Archive Q2 2019 Reports: Market Update   Changes in the home lending environment drove down mortgage interest rates in Q2 to their lowest levels in years, giving buyers more buying power for their money and stimulating demand for available homes on the market.   The number of homes for sale is up markedly, especially in Seattle, as is the number of […]
Real Estate New Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) Rate (eff. 1/1/20)   Now that Washington State Senate Bill 5998 has been signed into law, our local real estate excise tax—the tax paid when you sell a property—will be getting a facelift in 2020. The flat rate of the past will make way for a new tiered system which gives owners a tax cut on the first […]
Archive Free Recycle & Shred Event May 18th   Hosted in our Parking Lot: 2737 77TH AVE SE MERCER ISLAND   Bring your recyclable items (working or not) to the event. All recycling services are free! We’re also sponsoring a Confidential Data Disposal truck for free, secure shredding of sensitive documents. Saturday, May 18th 9 am – 2 pm What we can recycle: […]
Archive Q1 2019 Reports: How’s the Market?   Be forewarned, this quarter’s report looks somewhat dismal. There are two very relevant facts that should be taken into consideration when reviewing it. The first is that Q1 is nearly always the worst performing quarter of any year because the sales completed in Q1 typically went under contract between late November and the end […]
Tips, Trends & Living Preparing Your Garage for an Electric Car   Electric cars help lower emissions and fuel costs, improve fuel economy, and bolster energy security. And considering the volatility of gas prices—and their general skyward trajectory—electric fuel shows promise as an economic alternative. But switching to an electric vehicle entails more than new driving habits and a conversation piece with strangers. It’s also a […]
Buying Should I Move or Remodel?   There are a number of things that can trigger the decision to remodel or move to a new home. Perhaps you have outgrown your current space, you might be tired of struggling with ancient plumbing or wiring systems, or maybe your home just feels out of date. The question is: Should you stay or […]
Archive Annual Seattle-Eastside Real Estate Report: A Look Back at 2018   An increase in homes for sale coupled with rising interest rates have created a far more balanced market than we started 2018 with. This is a good thing as it will help our region tame affordability and create a sustainable marketplace. More homes came to market in 2018 than in any year since 2011. […]
Archive Give Back This Season   Looking to share your bounty this holiday season? Below are some of my favorite Seattle-area organizations who can use your time, household items, toys, and more to help improve the lives of homeless and low-income families in our area. You might also check out these tips on how to make the most of charitable […]
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Archive Q3 2018 Seattle-Eastside Real Estate Report   As Q3 comes to a close, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are at their highest levels since April 2011—now averaging just above 4.7%. Even so, they are still far lower than their 30-year trendline. A 1% increase in mortgage interest rates decreases buying power by 10%. Or said differently, a 1% rate increase has the same […]
Tips, Trends & Living Protect Your Investment: 5 Fall Maintenance To-Do’s Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While he was talking about fire safety, I think it applies equally well to home maintenance. One weekend of prevention this fall can save you many headaches (and a lot of money) down the road. Here are a few ideas to […]
Archive 2018 Football Schedules, Recipes, Tips & More…   Are you ready for some football? Scroll down for printable schedules, game-day recipes and awesome tailgating hacks…       Hosting friends for game day? We’ve got you covered with everything from easy snacks to bonafide Seattle-born favorites… 1. Easy Chicken Taquitos So quick and delectable, you can skip the freezer aisle and go […]
Archive Q2 2018 Seattle-Eastside Real Estate Report   Signs of transition to a more balanced market are becoming abundantly clear as we move further into 2018. Price growth, while still climbing in most areas, has tapered off and average market times are inching up. Brokers are beginning to dust off forms that have seen little use of late—finance and inspection contingencies—as buyers […]
Tips, Trends & Living Outdoor Living Trends for Summer 2018   The sun is back and summer is so close you can almost taste the s’mores being toasted around the fire pit…is this the year to spruce up your outdoor spaces? Fun new trends in alfresco design revolve around individuality of lifestyle and a desire to bring the inside out with rooms, furniture and lighting […]
Archive Free Recycling & Shredding Event May 19th   Hosted in our Parking Lot: 2737 77TH AVE SE MERCER ISLAND   Bring your recyclable items (working or not) to the event. All recycling services are free! We’re also sponsoring a Confidential Data Disposal truck for free, secure shredding of sensitive documents. Saturday, May 19th 9 am – 2 pm What we can recycle: […]
Archive Q1 2018 Seattle-Eastside Real Estate Report   Q1 prices in the Seattle-Eastside region have escalated yet again with no sign of slowing in the immediate future. An unprecedented lack of inventory for sale coupled with rising interest rates has prompted buyers to compete with reckless abandon to win the prize of their very own home, albeit with a steep price tag. […]
Real Estate Planning ahead: how tax reform will impact your home deductions next year   While you may still be busy filing your 2017 taxes, it’s important to look ahead and be aware of how the new 2018 tax reform laws will affect next year’s return–especially if you’re a homeowner. Those who itemize will need to note some big changes in what they can and cannot deduct. Many will […]
Buying 5 things buyers should never compromise on When buying a home, there are some things you should never compromise on-or you’ll likely regret your home purchase, according to Realtor.com The floor plan. It is difficult and expensive to reconfigure a home’s floor plan. If a home doesn’t have the minimum number of rooms or the flow of the main living areas you […]
Archive Eye on the Market_May 2017 Our market has no shortage of qualified buyers and properly priced, listings in most area are selling quickly. In some neighborhoods, homes are selling, on average, in less than 30 days. Our strong regional economy includes global companies that are attracting workers to our region. These companies impact our local market simply by where they […]
Archive Amazon Now Hiring 100,000 The South Lake Union-based e-commerce giant announced the plans in January to add more than 100,000 full-time employees in the U.S by 2018. Most of them will be in fulfillment centers, though some will be headquarters jobs in Seattle. There are 9,700 job positions in Seattle listed on Amazon’s job page. Amazon has about 40,000 […]
Community February is American Heart Month #wearred, #Amercianheartmonth Despite dramatic progress public health has been made in the past few decades, heart disease remains a leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. I am interested in knowing that February has been American Heart Month since 1963. This year, I remember this month and wear red on Feb. […]