The Cascade Team Blog - Agent Tips

Neighborhood Features That Hurt Home Values

When it comes to real estate clichés, “Location, location, location” has all other contenders (including “Not a drive-by!”; “Cash is king!”; “Is that your checkbook or are you just glad to see me?”; and “Worst house, best street”) beat by a mile. Not only has it been in use since at least 1926 (according to the New York Times), but it’s utterly and inarguably true.

More than any other single factor, when you buy a home in a good location, it’s usually a solid long-term investment. And being the unabashed optimists we are here at The Cascade Team, we focus most on the factors that help maximize your home’s value. But hey, life—and real estate—isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. So this week we decided to take a look at the downers: those things that…

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Home Buyer Open House and Neighborhood Check List

Open houses may be staged to look like a home décor dream, but don’t let that distract you from the real reason you’re there: to potentially buy a home. Make sure you can look past the neatly arranged furniture and focus solely on whether the house would be a good fit for you and your family. To help, here’s a home buyer’s checklist of things you might have missed at first glance.

Windows – Look specifically if they are facing the right direction to let sunlight in, and whether they open to a nice view (versus directly toward another neighbor’s window).

Under the Sink Cabinets – Check for possible signs of water damage due to leaky plumbing.

Electrical Outlets – Make sure there are enough outlets for the appliances and other electronics…

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What you need to know before hiring a real estate agent to sell your home.

Your Home is your greatest investment! Know these questions and answers before you interview! The difference can cost you thousands!

1.  Do you provide a true website presence for my home? This is more than a splash site with a few pictures.  Click HERE for Answer!

2.  Do you syndicate my home, and PAY for premiere placement?  Click HERE for Answer!

3.  Do you advertise my home on Social Media: This is MORE than just Facebook!  Click HERE for Answer!

4.  Do you provide a full 3D Walkthrough Virtual Tour or just have shifting focus over still pictures and call that a virtual tour?  Click HERE for Answer!

5.  What is your strategy to generate multiple offers for my home?  Click HERE for Answer!

6.  Are you still using paper flyers…

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Top Reasons To Sell In 2016

Here are a few reasons why: Now is the time to sell.

Here are just a few reason why 2016 is the time to sell!  Homeowners are sitting on gold mines these days and many do not even realize it.  Since the market has bounced back many homeowners are sitting on equity.  With low inventory homes are selling in record time!  The only downfall is the lack of homes available on the market.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL.  You will have much more buying power for your next property.  If you wish to upgrade now is the time.  As prices continue to rise through the peak sales month of April through July now is time to take advantage. Selling and buying NOW can not only result in you getting top dollar for your current home.... BUT the new home you purchase may see…

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No Housing Bubble Fears: Home Buyers Really Need to Hurry

We’re in for another crazy spring real estate market! KIRKLAND, Washington (March 7, 2016) – Home prices in King County hit new highs in February as buyers tried to outbid each other for the sparse inventory in much of Western Washington.

Current levels of inventory translate to 2.4 months of supply, well below the four-to-six months that industry experts use to indicate a balanced market. In the four-county Puget Sound region, supply is hovering near or below two months, with King County having the lowest level at only 1.3 months of supply. Snohomish County reported about 1.5 months, Pierce had slightly more than 2.1 months, and Kitsap County was at about 2.3 months.

With the number of single family homes for sale in King County down nearly 30…

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Open House Treasure Hunt is Coming: See the Kick-Off Rally Video

Join us on Saturday, May 14th for our Annual Open House Treasure Hunt!

Visit 5 open houses and you will be entered to win over $200,000 in Cash & Prizes!

Some of the prizes from last year's event include:

We hope to see you there!

If you have questions about the Open House Treasure Hunt or want to participate, just give us a call at 425-313-4752

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Home Buyer Frustration Builds as Inventory Shrinks and Prices Rise

Northwest MLS brokers say home buyer frustration builds as inventory shrinks, prices rise

KIRKLAND, Washington (March 7, 2016) – Home prices in King County hit new highs in February as buyers tried to outbid each other for the sparse inventory in much of Western Washington.

"We’re in for another crazy spring real estate market," predicts J. Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott, Inc.

With the number of single family homes for sale in King County down nearly 30 percent from a year ago, prices on last month’s sales surged 19.8 percent, jumping from $429,900 to $514,975. Ten other counties in the 23-county area served by Northwest Multiple Listing Service also reported double-digit price gains for single family homes that sold last month,…

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Free On-Line Home Value Ananlysis: What's Your Home Worth Today?

Get Your FREE Home Value Report

* Not a Guess or “Zestimate” * Actual Active Market Data * Selling vs. Asking Price * Current Active Listings * Actual Sold Prices * Days on Market * See Inventory Levels * Price Trends * FREE To Your Inbox Every Month!

Home prices are skyrocketing in the area with some areas increasing from 8% to 16% over the past 12 months. Bidding wars are now the norm, and homes selling well over asking price are common! If you have not done an accurate check of your homes value in the past year, our FREE On-Line Home Value Analysis tool allows you to see exactly what your home value is doing.It’s not a guess or Zestimate like Zillow. These are actual Sold, Pending and Active prices. You can also see what home inventory levels…

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Homeowner’s Net Worth is 45x Greater Than a Renter’s

Every three years the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400).

In a Forbes article the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicts that in 2016 the net worth gap will widen even further to 45 times greater.

The graph below demonstrates the results of the last two Federal Reserve studies and Yun’s prediction:

Put Your Housing Cost to Work For You

Simply put, homeownership is a form of ‘forced savings’. Every time you pay your mortgage you are contributing to your net worth…

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Sammamish: Hidden Haven of the Home-Based Business

By Joanna Kresge

There are between 3,500 and 4,000 home-based businesses in the 50,000-resident city. “It really is the American dream,” said Deb Sogge, executive director of the chamber. “Our home-based businesses are very eclectic and very interesting. We just have a lot of entrepreneurs here in Sammamish.”

Sammamish’s residential businesses include an Etsy store selling abstract paintings (Betty Krause Art) and an in-home wine cellar complete with tasting room (Fivash Cellars). Sogge said Sammamish’s proximity to large tech companies means the city boasts a high population of college educated, tech-savvy citizens (more than 70 percent of residents have at least a bachelor’s degree), which contributes to the quality of Sammamish’s home…

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