Real Estate News

Tom Kelly

Three reasons it’s a great time to sell – RealtyTrac survey

Single-family home and condo sellers in the first half of this year sold for an average of 13 percent above their original purchase price.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Considering Canada: Financing takes a different look

A U.S. buck can now bring approximately $1.26 in Canadian goods.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Air conditioning bill high? State’s energy third ‘least expensive’

The website compared consumption rates and prices of four energy types: electricity, natural gas, motor fuel and home heating oil.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Rising equity floats all boats, especially credit lines

Delinquency rates on home-equity lines of credit dropped to their the lowest level in nearly seven years.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Weighing investments: No sunsets in stock certificates

Stocks don't create memories you get from living in a second home.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Local homeseekers don’t take a vacation break

"Educated buyers today are no longer just dipping their toes in the water. They are diving right in."

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Dry weather spurs landscaping changes

The survey analyzed 1,600 homeowners who completed an outdoor project in the past 12 months, or are currently working on one, or are planning a project in the future.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Wanna getaway? Creative options for vacation rental

Buyers often need renters to help offset their costs particularly in the first few years of ownership.

9 years ago
homebuyer, cobuy...
Tom Kelly

Three mistakes first-time homebuyers make

"I remember one case where just before closing, the buyer drove to the office and says, 'Look at my brand-new car,'" one real estate agent said. "I told them, 'You'd better go back to that dealership.'"
9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Change in scenery: New quiz helps to decide if it’s time to move

The quiz asks people to assess their relationships, place fulfillment and personality in order to come to a conclusion on whether moving is the right decision.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Windermere economist foresees no housing bubble

Fewer house flippers, rigid lending guidelines, higher interest rates and rising home prices back no-bubble theory.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Survey reveals buyers overestimate mortgage requirements

Consumers tend to overemphasize credit scores as a single factor that determines whether they'll be able to buy a home.

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9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Report predicts power shift from homeowners to renters

Single-family homes are shifting to renter occupancy throughout the nation, and this trend is likely to continue.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Breaking even: What it takes to cash-flow a getaway

If your monthly mortgage payment is equal to - or less than - one "peak" week rental rate, and if you rent for 17 weeks, then you should be able to achieve positive cash flow.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Tired of losing bidding wars, buyer offers pizza for life

Donna DiNicola, owner of DiNicola's Italian Restaurant in southeast Portland, says she was partially joking when her offer for a 900-square-foot house included pizza - but it worked.

9 years ago
The lack of inventory of Puget Sound homes for sale is being compounded by potential sellers unwill...
Tom Kelly

Look before you leap: Sellers also frustrated by lack of inventory

The lack of inventory of Puget Sound homes for sale is being compounded by potential sellers unwilling to list their home until confident they can find a new place to land.
9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Moving abroad? It’s often easier to buy in the U.S.

Buying real estate in other countries often is not as easy as non-nationals buying in the States.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Uptick in rates sends refinances down

Refinancing applications were at the lowest level in more than a year.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Eight percent: The value gap between owner and appraiser

If an owner installs a luxury indoor lap pool or spa for their personal desire, they can't expect that prospective buyers will view it as valuable as they do.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Golf communities push to be more about lifestyle than golf

More golf courses closed than opened in the U.S. in 2014, according to the National Golf Foundation.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Tapping an IRA to buy; clarifying home-sale loss

Can you withdraw from your Individual Retirement Account for a down payment on a home and not face a premature-withdrawal penalty?

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Single-person households surpass married with kids

Women now head 54 percent of all single-person households.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

New legislation returns title insurance kickbacks to front burner

Washington state law limits the use of incentives and inducements to $25 per person per year.

9 years ago
Tom Kelly

Builder group lists Top 12 amenities in an average home

Energy-Star rated appliances and windows and programmable thermostats rated high.

9 years ago