Uncategorized Sellers Happy, But Home Buyers Are Frustrated The number of home buyers who say now is a good time to buy dipped to an all-time survey low in Fannie Mae’s latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index. Meanwhile, home owners who say now is a good time to sell soared to an all-time survey high. The disconnect in the market is likely partially due […]
Uncategorized Lack of inventory in county sets up ‘crazy spring real estate market’ With spring coming soon — and hopefully sunnier weather along with it — more people will be out in neighborhoods checking out open houses. They’ll have less to see. Snohomish County has a third fewer homes available on the market now than it did just a year ago, according to numbers released Monday by the […]
Uncategorized Don’t Miss These Home Tax Deductions Owning a home can pay off at tax time.   Take advantage of these home ownership-related tax deductions and strategies to lower your tax bill: Read Full Article
Uncategorized What to Do With a Tax Refund: 3 Ideas That’ll Practically Double Your Money If You’re a Homeowner If this year is anything like the last, almost 7.2 million Americans will get a tax refund this spring averaging around $3,000. If you’re a homeowner getting this refund, you’re fortunate because you’ve got more creative ways to invest it for a profit. Doesn’t matter if you’re selling, staying put, or stuck in the middle. […]
Uncategorized Top 5 ways to boost the value of your home Learn how to make 10 percent more money when selling your home This is a great time to be selling a house—or buying one. With housing prices at recent highs (in some neighborhoods they’re exceeding pre-2008 valuations), it’s no wonder about 5.3 million homes are expected to change hands in 2015, up about 30 percent […]
Uncategorized The Colors That Help (and Hurt) Your Home’s Selling Potential Whether you’re hoping your house sells in the next 20 minutes or you’re planning to put it up for sale in 20 years, you should consider the consequences of your color choices. Read Full Article
Uncategorized Cities to Watch: 2016’s Fastest-Growing Places After being overthrown last year by Houston, Austin regains the number one spot as the fastest-growing city in the U.S., according to a new analysis by Forbes. Adding to its allure, Austin boasts booming technology, pharmaceutical and biotech industries as well as low-cost of living. Forbes.com compiled its annual list of America’s Fastest-Growing Cities by […]
Uncategorized Scammers phish for mortgage closing costs "…After figuring out the closing dates, the hacker sends an email to the buyer, posing as the real estate professional or title company. The bogus email says there has been a last minute change to the wiring instructions, and tells the buyer to wire closing costs to a different account. But it’s the scammer’s account…" […]
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Uncategorized Top 6 Reasons to Not Buy a Home—Debunked You? Buy a home? If that prospect sounds as unlikely as your becoming the next U.S. president—well, this campaign season has shown us that anything can happen. Sure, amassing the funds and slogging through the necessary paperwork for your own piece of the real estate pie can be daunting, especially if you’re a less-than-stellar loan candidate. Still, […]
Uncategorized Home buyer frustration builds as inventory shrinks, prices rise "Buyers who are looking for houses cannot start looking at the top of their affordability range — they should look 15 or 20 percent below their limit and be prepared to go over list price if they have any hope of success," suggested Frank Wilson, immediate past chair of the Northwest MLS board."   Read […]
Uncategorized Features that Sell a Home Fast Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a wild year in real estate! Our chief economist, Jonathan Smoke, has predicted that 2016 will be a true seller’s market, and it’s already galloping out of the starting gate. Of course, not all homes are equal, and they don’t sell equally well, either. Most homes are a unique mosaic of attractive […]
Uncategorized Will My Taxes Look Different Now That I’m a Homeowner? Magic 8 Ball Says Yes Taxes? Gross! Who wants to think about government paperwork, especially when your hand still aches from signing the 977 forms required to buy your first house? But listen up: As a new homeowner, you can typically wave bye-bye to the 1040-EZ form and say hi to itemizing your deductions on Schedule A. That means you can […]
Uncategorized What Every Homeowner Should Do to Prep Their Yard for Spring In recent winter months, snowmen were the only detectable “life” in your yard. But now that Frosty has succumbed to puddlehood, it’s time to get ready for spring! Jumpstart your lawn resuscitation as soon as the ground defrosts, and you’ll avoid a muddy disaster zone come April — not to mention ignite your neighbors’ envy. Here’s what […]
Uncategorized Sick of Winter? These Houseplants Will Perk Up Your Mood (Yes, Really) Real talk: “JanuFeb” can be grim. The holidays are a distant memory, and now you have to slog through a barrage of dark, frigid days until spring makes its glorious appearance. To escape that persistent winter funk, shake off that heated Snuggie and take a trip to the garden center. Studies suggest that stocking your home […]
Uncategorized 12 home design trends to watch in 2016 Although the International Builders' Show focused largely on millennial homebuyers, the event also featured several sessions addressing design trends for all levels of the housing market, from starter homes to luxury properties. During one presentation, two judges from the Best in American Living Awardsdiscussed the most common design trends featured in the award-winning properties. The BALAs recognize the nation's […]
Uncategorized Selling Your House? 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t For Sale By Owner In today's market, with homes selling quickly and prices rising, some homeowners might consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers. Read Full Article Here
Uncategorized Do You Know How Much Equity You Have In Your Home? You May Be Surprised! CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 256,000 properties regained equity in the third quarter of 2015. This is great news for the country, as 92% of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation. Price Appreciation = Good News For Homeowners Read Full Article Here
Uncategorized Building Family Wealth Over the Next 5 Years As the economy continues to improve, more and more Americans are seeing their personal financial situations also improving. Instead of just getting by, many are now beginning to save and find other ways to build their net worth. One way to dramatically increase their family wealth is through the acquisition of real estate. View Full […]
Uncategorized Prices and Mortgage Rates Going Up in 2016 The monthly mortgage payment on a home is determined by two elements: the price of the house and the interest rate you pay on your mortgage. Recently released reports are revealing that the experts expect both elements to increase in 2016. Read Full Article
Uncategorized Don’t Miss these Home Tax Deductions From mortgage interest to property tax deductions, here are the tax tips you need to get a jump on your returns.   Review Full Article