Bellingham Homes & Real Estate

Home-price surge may ease in 2014, but interest rates will pinch many buyers | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times #Seattle #RealEstate #News

13 Stories You Loved in 2013

NAR: Housing Market Is Stabilizing

Interesting.... New Insurance Protects From Falling Home Values

Severe Inventory Crunches Finally Easing

Mortgage Rates Fall to Four-Month Lows

Home Heating Bills to Get Pricier This Year

Loan Demand on the Rise Again

The Top 3 Reasons Buying a Home is Suddenly Easier

Strengthening Economy Lifts Mortgage Rates

8 tips for selling an old home to young buyers - MSN Real Estate

Housing's Top 10 Turnaround Towns  #Seattle and the great Puget Sound are at number 5.

Listing losers: 8 reasons your home isn't selling and what to do about it - MSN Real Estate

10 reasons home sellers are still stressing - MSN Real Estate

Can you afford to wait to buy a home? - MSN Real Estate

22 new ways to landscape your yard - MSN Real Estate

Are your home-loan chances better at a smaller bank? - MSN Real Estate

Residential real-estate market makes recovery | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times

Why We Love Midcentury Modern Design

Beautiful custom Burnstead rambler on the 3rd fairway of the Plateau Club Golf Course. For more info check it out here: Great Sammamish Home For Sale

All-Cash Offers: Healthy for Real Estate Market, or a Hindrance? We've all seen a lot of cash offers in the last few months. With rising interest rates and shortage of supply, are these cash offers really good for the market? Come share your thoughts and read what AOL had to say.

Are home warranties worth it? Here is a great article about home warranties and if they are worth it. Everyone wants a little piece of mind when buying a home previous owned and lived in. Is it the right thing for you? Come read this article and find out!

Top 10 Places to Raise Kids In Washington State. Want to know if your city is on the list? Well have a look at this great article on the best cities to raise a family. Moving to Washington state and want to know where the best schools are? It's all here in this great article!

Selling a House? 5 Reasons You Should Do It Now Thinking of selling? Not sure? Take a look at this great article and then give me a call! (206)388-6102.

Are You Ready to Buy a Home? Great read from Yahoo Finance on what you should consider before buying a home. Nice short read, nothing too daunting! Have a great Monday!

7 Most Competitive Housing Markets for Buyers Seattle is on the list! Supply is picking up, but so are rates. Are you in the market? Get your cards lined up so you can still get your dream home at low interest rates.

Great info on the state of the housing market in Bellevue, Sammamish, Redmond, Issaquah, Kirkland etc.

5 Features Buyers Want Most In a Home Great article about what buyers are looking for these days!

Better times for home-buyers will take a few years, experts say We've rapidly gone from a buyers market to a sellers market. When will things return? This is a great article from the LA Times about when they think we'll see a buyers market again. Not to say it still isn't a great time to buy! Interest rates have gone up a bit but they are still low compared to a few years ago. Buyers don't get discouraged, it's still a great time to buy. Shop around for that best APR and lock it in before it goes up more.

Big upgrades for tiny remodeling budgets - MSN Real Estate Looking to do some projects on a small budget? Here are some great ideas for big impact on your home but little impact on your wallet.

Home Sellers Take the Power Seat With homes to sell scarce in the marketplace, sellers are finding themselves in a better position then in previous years. Buyers are still eager and buying power is still high! Here in the #Seattle #Bellevue metro area this is most definitely the case. 

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-05-30/4-real-estate-trends-for-summer-2013/ What should you expect this summer in the housing market? Pretty much more of what we've already seen in our market. Great short read from Zillow. Happy Thursday!

May/June 2013 Market Pulse A Great info-graphic from Realtor mag about the current market and where it looks like we are headed!

Homes Selling as Fast as They Did During Housing Boom Great video from AOL on supply of homes and how fast they are selling! If you've been looking at homes in the Seattle or Bellevue Metro areas you have seen homes sell in days, sometimes even hours! Supply is picking up though, we aren't seeing as much of a frenzy with multiple offers as we were a month ago.

Dear Seller: Me, Me, Pick Me! Are you making an offer on a home this week? Here is what some people are doing to help their offer out!

http://realestate.msn.com/whats-the-value-of-a-view Ever wonder what the actual cost of a certain view might be? Here is a great read on that exact question. Next time you see a home with a view you can have a better idea of what you should pay! Have a GREAT Monday!

http://www.king5.com/news/slideshows/Seattle-ranks-No-7-for-luxury-home-sales-207546281.html It's always good to see our area making the grade when it comes to home sales!

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/05/15/big-ticket-homes-in-higher-demand With the housing market on the rebound it's only a matter of time when luxury homes and vacation homes become popular again.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/05/15/inventories-asking-prices-get-boost With the shortage of inventory we've seen offers meeting asking price. Chances are if you are making an offer in #Seattle or #Bellevue Metro areas you'll be competing with someone else. In places like #Sammamish, #Issaquah, #Redmond, #Kirkland home prices have been selling for 100% asking price. Just be prepared to go in with you best offer first if you really want the home! Have a Great Day!

'Green' Housing is Red Hot Are you looking for a home that is "green"? Well turns out a lot of people are! Also, the little things are adding up as well. Water saving appliances, more efficient lights etc. It's not only the responsible way to go but also saves money on your bills.

Is an FHA Loan Right for You? Thinking of getting a home loan? Read up on the recent changes to FHA loans before getting one. It might be right for you, or it may not be the best fit. Always ask plenty of questions before signing the dotted line for a home mortgage so there are no surprises. Have a Great Day!

Sellers: Make a Better Offer, Without Contingencies A great read for anyone looking to make an offer in today's markets, specially here in #Seattle and #Bellevue metro areas.

Understanding CMA – Comparable Market Analysis | Live Green | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate I get a lot of people who aren't sure what all goes into a CMA. This is a nice article to give you an understanding on what is going on, what values can be added and subtracted etc. Good stuff from BHG Real Estate!

What Makes For A Winning Offer? | Live Green | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Some good tips from the great folks at BHG Real Estate. It's a sellers market out there so make sure your offer is as strong as it can be!

What's the Magic Color for Selling Your House? | Live Green | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Color goes a long way! What makes those buyers more eager to buy? Take a look.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/05/08/march-home-prices-corelogic/ Another great article on housing prices and the gains we are seeing! It's good to see the data also points to continued rise, and not just another bubble.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/05/06/how-to-buy-and-sell-a-home-at-the-same-time/ With the market super hot for selling your home we've been asked this question a lot. Well here are some ides on how to take advantage of the market while buying your next home. It can be intimidating but get yourself a great agent and they'll walk you through it all!

The 30 Seattle Restaurant Experiences You Must Have Before You Die There a tons of great places to eat in this city, but here is the best of the best!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/25/first-time-homebuyers-guide/ Some great tips for you first time buyers out there. It's tough right now with multiple offer situations, but address these issues and you'll be golden. Everyone get out there and enjoy their weekend!

Top 4 Questions Homebuyers Need Answered Before They Buy - Clean Slate Get these answered before you buy your next home! Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

http://blog.homes.com/2013/04/mortgage-rates-inch-closer-to-all-time-record-lows-again/ Thinking of buying a home? Now is still a great time to get all time low rates. Your buying power will be at it's greatest right now, so get pre-approved and go find your dream home! Need help in the #Seattle #Bellevue area? Give me a call! (206)388-6102. Have a great Monday!

Buyers Will Pay Extra for These Features Ever what the dollar amount is on that walk in closet? Well Realtormag.com put together a quick read on some of the most popular items. Pretty interesting!

Best Time to Sell? More Americans Say 'Yes' It's a hot market for sellers here in Seattle. Yet we still struggle to get homes on the market. If you are on the fence about selling check out this article. Don't wait too long, you might get caught in the mix with others who wait to list. There will be a shift in the trend economists say, so take advantage of the market today!

Foreclosure Crisis Melting Away? The number of homeowners underwater in their mortgage is down from last year. The foreclosure crisis seems to be slowly melting away as they say in this article.

New-Home Sales Show 'Resilience' A good read from RealtorMag.com about the increase in home sales and how it's driving the market. Economic data showing this trend will continue through the year. Always good to hear!

10 cities where rents will rise most in 2013 - MSN Real Estate If you are thinking of buying versus renting, here is a good article from MSN. In some cities it still makes sense to rent, in some you should get on the buying bandwagon!

Solo homebuyer? You're not alone - MSN Real Estate Buying a home by yourself? Not to worry MSN looks into the process!

http://trends.truliablog.com/2013/04/trulia-real-estate-regrets-survey/ A good blog post from the folks at Trulia about some regrets from renters vs buyers. Hope everyone is having a great Monday!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/22/energy-efficient-home-upgrades/# In honor of Earth Day, here are some upgrades to make your home greener. If you are thinking of selling, Buyers love to see these upgrades! Have a great Monday!

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/04/19/for-third-week-mortgage-rates-sink-lower Another week of rates creeping downward. The opportunity to get a great rate on a mortgage is still out there. Buyers are getting great rates and looking to buy, but we are still short on homes. We are seeing a lot of multiple offer situations and homes pending in a few days. Be prepared to submit your best offer first, you might not get a second chance. Have a great weekend! Looking to buy or sell in the #Seattle or #Bellevue area? Give us a call today! (206) 388-6102.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/19/why-buyers-should-consider-foreclosures-or-short-sales/ Here in the Seattle and Bellevue metro area we are seeing fewer and fewer of these on the market. If you do find one it might not be a bad idea to consider it. Don't be scared of these properties! Here is a good read from AOL this Friday. Hopefully everyone is getting ready to be off work and enjoy the weekend!!

http://www.realestate.com/advice/april-showers-home-prices-infographic/ Here in the Seattle/Bellevue area we get are fair share of rain right? Well how does that affect home prices? Best part of this graphic is it Finally shows people Seattle is not the rainiest city in America!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/17/housing-recovery-stalling/ This is the concern on everyone's mind these days. Are prices rising too fast? Is there going to be another bubble. Here is a good read from AOL Real Estate on some aspects of the market recovery. Have a great Thursday!

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/04/15/are-home-prices-rising-too-fast With homes selling fast and at asking price or better, some are asking the question if prices are rising too fast? Are we headed into another bubble? Here is a short read from RealtorMag about the situation.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324695104578418943971997704.html?mod=residential_real_estate Ever wonder if there is too much staging going on? There is a fine line between well done and over done.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/04/10/survey-lenders-more-upbeat-about-housing-recovery It's always a good sign when the lenders are feeling good about the recovery. Good read from Realtomag.com. Happy Wednesday!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/on/playboy-bunny-house-los-angeles/ You don't see this everyday! Not the famed mansion across the street ( I had to read the article to know this). Just a fun read for this Wednesday!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/10/stamped-concrete-patios/ Looking for a good patio on a budget? Try this from my friends at AOL real estate! Have a great Wednesday!

http://www.kcmblog.com/2013/04/08/3-reasons-to-sell-your-house-today-part-i/ Are you thinking of selling but aren't 100% sure yet? The good folks at KCM Crew have the article for you. Not sure where to get an agent? That I can help you with. Call me today or email if that suits you better :) 206-388-6102 or Jackotto @remax.net .

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/08/overpaying-home-features/ A nice article from AOL on things to take in to account when selling your home. But also to think like a seller when you are buying a home. Happy Monday!

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/04/02/three-myths-about-housing-market-rebound/ Great article from the WSJ about what is going on in the market, what's selling and what to expect. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/05/home-bidding-wars/ It's shaping up to be another busy weekend for the housing market. There are hundreds of new listings as of today, Friday. Most homes will spend only a few days on the market, snatched up by Sunday by eager buyers. You'll need to be presenting your best offer first if you hope to walk away a new home owner. You'll need a game plan before you head out this weekend to look at homes. In need of an agent? Give me a call! 2063886102. I can make sure you are ready for the crazy weekend and I also have some great open houses this weekend! Have a great Friday!!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/02/what-does-your-house-style-say-about-you/ A great article from AOL about style of homes and how they reflect you.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/04/02/vacation-home-sales-up-in-2012 It's a good sign when consumers are spending more of their disposable income. And it's even better for the market when vacation and non primary residence home sales are up! This will boost the economy in most places that rely on vacation homes or tourism as income. Just another good read about the direction the market is headed. Have a GREAT day!

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/04/02/americans-showing-more-desire-buy It's Spring and buyers are out in force, but it's always good to see that across the board buyers are more confident. Hopefully this will continue and it'll be a strong Summer and Fall as well.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/04/02/study-buyers-can-afford-bigger-house-if-its-new There are still great deals to be had in new construction!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/04/01/baseball-season-2013-home-values-stadiums/ Would you pay more to be close to the ballpark?

Big Predictions for Housing for Next 2 Years A great article from Realtor Magazine about the next few years.

http://nwhomemag.com/west-seattle-mid-century-modern-homes-remarkable-remake A Great remodel on a West Seattle home is this months "home of the month". Check it out for some local Seattle flavor and ideas.

http://www.seattlemag.com/article/readers-choice-2013-best-restaurants-seattle Looking for a great place to eat tonight? Check out this great read by Seattle Mag! Readers choice on the best places to eat in Seattle. Happy Friday!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/03/28/chinese-mom-reportedly-buys-6-5-million-nyc-apartment-for-toddl?ncid=edlinkusreal00000002&ts=1364536586 This is a nice pad for anyone, but for a 2 year old? Interesting....

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/what-can-you-buy-for-700-000/#photoID-5777684 A good article on AOL about what $700k buys you across the country. Kind of a fun article.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/03/26/home-prices-case-shiller-index/ You've probably felt that things are going well in most markets. Here in Seattle what few homes that are on the market are going fast (if priced right). There are a few that have sat for a little longer due to being over priced. But all in all we still don't have enough supply of homes to meet demands. This is driving the home prices in our area. It's a good time to list if you are thinking of selling this year!

http://pro.truliablog.com/buyers/7-hidden-reasons-buyers-hate-homes/ A great read from the folks at Trulia on what drives buyers nuts about listings.

KB Home Ready to Ramp Up Production A great article about Americas largest home builder and their plans to speed up production!

Sellers Who Delay May Miss Out Who's waiting to list their home? Don't wait too long...

Since it's Monday and Spring is here I figured I'd post one of our Summer in flight summer pics of the San Juan Islands. Summer will be here soon.. Hang in there!    

Home Size Preferences Differ With Age, Culture Happy Monday! Hope everyone is enjoying the start to their week. Here is a great article from Realtor mag.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/curb-appeal-5-low-cost-easy-landscaping-tips?ncid=edlinkusreal00000001&ts=1363987725# A great article on some of the smaller landscaping items you can do to keep that curb appeal up! With Spring here you need to keep up on the little things so they don't turn into a big project! Have a great weekend!

How are things in the Seattle housing market? Well here it is in a nut shell. As you can see the supply still low compared to last year. And you can see that properties are selling but with the low supply it feels like properties are flying off the market.

Homes Near Public Transportation Hold Value Better Are you looking for a home near public transportation? What else is important in your home search?

http://smartasset.com/blog/housing/how-to-find-a-real-estate-agent/ Great article on finding a real estate agent. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions as well!

How to Manage a Multiple Offer Market | Clean Slate A great blog by Better homes and Garden on multiple offer scenarios. Seattle is full of these right now, so it's good to be prepared.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/25/first-time-homebuyers-guide/# A great article from AOL for first time home buyers!

http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/21/news/economy/home-sales/index.html A great article from CNN Money about the increase in sales prices. We are seeing homes going for asking price and some times more these days. Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the Seattle /Bellevue area? Give us a call so we can make it as easy as possible! Hope everyone is enjoying spring! Jackotto @remax.net

Existing-Home Sales and Prices Continue to Rise

http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/listedblogpost.aspx?post=1968c548-1e99-4b25-9434-b1ea62bac542&ocid=vt_fbmsnre A fun article about Woz and Apple, now his former home is up for sale! Happy Tuesday!

http://m.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/real-estate-is-typically-a-person-s-biggest-investment-so/article_43cc6cee-8341-5119-bbf3-5e56f0ce13d3.html?mobile_touch=true

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2013/03/11/take-note-of-the-floor-buyers-certainly-will/ It doesn't matter if you have hardwood, laminate or carpet. The condition of you flooring is important to buyers, here is a good read on how to make the most of your flooring (By Realtor Magazine)

http://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2013/02/24/the-worlds-scariest-hotel-swimming-pool/ I came across this and just had to share it. You always see crazy pools but you don't usually see one like this.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/03/12/2013-buy-home/ Are you thinking of buying a home this year? Not sure if you missed the chance or if this year is still a great time to buy? Here is a great article on the upcoming year. Are you looking for a home in the Seattle area? I can help, give me a shout today! (206) 388-6102 or jackotto @remax.net

http://blog.homes.com/2013/03/6-questions-to-ask-your-loan-officer-before-starting-the-loan-process/ A great article from people over at homes.com on how to tackle the loan process. Making sure to ask the right questions at the beginning can expedite the process and minimize delays. Happy Friday!!

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-03-07/how-much-house-can-you-get-for-525000-2/ A great article on what $525k brings you in various parts of the country.

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-03-07/3-ways-to-avoid-an-hoa-horror-story/ A great article again by the folks at Zillow! Just a few tips on how to know what's going on in the HOA when you are purchasing a home. Always good to know before you buy right!?

3 Reasons Your Home's Value is Increasing!  A good article about a few reasons why your home is increasing in value!

Housing Supply Keeping King Co. Prices High! Another great article on the Seattle housing market!

So I had the pleasure of looking for clothes for my wedding this summer over the weekend. Does anyone have any suggestions about where in the Seattle area or online to shop? Turns out finding several bridesmaids dresses is harder then suits (or just hard in general). And I'll tell you right now I can't take much more "shopping" for dresses :) Also, what about great places for suits? Men's wearhouse seemed a little pricey and the charge for alterations. I found a better priced suit at JCPenny but still need it altered. HELP! In other news, I've been working a new Facebook page for our Seattle waterfront properties. If you could please swing on over and Like the page. I'm also looking for photos to showcase on the page as well. Do you have a waterfront home? Or know someone who does? I'm interested in some pics! Puget Sound Waterfront Properties Spring is right around the corner, are you thinking of buying a home? If so what are you looking for? Wh

What Home Buyers Want In 2013 A great article from reatormag.com about what people are looking for this year. What is important in your search?

Top 5 Reason To Hire a RE/MAX Agent. I came across this sweet little blog from Re/Max of Canada. A few good tid bits on why to hire an agent!

5 Reasons Your Home Isn't Selling (You shouldn't be having trouble these days! ) BUT If you are having trouble selling your home right now then there is definitely something wrong. Here is a good list of things to look at. Also you need to have a great agent. Or as I like to call myself, a wingman. I don't succeed until you succeed! So if your agent won't listen or you find yourself having to do all the work, you need a new agent. They are supposed to be there for YOU! So if you need someone who will listen and be your wingman, give me a call. Jackotto@remax.net

5 Best Cities To Sell Homes Right Now! With the shortage of homes in our market apparent, it's no wonder #Seattle made the list of Top 5 places to sell a home right now. Properties are selling at a brisk pace, one we haven't seen in years. It's a great time to sell your home! If you have any questions about getting your home on the market give us a shout. The sooner you get it listed, the sooner you can be on the road to sold! Once again Friday is the best day to list a home, statistically you get better offers going into the weekends when buyers can see "new" listings. Hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoy the warm (ish) weather! :)

Home Sale Contracts Highest in 2.5 Years! A Great link to MSN about the status of the markets right now. Short supply still affecting markets across the country.

March 1st, The Market Is Crazy Here In Seattle.  I was looking at homes that were on the market for just a few days and went pending in less than a week. Now this is a great market for sellers, we want to get that word out! If you are thinking about selling your home in #Seattle then give us a call. It's been a long time since you could sell your home in less then a week and if priced right, at asking price. We are even seeing multiple offer scenarios resulting in homes being purchased for MORE than asking price. So call today and let's get your home on the road to sold! Now buyers are finding themselves in a difference place then they are used to. You don't have time to weigh your options, get pre approved etc. If you wait, the homes are gone. Buyers are going into transactions fully ready to make the strongest offer possible. So make sure you are ready to make an offer, and if you want an inspection be prepared to get a pre inspection done. We want you to be ready

12 Biggest House Hunting Mistakes.. This is a great article I came across about certain things that you should not overlook when looking at a home. Sometimes it's easy to underestimate repairs when you really love the home or location. Get everything looked at by an inspector, that's my advice!

Seller Shortage Plauges Many Markets.. Another good short read about the market conditions these days. We've seen this in Seattle with there being almost twice as many properties pending then new listings. This is good for people looking to sell their home quickly and in many cases for a good price. Are you looking to sell in the #Seattle area? Give us a call @ Re/Max Exemplary and we'll get it on the market ASAP. Happy Wednesday! (206) 388-6102.