Tips For First-Time Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]

October 14, 2022
8:57 am

Tony Meier & Team. 37 years. 798 closed sales. $249M+ in closed volume since 2020.

Some Highlights

If you’re trying to buy your first home in today’s housing market, you’ll want to know what you can do as mortgage rates rise and inventory stays low overall.
Connect with a lender to get pre-approved, prioritize your wish list, consider condos, and expand your search radius.
Your first home is out there. Let’s connect to explore your options and what other first-time buyers are doing to find their homes.

Thinking about a move on the Eastside?

Tony Meier & Team has closed 798 residential transactions with $249M+ in volume since 2020. Whether you are six months out or just curious about your home’s value, we would be glad to help you think it through.

Perspective Matters When Selling Your House Today

The Emotional and Non-financial Benefits of Homeownership

Tony Meier & Team

37 years experience. 798 closed sales. English Hill resident since 2001. 217 sales serving the English Hill Area.

425-466-1000 | tony@eastsidehomes.com | EastsideHomes.com

Contact Us

Tony Meier & Team
Windermere Northeast
11411 NE 124th St #110, Kirkland WA 98034
425-466-1000
tony@windermere.com

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Recent Listings & Sales

Featured

Active

$569,975

Move-In Ready in Lynnwood: New Furnace, New Water Heater, Newer Roof

4223 147th St SW, Lynnwood

Beds: 3
Baths: 2
1,218 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

1 week ago

Sold

$399,000

SOLD! Move-In Ready Condo in Lake Stevens: New Flooring, Updated Baths, Attached Garage

8916 Meridian Pl NE Unit A201, Lake Stevens

Beds: 3
Baths: 2
1,161 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 1 Car Garage
Condo

Details

Tony Meier and Team

2 months ago

Sold

$1,199,000

SOLD! Fully Updated 3 Bedroom Two Story Redmond Home with Modern Finishes & Sunny West-Facing Backyard

13505 174th Ave NE, Redmond

Beds: 3
Baths: 2.25
1,820 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

3 months ago

Sold

$1,187,500

SOLD! English Hill Two-Story in Redmond. Main-Floor Guest Bedrooms, Versatile Loft, New Roof, One Block to Awarding Winning Sunrise Elementary

13831 173rd Ave NE, Redmond

Beds: 3
Baths: 2.75
2,030 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

3 months ago

Sold

$1,695,000

SOLD! Echo Lake Retreat in Snohomish on 4.59 Acres: 4 Beds, 3.5 Baths, Chef’s Kitchen, Home Theater, & Lower Level Built for Entertainment

14425 235th St SE, Snohomish

Beds: 4
Baths: 3.5
4,783 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 3 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

3 months ago

Sold

$1,450,000

SOLD! Coventry on English Hill in Redmond — Updated Kitchen and Stunning Primary Bath, Private Fenced Yard, Northshore School District

14151 174th Pl NE, Redmond

Beds: 4
Baths: 2.5
2,390 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

4 months ago

Sold

$950,000

SOLD! Rambler on Cul-de-Sac Backing to Greenbelt on English Hill: New Kitchen, Updated Roof, A/C, 3 Bed, 1.75 Bath, No HOA

17718 NE 137th Ct, Redmond

Beds: 3
Baths: 1.75
1,180 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

4 months ago

Sold

$1,175,000

SOLD! Private Acreage Log Home in Woodinville, 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Two Brick Fireplaces, Detached 2-Car Garage with Shop, No HOA

18020 214th Ave NE, Woodinville

Beds: 3
Baths: 2.75
2,210 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier and Team

4 months ago

Sold

$1,300,000

SOLD! Updated English Hill Home with Remodeled Baths, Flexible Floor Plan Including a Den and Rec Room, Completed by a Private Evergreen Backyard

13515 173rd Pl NE, Redmond

Beds: 4
Baths: 2.25
2,230 Sq. Ft.
Garages: 2 Car Garage
Residential

Details

Tony Meier

4 months ago

Latest Market Updates

July 29, 2026

MOI Crosses 4, Pending Falls 23%, and Prices Turn Positive. Another Wild Week | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 07-29-26

5 Min. Read Audio Version Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 37 Years Experience | 798...

July 22, 2026

Highest Rates in a Year, and Selection May Be Peaking Too | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 07-22-26

Rates jumped to 6.77%, a new 2026 high and the highest in nearly a year — the last time they were higher was July 28, 2025. The buyer's year-over-year rate advantage has closed to zero. Meanwhile inventory growth slowed sharply as the July peak window arrives, meaning selection may be peaking too.

July 15, 2026

Holiday Distortion Clears — Sitting on the Edge of Buyer-Favored Territory | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 07-15-26

5 Min. Read Audio Version Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 37 Years Experience |...

July 8, 2026

Post-Holiday Data Is Deeply Distorted — Reading Through the Noise | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 07-08-26

This week's headline numbers are the most extreme readings of 2026, but they arrive with the Independence Day holiday firmly stamped on them. Pending fell to 72, MOI jumped to 5.78, and active listings declined for the first time all year. A clean read of underlying market conditions will not be available until next week.

July 1, 2026

Pending Jumps 37% Ahead of the Holiday — Reading the Reversal in Context | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 07-01-26

Pending sales jumped 37% this week to 137, MOI pulled back to 3.10 returning to balanced territory, and active listings barely grew for the first time all year. But pre-holiday timing complicates the read, and next week's Independence Day suppression is likely to reverse the pending signal.

June 24, 2026

Eastside Crosses Into Buyer-Favored Market Territory for the First Time in 2026 | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 06-24-26

5 Min. Read Audio Version Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 37 Years Experience |...

June 17, 2026

Rates Ease Modestly as Inventory Hits Another 2026 High | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 06-17-26

The data this week reads in mixed directions: rates eased to 6.62%, pending sales firmed modestly to 126, and active listings climbed to 1,771 — another 2026 high. Four short-term signals moved in sellers' favor this week, but the structural conditions defining 2026 remain in place.

June 10, 2026

Pending Sales Drop 17% Below Last Year as Rates Match the Post-Conflict High | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 06-10-26

Three signals converged this week: pending sales fell sharply with the YOY gap widening to -17.2%, rates returned to the post-conflict high of 6.67%, and Months of Inventory jumped to 3.34 — the second-highest weekly reading of 2026, this time without holiday distortion to explain it.

June 3, 2026

Inventory Continues to Grow While Home Prices Remain Stable

Published on: June 3, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the most...

June 3, 2026

🏡 June Opens With Demand 8% Below Last Year — and Inventory at a New 2026 High | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 06-03-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update 4 Min. Read Audio Version 🏡 June...

May 27, 2026

🏡 May Is Tracking as the Weakest Demand Month Since 2008 — The Seasonal Turn Is Underway | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 05-27-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update Audio Version 🏡 May Is Tracking...

May 20, 2026

🏡 A New Rate High, a Pending Rebound, and a Market Still Searching for Direction | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 05-20-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update 5 Min. Read Audio Version 🏡 A New...

May 14, 2026

Inventory Surges While Sales Slow and Prices Hold Steady

Published on: May 5, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the most...

May 13, 2026

🏡 Rates Hit a New Wednesday High — While Inventory Holds Its Breath | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 05-13-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update 5 Min. Read Audio Version 🏡...

May 6, 2026

🏡 Flat Demand, Rising Supply, and More Inventory Than Even Last Year’s Disrupted Market | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 05-06-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update 3 Min. Read 🏡 Flat Demand, Rising...

April 29, 2026

🏡 April Listings Cross a 14-Year High — and the Demand Gap Tells the Real Story | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 04-29-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update 4 Min. Read Audio version: 🏡 April...

April 22, 2026

🏡 Spring Break Is Over — Here Is Where the Market Actually Stands | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 04-22-26

Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 37 Years Experience | 788 Closed Eastside Sales Audio...

April 15, 2026

🏡 The Spring Break Bounce — What the Rebound in Pending Sales Tells Us | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 04-15-26

Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 37 Years Experience | 788 Closed Eastside Sales Audio...

April 9, 2026

The Numbers That Matter: Eastside, Seattle & Snohomish County Market Update — April 2026

If you've been watching the Puget Sound real estate market and wondering what's really going on...

April 8, 2026

Tony Meier & Team’s Weekly Market Update: Spring Break, Record Inventory, and a MOI Milestone | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 04-08-26

Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 37 Years Experience | 785 Closed Sales Audio Version...

April 3, 2026

Inventory Jumps 29% as Rising Mortgage Rates Stall Sales

Published on: April 2, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the most...

April 3, 2026

Seattle’s Eastside Spring and Summer 2026: What the Forward-Looking Data Actually Shows

There's a natural tendency in real estate to look at recent closings and draw conclusions...

April 3, 2026

Eastside Real Estate Market Update – April 2026: What the Data Actually Shows

The Eastside residential market has entered a new chapter. After nearly two years of strong seller...

April 1, 2026

Tony Meier & Team’s Weekly Market Update: A Record Month Closes — What the Data Shows Heading Into April | Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 04-01-26

Tony Meier & Team's Weekly Market Update 4 Min. Read. Audio Format Here: 🏡...

March 4, 2026

Inventory Surges 28% as Mortgage Rates Dip Below 6% Ahead of Spring Market

Published on: March 4, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the most...

February 4, 2026

Inventory Climbs Across Most Washington Counties as Sales and Prices Moderate

Published on: February 4, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the...

January 26, 2026

Inventory Continues to Rise as Buyer Demand Remains Constrained

Published on: January 6, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the most...

December 10, 2025

3 Fed Rate Cuts. Mortgage Rates Don’t Budge! Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Update 12-10-25

3 Fed Rate Cuts... Mortgage Rates Don't Budge! Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Update •...

November 5, 2025

Monthly Market Update: More Listings and Lower Rates

Published on: November 5, 2025 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the...

October 6, 2025

Inventory Rises, Prices Ease Across Washington

Published on: October 6, 2025 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for...

Client References

Client Recommendation: A Sunrise Sale Done Right in Redmond

Sunrise sellers Shilpa Nagde and Anurag Gomsale share their experience working with Tony Meier & Team.

If you want an agent who is patient, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable, we highly recommend their services.

We had an exceptional experience working with Tony Meier and team, and we couldn't be happier with...

Tony and his team to be responsive, very knowledgeable and dedicated to my best interests…

When it was time to sell my house I decided to have Tony Meier and his team help me because many of...

“Tony is an excellent agent. My partner describes him as our house doula, and it’s an excellent descriptor…”

I've worked with Tony on buying two houses and selling one. I've also worked with Tony when...

“Tony’s communicative team made buying and selling easy…”

Thanks to Tony Meier & Team, we found our dream property in a great location! Then, with...

“Tony was incredibly friendly, professional, and genuinely interested in understanding our specific goals and needs…”

We had a fantastic experience working with Tony to sell our home. From the very beginning, Tony...

“If you want to sell your house quickly and at the maximum price, he is the broker to choose…”

Tony is a consummate professional. If you want to sell your house quickly and at the maximum...

“His professionalism gave us confidence every step of the way…”

We had the pleasure of working with Tony and his team to sell our home in English Hill, and we...

“He helped us turn a stressful situation into a success…”

I can hardly think of more demanding customers than the two of us, but Tony rose up to the...

“His communication constant and availability was excellent…”

Tony was exceptional in assisting us in the sale of our home in a very difficult market. He helped...

“He always made us feel like valued clients every step of the way…”

Tony Meier has represented us as both a buyer and a seller in English Hill this year. As we...

“What could have been an overwhelming experience was made smooth, efficient, and even uplifting thanks to Tony and his team…”

For over 20 years, Tony, Wendi, and Rachel have been our trusted friends and neighbors—but...

“Thanks to Tony’s expertise, we not only found our dream home but also successfully secured it with our very first offer.”

"We are thrilled to express our gratitude to Tony for his exceptional guidance in our first home...

“Tony was a dependable and knowledgeable agent who allowed us to have minimal worries during an important and stressful time”

"Tony and Team provided us with resources and support for a smooth and pleasant property sale of...

Tips For First-Time Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

Thinking about a move on the Eastside?

Tony Meier & Team

Contact Us

Get the Weekly Update

Recent Listings & Sales

Latest Market Updates

Client References

Recent Posts