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Uncategorized Millionaire to Millennials: Buy Now! Self-made millionaire David Bach was quoted in a CNBC article explaining that “the single biggest mistake millennials are making” is not purchasing a home because buying real estate is “an escalator to wealth.” Bach went on to explain: “If millennials don’t buy a home, their chances of actually having any wealth in this country are little to none. The […]
Uncategorized The Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later CoreLogic recently released a report entitled, United States Residential Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later, in which they examined the years leading up to the crisis all the way through to the present day. With a peak in 2010 when nearly 1.2 million homes were foreclosed on, over 7.7 million families have lost their homes throughout […]
Uncategorized Builder Confidence Hits 11-Year High In many areas of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers looking to purchase their dream homes. Here in the Puget Sound area, buyer demand continues to push prices to new highs as purchasers compete for low inventory. Experts have long proposed that a ramp-up in new, […]
Uncategorized How Will Mortgage Rates Impact 2017 Home Values? There is no doubt that historically low mortgage interest rates were a major impetus to the housing recovery we’ve seen over the last couple of years. However, many industry experts are showing concern about the possible effect that rising rates will have moving forward. The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National Association […]
Uncategorized The Impact of Homeownership on Family Health Until today, I had not given much thought to the idea that owning a home has an impact on physical health. However, once I read the information contained in a recent NAR study, I realized the benefits are not limited to the financial aspects of owning your own home. Some of the results seem obvious, […]
Uncategorized Shopping for Your Mortgage Online – Strategic or Short-Sighted? The media is full of messages right now encouraging home buyers to shop online for a home loan, to make lenders compete for your money, and to take advantage of quick-and-easy, impersonal mortgage application processes. But is that really a strategy for success, or is it a recipe for disaster? How important IS your mortgage […]
Uncategorized If Your Home Hasn’t Sold Yet… Check the Price! The residential housing market all around Puget Sound has been hot, and Kitsap County is no exception. Home sales have bounced back solidly and are now at their second highest pace since February 2007. Demand has remained strong throughout the winter as many real estate professionals are reporting bidding wars with many homes selling above […]
Uncategorized 5 Myths About Real Estate Reality TV Explained in Brief Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We’ve all been there… watching entire seasons of “Love it or List it,” “Fixer Upper,” “House Hunters,” “Property Brothers,” and so many more, just in one sitting. These shows can be addictive! When you’re […]
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Uncategorized Steps to Sell a House: How Long Does Each One Take? Kitsap County has been a “hot market.” Depending on the specific neighborhood, multiple offers, escalated prices, and cash deals have been common. Even in the hottest markets, though, selling a house is by no means a transaction that happens overnight. Every step—from listing your house to getting an offer to finally closing—takes time. But how much […]
Uncategorized A Homeowner’s Net Worth May Be 45x Greater Than A Renter’s Every three years, the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400). In a Forbes article, the National […]
Uncategorized Merry Christmas, Everyone! From my family to yours, I want to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I look forward to connecting with you all again after the holidays. Here’s to an amazing 2017!
Uncategorized You Can Save for a Down Payment Faster Than You Think! Interest rates are still at record lows, but they are climbing and predicted to rise further by the end of 2017. Rising rates, increasing home values, and stricter lender requirements can make the home buying process challenging for many. An additional challenge for buyers is saving the funds necessary for a down payment. In a […]
Uncategorized Why Are Mortgage Interest Rates Increasing? According to Freddie Mac, “Mortgage Rates Hit New 2016 High.” “The 10-year Treasury yield dipped this week following the release of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The 30-year mortgage rate rose another 5 basis points to 4.13 percent, starting the month 18 basis points higher than this time last year. As rates continue […]
Uncategorized Why Waiting Until After the Holidays to Sell Isn’t a Smart Decision Every year at this time, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to put their home on the market for the first time, while others who already have their homes on the market decide to take them off until after the holiday season. Here are seven great reasons not to wait: Relocation buyers […]
Uncategorized A Lack of Listings Remains a ‘Huge’ Challenge in the Market                           The housing crisis is finally in the rearview mirror as the real estate market moves down the road to a complete recovery. Home values are up, home sales are up, mortgage rates remain low, and distressed sales (foreclosures & short sales) are […]
Uncategorized 5 Traits to Look for in Your Agent While thinking about how I can best serve my clients, I ran across this article on Trulia that shares some great ways to choose an agent. A good agent goes a long way toward securing that home of your dreams! “In this internet era, we’ve gotten to a place where we require all of our […]
Uncategorized Are You Ready – Really Ready – To Buy That Home Of Your Dreams? A conversation I have had multiple times in the past few weeks has centered around my buyers' “readiness” to make an offer on a home. Many of these buyers have been disappointed to learn that they are not – yet – in a position to make an offer on the house that has them so excited. […]
Uncategorized One More Time, Real Estate is a Great Investment The information I am sharing below is not mine – I am quoting others. Why? Because the discussion and the points raised are brief, salient, and worth considering. Debates are swirling all around us, and the topic of the financial value of home ownership can certainly be debated. As with anything else, the results are […]
Uncategorized Mortgage Rates Again at Historic Lows Just a few weeks ago, I shared an article discussing where mortgage interest rates may be heading over the next twelve months. In it were quoted projections from Fannie Mae,Freddie Mac, the Mortgage Bankers’ Association and the National Association of Realtors. Each predicted that rates would begin to rise slowly and steadily throughout 2016. However, shaky economic news and a volatile stock market […]
Uncategorized Homes Are Selling Quickly Across The Country According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Existing Home Sales Report, homes were on market for an average of 58 days in December. This was slightly longer than the 54 days in November, but still better than the 66 days experienced in December 2014. What is the significance of those numbers? If you're buying […]