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: 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/