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Seattle Home for Sale
11715 North Park Ave N
Seattle 98133-8240
Open Saturday and Sunday
March 22nd and 23rd 1PM-4PM
You will love this sunny home in the heart of Broadview. This sweet 1925 Farmhouse is a gardener's dream. The home is surrounded by easy to care for shrubs and perennials which are just now starting to bloom. The main level features two bedrooms and a full bath. The living room and dining room are open to each other and feature large picture windows and a wood burning fireplace. The kitchen enjoys easy access and views to the back yard. The sun room off of the kitchen will be a favorite place.
On line at AtHomeInBroadview.com
For more information about this Seattle home for sale, give us a call or text!
-Steve and Sandra
206-769-9577
BrennerHill.com
BrennerHillReviews.com
5 REASONS TO SELL NOW
Many sellers are still hesitant about putting their house up for sale. Where are prices headed? Where are interest rates headed? Can buyers qualify for a mortgage? These are all valid questions. However, there are several reasons to sell your home sooner rather than later. Here are five of those reasons.
1. The Most Serious Buyers Are Out Now
Most people realize that the housing market is hottest from April through June. The most serious buyers are well aware of this and, for that reason, come out in early spring in order to beat the heavy competition. These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!
2. There Is Less Competition Now
Housing supply always grows from the spring through the early summer. The choices buyers have will continue to increase over the next few months. Don’t wait until all the other potential sellers in your market put their homes up for sale.
3. The Process Will Be Quicker
One of the biggest challenges of the 2014 housing market has been the length of time it takes from contract to closing. Banks are requiring more and more paperwork before approving a mortgage. As the market heats up, banks will be inundated with loan inquiries causing closing timelines to lengthen. Selling now will make the process quicker and simpler.
4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up
If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by over 19% from now to 2018. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with an interest rate at about 4.5% right now. Rates are projected to be well over 5% by this time next year.
5. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life
Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and decide whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?
You already know the answers to the questions we just asked. You have the power to take back control of the situation by pricing your home to guarantee it sells. The time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.
That is what is truly important.
If you are considering a home sale, give us a call, text or email, we are ready to get to work for you!
?-Steve and Sandra
206-769-9577 | stevehill@windermere.com
5 REASONS TO BUY A HOME NOW
Based on prices, mortgage rates and soaring rents, there may have never been a better time in real estate history to purchase a home than right now. Here are five major reasons purchasers should consider buying.
1. Competition is about to Increase
Every spring a surge of prospective purchasers enter the housing market. Like you, they will want the best home available in the best location at the best price. They will be competing with you for the ‘steals’ in the market. Don’t miss the opportunity to get that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ buy available today that no longer be available as the market heats up..
2. Price Increases Are on the Horizon
Nationally, home prices are projected to appreciate by 4.5% in 2014 and by over 19% from now until 2018. First home buyers will probably pay more both in price and interest rate if they wait until the spring. Even if you are a move-up buyer, it will wind-up costing you more in net dollars as the home you will buy will appreciate at approximately the same rate as the house you are in now.
3. Owning a Home Helps Create Family Wealth
Whether you rent or you own the home you are living in, you are paying a mortgage. Either you are paying your mortgage or your landlord’s. The Federal Reserve, in a recent study, revealed that the net worth of the average homeowner is 30 times greater than that of a renter.
4. Interest Rates Are Projected to Rise
The Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have all projected that the 30-year mortgage interest rate will be over 5% by the spring of 2015. That is an increase of almost 3/4 of a point over current rates.
5. Buy Low, Sell High
Most would all agree that, when investing, we want to buy at the lowest price possible and hope to sell at the highest price. Housing can create family wealth as long as we follow this simple principle. Today, real estate is selling ‘low’ compared to where it will be next year. It’s time to buy.
If you are looking for an experienced team who will guide you through the entire home purchase process, start to finish, give us a call, text or email, we would love to work with you! 206-769-9577, stevehill@windermere.com
BrennerHill.com
Geotech Inspection
With any home purchase, professional inspections are a critical part of the home purchase process. As a buyer, you will want to ensure that major systems are in good working condition and have an acceptable remaining life span.
Standard real estate inspections include a whole home inspection, sewer scope and sometimes separate inspections of specific house systems such as roofing, electrical, pest and on-site septic systems. Less common inspections include radon testing, indoor air quality testing, asbestos testing, soil analysis, property line surveying and arborist assessments.
In the Pacific Northwest, some properties warrant a geotechnical inspection to determine soil stability, erosive undermining and potential for building slippage. As we work together we can provide you with recommendations from our extensive contacts for all of these types of inspection professionals.
BrennerHill.com
Buying a Home Less Expensive than Renting — by 38%25!
Trulia released their Rent vs. Buy Report last week. The report explained that homeownership remains cheaper than renting in all of the 100 largest metro areas by an average of 38%!
The other interesting findings in the report include:
- Even though prices increased sharply in many markets over the past year, low mortgage rates have kept homeownership from becoming more expensive than renting.
- Some markets might tip in favor of renting this year as prices continue to rise faster than rents and if – as most economists expect – mortgage rates rise, due both to the strengthening economy and Fed tapering.
- Nationally, rates would have to rise to 10.6% for renting to be cheaper than buying – and rates haven’t been that high since 1989.
Buying a home now makes sense. You can lock in a mortgage payment before home prices and mortgage rates rise as experts expect they will. If you rent, your housing expense will only continue to increase.
Tired of paying someone else's mortgage? Call, text or email us today to get into your own home or condominium. 206-769-9577, stevehill@windermere.com
BrennerHill.com
Homesnap Fantastic Home Search App
Check out this great new app for your home search!
Real estate listings are pulled directly from your local MLS so you get the most accurate and reliable information possible. Use Homesnap’s property search to discover condo, townhouse and single family home valuations for over 90+ million homes in the USA.
Homesnap is an amazing real estate app that works on iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Using Homesnap, you can snap a photo of any home to find out all about it. Homesnap draws on a massive homes database to show you how much the home might be worth, when it last sold, interior features details, local school ratings, similar listings, nearby sales and more.
Get your Homesnap app here!
If you need professional assistance or want to schedule a tour, contact Steve Hill. Call or text 206-769-9577.
Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner – Windermere Real Estate Agents and REALTORS®
We are thankful for all of our clients who take the time to write a good word about our real estate services. If you are seeking brokers who will take you personally from the beginning to the end of a real estate transaction, give us a call, text or email. We would love to assist you with the sale or purchase of a home or condominium. 206-769-9577, stevehill@windermere.com
BrennerHill.com
Stunning Seattle Cottage
12051 3rd Ave NW
Seattle WA 98177
Live in your own glamorous cottage surrounded by magical gardens. This delightful home features designer colors and stylish hardwood floors. The spacious living room features a wood burning fireplace and period elements. Entertain in style in the formal dining room that adjoins the living spaces. The light filled and spacious family room enjoys views of the front and back gardens. Detached garage off alley offers additional storage and studio space. Close to major routes, bus line and shopping.
For a private tour of this home, call Steve Hill at 206-769-9577
Setting Up for a Smooth Home Inspection
Everyone wants a smooth home inspection. Sellers, buyers, agents… everyone’s rooting that this high-stakes moment passes without a hitch. Add to that list the home inspector, too! Save time, save money. If you’re selling, there are things you can do to make the home inspector’s job easier and help ensure the most accurate report possible.
1. Declutter your appliances. Get the pots off the stove, remove pans stored in the oven, take that bowl out of the microwave, and check the washer and dryer bins for clothes. While all of these appliances need to be tested, you don’t want an inspector rummaging through your laundry or scorching a pot to get the job done.
2. Replace burned-out lightbulbs. If a light switch doesn’t work, the inspector will need to determine if it’s a problem with the fixture itself. Take the time to hunt down those lightbulbs that might be out-of-the way, too… (Closets, attics, basements, guest rooms, etc.)
3. Keep access doors clear. You might have furniture blocking seldom-used crawlspace entrances, or the space for the pull-down stairs up to the attic may be obstructed. Make these entryways clear to the inspector and save them the time and hassle of getting into hidden areas.
4. Be honest about what doesn’t work. Don’t deceive your home inspector or hope they’ll overlook something. It’s bound to come out, and failure to disclose home defects can be a legal hassle down the line. Know the garbage disposal is broken? Say so. Leave notes for the inspector or prepare them in advance with an email message, etc.
5. Point out pumps and septic tank locations. If you have your own well and septic system, make sure the location of these is clearly described for the inspector. Annotate a photo or draw a simple map if need be.
6. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. People forget to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and if you’ve neglected yours (or taken them down to change batteries and left them in the garage!) double-check to make sure they’re in place and functioning.
7. Get your furnace serviced. Inspectors will look for a recent service record sticker on the furnace during a home inspection. Ge the furnaced serviced if it has not been done in the last three months. This simple step could save you thaousands of dollars!
Naturally, this list assumes you’ve made any pre-inspection repairs you want to address. Want a more information about the home inspection process? Get in touch with us today!
-Steve and Sandra
Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner
Windermere Real Estate/FN
Seattle-Northwest
122502 Greenwood Ave N, Suite A
Seattle WA 98133
call/text: 206-769-9577
email: stevehill@windermere.com
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Check out these useful links:
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Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Buying a Home? How the Serenity Prayer May Help
You may be frustrated while attempting to buy a home in today’s market. You may feel powerless to the process. How could YOU possibly know whether the current good news about housing will continue? There is no doubt that today’s real estate market is extremely difficult to navigate. However, we want you to know that thousands of homes sold yesterday, thousands will sell today and thousands will sell each and every day from now until the end of the year.
It is totally within your power to decide whether it is the right time for you and your family to move. Even in the current market.
“How?” Let’s look at the simplicity of the famous Serenity Prayer and apply it to buying a home in today’s real estate market.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
Accept the things you cannot change
The two main concerns many talk about when discussing the housing market are:
- the current lack of inventory impacting housing prices
- the impending raise in interest rates
As an individual, there is very little you can do to impact either of those two situations. The best think-tanks in the country are struggling to discover what impact each of these items have on real estate.
Have the courage to change the things you can
Whether you are a first-time buyer or a move-up buyer and you believe now is the right time for your family to purchase a home – DO IT! Prices will only be higher later this year and though interest rates are rising they are still at historic lows. That means that your monthly housing expense will still be lower than almost any time in the last 50 years – and probably lower than your current rent payment.
The wisdom to know the difference
With the winter ending, the outlook on inventory is positive. Sellers will look to come out of hibernation and list their homes. The question is whether or not it makes sense to delay moving on with your life until everything gets ‘better’. Should you not buy a house and enable your kids to attend the school you have already decided is best for them? Should you spend another winter up north even though your doctor recommends you move to a climate better suited to your current medical situation?
This is where your wisdom must kick in. You already know the answers to the questions we just asked. You have the power to take back control of the situation by moving forward. The time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire. That is what truly matters.
Considering a home purchase, guve us a call, text or email and let us use our strategy to help you win in multiple offers!
