What will the real estate market in Seattle be like in 2019? Will it be as hot as it has been over the last few years? And what about the inventory shortage? These are some of the biggest questions on…
This article takes an updated look at home prices in Seattle, Washington versus Portland, Oregon as of fall 2018, and is intended for home buyers considering a move to the Pacific Northwest. Home Prices in Seattle vs. Portland: Late 2018…
Mortgage Rates in Washington State and nationwide have risen over the past few weeks. The average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan settled at 4.71% during the first week of October 2018. Looking forward, industry analysts are predicting they'll…
Conventional loan limits for the Seattle metro area might go up in 2019, due to significant home-price gains that have occurred over the last year. Currently, the conforming loan limit for Seattle (and all of King County) is $592,250. But…
Home prices in Portland, Oregon have cooled considerably over the last year or so. But they're still inching upward. That means the minimum down payment for a typical home in Portland has increased as well. So where are we now? What's…
It's no secret that Seattle and Bellevue, Washington have a housing shortage right now. It has dominated the real estate news cycle over the past few years, and it's something we've covered repeatedly here on our blog. So maybe some…
According to a recent report, just over half of all home buyers in Washington State and nationwide make down payments below 20% when buying. This is further evidence to debunk the longstanding myth that home buyers have to put down…
This article is part of an ongoing blog series that examines housing market conditions across the Seattle metro area. In previous reports, we've looked at cities like Bellevue, Federal Way, and Redmond. Today, we'll zero in on the Sammamish real…
There's a common misconception that home buyers need very good or even excellent credit to qualify for a mortgage loan. But that's not the case. In face, a truly "excellent" credit score is a rare thing among home buyers in…
Where do mortgage rates come from? How are they determined? And what can you do, as a borrower, to get the best possible rate when buying or refinancing a home in Washington State? These and other questions are answered here,…