From Prequalified to Offer Accepted: What Homebuyers Need to Know (Workshop Replay)

If you’re thinking about buying a home, there’s a lot that happens between casually getting “prequalified” and having your offer accepted. This workshop replay walks you through that entire early phase of the homebuying process—step by step—so you know what to expect, who’s involved, and how to position yourself as a strong buyer.

Below, you’ll find the replay of my Home Buying Workshop: From Prequalified to Offer Accepted, along with highlights and key takeaways from the class.

👉 Watch the full workshop replay below:

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What’s Happening with Real Estate Agent Commissions?

buyers agents commissionsLast Friday, NAR (the National Association of Realtors) announced a settlement which included a major change to real estate commissions. This settlement still needs court approval to be finalized.

Several media sources have been spreading misinformation about commissions with headlines including that buyers agents will no longer be compensated. This is far from accurate. [Read more…]

Seattle Real Estate Chat: When your Real Estate Agent or Mortgage Originator “wears two hats” [Video] #SeattleREchat

Our most recent episode of Seattle Real Estate Chat focused on real estate agents or lenders who wear two hats. Jim Reppond of Coldwell Banker Danforth and I discuss transactions where a buyers lender is also their real estate agent OR when the buyer works with the listing agent (listing agent is both sellers agent and buyers agent). Sometimes a buyer may believe the listing agent is working for them, when the listing agent may only be working for the seller. It can be a complicated situation.

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How’s the Market?

This is a question I’m often asked about the greater Seattle/Pacific Northwest region. Since I focus on helping people with mortgages to buy or refinance their homes, I defer these types of questions to local real estate professionals.

I recently posted this question with the challenge that the real estate agents keep their response to one sentence or roughly 140 characters. Here are some of the replies I received.

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Seattle Bidding Wars: How to Help Your Offer Win

Bidding Wars on King County HomesEditor’s note: This post was originally published in 2012 and has been updated to reflect current practices. The core strategy hasn’t changed much — bidding wars are still a regular feature of Seattle-area home buying.

Bidding wars are still a regular feature of the greater Seattle-Bellevue market — just not the same way they were a few years ago. Inventory has increased meaningfully, giving buyers more options and more room to think. But well-priced, move-in-ready homes in desirable neighborhoods are still routinely drawing multiple offers, sometimes well above list price, while overpriced or less competitive listings can sit for weeks. The bidding wars haven’t disappeared — they’ve become more selective. [Read more…]

Bidding Wars on King County HomesEditor’s note: This post was originally published in 2012 and has been updated to reflect current practices. The core strategy hasn’t changed much — bidding wars are still a regular feature of Seattle-area home buying.

Bidding wars are still a regular feature of the greater Seattle-Bellevue market — just not the same way they were a few years ago. Inventory has increased meaningfully, giving buyers more options and more room to think. But well-priced, move-in-ready homes in desirable neighborhoods are still routinely drawing multiple offers, sometimes well above list price, while overpriced or less competitive listings can sit for weeks. The bidding wars haven’t disappeared — they’ve become more selective. [Read more…]