Market Update

Community Events & Information New Agency Law Changes: Transparency, Consumer Protection & Commitment On January 1, 2024, major changes to the Law of Agency will go into effect. These changes result from the real estate industry in the state of Washington wanting to elevate the level of transparency and consumer protection surrounding buyer representation. Senate Bill 5191 was voted into law requiring adjustments in how brokers operate when working with […]
Eastside QUARTERLY REPORTS Q3 2023 Tight inventory and buyer demand helped fuel the market in the third quarter of 2023 despite rising interest rates. There have been fewer listings in 2023 than in 2022 which has created price growth since the first of the year. Prices peaked in spring 2022, corrected in the second half of 2022, and then they […]
Market Update The Low Inventory Effect: Nationally & Close to Home The video below from Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist, refers to the effects of constricted inventory levels on the national housing market in a higher interest rate environment. Review the localized numbers that I gathered that pertain to King and Snohomish Counties and then check out what he has to say about the national trends. […]
Community Events & Information Win-Win: How to Overcome Interest Rate Pressure with Creative Financing Lately we have talked about life changes leading to real estate moves. Sometimes moves are brought on by joyful advancements in life and sometimes they are motivated by hardship. Then there are times when your actual house just doesn’t fit your life anymore and it is time for something different. Whatever might be calling someone to make […]
Community Events & Information Clarity Through Chaos: Using the Data to Guide Decisions. I think we can all agree that we have been on a bit of a wild ride over the last 12 months in the real estate market. When the Fed decided to change its trajectory on interest rates in mid-2022, it created some chaos and confusion. When big changes happen, it is a natural reaction […]
Eastside QUARTERLY REPORTS Q1 2023 We are seeing signs of price stabilization and some growth after the market correction of 2022! Illustrated on the front is the up-down-up trajectory that home prices have experienced over the last year. While we are in the midst of measuring the negative difference from the peak prices of the first half of 2022 to […]
Community Events & Information Which is better, renting or buying?: The financial benefits of owning real estate. The financial benefits of owning real estate significantly outweigh the option of renting. Renting is certainly a must for some, and is what one may have to do while they build up to becoming a homeowner. Becoming a homeowner requires solid employment, good credit, and some type of down payment. Savings can all be built over time and […]
Market Update Understanding the Current Shift in the Real Estate Market: How Interest Rates Affect Prices As we continue to examine the shift in the market, we must take a moment to take a deep dive into interest rates. Since the first of the year, long-term interest rates have increased 2.7% from 3.11% on 12/30/21 to the peak of 5.81% on 6/23/22, but have started to level out. On 8/4/22 rates […]
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Market Update The Gardner Report At Windermere, we are fortunate to have Matthew Gardner as our Chief Economist. In fact, we are one of the only real estate companies in the country to have such a well-respected expert sitting in this role. Not only is Matthew an asset to Windermere brokers and their clients, but he is a coveted resource […]
Market Update UPDATE: Global influences on the Housing Market & Interest Rates A lot has happened in our world since the first of the year, specifically the rise in inflation and the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. These factors can influence consumers and affect the housing and financial markets. Additionally, global unrest has had a clear influence on interest rates, driving them back down after a 1-point […]
Market Update With seller equity at an all-time high, it is still important who you align with to get the best results 2022 has had an incredibly eventful start in our local real estate market. In January, the average list-to-sale price ratio (the percentage a house sells for in comparison to the list price) in King County was 105% and in Snohomish County it was 106%. This is in conjunction with complete year-over-year median price appreciation (the […]
Market Update 2021 Year-to-Date Real Estate Market Review I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the 2021 real estate market has been a head-turner! In the second half of 2020, once we started to emerge from the COVID lockdown, the real estate market started to bustle with activity. 2020 ended up being a robust real estate year driven by low interest […]
Market Update Newsletter – Q2 Gardner Report & Summer Food Drive Recap   At Windermere, we are fortunate to have Matthew Gardner as our Chief Economist. In fact, we are one of the only real estate companies in the country to have such a well-respected expert sitting in this role. Not only is Matthew an asset to Windermere brokers and their clients, but he is a coveted […]
Living Newsletter – Summertime 2021: No Relief in Heat, But Relief for Buyers   Last week I heard a quote from Mike Loftin of the Urban Institute that resonated with me. “We need to stop seeing housing as a reward for financial success and instead see it as a critical tool that can facilitate financial success.” Homeownership as an investment has always been a long-term hold in order for […]
Market Update NEWSLETTER MAY 2021 – Year-to-Date Real Estate Recap: Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Headed Here we are, one-third into 2021, and boy what a ride it has been so far. We all know that 2020 was a unique year full of challenges and change. The pandemic made us pause and reevaluate many aspects of our lives including where and how we live. The impact of the pandemic on the […]
Market Update Newsletter – What is your home worth? Price Appreciation Case Studies in Snohomish & King Counties Over the last 6 years, the median price for a single-family home in King County has grown by 65%, and in Snohomish County 69%. Above are examples of actual homes sold in late 2015 to early 2016 that also sold in early 2021. Note, they were not remodeled or significantly improved in between sales. These examples show the growth in […]
Market Update Newsletter – Real-Time Market Update: Where We Are Now February 2020   The 2021 real estate market is off to a very brisk start. Historically low interest rates are driving buyer demand. This is coupled with a needed “catch-up” in available homes for sale. In 2020, we saw a stall in new listings during our normally plentiful spring market due to the pandemic. From April to […]
Market Update Newsletter: Matthew Gardner’s Top 10 Things to Look for in 2021 in the Economy and Our Housing Market   Last week I had the pleasure of attending Matthew Gardner’s 2021 Economic Forecast. Matthew is Windermere’s Chief Economist and coveted expert in our region often called upon by the local and national media for his insights on the economy and housing. Windermere has relied upon his forecasts and advice for over 15 years, and […]
Market Update South King County Quarterly Market Trends – Q4 2020   The 2020 real estate market was a bright spot in the economy and the fourth quarter finished strong, with the median price up 11% complete year-over-year. Interest rates started the year just over 3.5% and ended the year under 3%! The long-term average rate is 7.9%, putting into perspective the massive advantage for homebuyers […]
Market Update North Snohomish County Quarterly Market Trends – Q4 2020   The 2020 real estate market was a bright spot in the economy and the fourth quarter finished strong, with the median price up 10% complete year-over-year. Interest rates started the year just over 3.5% and ended the year under 3%! The long-term average rate is 7.9%, putting into perspective the massive advantage for homebuyers […]