What is a greenbelt? We get this question a lot - and it can have a different meaning depending on the circumstances and location of the home. Home buyers coming to the Seattle or Bellevue areas from other parts of the country understandably may have preconceived notions as to what a “greenbelt” actually is... but they may be mistaken. In the Pacific Northwest, a greenbelt or buffer-zone is generally considered by most homeowners and buyers alike, to be a vacant … [Read more...]
Most real estate agents in Seattle will tell you that it can be more difficult to sell a home in the winter. Obviously the days are shorter, and with the frequent overcast skies, the interior of a home will likely be much darker than it may be in the spring and summer months. The good news however, is that most home buyers looking at houses in the winter aren't just casual browsers. Rather, they're serious enough about finding a new home to venture out on the house … [Read more...]
Looking to buy a home in Seattle? You'll likely to find that some of the rules of the home buying game seem to have shifted, and not always in your favor. The days of multiple bids and offers over asking price are back in earnest (depending on the area) - particularly in Seattle, Bellevue and other parts of Seattle's Eastside. If you are weighing the advantages of buying a house in the Seattle area before interest rates rise, and as prices continue to increase, … [Read more...]
In Seattle at the moment, there’s one “Hot Market Hazard” which makes my stomach churn, and that’s when the buyer comes downs with a case of “house fever” so severe that they’re willing to waive the home inspection contingency completely to “win” a multiple offer situation. The Seattle area market is definitely “hot” right now. We have a record low home inventory for sale, and an incredibly low number of new listings coming online to satisfy … [Read more...]
Updated Introduction: A few agents have already commented in various places that this post may not be "a good idea." IMO, that's likely because they think an agent's Number One Priority is "lead generation" - and some believe it's "aggressive" lead generation. I completely disagree - I feel our Number One priority is "client service." It is my belief the reason an increasing number of buyers are behaving in the ways I describe in this post, is because real estate (as … [Read more...]
Short sales in Snoqualmie have slowed in the past year, but they are likely to pop-up on occasion for the foreseeable future as our local real estate market recovers. Short sales are not for everyone however - and in fact, are sometimes initiated when the homeowner will clearly not qualify, which can cause a myriad of problems. This is commonly due to three scenarios - either the homeowner was not upfront with the agent about their financial situation, the real estate … [Read more...]
