Buying a Home The Down Payment Assistance You Didn’t Know About Believe it or not, almost 80% of first-time homebuyers qualify for down payment assistance, but only 13% actually use it. And if you’re hoping to buy a home, this is a mission-critical gap to close – fast (see graph below): Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your down payment in today’s housing market. […]
Buying a Home The Best Time To Buy a Home This Year A shift is underway in the housing market this season. And if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right moment to jump back into your homebuying search, this is a great time to do it. That’s because the best week to buy a home this year is just around the corner. The experts at Realtor.com study seasonal trends […]
Seasonal Home Maintenance 6 Lawn Care Tips for September
Selling Your House Checklist for Getting Your House Ready To Sell   Some Highlights Getting your house ready to sell? Here are a few tips on what you may want to do to prepare. Focus on making it inviting, showing it’s cared for, and boosting your curb appeal. If you want specific advice to help your house stand out in our local market, let’s connect.
Seasonal Home Maintenance 5 Tips for Creating a Cozy, Autumn Oasis at Home Fall is a fantastic time to showcase your home because it offers unique opportunities to create warmth, coziness, and charm. If you’re planning to sell this fall, I highly recommend using a professional stager. Staging is often a key ingredient to a successful selling strategy. However, even if you’re not selling, it’s fun to use […]
Selling Your House Should You Sell Now? The Lifestyle Factors That Could Tip the Scale Are you on the fence about whether to sell your house now or hold off? It’s a common dilemma, but here’s a key point to consider: your lifestyle might be the biggest factor in your decision. While financial aspects are important, sometimes the personal motivations for moving are reason enough to make the leap sooner rather than later. […]
Mortgage Rates How the Federal Reserve’s Next Move Could Impact the Housing Market Now that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed). The overwhelming expectation is that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate at their upcoming meeting, driven primarily by recent signs that inflation is cooling, and the job market is slowing down. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, said: “They’re ready to cut, just as long as we […]
Real Estate News The Great Wealth Transfer: A New Era of Opportunity In recent years, there’s been a significant shift in how wealth is distributed among generations. It’s called the Great Wealth Transfer. Historically, the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next was a more gradual process, often limited to smaller amounts of inheritance or family savings. But today, the scale has increased in a big way. As a […]
Don't Miss Our Next Post
Subscribe Now
Real Estate News Early Forecasts for the 2025 Housing Market
Home Equity The Surprising Amount of Home Equity You’ve Gained over the Years There are a number of reasons you may be thinking about selling your house. And as you weigh your options, you may find you’re unsure how you’re going to deal with one thing about today’s housing market – and that’s affordability. If that’s your biggest concern, understanding how much equity you have in your house could help make your decision that much easier. Here […]
Buying a Home Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List Since the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally your moment to jump into the market. To make sure you’re ready, you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage. That’s when a lender looks at your finances, including things like your W-2, tax returns, credit score, and bank statements, to […]
Buying a Home What To Know About Closing Costs Now that you’ve decided to buy a home and are ready to make it happen, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for the costs that are a typical part of the homebuying process. And while your down payment is probably the number one expense on your mind, don’t forget about closing costs. Here’s what you need to know. […]
Homeowner Tips Protect Your Home: Fall Home Maintenance Checklist September 2024 Home maintenance in the rainy Pacific Northwest is crucial to protect your property from the wet and sometimes harsh conditions. Here’s a fall checklist of home maintenance projects that can help prevent expensive damage to your home this winter:   ✅ Clean Gutters and Downspouts Remove leaves, debris, and moss from gutters and […]
Selling Your House Home Inspections for Sellers: How to Prepare
Buying a Home What Credit Score Do You Really Need To Buy a House? When you’re thinking about buying a home, your credit score is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle. Think of it like your financial report card that lenders look at when trying to figure out if you qualify, and which home loan will work best for you. As the Mortgage Report says: “Good credit scores communicate to […]
Affordability Is Affordability Starting To Improve? Over the past couple of years, a lot of people have had a hard time buying a home. And while affordability is still tight, there are signs it’s getting a little better and might keep improving throughout the rest of the year. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says: “Housing affordability is improving ever […]
Buying a Home Unlocking Homebuyer Opportunities in 2024 There’s no arguing this past year has been difficult for homebuyers. And if you’re someone who has started the process of searching for a home, maybe you put your search on hold because the challenges in today’s market felt like too much to tackle. You’re not alone in that. A Bright MLS study found some of the top reasons buyers paused […]
Selling Your House Why Fixing Up Your House Can Help It Sell Faster If you’re thinking about selling your house, you should know there are buyers who are ready and able to pay today’s high prices. But they want a home that’s move-in ready. A recent press release from Redfin explains: “Buyers are still out there and they’re willing to pay today’s high prices, but only if the house is in […]
Homeowner Tips Reduce Anxiety With These 6 Feng Shui Tips For Your Home 6 Feng Shui Tips by SJ
Selling Your House Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your life, it’s important to think about whether your current home still fits your needs. If it’s too big, too costly, or just not convenient anymore, downsizing might help you make the most of your retirement years. To […]