Buyers & Sellers

Buyers & Sellers Turnkey vs. Fixer-Upper: Pros and Cons The beauty of real estate is that different properties satisfy different needs. Although single-family homes are great for putting down roots, that may not be your motivation for purchasing your next home. If you’re looking to buy a property with the intent of renting it, both turnkey and fixer-upper listings will cross your path during your home […]
Buyers & Sellers Think Twice Before Waiting for Lower Home Prices As the housing market continues to change, you may be wondering where it’ll go from here. One factor you’re probably thinking about is home prices, which have come down a bit since they peaked last June. And you’ve likely heard something in the news or on social media about a price crash on the horizon. […]
Buyers & Sellers 8 Tips for First-Time Home Sellers You’ve seen “For Sale” signs around your neighborhood, but what does it take to actually put your home on the market? First-time home sellers often enter the selling process unaware of what’s to come, their heads full of questions. Understanding the selling process will inform your conversations with your real estate agent and will help […]
Buyers & Sellers 2023 MARCH SEATTLE REAL ESTATE STATS
Buyers & Sellers Renting vs. Buying a Home: The Financial Benefits of Homeownership   Renting vs. Buying a Home One of my followers asked me about some of the financial benefits of owning your home as opposed to renting. I find this topic interesting as there really is a “laundry list” of reasons that, from a financial standpoint, owning a home is better than renting. I’m Matthew Gardner Chief […]
Buyers & Sellers Mortgage refinance demand surges, as homeowners take advantage of lower interest rates After rising at the end of the year, mortgage rates dropped sharply last week. That drove demand from current homeowners hoping to save on their monthly payments, but it did little to excite potential homebuyers. As a result, total mortgage application volume rose just 1.2% last week compared with the previous week, according to the […]
Buyers & Sellers 5 Interior Design Trends for 2023 The interior design trends of 2022 included a renaissance of colorful decorating, a preference for sustainable materials, and incorporating nature throughout the home. They reflected the continued evolution of our lifestyles in recent years and showed an overall desire for our homes to be somewhere we can relax, decompress, and focus on our wellbeing. With 2023 just […]
Buyers & Sellers Staying Safe When Selling Your Home Staying organized while selling your home can feel impossible, especially if you’re buying a new home at the same time. There’s also the pressure to keep your home clean and tidy for showings to prospective buyers. In all the chaos, taking the proper safety precautions can fall by the wayside, but it is something that should […]
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Buyers & Sellers Did you buy a house before 2022? If the answer is ‘no,’ you will likely be on the wrong end of financial inequality over the next decade — here’s why If you bought a house before 2022, then you should count yourself among the fortunate. The rise in mortgage rates coupled with still steep housing prices in most markets is quickly putting housing affordability out of reach for many. Nadia Evangelou, senior economist for the National Association of Realtors, noted earlier this month that mortgage rates are still more […]
Buyers & Sellers Real Estate Terminology: Contingent, Pending, Under Contract, and More Different real estate transactions have different conditions based on the status of the listing. The following information is meant to clarify some common real estate terms that describe a home for sale and its position in the closing process. For sellers, understanding this terminology will inform your conversations with your agent when it comes time to […]
Buyers & Sellers 10 great real estate podcasts HGTV and other channels on television and YouTube offer plenty of content about buying, selling, improving or investing in real estate. The problem is, many of us lack the time to simply sit down and watch. If you’re one of those people, you’re in luck: There’s an ample supply of real estate podcasts out there […]
Buyers & Sellers Still deep in positive territory, home-price gains post steep declines in latest Case-Shiller The pace of housing-price gains fell by the largest amount in history in August, topping the previous record for deceleration set in July, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index.   Despite the slowdown, U.S. housing prices remain significantly higher than they were a year ago.  Specifically, the national index rose […]
Buyers & Sellers Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home It’s common for homeowners to feel compelled to remodel their homes before they sell. Renovating the spaces in your home can increase its value and help you compete with comparable listings in your area. However, some remodeling projects are more beneficial than others as you prepare to sell your home. Always talk to your agent to determine […]
Buyers & Sellers What is a 1031 exchange? A 1031 exchange is a way to sell and buy real estate while avoiding capital gains taxes. Named after section 1031 of the IRS code, it allows you to sell an investment and buy another similar investment without being taxed on the profits from your sale. It used to be possible to do a 1031 […]
Buyers & Sellers Home Prices Might Drop but Won’t Crash: What Buyers Should Know Some would-be home buyers are rooting for a full-on housing market crash because prices have zoomed so far past the point of affordability. Please “crash faster so I might be able to own my own place one day,” a Twitter user pleaded. Another user tweeted, “Let’s hope there’s a housing market crash so people have […]
Buyers & Sellers Understanding the Value of Your Home: Market Value vs. Assessed Value and More The math of a home sale is relatively straightforward. Sellers list their home at a certain price, a buyer makes an offer, and eventually the two parties reach a final, agreed-upon price. However, between these two points in the selling process, there are several other figures that go into to setting a home’s value that […]
Buyers & Sellers 10 Tips to Upgrade Your Bedroom We spend roughly a third of our lives asleep, so it’s only right that bedrooms be high on the priority list when it comes to home upgrades. Whether you’re looking for extra comfort or added liveliness from your personal sanctuary, these 10 simple tips will level up your bedroom. 10 Tips to Upgrade Your Bedroom […]
Buyers & Sellers Upgrading Your Work From Home Space We don’t need to tell you that COVID-19 drastically changed the way we live and work. An estimated 58% of Americans are now working remotely, and it has had an impact on how we use the space in our homes. Home offices, once a luxury, are now in high demand as working from home became […]
Buyers & Sellers Simple Kitchen Makeover Ideas Kitchen makeovers sit atop many homeowners’ wish lists, but they can be stressful and costly. However, there are simple projects you can tackle that will give your kitchen the look and feel of a total overhaul without breaking the bank. Simple Projects Backsplash Giving your backsplash a makeover can do wonders for your kitchen. Get […]
Buyers & Sellers Simple Bathroom Upgrades The thought of upgrading a bathroom often brings to mind large-scale renovations, demolition, and hefty price tags. Even projects like replacing a backsplash or repairing tile can be more involved than you might think. However, it’s possible to give your bathroom a makeover without breaking the bank (or your back). Whether you’re looking to just […]