Housing Market Forecasts and Predictions for 2017

Posted by Cary W Porter on November 10th, 2016

Here are our U.S. housing market forecasts for 2017.

Housing markets in a handful of metro areas will continue to sizzle in 2017, while the rest of the country could experience a cooling trend. Mortgage rates will likely hover in the 3.5% range for the short term, but could rise above 4% through the first half of 2017. Loan limits could also rise in some parts of the country next year, in response to rising home values.

Let’s take a closer look at these and other housing market forecasts and predictions for 2017.

1. Home prices nationwide to rise 3% – 5% over next 12 months.

In October, the economic research team at Zillow issued this 12-month forecast for the U.S. housing market: “United States home values have gone up 5.1% over the past…

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The Stunning Cost of Home Improvement Scams and Fraud

Posted by Cary W Porter on November 4th, 2016

More than one-third of homeowners fear being scammed by a home improvement contractor. These easy tips will help you spot a scam and dodge the defrauders.

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Resale Issues Buyers Don't Think About

Posted by Cary W Porter on November 2nd, 2016

Remind your clients that even if these “adverse situations” wouldn’t bother them as home owners, they could be the bane of their existence as sellers.

 

In 2001, when I first got my real estate license, I took a class at my brokerage about how to show properties. Seems silly, right? How hard is it to unlock the door? But this class was about practical ways to make sure the buyer focuses on the most important factors of a home. I still follow some of the tips from this class today. One of them was to advocate caution to a buyer considering a house with an “adverse situation.”

What’s that? It’s a condition that will affect the resale of the property. I remember the instructor saying, “When my past clients call me up and ask me to…

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The Most ‘Spooktacular’ ZIP Codes

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 31st, 2016

Who believes in ghosts, anyway? But then again, there you are: alone, in the dim, waning hours of night, listening to that odd, undefinable rustling, whimpering noise right outside your bedroom window, and—wait a minute! Is that noise coming from inside the house?

Thirty-seven percent of Americans believe in haunted houses, according to a 2005 Gallup poll. For those who believe, some cities offer spookier home options than others.

To find the spookiest ZIP codes, ATTOM Data Solutions analyzed more than 40,000 single-family homes nationwide to find the highest number of vacant properties as well as those that have a home owner who is now deceased.

In Halloween fun, we've released a list of the following top 10 ZIP codes to find the most…

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Terror At Trossachs - Sammamish on Halloween Night Starting at 5:30

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 28th, 2016

Halloween Night 2016!

Join The Cascade Team for the Terror At Trossachs! www.TerrorAtTrossachs.com

This annual event is on October, 31st “Halloween Night!” from 5:30 to 8pm

Located at 1014 270th Pl SE in Sammamish, WA

Read the Story of "The Haunted Graveyard" Located in The Trossachs Neighborhood of Sammamish Below and come visit us Halloween Night..... If You Dare!

 

Note: The Video included in the post may or may-not have been filmed on my phone with the additional help of the kids..... And my wife may or "May-not" have locked us outside in the rain afterwards and laughed as punishment! : )

Nestled deep in the Cascade foothills, hidden far from passing eyes by tall pine and towering rock laid the old cemetery. It was here…

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13 Schools in Sammamish/Issaquah in the Top 100 Schools Ranked by Diversity & Academics:

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 26th, 2016

13 Lake Washington School and Issaquah School District elementary schools in Sammamish/Issaquah in the Top 100 Schools ranked by diversity & academics:

• 
  #10: Blackwell Elementary (LWSD)
  #11: Samantha Smith Elementary (LWSD)
  #18: McAuliffe Elementary (LWSD)
  #23: Discovery Elementary (ISD)
  #24: Cascade Ridge Elementary (ISD)
  #34: Margaret Mead Elementary (LWSD)
  #54: Endeavor Elementary (ISD)
  #63: Sunny Hills Elementary (ISD)
  #69: Emily Dickinson Elementary (LWSD)
  #83: Rachel Carson Elementary (LWSD)
  #87: Alcott Elementary (ISD)
  #97: Creekside Elementary (ISD)    
• #99: Challenger Elementary (ISD)

Full Report Card Here

Washington state — and the Puget Sound region in particular — is struggling to find the best way to educate students from all…

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Nightmare Neighbors And How To Deal With The Neighbor From Hell!

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 20th, 2016

Just in time for Halloween 2016, we thought we would share a little info about an often overlooked yet still very serious problem of "The Nightmare Neighbor" issue.

Half of Americans say they currently have a dispute with a neighbor, according to a new survey from North American Van Lines.

In fact, 13 percent of Americans say they have moved just to get away from their next-door neighbor.

Take a look at this infographic to see the conflicts home owners are having with their neighbors.

How to Deal With the ‘Neighbor From Hell’

A messy neighbor can hamper your property–by as much as 20 percent off the market value, says Sid Davis, author of A Survival Guide to Selling a Home.

No one wants to live next to the neighbor with the…

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"Found Footage" Video For Terror At Trossachs 2016, Sammamish WA

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 18th, 2016

Read the Story of "The Haunted Graveyard" Located in The Trossachs Neighborhood of Sammamish Below and come visit us Halloween Night..... If You Dare!

 

Note: The Video included in the post may or may-not have been filmed on my phone with the additional help of the kids..... And my wife may or "May-not" have locked us outside in the rain afterwards and laughed as punishment! : )

Nestled deep in the Cascade foothills, hidden far from passing eyes by tall pine and towering rock laid the old cemetery. It was here that the worst of the Pacific Northwest lay buried. They were the robbers, murderers, and worse that no church would allow to be set to rest on their sacred soil. Old stones covered in moss marked their graves, the black as night crows…

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Terror At Trossachs/ Sammamish on Halloween Night

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 17th, 2016

Terror at Trossachs!

Halloween Night 2016!

Join The Cascade Team for the Terror At Trossachs! www.TerrorAtTrossachs.com

This annual event is on October, 31st “Halloween Night!” from 5:30 to 8pm

Located at 1014 270th Pl SE in Sammamish, WA

Read the Story of "The Haunted Graveyard" Located in The Trossachs Neighborhood of Sammamish Below and come visit us Halloween Night..... If You Dare!

Nestled deep in the Cascade foothills, hidden far from passing eyes by tall pine and towering rock laid the old cemetery. It was here that the worst of the Pacific Northwest lay buried. They were the robbers, murderers, and worse that no church would allow to be set to rest on their sacred soil. Old stones covered in moss marked their graves, the…

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Spooktacular Halloween Community Events From The Cascade Team

Posted by Cary W Porter on October 14th, 2016

Local Community Events

At The Cascade Team Real Estate events like this are a part of who we are. We want to be more than just your local real estate agent, we are part of your community. Agents and Brokers who participate in great community service events like this one and the many others we support throughout our communities are recognized with our highest honor:

The SOS Designation Achievement

YMCA Boo Bash!

 

Join us for the YMCA Boo Bash!

Located at the Sammamish Community YMCA:  831 228th Avenue SE, Sammamish, WA 98075

Friday, October 21st from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

Join The Cascade Team for the YMCA's popular Halloween Boo Bash.  Enjoy not-too-spooky activities including a Haunted House, Free Pumpkin Decorating Booth,…

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