Short Sales and 2012
December 30, 2011 by Gabrielle · 1 Comment
By all indications, it appears that 2012 will be a year with even more short sale listings … and closings than 2011. Some of the major banks have embraced the idea that short sales can be a bit more profitable than letting houses sit for months on end and then ultimately end up in foreclosure. [...]
Okay, Should You Sell … and Buy in 2012?
December 27, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Like many, you may have been sitting impatiently on the fence for the last three years hoping for a miracle that would allow you to sell your existing home without sacrificing too much more equity … and buy at today’s price and interest rate. At least once a week I get a call from a previous [...]
Think Housing Prices Are Too High?
December 16, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
I have a client that loves to send me little jokes and ditties every now and then. He’s just slightly older than I am and loves to pontificate about how prices are outrageous and how he can’t imagine how people can afford to live any more. In some respects, of course, he’s absolutely right. But [...]
Mediation?–Yes, You’re Entitled!!
December 14, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Yesterday I posted information about what to do as soon as you fall behind in your mortgage payments. As a second step in the foreclosure process in Washington State, the Foreclosure Fairness Act stipulates that if your loan is through one of the big banks, after receiving notice that a Notice of Default has been [...]
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 [...]
The Value of Photos: It’s Good Seller Representation
June 13, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Buyers are hooked on photos. I mean REALLY hooked on what they see when searching online for a home. They read a home’s description in the marketing remarks, then expect to see a visual confirmation of all of the features mentioned. From there they go to Google maps, or Bing, or wherever and pull up aerial [...]
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 [...]
Flood Maps Affect Home Sales and Purchases
January 19, 2011 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
What are Houses Selling for in Maple Valley?
November 13, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Snapshot & More — Auburn Washington Real Estate
November 10, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
As we near the end of the year, it’s time to take another quick look at how the real estate market fairs in comparison to previous years. The usual disclaimer applies that this information is gathered by me from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS). So … as of today, November 10, 2010, here’s what [...]
Foreclosure Statistics – Auburn, WA
October 20, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
I was directed to a Web site this morning called Foreclosure Radar. Like most sites of this sort, its aim is to get real estate agents to subscribe to their service (for a fee) with referrals to be directed from the site back to the fee-paying agents. I typically avoid these sorts of things as [...]
Investor Alert: FHA Financing for “Flipped” Houses
September 23, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
In mid-January, 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a temporary waiver (good until February 1, 2011, or until extended or withdrawn) to give FHA borrowers the ability of obtaining an FHA-insured mortgage on a home that was purchased less than 90 days previous. What this means is that a Buyer can [...]
There is NOT a 3.8% Sales Tax on All Home Sales Starting in 2013!
September 22, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Over the last several weeks I’ve had a number of clients and contacts email me with a “Is This True?” question about the rumor of a 3.8% “sales tax” to be added to the sale of a home after 2012. With the passing of President Obama’s Health Care bill, some people are digging deep for [...]
The Business of Short Sales in Auburn, WA
September 17, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
Short sales are a huge part of our area’s current listing inventory and sales statistics. They’re difficult transactions and time consuming. They require specialized knowledge and dedication to the task in order to be successful. They also require impeccable business practices and an adherence to the highest of ethical standards. The business of real estate [...]
16 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale
September 1, 2010 by Gabrielle · Leave a Comment
While buyers must shop within their financial qualifications, their decision to make an offer on a home is first, and foremost, an emotional response to the appearance of your home and property. The money and negotiation side to the actual purchase comes later. In order to maximize the appearance of your property — thus eliciting [...]
