Month: April 2014

Hot tips for Moving this Spring or Summer.

Leave a comment

Planning on Moving this Spring or Summer? Remember prior planning pays and here are some great tips to get you on your way.

moving

Quick Tips for an Easier Move

 

  • Label all your boxes as to which room they go in, which order they should be unpacked and what is inside them.

  • Label one or two boxes “essential” and pack them with soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, prescription pills, snacks, etc. Take this box with you or pack it last.

  • Save up newspapers a month in advance as they make great packing paper for anything fragile.

  • If you want to save a few bucks, try going to supermarkets and liquor stores and using their boxes for packing up your home… there free!

  • Plates and records should always be packed vertically rather than places flat on top of one another.

  • Keep the weight of your boxes low. You will be lifting them all day long. If possible, pack heavy items in smaller boxes, which makes them easier to carry.

  • Towels, sheets, blankets and even clothes are great to pack around and between breakable objects. Using them to pack will also spare you time in having to pack them separately.

Go to www.monstermoving.com and sign up for their moving planner. It’s easy. Enter in your move date and email address and Monster will email you tips weekly on what you should be doing. They have advice, articles, search engines for moving companies and rental trucks, as well as tons of information on moving costs, real estate mortgage and storage. Most of these tips were found on this great website and there are many more to help you on our way!

 

News You Can Use~ Mortgage Rates 4.27%

Leave a comment

Check out these articles for great information about our community and the real estate industry.

MORTGAGE & FINANCE news

10 reasons to take the plunge into homeownership

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/04/15/when-homeowners-are-better-off-than-renters

Americans now consider real estate best option for long-term investments

http://www.gallup.com/poll/168554/americans-sold-real-estate-best-long-term-investment.aspx

Average 30-year mortgage rate falls to 4.27%

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/04/17/mortgage-rates/7823375/

Earth Day: Energy-efficient mortgages have you spending now to save money later

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/02/07/how-an-energy-efficient-mortgage-can-save-you-money

REAL ESTATE news

Is your home ready for your retirement?

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2014/04/18/home-remodel-design-aging-in-place/

10 home feature trends for 2014

http://www.cbsnews.com/media/10-home-feature-trends-for-2014/10/

 

earth day

Earth Day: 15 tips to make your home more green

http://blog.redfin.com/blog/2014/04/15-tips-to-make-your-home-more-green.html

LOCAL news

Price gains in 2014 don’t indicate a bubble, correction and inflation the cause of increases

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlewaterfronthomes/2014/04/15/is-there-a-real-estate-bubble-in-seattle-inflation-and-11-of-our-home-equity-says-no/

Pierce County still cheaper to buy than rent a home

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/02/19/3056712/in-pierce-thurston-counties-its.html?sp=/99/261/273/

Earth Day: Downtown Bellevue and Seattle’s Columbia City among top 10 green neighborhoods in the nation

http://blog.redfin.com/blog/2014/04/top-10-neighborhoods-for-green-homes.html#.U1SWO-aMWRM

WEEKLY DOSE OF awesomeness

Did you know Earth Day was first announced in 1969 at a conference in Seattle?

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/earth-day

Earth Day: 3 free apps to help you go green

http://parade.condenast.com/280529/viannguyen/3-free-apps-to-help-you-go-green-this-earth-day/

 

 

Real Estate News

Leave a comment

Here are some top articles with Real Estate quick stats and “should knows” if thinking of buying or selling this spring.

Short and Sweet Real Estate News

Single family starts were up a strong 6.0% in March and are up 9.1% over the last two months. The 5-month moving average is the highest since July 2008. Plus, the number of homes under construction (started but not finished) is up 21% over a year ago!

March listings on realtor.com were up 9.5% from a year ago. In addition to better selection, buyers get more time to decide. The median age of inventory was 102 days.

Good News!! So how about those loans? 

Mortgage Lenders Ease Rules for Home Buyers in Hunt for Business

While standards remain tight by historical measures, lenders have started to accept lower credit scores and to reduce down-payment requirements.
…
Another sign that banks could get less picky: Credit scores for borrowers seeking conventional mortgages also are easing. Scores on purchase mortgages stood at 755 in March, down from 761 a year earlier, according to data from Ellie Mae, a mortgage-software provider. Those on purchase loans backed by the FHA dropped to 684, compared with 696 one year earlier. …

Smaller lenders are accepting even lower scores. Average credit scores on purchase loans closed through a consortium called LendingTree fell to 679 in March, down from the year-earlier 715.
…
“Tiny fractions of borrowers can do things that they could not a year ago,” said Lou Barnes, a mortgage banker in Boulder, Colo.

No one wants a return to the loose lending standards of the mid-00s – and I hope we never see another Alt-A loan – but I expect standards to loosen over the next few years. From Nick Timiraos and AnnaMaria Andriotis at the WSJ

And finally are you thinking of buying or selling? Here are some great articles and information from Zillow.

Home Shopping Season is Here
Spring marks the start of the home shopping season, when more houses typically come on the market and more buyers are searching for a home. Check out our tips below to ease your home shopping or selling experience.

Strategies for Buyers

Advice for Sellers

 

Sneak Peak on Two Hot Homes Coming on the Market Soon!

Leave a comment

8 80th St NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 Web

This one is going to fly! Spectacular territorial, mountain & sound views. View of Sound, City and Olympic Mountains right from  your back yard. ~Just wait till July 4th!!

Craftsman style home with 4 large bedrooms and 1,906 sq. Ft. This home sits beautifully on a 8,312 size lot in a culdesac and a 3 car garage. Fabulous Lake Stevens schools and just minutes to Everett.

 

Jeff New

With 2,205 sq. ft and a lot size of 11,326 this home has it all. Splendid views of the valley and majestic mountains from front patio and upper level. Beautiful 4 bed / 2.5 bath home with large family room and loft. Open kitchen with lots of storage, walk-in pantry, and adjacent dining area. Private setting bordered by greenbelt. Large, lush green fully fenced yard with patio and terraced garden areas. Located at the end of a private drive in a quiet community and Snohomish Schools.

The Home Connection Newsletter

Leave a comment

 

Well we made in to April! My hope is that with it brings a change in weather as I think our “April showers” were more than made up for in March. There is a lot going on this month beside that nasty Tax day. This newsletter is packed with reminders on what records we should keep and when others can be thrown in a big bonfire ( just kidding).  Plus great happenings around our area. I for one am excited to go to the Tulip Festival! I hope you and yours have a wonderful April and remember Snohomish County Homes Real Estate is here to help you when your ready.

Buy with Confidence and Sell with Success!

April Real Estate Newsletter

April Real Estate Newsletter

April1