Typical Process
A Great Lender Helps From Start to Finish, Especially in a Short Sale
January 11, 2012 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
One of the very first steps in the home buying process is determining how a Buyer will pay for their new home. Not only must a Buyer determine much they can afford, but how an offer must be structured–whether closing costs must be paid by a Seller, gift funds will be used for a down [...]
Just Open the Mail!
December 13, 2011 by Gabrielle · 1 Comment
In Washington State, folks that get behind on their house payments have options as described in the Foreclosure Fairness Act. The Act prescribes a series of steps to which a homeowner is entitled prior to any auction of their home. One of the first steps a lender must take for a home in Washington is [...]
Facing a Foreclosure or Short Sale?
October 6, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
The Washington State attorney general’s office recently released three videos that explain your rights and options should you be facing a foreclosure or short sale of your home. As an active Realtor®, I frequently receive phone calls from people that are already behind on their payments, or feel as though they will soon be in trouble [...]
4 Critical Facts When Selling Your Manufactured Home
March 15, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Selling a manufactured home on land is a bit different than selling a stick-built home. There are a few more inspections and requirements, not to mention finding a lender that will lend! Here in the Auburn area of Western Washington, I’ve had the dubious pleasure of working through a few sticky manufactured home transactions [...]
What Kind of a Buyer are You?
March 4, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Talking with prospective buyer clients every week involves having frank discussions about how they see themselves reaching their new house goals. Listening to them describe the sort of house they want along with how they see themselves living in the home, the neighborhood and location, helps set up a relationship that describes how a buying [...]
So … What IS a Buyer Agency Agreement?
February 8, 2011 by Gabrielle · 1 Comment
In a previous post, I wrote a bit about why a Buyer Agency Agreement is important and how a Buyer / Broker relationship might occur. I also indicated that, as a rule, I require a Buyer Agency Agreement to work with Buyers. So what, exactly, does a Buyer Agency Agreement obligate a Buyer to do? [...]
Working With Buyers — That Scary Buyer Agency Agreement
February 8, 2011 by Gabrielle · 1 Comment
I love working with Buyers. The excitement of shopping for houses, seeing homes through their eyes, and the ultimate gratification everyone has when the transaction closes and move-in day occurs! It just doesn’t get much better than that!! But working with Buyers is a tremendous amount of work. There’s a lot of stress involved, a myriad [...]
Buy Now? … or Wait?
August 22, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
I bought my first home in the mid-’70′s, and then bought again in about 1983. Even though interest rates were “obscene,” (seems like ours was somewhere around 17.5%) somehow we managed to make it work. Builders and sellers routinely bought down rates and prices were considerably lower. I was reminded of this fact this morning when receiving [...]
15 Things Your Buyer’s Agent Should (Will!!) Do For You
August 21, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
My daughter is currently shopping for a house outside of Washington State, where I’m licensed and practice. Although I cautioned her and her husband against making sign calls and suggesting (strongly!) that she work with a Realtor I interviewed on her behalf and recommend, they decided to make a sign call and then moved forward [...]
6 Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale
June 3, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
I was recently forwarded this article about buying short sales and thought it was good enough to share! Thanks to BuyAndSell.HouseLogic.com, By: G. M. Filisko, Published originally on March 19, 2010 By preparing for a real estate short sale, you can emerge with a great home at a favorable price. When sellers need to sell their [...]
Welcome to Real Estate!
January 22, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
While driving between appointments a couple days ago, I called my daughter to check up on grandbaby Tyler. The car and traffic was quiet and it was a nice break in an otherwise hectic day. After learning about the latest baby accomplishments, inevitably we drifted into what my day had been like and what I was [...]
