1. Although buying or selling a house can be fun, it is serious business for most individuals. We always recommend finding the agent first. Why? “The best agents will give you the data and the intel behind it. They get inside the home and they know the market dynamics.” Forbes published: Here are 13 Ways Buyers Can Step Up Their Game When Buying A House
2. OUT OF CONTROL
I love the charm of the old neighborhoods of Seattle, but is it time to change things up a bit? “In Seattle’s red-hot housing market, a group of millennial techies is using data skills to alter the look, and affordability, of their adopted city.” Politico’s Paul Roberts wrote a story, ‘My Generation Is Never Going to Have That’. Note: millennials make up about 15% of the Seattle market.
3. BLOCKCHAIN REACTION
“In the near future, it may be possible for a homebuyer to buy a home and complete the sale (along with escrow and title insurance) by clicking on a shopping cart on a website.” Forbes published this week, The Blockchain For Real Estate, Explained, but reiterates “The advice, knowledge and hand-holding of real estate professionals will always be an important part of a buyer or seller’s process.”
4. PASS THE BUBBLE
It happened. The Seattle Times reports “As the Seattle area continues its run as the nation’s hottest real- estate market, it has now seen home prices surge upward for a full six years — with more growth in home values during the current boom than during last decade’s bubble.”
5. RANK AND FILE
“How the mighty have fallen! For the first time in years, California markets aren’t fully dominating our monthly list.” Realtor.com published it’s “Hot List” this week. Is your city on it? The Hottest Markets for U.S. Real Estate: Is California’s Reign Over?
6. DOWNSIZING?
I love tiny houses. In fact, I’ve lived in more than a couple of them. Well, maybe they were just small, not tiny. Apartment Therapy just posted The Top 10 Tiny Houses For Sale Right Now (with photos).
7. HOW’S THE MARKET?
“On a daily basis, my clients inquire how the real estate market is doing. I want to say it’s great, but the reality is that there’s no simple answer. Topping the list of external factors placing pressure on rosy sounding stats is a shortage of affordable housing and the skilled workers to build those houses.” Eileen Lacerte just wrote an article for Forbes: The Questions You Should Be Asking Your Real Estate Agent But Aren’t.
8. IN HONOR OF EARTHDAY
“For some projects, saving energy — and money on energy bills — is more feasible than ever. Take, for example, the falling upfront cost of solar power. Other home improvements, like tweaks that help maintain indoor temperature, remain as valuable as ever.” Money just released 4 Home Upgrades That Will Save Energy and Money.
9. MOVING OUT
“The definition of “motivated seller” has changed since the depths of the economic crisis about a decade ago, when many motivated sellers were trying to avoid foreclosure. There are fewer of these desperate sellers now, but you can still find motivated sellers if you know where to look.” Although pretty basic, these NerdWallet tips for buying from a motivated sellers are good for buyers to remember. You never know when you may use them.
10. JUST FOR FUN
“Against a backdrop of historically low interest rates, more uncertainty in Britain and other parts of the world, “France is set to attract more global wealth,” said Mark Harvey, a partner and head of European residential sales at Knight Frank. That is particularly true on the Côte d’Azur, he added, “where the most demand emanates.” The NYT just posted this article: House Hunting in … France
Have a great weekend!
