If you’re wondering if you should buy now or wait, here’s what you need to know. If you wait for rates to drop more, you’ll have to deal with more competition and higher prices as additional buyers jump back in. But if you buy now, you’d get ahead of that and have the chance to start building equity. Should you buy now or wait? Let’s talk through it together, so you can make your best decision.
The Top 3 Reasons Affordability is Improving

Affordability is based on three key factors: mortgage rates, home prices, and wages. And today, it’s improving quickly as rates come down, prices level off, and wages climb. If you put your search on pause because it was too expensive to buy, let’s talk about why now may be the perfect time to jump back in.
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 some expert tips and ideas to boost your home’s cozy vibes and fall feels. Here are five expert staging tips for making your home extra homey this fall:
1. Enhance Lighting
As daylight becomes more scarce, make sure to maximize your home’s natural light. Clean windows and replace outdated curtains with sheer or light-colored options. Consider adding strategically placed mirrors to reflect light and brighten spaces.
If your home is lacking in natural light, look for places where an added light or lamp might brighten the room. White, light, and neutral paints are a key part of staging your home and they can help lift the brightness of your home.
Finally, don’t forget outside lights. Make sure your exterior lights are on and paths are lighted if needed. Exterior lights are a great way to enhance curb appeal, welcome guests, and provide extra safety for walking. You can make your home glow with autumnal charm.
2. Cozy up with Textiles
Nothing says “welcome home” like soft, cozy textiles. Professional stagers might use plush throw blankets, seasonal accent pillows, and area rugs in warm, autumnal colors to create a sense of comfort in your living spaces.
Tasteful, fall touches can help accentuate a home’s ambience. A well-placed autumn wreath on the front door, a decorative bowl of apples or gourds on the dining table, and a few pumpkins on the porch are nice seasonal accents.
3. Fireside Comforts
If your home has a fireplace, arrange seating around it. And, of course, lighting or turning on the fire is the perfect way to create instant warmth.
4. Curb Appeal:
Along with exterior lights, it’s also important to keep the outside of your home fresh and clean to emphasize your yard’s natural autumn beauty. Rake leaves, clean out gutters, and add some seasonal potted plants, like mums, to boost curb appeal.
PNW residents love their outdoor spaces, even in the fall. Ensure that decks and patios are clean and inviting. Stage them with cozy seating, blankets, and perhaps some café lights and/or a fire pit to showcase the potential for year-round enjoyment.
5. It Makes Scents
Finally, stagers often suggest appealing to the senses with the comforting scents of autumn. Consider using subtle, pleasant, scented candles, essential oil diffusers, or potpourri with fall scents like apple cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or warm vanilla.
With these fall staging tips, you can already envision yourself snuggled up with a book by the fire or sipping hot cider on the patio.
If you’re thinking of selling this fall and need advice or assistance, please reach out to me. I’m here to help you make your property stand out in the Seattle area real estate market this fall.
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.
An annual report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) offers insight into why homeowners like you chose to sell. All of the top reasons are related to life changes. As the graph below highlights:
As the visual shows, the biggest motivators were the desire to be closer to friends or family, outgrowing their current house, or experiencing a significant life change like getting married or having a baby. The need to downsize or relocate for work also made the list.
If you, like the homeowners in this report, find yourself needing features, space, or amenities your current home just can’t provide, it may be time to consider talking to a real estate agent about selling your house. Your needs matter. That agent will walk you through your options and what you can expect from today’s market, so you can make a confident decision based on what matters most to you and your loved ones.
Your agent will also be able to help you understand how much equity you have and how it can make moving to meet your changing needs that much easier. As Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains:
“A consideration today’s homeowners should review is what their home equity picture looks like. With the typical home listing price up 40% from just five years ago, many home sellers are sitting on a healthy equity cushion. This means they are likely to walk away from a home sale with proceeds that they can use to offset the amount of borrowing needed for their next home purchase.”
Your lifestyle needs may be enough to motivate you to make a change. If you want help weighing the pros and cons of selling your house, let’s chat!