National Association of Realtors' settlement on home-sale commissions will go into effect July if approved.

I want to start by addressing the "misinformation" involving the landmark settlement that could impact real estate practices and commissions as we know them.  There is a lot of uncertainty out there. And there are tons of people who thrive on that, they love to stir the pot and tell you “The Sky Is Falling.”

I know I speak for a lot of real estate professionals when I say that we’re upset with a lot of the misinformation that is getting circulated about the proposed settlement. What these proposed changes will do is clean up a lot of real estate agents who don’t run their business like an actual business or keep up with new rules and…

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As March Madness sweeps the nation, with college basketball teams vying for the championship title, a different kind of competition is heating up in the real estate market. Just like the thrilling, unpredictable nature of the tournament, the real estate market in March can be full of surprises, opportunities, and strategic plays.

The Starting Lineup: Preparing Your Home for Sale

Just as a basketball team prepares for the big game, so should homeowners prepare their property for sale too. This includes decluttering, deep cleaning, making necessary repairs, and staging the home to make it appealing to potential buyers. A well-prepared home can make a strong first impression, just like a strong starting lineup can set the tone for the game.

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If commissions are decoupled, researchers believe the competition will drive real estate commissions down.

A groundbreaking $418 million legal agreement could drive down commission rates and shrink the number of real-estate agents.

As an example, the DOJ cites Northwest MLS (NWMLS), which no longer requires listing agents to make offers of buyer broker compensation in order to list a property. Despite this being allowed, the practice of cooperative compensation continues, and agent commissions have not changed.

“As long as sellers can make buyer-broker commission offers, they will continue to offer ‘customary’ commissions out of fear that buyer brokers will direct buyers away from listings with lower commissions — a well-documented phenomenon…

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Good Afternoon, 

Will 2024 be the year the housing market gets unstuck? What happened in North Bend real estate during 2023? I published a comprehensive North Bend Real Estate Recap and 2024 Outlook to answer all your questions!

Here are the questions-

2023 North Bend Recap

What was the appreciation rate in your neighborhood?

In Si View?
In Riverbed?
In Wood River? In Cedar Falls?

What was the highest selling home price in North Bend?
What was the lowest selling home price in North Bend?

2024 Real Estate Outlook

Will prices go up or down?
Where are interest rates headed? What is the best month to list? What is the best day to list?


Answers found here-

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Western Washington saw one of the largest year-over-year decreases in active inventory last month. There were 3,333 properties for sale in January — a 23.2% decrease from January 2023, when there were 4,342 homes on the market. Only Las Vagas had a steeper nation drop in inventory levels.

As a result of the low housing inventory levels around Western Washington, we are returning to bidding war situations. Seattle area home sales increased by 7% in January, marking the first year-over-year increase since March 2022. Meanwhile, home sale prices increased by 3.4% year over year.

Additionally, the new commission rules are allowing Sellers to save 10’s of thousands in Buyer Agent commissions.

Cascade Team Saves Commissions For Sellers

Taking advantage of low inventory before more homes…

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Land purchases can be (very) tricky, so it is important to know what to look for. My clients knew they wanted to create their own story, which included an A-frame on acreage, with an abundance of trees & natural landscape. I connected them with one of my favorite builders and a bonus was that this land already had the most important features (well, septic design and power in the street). I can't wait to see their dream come together! If you are thinking about buying your dream property and/or selling I would love to help! Give me a call 714-655-0595.


  

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As Valentine's Day approaches, love is in the air. But this year, instead of focusing solely on chocolates and roses, why not consider a different kind of matchmaking? Just like finding the perfect partner, finding the perfect home can be a journey of discovery, filled with excitement, anticipation, and even a few butterflies.

1. Love at First Sight: The Importance of First Impressions Just like a first date, the first impression of a home can be a game-changer. A well-maintained exterior, a welcoming entrance, and a clean, inviting interior can make potential buyers fall in love instantly. As a seller, it's essential to ensure your property is looking its best for every viewing. As a buyer, remember that while first impressions are important,…

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After a particularly rough stretch, the frozen housing market has begun to thaw.

Mortgage rates have tumbled, more homes are being listed, and sales are rising as buyers are pouncing on their sudden change in fortune.

“The worst is over for the housing market,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. But “it will take a number of years for the housing market to fully normalize.”

Indeed, the signs of a gradual sea change have been abundant in the past two months.

Market Recap

Real estate market activity has remained slow in accordance with typical seasonal patterns. Interest rates held steady through the month of January to end at 6.69%; at the time of this publication, there was a slight decrease to 6.63%. For the…

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Good afternoon prospective buyers,

I wanted to let you know that there’s a new law in Washington that requires that we have a signed agreement once we start working together, *before I even show you a home. The agreement sets forth a few things, most importantly: (1) whether we are exclusive or not, (2) how long is the agreement valid, (3) my compensation, and (4) what we do if the seller doesn’t offer to cover my full compensation. If you are thinking about buying a home this year, it is important to be "in the know". Give me a call and let's grab a beverage to discuss 714-655-0595.

Talk soon,

Hailey Miller  

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On January 1, 2024, the revised “Agency Law” that governs real estate brokerage relationships (RCW 18.86) becomes effective. Among other changes, a significant revision to the law requires real estate firms to enter into a written brokerage services agreement with a buyer before, or as soon as reasonably practical after, commencing real estate brokerage services for that buyer.

These revisions to Agency Law require that brokers enter into a brokerage services agreement with their client before — or as soon as reasonably practical after — the provision of real estate brokerage services. This contract will include stipulations like length of partnership, exclusivity vs. non-exclusivity and the rate of compensation.

Looking at the law

It may…

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