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Whether you’re a real estate investor or just someone looking for a new home, fixer-uppers can be tempting. However, before you commit to one of these properties, you must know their risks. A fixer-upper property may seem like an incredible deal, but it can quickly turn into a bad idea. That is because of several factors that are very hard to predict. So, before deciding whether the property is worth it, you should know the exact pros and cons. And, of course, the decision is ultimately up to you, but remember to consider everything. To help you make the decision, we put together a list of the pros and cons of buying a fixer-upper, and we hope you find it informative.&nbsp;Pro: the initial cost is typically much lower&nbsp;One of the main reasons people get tempted into buying a fixer-upper property is the purchase cost. Because these properties are typically in bad condition, they cost much less than other properties in the area. That draws in potential buyers and investors, and it’s an excellent reason to buy one of these properties. On the investing side, it can mean pulling a crazy amount of profit out of one property. On the other hand, homebuyers can be tempted to buy a house in a good neighborhood for a low price. So, the initial cost is one of the main selling points of fixer-uppers. However, buyers should still be aware of <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/hidden-fees-to-be-aware-of-when-purchasing-a-home-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hidden fees</a> involved in buying a property. Especially when aiming to buy a property because of how cheap it is, getting slapped with hidden fees can be surprising.&nbsp;Pro: there’s a lot less competition&nbsp;Another great thing about buying a fixer-upper is the lack of competition. After all, not many people want to buy properties they need to work on. Most people nowadays want to buy move-in ready homes, which fixer-uppers decidedly aren’t. So, when buying one of these properties, you don’t have to worry about bidding wars. Additionally, there isn’t as much pressure when offering the property. Of course, you still shouldn’t lowball your offer, as the seller might deny it anyway. But, because there is much less competition, negotiating the price is generally easier. However, you should <a href="https://peakservices.com/blog/home-improvement-hazards-you-should-avoid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">be aware of some dangers</a> of working on fixer-uppers. Safety should always be a priority, especially when working on home improvements. Unless you’re careful and take the necessary precautions, it’s very easy to get injured. So, take your time and make sure you’re doing everything safely.&nbsp;Pro: you choose where the money goes&nbsp;When working on a fixer-upper, you choose exactly where the money goes regarding improvements. That allows you to work on the parts of the home that matter most to you. For example, if you want to ensure the bathroom is extra comfortable, you can focus on that. Or maybe you want a home office or a nice kitchen. Whatever your preference is, you are entirely in control of home improvements, so you can make them happen. That is the main reason homebuyers are attracted to fixer-upper properties. However, it’s essential to know how to <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/6-ways-to-spot-a-home-with-potential-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spot potential</a> in a property, especially when looking at fixer-uppers. More for real estate investors, but knowing how to spot a property with the potential to be very valuable is quite valuable. So, take your time and watch for excellent properties.&nbsp;Con: you never know what issues you might find&nbsp;One of the most significant risks of fixer-uppers is issues you can’t spot immediately. For example, you might rip up your new project’s flooring to find asbestos in the subfloor. That then leads to an entirely new, expensive, and hazardous problem. A common issue people encounter is finding rot in the beams while replacing drywall. So, in truth, you can never know what sorts of issues you will run into while working on a fixer-upper. That is how a potentially good investment gets turned onto its head and becomes a time and money sink. However, you can save it if you <a href="https://peakservices.com/blog/7-tips-to-renovating-your-balcony/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">add value to the exterior</a> and interior. Renovating a balcony, for example, is a great way to do this. Homes with lovely interiors are typically much more valuable than homes without them.&nbsp;Con: plan to go over budget on the project&nbsp;It’s a sad truth that most fixer-uppers go over budget. According to real estate stats, 4 out of 10 fixer-uppers end up going over budget. As we already mentioned, that is because you usually run into issues you didn’t know were present. As such, you should have a very large budget for the project before deciding to commit to it. Finding the money to fuel this project can be somewhat tricky. Taking on leans is risky, but it’s an option. Just remember that you should only use credit cards for minor fixes. And, of course, only work with professionals regarding renovations. If you spend a lot of money anyway, you might as well ensure everything is done correctly. Also, you should know the difference between a <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/the-difference-between-home-warranty--home-insurance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">home warranty and home insurance</a>, no matter what property you decide to buy.&nbsp;The pros and cons of buying a fixer-upper – wrap up&nbsp;Investing in a fixer-upper property is a risky endeavor at the best of times. As such, it’s essential to know the pros and cons of doing this before deciding to commit to it. Yes, the profit potential is there, but there’s also quite a risk involved. And according to the stats, the odds aren’t in your favor when it comes to these kinds of properties. We hope this list of the pros and cons of buying a fixer-upper you decide, and we wish you a good day.&nbsp;

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Fixer-Upper 

Whether you are interested in the housing market of Seattle as a home buyer or potential investor, it is natural to want to understand its condition before dipping your feet in its waters. So, what is the current state of the Seattle housing market like?&nbsp; Number of homes on the market&nbsp;During this past year, we've noticed a definite increase in the number of homes on the market. During 2021, the housing market inventory in Seattle was rather anemic. Finding the desired property, or any property at all, was difficult. This all changed in 2022 when we saw a sudden and overwhelming surge in inventory. It was much easier to <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/6-ways-to-spot-a-home-with-potential-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spot a home with potential</a> simply because of the vast array of them on offer. Now, what's even more interesting is that while 'inventory' is still considerable, the 'supply' of homes in the Seattle housing market is slowly drying up. After all, the number of new homes on the market is low, and there are few projects that are actively increasing it. Meaning that if the current situation persists, we will eventually encounter a problem with 'inventory' again as well. Still, that's pretty far off.&nbsp;&nbsp;The waiting game&nbsp;The state of the Seattle housing market was such that when there were few homes on it, they would be snatched up almost immediately. A house's average time on the market back in 2021 was around a week. Now, however, things have changed. The average waiting time for your home to sell is now closer to a month. This shows buyers are now much more discerning and taking the time necessary to organize everything properly. After all, if you are moving from California to Washington and hiring interstate movers, you want a <a href="https://www.losangelestransfer.com/services/interstate-moving/california-to-washington/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crew you can depend on</a>. And that's just one aspect of the moving and home-buying process. Naturally, this has negatively affected sellers looking to get an influx of cash quickly.&nbsp;&nbsp;The price changes&nbsp;While the inventory has gone up and the waiting times have gotten longer, the average housing prices have actually gotten bigger. This is because the buyers are keener than ever on getting their hands on the 'best' properties on the market. Now, this is not to say that the prices are at an all-time high. Due to the pandemic, the state of the Seattle housing market has suffered considerably. Rent and home value had briefly dipped to levels threatening both the sellers and commercial housing investors. Since then, the prices have been climbing again, but they are still not 'ridiculously' high and are, in fact, quite affordable.&nbsp;&nbsp;A slower market&nbsp;If everything we've described so far hasn't made it obvious, then let us be direct: The current Seattle housing market is very 'slow'. Neither sellers nor buyers can expect to walk away quickly with a completed transaction. Sellers, because buyers are trying to find the perfect property at the right price. Buyers, because there is a lot more inventory on offer, want to ensure they've done their due research. This isn't necessarily bad since it gives both parties enough time to properly prepare and align everything to their advantage. But it can get a bit frustrating if it is in your best interest to finalize things quickly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Harder sales&nbsp;At the end of the day, the sellers suffer the most from the situation we just described. This is because they need to have a competitive property to make it on the market and get the best price possible. It is no longer a question of <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/should-you-renovate-your-house-before-selling-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whether you should renovate</a> your house before selling. Now, if you actually want to make a sale at all, you have to do it. While they will always appeal to a part of the market, Fixer-uppers are definitely not as huge as they used to be. A discerning buyer now much prefers a home that's ready for a move immediately after the purchase. This might, in part, be due to how long it takes to finalize a sale, to begin with. But it is also because people simply do not want to personally invest in renovation anymore.&nbsp;&nbsp;The matters of mortgage&nbsp;Unfortunately, while the Seattle housing market is generally tending towards being buyer-oriented, one aspect of the experience definitely isn't. If you are looking to get a mortgage, you will find that interest rates continue to increase. Naturally, this makes <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">looking for a new home</a> on a budget much more difficult. Since this is a direct consequence of inflation and an attempt to combat it, we can't hope that things will change anytime soon. As such, short of being able to make a home purchase outright, the best option would be to buy sooner rather than later.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Viability of commercial investment&nbsp;The final question concerning the current state of the Seattle housing market is whether investing in it is still worth it. And the answer, as things stand, is yes! If you want to work on flipping properties, the current scenario, where the good properties are valued very highly and the less desirable ones are not, is perfect for you. Of course, you need to carefully juggle your investment with your potential profits. But it is still possible to earn money from it. On the other hand, investing in commercial properties to rent them is only growing in profitability. New and old businesses alike still require proper facilities to function, and if you pick out the right investment, you stand to profit greatly.&nbsp;&nbsp;The present and the potential of the market&nbsp;As you can tell, the current state of the Seattle housing market is, paradoxically, both promising and worrying. The influx of new 'supply' is currently lacking, and the average buyer's experience is initially rough due to mortgage concerns and positive due to the massive inventory currently available. At present, if you have the money for it, making a purchase will be both easy and satisfying. But the sellers are not having as much fun, and some dark clouds are on the horizon.&nbsp;

The Current State of the Seattle Housing Market 

Being the owner of any real estate property, residential or commercial, can be a great investment opportunity. Becoming a landlord is a great way to have an extra stream of revenue. And in most cases owning commercial real estate will generate more profit in the long term. However, certain things, like the fact that there’s a higher risk when investing in commercial real estate, can scare people off. For some people, even the little things that are technically considered “extra work” are enough to turn them away from commercial real estate investing. For example, just like in residential real estate, as a commercial investor, you’ll have to <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/top-10-real-estate-terms-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learn a lot of new terms</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Doing your best to understand why this type of investment would/wouldn’t be for you is a great way to ensure that you’re making the right investment decisions for your situation.&nbsp;&nbsp;What is commercial real estate?&nbsp; Before we talk about why you should or shouldn’t be investing, let’s first explain what commercial real estate properties are. Here’s a short list of what kind of property this term usually refers to:&nbsp;<div>1. retail buildings,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"><div>2. office buildings,&nbsp;</div><div>3. warehouses,&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: start"><div>4. industrial buildings,&nbsp;</div><div>5. apartment buildings.&nbsp; Of course, there is always variation and nuances. But, these reasons for and against commercial real estate investing refer to all types.&nbsp; </div><div>&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: start">Reasons why you should invest in commercial real estate&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start"> The extra income&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">The first and most common reason people invest in this type of real estate property is the higher income rate. Commercial real estate properties generally bring double the return off the purchase price than residential properties do annually. However, this does depend on many external factors. But, in general, if your goal with investing in rental real estate is to get as much revenue as possible, this investment is definitely for you.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Your relationship with your tenants will be more professional&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">Unlike residential rental properties, the relationship between the landlord and the tenant in commercial properties is much more professional. Any business owner renting your property would probably approach you with a business-to-business relationship. Suppose the thought of getting to know your tenants and making closer interpersonal relationships with them seems unappealing. In that case, investing in a commercial rental space is the right choice for you.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Your tenants are a lot more motivated to keep the place looking good&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">Most residential tenants will do their best to properly maintain your property. However, when your tenant is a business, they are more interested in having the place look good. For example, if you’re renting to a small business owner, who has a store in the property you’re renting out, they’ll want to maintain it as well as possible to attract more customers.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">In this scenario, you and your tenants have aligned interests. You will get something out of place, looking excellent and well-maintained.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">No sudden midnight calls&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">If you decide to own residential real estate, you can expect at least a few midnights calls over the years. Whether it’s because the tenant needs something fixed or they got locked out of their home and need your key. On the other hand, if you invest in commercial real estate, the business you rent to has set work hours. That means that you work the same hours as they do. Of course, you’re not totally off the hook. If a disastrous event such as a fire breaks out, you will probably have to get out of bed and do something about it. But those are rarer than the all too common “I forgot my keys” call.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">More security on your side&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">If you own residential rental property, your tenants will not be OK with you putting in cameras. However, as the landlord of a business’s rental space, you’ll probably be encouraged to add as many security features as possible. That means the risk of break-ins and other security breaches is much lower when you own commercial property. If you find security very important, then commercial real estate investing is more your speed.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Reasons why commercial real estate investing might not be for you&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">It can be a lot more work&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">Simply put, when you own commercial spaces, you have much more to manage, from dealing with annual CAM adjustments to handling multiple leases, maintenance issues, and public safety concerns. A piece of great advice from experts from <a href="http://a2bmovingandstorage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a2bmovingandstorage.com</a> is to have professional relationships with local moving and storage services. This way, if any of your tenants decide to close up shop. You already know whom to call to make sure they are moved out, and the space is clear for a new renter as soon as possible.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">If you want to be a commercial real estate owner, there’s no way for you to be an abstinent landlord. It’s a way more hands-on experience. So if that seems unpleasant, this investment is not suitable for you.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">You’ll likely always have to hire help when it comes to maintenance&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">Because of all the regulations in place for commercial properties and public spaces, unless you’re licensed, you’ll probably have to hire help regarding any maintenance issue. When you own residential real estate, you may get away with fixing a leaking pipe by yourself. But with commercial spaces, this option flies out the window.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">You can always outsource property management by employing a property management company. However, you should do all the calculations needed to see whether you would better handle everything by yourself or hand over some of your revenue to a management company.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">It’s a much more expensive investment at first&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;Buying a commercial property is a much larger investment upfront. There is much more money to spend, and getting your foot in the door may be challenging. Your general goal with this is that the profit you make from renting will outweigh the money you need for maintenance and investment. You can always get in touch with an experienced agent to help you figure out what the best course of action would be. Just make sure <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/About-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">that you know their story</a> and that they are reputable. They can help you properly account for everything and ensure you won’t lose any money.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">As you can see, there’s much to consider when deciding if commercial real estate investing is right for you. However, with enough preparation, calculations, and guts, you might turn quite a profit and get a new great source of revenue. Of course, you should always ensure you <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">have a trusted real estate professional</a> when looking for commercial properties to invest in.&nbsp;</div>

Is Commercial Real Estate Investing Right for You? 

Seattle has long been an attractive location for all sorts of residents, especially the ones looking for a place to raise a family. The Emerald City is often one of the most family-friendly cities in the country due to the safety, affordability, and plethora of family-friendly activities you can do with your little ones. However, choosing the best location for your new home is often very challenging, as there are multiple factors to consider—the proximity to your work, reputable schools, overall safety and accessibility, and more. However, specific neighborhoods make the search a lot easier for you. Here are the best Seattle neighborhoods for young families – and some extra tips on choosing the one that works best for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;How family-friendly is SeattleSurrounded by beautiful nature, Seattle is a beautiful city that attracts many families. It’s often ranked high in However, if you’re still wondering if this is the right city for you, here are some reasons why Seattle is great for young families:&nbsp;<div><ul><li>Walkability – many family-friendly attractions are within walking distance, and the city is pretty easy to get around;&nbsp;</li><li>Seattle has high-quality education and childcare institutions, and that’s one of the main reasons why it’s always ranked high in lists of cities great to raise a child;&nbsp;</li><li>It’s the city of great outdoors – families love the fact that Seattle is surrounded by amazing nature, giving many opportunities for outdoor activities and an active lifestyle;&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: start"><div><ul><li>There’s no income state tax – Seattle makes a rather affordable city to live in, which is another special factor for families with kids;&nbsp;</li><li>It’s safe – safety is important to residents of Seattle, so you can expect low crime rates and an overall safe environment for little ones;&nbsp;</li><li>Great job opportunities – parents don’t need to worry about supporting their family. Seattle has plenty of career opportunities in different industries, so finding a job after the move won’t be an issue.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>Seattle is a beautiful city where you’ll be able to provide your kids with a lovely childhood. The best part is – there are some great family-friendly <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/seattle-neighborhoods" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neighborhoods to choose from</a>, and here’s the selection of the best ones.&nbsp;</div><div>Where to move to in Seattle with your loved ones&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: start">You’ll now see the best choices when it comes to safe, family-friendly areas of Seattle. Consider each of them but narrow the list according to your personal preferences and needs. Pick a neighborhood that fits your family’s lifestyle and your needs, as well as your budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Madrona&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">A neighborhood that seems to have it all. You can choose among different architecture-style homes located in safe streets kids can play in. Madrona is one of the favorite areas of the city for families with kids, and there are a couple of reasons for it. Even though it’s a rather small neighborhood, Madrona includes many amenities, top-rated schools, and local businesses. Finally, living in Madrona ensures you’ve got the see the most beautiful view of lake Washington whenever you want! Parents love taking their kids to Madrona Park, but also the Madrona playground and a cute Alvin Larkins Park nearby – there are plenty of locations to go out without even leaving the neighborhood.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Queen Anne&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Another amazing neighborhood for families with kids boasts high safety levels and beautiful homes with lush yards. Queen Anne is a historic neighborhood that’s often considered a very luxurious part of the city. However, don’t expect prices that are much higher than in other parts of the city. The family also loves this place because of its convenient location and proximity to great schools. It’s also one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Seattle, which brings a special charm to the area that distinguishes it from other parts of the city.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Greenwood&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">This lovely neighborhood is often considered one of the best areas in Washington state. It provides its residents with a small-town feel but at the same time includes everything they need. Ten schools, many restaurants and cafes, safe streets with sidewalks, and homes of different prices and sizes. You can easily <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">choose a property according to your budget</a> and needs and make this great neighborhood your new home.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Ballard&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Ballard is surely one of the best Seattle neighborhoods for young families. It’s a highly walkable area where you can easily go out with a stroller or grab your toddler by the hand and take a walk together. People love it because of plenty of outdoor options, as you can both have a stroll along the coast and through the woodlands. The neighborhood consists mostly of single-family homes that are <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/how-to-cope-after-losing-the-bidding-war-on-your-dream-home-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">always in high demand</a>. So, if you plan on getting a property, make sure you’re ready for the purchase when a great property comes up, so you can act fast.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Make sure you move to Seattle safely&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Choosing the right neighborhood is just one step in the process. When you decide to make Washington your home, you need to plan this adventure carefully to make it as safe as possible. Finding a home can also be challenging if you don’t have a local expert by your side. Rely on the knowledge and experience of a local agent to help you find the best value for your money and a home that perfectly corresponds to your family’s needs. Also, when it comes to moving to Washington from another state, always ensure you’ve got <a href="https://bestcrosscountrymovers.com/" alt="reliable help for this." class="on">reliable help for this</a>. Research moving teams that specialize in interstate moving and have a lot of positive customers. Do online research and support it with recommendations you get from family and friends to make sure you trust the best team.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Final words&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">There are some great Seattle neighborhoods for young families – but only one is the right one for you. That’s why try to visit each of these and walk around to see if that’s the place you want to raise your family. Take a stroll, talk to the locals, and include your family in this decision – after carefully considering all the factors, you’ll be able to pick the best place to make your new home. And one thing is for sure – Seattle welcomes you with open arms!&nbsp;</div>

Best Seattle Neighborhoods for Young Families 

Losing the bidding war on your dream home is a lousy way to go – it can be disappointing! However, there are ways to cope with losing out on a home and keep moving forward with your search for real estate. Take a look at a few ways that can help you cope after losing the bidding war on your dream house.&nbsp; Keep a level head&nbsp;You might not be able to&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/buying" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">buy your dream home</a>&nbsp;at the moment, but that's not a reason to get frustrated. It's essential not to take it personally – it's just a house! Not everything in life works out, and there will be other homes for you. If you allow yourself to get wrapped up in this one house,&nbsp;it could affect how you view your future home search process.&nbsp;Nothing is worse than being emotionally invested in something that isn't meant for us. It would only make our lives more difficult if we tried forcing ourselves into something that wasn't right for us.&nbsp;Focus on the process&nbsp;The most important thing you can do after losing the bidding war is to focus on what went well – and how to improve for your next attempt at home ownership. Think about what you learned from this experience that will help you in future bids. It may be something new about yourself, such as that your family isn't ready yet or that it's time to upsize and move into a bigger house.&nbsp;If you have another dream home in mind, think back over all of your research: What did you learn from touring each property? Which were better than expected? Which were worse than expected? What could make them better (or worse) next time?&nbsp;Look for a new dream home&nbsp;When you find yourself in the position of having to move, it can be hard on your heart. You may have loved the home you lost out on, but now your search is on again – and this time, it's not as simple as finding a place that fits your budget and has all the right amenities. If you're looking for a <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new home in Seattle</a> after losing out on one that was perfect for you, keep the following things in mind.&nbsp;Be realistic about what features are important to you&nbsp;Don't set yourself up for disappointment by insisting that every new house has to have an open floor plan or a fireplace when those elements aren't even at the top of your list. Think about what's most important: location, parking, or a yard? Make sure these things are present in any new home before making an offer or signing papers with another real estate agent.&nbsp;Look for houses within your price range&nbsp;As tempting as it may be to try to get into something more excellent than last time because "you can afford it now," don't go overboard! It's easy enough when buying something more significant or newer will allow more space without affecting rent prices too much. However, buying something more expensive than necessary could put undue stress on your credit card debt and student loans.&nbsp;Re-evaluate your needs and budget&nbsp;Once you've gotten over the initial disappointment of losing the bidding war on your dream home, take some time to re-evaluate your needs and budget. It's important to focus on what you can afford instead of getting caught up in the excitement of a bidding war. Before buying a home, keep in mind that you might need to set some money aside for <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/hidden-fees-to-be-aware-of-when-purchasing-a-home-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">additional fees</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;If it was a matter of money, maybe other properties within your price range would be more suitable for your family. Or perhaps looking at foreclosures or short sales will give you more choices with similar price tags. Either way, don’t rush into anything – there may be another opportunity coming soon!&nbsp;Don’t let your emotions get the best of you&nbsp;If you have been in the market for a new home and have been outbid on your dream home, don't let your emotions get the best of you.&nbsp;Don't take it personally, and don't let it get you down. And most importantly, don't let it stop you from looking for a new home!&nbsp;If you feel frustrated or angry about losing the bidding war, try to remind yourself that this isn't personal. Your competition is likely going through the same things as well. And they&nbsp;just got lucky enough to win this particular house at&nbsp;this specific time. That doesn't mean they're better than anyone else: They could offer more money than everyone else combined at that moment (or maybe their agent had an extra coupon code).&nbsp;Use this experience to be more prepared for the next home you buy&nbsp;You can take this experience to be more prepared for the next home you buy. You’ll have a better understanding of what you want in a house and will be able to do your research better before putting in an offer on another one. Once you find the one you like, all you need to do is find Seattle movers who will help with your inventory. With help from <a href="https://verifiedmovers.com/top-movers-in-seattle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the right team in the area</a>, you will enjoy living in your new home in no time!&nbsp;While it might seem like every other house on the market is out of reach, that doesn't mean there isn't something else out there that's perfect for you. The process can get discouraging at times, but don’t let it get too emotional – it'll only make things worse! Just focus on what you can learn from it and move on to your next dream home experience.&nbsp;Conclusion&nbsp;After losing the bidding war on your dream home, try not to despair. You can still buy a home that's right for your family and budget, even if it isn't exactly what you were hoping for. Remember that this experience is an important one for future homeowners because it will help you learn about how to be more prepared for the next time around!&nbsp;

How to Cope after Losing the Bidding War on Your Dream Home 

When looking for a new home, you want to make sure you are making the right purchase. However, doing this can be very difficult, especially since smart sellers make it even more complicated by trying to cover up the bad and heighten the appeal of good features in their homes. Nevertheless, there are six ways to spot a home with potential reliably!A nice floor plan&nbsp;To spot a home with potential, the first thing you need to look at is its floor plan. There are lots of different&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/10-best-roi-home-improvement-projects" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guaranteed return-on-investment home improvement projects</a>. But there’s very little you can do when it comes to changing a floor plan. Not without investing far too much money, at least. The best you could do is knock down a couple of walls before things get prohibitively expensive. Of course, the definition of a good floor plan fluctuates from person to person. Some prefer an open floor plan, while others like to have as many individual rooms as possible. What it really depends on is whether or not the floor plan would mesh well with your family’s needs. If it does, you can go ahead and consider the house an excellent potential purchase!&nbsp;An ideal location&nbsp; If it’s hard to do anything about a floor plan, then it’s impossible to do anything about the house’s location. If you settle down in an inconvenient part of the city, you’ll be stuck living there for a while. It might not seem like much of a downside at first. After all, a single person or a young couple would not have it too rough even if they travel a bit further for shopping or to go to work. However, consider what will happen once you have kids or if you already have them. Commuting to school could be difficult or even dangerous. Similarly, if you don’t own a car, you want to ensure there is an easily reached bus station or other public transport means. To&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">find your dream home</a>, selecting a good location is crucial.&nbsp;Solid foundations&nbsp;The next way to spot a potential home is to assess the house’s state. One way to do this is to inquire about its age. Older homes tend to have more issues than newer ones, but know this is not an ironclad rule. Of course, the best thing to do, especially if you are buying your first home and&nbsp;<a href="https://usmovingexperts.com/buying-first-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">if you lack experience</a>, is to hire professional home inspectors. They can accurately tell you whether the house would require renovation and whether it would be a minor or major investment to get it back into good condition. Even if a home has been lived in and it isn’t a fixer-upper, it is still possible for it to have hidden problems even from the previous owners. Of course, a thorough inspection would reveal most, if not all, of them.&nbsp;A good neighborhood&nbsp;Another thing you can have very little control over are your neighbors. If you purchase a house next to obnoxiously loud people, or people with particularly loud pets, your life can become significantly harder. This is why you should always ask probing questions about the neighborhood when trying to spot a home with potential. If you like a property, you should definitely go out of your way to talk to a few of the neighbors. They might reveal problems with the neighborhood to you, or you might spot troublesome neighbors yourself during the chats. Of course, another thing to check is whether the district is considered ‘safe.’ Areas with high crime rates are definitely not where you want to start a life and raise a family. Thankfully, this isn’t that hard to research, and you can even try to consult with local authorities on the subject.&nbsp;Size considerations&nbsp;One more thing to take into account is the size of the property. And we do mean the whole property. When viewing it, you will consider whether the house is large enough for you and your family. However, many people discard the importance of having a decently sized yard. Having extra space outside of your home is extremely useful. You can start a garden, make an area where you can relax and while away your time, or even build a playground for your kids. Alternatively, you can always consider building expansions for your home. This would admittedly be an expensive project, but it could be the perfect choice for you under the right circumstances. Whatever you decide to do with the space, it is obviously better to have it and do nothing with it than to not have options.&nbsp;Property history&nbsp;One of the last ways to spot a home with potential would be to check its history. Now, we don’t actually mean its purchase or ownership history. Instead, this refers to the building’s history of repairs, remodels, and renovations. This is because such data often reveals crucial clues about the house. For example, if the previous owners were frequently forced to do renovations caused by water damage in the attic, bathroom, or basement, you can guarantee that you will have to do it, too. This pattern can point to the fact that water is seeping through the walls or that the city or even just the neighborhood have high humidity, which causes issues. You do not want such a home since you’ll need to worry about&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/home-maintenance-checklist-for-fall-in-the-pacific-northwest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">home maintenance checklists for fall</a>&nbsp;and other seasons anyway! Do not make your job more complex when you don’t have to.&nbsp;Final comment&nbsp;By properly utilizing the six ways to spot a home with potential, you will find the ideal property for your family. At the end of the day, it all comes down to trying to look past decorations, furniture, and even, to an extent, the current state of maintenance. If a house has a good location, an undamaged foundation, and even the other features we’ve listed out, then a minor renovation investment is not too big a deal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

6 Ways to Spot a Home with Potential 

In order to keep your home safe and comfortable all throughout fall and winter, there is some prep work that needs to be done. To help you cover it all, here is a home maintenance checklist for fall in the Pacific Northwest!&nbsp; Inspect your roof&nbsp;While the home maintenance checklist for fall in the Pacific Northwest is not as complex as in colder areas of the US, one step must absolutely not be skipped: roof inspection. Your roof is the crucial barrier between you and whatever nasty weather is out there, which means that any issues with it directly translate into having that same weather invading your home. Having slush or water in your attic is less than fun. And the repair costs of something like that far outweigh the cost of having an inspection done! You do not want to&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">achieve your real estate goals</a>&nbsp;and get your ideal home to sink a ton of money on repairs. It is much better to make timely investments and get professionals to find any leaks and other issues and then fix them before they can grow into something worse.&nbsp; Clean out your gutters&nbsp;Maintaining your gutters is almost as important. They divert runoff from directly pouring down the sides of your home. This, in turn, protects its integrity and ensures it stays in top condition longer. Without working gutters, you might soon find water has begun seeping into your walls. And the subsequent battle with mold might force you to look into self-storage West Seattle to find <a href="https://www.portabox.com/storage-services/west-seattle-self-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safe place for your items</a>. Note that neglecting your gutters can also have other harmful effects. Clogged and dirty gutters become a perfect breeding ground for an infestation. You might also have to deal with some rather nasty insects or animals. In other words, there is a definite reason why gutter cleaning made it onto our home maintenance checklist for fall in the Pacific Northwest, and you should never neglect them!&nbsp;&nbsp;Handle your heating system&nbsp;Now, there are several different ways you can warm your home up. There’s the city heating system, having your own private furnace and heating system, as well as just relying on ACs working full throttle. Whatever option you end up choosing, your heating system will need some maintenance before fall comes around. If you have one, your chimney and fireplace need to be cleared out and checked over. You might need to release air from your radiator vents to ensure proper circling of hot water in the system. And, in the case of using ACs, you need to replace filters, clean their inner workings, and just check they’re still working properly. Staying warm is, after all, one of the most important things during fall and winter. So, you don’t want your heating system to fail you due to your own laziness!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Trim tree branches&nbsp;If you have a yard with trees near your home, then an essential part of your home maintenance checklist for fall is trimming them. Temperatures rarely get truly extreme in the Pacific Northwest. However, we do still get plenty of strong winds! If trees near your home and their branches brush against your roof or windows, the winds might whip the branches against them. This can easily cause damage you’d need to scramble to fix in hostile weather. This is a crucial point to remember among &nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/things-to-know-before-buying-a-vacation-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">things to know before buying a vacation home</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;since those are not often used and can stay damaged for months. By the time you’d come around to check on the property, the insides of your home would be in very poor shape!&nbsp;&nbsp;Ensure there’s no draft&nbsp;You don’t want something directly working against your efforts when trying to warm up your home. The presence of drafts does just that. When you don’t have windows or doors open, drafts are caused by the warping of window and door frames, letting outside air slip into your home. This is not just bad for your health and comfort, either. As the experts from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.portabox.com" alt="PortaBox Storage" class="on">PortaBox Storage</a>&nbsp;like to point out, there are plenty of items that are temperature sensitive. Instruments, paintings, and other precious belongings can easily get damaged by these extreme shifts in temperature caused by drafts clashing with warm inside air. Be it for the sake of yourself or your stuff, get any trouble spots that let drafts occur fixed!&nbsp;&nbsp;Check on your winter kit&nbsp;You will need a couple of things to do maintenance during fall and winter. A trusty shovel. A solid ladder. Mini heaters if you need to do something outside or, in the worst case scenario, unfreeze your car door, etc. And you need to ensure all these things are in working condition before you need them! They will help you keep your home safe, and you won’t need to&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/should-you-renovate-your-house-before-selling-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">renovate your house before selling</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;due to poor maintenance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Air out your home&nbsp;The final task on our home maintenance checklist for fall in the Pacific Northwest is ensuring your home is aired. Both fall and later winter, as mild as they can be in the Pacific Northwest, are accompanied by unpleasant weather. Meaning that you likely won’t have many chances to leave your windows and balcony doors open. This implies that your home will be rather stuffy during these months. Homes, however, need to ‘breathe’ too. Airing them out ensures it’s much harder for mold and other negative developments to occur. It also helps eliminate dust and foul air, which makes it much more comfortable to spend time inside. Both for the ‘health’ of your home and yourself, it is only wise to make sure your home has one final chance to cleanse itself of stuffiness before the seasons it’ll spend near entirely shuttered.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following our home maintenance checklist for fall in the Pacific Northwest, you will be able to finish all the crucial prep work before fall comes around. Just remember, the work you put in will later keep you comfortable!&nbsp;

Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall in the Pacific Northwest

<h1 style="text-align: start">The Difference Between Home Warranty &amp; Home Insurance</h1><div style="text-align: start"> </div><div style="text-align: start">When purchasing a new home, it is important to do in-depth research on all facets of the homebuying process. One thing you will need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on home insurance versus home warranty below to educate yourself on your options.Home InsuranceHomeowners insurance pays for any accidental damages and loss caused by fire, lightning strikes, windstorms, and hail, however, damage from earthquakes and floods is typically not covered. It also covers the replacement of personal property in case of theft or damage and liability if a person were to get injured in your home or on your property. According to American Home Shield, the average annual cost of a homeowner's insurance policy ranges between $300 and $1,000, and the bank usually asks you to obtain a policy before the mortgage is issued. Make sure to keep in mind that each type of coverage in the policy is subject to a limit and, in most cases, you will have to pay a deductible.&nbsp;Home WarrantyA home warranty is designed to cover the cost of repairs and replacements of larger appliances and crucial systems in your home that may fail or break due to age and wear and tear. This includes but is not limited to HVAC, electrical, or plumbing components, kitchen appliances, and your washer and dryer. With a home warranty, you are required to pay premiums year-round, even if you do not use it, and it will not cover damages if appliances were not maintained properly or if the damage is from a fire or other disaster.</div>

The Difference Between Home Warranty & Home Insurance

<h1 style="text-align: start">Free And Clear? Nice.</h1><div style="text-align: start">Originally published March 20, 2009One thing that I don’t hear often in the argument of “rent v. own” is the fact that at some point, if you stick it out and pay long enough, as a homeowner you eventually get to be payment free.&nbsp;In fact 82% of those aged 62+ are homeowners — not renters (in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1036066/homeownership-rate-by-age-usa/" rel="noopener">80% of those 65+ own their home</a>); 74% of those owners are free and clear of any mortgage debt. One-half of those ages 55 to 64 who own homes also have no mortgage debt.Sure, there are still maintenance, utility, taxes and insurance costs — and a tenant still has maintenance and utilities. But you have an asset of some value, and no payment, and no landlord to be subject to. I think that’s the green pasture, the gold at the end of the rainbow that many call the “American Dream.”&nbsp;I don’t know of many of my peers, nearly all bred in middle-class environments, whose parents in the 65-80 age group, don’t:A) Own their homes&nbsp;B) Own them without any mortgage debt.&nbsp;Not a bad goal to work towards…even if it takes 30 years to get there.</div>

Free And Clear? Nice.

Selling a house is an overwhelming and exciting process. When the time comes for an open house, it gets even more exciting. This is your moment, the opportunity to wow the potential buyers. You may have a little anxiety about how it will all turn out, and that's alright. If you want to know how to do an open house right, sit comfortably and let us let you in on some carefully guarded realtors' secrets.&nbsp;Make it Spotless&nbsp;For you as a seller, the open house doesn't begin on the day that says on the poster. It starts weeks before that. The first thing you want to watch out for is not leaving the mess and clutter to wait for the last minute. In fact, it's best to start preparing for it the minute you set a date for an open house. The first thing buyers will notice is how clean your home is. Make sure to keep your cleaning game strong, so you don't have to stress right before the big day. Also, try using some of the <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/10-best-roi-home-improvement-projects" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best ROI home improvement projects</a>&nbsp;in your advance.&nbsp;Start by decluttering&nbsp;The thing about the clutter is - it can make a person feel like they're intruding on your personal space. For example, if many of your favorite books lay around in the home office, potential buyers will have a hard time imagining themselves in that space. Cluttering is like marking your territory and making it appear smaller. A lot of stuff everywhere can visually shrink your property, and you don't want that. For an open house, you want to open potential purchasers to all the possibilities your home has. So, decluttering is a pretty good idea to start with. What's good about it is - you don't have to torture yourself a day before an open house; you can do it little by little every day.&nbsp;Also, decluttering is good in the long run for you. Once you sell and decide to move far away, you won't have to bother with all the clutter that's built up over the years. If you decide on long distance move, moving&nbsp;<a href="https://bestlongdistancemovers.com/washington/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experts are there for you</a>&nbsp;to help you on the whole journey.Put all your good cleaning products to work&nbsp;Since your house will be decluttered by the day before the big day, you'll be able to focus on making everything shine. This is the time to bring out your spring cleaning kind of game. Use the best products you've got. Tidy, vacuum, and clean every millimeter you own, indoors and outdoors, equally. Make sure your windows are spotless. If you have glass doors, make them so clean that it becomes hard not to walk through them. A cleaned house will make a great impression on the buyers. And, for the bonus brownie point, make sure to speak to their subconscious by using beautifully scented products and some final touches of pleasing smells after cleaning.Make all the little adjustments&nbsp;After you clean thoroughly, it's time for a look around. Does your desk need a fresh coat of finishing shine? Do your doors have some of the paint scratched? Whatever you see wrong - try to make it right. Repair the broken chair, fix the lock on the doors, etc. <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/should-you-renovate-your-house-before-selling-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Renovate</a> your home and make sure everything is spot on and ready to impress potential future owners.&nbsp;Put some thought into staging&nbsp;Staging is undoubtedly an essential part of selling the property. It can help you sell faster and for a better price when done right. Overlooking the importance of staging is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/common-open-house-mistakes-seattle-sellers-make" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the common mistakes</a>&nbsp;sellers make. But, it's not just a task you'll do through a mainstream tutorial you see in a real estate magazine. If you want to do it right, you need to put some thought into it. Take all the advice you saw and think about what will work best for your property. Try staging in a way that will highlight its best qualities and hide its not-so-great features.&nbsp;Make your curb appeal stand out&nbsp; The majority of sellers don't realize how potent curb appeal can be. It's important to make sure the front of your property looks inviting as well. So, clean up the front garden and prune any hedges that are there. If the front door is looking a bit worse for wear, you may want to give some thought to repainting it with a new coat of paint.&nbsp;Promotion is essential if you want to do an open house right&nbsp;If you want to sell, you need to ensure that people are aware of your next open house. In addition to promoting your open house online, <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/8-reasons-to-hire-an-agent-when-selling-your-home-in-seattle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ask your real estate agent</a> to develop a brochure that can be sent to prospective purchasers and that can be handed out on the day of the open house. Your real estate agent should also advertise your open house:&nbsp;<div><ul><li>In the property listing on their website&nbsp;</li><li>In their branch&nbsp;</li><li>In local media</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: start"><div>Talk to them to contact everyone on their list who is interested in purchasing a home similar to yours and urge them to come to the open house. Also, your friends could help in an old-fashioned way. They could spread the word on coffees and their job, wherever they get to chance to bring up the fact that you are selling a beautiful home. Having extensive promotion is enormously important for the success of the whole process.&nbsp; </div></div><div style="text-align: start">When to do it?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">The last thing you want to do if you want to do an open house right is - pick the right time. Every good realtor will suggest Saturday, considering it's when almost everyone can make it, and no one is preparing for an exhausting work week ahead. The perfect timing and setting up everything prior to it will get you on the road to success. Play your cards right, and at the end of it will await the sweet taste of good and prosperous sale. Good luck!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"> </div>

How to Do an Open House Right 

Should you renovate your house before selling? Well, unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question! And, why? Because it depends on many factors. For instance, it depends mostly on your home's and the market's conditions. Then, it also depends on whether you want to sell it fast or whether you want to sell it for the highest price possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you do decide to relocate your home before selling, you will have to be ready to invest a lot of time, energy, money, and nerves into it! And, you will have to be prepared to do a lot of research to see what renovations will bring the most bang for your buck.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finding out the answer to this question is difficult, but it is far from impossible! Especially as you have us to help you out. So, keep reading to help yourself find answers to some of your 'selling' questions.&nbsp;&nbsp;What Renovations Are Worth Doing?Without a doubt, if you want to sell your house fast and for the best price possible, you should make it look its best. Sometimes, that means renovating. But, what renovations are worth doing? That is, what renovations will get your money's worth?&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the real estate specialists or the <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/8-reasons-to-hire-an-agent-when-selling-your-home-in-seattle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">real estate agent you hired to help you sell your home</a>, the only renovations worth doing are the small ones! For instance, you should fix the following:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><ul><li>Leaking faucets, showers, toilets&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Repainting the interior&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Fix cracks and scratches on the walls and floors&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Fix loose tiles and floorboards&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Reapply tile grout&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">It is all about the details! Be sure that making these small and inexpensive changes will make a lot of difference when the time comes to welcome potential buyers.&nbsp;&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: start">What Renovations Are an Absolute Must?</div><div style="text-align: start">The previously mentioned small renovations are something you should do to show that you care about the house you are selling. They are something every buyer will appreciate. But, at the end of the day, they are not a must - they are just your goodwill.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"><div>However, some renovations are an absolute must. If you don't do them, well, the chances of you selling your house are relatively low. Those are things such as:&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><ul><li>Leaking roof&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Bowing walls&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Pest infestations&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul></div></div><div style="text-align: start"><div><ul><li>Structural cracks&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Homes with these problems are not safe to live in. And because of that, buyers will not even consider them. Thus, do your best to fix all the severe issues your house has before putting it on the market. But, don't do this by yourself - it can be pretty dangerous! Instead, hire a home inspector and then a contractor!&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div></div><div> Moreover, it is also worth mentioning that, when selling your house, you need to look at your neighbors&nbsp;and their homes. When buying a house, buyers will look for homes that fit the neighborhood's&nbsp;description. For instance, if the whole area is into sustainable living, your home must also be a part of that. Thus, find some <a href="https://www.getmovedtoday.com/simple-and-sustainable-home-improvement-ideas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eco-friendly ideas to follow</a> if you want to consider sustainable home improvement ideas when renovating.&nbsp;&nbsp; </div></div><div style="text-align: start"><div>What Doesn't Need to Be Renovated?</div><div>Now that you know what needs to be renovated let us tell you what doesn't. This list is a lot longer. And, it is longer for a good reason - most house renovations will not bring back your money or help you sell your house faster. So, avoid doing the following:&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><ul><li>Renovating the entire kitchen&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Renovating all the bathrooms&nbsp;</li></ul></div></div><div style="text-align: start"><div><ul><li>Adding an extra bathroom&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Custom-made furniture&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Making the master bedroom deluxe&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Some areas of the house are better left unfinished! Just think about it - you can spend $10,000 on renovating your kitchen, just for the future buyer to tell you that it doesn't suit their style. Buyers will most likely redecorate everything once they move in, so there is no point in you making expensive upgrades. So, if you were wondering <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/what-to-do-with-an-unfinished-basement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">what to do with your unfinished basement</a> - the answer is NOTHING. Leave it undone. Leave it to buyers to do whatever they want, and leave it to them to add their own personal touches.&nbsp; </div></div><div style="text-align: start">Details Count!?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">As previously mentioned - it is all about the small details. But, this time, we are not talking about making minor and essential upgrades. This time, we are talking about details that will show all the potential buyers how loved your house is.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">Whether you should renovate your house before selling is debatable, as you have seen by now. But, doing things such as thoroughly cleaning each and every corner of your home, decluttering and organizing everything, staging, etc., is never debatable. Believe it or not - making your house presentable with cleaning, decluttering, and staging can increase its overall value by up to 9%. So, don't make <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/articles/my-dumbest-real-estate-move" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the dumbest real estate move</a> and not do this before listing your home.&nbsp;&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: start">Can You Sell a House As-Is?</div><div style="text-align: start">As you have seen, in some cases, it is better to renovate your house before selling, and in some, it's not. Ultimately, it all comes down to what is truly important when <a href="https://seattlehouses.com/sell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">selling your home</a> and why you're doing it. At the end of the day, know that if you don't have enough time, energy, and money to devote to renovations, it is okay not to do them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start"></div><div style="text-align: start">If you are in a hurry, that is, if you want to sell your house fast, you can always sell it as-is. But, don't expect to get the highest price possible for it. Investors or potential buyers will want to negotiate the price, so be prepared for that.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: start">If you are still unsure whether you should renovate your house before selling, consider talking to a home inspector or, even better, a local real estate agent. This kind of agent knows your market well and will be able to advise you on what is worth changing and what is not.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

Should You Renovate Your House Before Selling 

If you are thinking about purchasing a place where you'll go to relax and recharge, you must consider many crucial factors. A vacation home is not only a place where you go to spend some time in peace with your family and friends. It's also a worthy investment. Therefore, it's necessary to&nbsp;consider all critical matters before buying a vacation home. This guide will help you make the best buying decision that will benefit you in the long run.&nbsp;<div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-start" contenteditable="false"><figure style="margin: auto; width: 1px;"><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-origin=",20" alt="" data-proportion="true" data-size="1px,20px" data-align="start" data-file-name="yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-file-size="0" origin-size="1,1" style="width: 1px; height: 20px;" data-index="0"></figure></div> <div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-start" contenteditable="false"><figure style="margin: auto; width: 485px;"><img src="https://20514715.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20514715/undefined.png" alt="pastedGraphic.png" data-origin="485," data-proportion="true" data-size="485px,301px" data-align="start" data-file-name="undefined.png" data-file-size="0" origin-size="451,301" style="width: 485px; height: 301px;" data-index="1"></figure></div> &nbsp;There are many things to consider before buying a vacation home&nbsp;The location of your vacation home is crucial&nbsp;Do you dream about a movie-like vacation home tucked in the mountains or beside the beach?&nbsp;As much as these locations seem appealing, they aren't as convenient in reality. If it takes you hours to drive to your vacation home, rest assured you'll soon grow bored of it. Your vacation home doesn't have to be that far to be close to natural areas. That's why it's good to&nbsp;explore the locations&nbsp;and find the best one. Use this checklist to help you determine if the location is ideal for your future vacation place:&nbsp;<ul><li>Community</li><li>Proximity to the grocery store</li><li>Safety&nbsp;</li><li>Distance from your home</li><li>Proximity to the nature</li></ul> Make sure your home follows your aesthetics&nbsp;&nbsp;When a space where you are resting follows your lifestyle, it's much easier to enjoy it. However, try to make your vacation home different from your actual home. Opt for a more neutral color scheme that includes beige, taupe, light gray, wood, or other neutral colors. You can also add a touch of your favorite bright colors to spice up the place. Just make sure not to overdo it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Opt for comfy furniture in complementary colors. Comfort is everything when it comes to vacation houses. Add just enough souvenirs and pictures. Generally,&nbsp;a slightly minimalistic approach is highly recommended when furnishing vacation homes.&nbsp;<div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-start" contenteditable="false"><figure style="margin: auto; width: 451px;"><img src="https://20514715.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20514715/undefined-2.png" alt="pastedGraphic_1.png" data-origin="," data-proportion="true" data-size="451px,301px" data-align="start" data-file-name="undefined-2.png" data-file-size="0" origin-size="451,301" style="width: 451px; height: 301px;" data-index="2"></figure></div> Make your vacation home pleasant&nbsp;Home improvements will be necessary at some point&nbsp;Your new vacation place won’t be as picturesque as in the beginning. Roof repairs, changing floors, doors, windows, etc., will be required when necessary. If you want to have a pleasant time in your new home, be ready to spend extra money on future&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlehouses.com/_hcms/analytics/search/conversion?redirect=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zZWF0dGxlaG91c2VzLmNvbS9ibG9nL3RoZS1iZXN0LXJlbnRhbC11cGdyYWRlcw%253D%253D&amp;ct=SEARCH&amp;pid=20514715&amp;cid=75382984571&amp;t=cmVub3ZhdGU%253D&amp;d=www.seattlehouses.com&amp;c=2&amp;c=3&amp;c=6&amp;rp=2&amp;ab=false&amp;opcid=&amp;rs=UNKNOWN&amp;hs-expires=1687553705&amp;hs-version=1&amp;hs-signature=APUk-v7w09wr2m03rrfzMAMm-PXZCatgBw">property upgrades</a>&nbsp;that'll be necessary to make. That said, saving some money aside for future refurbishments is desirable. That way, you'll be ready for unanticipated repair work.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hire a realtor and interior designer&nbsp;An experienced realtor can help you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlehouses.com/search-results">find the best property</a>&nbsp;for the type of vacation home you have in mind. In addition, you can get the best deal. Realtors are patient professionals who know the market very well. Listen to them if they advise you to wait for about a month or two. Their guidance will save you lots of headaches and money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Once you purchase a perfect place for vacationing, hire an interior designer to help you come up with refurbishing ideas. That way, you’ll easily&nbsp;personalize your newly-bought place&nbsp;and make it homey. A vacation home should be a long-term investment&nbsp;&nbsp;Purchasing real estate should be a long-term investment. For example, you could sell or rent your vacation home at some point. For many,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlehouses.com/blog/owning-rental-properties-in-2022-is-it-worth-it">owning a rental place</a>&nbsp;is a perfect passive income. However, remember that you must go through a lengthy procedure to make the home rentable within the legal frames.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-start" contenteditable="false"><figure style="margin: auto; width: 451px;"><img src="https://20514715.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20514715/undefined-1.png" alt="pastedGraphic_2.png" data-origin="," data-proportion="true" data-size="451px,301px" data-align="start" data-file-name="undefined-1.png" data-file-size="0" origin-size="451,301" style="width: 451px; height: 301px;" data-index="3"></figure></div> Think how far you would like your vacation home to be.&nbsp;Make sure to shop smart&nbsp;&nbsp;Make a budget for your vacation home you’ll stick to, then browse different furniture options. Check discounts, both online and offline stores, and compare product reviews. Remember that&nbsp;comfort is imperative&nbsp;when shopping for a vacation home. You don't have to splurge on brand new fancy sofas or shiny, aesthetically-pleasing kitchen tables. Quality and yet affordable furniture pieces are quite possible to find. If you want something custom-made, pay a visit to a skilled carpenter who can create your ideas for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;Put everything you bought for a vacationing place in storage&nbsp;It takes time to set up your vacation home from top to bottom. First, you have to decide how to furnish and decorate it. Second, you need to go shopping. And finally, you have to&nbsp;put all those items in safe places like storage. Rest assured,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zippyshellphl.com/reasons-you-need-storage-when-buying-a-second-home/">this is a great solution</a>&nbsp;for keeping your items safe when buying a second home. You can opt for either&nbsp;short-term, portable containers or indoor, climate-controlled storage.&nbsp;Once your vacation home is ready, take the items and move them inside your new home. You can ask the storage company personnel to help you out. Many offer full services for those who are a bit further from storage. They load containers with your items, bring them to a designated location, and unload them for you.&nbsp;Hire a moving company to help you move everything&nbsp;&nbsp;If you decide to move all those items yourself, be sure it'll take you too much time. This is where it helps to have a team of fast and efficient movers who can complete packing and transport for you. So,&nbsp;choose a licensed relocation company you can rely on&nbsp;from the beginning. Browse the internet and pick a few movers with well-rated moving, packing, and storage services. It would be even better if they offered a variety of packing boxes because it would save you plenty of time.&nbsp;&nbsp;Final thoughts&nbsp;The purpose of a vacationing home is to have a relaxing weekend getaway or an entire holiday if you like. Therefore, take time to weigh various options before buying a vacation home. Purchasing a property is generally&nbsp;a process that will bring you long-term satisfaction. It's not a race you ought to complete as fast as possible. Also, try not to get discouraged if it takes longer to find an ideal vacation home. It's better to wait for perfect timing than to rush and regret a hasty buying decision afterward.

Things to Know Before Buying a Vacation Home

Buying a home for the first time can be overwhelming, especially thinking about the huge costs that come with it. However, it doesn’t have to be, there are programs available to first-time buyers that can help make the purchase more approachable. One of the ways that makes purchasing a home more approachable is an FHA insured loan. FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration (who insures the loans), and the loan itself is issued by an FHA-approved lender. These loans are generally associated with first-time buyers because typically, the buyer can qualify with a lower credit score and can put less money down. Along with the FHA loan, a buyer will also need to pay MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premiums). There is an initial MIP charge, calculated as a percentage (1.75% in 2020) of the base loan amount, which can be rolled into the loan or paid at closing. There is also a monthly PMI that is calculated based on the loan amount, length of the loan, and how much you put down. In 2020 the MIP was typically around 0.85% of the loan amount. <table><tbody><tr><td><div> </div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;"><h4>FHA&nbsp;LOAN</h4></div></td><td><h4 style="text-align: center;">CONVENTIONAL LOAN</h4></td></tr><tr><td><div>Minimum Credit Score</div></td><td><div>500</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">620</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Down Payment</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">3.5% with credit score of 580+ and 10% for credit score of 500 to 579</div></td><td><div>3% to 20%</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Loan Terms</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">15 or 30 years</div></td><td><div>10, 15, 20, or 30 years</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Mortgage Insurance</div></td><td><div>Upfront MIP + Annual MIP for either 11 years or the life of the loan, depending on LTV and length of loan</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">None with down payment of at least 20% or after loan is paid down to 78% LTV?</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Mortgage Insurance Premiums</div></td><td><div>Upfront: 1.75% of the loan + Annual: 0.45% to 1.05%</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">PMI: 0.5% to 1% of the loan amount per year</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Down Payment Gifts</div></td><td><div>100% of down payment can be a gift</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">Only part can be a gift if down payment is less than 20%?</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Down Payment Assistance Programs</div></td><td><div>Yes</div></td><td><div style="text-align: center;">No</div></td></tr></tbody></table>Source: <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fhaloan.asp" alt="Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loan">Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loan</a> To find out if you qualify for an FHA loan, or to see if an FHA loan is a good fit for you, start a conversation with your lender to see what would be best for you. Have a question about this article? Reach out directly to Sarah Leland, or leave your question or comment below!

What is the FHA?

You’ve decided to buy a home. Hooray! But…now what? Keep reading, friend! Check your credit score. A good credit score will impact your interest rate. Pay off credit cards, don’t close any accounts, and better yet talk to a financial advisor. Gather down payment funds. The more cash you can put down upfront, the less your loan amount will be. However, you don’t want to be “house rich, but cash poor.” It’s a good idea to save some cash for those never ending home repairs down the road. Don’t worry if you don’t have a huge down payment either. Ask your agent or lender about down payment assistance programs. Reach out to your Real Estate Agent. Yes, this is coming from an agent. Contacting your agent first if you don’t know where to start is a great plan. A good agent will be happy to chat with you about your options and guide you on the next step. If you don’t already know a lender to apply for a loan, your agent can recommend a handful of trusted lenders. Which brings us to the next step… Get pre-approved for a loan. Your lender will do a thorough analysis of your finances and how much you can afford. They will then give you a pre-approval letter, which you will need to submit with any offers. Pre-approvals typically last about 90 days, but ask your lender to confirm. Not ready to buy in the next 90 days and still not sure if you are qualified for a loan? Ask for a pre-qualification. This differs from a pre-approval in that it’s not as hard core and shouldn’t negatively impact your credit score. Narrow down your “must-haves.” These are different from “wants.” Examples for must have items- location, single family home vs. condo, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Wants are things that can be changed once you move in like- paint color, kitchen cabinets, landscaping, etc. Tour homes! This one is my favorite. Your agent will send you properties that fit your criteria, and/or you can always send them properties you find online. Then…go see them in person! It’s normal to tour several homes before finding “the one.” Make an offer. Your agent will help you determine a fair and competitive price to offer for the home in question. A good agent will also be in close contact with the seller’s agent to see if there is anything special that the seller is looking for in an offer. In a seller’s market, you need to be willing to bend to their wishes, like it or not! Come back next week for Part 2!

What are the steps in the home buying process? Part 1

In Seattle, we had a significant number of more houses come on the market and sold, compared to in Bellevue. We are seeing more homes come on the market, with less availability, on the east side than in Seattle. Here is last month’s market update –&nbsp;Seattle Real Estate Market Update August 2021. And below is the latest update for the Seattle real estate market:<div class="se-component se-video-container __se__float-center" contenteditable="false" style="width: 100%; min-width: 100%;"><figure style="width: 100%; height: 56.25%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: auto;"><iframe frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFdsCNk3qNk" data-proportion="true" data-align="center" data-percentage="100%,56.25%" data-size="100%,56.25%" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" data-index="0" data-file-name="OFdsCNk3qNk" data-file-size="0" data-origin="100%,56.25%"></iframe></figure></div>Video Transcript: Hey y’all. Zach McDonald, your real estate agent with Real Property Associates, and this is my Seattle Real Estate Market Update for October 2021. As is typical for these updates, we’re going to talk about a client story, we’re going to talk about the market stats, and we’re going to talk about some applications for you, whether you are a home buyer or seller. Quick FYI, we’re looking at stats from September 2021. We’re looking back at the stats from the previous month. It’s the beginning of October. So, getting you these stats right hot off the press. We are starting to incorporate Bellevue a little bit into this market update so that you can see and comparing contrast between Seattle and Bellevue, the two more prominent cities here in the Seattle region if you want to call it. It’s still generally dwarfed by Seattle itself, as a lot more homes and people live in Seattle proper, but I want to continue to incorporate Bellevue into these updates so you can see, compare and contrast, the differences between living on the west side and living over on the east side of Lake Washington. We’ll start this update off with a story, just like we do all the other ones. And this month I want to feature the Roberts family. They recently purchased a house with me in Linwood, which is just north of Seattle in Snohomish County. And they were referred to me by some past clients, the Emmnets, who purchased a house six years ago in Mill Creek. As I remember correctly, we met originally, the Emmnets and I, met at an open house and we helped them with their purchase, became friends. We got to attend their wedding. So, it was a really fun story of going from a client to a friend, and then here getting to be referred to family of theirs. Emmnets, if you’re watching this video, thank you so much again for the connection to the Roberts. I know they had a great experience and I’m super, super grateful for you guys. Now let’s jump into the stats, which is why most of you are here. Again, we’re going to start to talk about Bellevue a little bit, just so you get a flare for what’s going on on the other side of the lake. Seattle itself, $832,000 median sales price in September. Up 4.1%, year-over-year. Bellevue, blowing it out of the water. $1,814,000. So, 43.5% up year-over year and more than double the medians sales price in Seattle. And a lot of the east side is considerably more expensive. If you’re looking at places like Redmond or Sammamish or Issaquah. Pretty much anywhere you go on the east side is going to be more expensive than looking in Seattle. And I don’t think that’s going to change. I think it’s going to continue to be more expensive there and it was previously. But over the past few years, Seattle has been the one we’re talking about. Seattle, Seattle, Seattle, Seattle. But I think it’s more and more important here to emphasize what’s going on on the east side, because there’s a continual move over there and the competition continues to turn up over there where it’s not quite as hot in Seattle. And I think it’s important to note that if we’re looking at King County and we’re looking at the east side of Lake Washington and the west side of lake Washington, Seattle makes up most of the west side of Lake Washington. Seattle is a large part of King County. And in Seattle, we had a significantly larger number of houses come on the market and a significantly larger number of houses sold than we did in Bellevue and the rest of the east side. For example, if we look at Seattle, we had 706 listings at the end of the month, compared to 47 listings at the end of the month in Bellevue. Which is, 0.4 months of supply in Bellevue and 2.2 months of supply in Seattle. So, quite a bit more supply, which is why we’re not seeing as much craziness with offers in Seattle. Seattle, just over 4% above asking price, 4.1% above asking price last month. Whereas we saw 8.6% above asking price in Bellevue. And pending sales, 974 in Seattle versus 124 in Bellevue. And same thing with closed sales, 867 closings versus 133 in Bellevue. So again, a substantial amount of activity happening in Seattle, a lot more people in the city versus over in Bellevue, which historically it was a suburb, is now trying to position itself as more of a twin city type of city here in the Seattle area. Countywide, we saw about 10% up in King County and in Snohomish County. We saw 19% up year over year. If you want to hear more and dive into the stats a little bit more in the Seattle Bellevue region and get a little bit more specific, I have two different updates, which I’ll link up below. One to the King County market update for the month and also one to the Snohomish County market update, if you want to get a little bit more of the countywide stats. And if we look at interest rates, because I think interest rates are important for us to look at too here on a monthly basis, last week, as of 10-3, we saw 30 year interest rates jump up over 3% again, 3.01 for 30 year fixed, which is still super, super low, but up a little bit from where we were sitting previously. All of this to say, I think as far as application goes for you as a potential home buyer or seller, we are still in a super competitive market here. And I know in some places across the country, we’ve seen things start to slow down. And we’re really not seeing that here in the Seattle housing market. If anything, we’re seeing things start to pick up. In the summer, I was talking about how we’re starting to see a little less activity on listings, we’re starting to see a little bit less of that multiple offer frenzy. And it really was true. We were seeing a lot less of that. But we’re seeing a resurgence here as we head into the fall. And I mentioned some of those contributing factors could have been people being on vacation and trying to enjoy maybe their first vacations, trips, travel away from their home in a year and a half or so. And specifically in the Seattle region, people really like to take advantage of the summer to go enjoy the more local spots and vacations, because the weather’s so much nicer during the summer in early fall than it is now that we’re into fall and starting to head towards winter. I hate saying that. So, as a local, I know that and I try to take advantage of it too. So, I’m not surprised to see that we’re starting to see things pick up here in the fall. I do suspect that we will see a tightening of inventory to be head towards the late fall and early winter. I don’t suspect that November and December are going to be particularly hot months for new listings, but I do think we’re going to still see a lot of buyer activity and the competition all the way through the rest of the year and into 2022. So, if you’re somebody looking to buy here in the next four to six months, I don’t suspect you’re going to find a better time to buy. I think we’re going to still see this competition level. I think we’re still going to see prices continue rising into the new year. So, I wouldn’t think waiting a couple months is going to make much of a difference for you as a buyer. As a seller, if you need to sell right now or you’re moving out of the area, please don’t feel bad about selling. This is not a bad time to list your house. A few months ago, I was talking with people about, “Ooh, let’s think about this.” Right? If they’re not in a hurry or maybe they could sell in the spring. “Hey, let’s think about this a little bit more and maybe let’s try to time it a little bit.” But as I’m seeing things shift year in the fall, I’m seeing a lot of that activity picking back up, which had disappeared and was causing houses to sell maybe at or below asking price. And now we’re starting to see houses a lot more commonly selling above asking price again and getting a lot of competition, especially for the good ones. So, if you’re somebody considering selling this fall, I don’t think you’re in a bad spot. And I almost think that you’re in an advantage now, as we head into a place where we’re starting to see the amount of homes on the market decline, and I think that’s going to continue as we head into the fall and into the beginning of the winter. So, you will have a little bit more prominent exposure than you would’ve had with more competition, especially as we get towards the sprint. So buyers, I think this is your opportunity to get started and to set yourself up for success, whether that’s now or even into 2022. Sellers, I think you’re in the driver’s seat here. So, if you’re ready to sell, you need to sell right now, go for it. If you’re going to wait a little bit, I think you’re still going to be a good spot come early 2022. Thanks so much for watching my Seattle Real Estate Market update for October 2021. I hope you also enjoy getting a little bit of the Bellevue add on here, and I’m going to continue to keep Bellevue as part of these updates. Have questions? Reach out to Zach McDonald or <a target="_blank" href="https://mcdonaldresidential.com/" alt="check out his website for more information">check out his website for more information</a>.&nbsp;

Seattle Real Estate Market Update | October 2021

Last week we talked about the steps to homeownership before your offer is accepted. This week, we’ll go through the steps of what it looks like to go from getting your offer accepted to closing and moving day! No process is “one size-fits-all,” but here are the next general steps. Ready? Here goes! Your offer was accepted. Congrats! Next up, get your earnest money deposit to escrow. This is a predetermined amount that you agreed to on your offer (which now becomes the contract once both parties sign). The earnest money deposit is your “good faith” gesture. This deposit indicates to the seller your intentions of staying in contract and it goes towards your down payment. If you were to back out of the contract, this is insurance for the seller and the seller typically keeps the deposit. Schedule an inspection. If you did not waive this contingency in your offer, you’ll want a professional inspector to come to your soon to be new home ASAP. If you don’t know any inspectors, your agent should be able to recommend a trusted professional to do the job. The inspector will walk through the house with you and let you know of any major and minor concerns with the house. You and your agent then discuss what you want the seller to fix before closing, or if you want to ask for help with closing costs to help offset doing the repairs yourself. Appraisal time. If you are getting a loan, your lender will order an appraisal of the house to determine if the purchase price is at value. Nothing needs to happen on your part here unless the appraisal comes back lower than the purchase price. Your agent will strategically help you navigate next steps. Make sure down payment funds are ready to go. Sign all of the closing documents! The escrow company will typically reach out to you to schedule your signing a few days or even a week before closing day. Practice your Hancock now, because you’ll be writing it a lot! Final walkthrough. Your agent will arrange to walk through the house with you and make sure the seller kept their word to fix any repairs. This is also a great time to measure for furniture and window treatments! Closing day! Yay! Once your agent gets the final word that the city has recorded the sale, the house or condo is officially yours. Your agent will arrange to get you the keys so you can move in. Have questions? Reach out to Sarah Fester or leave a comment below!

What are the steps in the home buying process? Part 2

<h1 style="text-align: start">Thinking of selling near the holidays?</h1><div style="text-align: start">Published by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlehouses.com/blog/author/doug-holman" rel="author">Doug Holman&nbsp;</a>on&nbsp;Nov 2, 2021 6:30:00 AM</div><div style="text-align: start">If you were to poll seasoned real estate agents about the best time to list your property, most would have a similar answer. For our region, listing as early as February can make sense since we don't get meaningful snow or cold weather for more than a few weeks. Being an early bird can put you in a strong position with buyers anxiously awaiting new inventory. After February, any time up until mid-May would be considered peak activity and a good time to list. Summer is usually less than ideal with end of the school year distractions and summer vacations. Early September, right after labor day, is the end of year listing season. But sometimes you've got to go to market late. Job relocations and delayed projects can push your list date closer to Halloween or even the holidays. Fear not, homes sell year-round in the pacific northwest. If you're going to market at a non-traditional time, put a sharp focus on your list price. Price reductions if needed, will have less effect in November and December, so get it right up front. Avoid review dates unless you're extremely confident you'll be expecting multiple bidders. Find a way to work with strong buyers who are giving you most of what you want. Small concessions can go a long way to sealing a deal and will seem like a bargain in hindsight. Negotiating once you've been on market for a month can favor the buyer who knows you've lost steam. Make sure you maximize your natural light with open blinds and trimmed trees. And keep your walkways and yard space tidy! First impressions count and you don't want home shoppers to think they'll be doing yard work 24-7.</div>

Thinking of selling near the holidays?

<div style="text-align: start">Published by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlehouses.com/blog/author/sarah-leland" rel="author">Sarah Leland&nbsp;</a>on&nbsp;Oct 26, 2021 6:30:00 AM</div><div style="text-align: start">New to the home search? Here are some terms that will come up that may be helpful to know.Let's start with the basics!&nbsp;&nbsp;Selling Broker:&nbsp;If you are a buyer, your agent is the 'selling broker.' At first it sounds a little backwards, but think of it as the buyer's broker is the one that is showing the homes and really 'selling' the properties to their buyers.Listing Broker:&nbsp;Also called the 'listing agent,' this agent is contracted to help the seller sell their home! When a property is posted on the NWMLS to be sold, it is called a 'listing,' so the agent who manages that listing is the 'listing agent.' The listing agent can be a helpful resource for information, and if you are interested in that listing, your own agent will be communicating with them regularly.Showing: If you have found a listing online that you want to see in person, you can talk to your agent about booking a private time slot to view the property together. Showings are typically 15-30 minutes long, and they provide a great opportunity to walk the property in person and see if it would be a good fit for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a you move along in the home buying process, you might hear these terms come up:&nbsp;Seller Pre-Inspection:&nbsp;A seller will sometimes pay an inspector to do a ‘pre-inspection’ of the home so that they have something to share with prospective buyers. This can help streamline the home-buying process for everyone.Offer Review Date:&nbsp;Sometimes a seller will decide to ask all prospective buyers to submit offers on the same day and review them all at once. Always be sure to have your agent reach out to the listing agent to make sure that they will be honoring the review date or see if they are willing to accept early offers.Rent Back:&nbsp;If the sellers need more time in the home after the sale closes, they will sometimes ask for a rent back. This is an additional clause in the agreement that dictates how long they are allowed to rent the property back from the new sellers, how much rent will be charged, and anything else that needs to be clarified.Seller Disclosure:&nbsp;Form 17 is a disclosure that the sellers fill out to be best of their ability. It is required for every residential transaction. This is a great way to find out what defects are already known about the property.Earnest Money: Getting ready to put in an offer on a home? Part of your offer will be your earnest money, a sum of money provided by the buyer before closing that is typically held by the closing agent (escrow). This money is considered to be the 'good faith deposit,' meaning that if for some reason you were to back out of the deal, the seller would get to keep your earnest money. Depending on the purchase price, a rule of thumb for earnest money is to put down 2%-3%.Escrow: Who/what is escrow? Also referred to as the closing agent, escrow is a neutral third party that holds the earnest money/other funds until the purchase and sale agreement has been fulfilled, and handles the final closing documents.Contingencies: When writing up an offer, there is the opportunity to include various contingencies, or stipulations, that are required to be met for further steps to happen. Some of the more common contingencies are financing, inspection, or title contingencies.&nbsp;We hope these explanations help you navigate the world of real estate.&nbsp;Questions? Reach out in the comments section below or send a message to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlehouses.com/agents/sarah-leland?hsLang=en" rel="noopener">Sarah Leland</a>&nbsp;directly!</div>

Top 10 Real Estate Terms to Know

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