January 2026

For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real.According to Realtor.com and the Census, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next two years. And the latest data shows as many as 15% of those older Americans are planning to retire in 2026. And another 23% will do the same in 2027.If you’re considering retiring soon too,...

🏡 Market Momentum Pauses After a Strong Start to the Year Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Update 01-28-26 Hosted by Tony Meier, Windermere Real Estate 37 years experience | 779 closed Eastside sales The Eastside market delivered an important reminder this week: momentum rarely moves in a straight line. After last week’s sharp tightening, we saw a modest pullback that highlights why...

Who doesn’t love a top 10 list? Well, here are two top 10 lists for the housing market this year. But before you take a look, there’s something you should know.If a move is on your radar for 2026, here’s the most important thing you need to understand upfront: there isn’t one housing market this year – there are many.Experts agree 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most geographically split...

Published on: January 6, 2026 Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), the source for the most current, accurate market listing data in Washington state, today released its December 2025 Market Snapshot. Market Recap The housing market in December closely mirrored conditions seen in October and November, continuing a pattern of rising inventory and softening prices. Active listings increased 23%...

When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:What’s wrong with it?Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?Am I missing something?That mindset made sense a few years ago. But in today’s market, you may actually miss out.More Time on Market Isn't Automatically a Concern AnymoreA few years ago, homes sold in just a matter of days....

If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. And they recently crossed an important milestone. Rates officially dipped their toes into the 5s – something that hasn’t happened in about 3 years.This moment marked a critical threshold. Now, rates are sitting in the low 6% territory. And expert forecasts project they’ll hover near...

🏡 Months of Inventory Reaches a Milestone We Have Not Seen in a Year. Will It Last? **Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Update 01-21-26** Hosted by **Tony Meier**, Windermere Real Estate, **36 years experience**, **779 closed sales** The Eastside market just delivered one of the most meaningful signals we have seen in months: **Months of Inventory dropped to 1.32**, a milestone level we have...

If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months, it’s easy to assume that's a sign of trouble for the housing market. But when you look at the full picture, a few simple truths become clear:Today’s foreclosure numbers are in line with what’s considered normalHigh home equity is keeping most homeowners in a strong financial positionNone of the data...

I've worked with Tony on buying two houses and selling one. I've also worked with Tony when looking at properties when we were browsing. Tony is an excellent agent. My partner describes him as our house doula, and it's an excellent descriptor. His guidance through the home buying and selling process is invaluable and makes the whole stressful ordeal much easier. Tony and his team are data oriented and...

Thanks to Tony Meier & Team, we found our dream property in a great location! Then, with Tony's experience in getting a house ready for sale and creating an attractive listing, we were able to prep and sell our previous home in a difficult market for a good price all within a few months! Tony's communicative team made buying and selling easy, thanks again Team Tony! Adam & Julia Young,...

We had a fantastic experience working with Tony to sell our home. From the very beginning, Tony was incredibly friendly, professional, and genuinely interested in understanding our specific goals and needs. He took the time to get to know what mattered most to us, and tailored his strategy to make sure the sale worked in our best interest. Tony’s data-driven approach and up-to-date knowledge of...

Tony is a consummate professional. If you want to sell your house quickly and at the maximum price, he is the broker to choose. We trusted his decades of experience on the Eastside market and that is why we became repeat clients 27 years after he sold our first house. Tony really understands buyers’ preferences in this area, and he uses that knowledge to offer guidance on preparing your home for...

We had the pleasure of working with Tony and his team to sell our home in English Hill, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. Tony is extremely knowledgeable and has a deep understanding of the local market. His insights and accurate forecasting helped us position the home effectively, leading to a timely sale at a price we were very happy with. Throughout the process, Tony stayed on...

I can hardly think of more demanding customers than the two of us, but Tony rose up to the challenge! Our collaboration started many months before listing our home, as he explained to us how the housing market works in our area and how we should prepare. We discussed the best ways to invest in meaningful updates that prospective buyers would appreciate, making the best of our budget and creating a...

Tony was exceptional in assisting us in the sale of our home in a very difficult market. He helped us with great advice how we could make the house more marketable. He stayed right on top of the transaction at every stage and his communication constant and availability was excellent. Tony has represented us on several transactions and we always walked away extremely satisfied! Steve and Sheila Couey,...

Tony Meier has represented us as both a buyer and a seller in English Hill this year. As we were looking to upsize our home, we had the privilege of several conversations with Tony who was ever patient, informative and ready to help. As a buyer's agent, Tony was with us the whole year, helping us refine our needs, visiting houses of interest, passing or making offers and then refining our approach...

For over 20 years, Tony, Wendi, and Rachel have been our trusted friends and neighbors—but when health circumstances required us to sell our home of 31 years, we chose them not just because of our friendship, but because they are truly the best at what they do. From the moment we reached out, their professionalism, expertise, and compassion were evident. They guided us seamlessly through every...

I had the pleasure of working with Tony Meier to sell my English Hill home. Tony took the time to understand my goals and preferences, and was flexible when my situation changed. Tony is on top of the local real estate market and identified the optimal time for me to sell. Tony communicated exceptionally well. He was always available to answer my questions, no matter how small, and provided clear,...

Thank you so much for all your help and support in the home buying process. Your care, kindness and commitment made the whole process so smooth. Feeling very grateful and loved! Maddie Iem,...

Thank you for the team ! "Excellent reputation in the real estate business, reliability and expertise ensured a smooth home process, and we're beyond grateful for their help.” Tony is a true professional! Annick Vogt,...

Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that's actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards.Buyers have more options than they did a few years ago. So, it's worth it to tackle repairs now and make sure your house is set up to stand out. Because you don’t want to be caught scrambling right before the spring...

It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim:“Big investors are buying up all the homes.”And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are scooping everything up behind the scenes.But here’s the thing: what people...

Want to know the #1 thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent? It’s that they didn’t price their house correctly for their current market.According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), those sellers agree pricing their home effectively was the hardest part of the process.Top 5 Most Difficult Task for Sellers Who Didn’t Use an Agent:Getting the price...

Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. They’re sitting out because they think they can’t. And sometimes, it’s their credit score that’s holding them back.According to a Bankrate survey, 2 out of every 5 (42%) Americans believe you need excellent credit to qualify for a mortgage. That may be why, when renters are asked why they don’t own yet, “my...

I am Tony Meier with Windermere Real Estate in Kirkland. Over 36 years, 74,000 plus hours, and 779 successful Eastside closings, I have learned how to turn shifting data into a calm, strategic plan that protects your time, money, and peace of mind. In “Eastside, Seattle and Snohomish County Real Estate Insights | January 2026,” I break down what today’s numbers mean if you are selling and buying...

Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath waiting for things to get better. The good news? It’s finally happening.In 2025, affordability was the best it’s been in 3 years. And...

🏡 Seattle's Eastside Real Estate Market Update | January 7, 2026 Hosted by Tony Meier | Windermere Real Estate | 36 Years Experience | 779 Closed Sales The Eastside housing market is starting 2026 with a noticeable shift in momentum. While interest rates continue to improve year over year, buyer activity has returned quickly after the holiday pause, inventory is tightening, and pricing is...

If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options:Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself? No repairs. No effort.Or do you fix it up a bit first – so it shows well and sells for as much as possible?In 2026, that decision matters more than it used to. Here’s what you need to know.More Competition Means Your Home’s Condition Is More Important...

Finding the right home feels exciting – but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre-approved is one of the best moves you can make. Here’s why.1. What Is Pre-Approval, Really?Pre-approval is much more than a guess. It means a lender has reviewed your finances (things like your income, assets, credit...

Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy a home in the next 12 months. This year, that number rose to 17%.That 2% increase might not sound like a big jump, but in a market where buyer demand has been cooling for the past few years, it’s a sign...