In competitive markets, buyers sometimes feel pressure to waive contingencies to make their offer stand out. Before you do — whether it’s the financing contingency, the appraisal contingency, or both — here’s what you need to understand about the risks involved.
Waiving Your Financing Contingency: What Washington Homebuyers Need to Know
What is an Escrow Holdback?
Sometimes an appraiser may call for repairs to be done on a home typically for safety reasons. In a seller’s market, like the greater Seattle area is experiencing, it’s not likely that the seller will agree to make the repairs. If the buyer has enough funds, they may be able to do an “escrow holdback”. An “escrow holdback” is when funds are held back at closing to cover the estimated cost of the repairs. The buyer brings the amount of the holdback to escrow (or sometimes the lender) and the funds are held until after closing, when the work has been finished.
Student Loans and Qualifying for a Mortgage in Washington State (2026 Guide)
Student loan debt is one of the most common obstacles home buyers face when trying to qualify for a mortgage — but it doesn’t have to prevent you from buying (or refinancing) a home. Understanding how lenders calculate student loan payments, and how the rules differ by loan program, can help you plan strategically and avoid surprises during the approval process.
This guide covers current guidelines for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, along with practical strategies for borrowers with student loan debt. [Read more…]
Can I Buy Furniture Before Closing on My New Home?
I have been working with a couple of clients who are buying homes and who’ve recently asked if it’s okay for them to buy furniture before closing on their new home. It must be all the holiday sales going on that’s causing this question to come up recently.





