Home Ownership

Home Ownership February Home Maintenance Tips Regular home maintenance is essential for preserving the integrity and value of your property. Here are four key tips to keep your home in top condition. Change HVAC and furnace filters every 3 months. Changing HVAC and furnace filters is crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality and ensuring the efficient operation of your heating […]
Home Ownership Women Outpace Men in Homeownership Women earn $0.83 to every $1.00 a man makes, but they are dominating the market! Prior to 1974 it was not legal for a women to secure a mortgage without a male cosigner. Once that barrier was broken, women have outpaced males as homebuyers since the NAR started tracking the data in 1981. In 2022 […]
Home Ownership Millennials and the Housing Market Did you know that 53% of Millennials are still renting because they’re waiting for home prices to come down.  This figure is about the same percentage of renter households in Bellingham! But here’s the thing: the most recent data shows that home prices appear to have bottomed out and are now on the rise again. […]
Home Ownership Which is Better, Renting or Buying? The financial benefits of owning real estate significantly outweigh the option of renting. Renting is certainly a must for some, and is what one may have to do while they build up to becoming a homeowner. Becoming a homeowner requires solid employment, good credit, and some type of down payment. Savings can all be built over time and […]
Home Ownership 2023 Economic & Housing Forecast Thank you to all my guests that were able to join me at my Annual Economic and Housing Forecast event with Matthew Gardner, Windermere Chief Economist sponsored by Evergreen Home Loans. In case you missed it, below are my top 10 takeaways, with all of the slide information linked HERE. BELLINGHAM METRO AREA LABOR MARKET […]
Buying a Home Key Factors to Note as the Market Recalibrates in the New Year 2022 has been an eventful year in the real estate market and the economy. After 2 years of pandemic-fueled demand and historically low interest rates, we experienced a shift. The Fed quickly raised rates (by 2 points) from April to October to combat inflation, curbing buyer demand as affordability took a hit. The overall economy is starting […]
Home Ownership Affordable Travel through Timeshare Ownership A few weeks ago my family went on our annual Florida vacation, but this year it looked and felt very different. The timeshare we own was unfortunately destroyed by Hurricane Ian only two weeks before our scheduled vacation.  My grandparents bought this condo in the 80’s and gifted the weeks they owned to their grandchildren […]
Buying a Home 2023 Real Estate Goals The new year is just around the corner! If you are thinking you might want to invest or make a move next year let’s talk! My calendar is open starting in November for some afternoon/evening consultations. Let’s meet at the brewery of your choice or I can come to your home. We can do some […]
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DIY Prepare Your Home for The Changing Seasons We’re more than half way through September, which means fall is just around the corner! No matter how you feel about the impending seasonal change, I hope this list helps you prepare your home for fall and winter. Wash textiles: curtains, throw blankets, washable pillow covers Shake out your rugs Clean the gutters Clean your […]
Buying a Home Current Shift In Inflation & Interest Rates It has been my goal to report to you accurate, real-time updates on the real estate market as we navigate the shift that started in May 2022. The two factors that have been the biggest contributors to this shift are inflation and interest rates. Inflation caused interest rates to rise by over 2-points over a […]
Buying a Home Quarterly Market Reports for Q2 2022 As we head into the second half of 2022, we are experiencing a shift in the real estate market. The market is starting to balance out after two years of an intense seller’s market. Q1 this year had the lowest amount of inventory we have ever seen, which put upward pressure on prices. With the […]
Home Ownership Summer is Here! Summer is finally here! Now there is enough daylight to tackle some Summer Home Maintenance and show your house a little love! I know that this list might feel long, but I encourage you to just tackle a few a week while we have extra daylight hours! Your home will thank you! Here’s a few […]
Buying a Home Seasons of More Inventory Did you know that Spring and Summer are when we see the highest levels of inventory come to market in our region? Do you feel like you have been battling to win a house with such slim pickings? Well, now’s that time to stay in the game! More selection means more leverage! Sellers are still […]
Buying a Home Shifting Market: Perspective is Key “How’s the market?” is a question I am asked all the time. It is a common segue in casual conversation over the neighbor’s fence, at a party or family gathering. Now more than ever, the answer to this question is critical and detailed. You see, our market is experiencing a shift, a slowing down of price growth if […]
Buying a Home 5% Interest Rates Interest rates have gone up in the past few months! But, they are still well below the historical average. In fact, they are 2 points below the 30-year average! Buyers are best to get qualified on payment, not rate. What does this mean? It means we work with a lender who helps us figure out […]
Buying a Home 50% Home Equity Did you know that 50% of homeowners have at least 50% equity in their homes?! This means that half of the homeowners in the US have a loan balance for less than half of the value of their home. These equity amounts will keep the housing market stable and real estate a smart investment even […]
Home Ownership Is Your Home Properly Insured? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and when it became a topic of discussion at our office meeting this morning I decided it’s time for a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT‼️ I’m not talking about disaster or actual emergency preparedness in your home… although that’s important too. What I’m talking about is all this value […]
Home Ownership Avoiding Capital Gains: When You Have a Ton of Equity and Want to Make a Move Did you know that over 50% of homeowners in Washington State have over 50% home equity? We have had 10 years of price appreciation, and the last 3 years have been record-breaking. The chart below shows complete year-over-year (the last 12 months over the previous 12 months) price appreciation for the seven main market areas in Whatcom […]
Buying a Home Spring Market in Bloom – Keeping Perspective is Paramount As we round out the first quarter of 2022 and head into the notorious Spring Market there are a handful of factors that should be considered whether you are a buyer or a seller. Paying attention to the anticipated increase in housing supply, monitoring buyer demand, and assessing the effects of rising interest rates on […]
Community UPDATE: Global influences on the Housing Market & Interest Rates A lot has happened in our world since the first of the year, specifically the rise in inflation and the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. These factors can influence consumers and affect the housing and financial markets. Additionally, global unrest has had a clear influence on interest rates, driving them back down after a 1-point […]