Blog - Robin Myers

condominiums, first time buyers, moving, open house, real estate

Open House Etiquette

With real estate market activity picking up there will be more open houses to visit in the coming weeks. Are there rules of etiquette when visiting an open house? Common sense and courtesy should prevail, but it can be surprising what visitors think is acceptable when walking through someone else’s home. So what is OK, […]
Bellevue, condominiums, Downtown Bellevue, real estate

Bellevue’s Condo Market is Off to a Quick Start This Year

Today’s Seattle Times (link to the article below) provided a review of the region’s 2019 real estate market comparing sales activity and property values to the prior year. While prices in the county were flat throughout the year, the last quarter of 2019 bucked that trend with inventory selling quickly and multiple offers more common. […]
Bellevue, condominiums, Downtown Bellevue, family, lifestyle

Snow Days

I grew up on the East coast, so was used to several snow storms every winter. School was rarely cancelled or delayed and you hardly ever got a day off work due to snow. The north and mid-Atlantic states on the East coast are prepared for snow every winter. There are more snow plows there […]
Bellevue, condominiums, Downtown Bellevue, home property values, real estate

Eastside Condos – What Can You Expect in 2020?

Today’s Seattle Times and Puget Sound Business Journal reported that the 2020 real estate marketplace was likely to open fast paced with low inventory levels and high buyer demand following a robust December of residential sales. Without a significant increase in available housing inventory it could be a “red hot market” this year with a […]

condominiums Open House Etiquette With real estate market activity picking up there will be more open houses to visit in the coming weeks. Are there rules of etiquette when visiting an open house? Common sense and courtesy should prevail, but it can be surprising what visitors think is acceptable when walking through someone else’s home. So what is OK, […]

Bellevue Bellevue’s Condo Market is Off to a Quick Start This Year Today’s Seattle Times (link to the article below) provided a review of the region’s 2019 real estate market comparing sales activity and property values to the prior year. While prices in the county were flat throughout the year, the last quarter of 2019 bucked that trend with inventory selling quickly and multiple offers more common. […]

Bellevue Snow Days I grew up on the East coast, so was used to several snow storms every winter. School was rarely cancelled or delayed and you hardly ever got a day off work due to snow. The north and mid-Atlantic states on the East coast are prepared for snow every winter. There are more snow plows there […]

Bellevue Eastside Condos – What Can You Expect in 2020? Today’s Seattle Times and Puget Sound Business Journal reported that the 2020 real estate marketplace was likely to open fast paced with low inventory levels and high buyer demand following a robust December of residential sales. Without a significant increase in available housing inventory it could be a “red hot market” this year with a […]

Bellevue Welcome Winter I love the change of seasons, despite winter’s shorter days. Embrace the grey! Though slowly, the days will begin getting longer.

condominiums 2020 Real Estate Excise Tax Revision The Washington State Legislature has changed the way in which real estate excise taxes taxes (REET) will be calculated. This change will impact real estate sales beginning next year. Starting January 1, 2020, the real estate excise tax, currently a flat 1.78% of the sales price paid by the seller at closing, will be calculated […]

Bellevue Eastside Condo Sales Activity As was true across the Puget Sound region, the inventory of available houses and condos for sale on the Eastside dropped dramatically in November. the median sales price was $900,000, up 2% over last year 20% of those homes sold above list price 45% of the homes sold in 15 days or less the Eastside […]

condo financing NEW FHA GUIDELINES OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME BUYERS Condominiums are an important part of the housing market, especially for first time buyers. Often buyers have the income and credit score needed to purchase a home but lack a substantial down payment which can make entering the housing market prohibitive. In an effort to promote affordable homeownership for credit worthy buyers, the […]

condo financing NEW FHA LOAN GUIDELINES FOR CONDOMINIUMS BENEFIT BUYERS Condominiums are an important part of the housing market for first time buyers. Too often buyers have the income and credit score needed to purchase a home but lack an adequate down payment which can make entering the housing market prohibitive. In an effort to promote affordable and sustainable homeownership, especially among credit-worthy first […]

condominiums Renting Your Condo? What You Need to Know About New Washington State Landlord-Tenant Laws Washington State Landlord-Tenant Laws were revised in July that include new tenant protection laws relating to rent increase and eviction notices and changes to property use. If you currently have tenants renting your condominium (or house), or you’re thinking about renting your condo, here is a quick look at recent changes to the state landlord-tenant […]

condominiums Home Search – What’s more important? Location or dream home updates? Seafair, vacations, weddings, sunny weather, back-to-school shopping – the month of August is filled with distractions that cause buyers to take a break from their summer home search. Local condominium and house inventory is up (though there’s hardly a glut of available inventory), making this a great time to take advantage of having more […]

Bellevue Bellevue Weekend Recycling Event If you’ve been inspired to do some spring cleaning, this weekend’s recycling event is the perfect place to drop off those items that don’t have any usable life left in them. Saturday, May 26th 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Bellevue Presbyterian Church 1717 Bellevue Way NE The event is free – accepted items include: — […]

condo financing Don’t Ignore Condo Resale Disclosure Documents In this fast paced, competitive real estate market, it’s common, in an effort to “win”, for buyers to waive contract conditions such as inspection, financing, appraisal, neighborhood review, etc. Buying a condominium is different than buying a house. With condominiums perhaps the most important contract condition in place to protect a buyer is the […]

Bellevue This Weekend – What to do in Bellevue Rain or shine . . . there are plenty of events and activities in Bellevue this weekend. ROCK GARDEN PLANT SALE Saturday, April 14th 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Bellevue Botanical Garden – 12001 Main Street Admission: free INSECT INVESTIGATIONS Saturday April 14th 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center […]

property tax exemptions Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors It’s no secret – 2018 property taxes have increased substantially over last year. While rising taxes are a tough pill to swallow, Washington’s property taxes rank in the lower half nationwide, coming in at 29th. New Jersey is #1 and surprisingly Hawaii is the lowest. Did you know property tax exemptions are available for seniors? […]

Bellevue Does Walk-ability Add Home and Community Value? Living in communities close to workplaces, shopping, dining and other amenities is becoming increasingly important to buyers when searching for a home. A recent survey conducted on behalf of the National Association of REALTORS® found over half of the respondents preferred to live in a community that offered smaller or no yards but was within […]

Bellevue Bellevue Weekend Events If you’re not a fan of college basketball tournament play, there are interesting and fun local events for adults and children this weekend. BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN SPRING BULB LECTURE SATURDAY MARCH 24th – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Slide show and walking tour through the botanical gardens to learn about the best spring bulbs for […]

downsizing Make Your Next Move with Minimal Stress Downsizing can happen at any phase of life and for many reasons. Moving, if it involves a major lifestyle change, can be an especially difficult and emotional process. Whether you’re moving yourself or assisting a family member or friend, there are ways to make the process easier and less stressful. Define, or Redefine Your Needs […]

home property values The Risk of Relying on Home Value Zestimates Earlier this month the Seattle Times reported on a recent Zillow Zestimate for a home in Belfair on the Kitsap Peninsula. The Mason County assessor’s value of the home was $283,000. The home recently sold for $225,000 (below market value because the home was headed for foreclosure). A Zillow Zestimate published the home’s value at […]

neighborhoods Changes Planned for the Overlake/Sears Property in Redmond http://www.redmond.gov/seritage Design and use changes are proposed for the existing Sears site in the Redmond/Overlake area. The rendering above and link to the City of Redmond website provides more information about the Seritage mixed use project. Preliminary plans for the 13 acre site propose office, retail, hotel, restaurants and residential plus approximately 2 acres […]