While we know COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind right now, we thought we’d change it up and give you things to think about for your next home – or upgrades to your current home! (You suddenly have plenty of time,… Read more

Mortgage standards are nothing like they were back then During the housing bubble, it was difficult NOT to get a mortgage. Today, it is tough to qualify. The Mortgage Bankers’ Association releases a Mortgage Credit Availability Index which is “a summary measure which indicates the… Read more

. . . and why PMI in the first place? PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance, is the lender’s protection in case you default on your mortgage and your home goes into foreclosure. Homebuyers unable to come up with a 20%… Read more

SEVEN WAYS THE NEW TAX LAWS AFFECT HOMEOWNERS With new tax changes having come into effect in the past year, it’s a great time to revisit how some of those changes might affect homeowners. While everyone’s situation differs, there are… Read more

I recently wrote about upgrades that are WORTH THE SPLURGE? , which got me to thinking about remodeling, refreshing, and rearranging your home. In the good old days, homeowners had few options when it came to “test driving” potential purchases… Read more

One of the most common questions I am asked by both buyers and sellers has to do with upgrades to a home. Sellers want to know if the investment they make will pay off. And buyers are wondering if they… Read more

One of the most common questions I am asked by both buyers and sellers has to do with upgrades to a home. Sellers want to know if the investment they make will pay off. And buyers are wondering if they… Read more

Over the past several years, we’ve been experiencing a strong seller’s market here in the Puget Sound, including the geographic market I specialize in (Covington, Kent, Maple Valley, and Renton). In almost every way, sellers called the shots. They were… Read more

Whether you’ve reached a certain age, or your housing needs have changed for other reasons, you may be considering “downsizing” your home. It’s a big decision, and one many homeowners struggle with. For some, it’s a reluctance to leave a… Read more

Did you have a chance to read our previous blog post, on the advantages of buying a new home … and the one where we looked at the potential downsides of new construction? If so, you learned that there are… Read more