84,980
Existing homes sold in Washington in 2010. Up 0.1% from 2009.

4.62%
Average mortgage rate in 4th quarter 2010. Down from 6.21% in 4th quarter 2005.

$250,400
Median existing home sales price in Washington in 2010. Down 1.6% from 2009.

149.4
All-buyer Housing Affordability Index in 4th quarter 2010. Record high affordability. Median income family has 49.4% more income than minimum required to purchase median price home statewide.

46.8%
Decline in existing home sales (units) since 2005 peak.

20.4%
Decline in median home price since 2007 peak.

51.8%
First-time home buyers in Washington who cite tax advantages … read full article

So you’ve been considering buying a home or a second home but aren’t sure it’s quite the right time. Here are some suggestions that might help you to know if now is THE time and that may even make the buying process go more smoothly. These are not the fun and exciting parts of pursuing the purchase of a home, but they are a reality. So here you go…

1) Become familiar with the market. You probably have an idea of the general area that you would like to buy a home; there are a variety of ways … read full article

I watch the local market everyday and I notice more and more buyers are taking the initial steps toward home ownership: getting educated in the area that you may want to buy. This makes me happy not only because it is my business to sell homes, but because it’s a SMART time to buy. Here is my opinion of the top 5 reasons that NOW is the time to buy.

1) Price Adjustments are being made and prices are generally “soft”. On average, we are back to values similar to 2002 in and around the islands. Couple that … read full article

Are you thinking of selling your home in today’s real estate market? It is more important than ever to pick the Realtor that is right for you in this depressed market. Here are some ideas about how to approach finding the right Realtor. It’s one of the biggest decisions in your life, and it deserves some thoughtful consideration.

First, know that most Buyers nowadays go to the internet to search out their properties, not the local classifieds. Start by typing in the name of your town, the state, and the words real estate or houses for sale. You … read full article