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RE/MAX National Housing Report for March 2024

Home sales in March increased 21.6% over February while trailing the March activity of a year ago. At the same time, a 20.9% surge in new listings during the month fueled a substantial 7.7% expansion in inventory.

The inventory gains helped expand the supply of homes for sale by 24.2% year over year, setting the stage for the customary peak homebuying season of May and June.

Up 5.1% year over year, the Median Sale Price increased 1.5% from February – the third monthly increase in a row – and returned to $415,000, a figure it last reached last September.

Read the full article…

Watch the 32 second summary video…



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Washington State NWMLS Market Update for March 2024


Interest rates have decreased by 0.15% over the past month to 6.79%, and while the rate decrease is encouraging, it has yet to have a significant impact on prospective buyers’ purchasing power or prospective sellers’ willingness to give up low interest rate mortgages. For the Washington counties covered by NWMLS, March 2024 saw an 11.2% decrease in the number of closed sales year-over-year, although median sales prices have continued to steadily rise with a year-over-year increase of 7.5%.

Important takeaways from March’s data:

  • The median sales price of homes increased in 19 out of 26 counties and decreased in 7 counties relative to March 2023. The three counties with the highest median sale prices were King ($850,000), San Juan ($750,000) and Snohomish ($730,000). The three counties with the lowest median sale prices were Pacific ($347,500), Grant ($325,000) and Columbia ($274,000).
  • The number of homes on the market increased throughout Washington with 20 out of 26 counties seeing a year-over-year increase. Overall, there was a 1.16% year-over-year increase in active property listings in Washington counties covered by NWMLS.
  • Six of the 26 counties included in the report saw an increase in the number of homes sold year-over-year, while 18 counties saw a decrease. Two counties, Ferry and Chelan, saw relatively no change in the number of year-over-year sales.
  • Condominium sales dipped slightly in the NWMLS service areas, with 752 units sold in March 2024, which is a year-over-year decrease of slightly more than 1%. The median sale price of condominiums increased more than 5% year-over-year, from $470,000 in March 2023 to $495,000 in March 2024.

Contact me for more details, or watch the 0.75 minute market snapshot video…

Source: NWMLS 4/3/2024



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Proposed Settlement by the National Association of REALTORS®


Many of you may have heard about this over the last week. Sadly there is A LOT of misinformation out there. I’ve given it a lot of thought and think that the NWMLS’s statement summarizes it best for the majority of Washington State:

“NWMLS is owned by its member real estate firms and not affiliated with NAR.

Beginning in 2019, and continuing in 2022, NWMLS made changes to its rules, forms, and processes that address the issues raised by the national litigation and outlined in the proposed settlement agreement. NWMLS’s changes enhanced transparency, consumer choice, and negotiation opportunities related to broker compensation.

NWMLS’s most recent efforts, in cooperation with Washington REALTORS®, culminated in revisions to the Washington state “Agency Law” that were effective January 1, 2024. As a result, Washington law already requires brokers to enter into a services agreement to represent a buyer, which is one of the primary “practice changes” in the proposed settlement agreement.

While NWMLS’s system of rules and forms, together with the revised Agency Law, provide both buyers and sellers with complete transparency, choice, and control of broker compensation, NWMLS and its members will continue to take advantage of every opportunity to enhance the quality of real estate brokerage services in the Northwest.”

Watch this 30 second video that highlights what Washington REALTORS® recently did to advocate for more transparency in real estate.

4/23/24 Update: Judge Bough granted the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Approval of this agreement, which means that the settlement agreement is preliminarily approved.

Don’t hesitate to call or contact me with any questions!



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6 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal Before Selling a Home This Spring

Sprucing up your house’s exterior can help prospective buyers see the possibilities.

As daylight lingers longer and temperatures begin to rise, it’s evident that spring is on its way. Spring is generally a busy season for real estate, as homes hit the market after a hunkered-down winter and ahead of summer fun.

In many places, winter weather can take a toll on the exterior of a house. Before listing your home for sale this spring, consider these tips for improving curb appeal and charming prospective homebuyers.

1. Remove old leaves and debris

Toward the end of winter – when snow is officially gone for good – lawns can be littered with leaves lingering from fall, as well as twigs brought down by storms. Removing them is important before starting on lawn revitalization, as debris will block seeds and nutrients from doing their job. Plus, clearing away debris makes for a much cleaner appearance.

Don’t forget to clean up flower beds or other non-grassy areas too – these places are also prone to collecting leaves. And make sure to clear out the gutters. All kinds of junk gets lodged in the gutters throughout the winter, and it can make for inefficient draining as well as a sloppy appearance. Not doing so can lead to roof leaks and other issues that could have negative repercussions on a home inspection.

2. Get the grass growing

Once the temperature is staying well above freezing throughout the night, it’s time to get your outside water lines and sprinklers going again. This involves turning your outdoor faucet back on – and re-starting a built-in sprinkler system if you have one. Carve out time to get the system running again before you need it – or reach out for professional assistance.

From there, assess what else your lawn needs. This could be patch-fixing, overseeding, providing nutrient-rich grass food, or aerating, among other measures. For lawns that feel beyond repair, some homeowners choose to lay down sod – which can be a steep cost – to achieve a luscious lawn in a quicker timeframe.

3. Add a new coat of mulch

A fresh coat of mulch along edges and around plant beds can help a yard look cohesive. If you want to shake up your exterior color palette, try a different shade of mulch. The most common options are black, brown and red – and each one complements a home differently.

For example, red mulch provides a nice contrast against the vibrant color of plants and flowers. But, if you have a red home or brick home, the red may feel too monochromatic, making a muted brown shade a better match.

4. Clean up hedges, edges, and more

Take time to trim back trees and other plants that appear overgrown. This is especially true for large trees that canopy over a property, and smaller trees and bushes that line the house or yard.

For a well-manicured appearance, edge your walkways – especially the one leading toward the front door. These small details work together as polished curb appeal.

5. Consider the state of the structure itself

The physical exterior of your home could likely use some TLC following winter, too. Depending on the accumulation of dirt, it could be time to pressure wash the siding. Then, while it can be a more costly task, having the house repainted adds an element of newness and could make a substantial impact on the impression of prospective buyers.

Consider the front door, too. Give it a fresh coat of paint to correct any knicks, dings, and scratches. And for those looking to shake things up, try opting for a different color of paint – or sanding down a wooden door and covering with stain and varnish to restore its natural look.

6. Add pops of color

Spring is the season where nature blossoms – so help emulate that cheery feeling as people catch a first glimpse of your home. Add a pop of color to the front porch with colorful planters framing the stairs or door. Or, to fill a larger space, try hanging planters from the ceiling of the porch.

Plants and flowers are a great way to add bits of color here and there. Just be sure to water them regularly, and according to their species, to ensure they stay vibrant all season long.

Ready to sell your home this spring? Contact me today!




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RE/MAX National Housing Report for February 2024

Home Sales Rise, With Sellers
Getting Almost Full Listing Price

With the annual spring homebuying season coming quickly, home sales ramped up in February and spiked 17.0% from January, with a 2.3% increase from February 2023. Of those sales, buyers paid more. The median home price of $412,000 rose 2.1% from January – and 7.0% year over year. The $27,000 increase from February 2023 reflected that buyers on average were willing to pay 99% of the listing price. 

In a third of the markets of the 50 metros areas surveyed, buyers on average paid 98% or less, while in a quarter of the markets the average buyer paid 100% or more. At the current median sales price, 1% is equivalent to approximately $4,000.

Meanwhile, inventory held relatively steady and dropped just 0.6% from January. Months supply of inventory (1.9) declined slightly from January’s 2.1, but was up from last February’s 1.6, and the number of homes for sale was 10.8% higher than a year ago.

In another indicator of increased demand, homes took an average of 44 days to sell in February – two days faster than January and one day faster than February 2023.

Read the full article…

Watch the 32 second summary video…



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Washington State NWMLS Market Update for February 2024

Watch or listen to these 1 minute summary videos, or read the details below!

Listings and Inventory

NWMLS brokers added 6,513 new listings to the database in February 2024, an increase of nearly 25% compared to February 2023. The number of new listings added in King County increased more than 33% year-over-year.

There were 7,495 active listings on the market at the end of February 2024, an increase of nearly 4% compared to a year ago. The volume of homes on the market increased throughout Washington with 17 out of 26 counties seeing a year-over-year increase.

A balanced market is considered to be 4 to 6 months by most industry experts. At the current rate of sales, it would take less than two months to sell every home that is active in the NWMLS inventory. The four counties with the lowest months of inventory in February 2024 were Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Thurston.


    Pending and Closed Sales

    There were 5,945 total residential & condo units under contract in February 2024, a decrease of 4.6% when compared to February 2023. Despite the overall decrease, there were 11 counties that had a year-over-year increase in the number of pending sales.

    February 2024 saw a 1.62% decrease in closed sales transactions year-over-year. Despite this decrease, there were 10 counties with a year-over-year increase in the number of closed sales. The number of year-over-year closed sales in King and Pacific counties remained unchanged.

    Overall, the median price for residential homes and condominiums sold in February 2024 increased nearly 6% when compared to February 2023. The median sales price increased year-over-year in 19 of the 26 counties, with the highest median sales prices in King, Snohomish, and San Juan counties.

    Source: NWMLS 3/5/2024



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    9 Ways to Add Value to a Home For Sale Through Upgrades

    Help your home appear updated and move-in-ready to prospective buyers with these tips from Curbio.

    While you’re living in your home, you may find its value is tied to the memories created with the ones you love.

    As soon as you list your home for sale, the meaning of “home value” immediately changes. It’s time to pack up those memories – along with your dishes, lamps, and sofas – and focus on all the ways to make your home appeal to as many buyers as possible.

    It can be overwhelming deciding where to start on improvements before a move. So, here are nine spots to focus on for value-adding updates that are sure to be big wins – helping make your home the move-in-ready listing today’s buyers are looking for.

    1. Give your landscaping some love

    It’s not just what’s on the inside that counts. First impressions make or break a home sale, and increasing your curb appeal goes a long way towards boosting that initial impression. Tend to your garden by mulching, cleaning up your edges, and pulling the weeds. Remember that low maintenance landscaping is often most appealing to buyers, whereas complicated topiary and finicky plants can scare them away. Even if your would-be garden space is small, planting some easy-to-maintain perennials can really spruce up the outside.

    2. Update fixtures

    Sconces, chandeliers, and pendant lights are opportunities to modernize and change the feel of your home without undertaking a huge project. Simple, classic designs in timeless metal finishes are great choices because of their mass appeal, and small pops of color or unique pieces can add lots of character if used sparingly throughout the home.

    3. Invest in appliances

    Updating your home doesn’t just apply to design – it applies to ease of use and lack of future maintenance, too. Equipping your home with modern appliances is a must-do if you’re thinking about a potential home sale. They help underscore a turnkey experience for buyers, and they can be well worth the cost of investment.

    4. Make needed repairs

    Don’t overlook the non-glamorous updates and deferred maintenance if you’re hoping to maximize on your investment with your home sale. Potential buyers need to have confidence in all facets of your home or they will not be able to envision themselves living there. That means everything needs to work the way it should: faucets that don’t leak, decks that don’t sag, doors that open according to code, etc. Start by checking up on your roof and HVAC system, and move your way down the list in search of necessary repairs.

    If HVAC repairs sound expensive, don’t be alarmed! Curbio has a fix-now-pay-at-closing financial model, meaning sellers never pay out of pocket until closing.

    5. Finish unfinished spaces

    If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finish your basement, before selling is a great time. If you have a space in your home that doesn’t serve a specific purpose or function, it can be a red flag in the eyes of a buyer. Your home value may skyrocket just by clearly defining each space throughout the property. Try converting that catch-all room to an extra bedroom or home office and transform an unfinished basement into a family den.

    6. Focus on your kitchen

    Kitchens, without a doubt, are the heart of the home. That means that they are typically the first space potential buyers consider when evaluating a home purchase, and kitchen investments are some of the best kinds you can make to increase your home value. First, ask yourself:

    • Is my kitchen functional?
    • Is my kitchen spacious?
    • Is my kitchen sleek?

    Next, focus on the areas of improvement that will maximize your home’s value. If your kitchen is relatively new, consider smaller upgrades like fresh hardware. On the other hand, if your kitchen is dated, in need of love, or under-functional, you should seriously consider a kitchen renovation to help your home compete with new builds and win the hearts and minds of buyers.

    7. Open your floor plan

    A spacious, open living area is a desired feature in today’s real estate market. Floor plans with lots of walls and too many separate rooms tend to inhibit a communal feeling and often lack natural light, which can be detractors from your home’s value. Consider opening or removing some of the non-load-bearing walls in your home to form an open floorplan within your living space.

    8. Create an outdoor experience

    If your backyard is just a patch of grass, that means it’s full of potential opportunity to increase home value. A covered patio, pergola, fire pit, or an outdoor eating area are all great ways to set the scene for an experiential outdoor lounge space – and appeal to buyers. Who doesn’t want a place to roast s’mores, stargaze, and grill out?

    9. Transform your bathroom into a spa

    Self-care is in, and that means buyers are looking for bathrooms that emulate a spa. Incorporating spa-like finishes will help your bathroom feel luxurious, relaxing, and indulgent. That could entail adding sleek finishes, a soaking tub, and a light, airy color palette.

    Now that you’re informed on what updates to complete before listing your home, it’s time to get started! Curbio is a turnkey solution that provides full-scale project management for every pre-listing project, no matter the size or scope. Plus, sellers never pay out of pocket – 100% of the project costs are deferred until closing. Your real estate agent can request an estimate from Curbio free of charge, with a same-day response. Contact me today to get started!


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    6115 79th St E #58, Puyallup, WA 98371

    $119,900

    2 bedrooms; 1.75 bathrooms; 1,188 sq ft

    Beautifully updated and lovingly maintained home in the comfortable Crestview 55+ Community! Open floor plan w/ spacious kitchen & newer appliances; generous primary suite includes a large closet & over-sized shower. This move-in ready home is completely updated & maintained for your worry-free enjoyment! Newer roof, exterior paint, furnace, heat pump, water heater & flooring. The home was leveled, crawl space & ducts cleaned, & reinsulated. You’ll appreciate the newer electric solar blinds, curtains, light fixtures, sinks & faucets. Abundant storage w/ 2 pantries, linen closet, carport storage & lrg shed. Relax on the deck or enjoy fresh air w/ 2 screen doors. Rent includes water, septic & clubhouse. RV parking is also available for rent.

    A link to more details and photos…

    Sold 4/12/24

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    ‘How Much House Can I Afford to Buy?’ Here’s How to Know

    If your biggest question right now is “Can I afford to buy a home?” – or “How much home can I actually afford to buy?” – you aren’t alone. As the real estate market continues to shift, many people are wondering how far their money will take them.

    From researching your local housing market to exploring home loan options, a few early steps can help you prepare before starting on the homebuying process. Here are five ways to help determine how much house you can afford.

    1. Check up on your credit score

    Before you’re ready to start the homebuying process, familiarize yourself with your credit score. If you aren’t satisfied with the number, you’ll want to give yourself time to raise it before you apply for a loan – this will be a key factor a mortgage professional takes into consideration. Many major credit card companies will give you monthly updated credit score reports on their websites and apps.

    2. Get pre-approved for a home loan

    Seek out a local mortgage professional to help you understand what you qualify for and set a realistic homebuying budget. A mortgage prequalification provides a basic estimate of how much you can borrow based on your stated financial situation. When you’re ready, complete a mortgage application in which a lender confirms your qualifications with more stringent documentation and can then provide a formal pre-approval. Working with a mortgage broker may provide an easy way to explore different lenders and loan products that meet your unique needs.

    3. Consider how much money you have saved

    It’s essential to figure out how much money you’ll be able to put toward a down payment on a home – and this number will impact what your monthly mortgage payments will be, too.

    For renters, if your monthly mortgage payment will cost more than your current rent, are you able to afford the difference?

    Keep in mind that expenses won’t stop at the down payment and mortgage. Be prepared to cover costs for closing and moving, various fees that may come up in the process, home insurance, private mortgage insurance (if you put less than 20% down), and more. Plus, it’s wise to have a comfortable level of savings for home maintenance and repair.

    4. Seek advice from a financial advisor

    Meeting with a financial advisor can help you prioritize financial concerns, learn how to manage your money, and plan ahead for the future.

    5. Look at data for your local housing market

    When it comes to home prices, no two markets are the same – and the cost of living (which includes the expense of homeownership) varies depending on location. That’s why it’s helpful to find an experienced real estate agent who you trust to help with your important transaction. They can help demystify local housing market data, prioritize your wants and needs in your purchase, and get the ball rolling in the home search process.

    Understanding local market conditions will also help establish a realistic expectation of what kind of property you can afford in your desired area. Looking at active and recent listings is one way to get a better feel for what home prices are like.

    Ready to start your homebuying journey? Contact me for a complimentary consultation!



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    RE/MAX National Housing Report for January 2024

    New Listings Soar Higher as
    Spring Ramp-Up Approaches

    In what could be a good sign for buyers, the number of newly listed homes in January was a whopping 66.3% higher than in December and 21.5% higher than January 2023 across the 50 metro areas surveyed.

    The 21.5% year-over-year increase in new listings reversed a multi-year January trend, as new listings dropped 5.1% from January 2022 to January 2023 and 8.1% from January 2021 to January 2022. The dramatic 66.3% month-to-month increase in new listings was also significantly higher than the past two December-to-January jumps – 39.8% to start 2023 and 24.7% to begin 2022.

    The surge in new listings was combined with year-over-year increases in closed sales and inventory, illustrating that January’s housing stats could bode well for the typical spring uptick in home sales this year.

    January home sales were 2.5% higher than January 2023, although they were down 19.1% from December, a slightly smaller post-holiday drop than the past two years. January inventory increased 1.7% over January 2023, ending a seven-month streak of year-over-year declines. The median sales price of $405,000 was 5.2% (or $20,000) higher than January 2023 and unchanged from December.

    Read the full article…

    Watch the 32 second summary video…