Uncategorized February 11, 2015

Consumer Confidence at Highest Level in Over a Decade

Two recently released reports reveal that the American public is starting to feel much better about the U.S. economy. The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers showed that:

“Consumer optimism reached the highest level in the past decade in the January 2015 survey…Consumers judged prospects for the national economy as the best in a decade, with half of all consumers expecting the economic expansion will continue for another five years. The anticipated strength in the overall economy has been accompanied by more favorable income and employment expectations.”

Here is a chart showing results over the last decade:

As all consumers are feeling more optimistic, more young adults are moving out of their parents’ basements and into a residence of their own. The recent Census report shows that new household formations skyrocketed in 2014. Below is a chart showing the historical significance of the numbers: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottom Line

The economy is definitely improving and, more importantly, the American consumer is beginning to feel much more confident. This should lead to a very robust real estate market in 2015. If you are considering a Seattle WA area home purchase, give us a call text or email to put our expertise and negotiating skiils to works for you.

Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner
SEATTLE-NORTHWEST
Windermere Real Estate

206-769-9577
stevehill@windermere.com


BrennerHill..com
BrennerHillReviews.com

 

 

Home BuyingReal EstateSeattle Home For SaleSeattle WA Homes for Sale February 7, 2015

Seattle WA Real Estate Law: Revocation of Counteroffer

Real EstateSeattle Home For SaleSeattle WA Homes for Sale February 7, 2015

Just Listed! Capitol Hill

Open House:
February 07, Saturday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
February 08, Sunday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Schedule a Showing/Request Info
Seattle Homes for Sale
Seattle New Construction
Seattle Land for Sale
Seattle Home Valuation
Premier Properties
 
Steve Hill & Sandra Brenner
Broker | REALTOR®
Windermere Real Estate/FN
206-769-9577
Questions?
Schedule a Showing!
MLS#: 737875
 
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Licensed In:
WA
Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property.
1924 11th Ave E
Seattle, WA
Just Listed
 
 Description Photos Maps & Local Schools
 
 
 
 
 
View the Property Details, More Photos, Map & School
information here at the updated Virtual Tour!
 

 

Steeped in history, this Capitol Hill home retains much of its original 1890’s charm. A portrait of comfort with dashes of modernity to support today's expectations.

Period respectful kitchen update, formal living and dining spaces, family room, sumptuous and civilized master retreat with private deck. Plenty of built-in storage. Gorgeous gardens and entertainment spaces adjoin popular neighborhood park.

Snow-capped mountain views. Close to all the great things an in-city lifestyle has to offer.

 

L2L
 

Uncategorized February 6, 2015

Home Price Are Up! What Is Your Home Worth?

Your home may be worth more than you think, find out right here for free!

 

 

Home For Sale by OwnerReal EstateSeattle Home For SaleSelling Your HomeSelling Your Seattle Area Home February 3, 2015

5 Good Reasons You Shouldn’t For Sale By Owner Your Seattle WA Home

Some homeowners consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers. Here are five reasons:

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:

  • The buyer who wants the best deal possible
  • The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
  • The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
  • The home inspection companies which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house.
  • The appraiser if there is a question of value

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers

Recent studies have shown that 88% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 21% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

3. Results Come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

  • 43% on the internet
  • 9% from a yard sign
  • 1% from newspaper

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong Internet strategy is crucial.

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 9% over the last 20+ years.

5. You Net More Money when Using a Broker Like Steve and Sandra

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission. Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $208,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $235,000. This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $27,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit down with us and see what we have to offer. In the meantime, take a look at our Ultimate Home Selling System and Home Selling Guide.

Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner


SEATTLE-NORTHWEST


Windermere Real Estate

206-769-9577


stevehill@windermere.com


BrennerHill..com
BrennerHillReviews.com

Home BuyingReal EstateSeattle Home For SaleSeattle WA Homes for Sale January 31, 2015

Seattle WA Real Estate Market Report

Seattle continues to be a hot real estate market. Seller's can usually plan on top dollar and a quick sale of their home. Buyer's on the other hand have become weary and tires of being out bid on multiple offers. There is likely no end in sight for the time-being, as Seattle continues to grow fast with employers hiring as fast as they can interview. Whether you are considering a home purchase, sale or both; get in touch with us. We would love to help you negotiate your next real estate transaction. Why not put our expertise to work for you?

Check out the Seattle WA Market Report below!

Real EstateSeattle Home SellingSeattle Real Estate Brokers - Agents January 29, 2015

13,808 Houses Sold Yesterday! Did Yours?

There are some homeowners that have been waiting for months to get a price they hoped for when they originally listed their house for sale. The only thing they might want to consider is… If it hasn't sold yet, maybe it's not priced properly.

After all 13,808 houses sold yesterday, 13,808 will sell today and 13,808 will sell tomorrow.

13,808!

That is the average number of homes that sell each and every day in this country according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) latest Existing Home Sales Report. NAR reported that sales are at an annual rate of 5.04 million. Divide that number by 365 (days in a year) and we can see that, on average, over 13,800 homes sell every day. The report from NAR also revealed that there is currently only a 4.4 months supply of inventory available for sale, (6 months inventory is considered ‘historically normal’). That means less competition for buyers who are out in the market now, but more houses will hit the market soon with spring right around the corner.

Bottom Line

We realize that you want to get the fair market value for your home. However, if it hasn't sold in today's active real estate market, perhaps you should reconsider your current asking price or consider hiring a new broker. After all, if your home is not Parade Ready for the market, your chances at selling at asking price diminish dramatically.

For a  market evaluation of your home, contact us today, there is no cost or obligation.

Be sure to check out our Home Selling Guide and Ultimate Selling System.

 

Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner

SEATTLE-NORTHWEST

Windermere Real Estate

206-769-9577

stevehill@windermere.com

BrennerHill..com
BrennerHillReviews.com

Real Estate Agent BrokerSeattle Home SellingSeattle WA Real Estate January 28, 2015

The Two Things You Don’t Need to Hear from Your Listing Agent

You’ve decided to sell your house. You begin to interview potential real estate agents to help you through the process. You need someone you trust enough to:

  1. Set the market value on possibly the largest asset your family owns (your home)
  2. Set the time schedule for the successful liquidation of that asset
  3. Set the fee for the services required to liquidate that asset

An agent must be concerned first and foremost about you and your family in order to garner that degree of trust. Make sure this is the case. 

Be careful if the agent you are interviewing begins the interview by:

  • Bragging about their success
  • Bragging about their company’s success

An agent’s success and the success of their company can be important considerations when deciding on the right real estate professional to represent you in the sale of the house. However, you first need to know they care about what you need and what you expect from the sale. If the agent is not interested in first establishing your needs, how successful they may seem is much less important. Look for someone with the ‘heart of a teacher’ who comes in prepared well enough to explain the current real estate market and patient enough to take the time to show how it may impact the sale of your home. Not someone only interested in trying to sell you on how great they are.

You have many Seattle real estate agents from which to choose. Pick someone who truly cares like Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner. Be sure to check out the Seattle Home Selling Guide.

Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner

SEATTLE-NORTHWEST

Windermere Real Estate

206-769-9577

stevehill@windermere.com

BrennerHill..com
BrennerHillReviews.com

Real EstateSeattle Home SellingSeattle Real EstateSeattle WA Real EstateSelling Your Seattle Area HomeTop Real Estate Firms January 26, 2015

5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional

Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey. You need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO. The 5 Reasons You NEED  Real Estate Professionals like Steve and Sandra in your corner haven’t changed, but have rather been strengthened due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to recover. 

1. What do you do with all this paperwork?

Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Real Estate Professional is an expert in their market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your dream a reality.

2. Ok, so you found your dream house, now what?

According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, who knows what these actions are to make sure that you acquire your dream?

3. Are you a good negotiator?

So maybe you’re not convinced that you need an agent to sell your home. However, after looking at the list of parties that you need to be prepared to negotiate with, you’ll realize the value in selecting a Real Estate Professional. From the buyer (who wants the best deal possible), to the home inspection companies, to the appraiser, there are at least 11 different people that you will have to be knowledgeable with and answer to, during the process.

4. What is the home you’re buying/selling really worth?

It is important for your home to be priced correctly from the start to attract the right buyers and shorten the time that it’s on the market. You need someone who is not emotionally connected to your home to give you the truth as to your home’s value. According to the National Association of REALTORS“the typical FSBO home sold for $208,000 compared to $235,000 among agent-assisted home sales.” Get the most out of your transaction by hiring a professional.  

5. Do you know what’s really going on in the market?

There is so much information out there on the news and the internet about home sales, prices, mortgage rates; how do you know what’s going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively price your home correctly at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much, or offending the seller with a low-ball offer? Dave Ramsey, the financial guru advises:

“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”

Hiring an agent who has their finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying/selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.

Bottom Line:

You wouldn’t replace the engine in your car without a trusted mechanic. Why would you make one of your most important financial decisions of your life without hiring a Real Estate Professional like Steve and Sandra?

Give us a call today and ensure you get top dollar in Seattle's competitive home selling market.

Be sure to check out our home selling guide here: Seattle Home Selling Guide. It's full of valuable Seattle home selling information, and best of all, it's free!

Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner

SEATTLE-NORTHWEST

Windermere Real Estate

206-769-9577

stevehill@windermere.com

BrennerHill..com
BrennerHillReviews.com

Ballard Seattle WA Real EstateReal EstateSeattle WA Homes for SaleSeattle WA Real Estate January 22, 2015

Thinking Of Selling Your Seattle WA Area Home? Now May Be The Time

]It is common knowledge that a large number of homes sell during the Spring buying season. For that reason, many homeowners hold off putting their home on the market until then. The question is whether or not that will be a good strategy this year. The other listings that do come out in the Spring will represent increased competition to any seller. Do a greater number of homes actually come to the market in the spring compared to the rest of the year? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently revealed which months and days of the year most people list their home. Here is a graphic showing the results:

 Steve Hill Sandra Brenner | BrennerHill.com
The circles represent the ten most popular listing dates in 2014. We can see that all ten days are in the second quarter of the year. The months in red represent which months most people put their home on the market. Again, the three months in the second quarter are most active for listings. Last year, the number of homes available for sale in January was 1,880,000.

That number spiked to 2,350,000 by July!

What does this mean to you?

With the job situation improving and mortgage interest rates projected to rise later in the year, Seattle WA home buyers are not waiting until the Spring. They are out looking for a home right now. If you are looking to sell this year, waiting until the Spring to list your home means you are putting your house on the market at a time you will have the greatest competition for your buyer. It may make sense to beat that rush of housing inventory to the market and list your home today.

Give us a call, text or email today and put out Ultimate Home Selling System to work for you! After all, we sold every home we listing in Seattle WA in 2014.

Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner

SEATTLE-NORTHWEST

Windermere Real Estate
206-769-9577


stevehill@windermere.com

BrennerHill..com
BrennerHillReviews.com