Residential Real Estate in SW Washington State

Residential Real Estate Services with Passion, Integrity, Knowledge

Affordable, Beautiful, 3+ Bedrooms!!

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Sold above asking price

$240,000
6204 Aldea Court SE
Lacey, WA 98503
MLS# 1431521

Affordable, well-maintained homes on big lots are rare! This easy-care home offers a wonderful alternative to apartment or even condo living! Here you’ll have  a fenced back yard, 2-car attached garage, RV parking space, and an end-of-the-culdesac location.

Greatroom flow keeps the cook part of the action, while providing table space plus kitchen bar open to the living area. Bedrooms and baths are split between ends of the home, with ensuite in master bedroom. Vaulted ceilings and ceiling fan plus air conditioning make the home light, bright and comfortable even during the hottest days of the summer.

This home is move-in ready just for you!

● Built in 1992
● 1,512 Sq Ft
● 10,906 SqFt Culdesac Lot
● 3 Bedrooms + Den
● 2 Baths		● Covered Patio
● Gas Kitchen Range, Heat, H20
● Central Air Conditioning
● North Thurston School District
● $10/month HOA Dues

View the Virtual Tour & Additional Photos

5 Bedrooms & Beautifully Refreshed!

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Sold in 4 days above asking price

$340,000
8823 Wakeman Dr SE
Olympia, WA 98513
MLS# 1429487

Enter this wonderful home in Madrona Park to bright sunlight & generous spaces! Sporting the perfect layout for everyday living and entertaining, you’ll be greeted with beautiful fresh paint both inside and out, new carpeting, new fixtures—even a newer roof.

On the main floor: living/dining/kitchen with gas range, island, generous family room with fireplace, laundry, and bedroom #5 (currently in use as a home office). Upstairs is the massive master suite with 5-piece ensuite & walk-in closet, plus three more bedrooms (one with a walk-in closet).

From its dark green lawns, fenced yard and patio, this home is move-in ready. Great JBLM commute location too! This is home!

  • Built in 2000
  • 2,696 Sq Ft
  • 8,269 SqFt Lot
  • $3,395/year property taxes
  • $30/month HOA
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 2.5 Baths
  • Formal Living & Dining Room, Family Room, Eat-in Kitchen
  • Gas range, Fireplace, Heat & Hot Water
  • Fully Fenced Yard

View the Tour For Photos

Homebuyers Shouldn’t Worry About 2008 All Over Again

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Last week, realtor.com released a survey of active home shoppers (those who plan to purchase their next home in 1 year or less). The survey asked their opinion on an impending recession and its possible impact on the housing market.

Two major takeaways from the survey:

  • 42% believe a recession will occur this year or next (another 16% said 2021)
  • 59% believe the housing market would fare the same or worse than it did in 2008

Why all the talk about a recession recently?

Over the last year, four separate surveys have been taken asking when we can expect the next recession to occur:

  1. The Pulsenomics Survey of Market Analysts
  2. The Wall Street Journal Survey of Economists
  3. The Duke University Survey of American CFOs
  4. The National Association of Business Economics

70% of all respondents to the four surveys believe that a recession will occur in 2019 or 2020 with an additional 18% saying 2021.

However, we must realize that a recession does not mean we will experience another housing crash. According to the dictionary definition, a recession is:

“A period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters.”

During the last recession, a dramatic fall in home values helped cause it.

However, according to research done by CoreLogic, home values weren’t negatively impacted as they were in 2008 during the previous four recessions:

Homebuyers Shouldn’t Worry About 2008 All Over Again | MyKCM

During the four recessions prior to 2008, home values depreciated only once (at a level that was less than 2%). The other three times home values appreciated, twice well above the historic norm of 3.6%.

Bottom Line

If there is an economic slowdown in our near future, there is no need for fear to set in. Most experts agree with Ralph McLaughlin, CoreLogic’s Deputy Chief Economist, who recently explained that there’s no reason to panic right now, even if we may be headed for a recession.

“We’re seeing a cooling of the housing market, but nothing that indicates a crash.”

7 Pricing Myths You Need to Get Past If You Want to Sell Your Home

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When homeowners are preparing to put their properties on the market, one aspect is usually foremost in their minds: money. Setting the asking price accurately can mean the difference between getting an offer quickly and having a house languish for months, drawing little interest.

With that in mind, it’s important that potential sellers block out a lot of the noise that often surrounds the intricate art and science of pricing. There are plenty of myths that may cause sellers to lose sleep at night as they attempt to separate fact from fiction.

The following are statements that can stand in the way of a successful sale.

1. ‘If we keep waiting, a better offer will come along!’

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When sellers receive an offer from the first showing, they may be skeptical or hesitant to accept it, wondering if other prospective buyers would be inclined to pay more. Thoughts of potential bidding wars could cause sellers to want to wait and see who else falls for their place. But, remember the old adage, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?” There’s no guarantee other would-be buyers are waiting around the corner. If the offer is a fair one, entertain it and count your blessings.

2. ‘Getting an offer right away, means the agent priced it too low!’

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When sellers receive an offer early in the process, as excited as they might be, many can’t help but wonder, “Should we have asked for more money? Did our agent price it too cheaply?” While it’s natural to be skeptical (and even a little greedy), receiving an offer on the early end of the spectrum most likely means your home was priced accurately and attractively. If you trust your agent, you know he or she didn’t pick a number out of the sky, but rather based it on extensive market research. So, be glad your sale is moving in the right direction.

3. ‘We should price it so there’s room to negotiate!’

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Let’s be honest: Most sellers would love to get top dollar for their homes. But overpricing it with the intention of being willing to accept a lower offer may just leave you empty handed in the long run. Plus, if you have to drop your ask multiple times, buyers may begin to wonder what’s wrong with the place — other than the price, that is.

4. ‘That’s not what my Zestimate says it’s worth!’

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Have you ever noticed how homeowners are eager to believe Zestimates or other automated valuation models when that price exceeds their expectations? Yet, when the opposite happens, they assume it’s outdated or erroneous information? The point we’re making is, these numbers can be inaccurate, so again, trust your agent over the Internet. Enough said.

5. ‘We can add all renovation costs to the asking price!’

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Sellers may adore the improvements and renovations they’ve made and want to add in those costs to the asking price. But remember, not every change is going to land a huge return on investment. If you’re curious about what you can expect on those fixes, check out Remodeling Magazine‘s annual ‘Cost Versus Value’ report to get an idea of which upgrades yield the biggest bang for your buck. Also, as you’re making changes, bear in mind that the infinity pool you view as an asset may just seem like a huge liability to a buyer.

6. ‘My Realtor® overpriced my house to make a larger commission.’

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Agents are paid a percentage of the selling price of the home. However, even if they were to raise the ask by $25,000, in most cases that would yield an additional $1,500 in commission, which would then be divvied up between the broker the agent is working for and the buyer’s agent, leaving your agent with less than $750 more in his or her pocket. It’s hard to imagine an agent would blow a potential quick sale — and take on weeks or months of additional showings and marketing expenses — for a few hundred dollars.

7. ‘Reducing the price is a sign of weakness!’

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While no homeowner is eager to drop the listing price, if time is passing and there’s been little interest, it could be time to consider lowering the ask. Remember, time is money. While you’re waiting for someone to meet your price, you’re still paying the mortgage, taxes, utilities, and insurance etc. Plus, sometimes, lowering the price can put your home in front of a group of new buyers, which could generate a lot more interest and, ultimately, get the price back up closer to where it was in the first place.

73% Of Millennials Cite Affordability As Reason They Don’t Own A Home

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A large percentage of millennials want to buy homes. But they’re allowing rising home prices—and misconceptions about the market—to keep them stuck in the renting cycle.

According to CoreLogic’s Young Millennial Housing Survey (which was featured in their most recent Home Price Index report), 40% of millennials are extremely or very interested in purchasing a home now (with 64% consistently monitoring prices in their local market). But nearly three-quarters of millennials surveyed (73%) cited affordability as a barrier to homeownership—significantly higher than any other age group.

While affordability may be a challenge, the truth is that there are plenty of millennials out there who could purchase a home, but their misconceptions about what it costs to do that are holding them back. According to a recent survey from lender Laurel Road, 58% of Americans believe you need a 20% down payment to purchase a home—but with today’s flexible lending options, it’s possible to buy a home with very little down.

The Takeaway

If you’re a millennial who wants to buy a home—but don’t think you can afford it—start exploring your options. There are zero-down payment and 3% down payment options available. You might be able to purchase a home with less than you’d imagined and be able to transition to homeownership sooner than you thought possible.

Will Your Side Hustle Buy You a House This Year?

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The top concern for most first-time home buyers is their ability to save for a down payment. According to a new survey, 36% of millennials took on a second job to make their dreams of homeownership a reality in 2017.

Among millennials with incomes over $100,000 a year, the top ways to come up with the necessary funds were to sell stocks (20%) or to sell cryptocurrency (16%).

The most popular method of savings was the most traditional; 60% of those saving for a down payment used a percentage of their paychecks to achieve their goal, while 75% of those with salaries over $100k were able to save this way.

For those who have not yet begun to save for their down payment, 32% plan on pursuing additional employment, while 15% plan on driving for a ride-share service as their second job.

Many first-time buyers are mistaken about the down payment needed in today’s real estate market. In fact,

“In a 2017 survey, 68% of renters cited saving for a down payment as an obstacle to homeownership. Thirty-nine percent of renters believe that more than 20% is needed for a down payment and many renters are unaware of low-down payment programs.”

The many benefits of homeownership make the extra jobs, sacrificing new clothes, or skipping vacations well worth it.

Bottom Line

If you have been saving for your down payment for a while now and are curious how much further you have to go, let’s get together to help you determine what priced home you can afford and what size down payment you’ll need.

SOLD-Affordable, 3-Years Young, BIG 4+ Bedroom Home in Yelm

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$328,000

40408 91st Ave SE
Yelm, WA 98597
MLS# 1352704

From the moment you enter this fabulous home, you’ll be impressed. Each room was carefully designed for maximum living from the den & formal dining just off the entry to the granite & stainless kitchen with pantry, huge master with massive walk-in closet, double vanities in main & master baths, spacious laundry, & upper bonus room. Loads of thoughtful storage throughout. Beautifully maintained, the home is ready for your own personal touches.

Great JBLM commute location too! Fully fenced & tucked nicely in a corner culdesac, this is home!

 

  • Built in 2015
  • 2,828 Sq Ft
  • 5,783 sqft Lot
  • $3,809 property taxes
  • $27/month HOA
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2.5 Baths
  • Den, Bonus Room, Formal Dining, Great Room
  • Gas range, fireplace, heat & hot water
  • Fully Fenced Yard
  • Yelm School District
  • Southworth Elementary
  • Yelm Middle School
  • Yelm High School
View the Tour

 

 

What to Expect in a Home Inspection

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So you made an offer, it was accepted, and now your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Oftentimes, agents make your offer contingent on a clean home inspection.

 

 

 

This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you paid for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or even, in some cases, walk away. Your agent can advise you on the best course of action once the report is filed.

How to Choose an Inspector

Your agent will most likely have a short list of inspectors that they have worked with in the past that they can recommend to you. HGTV recommends that you consider the following 5 areas when choosing the right home inspector for you:

  1. Qualifications – find out what’s included in your inspection and if the age or location of your home may warrant specific certifications or specialties.
  2. Sample Reports – ask for a sample inspection report so you can review how thoroughly they will be inspecting your dream home. The more detailed the report, the better in most cases.
  3. References – do your homework – ask for phone numbers and names of past clients who you can call to ask about their experiences.
  4. Memberships – Not all inspectors belong to a national or state association of home inspectors, and membership in one of these groups should not be the only way to evaluate your choice. Membership in one of these organizations often means that continued training and education are provided.
  5. Errors & Omission Insurance – Find out what the liability of the inspector or inspection company is once the inspection is over. The inspector is only human after all, and it is possible that they might miss something they should have seen.

Ask your inspector if it’s okay for y

 

ou to tag along during the inspection, that way they can point out anything that should be addressed or fixed.

Don’t be surprised to see your inspector climbing on the roof or crawling around in the attic and on the floors. The job of the inspector is to protect your investment and find any issues with the home, including but not limited to: the roof, plumbing, electrical components, appliances, heating & air conditioning systems, ventilation, windows, the fireplace and chimney, the foundation, and so much more!

Bottom Line

They say ‘ignorance is bliss,’ but not when investing your hard-earned money into a home of your own. Work with a professional who you can trust to give you the most information possible about your new home so that you can make the most educated decision about your purchase.