, it is a great time to review how the 2017 real estate market is doing so far. Here is what the experts are saying: Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Chief Economist “Positive demographic factors should continue to reshape the housing market, as rising employment and incomes appear to be positively influencing millennial homeownership rates.” Diana Olick, CNBC “Even as more homes...

People often ask if now is a good time to buy a home, but nobody ever asks when a good time to rent is. Regardless, we want to make certain that everyone understands that today is NOT a good time to rent. The Census Bureau recently released their 2017 first quarter median rent numbers. Here is a graph showing rent increases from 1988 until today: As you can see, rents have...

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...

Sold for $853,000 Click Here for Details Wonderfully updated, Burnstead resale in Coventry on English Hill. The light filled 2,100 s.f. floorplan features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths on a sunny 9,228 s.f. cul-de-sac lot near Sunrise Elementary. Many updates includes kitchen & baths, hardwood floors, refreshed interior paint & white millwork! The spacious entry welcomes you in. Formal living room...

Listed at $544,900 Click Here for Details Beautifully updated home in the desirable neighborhood of Horizon View Estates in Duvall. This flowing floorplan boasts 1,860 s.f. and features 4 bedrooms, 2.25 baths on a 14,061 s.f. lot. The list of recent updates include: Outside - New rear cedar deck and additional landscaping. Inside - Refreshed paint, updated kitchen and remodeled baths and laundry...