It's the most wonderful time of the year. But for many families with festive plans and hectic schedules, it's also the most wasteful.
According to one survey, for example, 60% of respondents admitted to throwing away more than usual during the holiday months as they filled up their trash bins with uneaten food, wrapping paper, gift bags, and commercial packaging
As we move into the Fall season, the combination of rising interest rates and the traditional winter slowdown is limiting the number of homes for sale. When compared to the same month last year, October 2023 experienced a -23% change in active property listings in Washington counties covered by the Northwest MLS. Across King County, active listings were down 30% compared to this time last year.
As a real estate agent, I spend a lot of time driving around our fine city, and I run across a lot of beautiful spots that inspire and transport me.
Now that fall is here, I’m spending the next few weeks on home maintenance.
I've put together a helpful maintenance checklist and sharing this helpful resource with you. By taking care of these items now, it will ensure plenty of free time to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest fall.
If the thought of investing your money into brick and mortar—or perhaps some stylishly-painted siding—excites you, join the club.
Investing in real estate has long been one of Americans' favorite ways to grow their wealth. In fact, over 70% of single-family rental properties are currently owned by individual investors rather than corporations, according to Census data.
Not long ago, home sellers were in their heyday, as historically-low mortgage rates triggered a real estate buying frenzy. However, the Federal Reserve shut down the party when it began raising interest rates last year.
Now, it’s not as simple to sell a home.
Does your current home no longer serve your needs? If so, you may be torn between relocating to a new home or renovating your existing one. This can be a difficult choice, and there’s a lot to consider—including potential costs, long-term financial implications, and quality of life.
So, you’re looking for some ideas to really ring that Summer bell before it ends, right? Here are some places I recommend.
So what impact is this reduced demand and low supply environment having on home values? And what can we expect from the real estate market in the coming months and years? Here are several key indicators that help to paint a picture of the current market and where it’s likely headed.
“We can’t recommend Tara enough! Tara was so patient, knowledgeable, attentive, thoughtful, & kind. As first time home buyers we didn’t know anything, Tara always invested the time we needed into whatever we asked of her. I would highly recommend you working with Tara on buying or selling. Thank you Tara for being our team mate.”
- Leah
If you are struggling to afford homeownership, here are some workarounds to consider as your plot your first home purchase.
Keeping a clean and orderly home is a challenge for many of us. Between busy work schedules, social obligations, and family commitments, it’s tough to keep up with daily chores - let alone larger seasonal tasks.
Created after the birth of her daughter, Nicole Leitner has built a business around herbs, skincare and healing.
It's hard to know what’s going in the real estate market right now. News, both national and local, are reporting a mixed bag. On a local level, since the start of the new year, we're seeing renewed buyer interest with open houses heavily attended. We're also seeing multiple offers on great hom es in key locations. The good I'm seeing is a return to normalcy.
When it comes to listing their home, most home sellers want three things: 1) to make a lot of money, 2) to put in minimal time and effort, and 3) to sell quickly. But the reality is, selling a home is rarely that simple. And homeowners who try to do it themselves—or receive bad advice—can end up stuck (months later) with a property that hasn’t sold. If that’s you, don’t panic! I've outlined the top five reasons a home doesn’t sell—and action steps you can take to overcome each of these issues.
“This is the fourth time that we have worked with Tara. Tara takes her incredible knowledge of the market place and creates a marketing plan that has surpassed our expectations every time! Her skills at negotiating has not only resulted in us selling for more than we anticipated but makes the whole process from beginning to end so pleasant. You will not find a more dedicated, honest and fun person to work with when selling or buying a home.”
- Cindy
I’ve rounded up six trends that I think will influence interior design in 2023, as well as ideas for how you might incorporate them in your own home. Remember, before taking action, it’s always wise to consult with a real estate professional to understand how specific updates and upgrades will affect your property’s value in your local market.
“Working with Tara was an absolute dream, this process was smooth and easy. Her communication is fantastic, she really put my nerves at ease which is not easy to do. Without a doubt I will be using Tara for all my upcoming real estate transactions and would happily recommend her to anyone who will listen to me about how awesome she is.”
- Nicole
The reality is, it’s no longer enough to stick a “for sale” sign in the yard and wait for buyers to bang down the door. If you want to net the most money possible for your property in today’s market, you’ll need an effective game plan and a skilled team of professionals to implement it.
For most homeowners, comprehensive home insurance coverage is crucial for financial security—but massive rate increases can turn a once-affordable home into a financial burden. They can also pose a serious challenge for sellers. A home insurance policy is typically required to get a mortgage, and, in some hard-hit regions, we’re seeing sales fall through or homes sit on the market because insurance policies are unattainable or too expensive.5,6