DISCOVER August 25, 2020

5 TIPS TO SUCCESSFULLY SELL YOUR SEATTLE HOME DURING COVID

 

Even with COVID restrictions, the Seattle real estate market continues to be very strong.  We find that our sellers who follow these 5 steps are more successful in this market, often selling over list price with multiple offers.  While your market may be faster, or slower, than Seattle, in the time of COVID, it is best to be prepared. 

 

  1. VACATE YOUR HOME:

Selling a home that is occupied is challenging enough, let alone in a global pandemic. For the safety of you and your family, it’s best to not reside in the home while it is on the market. If you are in a faster market such as Seattle, you should be able to sell your home within a week which means it’s the perfect time to book an AirBnb vacation.  Or consider purchasing/renting your next home first, move in, and then list your property for sale.

 

  1. PRE-MARKET PREP:

An experienced broker will walk through your home and provide you with a list of updates and repairs that should be done before you go to market.  In our COVID market, buyers are looking for a home to move in to right away.  They are not excited about projects, and will often skip over the home that needs repairs to pay more for the home that is move-in ready. The difference between selling quick with a multiple offer situation starts with first impressions.  Make sure yours is the best possible first impression you can make.

 

  1. PPE:

If you are going to be living in the home while it is on the market, make sure that you or your broker are supplying PPE supplies for buyers when touring. This includes face masks and hand sanitizer.  Be prepared to sanitize bathrooms, door handles and any other surfaces that may be touched after you return home each day.

 

  1. VIRTUAL TOURS:

Make sure to ask your broker about their marketing plans to feature your home to the most buyers.  In addition to professional photos, find out if they offer measured floor plans and 3D virtual tours Most importantly, since open houses are still not allowed in most cities including Seattle, ask if your broker will conduct a live-feed open house to prospective buyers.  We recently invested in a Insta 360 Nano S camera and love how it can feature the home while we tour (see an example of our most recent tour here).

 

  1. HIRE A FULL-SERVICE EXPERIENCED BROKER:

Having to work with new COVID restrictions and a finicky market, now is not the time to hire your dog walker’s cousin who just got their license, or a discount broker.  Now, more than ever, you need the assurance that your property is represented in its best light with maximum exposure.  When interviewing a potential broker, you may want to ask them:

  • How many homes have you sold in COVID?
  • Have you successfully listed AND sold houses in COVID? How many had multiple offers?
  • What are buyers looking for right now?
  • How do you market and promote your listings given open houses are not permitted?
  • Do you provide 3D tours?
  • Do you require a seller provided pre-inspection of the home and sewer line?
  • What is your plan for offer reviews?

 

Taking these tips into consideration will help support a successful sale. Thinking of selling? Let’s connect and help you get started. 

 

Get in touch

 

DISCOVER May 18, 2020

5 TIPS TO HOME OWNERSHIP IN SEATTLE DURING COVID

 

 

On March 23rd, our world in the State of Washington changed as we know it.  As we all hunkered down into our homes, many of us realized that perhaps it was no longer the “right” home.  With more free time available, and little to do but shop online, we have noticed an uptick of interest among Seattle home buyers.

Prior to the impacts of COVID-19, Seattle’s real estate market was in full force.  We saw a slow down after Gov. Inslee’s Stay at Home Order went into effect, but once real estate was deemed an essential service, we were back in action.  While there are strict guidelines in place on how and when we can show homes, we continue to see multiple offers on homes that are in tip-top shape and priced accordingly.

In other words, there are no great “deals” to be had right now in Seattle.  And now, more than ever, buyers need to be prepared.  Here’s a few tips and tricks for success in Seattle’s real estate market during the time of COVID:

 

  1. KNOW THYSELF:

It’s time to take a deep dive into your home ownership desires and truly understand your wants and needs.  With the current restrictions, gone are the days of open houses and full day tours. In fact, your broker may only be able to show you 2-3 properties in person.  So it’s crucial to be laser focused on what you really want.  Try using a helpful tool like our Buyer Brainstorm to explore all of the characteristics in a home that you might want to consider.  If you have a spouse or partner purchasing with you, have them fill out the Buyer Brainstorm separately, then compare and contrast.

 

  1. GET APPROVED:

At this point, no real estate broker is going to take on the risk of public exposure if you are not fully pre-approved for a loan.  The loan application can almost entirely be processed online and you will receive the knowledge and assurance that you can afford the right home.  Ask your friends, colleagues, family or your real estate broker for lender referrals.  Most importantly, you should be working with seasoned mortgage broker who has experience with lending in challenging times and is willing to answer your call on a Saturday.

 

  1. FIND AN EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE BROKER:

Now is not the time to work with your cousin’s dog walker who just got into real estate.  More importantly, working with a discount brokerage will more often than not, cause you to lose money in the long run.  Let’s be honest, the market is still active, but it’s challenging . . . very challenging.  You need a full-time professional broker on your side advocating for you every step of the way.  Ask your friends, family and colleagues for a referral.  Then check their online reputation.  How are their reviews on Google or Zillow?  Have they given attention to their website?  If they can’t be bothered with presenting themselves professionally online, how well will they represent you?

 

  1. BE INTENTIONAL:

Because public open houses are not currently permitted, your opportunity to explore options is limited.  While some listings have virtual open houses or 3D tours, you can be proactive by first driving by properties of interest before scheduling showings.  Explore the surrounding neighborhood amenities to ensure it has your list of requirements.  While there, use Google’s Commute tracker to ensure the commute will be livable once we are all back to “normal.”

 

  1. KNOW THE RULES:

As of today, only two people are permitted to view a home at once, one of which is your real estate broker.  You must wear a mask, and will be asked to sanitize hands as you enter. You may also be asked to fill out a survey of your health history and exposure to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.   Each showing is by appointment only, and limited typically between 15-30 minutes.  It is important to remember that we are all under the same restrictions and need to practice extra patience, understanding and flexibility.

 

The good news is that inventory is up and there are several opportunities for Buyers.  With knowledge and patience, you can be successful in this market.  Ready to explore home buying in Seattle?  Download our Buyers Guide outlining our simple 8-Step plan to home ownership and contact us to setup a Zoom intake call.

 

Buy a Home in Seattle

 

DATA October 23, 2019

The Q3 2019 Western Washington Economic Update

 

The following analysis of the Western Washington real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Washington State employment has softened slightly to an annual growth rate of 2%, which is still a respectable number compared to other West Coast states and the country as a whole. In all, I expect that Washington will continue to add jobs at a reasonable rate though it is clear that businesses are starting to feel the effects of the trade war with China and this is impacting hiring practices. The state unemployment rate was 4.6%, marginally higher than the 4.4% level of a year ago. My most recent economic forecast suggests that statewide job growth in 2019 will rise by 2.2%, with a total of 88,400 new jobs created.

HOME SALES

  • There were 22,685 home sales during the third quarter of 2019, representing a slight increase of 0.8% from the same period in 2018 and essentially at the same level as in the second quarter.
  • Listing activity — which rose substantially from the middle of last year — appears to have settled down. This is likely to slow sales as there is less choice in the market.
  • Compared to the third quarter of 2018, sales rose in five counties, remained static in one, and dropped in nine. The greatest growth was in Skagit and Clallam counties. Jefferson, Kitsap, and Cowlitz counties experienced significant declines.
  • The average number of homes for sale rose 11% between the second and third quarters. However, inventory is 14% lower than in the same quarter of 2018. In fact, no county contained in this report had more homes for sale in the third quarter than a year ago.

HOME PRICES

  • Home price growth in Western Washington notched a little higher in the third quarter, with average prices 4.2% higher than a year ago. The average sales price in Western Washington was $523,016. It is worth noting, though, that prices were down 3.3% compared to the second quarter of this year.
  • Home prices were higher in every county except Island, though the decline there was very small.
  • When compared to the same period a year ago, price growth was strongest in Grays Harbor County, where home prices were up 22%. San Juan, Jefferson, and Cowlitz counties also saw double-digit price increases.
  • Affordability issues are driving buyers further out which is resulting in above-average price growth in outlying markets. I expect home prices to continue appreciating as we move through 2020, but the pace of growth will continue to slow.

DAYS ON MARKET

  • The average number of days it took to sell a home dropped one day when compared to the third quarter of 2018.
  • Thurston County was the tightest market in Western Washington, with homes taking an average of only 20 days to sell. There were six counties where the length of time it took to sell a home dropped compared to the same period a year ago. Market time rose in six counties, while two counties were unchanged.
  • Across the entire region, it took an average of 38 days to sell a home in the third quarter. This was down 3 days compared to the second quarter of this year.
  • Market time remains below the long-term average across the region and this trend is likely to continue until more inventory comes to market, which I do not expect will happen until next spring.

CONCLUSIONS

This speedometer reflects the state of the region’s real estate market using housing inventory, price gains, home sales, interest rates, and larger economic factors. I am leaving the needle in the same position as the first and second quarters, as demand appears to still be strong.

The market continues to benefit from low mortgage rates. The average 30-year fixed rates is currently around 3.6% and is unlikely to rise significantly anytime soon. Even as borrowing costs remain very competitive, it’s clear buyers are not necessarily jumping at any home that comes on the market. Although it’s still a sellers’ market, buyers have become increasingly price-conscious which is reflected in slowing home price growth.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, Matthew Gardner is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data and its impact on the real estate market on both a local and national level. Matthew has over 30 years of professional experience both in the U.S. and U.K.

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew sits on the Washington State Governors Council of Economic Advisors; chairs the Board of Trustees at the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington; and is an Advisory Board Member at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington where he also lectures in real estate economics.

This post originally appeared on the Windermere.com Blog.

 

 

 

 

DATA October 21, 2019

OCTOBER 2019 MARKET STATS

DATA February 25, 2019

FEBRUARY 2019 MARKET STATS

DATA February 4, 2019

Q4 2018 MARKET UPDATE

By: Mathew Gardner, Windermere Economist

 

The following analysis of the Western Washington real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

The Washington State economy continues to add jobs at an above-average rate, though the pace of growth is starting to slow as the business cycle matures. Over the past 12 months, the state added 96,600 new jobs, representing an annual growth rate of 2.9% — well above the national rate of 1.7%. Private sector employment gains continue to be quite strong, increasing at an annual rate of 3.6%. Public sector employment was down 0.3%. The strongest growth sectors were Real Estate Brokerage and Leasing (+11.4%), Employment Services (+10.3%), and Residential Construction (+10.2%). During fourth quarter, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.3%, down from 4.7% a year ago.

My latest economic forecast suggests that statewide job growth in 2019 will still be positive but is expected to slow. We should see an additional 83,480 new jobs, which would be a year-over-year increase of 2.4%.

HOME SALES ACTIVITY

  • There were 17,353 home sales during the fourth quarter of 2018. Year-over-year sales growth started to slow in the third quarter and this trend continued through the end of the year. Sales were down 16% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.​
  • The slowdown in home sales was mainly a function of increasing listing activity, which was up 38.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 (continuing a trend that started earlier in the year). Almost all of the increases in listings were in King and Snohomish Counties. There were more modest increases in Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Skagit, and Island Counties. Listing activity was down across the balance of the region.
  • Only two counties—Mason and Lewis—saw sales rise compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, with the balance of the region seeing lower levels of sales activity.​
  • We saw the traditional drop in listings in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, but I fully anticipate that we will see another jump in listings when the spring market hits. The big question will be to what degree listings will rise.

DAYS ON MARKET

  • The average number of days it took to sell a home dropped three days compared to the same quarter of 2017.
  • Thurston County joined King County as the tightest markets in Western Washington, with homes taking an average of 35 days to sell. There were eight counties that saw the length of time it took to sell a home drop compared to the same period a year ago. Market time rose in five counties and was unchanged in two.
  • Across the entire region, it took an average of 51 days to sell a home in the fourth quarter of 2018. This is down from 54 days in the fourth quarter of 2017 but up by 12 days when compared to the third quarter of 2018.
  • I suggested in the third quarter Gardner Report that we should be prepared for days on market to increase, and that has proven to be accurate. I expect this trend will continue, but this is typical of a regional market that is moving back to becoming balanced.​

CONCLUSIONS

This speedometer reflects the state of the region’s real estate market using housing inventory, price gains, home sales, interest rates, and larger economic factors. I am continuing to move the needle toward buyers as price growth moderates and listing inventory continues to rise.

2019 will be the year that we get closer to having a more balanced housing market. Buyer and seller psychology will continue to be significant factors as home sellers remain optimistic about the value of their home, while buyers feel significantly less pressure to buy. Look for the first half of 2019 to be fairly slow as buyers sit on the sidelines waiting for price stability, but then I do expect to see a more buoyant second half of the year.

DATA December 29, 2018

2019 FORECAST

Author: Mathew Gardner, Windermere Economist

What a year it has been for both the U.S. economy and the national housing market. After several years of above-average economic and home price growth, 2018 marked the start of a slowdown in the residential real estate market. As the year comes to a close, it’s time for me to dust off my crystal ball to see what we can expect in 2019.

The U.S. Economy

Despite the turbulence that the ongoing trade wars with China are causing, I still expect the U.S. economy to have one more year of relatively solid growth before we likely enter a recession in 2020. Yes, it’s the dreaded “R” word, but before you panic, there are some things to bear in mind.

Firstly, any cyclical downturn will not be driven by housing.  Although it is almost impossible to predict exactly what will be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”, I believe it will likely be caused by one of the following three things: an ongoing trade war, the Federal Reserve raising interest rates too quickly, or excessive corporate debt levels. That said, we still have another year of solid growth ahead of us, so I think it’s more important to focus on 2019 for now.

The U.S. Housing Market

Existing Home Sales

This paper is being written well before the year-end numbers come out, but I expect 2018 home sales will be about 3.5% lower than the prior year. Sales started to slow last spring as we breached affordability limits and more homes came on the market.  In 2019, I anticipate that home sales will rebound modestly and rise by 1.9% to a little over 5.4 million units.

Existing Home Prices

We will likely end 2018 with a median home price of about $260,000 – up 5.4% from 2017.  In 2019 I expect prices to continue rising, but at a slower rate as we move toward a more balanced housing market. I’m forecasting the median home price to increase by 4.4% as rising mortgage rates continue to act as a headwind to home price growth.

New Home Sales

In a somewhat similar manner to existing home sales, new home sales started to slow in the spring of 2018, but the overall trend has been positive since 2011. I expect that to continue in 2019 with sales increasing by 6.9% to 695,000 units – the highest level seen since 2007.

That being said, the level of new construction remains well below the long-term average. Builders continue to struggle with land, labor, and material costs, and this is an issue that is not likely to be solved in 2019. Furthermore, these constraints are forcing developers to primarily build higher-priced homes, which does little to meet the substantial demand by first-time buyers.

Mortgage Rates

In last year’s forecast, I suggested that 5% interest rates would be a 2019 story, not a 2018 story. This prediction has proven accurate with the average 30-year conforming rates measured at 4.87% in November, and highly unlikely to breach the 5% barrier before the end of the year.

In 2019, I expect interest rates to continue trending higher, but we may see periods of modest contraction or levelling.  We will likely end the year with the 30-year fixed rate at around 5.7%, which means that 6% interest rates are more apt to be a 2020 story.

I also believe that non-conforming (or jumbo) rates will remain remarkably competitive. Banks appear to be comfortable with the risk and ultimately, the return, that this product offers, so expect jumbo loan yields to track conforming loans quite closely.

Conclusions

There are still voices out there that seem to suggest the housing market is headed for calamity and that another housing bubble is forming, or in some cases, is already deflating.  In all the data that I review, I just don’t see this happening. Credit quality for new mortgage holders remains very high and the median down payment (as a percentage of home price) is at its highest level since 2004.

That is not to say that there aren’t several markets around the country that are overpriced, but just because a market is overvalued, does not mean that a bubble is in place. It simply means that forward price growth in these markets will be lower to allow income levels to rise sufficiently.

Finally, if there is a big story for 2019, I believe it will be the ongoing resurgence of first-time buyers. While these buyers face challenges regarding student debt and the ability to save for a down payment, they are definitely on the comeback and likely to purchase more homes next year than any other buyer demographic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCOVER November 4, 2018

DAY TRIP TO COUPEVILLE

Whidbey Island has long been the go-to weekend destination for the people of the Pacific Northwest.  With a short 30 minute ferry line and bountiful beaches, quite a few Seattleites have established second homes around the island.  While most day-trippers stop at the town of Langley, heading north just 25 more miles lands you in the quaint town of Coupeville.  Nestled along Penn Cove, this small town village is deep in history as our second oldest town in Washington State.  With restaurants, shops, activities and a farmer’s market, this town is prime for adventure and discovery, all in one day trip. So join us in exploring this quaint little town.

TOP 5 THINGS TO DISCOVER IN COUPEVILLE:

1) Start at Bayleaf (Wine & Cheese Shop) to pack a snack to go in case you get hungry on your adventure (kayaking, walking, hiking, etc).  They have a beautiful selection of wines to choose from.   We recommend ordering the picnic platter because it includes the perfect snack size selection of meats and cheeses.

2) After you have collected your snack and picked up a bottle of wine, next walk down the long dock at the waterfront to the Coupeville Wharf and stop for coffee at the Salty Mug.

3) Next, consider renting a kayak from Harbor Gift and Kayak to explore Penn Cove and the harbor seals.

4) When it’s time to rest your arm, walk through town and browse the gift shops including our favorite Collections Boutique.

5) Lastly, when your belly is ready to replenish consider enjoying dinner at The Oystercatcher, where they feature fresh local food including oysters, of course.

If you’re having too much fun and decide to stay for the night, check out our favorite AirBnb spots including Coupeville by the Cove and Beach Front Living:

Or better yet, consider exploring the second homes to purchase Whidbey Island such as these:

With only a 2 hour jaunt over, a day trip to Coupeville is well worth the adventure!