seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate: Down Payments Are The Way To Go! - 04/30/08 01:15 PM
Down Payments - know how to save for a down payment..................
Seattle buyers are finding less and less in the way of loan programs where they don't need a nice down payment. The simple fact is that 100% loans are for the most par tin the past - this is good news, really. Saving for a down payment is responsible behavior and although I admit to getting a few 100% loans myself in the past, I would put money down in today's market. A down payment is the door to a strong loan and a smooth closing whether you are buying … (2 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate: Sunny Day Today - But Some More Rain Expected..... - 04/26/08 11:26 PM
Seattle is beautiful! I managed to take a few hours off today and do some gardening with my little one. The sun was out and I think we hit 68 degrees in my area - pretty good considering that there was snow a week ago! The Seattle real estate all around me is hopping - both with my own dealings and also all the signs and sold strips I am seeing popping up around Seattle. Tomorrow, I am actually taking out three separate buyers throughout the day to look at houses!
Next weekend, I am taking out a buyer who is moving … (2 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate: Closing on time all the time???? Too much to ask? - 04/25/08 10:02 AM
Seattle real estate and me:
I run around and work my tail off making sure that all my transactions run as smoothly as possible. I make sure that all of my clients are comfortable and shield them from some of the stresses of moving. I push the paperwork around in a timely fashion and make sure that all deadlines and contingencies are respected. I am organized and completely on it when it comes to making sure that a transaction gets all of my attention!
Closing and others:
I expect the same from everyone else in a real estate transaction. My clients and my file … (5 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate 2008: Financing Contingency Form Revised Again - 04/20/08 12:39 AM
NWMLS form 22A has been revised again this April 2008. Changes for the new Seattle Financing Addendum:
The newly revised form 22A adds two more loan types which can be disclosed:
1. Rural Development Loan According to the NWMLS: "A Rural Development Loan, is for rural property and is available through the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov."
2. HELOC - If the buyer is getting a Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC) with a loan from another property they own, then this is a great place to disclose that.
I think item number two in the changes is … (3 comments)
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seattle buyer: Are you a rotten neighbor? - 04/19/08 11:48 PM
Have you seen the rotten neighbor site (rottenneighbor - dot - com)? I check this site periodically to try and figure out why a homeowner would use it. I can only conclude that the complaints must come from renters. Why would a homeowner possibly devalue their home or neighborhood by reporting a rotten neighbor? Am I wrong in this thinking?
Have you checked out your neighborhood? I was fascinated as I looked around and read some of the complaints...
Interesting stuff - check it out and let me know if you have a different perspective on it.
Courtney Cooper ....For all your … (8 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle New Construction Bargaining Power - 04/18/08 03:03 PM
Seattle & Seattle Suburb New Construction How To s
I recently saw a question on another site about new construction and pricing and whether or not you could get a deal on a Seattle suburb new construction house. It seems the buyer's agent had told them that there was absolutely no bargaining power with a builder. Essentially, this Seattle area buyer was told to pay full price and not try to negotiate. HELLO???? Sorry, but as a buyer, even in a hot market, you should always try to get a good deal for yourself!!! That is why you hire us!!!! I consider … (2 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate: FHA is the New Sub prime - 04/15/08 12:34 AM
Someone actually said this to me today:
"FHA is the New Sub prime."
Let it sink in for a minute - can you believe it? - FHA loans are back for the buyers who don't have a down payment. I will be interested in watching this Seattle area trend to see if FHA really is the new sub prime. For those of you who don't qualify for FHA, here is a post about ways to save for a down payment.
Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South … (6 comments)
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seattle buyer: Short Sales In Seattle Real Estate - 04/14/08 02:35 PM
Short Sales in Seattle neighborhoods & Seattle suburbs....................................
I have a lot of response from my Short sale post on the new NWMLS rules regarding Seattle are real estate short sales. Short sales in general are so different form a normal sale - I am glad the MLS is attempting to address the differences. I am unsure as to how much the new rules will help because they are still pretty vague. The listing agent is instructed that they must disclose that the property is a short sale. That seems fairly obvious to me, but where do they disclose it according to … (0 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Area MLS introduces Short Sale Rules - 04/09/08 02:32 PM
Introducing Form 22SS: The MLS's short sale addendum for Washington state (Hallelujah!).
It isn't perfect, but it is going to help clarify a lot of the process and steps that have been unclear in the past. First of all the from states that the property is a short sale and that the lien holder has to approve the offer. The form then gives the seller so many days (default is 30 days) to get that approval. Mutual acceptance is explained as when the lien holder approval is delivered.
22SS Gives the buyer the option of checking a box to either say that … (12 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Home Inspections: The Basics & Beyond - 04/05/08 12:05 AM
Well it was raining quite a bit for my inspection today. I actually really look forward to the inspections of houses I sell in Seattle. I find that they are so educational for me and I love this part of the process. My very favorite inspector in Seattle is Richard Healy of A1 Home Inspections - he is so great and also very knowledgeable. Richard really helps my clients understand how to prioritize the issues he discovers during the inspections. He isn't afraid to really explain things and the inspection report is to us via email that very afternoon or night.
If you … (0 comments)
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seattle buyer: Make Sure Your Agent Is Technically Savvy - 04/02/08 08:15 PM
eattle real estate is hopping! Make sure that when you are buying and selling Seattle real estate you are using an agent who is tech savvy. Does your agent have eFax & Docusign? Does your agent answer their emails on the go on their smart phone? Does your agent blog their listings and have advanced education?
Real estate is more than a purchase and sale agreement or a listing agreement - skilled real estate requires technical know how in Seattle! Make sure your agent is armed with all of these tools in order to have the competitive edge in the real estate market!
Courtney … (0 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle: This is Not a Seller's Market. - 04/01/08 08:46 PM
Seattle real estate has turned interesting.
Seattle sellers can definitely sell their houses, but this is a buyer's market now - the first one Seattle has seen in a while and some things have changed.
When you get an offer from a preapproved buyer, please do take some time, but make sure that you can get to a Kinkos and give the buyers the respect they deserve for choosing your house over others by responding to their offer as soon as possible. Time IS of the essence. Go ahead and have your agent call the lender and make sure that the buyers are strong, but … (1 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Spring 2008 Market - Real Estate Is Out There! - 04/01/08 06:12 PM
Yesterday I drove six hours in total and went through many different bits of Washington's Spring 2008 weather. I had a bit of a coastal home emergency and also needed to let one of my lovely clients into a gorgeous home they were thinking of buying. I drove through sunshine so bright that my sunglasses weren't enough, rain so heavy that my windshield wipers were on overtime, hail that stuck to my car like snow and even some snow. I drove through partly cloudy sections, dark clouds, sun breaks, and sprinkle showers of light rain. I saw it all!
I am seeing … (0 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle: Do We Really Like Our Coffee? YES YES YES - 03/29/08 01:02 AM
Thinking about moving to Seattle and wondering if we really are nuts over our coffee? It is true! We are...apparently. I am usually not in want of a coffee stand because I can find on in Seattle or Seattle suburbs on many active intersection corners. All of these coffee places have a whole array of drinks they can make me from a normal drip coffee in some places to a latte or mocha or even some whipped frozen varieties. I take these for granted, I guess. I shouldn't because it is a real luxury to be able to have your coffee … (10 comments)
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seattle buyer: Why do I like Seattle? Mild and Cool Spring! - 03/28/08 06:39 PM
As I sit here in 85 degree weather waiting for my grandparent's party to start I thought I would take a minute to reflect on why I like Seattle. My husband says that there is a mix of rain and snow right now and that it is a bit dark already. I am in the glaring bright climate of Arizona and although I do like a break from the cool Seattle spring days here and there, the sheer brightness here hurts my head! The desert is in bloom and just gorgeous! Sometimes getting acclimated is tough. I love Seattle's mild cool … (4 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate: Townhouses - 03/26/08 12:41 PM
There are a couple different types of townhouses in Seattle and the Seattle suburbs - There are a lot of buyers out there that are very interested in townhomes so I want to touch on a couple different issues here.
Town homes can be classified as either residential or condominium depending on the development.
What does this mean?
A residential townhouse is technically a zero lot line residential house while a condo townhouse is part of a condominium association.
What does this mean for you the townhouse buyer?
With a residential townhome, you are responsible for all of the upkeep of the home … (0 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate 2008: Green Lake Townhouse Market vs. Other Residential...Townhomes in Seattle Neighborhoods - 03/24/08 12:18 PM
Seattle neighborhoods have a pretty big townhome market in some areas. Green Lake in Seattle is one of those. In some ways this has been good because it has allowed buyers to be able to afford Green Lake living when stand alone houses in Green Lake got to expensive for them. Buying a townhouse in Green Lake isn't that inexpensive, however, but let's look at some of the numbers for March 2008 as of today. These are from the MLS (NWMLS) search and compiled by me.
It is interesting to look at the total impact of townhomes on the market next … (1 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate - Get Out There And Spruce Up Your Yard! - 03/16/08 01:28 PM
Seattle sunshine here and there....
Seattle has had a lot more sun in the last month than rain it seems, and although this weekend has been off and on sunny and rainy, I think it is a great time to get out there for spring and spruce up the yard a bit. In my particular case, my lavender plants are way out of control. Trimming up the hedges, trees, and grass is looking like a priority for the rest of the weekend.
If you are thinking about putting your Seattle house up for sale, then taking advantage of every sliver of … (0 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate: How to Get Money For a Down Payment: Tips & Savings - 03/15/08 01:31 AM
Seattle, down payments are back - here are some tips for getting that money!
This is how our parents and grandparents bought a house, and now having a down payment is a must when it comes to qualifying for a good loan! But where to find the money? Well, the first thing you should do is talk to a good Seattle lender - find out if you qualify for a house based on your credit and how much you can afford. The lender will also tell you how much of a down payment you will need. This will give you a good … (2 comments)
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seattle buyer: Seattle Real Estate Springing Forward For 2008 - 03/10/08 02:49 PM
Seattle real estate 2008 monthly numbers are definitely down overall in a year over year comparison, but I have been so much more busy this year versus last year!
People are out there talking about real estate and I am glad about it because talking about it is so much better than listening to the TV. The television has been so slanted towards a doom and gloom idea of real estate overall as a nation and at the same time totally ignored local real estate. When I do see any local real estate coverage, I am seeing an inflated view of a few bad things. … (0 comments)
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