seattle real estate: Did You Know? -Programs Seem To Be Working
- 06/15/09 03:26 AM
To jump-start the real estate market, the government and other local agencies have created various new programs and guidelines to aid them in their efforts. For instance, did you know:
It looks like some of these new programs are working and we are starting to see the results. We still have a long way to recovery, but these are just of few of the signs that we are headed in the right direction. To find out more about what is going on in your community or what programs you can benefit from, The Egerer & Weidauer Home Team has got you … (2 comments)
According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, inventory is shrinking, sales are rising, and prices are stabilizing in some Northwest MLS areas. "Waiting longer to buy a home is not likely to pay off, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service director Kathy Estey after reviewing reports summarizing May activity. Estey pointed to shrinking inventory (about 20 percent fewer listings than a year ago), double-digit increases in the number of pending sales (up 17.7 percent from a … (3 comments)
seattle real estate: Champagne wishes and caviar dreams
- 05/26/09 03:56 AM
For those of you in the market for luxury homes in the greater Seattle areas, Keller Williams Greater Seattle has just welcomed Kendra Todd, a nationally recognized author, lecturer and TV Personality, as the head of their Luxury Homes Division. Todd, who won the popular NBC series The Apprentice, was the first woman and youngest contestant to ever win the hit reality show! During her time with the Trump Organization, she was involved with the sale of a $100 million dollar Palm Beach estate: the highest residential real estate transaction on record in the United States. Currently, Todd hosts the critically … (3 comments)
seattle real estate: Master The Market of the Moment
- 05/21/09 05:56 AM
A wise man once wrote, "The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well". This quote is especially true in the real estate world. Every market brings it's own rhythm and it's own rhyme. This market in particular not only has your typical sale or resale of single family homes, town homes, and condos but now we have short sales, foreclosures, and REO's to deal with. They're increasingly common these days because of the values that have dropped on many homes whose buyers had little or no equity in the first place. … (6 comments)
seattle real estate: Tax-Friendly Cities: It's not what you earn, it's what you get to keep
- 04/07/09 03:10 AM
According to a recent Kiplinger article, taxes play a significant role in deciding where to dig in your roots and call home (in addition to housing costs and living expenses). They have put together a list of U.S. cities with the lowest state and local tax burdens (as a percentage of gross income). And wouldn't you know it, Seattle made the list!
No. 4 Seattle, Washington Income tax: $0Property tax: $1,698Sales tax: $1,561Auto tax: $457 STATE & LOCAL TAX BURDEN: 5.0% Urban Facts: Seattle may be a tax-friendly city, but it also has a high cost of living, well above … (2 comments)
seattle real estate: Real Estate Experts Say 2009 is the Year to Buy
- 02/09/09 05:07 AM
According to a recent article by Amy Hoek of Market Watch- Wall Street Journal, industry experts are saying that 2009 is a great year to buy and invest in real estate. Jay Papasan, author of Your First Home offered 5 reasons why this is true; Affordability is better than ever- Prices may still be above average in many areas but they have certainly gone down. In fact, in the King County area, home prices have "retreated to its lowest level since September 2005" (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/398737_housing05.html). You have a large inventory to choose from- Sellers want to sell and they want anyone interested in their … (3 comments)
seattle real estate: Are We Headed For Another Real Estate Mess?
- 01/29/09 03:16 AM
I sure hope we aren't but the reason I bring it up is because of some recent ads I've been seeing. The ads are for first time home buyer loan programs, the same type that helped get us into the same mess we are trying to get out of. Last November in a Dave Says column, Mr. Ramsey expressed his frustration with low to no money down home loan programs for first time buyers. "You know, when I hear the advice you were given, I just want to smack somebody. Haven't the mortgage lenders learned ANYTHING from the last several months? Nothing down, interest-only and sub-prime … (6 comments)
seattle real estate: Seattle Real Estate, Risky Business? I think not!
- 01/28/09 04:52 AM
According to HomeSmartReports.com, among the least risky cities for home buyers to invest in, Seattle makes the list just under the most resilient areas of Bridgeport-Stamford, Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. HomeSmartreport.com is a California based online service that measures "collateral risk," or the chance you will lose money on a property purchase. "Neighborhood stability is almost always anchored by employment, above-average wealth and education. Highly compensated professionals, managers and business owners with college degrees and large incomes tend to stay in their homes. The absence of speculators and buyers with adjustable-rate mortgages also makes a difference. Michael Ela, the president of HomeSmartreports.com, says California, with … (2 comments)
seattle real estate: Low Rates Enticing Buyers OFF the Fence
- 01/20/09 03:16 AM
Even in these slower than usual times, 2009 brings about a revival in our housing market. Just last week we talked with a few new prospects looking to get in on the great deals this market offers. "Bill Riss, chief executive of Coldwell Banker Bain real estate and other area real estate professionals argue the time to buy is now, and say they are starting to hear from more buyers. 'It's not often you have a market where the rates are down and the prices are down at the same time,' said Deborah Arends, an agent with RE/Max Northwest Realtors." (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/395666_buyers12.html) … (2 comments)
seattle real estate: Top 10 Things to Expect in the Housing Market in 2009
- 01/09/09 02:27 AM
Following the too-good-to-be-true housing boom in the first half of this decade, 2008 was a dose of reality. The subprime mortgage crisis and the collapse of major financial institutions made this year a tough one for real estate. Expect 2009 to be filled with more change and adjustment in home values and expectations. On a positive note, help is on the way from the Feds, and some experts say a slow recovery could begin in late 2009. Prepare yourself for the challenges -- and opportunities -- of 2009 by getting familiar with what to expect in the housing market.
… (3 comments)
seattle real estate: Seattle real estate predictions for 2009
- 01/07/09 04:29 AM
So 2009 is finally here and I think we are all ready to see some improvements in the economy and in the real estate market. Aubrey Cohen of the Seattle PI interviewed many local real estate experts and here is what they had to say about the Seattle market; " 'The fact that this downturn is so multifaceted, with bad news coming from every angle, which in turn is leading us into one of the deepest recessions on record, is the most significant story,' Sean Hyatt, managing director of the Bellevue office of Trammell Crow Residential. 'The failure of WaMu, the … (6 comments)
seattle real estate: Why Not Remodel?!
- 12/30/08 06:19 AM
I hear from a lot of people that "homes just aren't selling for what they used to" and that some are holding back on selling until our real estate market has turned around. I understand their concerns and if it does not make financial sense to move your family right now, then by all means wait until you are. Until we get to that point why not put a little bit of money and elbow grease into your home so when it does make sense to sell, you make a big profit off of replacing the worn carpet or repainting throughout the … (1 comments)
seattle real estate: The Fed's Rate Rescue
- 11/25/08 07:37 AM
The Federal Reserve just threw a massive life-line to consumers today, with new programs aimed at making it easier for them to obtain loans for homes, cars and on credit cards. Under the new mortgage program, the Fed will buy up to $100 billion of debt issued by government-sponsored mortgage enterprises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. It will also buy up to $500 billion of mortgage securities backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. Doing so should increase credit availability and lower fixed mortgage rates.
As a result of the Fed's new programs, rates … (2 comments)
seattle real estate: Condo Auction in Seattle's Capitol Hill Neighborhood
- 11/19/08 06:09 AM
Seattle's own, Press Condominiums, are holding an auction to sell the remaining 18 units that are still unsold. Beverly Hills-based real estate auctioneers Kennedy Wilson, will be conducting the auction, held at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, 721 Pine St. on December 13th. The starting bids for many of these units are nearly 50% less than what comparable listings are selling for. Minimum bids range from $185,000 for one-bedroom units and $255,000 for two-bedroom units. (http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/realestatenews/archives/154792.asp) For all the details on the minimum bids, the process by which to put in a bid, and the floor plans of the units available, check … (0 comments)
seattle real estate: Real Estate Rebound in Seattle
- 11/18/08 07:56 AM
Yes.. I have another article for you about the Seattle real estate market. I can't get enough of these. In the last few weeks there seems to be story after story about how Seattle is one of the top cities in the nation to rebound from these difficult financial and real estate times. Thank you, Michele, for the link!
According to SmartMoney Magazine, Seattle is holding strong through these tough economic times and is due for a nice rebound. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have some strong businesses, like Boeing, Amazon.com, and Microsoft, that are doing well and in turn, has kept … (3 comments)
seattle real estate: Seattle Real Estate Investing 101 (Get Your FREE Report!)
- 11/17/08 07:31 AM
Seattle REO properties are easy to find here - there are a lot of foreclosure and short sale properties all over Seattle and the Seattle suburbs. Recently, I've noticed that there are still some out of date websites actually charging you for information that you can get for free! All the information can be accessed through the multiple listing service. You won't always be able to differentiate them as foreclosures because the MLS has no clear way of being able to search on this particular criteria at this time, but the Egerer & Weidauer Home Team keeps a regular list going … (2 comments)
seattle real estate: Seattle Real Estate Market Most Likely to Rebound
- 11/13/08 04:40 AM
According to Forbes.com, Seattle landed the No. 1 spot on the list of real estate markets most likely to rebound. Forbes asked top realtors around the country for the best cities in which to invest. What constitues one of the best cities is one that is considered a gateway to international investment, has vital downtowns where people can forgo cars, and don't have a glut of condos or office space. "Seattle is a diversified market, has a good base of business and is becoming a 24-hour city," says Stephen Blank, senior resident fellow, finance, of the Urban Land Institute. "It's going to be in a good position … (7 comments)
seattle real estate: Deceiving Headlines about Seattle Real Estate Market
- 11/11/08 07:45 AM
As a real estate agent, I realize that you may not believe me when I say that, "now is a great time to buy," but it truly is! You may not be hearing this from your local news station or paper but that's because the media highlights and even exaggerates the fear causing negatives. It's about time we learned most news programming and most printed news is just an extension of Hollywood style entertainment. Now they are embattled for their very existence because the web has already eaten massive numbers of subscribers and advertisers. They calculate, with good experience, if they … (0 comments)
seattle real estate: Home Selling Secrets Revealed
- 11/04/08 06:24 AM
"The desire to do business hasn't gone away, but the heat has gone out of the market." -Gary Keller "In a buyers market, sellers are often going through the five stages of grief; 1.) Denial, 2.) Anger, 3.) Bargaining, 4.) Depression, 5.) Acceptance. My job is to counsel them through it." - Martin Bouma, Ann Arbor, MI Realtor A shift exposes and magnifies the classic real estate price conflict that has always existed: the asking price a seller wants versus the price a buyer is willing to pay. To illustrate this conflict and how the market determines who has the upper hand, I'll … (2 comments)
seattle real estate: Extra, Extra, Read All About it- Buy Seattle Real Estate
- 10/28/08 07:50 AM
In the last couple of weeks I have been inundated with news reports about Seattle being a primo place to buy and invest in real estate. Don't believe me.. look at the headlines; "Seattle Real Estate Rated No. 1- Survey of metropolitan areas reveals best investment value here" - The Seattle P-I "Top Ten Recession Proof Cities, Seattle #8 " - Forbes Magazine "Seattle Makes List as Best Cities For Home Sellers" -Forbes Magazine
PriceWaterHouse Coopers and the Urban Land Institute conducted an annual study for the nation's top 10 regions. Among major metropolitan cities, Seattle's real estate is the best in … (1 comments)
To jump-start the real estate market, the government and other local agencies have created various new programs and guidelines to aid them in their efforts. For instance, did you know:;)
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