With affordability tight across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, I’m seeing more buyers team up with someone other than a spouse or partner — roommates who decide renting no longer pencils out, adult siblings splitting an investment property, or longtime friends going in together on a home. If that’s you, Washington’s vesting rules are the same ones that apply to any unmarried co-buyers, but the practical questions around exit strategy and unequal contributions tend to matter even more when there isn’t a relationship holding things together. [Read more…]
Mortgage Rates Edge Up as Housing Act Becomes Law | Mortgage Porter Weekly
July 13, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Home prices keep climbing, the housing market got a major legislative update, and mortgage rates ticked up slightly last week. Here’s everything you need to know for the week of July 13th, 2026. [Read more…]
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: What it Means for Washington State Homebuyers and Homeowners
July 12, 2026 by 1 Comment
Congress just passed the largest federal housing package in a generation, and it became law on July 11, 2026, without President Trump’s signature. If you’ve been feeling the squeeze of high home prices here in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, you’re probably wondering whether this changes anything for you. Here’s a plain-English breakdown of what’s in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and what it realistically means for our local market. [Read more…]
Questions Your Mortgage Loan Officer Should Be Asking You
July 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This is a companion piece to my post on 10 Questions You Should Ask a Loan Officer Before Working with Them. That post covers what to ask me. This one covers what I’ll be asking you — and why.
Once you’ve chosen a loan officer, the process shifts — now you’re the one answering questions. If it feels like a lot, that’s normal. Good underwriting is thorough because it protects you from closing on a loan you can’t comfortably sustain, not because anyone’s trying to trip you up. [Read more…]
Rent vs. Buy in Puyallup: A Case Study
July 10, 2026 by 1 Comment
If you’re a first-time homebuyer in Puyallup, you’ve probably run the mental math more than once: rent is lower than a mortgage payment, so isn’t renting the “safer” choice? It’s a fair question — and the honest answer is that the monthly payment is only part of the story. To actually compare the two, you need to factor in what happens to your money over time: home appreciation, the equity you build through your loan paydown, tax benefits, and how rent increases every year while a fixed-rate mortgage payment doesn’t. [Read more…]
