If you’re shopping for a condo in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Tacoma, or anywhere in King, Pierce, or Snohomish County, there’s something you need to know: the rules just changed.
On March 18, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued Lender Letter LL-2026-03 and Guide Bulletin 2026-C — a coordinated update to how condominiums qualify for conventional financing. Some of the changes expand access to more buildings. Others will make it harder for some projects to qualify. And a few will affect what happens at closing.
Here’s a breakdown of what changed, what it means for buyers, and what questions to ask before you make an offer on a condo. These guideline changes also impact homeowners who are planning on refinancing their condo with a conventional mortgage. [Read more…]
One of the most common concerns I hear from buyers and homeowners in Washington State is that today’s mortgage rates feel high. And compared to where rates were in 2020 and 2021, they are. But compared to the full history of mortgage rates in the United States, the picture looks quite different.
Twenty years ago, 
If your paycheck includes more than just a base salary — a year-end bonus, regular overtime, or commission — you may have more mortgage qualifying power than you realize. Variable income is usable for mortgage qualifying, but the rules around how lenders calculate it trip up a lot of buyers at the preapproval stage.
