New Short Sale Rules in Washington State
A new law was recently created in Olympia and revises existing law with regard to short sales for owner-occupied properties. House Bill 2614 goes into effect June 7, 2012. In part, the law provides: A) “Upon its first written notice”…
Markets to Hit Bottom by Late 2012
According to Zillow, our home-grown real estate tech company, the bottom is here for many real estate markets and just around the corner for the rest of the country. Zillow’s first quarter Real Estate Market Reports, which came out today,…
Bank of America Streamlines Short Sales
Recently my Buyer clients had an offer accepted on a short sale. The attorney facilitator is charging a 1.5% fee to the Buyer. I have seen many short sales and worked with many negotiators/facilitators and I was very surprised by the high fee. An extra…
Headlines 03.27.2012
Six years into the U.S. housing downturn, the worst finally seems to be over. The overhang of inventory is no longer so daunting as population growth and reduced construction continue to cut the glut of unsold homes. Throw in rising…
Headlines 03.20.2012
Here are some of the headlines in real estate from the last week… Real-estate data cruncher Crellin tells it like it is ~ Seattle Times Home not selling? The price is too high ~ Everett Herald Seattle blessed by downtown’s…
Headlines 03.13.2012
Here are some of the headlines in real estate from this last week… Lock up those FHA loans now ~ Seattle Times Homeowners, don’t miss out on tax breaks ~ Seattle Times Real Estate Face-Off: Renting vs Buying ~ myProperty…
MLS Market Update 03.05.2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2012 Washington homebuyers realizing “market may have reached bottom of cycle” KIRKLAND, Wash. (March 5, 2012) – With spring on the horizon and consumer confidence on the rise, members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service are…
New 3.8% sales tax on real estate
Is there a new 3.8% sales tax on real estate transactions? Here is your answer according to the National Association of Realtors… Q: Is there a 3.8% real estate “sales tax” or a transfer tax created in health care bill?…
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…
Headlines: 2.28.2012
Here are some of the headlines in real estate from this last week… Case-Shiller: Home values down 4% last year ~ Nice Seattle Homes Reminder: 3.8% Tax to have minimal real estate impact ~ NAR Scrimping and saving for a…
Headlines 2.21.2012
Here are some of the headlines in real estate from this last week… Amazon to buy Denny Triangle property ~ Seattle Times California housing market braces for Facebook millionaires ~ New York Times Without listings Zillow & company will perish …
Headlines 02.14.2012
Happy Valentines Day! Here are some of the headlines being discussed in the real estate world from this last week… Foreclosed Homes A Community Mess ~ Seattle Times What Happens When You Walk Away From Your Home? ~ Yahoo! Finance…
MLS Market Update 02.06.2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2012 Housing market “healing itself,” numbers are “astoundingly good” NWMLS KIRKLAND, WA. (Feb. 6, 2012) – Pending sales may not appear to be much higher than 2011 (up 13.7 percent in January), but the numbers…
MLS Market Update 01.23.2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2012 Northwest MLS brokers report more than 56,000 sales during 2011, outgaining prior year by 7.4 percent, but total dollar volume shrinks NWMLS KIRKLAND, WA. (Jan. 23, 2012) – Members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service…
