Advice

One of the main gripes that people have with real estate agents is their commission. Many homeowners (mistakenly) think, “Why should I pay a real estate agent to do something I’m perfectly capable of doing myself?”

The reason people avoid working with agents is because they think it’s going to cost them money. But in reality, working with a qualified real estate agent is worth far more than what you’ll pay in commission. In fact, working with a real estate agent can actually make the process of selling your home less stressful, less time consuming, and less expensive.

Here are three ways real estate agents more than earn their commission — and can actually save you money — during your home sale:

1. They know the right people

As the old real

We are very excited about this program - you'd be surprised who can qualify! A lender sent us this helpful information on January 8, 2019. Check it out!

DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFO

HOW MUCH IS IT?
The program is free. It requires the client take a one day class through the WSHFC to be eligible. But first contact us for a free consultation we'll arrange with a qualified lender who can give you some quick tips!  

WHO CAN QUALIFY?
A credit score of 620 or above is required and ratios must be under 50% DTI. Have no clue what that means? Ross Palmer of CrossCountry Mortgage, who provided the info on this page, can easily explain this to you. Contact us to set up a meeting!

HOW MUCH IS THE LIMIT
The Down Payment Assistance programs vary for

Knowing the market will keep you ahead of the game, if you are only just thinking of selling or buying. We meet with people months in advance to talk about their plans. Here are some key updates we are currently seeing:

1. SELLERS BE PREPARED. The Seattle area market took a turn last summer. It has remained pretty stable after the turn. Winter often has a lull so that is expected. The spring will be very telling about where the market will land after it's shift. But overall, we have experienced more price drops in recent months than we have had in many years! Sellers, don't be surprised if you don't get your original asking price or expect to sit much longer on the market at your list price. We show you the statistics based on your neighborhood so you

Wintertime is one of the best times to get organized in the home and keep you moving on those dreary days when you're tempted to just sit! We found some great articles for dealing with your garage, prepping to move, and just getting organized...including a storage unit because most people have to contend with those. Many people move in the spring but that is not the time to get ready. Winter is the time to get ready for your spring move! You will alleviate so much stress if you chip away at this all through the winter months. 

GARAGE: https://www.familyhandyman.com/storage-organization/brilliant-ways-to-organize-your-garage/view-all/ 

TOP 50 MOVING HACKS: https://www.updater.com/moving-tips/top-50-moving-hacks-of-all-time?rq=hacks 

Copyright ©2018 Northwest Multiple Listing Service - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Photo Credit: patch.com

How do the schools in Redmond rate against other Washington schools? Check out these sources that many homebuyers like to view before deciding on a home. Whether or not you have kids in school, the school ratings affect the home values of an area. The better the schools, the higher the demand. The higher the demand, the better the home prices. 

School Digger: School Digger

Great Schools: Great Schools

ABOUT REDMOND
Located 20 miles east of downtown Seattle, Redmond is the 16th most populated city in Washington state. The city prides itself in its high quality of life with good schools, a healthy economic base, a parks system that provides a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities, diverse offerings for

Photo Credit: Greg Gilbert - Seattle Times

The NWMLS delivered this article just recently and we have quoted these paragraphs that highlight the shift in our local market:

KIRKLAND, Washington (August 6, 2018) -

"Home sellers throughout the Seattle region are experiencing a reality check and the days of multiple offers are days of the past," was how one director with Northwest Multiple Listing Service summarized the market upon reviewing the statistical report for July."

"New figures from Northwest MLS show year-over-year improvement in inventory (up 6.5 percent), but modest drops on both pending sales (down slightly more than 7 percent) and closed sales (down 3.4 percent). Despite those drops, prices rose 8.64 percent across the MLS

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, "The average U.S. residential household consumed 10,982 kWh of electricity and spent around $2,200 annually on utility bills." You are probably using more energy that you need to! What can you do to conserve energy and therefore money?

Heating and Cooling: 

Close your blinds in the summer to keep it cool and open them in the winter to let the sun help heat your home - if there is sunshine in the sky!.

Appliances:

Use the energy saver setting! It really does work!

Read more from David Haley, a local mortgage lender we often recommend as he is concerned about helping our clients save money: Tips to Save Energy

Photo Credit: Seattle Public Schools

How do the schools in Magnolia rate against other Washington schools? Check out these sources that many homebuyers like to view before deciding on a home. Whether or not you have kids in school, the school rating affect the home values of an area. The better the schools, the higher the demand. The higher the demand, the better the home prices. 

School Digger: School Digger

Great Schools: Great Schools

ABOUT MAGNOLIA
Magnolia is the second largest neighborhood of Seattle by area and has been part of the city since 1891.  Magnolia is isolated from the rest of Seattle and is connected by only three bridges: W Emerson Place, W Dravus Street, and W Garfield Street.  Magnolia is home to Discovery Park and West

Do you remember these vintage Tupperware canisters from your grandma's kitchen? Or maybe your mom still has that lime green pitcher? Was the lettuce keeper passed down to you? Tupperware brings up many memories of people's moms and grandmas because it lasts forever!

Did your grandma have some of the toys below for you to play with when you visited? Maybe your mom got you the Shape-O toy when you were little and it's still hanging around!

We often take Tupperware for granted as it's often a household staple we overlook. However, being that it has been around for over 70 years and offers a lifetime warranty, we thought some of you would enjoy walking down memory lane with us. And if you don't know a "Tupperware lady",  our local