All Categories

If you are considering buying a brand-new or older condominium, here are the five key questions to ask to avoid buying a bad condo: 1. HOW DO THE MONTHLY CONDO FEES COMPARE WITH SIMILAR NEARBY CONDO COMPLEXES? A sharp buyer's agent should have the monthly condo fees for comparable nearby condo complexes easily available. Be sure to ask what services are included for each complex because that can make a big difference. For example, the condo where I currently own has a monthly fee that include... Read Full Post

Northwest MLS Form 35N is used when a buyer is submitting an offer to purchase a home that is contingent on the buyer’s subjective satisfaction of the neighborhood in which the property is located. The neighborhood review may include a buyer’s investigation of the schools, proximity to bus lines, availability of shopping, traffic patterns, noise, parking and investigation of other neighborhood, environmental and safety conditions they buyer may determine to be relevant in deciding to purc... Read Full Post

Real estate professionals agree: The single most important factor in selling your home today is price. With so many homes on the market now, setting the "right price" is critical. During the housing boom of the past several years, some homeowners priced their properties aggressively--well above market value. That was yesterday. Today, overpricing simply turns away buyers who could otherwise afford your home (why look at homes outside your budget?), leaving your home sitting like leftovers in ... Read Full Post

There's No Need To Panic You don't have to look hard for news stories about changes in the nation's housing market. The media regularly reports on foreclosure rates being higher, home prices dropping in some areas and sales taking longer than they used to. It's all true, in some sense, but compared to what? A phenomenal housing boom that lasted nearly five years.You don’t have to look hard for news stories about changes in the nation’s housing market. The media regularly reports on forecl... Read Full Post

These numbers are based on a three month historical analysis that is updated on a weekly basis. MLS Area 500 (Newcastle, Bellevue South of I-90 & Issaquah South of I-90) Single Family Homes Average Days on Market: 97 Days (Up from 95 Last Week) Inventory of Active Listings: 610 (Up from 590 Last Week) Inventory of Sold & Pending Listings: 225 (Up from 252 Last Week) 75 listings are absorbed by demand each month on average. (Up From 74 Last Week) 8.13 Months Worth of Supply (Up from 7.... Read Full Post

Looking at Real Estate in Renton can be fun. Once you've found the right home, take a good look at the land it's built on before you buy. Check for: Easements: Whose are they and where are they located? Will you be able to build a garage, shed, fence or other improvements while avoiding the easement areas? Flood: plain is part of the lot marked for flooding areas? How often and for how long is the area under water? Has the house ever been flooded or threatened by high water? Boundaries: Where... Read Full Post

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue. If you think it's about time you bought a home instead of renting, a little homework before you start looking will increase your odds of finding the best buy for you. Here's how: Dig up your down payment Know where your down payment cash will come from. If it's coming from stocks, g... Read Full Post

Generally speaking, there are two ways to go when you are thinking about home improvements. Either you splurge for something purely for the pure pleasure of having it -- that Italian marble bathroom you've dreamed about; that skylight that your spouse has been hinting at for the last six years -- or you take a pragmatic approach, putting in such amenities as a new kitchen or a redwood deck because you want to increase your home's market value. Don't ever expect to score on both counts. Just b... Read Full Post

These numbers are based on a three month historical analysis that is updated on a weekly basis. MLS Area 500 (Newcastle, Bellevue South of I-90 & Issaquah South of I-90) Single Family Homes Average Days on Market: 93 Days (No Change From Last Week) Inventory of Active Listings: 603 (Up from 591 Last Week) Inventory of Sold & Pending Listings: 225 (Up From 165 Last Week) Average List Price: $888,917 (Up from $888,342 Last Week) Average Sale Price: $751,967 (Up from $737,816 Last Week) ... Read Full Post

It's every home seller's dream -- a fast sale. In today's market, crossing the finish line first, fortunately, isn't a matter of luck. To win the home-sale race, you have to stay ahead of the pack. Price the house right, market the house competitively, and make sure the house is in move-in condition. Here are 3 key ways you can get your home on the home sale fast track: 1. Price To Sell Don't over price. A nationwide survey of the National Association of Realtors found homes that sell within ... Read Full Post