Seattle Market Update There is a clear lack of consumer confidence evident in the real estate market. January is always a little slow but we saw slower activity in the market than usual last month. Seattle Area home prices are still dropping but for most Seattleites that still means homes are out of reach.Continue reading “Brooks & Heinze Seattle Real Estate Team – February 2019 Newsletter”
Category Archives: homebuyer
Has the Seattle Housing Market Gone Nuts? Yes! But why?
The market sure has heated up. Prices are going up and multiple buyers are competing for the few houses available.
So what’s going on?
– Seattle Unemployment is Low:
In February the Seattle area’s unemployment rate hit its lowest level since September 2008 at 5.1%.
– Consumer Confidence is High:
Confidence is now at a new post-Financial Crisis high.
– Mortgage Rates are Still Attractive:
Current interest rates are roughly on par with where they were in August 2011 and still two points below the 6.41% average rate during the height of the housing bubble through 2006
– Limited Supply of Homes Available for Sale:
There is about a 1.8 month supply of homes for sale in King County. A 4-6 month supply is needed for a balanced market between home buyers and sellers. We are NOT in a balanced market – we have a strong seller’s market.
How to get Preapproved for a Home Loan
One of the first steps you will do when you think about buying a home is talk with a mortgage broker to get preapproved for a home loan. As a real estate agent, I am often the first contact for home buyers and I am often asked how to get preapproved for a home loan. Your realContinue reading “How to get Preapproved for a Home Loan”
Competition is Fierce – Hot Seattle Housing Market
Multiple offers – Rising Property Prices – Rising Interest Rates – Low Inventory – Preinspections – Cash Offers, …. this is what my clients are dealing with everyday now. Yes the market is hot. It’s exciting and exhausting. The video below, recently aired on King 5, describes what buyers are going through well. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO WorkingContinue reading “Competition is Fierce – Hot Seattle Housing Market”
Brooks & Heinze Real Estate Team – First Quarter Newsletter 2013
As we are well into 2013, we are thankful for all of our past clients, current clients and the opportunities we have living in this wonderful area. Now to the market update… State of the Market and Home Values: After years of grave losses, home values finally started to increase in the latter part ofContinue reading “Brooks & Heinze Real Estate Team – First Quarter Newsletter 2013”
Jumbo Mortgage Loans – Don’t Let the Downpayment Fool You!
This is a guest blog entry by Jeff McGinnis: Jumbo mortgage loans are back, but don’t let the down payment requirement fool you. They still have reserve requirements and other fun surprises that can create issues. Learn what they are and how to avoid them. As a professional mortgage banker since 1997 in the SeattleContinue reading “Jumbo Mortgage Loans – Don’t Let the Downpayment Fool You!”
What do a great agent and massage therapist have in common?
Home buying is a great financial commitment and an intensely emotional experience. When your emotions are involved in a purchase, there’s a possibility that those emotions can get out of hand and stress can taint the experience.
Special one-year Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension for Members of the Military, Foreign Service and Intelligence Service
Home Buyer Tax Credits Have Expired BUT service members who were on official extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between Jan.1, 2009 and May 1, 2010, may qualify for a one-year extension.) Special rules for eligibility also apply for members of the foreign service and the intelligence community. CongressContinue reading “Special one-year Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension for Members of the Military, Foreign Service and Intelligence Service”
What is the Homebuyer Tax Credit and who qualifies for it
The stimulus plan that President Obama has signed into law as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains an important tax credit for first-time home buyers: a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price, up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers only. First-time buyers, for the purpose of this credit,Continue reading “What is the Homebuyer Tax Credit and who qualifies for it”
Kerstin G. Brooks, Broker 