March 2022

There Are Several Great Reasons To Consider Buying a Condo Today

If you’re a first-time buyer looking to break into the housing market but struggling to find a home to buy, condominiums (or condos) could be a great alternative for you. Here are a few reasons condos may be something you’ll want to consider. Exploring Condos Could Add Options That Fit Your Budget Supply challenges are a reality across the board in today’s housing market....

Sold 51% Above List Price with 20 Offers! Lovely Updated Rambler on Large, Fully Fenced, Private Yard in Redmond

Listed at $1,000,000 Click Here For Full Details, Dozens of Photos, 3D and 4K Video Tour at the Property Website The light filled 1,500 s.f. open floorplan features 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths on a lush, flat 9,586 s.f. lot. Special features include: Remodeled kitchen and baths, updated windows, white millwork and doors, engineered hardwood floors, new carpet, Invisible fence and tankless water...

What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates, and Where Will They Go from Here?

Based on the Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has increased by 1.2% (3.22% to 4.42%) since January of this year. The rate jumped by more than a quarter of a point from just a week ago. Here’s a visual to show how mortgage rate movement throughout 2021 was steady compared to the rapid increase in mortgage rates this...

The Best Week To List Your House Is Just Around the Corner

Are you thinking about selling your house? If so, you may want to make it a priority to start the process soon. According to realtor.com, the sweet spot for sellers is just around the corner. In a recent study, experts analyzed housing market trends by looking at data from the past several years (excluding 2020, since it was an atypical year). When applied to the current market, experts...

A Key To Building Wealth Is Homeownership

The link between financial security and homeownership is especially important today as inflation rises.  But many people may not realize just how much owning a home contributes to your overall net worth. As Leslie Rouda Smith, President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says: “Homeownership is rewarding in so many ways and can serve as a vital...

What You Need To Know if You’re Thinking About Building a Home

If you’re ready to move up, you may be trying to decide whether you want to buy a home that’s already on the market or build a new one. And since the supply of homes available for sale today is low, you’re willing to consider either avenue. While home builders are doing everything they can to construct more houses and help narrow the supply shortage, they’re also facing delays...

The Many Benefits of Homeownership

The past two years have taught us the true value of homeownership, especially the stability and the feeling of accomplishment it can provide. But homeownership has so much more to offer. Here’s a look at a few of the non-financial and financial benefits of owning a home. If you’re looking to buy a home today, think about all the ways homeownership can impact your life. Homeownership...

The Average Homeowner Gained More Than $55K in Equity over the Past Year

If you’re a current homeowner, you should know your net worth just got a big boost. It comes in the form of rising home equity. Equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. Today, you’re building that equity far faster than you may expect – and this gain is great news for you. Here’s how it happened. Home values are on the rise thanks to low...

Spring Cleaning Checklist for Sellers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights If you’re thinking about selling your house this spring, here are some things you’ll want to tackle before you list. Spend your time on tasks that make it feel inviting, show it’s cared for, and boost your curb appeal. To determine the full list of things you’ll want to tackle for your home, you need the opinion of a trusted expert. Let’s connect to...

Did Your Dream Home Just Come on the Market?

For the first time in a long time, the number of newly listed homes is beginning to rise. In their latest monthly release, realtor.com reveals the number of existing homes entering the market has increased for two months in a row (this comes after six months of declines). Here’s a graph showing the monthly new listings going back to January of last year. The green bars indicate the...

Sold 51% Above List Price with 20 Offers! Updated Two Story Home + Den & Sport Court on Acre Lot in Redmond

Listed at $1,600,000 Click Here For Full Details, Dozens of Photos, 3D and 4K Video Tour at the Property Website The light filled 2,400 s.f. floorplan features 4 bedrooms, 2.75 baths on a lush, flat 54,066 s.f. lot. Special features include: Refinished hardwood, new carpet throughout most of the home, new luxury vinyl tile flooring, fresh  interior paint, updated kitchen and baths, white...

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Closing Costs

As a homebuyer, it’s important to plan and budget for the expenses you’ll encounter when you purchase a home. While most people understand the need to save for a down payment, a recent survey found 41% of homebuyers were surprised by their closing costs. Here’s some information to help you get started so you’re not caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home. What...

This Spring Presents Sellers with a Golden Opportunity

If you’re thinking of selling your house this year, timing is crucial. After all, you’ll want to balance getting the most out of the sale of your current home and making the best investment when you buy your next one. If that’s the case, you should know – you may be able to get the best of both worlds today. Here are four reasons why this spring may be your golden...

Key Terms for Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights Knowing key housing terms and how they relate to today’s market is important. For example, when mortgage rates and home prices rise, it impacts how much home you can afford. Terms like appraisal (what lenders rely on to validate a home’s value) and the inspection contingency (which gives buyers essential information on a...

SOLD FOR $1,851,000! Updated Two Story Home with Fully Fenced Yard on English Hill in Redmond

Listed at $1,400,000 Click Here For Full Details, Dozens of Photos, 3D and 4K Video Tour at the Property Website The light filled 2,920 s.f. floorplan features 4 bedrooms, 4 separate baths and bonus room on a lush, flat 7,890 s.f. lot. Special features include: updated kitchen and baths, white millwork, security system and whole house attic fan. Inviting, open entry with hardwood floors,...

How To Navigate a Market Where Multiple Offers Is the New Normal

  If you’re thinking of buying a home today, you already know that the number of homes available for sale is low. But what does that really mean for you? As a buyer, low housing supply coupled with high buyer demand means you should be prepared to navigate a highly competitive market where homes sell fast and get multiple offers. Realtor.com has this...

SOLD 38% Above List Price with 8 Offers! Immaculate NW Contemporary Remodel on Private, Shy Acre Lot Backing to Greenbelt in Redmond

Listed at $1,975,000 Click Here For Full Details, Dozens of Photos, 3D and 4K Video Tour at the Property Website The light filled 3,260 s.f. floorplan features 4 bedrooms, 2.25 baths, den and bonus room on a lush, flat 35,162s.f. lot. Special features include: gorgeous remodel by Norsk Construction in 2010, covered and heated outdoor space and spectacular low maintenance yard in a private setting...

Key Factors That Impact Affordability Today

You can’t read an article about residential real estate without the author mentioning the affordability challenges that today’s buyers face. There’s no doubt homes are less affordable today than they were over the last two years, but that doesn’t mean homes are now unaffordable. There are three measures used to establish home affordability: home prices, mortgage rates, and wages. Let’s...

Multiple Offers “The Norm” For Home Buyers, But May Ease With Uptick In Listings

Latest Press Release - February Statistical Data KIRKLAND, Washington (March 7, 2022) - Multiple offer situations are the norm for today's home buyers, but some brokers with Northwest Multiple Listing Service suggest February's improving inventory and a slowing pace of price increases may ease some of the competitive pressures. Commenting on the latest statistical report from Northwest MLS,...

How Global Uncertainty Is Impacting Mortgage Rates

White Percent Sign on Brown Wooden Floor Against black Wall - Sale Concept - 3D Illustration If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you’ll want to keep a pulse on what’s happening with mortgage rates. Rates have been climbing in recent months, especially since January of this year. And just a few weeks ago, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie...

Are Home Prices Continuing To Rise?

Many analysts projected home price appreciation would slow dramatically in the fall of 2021 and then continue to soften throughout 2022. So far, that hasn’t happened. The major price indices are all revealing ongoing double-digit price appreciation. Here’s a look at their reports on year-over-year price appreciation for December: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): 17.6%...

Down Payment Assistance Programs Can Help You Achieve Homeownership

For many homebuyers, the thought of saving for a down payment can feel daunting, especially in today’s market. That’s why, when asked what they find most difficult in the homebuying process, some buyers say it’s one of the hardest steps on the path to homeownership. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows: “For first-time home buyers, 29 percent said...

“Tony and his team made the entire home sale process seem calm and uncomplicated”

Tony and his team made the entire home sale process seem calm and uncomplicated.  When we initially made contact with Tony to get his thoughts on what we might need to do to get ready, he came round right away to do a walk through.  He provided us with a market analysis and made several suggestions which we knew were based on his knowledge and wide experience.  We were anxious about how to get the work...

An Expert Advisor Will Give You the Best Advice in Today’s Market

Having an experienced guide coaching you through the process of buying or selling a home is important in a normal market – but today’s market is far from normal. As a result, an expert real estate advisor isn’t just good to have by your side, they’re essential. Today’s housing market is full of extremes. Experts project mortgage rates will continue to rise this year,...