This year we’re rolling out a new program of providing real estate reviews to the friends of our business as part of our ongoing service program.  In the coming months we’ll be calling you to set up a short in-person or phone meeting to discuss any questions you have about the market, your neighborhood and [...]

Looking Back… Anyone remember the riding the ‘sleigh-ride’ at Fun Forest at the Seattle Center?  For those who don’t, it was the roller coaster alternative for those of us that were too young, too short, or too frightened, to pony up the real coaster… Anyhow, that’s how we’d describe 2010’s market – much more a [...]

So I just got the latest statistics for closed sales for 2010, which has allowed the completion of an analysis looking at how market activity and prices have been effected by the peak and the downturn. The clear conclusion here is that we’ve appear to have hit a bottom plateau and are primed for a [...]

Yep… you read that right.  Home sales were up in December – traditionally the second slowest month for closed sales. This is great news as it shows strength in the housing market and the 3rd straight month of improvement after the expiration of tax credits, as well as being in spite of the winter weather [...]

Here’s a great article about Myths about foreclosures in today’s market: 5 More Myths About Foreclosures Best snips: Waiting For Shadow Inventory Banks aren’t going do a massive release of foreclosed homes – they’ll simply be replacing those homes that sell with homes they have.  They don’t want to flood the market and risk driving [...]

I nearly fell out of my chair today, when I read the brief article in the Seattle Times that actually gave a neutral to positive report on the latest housing numbers for King and Snohomish County.  Good for them for not only reporting the actual numbers but putting them in context, and showing a ray [...]

In recently released study by the National Assocation of Realtors nearly 80% of those surveyed believe that buying a home is a responsible financial decision, and nearly 70% believe today is a great time to buy a home. Some key results directly from the survey: Americans continue to believe that buying a home is a [...]

Here’s a quick note from Daily Real Estate News from the National Association of Realtors: Home builder confidence rose in October for the first time since May. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose three points to 16. All three components of the index were up with sales conditions rising three [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association is predicting the mortgage rates will rise modestly in 2011 from ‘records lows in the low 4% range to merely historic lows in the low 5% range.  The rise in rates will likely mean a lower level of new mortgages due primarily to fewer refinances, however the MBA expects new mortgages [...]

We’re definitely seeing the real world reflection of these most recent stats… check out a 5 year view of Pending and Sold transactions in King County.  The major annual trend:  January is slowest month, June/July/August peak, market slows through end of the year. However this year is quite a bit different – principally due to [...]