I recently had the pleasure of working with a young and successful couple who moved to the Spokane area from the west side of Washington.  Like so many other Seattle city dwellers, their main reason for moving to Spokane was the unrealistic housing market that had driven out so many before them.  Familiar with the area, and with the help of friends and family, they decided to move on.

Not only were these two lovebirds successful in their own right, but they were also smart and well prepared.   They made the decision to compare lenders, get preapproved, and visit the area several times to look at homes before taking the leap.  They also heeded my advice every step of the way. 

One piece of advice that they really took to heart was that sellers are people too.  Families who are in the process of uprooting their lives have feelings attached to the home they are about to sell.  They may have raised a family there, inherited the property from a ...

Memories
Do you remember when you purchased your first home?  Aaaah the memories. You hired a Realtor (hopefully a good one), hired a lender and spent a sunny Saturday afternoon with your Realtor looking at homes. Easy right?  Well when you are planning on that second home, now you become a seller and a buyer. Yes it can be stressful and somewhat complicated, multi-tasking but hiring an expert Realtor (like myself) is all you need to make the process a little less stressful and complicated.
You’re 1st Step
Before you start looking at homes, make sure you have an understanding on what the current market is doing. Do some research or ask your expert Realtor (like myself) if it’s a seller’s market, buyers’ market and what are the interest rates doing right now. Planning is the key to buying and selling a home at the same time.
You’re 2nd Step
Now that you are knowledgeable on the market, you are now ready to start planning.  The first t ...

Home Buying Myths





























Although the internet can be a great resource for a variety of information, a lot of that information is incorrect. One of the most important and expensive decisions in your life, home buying, tends to circulate a lot of misinformation. Most of that misinformation is in regards to how much of a down payment you need or what your credit score needs to be. Let's go over the real facts about buying a home and knock those myths out, so they don't hinder your ability to purchase!  


CREDIT SCORESThough it may come as a surprise, you don't need a perfect credit score to purchase a home. Traditional bank lenders will work with credit scores as low as 640, but your agent can also get you connected with local lenders that accept credit scores as low as 580. Although there are other required stipulations to qualify for the loan, you don't need a perfect score in the 700's or 800's to get approved for a ...

Have you been searching for a home within the last year or so and have been completely fed up with how hot and competitive the market has been? Or maybe you've been thinking about buying but not sure if this is the right time of year. It’s actually perfect timing!
 
Well, realistically, most agents will tell you it’s always a good time to buy. I wholeheartedly agree with that - buying a home is one of the most expensive purchases a person will ever make in his or her lifetime, and it's the greatest way to build up personal financial wealth over time. So yes, it really is always a good time to invest in your long-term financial future.

And if you're one of those buyers who has been thinking about getting into the home-buying search soon, or you're so tired of having been home-shopping in this market, right now actually IS the perfect time! Here’s why I say that RIGHT NOW is perfect -

Incoming: Cold Weather Is Here

First and foremost, almost no one want ...

With homes selling like hot cakes all across the country, surely the thought of hopping on the bandwagon has crossed your mind at some point. But is home ownership really right for you? There's numerous factors that go into play with finding that answer. For starters, buying a home is probably the largest financial investment you will EVER make. So you need to be absolutely sure that the investment is setting you up for success, and not failure. Seem like a lot of pressure for one decision? No worries. Let's break it down simple question by simple question and see if you're ready to deal with everything that comes along with being a homeowner. 

Answer these five questions (I suggest getting a notepad, your significant other or a close mate, finding a good lounge spot and having conversation around these basic questions. Sometimes working things out vocally instead of in your head can take you a lot farther and open up doors you wouldn't have thought about solo.).



How are ...