The Cascade Team Blog - Agent Tips

Study: January, February Great for Buying

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 25th, 2017

For home buyers hoping to snag a deal, they may want to make a move now. Home prices in January usually decrease compared to the spring and summer buying season.

There’s plenty of research to back that up too. NerdWallet recently crunched two years of realtor.com® data that reflected the 50 largest U.S. metros. Researchers found that January and February were the top months for those looking to get a bargain. In those months, home sales prices were 8.45 percent lower on average than in June through August.

However, this year may be a little different. Buyer demand has remained high throughout the fall, and home prices did not take their usual dip this January, says Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com®’s chief economist. Still, he maintains right now is…

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Thank you to everyone who attended any of the "Eat The Frog" classes last week!

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 23rd, 2017

We hope that most of you walked away with lots of new information and some helpful tips and strategies to use in both your professional and personal life.

But, what's the next step? Come check out Cary's course next week: "Eat That Frog" Business Plan Implementation Class. We handed out business plan booklets to all this week's attendees and now we want to help you use the content in that book, take it to the next level, and put it into action! 

RSVP early to guarantee yourself a spot, there is only one day available for this class with a limit of 30 reservations- don't miss out!

When: Wednesday, January 25th from 10am - 1pm (and yes, that time is correct :P )

Where: The Cascade Team Headquarter Office

RSVP HERE!!!

Here are links…

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Thank you and Goodbye: Issaquah Press, Sammamish Review, SnoValley Star and Newcastle News Closing Down.

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 23rd, 2017

The Cascade Team Real Estate would like to take a moment to say that it is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to the Issaquah Press and family of papers. Over the years we have done a lot of advertising with The Issaquah Press Group from our Open House Treasure Hunt, Mobile App, and more.  The Issaquah Press, Sammamish Review, SnoValley Star and Newcastle have also been a wonderful partner in helping promote community events such as Project Crayon Drive, YMCA Halloween Events in Sammamish and Snoqualmie, and also the Free Horse Drawn Carriage Rides and Santa photos in Issaquah, Snoqualmie and Sammamish.

More than that, they have also been great community members promoting stories that matter and relate directly to the communities they feature.…

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Buyers Beware: The Worst Day of the Year to Buy a Home Is Coming Up, and Here's Why

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 16th, 2017

Trudging through snow and sleet in boots and heavy coats might not seem ideal when you’re shopping for a home, but there are many good reasons to buy in the dead of winter. For example, you’ll have less competition from other buyers or encounter more sellers eager and willing to make a deal.

But as you may have heard, we’re coming up on what may be the worst day of the entire year to buy a home: Jan. 19.

That’s what RealtyTrac (now ATTOM Data Solutions) found in a 2015 study that culled data from 32 million home sales from 2000 to 2015. Researchers compared premiums paid over estimated market price to define the best and worst days. (For the record, they found the best day to be Oct. 8.)

Buyers who closed on Jan. 19  paid, on average,…

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5 Killer Real Estate Lessons We Learned From ‘Friday the 13th

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 13th, 2017

Highwaystarz-Photography/iStock; sjo/iStock

Friday the 13th is an unlucky day if you’re superstitious. And in case you haven’t noticed, it’s here! But we like to think we are people who see the glass as half-full. We prefer to look at the doomed day as an opportunity to reflect upon some unexpected nuggets of—you guessed it—real estate wisdom.

To prove that valuable real estate knowledge truly can be found anywhere, we’ve turned to Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th” and (spoiler alert!) his nutty, murderous mother for inspiration. The hockey mask–wearing horror icon is an unlikely choice, but no one personifies the dreaded date better than the fictional fright master. And, as it turns out, there are some helpful housing lessons buried deep…

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Home Security Tips for Sellers When Your Home Is On The Market

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 12th, 2017

When your clients are opening their doors to the public for showings, they need to take extra precautions. Share these suggestions to help them keep their belongings safe.

After Christmas, many people put the empty boxes their expensive gifts came in out on the curb. What do you think that says to potential burglars? It screams, “I just got a brand-new TV! Come and rob me!”

That’s just one example of some unwise habits homeowners have. If those owners are sellers opening their doors to the public for showings, habits such as these put them in even greater danger. The above example is a good warning to give to your clients now, since we’re in the holiday season. But use it as a jumping-off point to have a deeper conversation about safety - how to…

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Zillow It's Me (Hello From The Listing Side)

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 8th, 2017

A friend of mine shared this with me and I couldn't help but laugh! If you're a real estate agent, or know one closely, I dare you to tell me you've never felt at least one of the pains in this video!

Hope you enjoy this Real Estate "Sunday Funny!"

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Home Buyer Frustration Continues Due to Depleted Inventory, Rising Prices and Increases In Interest Rates

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 6th, 2017

        See Our Results                Ask These Questions                 Our Marketing Program          Free Home Value Analysis

KIRKLAND, Washington (Jan. 5, 2017) – Like many other months of 2016, December was frustrating for buyers across Washington state as they encountered depleted inventory and rising prices. Post-election hikes in interest rates – with more on the horizon -- added to would-be homeowners’ worries.
 
Northwest Multiple Listing Service statistics for December show year-over-year drops in new listings, but gains in pending sales, closed sales and prices. Pending sales (mutually accepted offers) in the four county Puget Sound region reached their highest level since 2005.
 
“The data just keep telling the same story – low…

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Take Your Business To New Heights in 2017 with The Cascade Team

Posted by Cary W Porter on January 4th, 2017

  Listing inventory is at an all time low area wide, leaving many agents on the sideline or dealing with frustrated buyers tired of the bidding wars. Yet at The Cascade Team we are setting records for inventory and Buy-Side transactions! Our proven system helps you attract and WIN listings.... Then our proprietary "PRIME" Marketing program not only syndicates those listings out... But pull BUYERS back in for you!.... In 2016 The Cascade Team represented 31% Listings and 69% Buyers!   As you can see below: Listing were down area wide, yet The Cascade Team pulled in more listings than ever AND we then turned around and represented even more Buyers than listings!   So... Where do you want to be? Busy with listings and buyers or wondering…

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10 Housing Market AND Humorous Predictions for 2017

Posted by Cary W Porter on December 29th, 2016

Well here we are on the doorsteps of 2017. The past year certainly flew by and was full of surprises and included one of the busiest housing markets we’ve ever seen. Here are several well researched and thought out predictions for the housing market going into 2017, and sprinkled throughout are also a few more “Humorous” predictions that span from Fake News Stories, The Seahawks and even to Marvel Entertainment… We hope you enjoy!

1. The housing market will continue to boom in 2017, though prices will increase at a slower pace.Strong buyer interest, better access to credit and a modest increase in the number of homes for sale will allow home sales to grow. Home price growth will continue to go up but not as quickly as it did in 2016. Homes will…

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