For Buyers & Sellers Home Inspection: a Reality Check from a Pro For many people, a home inspection is a hurdle that has to be overcome during the process of buying or selling a home. But, in fact, it can be a useful tool for buyers, sellers or anyone who plans to get the greatest possible value from their home. Find out if the house you are selling has “issues” When you’re selling […]
For Buyers & Sellers How to Avoid the Most Common Buying and Selling Mistakes There’s nothing more exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling than buying a home. However, it’s a complex transaction, and there are a number of steps along the path that can confuse, betwixt, and befuddle even the most seasoned buyers and sellers. How can you avoid those potential pitfalls and common mistakes? Look to your real estate professional […]
For Buyers & Sellers How Neighborhood Affects Home Value Whether you’re buying or selling, accurately pricing a home requires professional assistance from someone who knows the neighborhood. The “estimated” home prices you see posted online can be off by tens of thousands of dollars – not because they’re dishonest, but because the computer programs generating these guesstimates don’t take into account the current condition […]
For Buyers & Sellers Why Owning a Home is Such a Smart Investment After succumbing to the “Great Recession” ten years ago, the stock market has made a comeback. So, does that mean you should forget about buying a new house and invest in stocks instead? The answer to that question, say experts, depends on your investing savvy, your financial discipline, your age, and your current financial situation. The first question you […]
Buyers Buying your home: A step-by-step approach There is a lot to consider when you decide to buy a home, especially if it is your first. How much home you can afford? What kind of loan should you choose? Which neighborhoods are both affordable and a good investment? These are just a few of the questions you’ll be asking yourself. But with an experienced […]
Buyers 6 Powerful Reasons to Consider a Short Sale Instead of Foreclosure If you are unable to make your mortgage payments, you may be considering what to do next. One option is a short sale. Another option is foreclosure. There are many benefits to choosing a short sale over foreclosure. Before you make a decision, make sure you know the facts. Our partner, Lambros Politis, Lead Counsel and debt settlement specialist at Ark […]
For Buyers & Sellers What Millennials are Looking for in an Apartment or Condo LinkedIn recently told us that 4,279 new apartments were added to Seattle’s local inventory last year, and based on the number of cranes you constantly see around the city, we believe them. With so many choices, Millennials are getting really specific about what they want in a living space and the lifestyle it provides them. Here are some of […]
Buyers Perspectives: Buyer Fatigue Buyer fatigue. It’s a very real thing and we’re seeing it in cities all up and down the West Coast. What’s causing it? Intensely competitive market conditions in which bidding wars and properties selling for significantly more than asking price are the norm. It’s tiring for buyers. It’s tiring for agents. And it’s emotionally draining […]
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Buyers Investing in Rental Property: The Risks, Rewards, and Benefits of Owning Rental Property One area of the real estate market that is thriving right now is rental property. All indications suggest that the rental market will continue to improve because of low vacancy rates and rising rents. In fact, the demand for rentals is predicted to far exceed supply through 2016, with 4.5 million new renters expected to […]
For Buyers & Sellers Do You Have ‘Average’ Credit? If so, Getting a Mortgage May Be Tough This article originally appeared on Inman.com  In the early 2000s, getting a mortgage was hardly difficult thanks in great part to lax lending standards. This practice eventually led to a bubble forming in the nation’s housing market — which, as we all know, subsequently burst. Since that time, the pendulum has swung the other way — to an extreme. […]
Buyers New Features vs. Character We are often asked, “Which is the better buy, a newer or older home?” Our answer: It all depends on your needs and personal preferences. We decided to put together a list of the six biggest differences between newer and older homes: The neighborhood Surprisingly, one of the biggest factors in choosing a new home […]
Buyers Real Estate Buyer Tip: How to Find a Deal If you are ready to buy a home in a seller’s market, don’t despair. Windermere Real Estate agent, Michael Doyle, shares how you can find a good deal on a great home, even in the hottest housing market.
For Buyers & Sellers Buying Waterfront Properties – What You Should Know Before You Take the Plunge Living on the Water Is a Lifestyle Enjoying direct and private access to the water is typically the primary motivator for buyers seeking a waterfront property. As such, it’s really important to consider how you intend to use your waterfront. For example, if you’re a boater, evaluate the moorage at the property. Is the water deep […]
Buyers Homeowners Insurance: Protecting Your Home In addition to providing shelter and comfort, our home is often our single greatest asset. And it’s important that we protect that precious investment. Most homeowners realize the importance of homeowners insurance in safeguarding the value of a home. However, what they may not know is that about two-thirds of all homeowners are underinsured. According […]
First Time Home Buyer Wait or Buy Now? Are you thinking about buying a new home in the next 5 years? Studies show that if you wait, you could be paying substantially more. Check out this article by Keeping Current Matters that explains why buying a home this winter could be your smartest move.  http://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/4-reasons  
Sellers Six Key Factors That Affect the Sales Price of Your Home Pricing a home for sale is not nearly as simple as most people think. You can’t base the price on what the house down the street sold for. You can’t depend on tax assessments. Even automatic valuation methods (AVMs), while useful for a rough estimate of value, are unreliable for purposes of pricing a home for […]
Buyers A Quick Guide to Understanding Real Estate Designations What do those letters and acronyms mean at the end of your real estate agent’s name? We’re here to answer that question and explain why it might matter to you. Like other professionals, real estate agents have the ability to specialize in certain areas of the business by earning designations. Those acronyms signify that they have […]
Sellers Baby Boomers: Impact on the U.S. Housing Market 75 million Baby Boomers control nearly 80% of all U.S. wealth, and as this generation ages, retires, and inevitably downsizes, they will have a significant impact on the housing market. Windermere’s Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, explains when we can expect to see Boomers start to sell, opening much-needed inventory and making home ownership available to younger generations.   Posted on September 26, 2017 at […]
Sellers Selling Your Home: The Impact of Staging How can you make your home more attractive to potential buyers? The answer is with some “home staging”. According to the Wall Street Journal, implementing some basic interior design techniques can not only speed up the sale of your home but also increase your final selling price. It all comes down to highlighting your home’s strengths, […]
For Buyers & Sellers #YourStoryIsOurStory: Taking the Time to Make the Right Move When Gordy was offered a promotion, he and his wife Linda would need to relocate and give up their custom home. It wouldn’t be easy, but lucky for them, they found Windermere Real Estate agent, Dawn Hardman. Over the course of a year, Dawn and Linda spent a lot of time together. Dawn took on the role of host to her new […]