Buying Homes

Buying Homes Which is Better, Renting or Buying? Which is Better, Renting or Buying? The Financial Benefits of Owning Real Estate Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, looking to purchase a second home, or considering assisting your adult children in buying a home, owning real estate can offer significant long-term financial benefits. While renting may be a more immediate and accessible option, the benefits […]
Buying Homes Holy Shift, Again! Most of the Market Correction Behind Us & Growth Ahead! Holy Shift, Again! Most of the Market Correction Behind Us & Growth Ahead! Markets change fast! We experienced a substantial shift in 2022 with the first half of the year feeling like a completely different market than the second half of the year. A 3-point increase in interest rate was the main culprit along with inflation and […]
Buying Homes An Economic & Housing Forecast for 2023 by Economist Matthew Gardner An Economic & Housing Forecast for 2023 by Economist Matthew Gardner Last week, my office had the pleasure of hosting Windermere’s Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner for his 2023 Economic and Housing Forecast. During this jam-packed hour of insightful delivery, he reported on the U.S. and local economies along with the U.S. and local housing markets specific […]
Buying Homes December is for Giving at Windermere North!   Between holiday parties, family obligations, work, and the pressure of finding the perfect gift, this time of year can come and go in a flash. At Windermere North, we never want this season to go by without coming together to lift up our community and give back in meaningful ways. Our office-wide annual holiday […]
Buying Homes Key Factors to Note as the Market Recalibrates in the New Year Key Factors to Note as the Market Recalibrates in the New Year 2022 has been an eventful year in the real estate market and the economy. After 2 years of pandemic-fueled demand and historically low interest rates, we experienced a shift. The Fed quickly raised rates (by 2 points) from April to October to combat inflation, […]
Buying Homes Matthew Gardner’s Top 10 Predictions for 2023                 Matthew Gardner’s Top 10 Predictions for 2023 1 There Is No Housing Bubble Mortgage rates rose steeply in 2022 which, when coupled with the massive run-up in home prices, has some suggesting that we are recreating the housing bubble of 2007. But that could not be further […]
Buying Homes Returning to Normal: Buyer Affordability Dictates the Market While Sellers Retain Equity             There is no doubt that 2022 has been one of the most eventful years in real estate. This is saying a lot coming off the record-breaking years of the pandemic. We will probably never see anything like 2020 and 2021 again. During this time the market responded to a […]
Buying Homes Navigating a Balanced Market: PROPERTY PERPARATION, PRICING & NEGOTIATIONS   As we experience the fall equinox, when the length of a day is equal to the night, we are also experiencing a similar balance in the real estate market. We define a balanced market to have 2-4 months of available inventory. This means that if no new homes came to market, we would be […]
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Buying Homes Understanding the Current Shift in the Real Estate Market: HOW INTEREST RATES AFFECT PRICES HOW   As we continue to examine the shift in the market, we must take a moment to take a deep dive into interest rates. Since the first of the year, long-term interest rates have increased 2.7% from 3.11% on 12/30/21 to the peak of 5.81% on 6/23/22, but have started to level out. On […]
Buying Homes Understanding the Current Shift in the Real Estate Market: LOCATION IS KEY!   There is an old adage in real estate: location, location, location. Where a property is located has the biggest influence on its value.  Through the pandemic years, we saw a shift in how the location was valued. Before remote working became more common, homes located in neighborhoods that were closer to job centers such as Seattle […]
Buying Homes How Does the Current Market Shift Impact Home Buyers & Sellers?   “How’s the market?” is a question I am asked all the time. Now more than ever, the answer to this question is critical and detailed. You see, our market is experiencing a shift, a slowing down of price growth, if you will. Believe it or not, this is providing great opportunities for both buyers […]
Buying Homes Real Estate Market Update               At Windermere, we are fortunate to have Matthew Gardner as our Chief Economist. In fact, we are one of the only real estate companies in the country to have such a well-respected expert sitting in this role. Not only is Matthew an asset to Windermere brokers and their clients, but […]
Buying Homes Spring Market Update  As we round out the first quarter of 2022 and head into the notorious Spring Market there are a handful of factors that should be considered whether you are a buyer or a seller. Paying attention to the anticipated increase in housing supply, monitoring buyer demand, and assessing the effects of rising interest rates on the […]
Buying Homes What is a Bridge Loan? With so much in flux during the period between selling a home and buying a new one, short-term financing can provide some calm among the storm. With the fate of two properties up in the air, those who are selling a home will often look to secure a bridge loan to bridge the gap between the […]
Buying Homes The Different Types of Home Loans for Buyers Financing terms are the nuts and bolts of a successful home purchase. Once you’ve decided you’re ready to buy a house, it’s a matter of making the numbers work. So, which home loan is the right one for you? Knowing the different types of mortgage loans available to you will allow you to pinpoint the one […]
Buying Homes Matthew Gardner’s 2022 Predictions   In January, my office hosted our 14th annual Economic Forecast Event with Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist. It was an hour-long presentation followed by lively Q & A that was packed with useful information to help guide us as we start the new year. Matthew journeyed the audience through a macro to micro approach, […]
Buying Homes The Zillow Algorithm vs. The Human Algorithm – what is best for the consumer?   The recent news of Zillow’s plan to shut down their iBuyer program due to a $328 million loss in the third quarter has heads spinning in the real estate world and on Wall Street.  Sadly, Zillow plans to eliminate 25% of its workforce because of its decision to move away from the practice of purchasing and […]
Buying Homes The Triangle of Buyer Clarity – Finding Buyer Success in a Seller’s Market   Embarking on a home purchase in a seller’s market can be intimidating, but it can be done. Long-term price growth confirms that owning a home is a key element to building household wealth. Home equity gained over time is typically the largest asset that contributes to a household’s net worth. Homeownership is not only an investment, but […]
Buying Homes Monthly Newsletter – Real Estate Market Recap   I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the 2021 real estate market has been a head-turner! In the second half of 2020, once we started to emerge from the COVID lockdown, the real estate market started to bustle with activity. 2020 ended up being a robust real estate year driven by low […]
Buying Homes Monthly Newsletter – The National Housing Market & Seahawks Partnership   As I mentioned in my last newsletter, Windermere is empowered by the knowledge and research of our Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner. Below is his latest monthly video report which touches on the latest numbers surrounding the national housing market. Here are some key data points derived from the final recorded July home sales numbers: […]