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
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.
爹ä£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
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.