Jennifer November 8, 2016

Why Hire Me To Buy a Home When You Have The Internet?

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Let me start with a story that has nothing (and everything) to do with real estate.

A few years ago I started having heart palpitations. It was simply annoying at first, until it happened in the middle of the night and I thought I might die. I didn’t know much about it so I researched it on the internet. There were tons of articles and WebMD info about heart palpitations. It started by saying that most of the time this condition is harmless… unless it’s not… then you might die. Then it gave a list of 50 things to improve the symptoms. The list seemed to be the same for every health problem I’d ever had: reduce stress, eat better, exercise more-unless it increases the heart palpitations of course. So I went back to bed with lots of info but no clear direction.

After another night of not sleeping and more online research, I went to see my doctor. I explained my problem and her answer was that I should cut out caffeine for 2 weeks and see if that worked. To be honest, I was pissed. I took a half day off work, drove into the city, paid for parking, waited in the office, sat on the crunchy paper, had my pulse taken, turned off my phone etc. etc. for something this simple? Not ok. I told her I needed a real fix. She said…”Ok, here’s how this looks; I send you to a specialist, you go to the appointment, they do all these tests, hook you up to a machine that monitors your heart for 2 weeks, and you have to check in every couple days. But before they can start all that, they send you home with an order of no caffeine for 2 weeks.”

Aha. I understood.  She short circuited all my overthinking and personal problem solving with a clear direction. The simplicity of it was initially confusing but in reality she had seen thousands of people just like me and knew how to best help me with the least amount of pain and hassle.

My job as a Realtor is similar. Clients can access lots of online information about homes, neighborhoods, and schools all without me. They hire me because I am their advocate against information overload, helping sort out the meaningful content from the noise.  There are so many decisions to make in a transaction and it is impossible to pre-plan for all of the possible problems.  For example – when should you have a sewer scope done and when should you skip it?  What happens if there is a sewer line issue?  You might have been the winning bid, but your bargaining power is decreased when 3 other buyers are lined up in case you don’t want to buy the home.  Should you buy it anyways?  The answer is… it depends, and that is what I help clients decide.

Information is great, but it’s different than knowledge. At an average price of over five hundred thousand dollars per home in the Seattle area, it’s important to know when to have open heart surgery, and when to simply lay off the caffeine.

Sincerely,

Decaf Girl

King County Market Updates October 13, 2016

October King County Market Update

We’re seeing a slight seasonal cooling in demand this month. Potential buyers should keep in mind that interest rates may not always be this low and rate increases will reduce their buying power significantly. Want to talk strategy? Give me a call!

october-2016

King County Market Updates September 22, 2016

September Real Estate Market Update

Are you sick of all the media hype about Seattle’s real estate market? (here’s yet another article telling us that the area is growing- goo.gl/pHHGd0) Or does the 11% increase in median sold price have you wondering what your house might be worth? Whatever you’re thinking, we’re happy to help you strategize your next step. Give us a call! -Mike (206)947-9085

september-2016

King County Market Updates July 16, 2016

July Real Estate Market Update

In Seattle’s fast paced sellers’ market, the media makes it seem like all you need is a “For Sale” sign to have buyers fighting to make an offer. So why would a homeowner need a real estate agent if they want to sell? An experienced agent can help sellers maximize their property’s exposure to the market, and as a result, receive the top market value. Without this exposure, a homeowner may be selling themselves short. Do you have questions about what your property might be worth? Give me a call and I’d be happy to help you strategize. – Mike (206)947-9085

July 2016

King County Market Updates May 17, 2016

King County Market Update May 2016

Wondering what’s going on in the real estate market? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Population growth and a healthy job market are continuing to push median home prices upward, 11.8% year over year! Absorption of inventory is over 100%, meaning there are more people wanting to buy houses than there are houses for sale. Although it can be a competitive market for buyers, low interest rates make buying a home now a solid choice. Questions about what this all means for you? Give me a call and I’ll be happy to help. -Mike (206) 947-9085

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Real EstateUncategorized April 12, 2016

April Update for King County

I was just working on our market update for this month and was struck by the fact that with 2 million people living in King County, there are only about two thousand homes available for sale … come on people time to move – Mike.

April 2016