November 2017

Low Interest Rates Have a High Impact on Your Purchasing Power

According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are currently at 3.92%, which is still near record lows in comparison to recent history! The interest rate you secure when buying a home not only greatly impacts your monthly housing costs, but also impacts your purchasing power. Purchasing power, simply...

The Cost of NOT Owning Your Home

. Owning a home has great financial benefits, yet many continue to rent! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for as long as America has existed. Zillow recently reported that: “In reality, buying or renting a home is an intensely personal decision, with emotional and even financial considerations that go...

Top 4 Home Renovations for Maximum ROI

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 remodel of a kitchen are popular ways to increase a home’s value, something as simple...

Your Friends Are Crazy Wrong If They’re Telling You Not to Buy

The current narrative is that home prices have risen so much so that it is no longer a smart idea to purchase a home. Your family and friends might suggest that buying a home right now (whether a first-time home or a move-up home) makes absolutely no sense from an affordability standpoint. They are wrong! Homes are more affordable right now than at almost any time in our country’s history...

Feeling ‘Stuck in Place’? You Aren’t Alone… And There’s Hope!

Whether you are a renter who is searching for your dream home or a homeowner who feels like your only option is to renovate, you have at least one thing in common: feeling stuck in place. According to data from the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the average amount of time that a family stays in their home remained at 10 years in 2017. This mark...

Desire for Retirement on the Island’s Prompts Sale of English Hill Home in Redmond

We found Tony to be extremely professional.  We also felt that Tony managed the transaction well, keeping us informed on a regular basis.  There were no surprises and everything happened when you said it would.  We were pleased with the photography and flyers that you did as well. Darla and Les Bedford Sold in Redmond - October...

Sold for 8% Above List Price! Beautiful, Flowing home with In-ground Pool and Hot Tub in the Desirable Neighborhood of English Hill in Redmond

Sold for $787,000 Click Here for Details Beautiful and flowing home in Amberley on English Hill. The light filled 2,060 s.f. floorplan features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths on a sunny 15,125 s.f. lot with an in-ground pool and hot tub. New carpet and refinished hardwoods through-out! The bright, open entry welcomes you in. Formal living room with expansive windows, vaulted ceiling and wood burning...

7 Reasons to List Your Home This Holiday Season

Every year at this time, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to put their homes on the market for the first time, while others who already have their homes on the market decide to take them off until after the holidays. Here are seven great reasons not to wait: Relocation buyers are out there. Many companies are still hiring throughout the holidays and need their employees in...

Sold Above List Price, at a MIND BLOWING Price of $471.86 per square foot!

When it came time to select a real estate professional to represent us in the sale of our first home, Tony Meier immediately came to mind. In our eyes, no one knew the English Hill market quite like him. He came to our first meeting prepared with fact-based analytics of selling strategies that worked for our area. He outlined a marketing plan that was executed to his word and produced the results we...

A Housing Bubble? Industry Experts Say NO!

With residential home prices continuing to appreciate at levels above historic norms, some are questioning if we are heading toward another housing bubble (and subsequent burst) like the one we experienced in 2006-2008. Recently, five housing experts weighed in on the question. Rick Sharga, Executive VP at Ten-X: “We’re definitely not in a bubble.” “We have a handful of...

5 Reasons Homeownership Makes ‘Cents’

The American Dream of homeownership is alive and well. Recent reports show that the US homeownership rate has rebounded from recent lows and is headed in the right direction. The personal reasons to own differ for each buyer, but there are many basic similarities. Today we want to talk about the top 5 financial reasons you should own your own home. Homeownership is a form...

Another Happy Client! Smooth Sale of Finn Hill Home in Kirkland

Communication was spot on, I never felt like I was waiting for a phone call or had any lingering questions throughout the process. Tony’s process was laid out and understood clearly. Most importantly there were no surprises. Tony is great at keeping on top of communication, I felt valued as a client throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend him as an agent. Jim and Amanda Records Sold...

Multigenerational Households May Be the Answer to Price Increases

Multigenerational homes are coming back in a big way! In the 1950s, about 21%, or 32.2 million Americans shared a roof with their grown children or parents. According to an article by Realtor.com, “Nearly 1 in 5 Americans is now living in a multigenerational household – a household with two or more adult generations, or grandparents living with grandchildren – a level that...

NWMLS October 2017 Market Report – Key indicators for Western Washington housing still rising, but brokers detect slowdown and uncertainty

KIRKLAND, Washington (November 6, 2017) - Early seasonal snow and questions swirling around the tax plan unveiled last week by House Republicans could make the usual seasonal slowdown more pronounced, say industry leaders from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. For October, however, key indicators trended upwards. Pending sales rose nearly 8 percent from a year ago, closed sales were up 5.2...

Low Inventory Causes Home Prices to Maintain Fast Growth

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their latest Quarterly Metro Home Price Report last week. The report revealed that severely lacking inventory across the country drained sales growth and kept home prices rising at a steady clip in nearly all metro areas. Home prices rose 5.3% over the last quarter across all metros. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at...

Why Sell Now Instead of Later? The Buyers are Out Now

Each year, most homeowners wait until the spring to sell their houses because they believe that they can get a better deal during the normal spring buyer’s market. However, recently released data suggests that a seller’s best deal may be available right now. The concept of ‘supply & demand’ reveals that the best price for an item will be realized when the supply of that item...

Thinking About Buying? Know Your Credit Score

Knowing your credit score or getting a recent copy of your credit report is one of the first steps that you can take toward knowing how ready you are to start the home buying process. Make sure all the information listed on your report is accurate and work to correct any mistakes. The higher your credit score, the more likely you will be to receive a better interest rate for your mortgage, which...

Don’t Let Fear Stop You from Applying for a Mortgage

A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from jumping into the real estate market due to their uncertainty about the buying process. A specific cause for concern tends to be mortgage qualification. For many, the mortgage process can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be! In order to qualify in today’s market, you’ll need to have saved for a down payment (73% of all buyers...