With the recent security breaches and increasingly evolving methods of fraud, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant about your personal credit and identity theft. You may remember that recently, after some larger security breaches, the three main credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, all were offer credit freezes for a fee. Well, soon, consumers will be able to freeze their accounts without a charge.
Read MoreAn international organization of high profile property professionals, The Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE), recently published a report detailing the most pressing trends and issues affecting real estate. The “Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate™ 2018-2019” highlights five short-term and five long-term national and global topics that are having a direct impact on the real estate market. In a quick summary, we wanted to share the issues they thought were most pressing.
Read MoreSo, you've got the stable job and feel like finally settling into a place that feels more like your own. You probably have an idea of how purchasing real estate might work but maybe aren't sure this is the right time for you to buy. Here are a few indicators that you're ready to take the next step.
Read MoreThe home values in the Seattle area are at an all time high. The median price for a single-family home in Seattle is $777,000 and $950,000 on the Eastside. The Seattle Times recently reported that "Both Seattle and the Eastside have smashed home-price records as the region's market continues to be brutal for homebuyers even before the peak spring season kicks off."
Read MoreWinter in real estate is notorious for lower inventory, and often lower prices, but it may just be one of the better times of year to buy. Most real estate news during the winter is akin to lowering median prices, a slow in construction, and a dip in overall housing inventory. However, even with all of these things popping up in news headlines across the nation; Seattle's housing market continues to come out on top.
Read MoreThough many people have probably heard of Bitcoin by now, there are now several types of cryptocurrency. New types you may start hearing more about include: bitcoin cash, ZCash, Monero, Ripple, and Ethereum. They essentially all function the same way; and act as digital funds that are produced in limited quantities and without involvement of a bank or governmental regulations.
Read MoreIn December of 2017 the current administration passed a new tax bill, the biggest overhaul since 1986, and many changes were made that will have a direct impact on the housing market. Here is a brief look at what the new bill will mean for homeowners, buyers, and sellers.
Read MoreIt's no secret that the Seattle-Metro area housing market has been at, or near, the top of the nation's list for some time now (13 months to be exact). However, as typical with the winter months, that trend seems to be slipping just a bit
Read MoreIn their annual report, The Urban Land Institute (ULI), predicts trends and shifts in the real estate market for the upcoming year.
Read MoreThese days it seems as though we are hearing about large companies being hacked almost every month. The companies that are supposed to be the most secure and have all the possible software and protection behind them; so, if they're getting hacked what chance to the rest of us have?
Read MoreThe real estate world is full of unofficial rules that many older generations love to pass on to new first-time homebuyers as words of wisdom. However, the housing market has gone through so many dramatic changes in the last 10 to 15 years that many of these "rules" have now become obsolete.
Read MoreWhen mentioning “staging” to real estate clients we’re often met with reluctance or confusion. It has become somewhat of a controversial, and often not-trusted, practice by sellers. For those unaware, staging home, to us, means setting up your home to look the most appealing to the widest set of buyers. We want people who see your home to be able to picture themselves in that home!
Read MoreYou’ve seen the headlines and read the blogs – it’s a tough market for homebuyers right now. Not only in the Puget Sound region but across the U.S., markets are reaching record low inventories and record high home values and sales prices.
Read MoreOne of the biggest trends in tech has been the boom in home protection and automation systems. A prediction of growth in smart locks alone may reach a value of $3.6 billion by 2019 (that’s 13 times the value today).
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