condominium speciaist

condominium, condominium speciaist, real estate, selling a home, staging a home for sale

Selling a Home? How Important is Staging?

Early in my career home staging was rare and typically used only in high end properties. Professional photography wasn’t common either – most brokers took their own marketing photos. Today online is almost always the first exposure buyers have to a new listed home. Hiring a professional photographer is a requirement, rather than an option, […]
condominium, condominium speciaist, home loans, interest rates, mortgage interest rates, real estate

Fall Interest Rates – What to Expect

High interest rates continue to make it challenging to buy a home. Some buyers have chosen to delay their home search, holding out for mortgage rates to decline later this year. It’s highly unlikely the 3% interest rates we saw a few years ago will return in the near future, if ever. Rates crested 7% […]
Bellevue Urban Living, condominium, condominium speciaist, Downtown Bellevue, living downtown, Robin Myers/Condo Specialist, urban living, walkability

Bellevue Towers – Just Sold

• Bellevue Towers offers a walkable, dynamic urban living experience. • 1,575 SF residence offers 2 bedrooms/2 baths + corner den with a southern exposure and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. • Unique to this community is a private half acre park offers expansive lawn space, walking paths, water features, outdoor fireplace and large patio. • Indoor […]
Buyer Broker Services Agreements, buying a home, condominium speciaist, housing market, real estate, Windermere Real Estate

What are Buyer Broker Services Agreements?

Real estate, and the laws surrounding it, is constantly changing. Beginning January 1st of this year, the State of Washington now requires that home buyers sign a Buyer Broker Services Agreement when working with a licensed broker in their search for a home. While it sounds like a big change, Buyer Broker Services Agreements have […]

condominium Selling a Home? How Important is Staging? Early in my career home staging was rare and typically used only in high end properties. Professional photography wasn’t common either – most brokers took their own marketing photos. Today online is almost always the first exposure buyers have to a new listed home. Hiring a professional photographer is a requirement, rather than an option, […]

condominium Fall Interest Rates – What to Expect High interest rates continue to make it challenging to buy a home. Some buyers have chosen to delay their home search, holding out for mortgage rates to decline later this year. It’s highly unlikely the 3% interest rates we saw a few years ago will return in the near future, if ever. Rates crested 7% […]

Bellevue Urban Living Bellevue Towers – Just Sold • Bellevue Towers offers a walkable, dynamic urban living experience. • 1,575 SF residence offers 2 bedrooms/2 baths + corner den with a southern exposure and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. • Unique to this community is a private half acre park offers expansive lawn space, walking paths, water features, outdoor fireplace and large patio. • Indoor […]

Buyer Broker Services Agreements What are Buyer Broker Services Agreements? Real estate, and the laws surrounding it, is constantly changing. Beginning January 1st of this year, the State of Washington now requires that home buyers sign a Buyer Broker Services Agreement when working with a licensed broker in their search for a home. While it sounds like a big change, Buyer Broker Services Agreements have […]

Bellevue condominium Downtown Bellevue First Quarter Condo Market Statistics 2023 had a bumpy start. There’s been a lot drama and speculation regarding interest rates, the stock market, investments, employment, etc. While the eastside hasn’t been immune to these issues, the downtown Bellevue condo market has looked like a fairly normal spring market. Sales prices are gradually increasing, the difference between list price and sale […]

buying a home Mortgage Interest Rate Buydowns If you’re thinking about buying a home, the good news is mortgage interest rates continue to decline. Rates are in the low 6% range compared to over 7% a few months ago. There are ways to lower the mortgage interest rate even more with a temporary or permanent mortgage buydown, but there are pros and cons. […]

condominium Don’t Just Downsize . . . Right-size Many sellers in today’s market, myself included, are getting ready to not only move but also downsize their lifestyle, fitting their new home to fit future needs. Downsizing, or right-sizing, means more than just “getting rid of “stuff” and finding a smaller home. It’s important to consider how you live now, how you want […]

buying a home Rent vs. Buy – What Best Fits Your Current Lifestyle? Copy There are definite advantages to owning a home, as a vehicle for building wealth and the security of owning a safe place to call home. Matthew Gardner, Windermere Real Estate’s Chief Economist, speaks to the advantages of owning a home in this short video. While most of us can agree with all the points in […]

buying a home Increased Conforming Loan Limits Will Benefit Buyers Conforming home loan limits are tied to local home prices. Each year the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) evaluates home values nationwide and adjusts the conforming loan limits for each state and each county within each state. FHFA also establishes higher conforming loan limits for areas deemed to be “high cost areas” based on local […]

condominium speciaist September is Realtor® Safety Month September is Realtor® Safety Month. You wouldn’t think real estate was a profession that deals with a lot of risk or safety concerns. Though rare, over the years there have been several instances locally and across the country of Realtors® being physically or cyber stalked, injured or abducted. Locally, our industry was rocked by the […]

buying a home Juanita – New on the Market VILLA JUANITA – a spacious, open concept home designed with comfort and style No detail was overlooked in this spacious one bedroom condo. Quality finishes and fixtures throughout (Restoration Hardware lighting, custom window treatments, freshly painted, newer carpet and stainless appliance package) make this a comfortable home for day-to-day or entertaining. The kitchen will please […]

condo resale disclosures Revision to Condominium Resale Certificates Relating to EV Charging Stations The WA State Legislature recently approved a revision to the Condominium Resale Certificate. House Bill 1793, passed by both the House and Senate, was effective June 9, 2022. A new section has been added to the Condominium Resale Certificate relating to electric vehicle charging stations. Whether located in the unit or the limited common elements […]

Bellevue Summer May Offer Temporary Relief for Home Buyers This week’s press release from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) provided a hint of hopeful news for local home buyers. NWMLS data shows the number of active listings added to the market in June was at it’s highest level in 17 months. In the tri-county area (King, Snohomish and Pierce counties) single family and […]

condominium speciaist Matthew Gardner’s Housing & Economic Update This week Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist, shares his thoughts on the latest US home sales data. Single family and multi family home values continue to rise while available inventory levels continue to decline. What’s the news for condos? Condo prices are trending higher nationwide, up 10% year-over-year. It’s difficult to know how long this […]

Bellevue Snowflake Lane 2020 The trees lining Bellevue Way have been decorated in sparkling holiday lights and the toy drums have arrived and line the sidewalks. Soon toy soldiers will take their places on top of the drums. The holidays are almost here. The Bellevue Collection’s Snowflake Lane will have a different look this year. The holiday season […]

buying a home New Construction, Existing Home Sales, Condos & Vacation/Resort Homes Tight supply and increasing land/material/labor continue to contribute to rising home prices. Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, shares his thoughts on builder confidence nationwide, evidenced by a dramatic increase in sales of new construction homes and permit applications. That continued buyer demand along with increasing construction costs are driving prices up. Sales […]

Bellevue condominium Downtown Bellevue’s Condo Market is Doing Just Fine As we enter the seventh month of pandemic survival all indications are the downtown Bellevue condo market has remained strong. Media articles predicted homeowners, driven by pandemic concerns, might choose to abandon the city for suburban homes offering more indoor and outdoor space. Homeowners may be departing Manhattan and San Francisco, but Bellevue’s urban condo […]

Bellevue condominium Urban Pet Potty Solution – Perfect for Condo Living I like to support local businesses, especially these days, and this one has special importance as a townhome owner with a pet. Condo Pet Pals has been a lifesaver. I live downtown and while I walk my dog several times a day, sometimes there isn’t enough time between business appointments to fit in a walk. […]

buying a home Selling Your Condo? Here’s Why the Condo Resale Certificate is Important What is a Resale Certificate? The condominium resale certificate is a critical part of every condo sale. Condos and homeowner associations are governed by documents that outline the duties and responsibilities of the homeowner and the community. When a buyer purchases a condo they are entitled to review those documents. The “resale certificate” is a […]

condominium speciaist Interesting Look at Historical Data Regarding US Home Ownership This week with Matthew Gardner – interesting information on historical data regarding US home ownership rates. Millennials still represent the greatest increase in home ownership in the last year.