Three homes for this family!

Yeah, summer 🌞 is here and some hot days are coming! Finally!! But you know what is hotter?🔥 This real estate market!! 🔥
In 2015, after working with one of my favorite families 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👩‍👩‍👦 for a few years. (they were in no hurry) I found them their first home. 🏠Fast forward to 2020 we listed their home in Lake Stevens and officially just sold on 7/31/2020. 💯 Now we wait as they hold up with family for a few months and watch the contruction of their new home. 🔑🔑 I am so blessed to have this amazing family in my life and had so much fun and laughter with them again. The hardest part of my job is when we close and I don’t see them anymore but, I always will stay in touch and I will see them again soon.

11106 24th Place SE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258- SOLD $609,950
New home is coming along and set to be done in October 2020

 #snohomishcountyhomesteam #snohomishcountyrealestate #realtor #snohomishcountyhomesteam #drhorton #lovewhatido #remaxelite

YOUR GUIDE TO BUYER’S AGENTS

Logo_Lg House Left

If you’re looking to buy a house, then whom do you trust to help you find the best deal possible? A real estate agent, right? While that is true, it’s imperative that you have the right agent working on your behalf.

Today we’re going to be talking about setting up an agency agreement with a buyer’s agent. We’ll discuss the meaning of that term, what your arrangement can consist of, and the benefits of that relationship.

What is a Buyer’s Agent?
Simply, this is a real estate agent who represents the person on the buying side of a real estate transaction: the buyer. The agent on the selling side of the transaction representing the seller is often referred to as the listing agent. They are there to serve the seller, which means that they will be interacting with a lot of different buyers.

However, if you’re the one looking for a home, then having a buyer’s agent working for you is probably the best move that you can make. At first, you may wonder if it’s necessary to have one in the first place, but there are a lot of benefits that come from this relationship.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you have to have an agency agreement to get the best services. While you could work with an agent without an agreement, a lack of guarantees on both of your parts could lead to a lackluster process, which could affect your ability to close.

Overall, it’s much better to enter into an agency agreement with your buyer’s agent if you want to proceed. Not only will this ensure that you get the best service, but it offers written protections and guarantees that will come in handy during the buying process.

Benefits of Using a Buyer’s Agent
As you can imagine, having someone representing you when searching for a new home can have a few perks. Assuming that you’re not familiar with all of the details of what it takes to get into a new home (e.g., paperwork, inspections, financing, title insurance, appraisals, and so on), an agent will be able to make the experience much easier and smoother for you.

Let’s go over the primary reasons that you would want to sign up with a buyer’s agent.

photo of people holding each other s hands

Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

BETTER REPRESENTATION
If you were to search for your next home by yourself, and you contact the listing agents you meet along the way, they will only have the interests of the seller in mind. Sometimes buyers unknowingly ask the agent representing the seller to help them in preparing an offer of the home. While this process is possible, as a home buyer you are asking the agent who represents the seller to now represent you as well.

This can bite you in a few different ways.

First, if there are multiple buyers interested in the property, you will have to compete with them without having a buyer’s agent to consult with you regarding strategies to beat the other offers. Essentially, you are negotiating blind, which means that you have little power in the proceedings. Secondly, if you are presenting your offer to the listing agent directly, your enthusiasm (or lack thereof) can be communicated to the seller without any context. For example, if you think that the asking price is a “great deal,” then it may limit your chances of negotiation in the future since the agent will have relayed that comment to the seller.

Finally, you won’t have someone who understands all of the complexities of the home-buying process at your disposal. Thus, you will have to rely on the seller’s agent to provide you with all of the details, and again, your interests are not their primary concern.

Overall, a buyer’s agent will make sure that your needs are met during the whole experience. You will be building a relationship with your agent, who will want to know what kinds of elements are most important to you for your new home and what parameters you’re hoping to fill.

Then, when the negotiations begin, you will have a knowledgeable expert in your corner. The buyer’s agent will be able to guide you through the transaction, letting you know if there are risks or concerns along the way. He or she will help you navigate through the process so that you understand what’s going on every step of the way.

NO FEES
Before you sign with a buyer’s agent, you may be wondering how much it will cost you. After all, he or she is putting in a lot of hours and work for you, so you’ll have to provide compensation, right?

Fortunately, that’s not handled by you. Rather, in almost every home sale, it’s up to the seller to pay both agent’s fees. This means that you don’t have to pay for anything out of pocket, and you can rest easy knowing that you got the best service regardless.

Here is another little known benefit of entering into an agreement with a buyer’s agent. Let’s say that you have an agent who has been helping you search for homes, but you have not signed a buyer agent agreement. That agent has to consider this risk: without an agreement, you could, at any time. decide to work with someone else to find a home. There is a chance the agent isn’t going to put as much time and effort into the experience to make sure that you’re satisfied.

No one wants to work for free, and when you don’t have a contract, it doesn’t make sense for the agent to make you a priority. Instead, he or she may focus on his or her other clients and put you lower on their list because the other people were willing to sign an agreement.

Overall, if you want the best service from your agent it’s a good idea to enter into an agency agreement.

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MORE OPPORTUNITIES
How much time can you devote to buying a new home? By that, we mean how many hours can you spend looking for properties for sale, vetting them, and calling different agents to try to schedule showings? Assuming that you have a job and a life, the answer is probably a lot less than it should be.

With a buyer’s agent on your side, you don’t have to worry about missing out on an opportunity. He or she will dedicate enough time to finding places that fit within your parameters. Also, your agent will make sure to do legwork beforehand so that you don’t waste time on houses that won’t be desirable.

Have you ever gone to an open house, only to be disappointed by the asking price or some other element of the property? A buyer’s agent will be able to vet the home before you even think about visiting it to make sure that this doesn’t happen. A good agent will know what’s important to you and avoid properties that don’t meet your criteria.

Another thing about having an agent is that you can get access to more homes. If you’re checking only a handful of sites or listings, you will miss out on properties for sale that aren’t on your radar. Since your agent is connected to the real estate industry, he or she will be able to hear about houses that may not get listed publicly, or at least not on sites that you would be checking. Often, agents will let the other agents in their own office know about properties that will be coming on the market before anyone else. This can be great for you if your agent gets an inside tip.

PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
If you’re new to the home-buying process, you probably aren’t aware of all of the steps you have to take to make sure that you’re getting a good deal. You’ll also have to work with a variety of people, from mortgage brokers to lenders to appraisers.

With a buyer’s agent, he or she can recommend high-quality service providers to fit your needs. If you still haven’t secured a loan, your agent can put you in touch with someone who can help expedite the process.

These recommendations can run the gamut from people who will help you get financing to movers who can transport your stuff quickly and safely. Most buyer’s agents will have a talented roster of various people who can help make your transition into your new home as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

PROFESSIONALISM & LOYALTY
As we mentioned, you will want to sign an agency agreement with your buyer’s agent to ensure that he or she will be committed to you for the duration of your home buying experience. Once this happens, you will be able to get a lot more done in much less time.

For the most part, this paperwork stipulate that you and your agent are exclusive. This means that you agree to work with only your agent to find and submit offers on homes. This doesn’t mean that you can’t shop for homes online or walk through an open house without your agent; however, when it comes time to schedule a private showing or make an offer, you need to work solely with your agent.

This level of commitment is going to help you find your dream home much faster than if you tried to do it on your own. When you have someone working full-time, you can see more houses and work with more sellers to find the right fit for you.

On top of that, buyer’s agents are all about building a relationship with you. This experience is more than just about making a commission; it’s about ensuring that you are satisfied with your new property.

Because the agent isn’t paid until you close the deal, he or she can’t be satisfied unless you are. That means your agent will pull out all the stops to make this process as simplified and streamlined as possible.

Do you prefer to get emails or texts? Do you want to look at virtual tours or do you want to see homes in person? Whatever your preferences are, a buyer’s agent will make sure that your wants and desires are met at all times.

What to Ask a Buyer’s Agent?
By now, you’re probably sold on the idea of having an agent in your corner to help you find your new home. However, how can you be sure that you’ve found the right one? Here are some critical questions to ask so that you know that you’ve made the right decision before you sign anything.

Picture4What areas or neighborhoods do you specialize in?
This question is crucial because you want an agent who knows the areas in which you want to live. If you work with someone who is unfamiliar with the neighborhood, then how can you be sure that your needs are met?

For example, if there are particular “must-haves” that you want near your home, how will your agent know if they’re there? If he or she doesn’t specialize in that neighborhood, you run the risk of missing out on the crucial elements you desire.

WHAT’S YOUR AVAILABILITY?
Even with an exclusive contract, your agent may only do this as a part-time gig. If that’s the case, then you have to make sure that he or she can dedicate enough time to finding the home of your dreams.

One thing to consider is your timeline. Do you have to move quickly due to a new job or expiring lease? If so, then you might want to find a buyer’s agent who can be on your case full-time. Otherwise, it could take longer to get into a new home, and you won’t have the luxury of waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Something else to consider is scheduling. If you have very little time or a unique schedule that will make it difficult to see homes during normal hours, you may want to find an agent who can accommodate these needs.

Finally, remember that there are a lot of steps to getting into a new home. Before you hire your buyer’s agent, ask them how they help their clients achieve their home buying goals. If the market is really hot, ask them how they help their buyers compete and get the winning contract.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN AGENT?
In many cases, you want a buyer’s agent who has a lot of experience. Although new agents can be knowledgeable, there are a lot of different elements of this process that can be challenging. As a result, experience usually trumps knowledge.

Considering that you’re not paying out of pocket for a buyer’s agent, it’s usually a good idea to sign with someone who really knows what they’re doing.

Bottom Line
If you’re ready to get started with a buyer’s agent, then contact us today to find out how the Snohomish County Homes Team can make your home-buying experience enjoyable and effortless. Check out our Reviews and Don’t stress about finding the home of your dreams; let us handle the dirty work for you so that you can focus on what matters.

~~OPEN HOUSE~~ YOU HAVE TO SEE THESE HOMES!!

OPEN HOUSE!~~BEAUTIFUL spacious new construction homes in THE LOVELY NEW HARVEST HILLS II neighborhood- Lake Stevens school district. Priced at $375K – $420K. Large homes from 2305-3159 sq ft. Good size lots 5646-7952 sq. Terrific floor plans, 3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, den/office main floor (or 4th bedroom!) AND bonus room upstairs, gorgeous kitchens and finishes throughout. 2-10 year Warranty. What are you waiting for Come and see me 12-6 Friday 10/16 & Sat 11-5 10/17 and pick your new home! Photos are model. 5123 80th Ave NE Marysville.‪#‎harvesthillsII‬ ‪#‎snohomishcountyhomes‬ ‪#‎acmehomes‬

HARVEST hillsNew Harvest Hills ModelHarvest Hills Model10 Harvest Hills Model9 Harvest Hills Model8 Harvest Hills Model7 Harvest Hills Model6 Harvest Hills Model5 Harvest Hills Model4 Harvest Hills Model3 Harvest Hills Model2   Scan0004

You just bought a $300,000 house so how much interest do you pay?

Saving MortgageSaving MortgageSaving Mortgage

You have finally closed on your new home and with great rates and a beautiful home you can now relax all the hard work is over right? Not exactly. So get settled in and get use to a mortgage payment then, after a few months take a look on how you can get that mortgage down a bit faster.

Either right away, or in the future, there is a better way to pay that 30 year mortgage down quicker and build your equity faster.  Here is a current payment schedule based on a approximate 4 1/8% rate. As you can see the first few years you are paying an astronomic amount in interest. Just think of what just one extra payment a year could do for you.

Here is a link to a great site I give to my buyers and sellers. While I am not a mortgage broker (I work with some great ones) I do believe all of us Realtors should provide better tools  to our clients and be informed. After all, a home buyer, or seller, who understands the process is more comfortable with their home and their purchase.

Not only does this site have mortgage calculators. Check it out  there is every kind of financial calculator you can think of. It actually is a bit addicting so have fun with it!

Payment schedule

Year

Total
Payments
Principal
Paid
Interest
Paid
Ending
Principal
Balance
$300,000.00
1 $17,395.20 $5,192.05 $12,203.15 $294,807.95
2 $17,395.20 $5,408.99 $11,986.21 $289,398.96
3 $17,395.20 $5,634.96 $11,760.24 $283,764.00
4 $17,395.20 $5,870.37 $11,524.83 $277,893.63
5 $17,395.20 $6,115.61 $11,279.59 $271,778.02
6 $17,395.20 $6,371.14 $11,024.06 $265,406.88
7 $17,395.20 $6,637.34 $10,757.86 $258,769.54
8 $17,395.20 $6,914.62 $10,480.58 $251,854.92
9 $17,395.20 $7,203.53 $10,191.67 $244,651.39
10 $17,395.20 $7,504.47 $9,890.73 $237,146.92
11 $17,395.20 $7,818.00 $9,577.20 $229,328.92
12 $17,395.20 $8,144.63 $9,250.57 $221,184.29
13 $17,395.20 $8,484.91 $8,910.29 $212,699.38
14 $17,395.20 $8,839.40 $8,555.80 $203,859.98
15 $17,395.20 $9,208.70 $8,186.50 $194,651.28
16 $17,395.20 $9,593.44 $7,801.76 $185,057.84
17 $17,395.20 $9,994.27 $7,400.93 $175,063.57
18 $17,395.20 $10,411.80 $6,983.40 $164,651.77
19 $17,395.20 $10,846.79 $6,548.41 $153,804.98
20 $17,395.20 $11,299.97 $6,095.23 $142,505.01
21 $17,395.20 $11,772.08 $5,623.12 $130,732.93
22 $17,395.20 $12,263.90 $5,131.30 $118,469.03
23 $17,395.20 $12,776.27 $4,618.93 $105,692.76
24 $17,395.20 $13,310.07 $4,085.13 $92,382.69
25 $17,395.20 $13,866.14 $3,529.06 $78,516.55
26 $17,395.20 $14,445.46 $2,949.74 $64,071.09
27 $17,395.20 $15,049.00 $2,346.20 $49,022.09
28 $17,395.20 $15,677.73 $1,717.47 $33,344.36
29 $17,395.20 $16,332.74 $1,062.46 $17,011.62
30 $17,391.71 $17,011.62 $380.09

$0.00

#snohomishcountyrealestate  #mortgagecalculators


Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

WEEKLY DOSE OF Real Estate Awesomness

MORTGAGE & FINANCE news

7 steps to help you navigate the mortgage process

5 tips for unmarried couples buying a house together

 5 tips to help you win a bidding war for your new home

REAL ESTATE news

 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Metro area 3rd fastest-moving housing market in U.S.

 Home Tips

So you boldly painted a wall a vibrant red. Now what?

 5 ways to turn that drab deck into a relaxing summer oasis

 Tips for cutting down waste while entertaining this summer

 Water conservation tips for Seattle and all Puget Sound homeowners

Just for fun! Take a look at this Everett Home listed for Sale.

What a view of the Cascades and the entire Snohomish Valley!  Can you imagine waking up each morning and having coffee on the deck to this? Its one of the very many scenic views our community offers and is the reason I call this area home.

 View6

 #snohomishcountyrealestate

#snohomishcountyhomesforsale

The Home Connection~ Welcome to May Newsletter

Snohomish County Real Estate ~ Jenifer Murrweiss

Snohomish County Homes Real Estate

Snohomish County Homes Real Estate Jenifer Murrweiss

Real Estate News

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

 

The Top 9 Professions Who Own Homes

Ever wonder who most of the home owners are? I don’t think I ever have wondered this questions but I was curious so I am sure others are too. Of course, I knew us Real Estate Agents would be in there but others surprised me a bit.  However, after thinking more on what certain professions due and why some would need to own a home more than others these do make sense.

What do you think? Are there other professions that you think should have made the cut more that others? Let me know I would love to hear what you think.

TOP 9 PROFESSIONS who own homes, by percentage

Who-Are-Homeowners

US. Housing Price Appreciation and Real Estate News

Real Estate News

In 2013, the housing markets with the biggest increases in asking prices were all rebounding from severe price drops in the housing bust. Home prices are still in rebound mode, but this effect will weaken in 2014. Job growth, in contrast, mattered little for price gains in 2013 but helped drive rent increases.

In December, the year-over-year increase in asking home prices slowed for the first time since the price recovery began in early 2012: prices rose 11.9% year-over-year in December, compared with November’s 12.2% year-over-year increase. Asking prices rose 0.4% month-over-month, seasonally adjusted, the third straight month of gains less than 1%.

Overall, regression analysis shows that recent price gains are most strongly associated with the severity of the local housing bust. Markets where prices fell most during the bust (roughly 2006 to 2011, but varies by metro) offered bargains for investors and other buyers who have helped bid prices back up over the past two years. A second important factor is foreclosures: adjusting for other factors, metros with a higher foreclosure inventory today – including many in Florida – have slower price growth. Job growth, however, had little impact on local home price gains in 2013: the relationship between job growth and price gains was positive but not statistically significant.

Therefore, year-over-year price gains in December 2013 are still primarily a reaction to the housing bust, but this rebound effect is fading as we enter 2014. Looking at the quarter-over-quarter price changes throughout 2013, the relationship between the severity of the housing bust and the recent price recovery was stronger earlier in the year than later in the year. More specifically, the correlation between peak-to-trough price change (FHFA) and the Trulia Price Monitor quarter-over-quarter change was -.59 in March; -.45 in June; -.43 in September; and -.33 in December. This correlation is moving closer to zero, which signifies that the rebound effect is fading. As the housing market continues to recover, factors other than the rebound effect – like job growth – will matter more for price gains. That means slower but more sustainable price increases.

Note: These asking prices are SA (Seasonally Adjusted) – and adjusted for the mix of homes – and this suggests further house price increases, but at a slower rate, over the next few months on a seasonally adjusted basis.

From Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko: The Post-Crash Rebound, Not Job Growth, Drove 2013 Price Gains

Interactive Chart

Please take a look at this great interactive PDF with a map and average home price appreciation info for the entire United States by clicking  through to this link, you’ll find the US Map and much more state specific data in an interactive version.

US Housing app

We hope you find this information useful and never hesitate if you would like to see more or would like more information.

http://www.snohomishcountyhomes4u.com

 

 

2013 Summer Events

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