Housing inventory in 27 Northwest counties rose nearly 28% year over year to 13,341 properties, with 19 counties seeing double-digit gains. King County listings increased 35.5%, Snohomish County 50.2%. Median prices fell 1.6% overall but rose 4.2% from January. King County's median price rose 2.4% to $840,000; Snohomish fell 2% to $720,000. Sales declined in both counties. Mortgage rates dropped below 6%, boosting market activity.
First-time homebuyers should save for a down payment, typically 20%, and budget for additional costs like fees, moving, and furniture. Choose a neighborhood that fits long-term needs, prioritize must-haves, and get a home inspection to avoid surprises. Use a mortgage calculator to stay within budget, explore financing options, and spend time in the neighborhood at different times to ensure it suits your lifestyle.
St Patrick's Day is the day we all turn a bit Irish.
13 million pints of Guinness are consumed worldwide on St. Patrick's Day.
Green is now the traditional color of St. Patrick's Day.
Real estate isn’t just about putting a sign in the yard or scrolling through listings. The strategy behind buying or selling a home can mean the difference between leaving money on the table… or walking away with a win.
This is exactly the kind of guidance I give my clients every day.
I’ve been helping buyers and sellers throughout Puget Sound region for years, and my goal is always the same: make the process smarter, smoother, and more successful for you.
📲 If you’re thinking about making a move, let’s talk.
Jen Murrweiss
Snohomish County Homes
RE/MAX Elite
📞 425.422.7243
Here’s to warmer days ahead and a wonderful start to spring.
Spring is almost here and the market is starting to bloom. 🌷🏡
March is when many homeowners begin preparing their homes for the spring real estate season. More inventory typically starts appearing, buyers get serious, and it’s a great time to start planning if a move is in your future.
In this month’s Home Connection Newsletter you’ll find:
• Local market insights
• Seasonal home care tips
• Ideas to refresh and organize your space
• Local happenings around our community
Whether you’re thinking about buying, selling, downsizing, or just love staying informed about our market, I’m always happy to be a resource.
Happy Valentine’s Day! While flowers and chocolates are nice, today’s relationships often come with a slightly bigger commitment: buying a house together. This funny Valentine’s Day video highlights the humor, chaos, and love that come with house hunting as a couple. From dreaming big to compromising hard, these relatable moments prove that true love survives interest rates, bidding wars, and floor plan debates.
When retirement looms, financial stability is a gnawing concern for most people. Have I saved enough? What will inflation do to my nest egg? Will Social Security remain solvent? What are the health wildcards I haven’t planned for?
As such, it’s wise to slash expenses and debt as much as possible, with the idea of entering retirement debt-free.
For some, that means paying off the mortgage by accelerating their mortgage payoff.
Experian (https://bit.ly/3srAgU7) found that the average mortgage balance debt by generation in 2022 was:
If you’re able to afford to put extra cash toward your mortgage, doing an early payoff can be a powerful strategy that not only cuts interest payments but lightens the financial and emotional load during retirement, bringing peace of mind, more money for hobbies, vacations, and funds for healthcare and long-term care expenses.
Still, before deciding, you must take a complete look at your financial picture to be sure that a faster payoff is the best way to achieve your goals and to understand the potential sacrifices and downsides of such a move.
Here are nine considerations.
1. Understand the risks. If you have a relatively low mortgage rate, could you miss out on higher returns on your money by putting the extra toward your mortgage? Will you miss out on mortgage interest deductions? By devoting money to your mortgage, you’re lowering your liquidity. Will that lack of liquidity adversely affect your other long-term goals or short-term needs? For example, are you hoping to give a chunk of money to help a child with a down payment or planning to pay some of your grandchild’s college costs?
2. Examine your debts. If you have credit cards, personal loans, and other obligations, paying those off is better before accelerating your mortgage payments. First, pay off debts with higher interest rates than your current mortgage because consumer debt typically carries higher interest rates than mortgages.
3. Understand your mortgage agreement. Read your agreement’s fine print and talk to your lender to be sure there aren’t prepayment penalties and that you’re allowed to make extra payments.
4. Calculate your savings. How quickly do you want to pay off your mortgage? Can you afford to shave five years or ten years off your mortgage? Use an online mortgage calculator to see how much principal you must pay every month or year to pay off a loan in a certain number of years and how much you’ll save with an early payoff. The savings can be significant. According to a NerdWallet calculator (https://bit.ly/45MhzZR), for example, if you took out a $300,000 30-year fixed loan at 5.5%, have ten years left, and decide to pay it off in five years, you’d have to pay an extra $206.75 monthly. The move would save $89,796.84 over the life of the loan.
5. Develop your repayment plan. Will you make an annual lump-sum payment or extra payments monthly or bi-weekly? One advantage of spreading the additional payments across the year and making bi-weekly payments is that you lower your principal balance each month, creating a smaller balance on which interest is calculated.
6. Look at your budget. How much extra money can you afford to put toward your mortgage? Where can you cut back? Also, consider the sacrifices you’ll need to make and decide if missing out on a vacation or cutting back on hobbies is worth it.
7. Don’t sacrifice retirement savings. Have an adequate emergency fund before shifting money to speed up your mortgage payoff. Also, be sure you’ll still be able to max out all your retirement vehicles like 401ks, Roth IRAs, and Health Savings Accounts and make catch-up contributions.
8. Pay the right way. Be sure to tell your mortgage holder that your extra payments will be applied to the loan principal, not the next month’s mortgage payment.
9. Talk to experts. Remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach with finances, so get advice from financial pros—your accountant and financial planner, for example—to understand the risks and the impact an early mortgage payoff would have on your other goals.
If you or a loved one are considering downsizing, relocating, or selling a longtime home in Everett, Bothell, Woodinville, Mill Creek, Seattle, or anywhere in the Puget Sound region, you deserve expert guidance from a trusted local professional.
I’m here to make this transition smooth, organized, and stress-free.
Moving later in life often brings emotional and financial decisions. Whether you’re:
✔️ Downsizing
✔️ Moving closer to family
✔️ Transitioning to senior housing
✔️ Selling a longtime family home
You don’t have to navigate it alone.
I provide patient, step-by-step support so you feel confident every step of the way.
My Senior Real Estate Services include:
✔️ Personalized Home Value Analysis
✔️ Strategic Pricing & Marketing Plan
✔️ Decluttering & Downsizing Guidance
✔️ Home Prep & Staging Advice
✔️ Trusted Vendor Referrals
✔️ Timeline & Transition Planning
✔️ Family Coordination
✔️ Skilled Negotiation & Closing Support
My goal: maximize your equity while minimizing your stress.
As a long-time Managing Broker and local expert, I specialize in helping clients through major life transitions with clarity and compassion.
Clients choose me because I provide:
✔️ Honest advice
✔️ Strong negotiation
✔️ Clear communication
✔️ Local market expertise
✔️ Personalized service
I treat every move as if it were my own family’s.
Many adult children reach out when helping parents sell or relocate.
I help families coordinate:
So you can focus on your loved one — not the overwhelm.
I proudly serve:
Not sure if I serve your area? Just ask.
Every successful transition starts with a conversation.
Let’s discuss your goals, timeline, and options — with no pressure.
425-422-7243 – homesteamj@gmail.com
✨ Your Next Chapter Starts Here
Whether you’re planning now or just gathering information, I’m honored to be a resource for you and your family.
You deserve a respectful, organized, and successful transition — and I’m here to help.