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View from Issaquah Highlands to Seattle:

by Tatevik Aprikyan

What do you think? How much would you be willing to pay to protect your view? Our area is growing at an amazing pace with new neighborhoods, remodels, and much needed new housing all over. Can you put a price on the peace of mind in knowing your current view will last?

SEATTLE — Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, and now a popular trend in some of the country’s largest metropolitan areas is becoming more common here in Seattle.

People are buying air above homes to protect views, usually from new construction or neighbors wanting to remodel and build larger homes that will block views.

Imagine a house lower down on a hill and a home above it. The home…

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Brokers suggest improving inventory may mean “season of opportunity” for weary house hunters!

Inventory up 6.8% New Listings At A 7 Year High!
 13,497 New Listings Added in May (27% Increase from April) Pending Sales up 2.7% 9188 Pending Sales in May = All Time Record For Pending Sales in 1 Month!
KIRKLAND, Washington (June 6, 2017) – Would-be buyers who have been shut out of the real estate market should test the “real estate waters” during the summer months suggests one industry leader.
“Summer might provide some competitive relief for weary buyers,” said Gary O’Leyar, owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Signature Properties, pointing to some of the newly-released statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service as…

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By Judith Crown

Help Sellers Choose Between Multiple Offers

Juggling multiple offers is an enviable problem to have, but it isn’t always easy territory to navigate. For clients who think the highest bid is the default choice, it’s important to explain that price is just part of the calculation. Other factors include move-in timeline, potential appraisal and inspection contingencies, the amount of earnest money a buyer is willing to put down, and negotiations around home repairs, among other issues.

When Less Is More

Some sellers come into the process with priorities that are more important to them than the sale price. Make sure you know what those are at the start so that you can help weed out bidders who are not able to meet the…

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By Brendon DeSimone

Usually, the buyer faces more line-item expenses, but the seller pays the commission.

Rarely does a buyer or seller show up to the closing without knowing exactly what their costs of sale will be.

In fact, based on the mortgage loan amount of the purchase/sale price, it’s not hard to ballpark either side’s closing costs. Before you get too far along in the process, ask your real estate agent or mortgage professional for an estimate.

Once you have a real, live deal with a closing date, you should be able to know your costs pretty close to the penny.

If you’re new to real estate or haven’t bought or sold in a while, here’s what you need to know about closing costs.

Buyers have a higher number of costs

In…

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I have heard from several of our Brokers/Agents here at The Cascade Team worried about the new Zillow "Make an Offer" tool, along with similar offerings from other companies.   Did most of you know that The Cascade Team has featured this same ability since October of 2013???? That's right! From the personal property website we create for each of your listings people have the chance to contact you directly to "Make an Offer"! That's one of the biggest reasons why it's so important for you to get out there on Social Media, to have your Marketing Boards out, and to e-mail those Personal Property Websites to everyone you know!  

We are ahead of the curve!

I'll address some tips farther down in the blog about how to deal with the Zillow…

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When "CBS This Morning" co-host Norah O'Donnell asked the chief executive of Zillow recently about the accuracy of the website's automated property value estimates — known as Zestimates — she touched on one of the most sensitive perception gaps in American real estate...

Picture this…There’s an inexperienced real estate agent in your town.

  • He hasn’t sold any homes yet.
  • He wants to drum up some business.
  • So, he climbs up onto your roof and paints what he estimates to be the value of your home.
  • He feels like this could be a win-win:
  • YOU get to know the value of your house, so he was helpful to you, without even having to meet with him…
  • … and HE gets to show you how that he knows his stuff. Hopefully you’ll turn to him for help…

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strange-questions2 By Daniel Bortz

Long before home buyers decide a certain place must be theirs, it behooves them to ask a lot of questions. For example: "How's the neighborhood?" or "How old is that water heater, anyway?" Ask away! Such queries help you pare down your options, so don't be bashful; real estate agents have heard them all.

However, the adage "There's no such thing as a stupid question" isn't always true. As proof, just check out this list of the strangest questions real estate agents have ever heard about a house. Cue the “Twilight Zone” music—things are about to get very, very weird. 

1. 'How do you keep alligators from coming up into the toilet?'

Michael Lyons, a real estate broker with Lyons Realty Group in Hollywood, FL, has…

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The Open House Treasure Hunt is Back!

Join us on Saturday, May 20th for our Annual Open House Treasure Hunt.

Tour homes and win over $200,000 in Cash & Prizes! Just Text the "Secret" code from any listed property to win!

The Cascade Team has 33 NEW Listings This Week, plus a few additional properties giving you the opportunity to visit and win from approximately 40 homes throughout the area! ( Check out our interactive map below for home locations. Click on any home to see the times of the open houses.)

See the Map of Open House Treasure Hunt Homes HERE!

In addition both Jack FM 96.5 and Star 101.5 will be doing live remotes at select Open Houses listed below. They will have the radio station staff and prize wheels out with tons of…

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Here are 10 very good reasons to look up your home address or the address of a home you are considering buying!

(Search-engine sleuthing is worth the effort to unearth the niceties — and perhaps negatives — when searching for your new home. There’s probably not a day that goes by that you don’t Google something — the weather, a foreign phrase, directions, or news, just to name a few. With all the information Google can provide through its bird’s eye view, not Googling your address, or the address of a home you are considering making an offer on, is practically a crime — especially when you’re searching for a new home (whether you’re house-hunting for a waterfront home on Lake Sammamish, Wa, or looking for a ranch house in Goodyear, AZ). You'd be…

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Image result for home buyers By Shanon Emerson  

When it comes to talking to the seller’s agent at an open house, a little mystery goes a long way.

More isn’t always better — especially when it comes to talking to a seller’s real estate agent. Your buyer’s agent is a guide and advocate in your real estate journey and should know everything about your needs, your desires, and how much house you can afford. But the seller’s agent is an entirely different story, and what you share with them should be minimal.

If you’re buying a home, your agent is almost always your voice to the seller. Speaking alone with the seller’s agent doesn’t happen very often, and it’s easy to forget who you’re speaking with — but there you are at the open house, eating a slice of quiche,…

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