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Four Reasons Why It’s Good to Be a Home Seller Right Now
September 29, 2017 /My friends recently made a really smart real estate decision: four years after purchasing their lovely home in Boulder, Colorado, they sold it and moved to a cheaper spot in Nashville, and, as a result, made a boatload of money. I found myself both--let’s be honest--slightly envious, and inspired. Investing in real estate, and understanding when to sell, is one of the smartest ways to build wealth. You might be wondering what Boulder, Colorado has to do with Washington State, aside from the fact that both Seattle and Boulder are home to hippies and tech nerds with serious outdoors obsessions. Well, while Boulder’s real estate market is doing well right right now, Seattle’s real estate market is right up there with it as one of the most competitive markets in the country. In many ways, the Seattle market is even hotter than Boulder’s. If you’re considering listing your Seattle area home right now, here are a few reasons why it's good to be a home seller right now. For more information about selling your home and understanding its current value, contact Pickett Street at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com. Also, be sure to check out this easy home value form. 1. The…Read more
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Seattle Real Estate Market Update for August 2017
September 1, 2017 /Now that summer’s winding to a lovely, blackberry-filled close, let’s check in on Seattle’s real estate market. Here’s what to expect if you’re buying or selling a house right now. 1. Housing prices in Seattle continue to rise. The Seattle-area market continues to hurtle forward like an exciting high-speed train. For the tenth month straight, the city’s August housing prices rose faster than anywhere else in the country. According to the Seattle Times, prices for the average single-family home are 13.4% more than this time last year. Additionally, for the first time ever, King County home prices grew by $100,000 in just a year. What does this mean for you, a potential buyer or seller? If you’re thinking about buying, it’s smart to buy now, as prices will only continue to rise. If you’re thinking about selling, it’s also smart to sell now, because you’re almost sure to get a great offer on your Seattle-area home. Contact Pickett Street today at (425) 502-5397 or info@pickettstreet.com for help buying or selling your home. 2. Why all this real estate growth? One word: Amazon. Amazon and its increasingly powerful economic force has chosen Seattle’s hip, creative environment as its home, and this…Read more
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Did you know that in the 80’s the mortgage rate was 16.6% at one time?
May 4, 2016 /On Wednesday, the Fed voted to maintain the current rate of interest but did signify the possibility of rate hikes later in the year. As such, the federal funds rate will remain in the current range of 0.25-0.5%. In its press release, the Fed indicated a sense of optimism in regards to the presence of improvement in both household incomes and the labor market. Additionally, the Fed noted the housing sector has continued to improve since the beginning of 2016. However, inflation is still below the Fed’s ideal rate of 2%, while consumer spending, investment in the business sector, and net exports are not as strong as they could be. The Fed’s overall consensus is that, while the economy is still showing steady signs of improvement, there are still a few obstacles in the way. As such, the Fed has chosen to keep the federal funds rate unchanged for the time being. The Fed’s next meeting will take place in June, and there is a possibility that we’ll be seeing rate increases by July. At any rate, the Fed hopes to authorize about two rate hikes during the remainder of 2016. How Does This Affect Mortgage Rates? Contrary to a…Read more
