Community Information & Events

Community Information & Events PROPERTY CONDITION MATTERS: Two Exclusive Equity Loan Programs for Windermere Clients Listing Their Homes As market conditions shift and inventory increases, we are seeing that homes brought to market with sound property maintenance and thoughtful improvements are selling the fastest and yielding the highest returns. Inventory is up 62% year-over-year in King County and 48% in Snohomish County, highlighting the importance of standing out amongst the crowd. With interest rates […]
Community Information & Events Change is inevitable, find the opportunities in the shift. The headlines are swirling about the real estate market. The environment is shifting from a seller’s market to a balanced market, creating opportunities for buyers and holding sellers to exacting standards. The primary factors affecting this shift are inventory levels, interest rates, and consumer confidence. These are the same factors that commonly influence the market conditions, […]
Community Information & Events Need to Know: Top Takeaways from our Homeowners Insurance Panel Last week, my office hosted a panel discussion on the hot topic of homeowners insurance. In the wake of several natural disasters, supply chain issues, and inflation on building materials, homeowners insurance is currently experiencing a “hard market”. Non-renewal and cancellation rates are rising, some carriers are leaving certain states, and specific aspects of a home, […]
Community Information & Events Market Snapshot: A Quick Look at Preliminary Q1 Stats   As we head into Q2, I wanted to review preliminary Q1 stats in order to report the latest trends in the market. The spring market has sprung, and activity is positive on both the seller and buyer side. The two charts above show key market factors from two points of view, March 2025 over […]
Community Information & Events Homeowners Insurance: How to Ensure You are Not Under-Insured Last month, my office invited a panel of insurance professionals to discuss the volatility of the Homeowner’s Insurance (HOI) market so we could learn the latest to best inform our clients. In the wake of several natural disasters, the LA Fires is one of the most recent, HOI companies have become much more scrutinous and […]
Community Information & Events 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Living in Edmonds, WA 1. A Waterfront Wonderland – Edmonds boasts stunning views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains, making it a picturesque spot for waterfront living. Looking for breathtaking views, serene beaches, and charming coastal vibes? Edmonds, WA truly is a waterfront wonderland! 🏖️💙 From watching ferries glide across Puget Sound ⛴️ to strolling along the scenic […]
Community Information & Events End of Summer Market Update Summer 2024 welcomed an increase in available inventory, a drop in interest rates, and continued price stability, which has upheld strong home equity levels. After a double-digit ramp-up in price appreciation in the first half of 2024, prices have slightly come off the peak of May 2024 and found stability. This trend is historically consistent with […]
Community Information & Events Transparency First: NWMLS Votes to NOT opt in to the NAR Lawsuit Settlement As promised, here is the latest update regarding the $418 Million NAR Lawsuit Settlement and how it will affect real estate operations in WA State. As the deadline to opt in to the NAR Lawsuit Settlement approaches, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) announced last week that they have voted to NOT opt-in to the settlement. […]
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Community Information & Events Buyer Demand Persists and Seller Equity Soars Amongst Interest Rate Volatility As we sit almost five months into 2024 in the middle of the spring market and I reflect on how the year is going, I am grateful, amazed, and locked in on the stats. You see, the last four years since the start of the pandemic have been an eventful and wild ride. 2020 saw […]
Community Information & Events Accurate Update: Washington State & the Proposed NAR Settlement As I am sure you have heard on the news, there is a proposed settlement agreement for the NAR (National Association of Realtors) Class Action Lawsuit. It has certainly stirred up plenty of headlines that have been glossy, and in many cases, inaccurate. Many of the reports and headlines have been national and it is […]
Community Information & Events New Year, New Laws! What This Means for Consumers Moving Forward. Effective January 1, 2024, the statute in Washington that governs real estate brokerage relationships (RCW 18.86) otherwise known as the “Agency Law” – was significantly revised. The revisions modernize the 25-year-old law, provide additional transparency and consumer protections, and acknowledge the importance of buyer representation. KEY REVISIONS For decades, real estate brokerage firms were only […]
Community Information & Events December is for Giving at Windermere North! The holiday season can come and go in a flash, with the pressure and stress of gift shopping, family obligations, and wrapping up the year. One thing that I love about my office is that we all make it a priority to come together to lift up our neighbors in need during this time of […]
Community Information & Events New Agency Law Changes: Transparency, Consumer Protection & Commitment On January 1, 2024, major changes to the Law of Agency will go into effect. These changes result from the real estate industry in the state of Washington wanting to elevate the level of transparency and consumer protection surrounding buyer representation. Senate Bill 5191 was voted into law requiring adjustments in how brokers operate when working with […]
Community Information & Events Win-Win: How to Overcome Interest Rate Pressure with Creative Financing Lately we have talked about life changes leading to real estate moves. Sometimes moves are brought on by joyful advancements in life and sometimes they are motivated by hardship. Then there are times when your actual house just doesn’t fit your life anymore and it is time for something different. Whatever might be calling someone to make […]
Community Information & Events Should You Stay or Should You Go? Interest Rates Limit Inventory and Stabilize Prices There has always been a direct correlation between interest rates and home prices. The rule of thumb has always been when rates go up prices go down, and vice versa. This was temporarily proven true in the summer of 2022 when rates quickly rose by 2% (3.5%-5.5%) over 5 months. It created a price correction in the […]
Community Information & Events Clarity Through Chaos: Using the Data to Guide Decisions. I think we can all agree that we have been on a bit of a wild ride over the last 12 months in the real estate market. When the Fed decided to change its trajectory on interest rates in mid-2022, it created some chaos and confusion. When big changes happen, it is a natural reaction […]
Community Information & Events 2023 Market Predictions, Fact Checked. One of the reasons why we are fortunate to have Matthew Gardener as our Chief Economist at Windermere is his transparency. Every year, Matthew makes predictions for the coming year based on his monumental research and years of experience. Just this week, he reviewed his 2023 predictions and recorded the video below. Most of his […]
Community Information & Events Let’s Dance! Prices Stabilize & Even Grow Amidst a Chaotic Interest Rate Market If we let the media determine the mood regarding the housing market, it would be time to shut the party down and call it a night. I’m here to report that we are still dancing and there is a lot to celebrate! While it is not all shiny and bright (it never is), there is a pattern […]
Community Information & Events A Busy Legislative Session for Housing: 10 Bills Passed That Will Affect Housing in Our State On April 23rd the Washington State Legislature adjourned after passing 10 new bills that will affect housing. Some of the bills are geared toward creating more transparency around brokerage transactions, some are intended to institute more opportunities for building density to provide more affordable housing, and some are more regulatory to help guide and ease […]
Community Information & Events Understanding the Difference Between Long-Term & Short-Term Interest Rates It is very important that consumers understand the difference between long-term interest rates and short-term interest rates. Long-term rates involve home mortgages such a conventional 30-year fixed, Jumbo, FHA, and VA loans. Short-term rates involve car loans, credit cards, and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs). While both types of rates have gone up over the course of […]