Interest rates 1971 to present
Having grown up in a real estate family and hearing about transactions being put together in all types of markets I find the history of interest rates fascinating. I especially have always found it particularly interesting (or amusing) to hear complaints of rising…
Sewage Treatment Capacity Charge
If you are buying a home that was built in the last 15 years you may have an additional cost to be aware of. The ‘Sewage Treatment Capacity Charge’ is applied to new construction homes in many counties. Homes in…
Buyer rebate from agent
I am asked more and more often if a real estate Broker can pay a rebate to a Buyer after closing. According to license law a rebate is legal. However, if the Buyer is getting a mortgage it must be approved…
What is a 1031 exchange?
‘Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchange’ is a part of the Residential Purchase and Sale Agreement. What is it addressing? In the Northwest Multiple Listing Purchase & Sale Agreement it is simply an agreement between Buyer & Seller to cooperate in signing the…
Discount Points
One of the most misunderstood aspects of getting a home loan is that of discount points. There can be some confusion when the fee is referred to by many different names. “Points”, “Discount Points”, “Discount” and “Investor Fee” are just a few…
Built Green in King County
A healthier home and more sustainable building practices are becoming increasingly important to Seattle area home buyers. “Green” is often showing up on a Buyer’s wants & needs list as a top priority when talking about a home purchase. The Built Green…
Why pay for title insurance?
Many Buyers and Sellers wonder about that ‘title insurance’ charge on the Settlement Statement. The Seller buys a policy for the Buyer and the Buyer pays for a policy for their Lender (if they are getting a mortgage). So what…
Holding Title in Washington
At some point in the process of buying a home you are going to be asked how you want to “hold title”. Here are four common ways to hold title to real property in Washington State: 1) Single Individual –…
FHA mortgage insurance increase April 1, 2012
Yesterday there was an announcement from HUD and it appears that FHA will be increasing the mortgage insurance premium expense for case numbers ordered after March 31st. For 3.5% down, the current cost is 1.00% for the “lump sum” premium…
New listings in your email
With the Lake & Company home search you can easily create a free user account. With your user account you can save favorite properties and create custom searches. Opt in for daily email updates with new matches. Registration is free…
Utility programs & rebates
There are many upgrades you can make to your home for greater efficiency, a healthier living environment and to save some long-term dollars. There is also a lot of government programs encouraging you to make these upgrades by offering rebates on those updates. …
Home Search
Lake and Company offers a simple, yet informative & user-friendly search map. Easily search for: Homes For Sale Open Houses Sold Properties Search by: Area Price Numerous Property Types Bedroom / Bathroom Status Short Sale &/or Bank Owned Green Homes New…
Walking Seattle
It is becoming more and more important to home buyers that their new home be in a “walkable” neighborhood. Convenience to coffee shops, restaurants, shopping, pubs & parks are often at the top of people’s new home wish list. There…
It’s not just your mortgage payment to consider
Many people focus solely on their mortgage payment when looking to buy a home. There are many other costs you must consider in your budget. You will pay a monthly cost for property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. You will also…
Cash needed to buy a home
The amount of money required to purchase a home depends on a number of factors, including the cost of the house and the type of mortgage you get. In general, you need to come up with enough money to cover…
