The Cascade Team Blog - September, 2017

6 Benefits Of Buying Or Selling Your Home In The Fall

Seeing fewer for-sale signs now that summer is over? That can be great news for buyers who are looking to score a new home and buyers who want to get rid of their place and buy a new one. If you think you missed the boat on making your move this year, we're here to tell you why buying and selling in the fall can work for you.

Less competition

Yes, there may be fewer homes on the market, but there are also fewer buyers out there competing for the same home you want. That gives buyers an important edge. Families on a mission to move into a new home before school starts are out of the picture. Competition for houses drops off in the fall, a time many people consider to be off-season in real estate. But there are still homes for sale - and in some…

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Seven Things Buyers Should Never Compromise On

Every successful home search begins with a wish list. Armed with your inventory of must-haves, you'll know how to focus your search and recognize a potential home that isn't worth your time.

Still, there's a strange thing that seems to happen when you're deep in the trenches of house hunting: The more you look, the longer that wish list seems to grow. But sooner or later, you have to own up to the fact that you can’t have everything—it's inevitable that you'll make some compromises somewhere.

And, in these days of tight inventory and cutthroat competition from other buyers, you might feel forced to waver far afield from your hallowed wish list in order to land a home.

That's OK—it’s important to be flexible. But there are a few times when you…

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Why Fall May Be Best Time for Buyers (Particularly October 8th)

A slower fall season in home buying may help more lingering home buyers to jump in. Credit the flurry of back-to-school activities and end-of summer vacations for sidetracking some sellers and buyers. Typically, the last two weeks or so of August cool a bit and the market picks up again full steam once school resumes for one last big push up until the Holiday season.

Home buyers may find attractive mortgage rates this fall. Mortgage rates are still under the 4 percent psychological threshold, which can be a luring incentive for borrowers. Freddie Mac reported last week that the 30-year fixed rate averaged 3.78 percent, holding steady at a 2017 low.

Studies have shown that fall can be the best time to buy. A study conducted by RealtyTrac in 2015…

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The ALL NEW Cascade Team Commercial!

We are very happy to show off our new commercial for The Cascade Team Real Estate!

Discover TRUE Full service marketing and support with only a 1% listing fee. We’ll save you thousands on the sale of your home, and impress you beyond belief with the service, marketing and skill of our great Agents!

The Cascade Team Real Estate is a company like no other because of the marketing, service and home seller savings we provide. We understand that in today’s real estate & home selling environment, we need to provide a high level of real estate service and wide spread marketing of the home for sale, utilize technology to keep our home seller clients in the communication loop and provide added value to both buyers and home sellers in the real…

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Five Real Estate Stats Homeowners Should Know

5 Real Estate Stats Homeowners Should Know: As homeowners, it's good to know a little bit about the market our home is located in. There are a couple of real estate stats that are good to know as they can give us a feel for the temperature of the market.

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The Dilemma With Built-Ins

Bookshelves and cabinetry incorporated within a home’s architecture once was equated with grandeur, offering homeowners the opportunity to showcase personal treasures and knickknacks. But over time, the pieces may look dated. Here are updating ideas with pizzazz that buyers may love.     September 2017 | By Barbara Ballinger  

Built-in cabinetry, whether part of a home’s initial design or added to organize and display books, artwork, or knickknacks, has long offered a way for homeowners to introduce a distinctive look to their interior. But with the rise of digital media and minimalist decor, buyers these days may have less of a need for this once widely coveted storage feature.

In addition, pieces constructed years or…

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What's The True Price Tag of a New Home

The true cost of buying a home can be a lot more than the agreed-upon sale price. Along with your monthly mortgage payment, you will likely find yourself shelling out for other upfront and ongoing expenses. Closing costs, homeowners association fees, property taxes, utility bills and imminent home repairs can add hundreds — if not thousands — to your expenditures.

Avoid unpleasant financial surprises by familiarizing yourself with some of the more common expenses associated with buying or building a new home. Budgeting for added monthly expenses — and setting some aside for emergencies — will help ensure your new dream home is also an affordable one.

1. Closing costs: Add in an estimated 2% to 5% of home price.
2. Homeowners insurance: Add…

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Seller Myths To Stop Believing If You Hope to Sell Your House

Pricing your own home is hard, what with all the history and hopes this magic number entails. Of course, you want to make a profit. Of course, all that money you spent installing a swimming pool or a half-bath will be recouped, because you're leaving your digs in better shape than when you bought it, right? Right?

Well, not necessarily. Too many home sellers fall prey to myths about home pricing that seem to make sense at first, but don't jibe with the reality of real estate markets today. To make sure you haven't bought into any of this malarkey—since the buyers you're trying to woo sure haven't—here are some common pricing myths you'll want to rinse from your brain so you kick off your home-selling venture with realistic expectations. It's time…

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Housing Market Fire Still Burning: Though a Few “Cool “ Spots Appear

KIRKLAND, Washington (Sept. 6, 2017) – As smoke and ash blanketed parts of Washington state, one real estate broker noted, “Even in a fire there are some cooler spots, and seasonally, the housing market is in a cooler spot.”

• Pending Sales Exceed New Listings Again For August
• Active Listings Down 12.8% Compared to Last Year
• $1,000,000+ Homes Sales UP 52% Over Last Year

The latest numbers from Northwest Multiple Listing Service show there are both cooler spots and hot spots, with the demand for housing and prices showing few signs of being extinguished.

“For August, we experienced a more robust market than anticipated,” remarked Diedre Hanes, principal managing broker-South Snohomish County at Coldwell Banker Bain in Lynnwood.…

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Issaquah Traffic Alert: Trader Joe's/Target Intersection

Traffic Alert: Trader Joe's/Target Intersection

From Sept. 5-26, the Trader Joe’s/Target intersection on Maple Street Northwest will be closed as crews build a mini-roundabout.

The project will provide a more intuitive intersection for pedestrians and drivers, and install rectangular rapid flashing beacons for the pedestrian crossings on Maple Street.

Drivers will still be able to access local businesses from the access points shown below.  

While a short term inconvenience this project should greatly ease the congestion in one of the busiest shopping areas of Issaquah in time for the holiday shopping season and beyond.

The Cascade Team Real Estate is a company like no other because of the marketing, service and home seller…

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