Buying your first home is one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll make — and one of the most rewarding. A starter home is typically the first step on the path to building real equity, and in Washington State there are more options to get there than most first-time buyers realize.
When I bought my first home, I ended up in a small rambler in Northeast Tacoma — FHA loan, 3.5% down, and a brutal commute to downtown Seattle. But I was so proud to own something. We only lived there about two years before appreciation gave us enough equity to move up to our next home. That’s how starter homes work — and it’s why I believe so strongly in helping first-time buyers get into the market even when it feels out of reach.
Here’s what you need to know about loan programs, down payments, credit, and how to position yourself to compete in today’s market. [Read more…]
The housing market in the Pacific Northwest remains competitive. Low inventory means that when a well-priced home hits the market, buyers often find themselves competing — and the difference between winning and losing a bid frequently comes down to preparation, not just price.
The Existing Home Sales was released yesterday which reports on the closings of existing single-unit homes.
It’s fun to visit open houses on the weekends. You may be picturing yourself living in the home, enjoying the backyard or perhaps 
Many Veterans who have served our country have earned the right to have a VA mortgage loan. It’s unfortunate that some sellers as well as real estate agents have a bad image of VA loans and often discourage them. Many years ago, VA loans were sometimes more challenging than conventional financing – this is rarely the case anymore. Some people may falsely assume that if a Veteran is using a VA loan, they must have poor credit or not enough funds for a down payment. A majority of the Veteran’s I have provided mortgages for have excellent credit and plenty of funds for down payment, they opt for the VA loan because they either don’t want to use all of their funds for down payment, or the VA mortgage loan could be providing a lower interest rate than what they would receive with conventional financing. 
