Newsletter

Newsletter

In-Home Wellness Spaces

From saunas to gyms, more people are prioritizing private, custom spaces in their homes where they can focus on routine without distraction. Saunas & Steam Showers A steam shower is typically a stand-alone shower stall that can produce steam without running the hot water. The shower enclosure is sealed off from the rest of the […]
Newsletter

What is your home worth, and why do you want to know?

Your home is your shelter where you make memories, a large part of your financial nest egg, and a vehicle for creating wealth. Knowing what your home is worth is empowering and important. The reasons that may come up when you need to know your home’s value can have a direct impact on your financial health. Do you need […]
Newsletter

Interest Rates Falling & Inventory Rising: Opportunity Knocks!

As we celebrate the start of autumn, the season of change, the leaves on the trees are not the only things that are falling. Interest rates have gradually fallen throughout the year. Just 11 months ago, rates were almost 2 points higher; in the frothy spring market, they were nearly 1.5 points higher. During this […]
Newsletter

End of Summer Market Update

Summer 2024 welcomed an increase in available inventory, a drop in interest rates, and continued price stability, which has upheld strong home equity levels. After a double-digit ramp-up in price appreciation in the first half of 2024, prices have slightly come off the peak of May 2024 and found stability. This trend is historically consistent with […]

Newsletter In-Home Wellness Spaces From saunas to gyms, more people are prioritizing private, custom spaces in their homes where they can focus on routine without distraction. Saunas & Steam Showers A steam shower is typically a stand-alone shower stall that can produce steam without running the hot water. The shower enclosure is sealed off from the rest of the […]

Newsletter What is your home worth, and why do you want to know? Your home is your shelter where you make memories, a large part of your financial nest egg, and a vehicle for creating wealth. Knowing what your home is worth is empowering and important. The reasons that may come up when you need to know your home’s value can have a direct impact on your financial health. Do you need […]

Newsletter Interest Rates Falling & Inventory Rising: Opportunity Knocks! As we celebrate the start of autumn, the season of change, the leaves on the trees are not the only things that are falling. Interest rates have gradually fallen throughout the year. Just 11 months ago, rates were almost 2 points higher; in the frothy spring market, they were nearly 1.5 points higher. During this […]

Newsletter End of Summer Market Update Summer 2024 welcomed an increase in available inventory, a drop in interest rates, and continued price stability, which has upheld strong home equity levels. After a double-digit ramp-up in price appreciation in the first half of 2024, prices have slightly come off the peak of May 2024 and found stability. This trend is historically consistent with […]

Newsletter How Election Years Affect the Real Estate Market As we approach November and the Presidential election nears, it would be good to look back on how election years have historically affected the real estate market. There is certainly a lot going on and this stimulation can cause pause. Buying and selling real estate is a big life event and the election is a […]

Newsletter Half Way Through 2024: Mid-Year Opportunities in the Real Estate Market As we approach the mid-point of the year, I want to take a moment to explain all that has happened in 2024 and where we might be headed. We have had strong price growth since December 2023, and in May 2024 prices matched the peak we saw in spring 2022. The interest rates and inflation-induced correction that […]

Newsletter Transparency First: NWMLS Votes to NOT opt in to the NAR Lawsuit Settlement As promised, here is the latest update regarding the $418 Million NAR Lawsuit Settlement and how it will affect real estate operations in WA State. As the deadline to opt in to the NAR Lawsuit Settlement approaches, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) announced last week that they have voted to NOT opt-in to the settlement. […]

Newsletter Buyer Demand Persists and Seller Equity Soars Amongst Interest Rate Volatility As we sit almost five months into 2024 in the middle of the spring market and I reflect on how the year is going, I am grateful, amazed, and locked in on the stats. You see, the last four years since the start of the pandemic have been an eventful and wild ride. 2020 saw […]

Newsletter Three Hot Buttons in Real Estate The real estate industry has been in the news a bit lately. Not so much about the trends and home values. More so about class action lawsuits, which have stolen a lot of attention away from the positive activity that is happening in our market. While the lawsuit is an important story to track, one […]

Newsletter ACCURATE UPDATE: The Proposed NAR Settlement Agreement and How WA State Stands Out As I am sure you have heard on the news, there is a proposed settlement agreement for the NAR (National Association of Realtors) Class Action Lawsuit. It has certainly stirred up plenty of headlines that have been glossy, and in many cases, inaccurate. Many of the reports and headlines have been national and it is […]

Newsletter Phill was Right! Spring Arrives Early for our Local Real Estate Market When Punxsutawney Phill climbed up to his perch at Gobblers Knob on February 2nd and did not see his shadow, an early spring was predicted. Little did we know that he would be referring to the real estate market! As we experience temps in the 30s and scattered snow showers in the first week of […]

Community Information New Year, New Laws! What This Means for Consumers Moving Forward. Effective January 1, 2024, the statute in Washington that governs real estate brokerage relationships (RCW 18.86) otherwise known as the “Agency Law” – was significantly revised. The revisions modernize the 25-year-old law, provide additional transparency and consumer protections, and acknowledge the importance of buyer representation. KEY REVISIONS For decades, real estate brokerage firms were only […]

Community Information Matthew Gardner’s 2024 Economic Forecast Highlights In January, my office hosted our 16th Annual Economic Forecast Event featuring Matthew Gardner. Matthew is a sought-after economist focused on the national and local economies and has a deep understanding of the housing market across the country and right in our own backyard. He is an economic advisor for the State of Washington, Governors […]

Community Information Quarterly Reports for Q4 2023 The story of 2023 was balancing interest rates with home purchases and even home sales. The average weekly rate in 2023 was 6.8% and peaked in October at 7.94%. This caused some buyers to pause due to cost. Many sellers were reluctant to move and give up their low payments based on historically low rates, […]

Community Information Holiday Giving The holiday season came and went in a flash with so much going on. As I reflect on the joys that the holiday season brings, one thing that I love is that our office makes it a priority to come together as a team to lift up our neighbors in need. Our collective gratitude runs […]

Community Information 2024 Economic & Housing Market Forecast Nationally recognized economist, Matthew Gardner is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data. With over 30 years of professional experience, he provides valuable insights into the real estate industry and housing market, including quarterly regional reports, monthly videos, and timely analysis of the latest trends. I am also hosting a live, virtual Economic Forecast Event […]

Community Information Now or Later: When Rates Drop, Expect the Market to Tilt The question that many potential buyers are asking themselves right now is: should I wait for rates to drop before I buy? Higher interest rates have certainly made monthly payments higher and challenged overall affordability, however it is important to consider creative financing options and what the impact on prices will be once rates lower. Experts […]

Community Information New Agency Law Changes On January 1, 2024, major changes to the Law of Agency will go into effect. These changes result from the real estate industry in the state of Washington wanting to elevate the level of transparency and consumer protection surrounding buyer representation. Senate Bill 5191 was voted into law requiring adjustments in how brokers operate when working with […]

Community Information QUARTERLY REPORTS Q3 2023 Tight inventory and buyer demand helped fuel the market in the third quarter of 2023 despite rising interest rates. There have been fewer listings in 2023 than in 2022 which has created price growth since the first of the year. Prices peaked in spring 2022, corrected in the second half of 2022, and then they […]

Community Information The Low Inventory Effect: Nationally & Close to Home The video below from Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist, refers to the effects of constricted inventory levels on the national housing market in a higher interest rate environment. Review the localized numbers that I gathered that pertain to King and Snohomish Counties and then check out what he has to say about the national trends. […]