The Gardner Report: First Quarter, Volume XVII (Western Washington)

Windermere Real Estate is proud to partner with Gardner Economics on this analysis of the Western Washington real estate market. This report is designed to offer insight into the realities of the housing market. Numbers alone do not always give an accurate picture of local economic conditions; therefore our goal is to provide an explanation of what the statistics mean and how they impact the Western Washington housing economy. We hope that this information may assist you with making an informed real estate decision. For further information about the real estate market in your area, please contact your Windermere agent.

Posted on 11 May 2012 | 10:15 pm

Spring Perspectives: Technology

Our goal at Windermere is to bring you the best of both worlds. We hope our new website makes it easier for you to see what’s for sale and what sold six months ago, check out nearby restaurants and shops, review school data, chat with your agent, and post your favorites on Facebook. But even with all of that, we’re proud to be in a business that still relies upon the one thing that technology can’t replace: personal relationships. It’s the lifeblood of the real estate business and why clients entrust their agents with what is one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make.

Posted on 1 May 2012 | 10:03 pm

Increase your living space—and your home’s value

Outdoor kitchens typically feature a comfortable eating area with a combination of cabinets, sinks, warming drawers, prep counters, ranges, and refrigerators—all within arm's reach of the grill. Outdoor kitchens provide a natural gathering spot for friends and family and can add to the value of your home.

Posted on 27 April 2012 | 4:53 pm

Home Warranties Provide Buyers and Sellers With A Peace Of Mind

A home warranty offers many advantages to the home seller, the least of which is a peace of mind that your major home appliances are covered in the event of a break down. Most home warranties cover both parts and labor of your home’s most vital systems and major appliances. This protects the home seller from potentially large, unexpected repair bills and also allows the buyer to purchase the home with more confidence. Additionally, a home warranty is usually for the term of at least one year, so any unforeseen repairs/replacements are also covered well after the home has been sold. A home warranty also provides a competitive edge over those homes without warranties because it communicates confidence to buyers. This can add up to a faster selling period, resulting in a more convenient process for all involved.

Posted on 20 April 2012 | 7:39 pm

Simple Ways To Conserve Energy In Your Home

With the increased emphasis on global warming in recent years, combined with rising energy costs, more and more people are asking what they can do to make their homes more energy efficient. Energy conservation can be as simple as closing your curtains at night, changing a light bulb, turning down your thermostat, or closing the fireplace damper. Many of the most inexpensive solutions quickly pay for themselves in conservation, which you ultimately benefit from when you get your power bill.

Posted on 12 April 2012 | 11:51 pm

Real Estate Investors May Be Indicator Of Recovery

I have often found that following a prolonged decline, residential real estate investors tend to re-enter the housing market ahead of buyers who are looking for a home for their own use. This is because investors are generally less concerned with timing the bottom of a market perfectly and more focused on the longer term financial benefits. And because these investors often pay cash for their investments, I tend to track markets where the percentage of cash buyers is on the rise, as it is likely an indication that the rest of the home buyer population will soon follow.

Posted on 30 March 2012 | 8:36 pm

Major Changes Coming to Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA)

As of June 1, there will be significant changes to the HAFA program. The updates will allow a homeowner to remain current on their mortgage, qualify for HAFA, and go through a short sale with less of an impact on their credit.

Posted on 22 March 2012 | 4:30 pm

Pricing your home to sell

When it comes time to sell a home, most people want the property to sell quickly for the highest possible return. Setting the correct listing price is the most important step in reaching this goal. Price a property too low and it might sell quickly, but you could pocket less profit. Set it too high and you run the risk of pricing yourself out of the market.

Posted on 15 March 2012 | 6:48 pm

How to Create a More Beautiful and “Sale” Ready Home

When you love your home but want to make some changes, how do you know where to begin? As a real estate broker and advisor to my clients, I am often asked what improvement projects are most worthwhile or where money is best invested.

Posted on 9 March 2012 | 7:28 pm

Childproofing: Protect Your Family and Your Home from Potential Hazards

When you think of your home, it likely conjures up feelings of safety, shelter, and comfort. However, accidental injuries in the home are one of the leading causes of harm to children 14 and younger. By taking certain precautions, many of these accidents can be prevented. While supervision is the best way to keep your children safe at home, you can’t watch them every second. Childproofing, to whatever degree you are comfortable, will go a long way toward keeping your littlest loved ones safe and healthy at home.

Posted on 2 March 2012 | 10:12 pm

Coming Home To Tax Benefits

As you file your 2011 taxes, this is a good time to think about how you can make the most of certain tax benefits now or in your future. For example, if you became a homeowner last year, you are now eligible to take advantage of one of the smartest ways to reduce your taxes.

Posted on 24 February 2012 | 6:22 pm

The Gardner Report (Fourth Quarter 2011, VOLUME X V I)

Windermere Real Estate is proud to partner with Gardner Economics on this analysis of the Western Washington real estate market. This report is designed to offer insight into the realities of the housing market. Numbers alone do not always give an accurate picture of local economic conditions; therefore our goal is to provide an explanation of what the statistics mean and how they impact the Western Washington housing economy. We hope that this information may assist you with making an informed real estate decision. For further information about the real estate market in your area, please contact your Windermere agent.

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 11:26 pm

3.8% Medicare Real Estate Tax: Fact or Fiction?

You may have heard rumors about a 3.8% seller real estate tax to begin in 2013 and wondered if there was any truth to it.

Posted on 10 February 2012 | 6:41 pm

Celebrating 40 Years, Together

Last week was a special week here at Windermere Real Estate. Close to 2,000 agents, franchise owners, and company leadership met up at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle to celebrate our company’s 40th anniversary. While we were all together, we talked a lot about milestones; where we’ve been during the past 40 years, where we [...]

Posted on 2 February 2012 | 11:08 pm

An Optimistic Outlook: 2012 Market Insights

This is the time of year when the most frequent question that I am asked is about home prices and which direction I expect them to move during the upcoming year. Over the past three years, I have not made many friends, as my opinion on home prices has been quite negative. But this year, I [...]

Posted on 18 January 2012 | 7:28 pm

Windermere’s 40th Anniversary

Much has changed since 1972, but one thing we’re proud to say has remained the same is our agents’ steadfast commitment to their clients and their communities. They carry on the tradition started by our dad in 1972 when he founded Windermere and built a business centered on community and mutual respect. For us, Windermere’s 40th anniversary is about honoring those humble beginnings, as well as our agents who are truly the ones who make this celebration possible.

Posted on 11 January 2012 | 12:59 am

2011: A year in Review

Saturday is New Year’s Eve, and the year in review articles, top ten lists of 2011, and 2012 predictions are showing up everywhere. This time of year always inspires reflection, which led us to think about some of the incredible milestones we’ve experienced over the past 12 months and what we have to look forward to in 2012.

Posted on 29 December 2011 | 8:24 pm

December Perspectives

The year is nearly over, the holidays are in full swing, and reflection and resolution are top of mind. As we look back at the past year, it’s clear that in many ways 2011 was a time of transition and renewal for the residential real estate market. While recovery has been slow, the Seattle housing market has finally turned a corner, albeit a soft one with some bumps along the way. In general, sales are up, which means houses are selling, yet foreclosures and short sales continue to cause downward pressure on prices.

Posted on 19 December 2011 | 5:39 pm

The Risks, Rewards, and Benefits of Owning Rental Property

One area of the real estate market that is thriving right now is rental property. In the first quarter of this year, landlords and property managers across the country rented more apartments and homes than they have during the first quarters of the past ten years. And according to the Wall Street Journal, the amount that renters are willing to pay has also jumped to a nationwide average of $991 per month.

Posted on 15 December 2011 | 8:30 pm

Make Your Home Safe for the Holidays

With all the cheer and celebration at this time of year, it’s hard to believe anything bad could happen. However, statistics show there’s a significant increase in home-related accidents, fires, and burglaries around the holidays. To protect your family, friends and property, heed these six suggestions:

Posted on 9 December 2011 | 9:11 pm

Giving Thanks

We would love to hear from you. What are you most thankful for this year? What traditions, new and old will you be celebrating?

Posted on 23 November 2011 | 4:00 pm

Milepost 40—The Journey Continues; Second Annual Windermere Foundation video Video contest Contest

Back by popular demand, the Windermere Foundation is launching its second-annual video contest! Last year, we received more than 25 videos from Windermere offices all over the Western U.S., sharing the amazing work our offices and agents do for their local communities. This year, we have selected a special theme for the video contest: “Milepost [...]

Posted on 19 November 2011 | 12:38 am

Thank you veterans!

All of us at Windermere would like to take a minute to express our gratitude to the military veterans who have served our country. Many of us know someone who has served in the U.S. armed forces and have been touched by their stories and their sacrifice. Windermere is proud to have several veterans among us; we are grateful to them and the contributions they have made in shaping our company – and our country.

Posted on 11 November 2011 | 6:02 pm

Top 10 qualities to look for in an agent

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial and emotional purchases of a person’s life. That’s why it is so important to find an agent that can not only help you navigate the home search process, but one who can also answer your questions and represent your needs from start to finish. Most importantly, your agent should care about your happiness and ensuring that you find the home that best fits your needs. . Here are some qualities to consider when selecting a real estate agent:

Posted on 9 November 2011 | 10:55 pm

Is Buying a Short Sale Right For You?

If you're shopping for a home, you may have noticed that a large number of the homes that are currently on the market are short sales. A short sale occurs when a homeowner owes a lender more than their home is worth, and the lender agrees to let the owner sell the home and accept less than what is owed. Lenders may agree to a short sale because they believe it will net them more money than going forward with a lengthy and costly foreclosure process.

Posted on 3 November 2011 | 11:39 pm

Inspired Decorating: Getting into the Spirit of Halloween

We all know people who like to go overboard on the holidays. And Halloween is no exception. Walking past a home with a haunted yard, mummies in the windows, and a musical jack o’ lantern theme can inspire, intrigue, or just plain frighten you. But remember, you don’t have to go overboard to get into the holiday spirit! Subtle updates, tasteful decorations, and seasonal features can add style and flair without offending your neighbors or scaring away trick-or-treaters. Here are some holiday inspired ideas on seasonal decorations:

Posted on 27 October 2011 | 10:30 pm

Federal Housing Agency Announces Changes to Mortgage Refinancing Program

Yesterday the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac announced several changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), the details of which can be found here: http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/22721/HARP_release_102411_Final.pdf.

Posted on 25 October 2011 | 5:27 pm

Community Service Day Southwest is Friday, October 21st!

Tomorrow is a very special day here at Windermere Real Estate, it is our annual Community Service Day. Every year our Southwest offices dedicate a day to working in our community to make things a little brighter for our neighbors.

Posted on 20 October 2011 | 8:22 pm

Then and Now, Comparing Home Ownership Costs

In recent years, real estate has become something of a polarizing topic; there are those who argue that it’s still a worthy long-term investment with tangible benefits; and others who don’t see the value of owning a home, financial or otherwise. Regardless of which side of the argument you come out on, housing is a major part of our national economy. Furthermore, people are always going to need a place to live, so it’s a worthy discussion to be had.

Posted on 12 October 2011 | 6:39 pm

Perspectives: Building Better Communities, One Home Sale at a Time

Philanthropy has always been a big part of who we are at Windermere. Back in the early days of the company it was pretty simple; we would see a need and help any way we could. But as we grew, we realized that we could accomplish much more if we had a stronger focus, so we started the Windermere Foundation in 1989. From that point on, whenever a Windermere agent sold a home, a portion of their commission went to funding our Foundation. In its first year, the Windermere Foundation brought in $90,000. Twenty-two years later, we’ve proudly raised more than $22 million.

Posted on 9 October 2011 | 5:10 pm

The One-Wall Wonder

An accent wall is an emphasized wall in a room that has been designed to attract attention from adjacent walls. The simplest (and cheapest) option to go about an accent wall is by means of paint, though some may opt for wallpaper or tile. Homes with accent walls add a surprise element to a room and define an area of space that deserves attention.

Posted on 4 October 2011 | 9:34 pm

Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program

As a homeowner it is important to know your rights. This article is specific to Washington State; please be aware of the foreclosure laws in your area.

Posted on 27 September 2011 | 12:09 am

Reflections on a proud legacy

Next year marks Windermere Real Estate’s 40th anniversary. Who could’ve imagined that what was once an eight-agent office in northeast Seattle would eventually expand into 10 states and become the company that it is today.

Posted on 20 September 2011 | 12:16 am

Make the Most of the Home You Have

If you have been in your home for a while you may be restless for change. The great part about having a home of your own is you can make improvements and give your home a chance to evolve over time. You just need to help your home live up to its potential! Here is a top ten list of improvements that will help you make the most of your home.

Posted on 1 September 2011 | 6:29 pm

August Perspective

Work ethic has been defined as a “belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.” For many of us, a strong work ethic was instilled from an early age. If you were a part of our family, you washed cars, swept sidewalks, watered plants, and answered phones before being given any serious responsibilities. We had to work for it the old-fashioned way. The same holds true for the next generation of our family, many of whom are repeating the same tasks we were forced to do as kids.

Posted on 15 August 2011 | 4:32 pm

Whatever you may think of the Case-Shiller Index, it is worth watching

Personally, I am not a fan of the U.S. housing index that was created by Karl Case and Bob Shiller back in the 1990s. That said, it is a highly watched gauge and worthy of commentary.

Posted on 9 August 2011 | 5:52 pm

A little goes a long way: a top ten list for making the most of your home improvement

This weekend I spent the greater part of Saturday taking care of the ongoing household to do list and the transformation made a huge impact. There certainly is more to do, as is the nature of home improvement, but having a finite list of things to accomplish and making time to enjoy them made all the hard work worth it! Here is my top ten list of how to make the most of your time when tackling home-improvement projects.

Posted on 28 July 2011 | 10:51 pm

Building Better Communities, One Home Sale at a Time

The Windermere Foundation has been active in our communities for more than 22 years, but this year we decided we could do more: building parks and recreational facilities in communities with a lot of kids, but not a lot of resources. Learn more at www.windermereandyou.org.

Posted on 20 July 2011 | 5:18 pm

July Perspective

We agree that community service shouldn’t end with a cap and gown. Over the years, our team has proven this time and time again by embodying the notion that service to others is not something you do, it is who you are.

Posted on 11 July 2011 | 7:25 pm

Take it outside!

Extending your living space to the outdoors is nice for relaxing and entertaining. Here are some quick ideas to make your backyard patio more comfortable all summer long.

Posted on 1 July 2011 | 10:08 pm

2011 Community Service Day, Northwest

Every year since 1984, Windermere associates have dedicated a day of work to complete neighborhood improvement projects as part of Windermere's Community Service Day.

Posted on 17 June 2011 | 12:39 am

Spatially Limited Gardening: The Indoors is the New Outdoors

It is the official start to the gardening season! For those who have large outdoor spaces, it is the perfect time of year to make a trip to the home and garden store, work in your gardens, and plant new growth. For those who live in smaller city quarters and whose outdoor space comfortably holds little more than a potted plant, we are forced to be more creative with our green space.

Posted on 31 May 2011 | 11:44 pm

Weekend Warrior: Quick projects to upgrade your home

Memorial Day traditionally represents the kick-off of summer. Kids are getting out of school, families are making summer vacation plans, and backyard barbeques are on everyone’s minds. This is also a great time of the year to get your house in order and ready for the summer season. The following is a handful of ideas and tips to help you with this process.

Posted on 26 May 2011 | 9:32 pm

Moving Life Home

These buildings will add value to the homeowner’s property over time, as if they are built properly, they’ll appreciate in conjunction with the value of the home. The reasons for having one are many and personal, but if you were to drive down many city streets, you will find one hiding under the trees in a corner of the backyard.

Posted on 16 May 2011 | 9:35 pm

May Perspective

The camaraderie is everywhere you look: on the banks of the Montlake Cut, where Seattle residents welcome visitors from around the world to the beautiful University of Washington campus; on the water, where great athletes join together to do what none of them could do individually. Thousands of people coming together for a common cause. That, in and of itself, is powerful stuff.

Posted on 8 May 2011 | 9:35 pm

Spring in your step: smart ways to get rid of the clutter and update your décor

What are your tips for preparing for spring? What are your favorite spring rituals, once the cleaning is done?

Posted on 3 May 2011 | 12:06 am

Can Mid-Century Modern Design Successfully Meet Today’s Energy Standards?

It was an open house.  The buyers came in, fell in love, and wanted the home.  The only problem was, it had just sold.   You’ve heard this scenario before, except these buyers loved the home so much, they built the same home on their own lot. What they loved was the fabulous, fresh contemporary [...]

Posted on 19 April 2011 | 10:27 pm

Apples and Oranges – Do we have short memories?

In recent weeks, I have been reading much about the lack of confidence in the housing market that is demonstrated by declining transactions and prices. Although it is clear that we are far from “out of the woods” at this point, I would like to suggest that this news may not be as dire as everyone is thinking.

Posted on 9 April 2011 | 12:37 am

March Perspective

Late one evening at the office, we wandered onto the topic of college applications and the sheer amount of paperwork involved. A session of family one-upmanship ensued: Who dealt with the most convoluted stack of forms? With a collective sigh, we finally agreed that all of them are tedious. But they just have to be done.

Posted on 28 March 2011 | 5:26 pm

When it comes time to downsize

If you are inclined to feel that the home you currently reside in may have out-lived its purpose, you may be struggling with some of the same thoughts and emotions my husband and I had when it came to the emotional and financially sensitive decision to downsize.

Posted on 18 March 2011 | 12:04 am

Just a Dash of Feng Shui

Feng Shui helps enhance your space and deliver positive energy by creating a more comfortable, clutter-free environment, and incorporating the influential elements found in nature. A recent article titled Feng Shui Basics for Home Decorating provides what I consider the simplest definition:“the use and placement of objects and materials to create a harmonious flow of life energy. As such, the design of each room should be based on the people who use it the most.”

Posted on 11 March 2011 | 12:41 am

Deciding to sell (Home resolutions, part IV)

Choosing to put your house on the market is rarely easy, but if you must sell to move onto the next phase of your life, then you want to make sure your house is purchase-ready to get the most out of your investment. If you aren’t sure if you are ready to sell, you can always consider becoming a landlord or finding a property manager to handle tenants. But if you have decided to put your house on the market, it is time to let go of sentimentality and start thinking of it as a house again--not your home. Here are some tips for getting your house ready to sell and placing it on the market:

Posted on 28 February 2011 | 6:31 pm

Preparing to buy (Home resolutions, part III)

If you are ready to make the move towards purchasing your first home or upgrading to a new home, there are some considerations you should keep in mind to make the process easier. The housing inventory is up in most markets with the start of the new year, giving you more options. Whether you are [...]

Posted on 9 February 2011 | 10:12 pm

Making your house a home (Home resolutions, part II)

Your home is a reflection of your tastes, your lifestyle and your ambition, and many of us are regularly transforming our homes one way or another to fit our adjusting needs. Whether it is refreshing a room to fit your style, reorganizing a closet to accommodate the holiday excess, going green to save the planet [...]

Posted on 17 January 2011 | 6:31 pm

Practical resolutions: preparing for the best in 2011 (Part I)

The new year offers the chance of renewed energy to accomplish the goals from past years and start fresh projects. This is the first post in a four-blog series about setting home resolutions, come back to see more information on making your existing home more personal, and buying and selling your home in 2011.

Posted on 14 January 2011 | 11:31 pm

January Perspective: Home

As we start this new year, we’re looking ahead with hope and optimism. There will be challenges for sure – what they’ll be we can’t even imagine. But we are sustained by the idea that whatever’s going on, we can go home. And the emotional value of that is priceless.

Posted on 10 January 2011 | 9:27 pm

Thoughts for 2011

As we approach the end of 2010, I like to pause and reflect on the events of the year relative to both the economy as a whole, and the real estate markets in particular.

Posted on 22 December 2010 | 6:14 pm

December Perspective: Looking ahead

It is December again, and beyond all of the holiday festivities it is also prediction season. It’s that time of year when prognosticators everywhere wax eloquent on what might happen next year and beyond. Looking back, history is full of predictions from silly to bizarre, and from incredibly wrong to amazingly correct.

Posted on 20 December 2010 | 8:07 pm

Getting Through the Holidaze

Perhaps it is just me, but I don’t remember the distance between Halloween and mid-December ever being so short. I am shocked Chanukah has come and gone and Christmas is nearly here. Consensus seems to be that the year has flown past. In an effort to enjoy the holidays, spend quality time with friends and family and stay ahead of the stress, we have compiled a list (with the help of some great resources) of some good ways to “keep calm and carry on” through the New Year.

Posted on 14 December 2010 | 7:27 pm

What You Need To Know About Buying a Bank Owned Home

Recently, news about how to purchase a real-estate owned (REO/bank owned) home, foreclosure property or short sale is everywhere. Bank owned homes are sold directly from the lender after the foreclosure process is complete, and while you may save quite a bit of money by choosing to go for this type of home, it is not without trials and tribulations. The process of purchasing a home directly from a lender can be long and arduous, but could very well be worth it in the end.

Posted on 10 December 2010 | 11:42 pm

Does the Home of Your Dreams Really Exist?

When you ask yourself to visualize the home of your dreams, what comes to mind? Certainly not a nondescript 3 bedroom, two bath home. It’s much more likely that your vision could include features like maple flooring, granite countertops, 6-panel doors, built-in speakers, or access to 220-electricity in the garage for a workshop. Everyone has their own custom needs and desires.

Posted on 7 December 2010 | 8:10 pm

Inspired Gratitude

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and it is a great time to spend with friends, family, pets, or volunteering. Everyone has different traditions over the holidays, shaped by beliefs, family, location and other factors, but gratitude and thankfulness typically run through the season. Now is also the time to be inspired by what you are thankful for: [...]

Posted on 24 November 2010 | 5:06 pm

Considering becoming a landlord? How to evaluate whether to rent or sell your property

Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in homeowners choosing to become landlords rather than placing their homes on the market.  In deciding whether or not becoming a Landlord is right for you, there are a number of factors to consider, but primarily they fall into the following three categories:  Financial Analysis, [...]

Posted on 16 November 2010 | 7:07 pm

Divorce, Custody, and Employee Mobility

Divorce, child custody and relocation are all difficult topics however, knowing the facts will help you make the decisions that are right for you and your family. Below you will find an excerpt from an article recently published in Mobility Magazine by Windermere’s own Peggy Scott, GRI, CRP, GMS. She is the relocation director and [...]

Posted on 13 November 2010 | 12:54 am

The Reality of Home Improvement: HGTV installment

On any given weekend in my house, at least a couple of hours will be spent watching the designers, craftspeople and entertainers on HGTV or its spunky sister station, the DIY Network.  The premise of these home-centered television networks is that somewhere, sandwiched between long commercial breaks for paint, faucets, flooring warehouses and something called [...]

Posted on 3 November 2010 | 12:04 am

GDP Growth – The Good and the Bad

I was just looking at figures released this morning relative to how our economic output is doing.  Gross Domestic Product is a figure that is very important as it shows how we, as a nation, are growing economically by looking at the value of all the goods and services that we generate inside the U.S.  [...]

Posted on 29 October 2010 | 10:53 pm

The First Decade

The other day I was searching for my daughter’s cell phone number – which I haven’t memorized because I simply speed-dial it – and I realized it’s been years since I memorized anyone’s phone number. And this was just after I’d booked a flight online and selected my seat, and downloaded some new music into [...]

Posted on 26 October 2010 | 12:07 am

Weatherizing your home: protecting your investment through the harsh winter months

Weatherizing your home--especially in light of harsh warnings--will protect your investment from preventable damage, save money on energy costs and, most importantly, keep your home safe and warm for you and your loved ones throughout the winter season. Here is a useful checklist to manage your weatherization project.

Posted on 21 October 2010 | 10:49 pm

Sellers: Making the Most of your First Impressions

We all know first impressions are very important, but it’s the lasting impressions are the ones that sell your home.

Posted on 14 October 2010 | 11:06 pm

Reconsidering Expectations

I was fascinated to read my associate Karl Case’s article on housing published in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago.  In it he suggests that the “American dream” of home ownership, rather than being dead in the water, is actually alive although somewhat battered! Agents, buyers and sellers alike are currently being inundated [...]

Posted on 4 October 2010 | 10:45 pm

Investing in home: building a foundation for memories

Finding and creating a home is an emotional, psychological, social and financial investment. There is a lot of energy involved in finding the place to envision the future, raise a family, and perhaps retire. There is no other investment as enjoyable as your own home. Investments in gold or stocks cannot compare to the feelings about a place where you collect memories, create spaces that reflect your ideals and develop to fit your needs over time.

Posted on 21 September 2010 | 10:03 pm

What do you think about the recent market news?

There is no question the economy and the housing market has slowed down over the last few years and the recent deluge of articles for and against homeownership is impossible for us to ignore. Ultimately, we believe that the American dream of homeownership is alive and well. There are inherent benefits to investing in your home, for financial reasons, personal and societal benefit and the overall stability of the national economy.

Posted on 17 September 2010 | 6:41 pm

What is a Community?

The annual Windermere Symposium takes place at the end of the month, during which hundreds of our agents gather in person. They’ll talk about important issues, share ideas, and learn about new products and services to help them serve their clients. It’s a community in the very best sense of the word: people united by [...]

Posted on 9 September 2010 | 10:45 pm

Windermere Partners with Hunger Relief Organizations to Break Guinness World Record

Do you want to work with your community to relieve hunger in the Northwest? Do you want to help break the Guinness World Record for collecting the most pounds of food in a single location? Windermere is partnering with the Emergency Food Network and Northwest Harvest to collect one million pounds of food to “fill [...]

Posted on 3 September 2010 | 6:29 pm

Greetings from the Windermere Foundation

Thanks to you and the wonderful support the Windermere Foundation has received so far this year, we disbursed nearly $629,000 to qualifying social service organizations dedicated to serving low-income and homeless families throughout the West. Our amazing agents, staff and owners, along with public supporters, continue to contribute generously to the Foundation. Gifts to the Foundation [...]

Posted on 19 August 2010 | 5:21 pm

A Humbling Experience

It’s a humbling experience to sit down with a man like Ralph Jenkins. He’s seen more than most people. He’s done more, and given more. And he knows more. So when I have a chance to talk with Ralph, I ask a lot of questions and listen carefully. Ralph was one of our very first agents. [...]

Posted on 18 August 2010 | 4:27 pm

5 “Deal Breakers” that can blindside home buyers

Purchasing a home can be a complex endeavor for even the most well prepared home buyer. You’ve diligently saved for your down payment, followed the market, researched agents and now you are ready to make an offer on your dream home. Don’t let these 5 “Deal Breakers” come between you and your new home.

Posted on 13 August 2010 | 7:59 pm

Yard Sale Success

Yard sale season has arrived! Many people shy away from the idea of having a yard sale, but do you truly need that broken down accordion or the 80’s styled prom dress? A yard sale is a great way to get out with the old and make room for the new. Here are some tips [...]

Posted on 4 August 2010 | 4:23 pm

Will videos surpass photos when it comes to marketing a home online?

I recently read a real estate video report from Sept 6, 2009 stating that to market a home today the use of video is becoming more popular. The reports states that: “When searching for real estate information, consumers value video 41% of the time and photos 48% of the time.” They also predicted that ” video will soon grow [...]

Posted on 28 July 2010 | 11:16 pm

The Future of Homeownership

Homeownership has been pushed by the past two presidents and certainly contributed to the financial meltdown that we experienced in 2008 and are still recovering from.  I thought that this month’s blog should look at homeownership from where we were, to where we are and looking forward to what the future holds.  Many agents have [...]

Posted on 19 July 2010 | 11:00 pm

Going, going…

Have you seen the lists on the Internet and various publications touting what is disappearing in America? They’re sort of fun and sort of sad in the sense that some wonderful things are going away or are already gone forever. I am going to miss wristwatches with second hands. And I rarely get a handwritten note [...]

Posted on 12 July 2010 | 8:43 pm

Vacation Homes: looking better all the time

Whether you’re in the market for a lakeside cottage, a mountain cabin, a ski chalet or an island retreat, the vacation home market is warming up.  If you have strong credit scores, this could be the right time to take the plunge. According to a January 10, 2010 article in The NY Times, “Lenders now appear [...]

Posted on 6 July 2010 | 4:57 pm

An automatic co-pilot to estimate your home’s value

Recently I was in the process of refinancing my home. With rates being as low as they are, I figured I’d better seize the opportunity. As part of process, the home needed to be appraised. My lender asked me what I though my house might be worth. Not really knowing, where do you think I looked? [...]

Posted on 28 June 2010 | 7:58 pm

Report’s dramatic predictions for home values

A recent report from Goldman Sachs has many people talking and asking questions about where home prices are headed as we head into the latter half of 2010 and look forward toward the next few years. Looking at several markets, the report suggests that the metro areas of Las Vegas and Portland will show declines (-12 [...]

Posted on 24 June 2010 | 5:21 pm

Support local YMCAs and tweet with us on Windermere’s Community Service Day

Today is Windermere Real Estate’s 26h Annual Community Service Day. Windermere agents will be completing service projects in our neighborhoods across the West. Community Service Day gives us an opportunity to give back to the communities where we live and work. Every year since 1984, Windermere associates dedicate a day of work to [...]

Posted on 18 June 2010 | 3:35 pm

Joining together for our annual Community Service Day on June 18th

The following post was written by Linda Casale, a real estate professional out of the Windermere Whidbey Island – Freeland office. You can find out more about Linda and explore her real estate and island living articles on her website and blog, Lindacasale.com. What makes a great real estate professional? At Windermere, it’s a person who [...]

Posted on 15 June 2010 | 5:45 pm

Creating a household budget while we wait for our jetpacks

If you’re like me you grew up in a world where technology promised exciting innovations like jetpacks, flying cars and monorails. Most of these promises never really materialized and we ended up with the Flowbee, Pepsi Clear and Betamax instead. That’s why I always stop to appreciate when technology truly makes life easier. A program that [...]

Posted on 9 June 2010 | 4:14 pm

Sort and save your vision of home

When I first moved into my new place, I was naively excited for making it exactly the way I wanted…immediately. New paint, new furniture and all of it would be so stylish. Then I realized I have a mortgage payment due soon and even though I want a new chair, I need to [...]

Posted on 2 June 2010 | 5:37 pm

Going from homeowner to home seller

The following post was written by Kathryn Madison, a real estate broker out of the Windermere  Portland-Raleigh Hills office. You can learn more about Kathryn and read more insightful articles on her blog, GoBeyondtheOrdinary.com. How do we transition from the mindset of a homeowner to a home seller?  Homes bring us shelter, comfort and are a [...]

Posted on 25 May 2010 | 10:20 pm

Life After The Homebuyer Tax Credit

Much has been said about the expiration of the homebuyer tax that occurred at the end of last month. Everything from a move to extend it through 2010 (a very bad idea in my opinion, but one that didn’t stop the state of California from extending their own $10,000 credit through this year), to arguments [...]

Posted on 18 May 2010 | 9:06 pm

Windermere Blog name winner is official: Neighborly News

Neighborly News is the official new name for the Windermere Real Estate blog. There were so many extraordinary names it was hard to choose just one. Neighborly News is a blend of entries primarily inspired by Sherry Moore of Windermere Exclusive Properties in La Costa/Encinitas and her entry “A Little Neighborly Advice.” Thank you Sherry! [...]

Posted on 17 May 2010 | 6:25 pm

Update on Northwest MLS

You may have noticed that in the past week there haven’t been many new properties for sale online in Western Washington. Well actually there are plenty of properties for sale. Last week the Northwest Multiple Listing Service converted all of their IT systems to a new vendor and as sometimes happens in big [...]

Posted on 12 May 2010 | 11:31 pm

How do you like to search for a home?

Windermere is always interested to know how you like to search for homes online. Here are some of the responses I received when I asked a group of friends, “When looking at homes online what are the cool bells and whistles that keep you coming back for more?” “Being able to type in a neighborhood, find [...]

Posted on 10 May 2010 | 6:00 pm

Terms of use

Windermere Blog Guidelines and Terms of Use Please review the following guidelines and terms of use (”Guidelines and Terms of Use”).  The Windermere Blog (the “Site”) is owned and controlled by Windermerte Real Estate Services Company, a Washington corporation doing business as Windermere Services Company (WSC).  By using the Windermere Blog, you agree that the following [...]

Posted on 3 May 2010 | 6:28 pm

24th Annual Windermere Cup

The 24th annual Windermere Cup is on the books. Each year, as part of the festivities surrounding the Opening Day of boating season, the University of Washington hosts crews from across the nation and around the world for this rowing competition. If you’ve never seen a crew race, it’s something special. From a distance, you marvel [...]

Posted on 3 May 2010 | 6:07 pm

What are you afraid of?

Fear.  Just the word alone scares me.  A well-respected real estate professional once told me that there are 4 big fears for buyers and 3 big fears for sellers.  Think you can name them? Post away!! I’ll post the answers next week. It will be interesting to see if they match up with your answers.

Posted on 29 April 2010 | 4:25 pm

Bring Earth Day into your home

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. How will you spend the day? Here are a few simple ideas to save energy and reduce your impact on the earth. Create your own Earth Hour During Earth Hour, people around the world turn off the lights. Even famous places such as the Eiffel Tower and Empire State [...]

Posted on 22 April 2010 | 3:30 pm

Help name this blog (and win)

This Windermere Real Estate Blog needs a name. What do you think it should be? Send us your idea and the winner will receive something special for your home. You could leave a comment here, on our Facebook page or send an email to friend@windermere.com. With this blog, we hope you’ll share with us either here or [...]

Posted on 15 April 2010 | 8:04 pm

Welcome to the Windermere Real Estate blog

We’re pretty lucky because the people we have the opportunity to serve are more than clients; they’re our friends and neighbors. Creating vibrant communities for all of us to connect and thrive in is one of the things that inspires us to come to work everyday. Together, we’re part of these communities everywhere we go: the [...]

Posted on 12 April 2010 | 6:45 pm

We are actually starting to create jobs!

The U.S. economy created a significant number of jobs in March.  The Labor Department indicated that the economy added 162,000 jobs in March which is the strongest growth rate in over three years. Now, there are those that might suggest this [...]

Posted on 5 April 2010 | 10:35 pm

Doing taxes as a new homeowner

The April 15th deadline to file your taxes is less than two weeks away. Worrying that things would be complicated for me as a first-time homebuyer, I had my taxes done this year by a CPA. Here are a few quick tips for fellow new homeowners that I learned from the experience. Claim the 2009-10 First-time [...]

Posted on 5 April 2010 | 5:56 pm

Market soup

Recently, Jamie Johnson, one of our Windermere Agents in Camano Island shared a great analogy about the current market that I would like to share with you. “We slurp soup when we are ill.  Or when the day is dark and gloomy, we hunker down and make soup.  Why?  It’s good for us, and gives us [...]

Posted on 29 March 2010 | 9:17 pm

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Posted on 26 March 2010 | 6:37 pm

Questions to ask your home inspector

To get a quality home inspection, ask the right questions before you put your inspector to work. Here are some of the basics. What does your inspection cover? Insist that you get it in writing. Then make sure that it’s in compliance with state requirements and includes the items you want inspected. How long have you been in [...]

Posted on 24 March 2010 | 10:32 pm

Are mortgage rates on the rise?

Despite being just a few weeks from the much anticipated end of government purchasing of mortgage-backed securities (MBS), mortgage rates remain steady.  30-year fixed FHA loans were also available at 4.75 percent with a standard .07 to 1 point origination.  Jumbo 30-year fixed rates, for true jumbo mortgages exceeding conforming jumbo loan limits, remain at [...]

Posted on 18 March 2010 | 9:51 pm

Lessons From The Mountain

Last summer I had the opportunity to climb Mount Rainier. At just over 14,000 feet, Rainier is iconic in that many world-class climbers practice on it to prepare themselves for the really big ones like Mount Everest. Since I’m an amateur climber, I relied on a professional guide to help me up and down the [...]

Posted on 18 March 2010 | 8:25 pm

Fruit trees for a small garden

I have a very small backyard, but I still dream of planting a garden with a few fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, kale or strawberries.  I never thought I had enough space for a fruit tree until I recently discovered dwarf fruit trees. Even if you have a large garden area, dwarf [...]

Posted on 16 March 2010 | 10:10 pm

You get one chance to make a first impression

Studies indicate that buyers decide if they’re interested within the first 30 seconds of entering a home.  Read more about staging your home.

Posted on 4 March 2010 | 5:54 pm

Staging your home – Pink Flamingos not included

It can sometimes be tough to hear an agent asking you to hide your prize possessions when preparing your home for sale. I overheard two agents giving each other advice about how to politely help their sellers relocate their pink flamingo display and car collection off the front yard before putting the homes on the [...]

Posted on 4 March 2010 | 5:48 pm

The market is finding stability

The last decade has been a wild ride for homeowners, real estate professionals and most balance sheets.  It’s been 10 years of boom and bust starting with technology, ending with housing and not much time in between. What the housing market hasn’t seen in a while is stability.  Based on some numbers released this week [...]

Posted on 1 March 2010 | 10:23 pm

Winter Olympics inspired neighborhoods

What is it about watching the Olympics and events like snowboardcross that has me daydreaming about moving to a mountain lodge with an endless supply of hot cocoa? If you live anywhere in the western states, you’re just a few hours drive from many top ski and snowboard towns. Here are a few notable areas to [...]

Posted on 22 February 2010 | 11:49 pm

Top five words of advice for a seller today

As a seller today you are faced with a challenge when it comes to selling your home for a fair price and getting it done in a reasonable amount of time. Even though inventory is lower than it was five months ago, we are still looking at about 9 months of inventory in many areas. [...]

Posted on 15 February 2010 | 6:57 pm

What do Windermere agents talk about when they get together?

On Friday, February 5th, the largest gathering of Windermere associates took place at Benaroya Hall in Seattle to kick-off a new year. Over 2200 of us discussed a wide-range of topics from current market statistics to thoughts about what’s ahead in 2010. After all the charts and graphs, there was one other important discussion about gratitude. Gratitude We [...]

Posted on 8 February 2010 | 5:28 pm

First 20 years of the Windermere Foundation

Greetings from the Windermere Foundation, The Windermere Foundation was founded in 1989 to support non-profit organizations dedicated to serving homeless and low-income children and families. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and we have much to celebrate! Since our beginning, we have collectively raised over 21 million dollars to help hundreds of thousands of low-income and homeless [...]

Posted on 4 February 2010 | 11:05 pm

Find your real estate agent

You have many tough choices to make as you start looking for the home of your dreams and prepare to make one of the largest financial decisions of your life. Finding the right agent to represent you shouldn’t add to your worries. I’ve met a few real estate agents over the years and here are [...]

Posted on 1 February 2010 | 8:44 pm

Get in on the trend – just add turquoise

The people who decide which colors are “in” and which are “out” have announced that turquoise is “in.” And it is the official “color of the year.” Calming, dreamy and vibrantly tropical all at the same time, don’t be surprised if you start to see turquoise popping up when shopping for home décor. Everything from dishes, [...]

Posted on 1 February 2010 | 8:09 pm

Top five words of advice for a buyer today

Do you want to find your perfect home for a fair price and make your move in a reasonable amount of time? With inventory lower than it was four months ago and buyers coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of the tax credit before it ends, you may want to think about what [...]

Posted on 28 January 2010 | 8:22 pm

What is a house?

What does the Internet say we think about our homes in 2010? This morning, I did an experiment to see what the Internet would say about the relationship we have with our houses. I typed “my house is” into Google and let the autocomplete tell the story (the autocomplete works by suggesting additional search terms based [...]

Posted on 25 January 2010 | 7:00 pm

What is success?

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” -Albert Einstein I’ve never really defined whatever we’ve accomplished at Windermere in terms of success or failure; rather, it is what we value. For me it is something very simple: it’s about family, relationships and community. It all starts with family. [...]

Posted on 20 January 2010 | 6:53 pm

Community

Posted on 15 January 2010 | 6:51 am

Selling

Posted on 15 January 2010 | 6:50 am

Five quick tips to organize your home

Oh, the beginning of a new year. Full of hope to finally do those things we said we’d do last year – and the year before that. Now it’s already the middle of January and at my house, there’s still stockings hanging by the chimney with care. Enough is enough! It’s time to get organized. I asked [...]

Posted on 11 January 2010 | 7:51 pm

Auld Lang Syne

On New Year’s Eve, a bunch of us were talking about the true meaning of that song… the one we kind of know the words to. It starts like this, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” We figured that may be true at times but, in general, not in our industry. It [...]

Posted on 4 January 2010 | 6:00 pm

About Windermere

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Buying

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Market News

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Posted on 17 December 2009 | 11:39 pm