Time is not your friend and neither is poor information!

There are plenty of real estate agents running around who call themselves short sale specialists because they slept through a 3-hour class somewhere but have closed few, if any, actual short sale transactions. We don’t pretend to have all the answers . . nobody does as things change everyday. However, we know where to go for good solid information. If you, or someone you care deeply about, is having trouble with making their mortgage, please call us today. Time is not your friend and neither is poor information!

Relocation survey shows America’s growing preference for smaller homes

The really big McMansions are quickly becoming the housing equivalent of “harvest gold” or “avocado green” appliances as more Americans are going for smaller residential footprints, according to a new Relocation.com consumer lifestyle survey.

Nearly half the respondents of the survey said their ideal home size would range from 1,000-1,999 square feet. Nearly three of every ten buyers (29 percent) prefer homes that are 2,000 to 2,999 square feet. Only 2 percent reported a home would have to be larger than 5,000 square feet to match their ideal residence.

Five years ago, the average home’s size was 2,400 square feet — about 400 square feet larger than what is desired today — according to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). Relocation.com conducted the survey to gauge lifestyle factors that drive moving and relocation decisions in the U.S. Read more

Q: Why do agents make appointments and don’t show?

Q:  A Home Seller recently asked “Why do agents make a appointment for showing and don’t show up and don’t even call to cancel the appointment?” The person made arrangements to be out of the house, cleaned really good picking up after the kids and pets. She found out the agent never did come by and never called to cancel.  She said this has happened more than once and is very frustrating.

A:  Fortunately, this situation does not happen that often, at least with my listings in the Seattle area.  Most agents will call back to cancel or postpone the showing. Sometimes there are delays, clients will take longer at each of the other homes they are touring, or clients cancel or have to postpone. I advise my client sellers to get the name and phone of the agent making the appointment.  If they don’t show, I give them a call to ask a few “pointed questions.  Good luck!

How Your Income Stacks Up

How much do you really pay in taxes?  Bet you have an idea but don’t know for sure.  How does the Beatles song Taxman go, “Let me tell you how it will be, there’s one for you, nineteen for me, Cause I’m the Taxman.”

Are you in the top 1% or the bottom 50% of all earners? Most of you know I really hate taxes, especially when my money is spent of dumb stuff, especially in the Seattle area.

Because You Asked – What’s a Hot Sheet?

Q.  I have heard people use the term Hot Sheet for Seattle real estate.  What is it and how come my real estate agent never mentions it?

A.  Hot sheet is another one of those “real estate” terms used by Seattle real estate agents to describe a report from the Washington State Multiple Listing Service (MLS) of new or recent activity in the MLS. It normally would show the new real estate for sale, status changes, and price changes since the last hot sheet was viewed. Some just show the previous or current day activity.

King of His Castle

Ever thought of owning a truly unique piece of Washington real estate?  The idea of a Seattle “track home” in a big development not doing it for you?  Well the idea of welcoming dinner guests across a drawbridge may be romantic, but if your home is a European castle, the maintenance costs can be daunting.

Finding a castle anywhere is tough not to mention in Washington. In the 16th century there were around 7,000 castles in Scotland alone.  The numbers of castles suitable for restoration have dwindled to a few thousand in Europe.

While there is no list of vacant castles Europe-wide, individual realtors such as Knight Frank offer listings. Currently on the market, Knight Frank is offering several castles, including the €1.9 million Castello di Brancialino in Tuscany, Italy. The oldest part of the Castello was built 1,000 years ago and the site includes a 12th-century church.

Malcolm Goodbody heard that a 15th-century Castle in County Galway, Ireland, was up for sale, he knew he had to have it.  Read more . .