Mortgage Rates since 1971
Lots of discussion these days about mortgage rates and how "high" they've gotten. Take a look to see what the averages looked like in the past to put that "high" number in perspective.
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Low-Cost Ways to Increase your Home’s Springtime Curb Appeal
First impressions mean a lot—especially when it comes to your home’s curb appeal. Whether you’re getting ready for resale or just want to update the exterior, you may be thinking your home is ready for a curbside makeover. Here are some ideas to maximize your home’s curb appeal:
Is Your Home Photogenic?
The best way to look at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer is to take pictures of it... Read More
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Home Sales Rise While Inventory Falls to All-Time Low
Following a decline in December, existing-home sales were on the rebound in January, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Every sales region in the country reported month-over-month gains. For year-over-year figures, two regions reported a drop in sales, while a third saw sales gains and a fourth experienced no change. According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR, the increase... Read More
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Need to Hire a Contractor for a Home Project? Here Are Some Tips
 Planning for a major home project that requires a professional contractor? Here are some precautionary steps to ensure that you find a trustworthy person who does high-quality work.
Get a Recommendation, but
Do Some Research
The best source of recommendations is talking to people who have had similar jobs done. This can be as simple as asking... Read More
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Market Statistics Around the Puget Sound Region
The market has been very dynamic for years -- either a strong seller's market or a strong buyer's market. I've put together some graphs to show what's happening.
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Spring Home Maintenance Tasks to Get Started on Now
 Start now to complete all your spring home maintenance tasks. Even if you are only able to put in a few hours a week, each small task adds up.
Annual Spring Cleaning
This is the time when you clean things that you haven’t touched in months (or even a year). Wash the curtains, blinds, windows, and much more. Don’t forget to clean your baseboards and your fans. Your appliances could also use a good cleaning—including the refrigerator. Now is a good time to get rid of any clutter that is lying around. Go through your closets, pantry, and medicine cabinet and dispose of outdated items... Read More
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How Does Property Use and Occupancy Affect Your Mortgage?
Many things affect mortgage rates, such as your credit score, your debt-to-income ratio, and the location of your property. One thing not a lot of people have to think about is occupancy type—but this will significantly affect rates. So what is occupancy type?
Occupancy type is how you use a property. There are three types:
Principal residence. This is the home where you live most of the time. For mortgage purposes, this is the home where you spend most of each year, and it is also the address listed on your federal and state tax returns... Read More
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Past Newsletters
In case you missed a previous newsletter, all of my previous Out of Bounds Realty newsletters can be found here.
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