You may be aware of a new rule change from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service regarding “Offering” a Buyer’s Agent Compensation (We no longer use the term Commission). While it’s a confusing topic for both consumers and real estate agents alike, The Cascade Team has put together some Questions and Answers on the topic.

What is a “Fair” amount to pay for real estate compensation?

“Fair” is whatever you and the agent decide is fair, and just as you are not under any obligation to pay more than you want, the agent is not under any obligation to do business with you if they are not going to earn what they expect.

The Cascade Team will charge a total of 2% compensation to sell your home if the buyer comes unrepresented.

This includes full…

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What's going on? High-cost tech hubs, like San Francisco and Seattle, are getting hit hard by the tech slowdown. Not only are their high-end real estate markets more rate sensitive, but so are their tech sectors.

Back in June, Fed Chair Jerome Powell made it clear to reporters: The Pandemic Housing Boom was over. Heading forward, he said, spiked mortgage rates would push the U.S. housing market into a slowdown.

“We saw [home] prices moving up very very strongly for the last couple of years. So that changes now. And rates have moved up. We are well aware that mortgage rates have moved up a lot. And you are seeing a changing housing market. We are watching it to see what will happen. How much will it really affect residential investment? Not…

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  •          Home sellers really need to re-think their expectations.
  •          The days of “multiple offers and waived inspections are behind us.”
  •          Active Listings up a whopping 59% from a year ago.
  •          Both pending sales (mutually accepted offers) and closed sales during May were down from a year ago.
  •          Rising interest rates coupled with inflation are causing buyers that rely on conventional mortgages to reconsider the affordability.

“Home sellers really need to re-think their expectations,” suggested Mike Larson, a member of the board of directors at Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) when commenting on statistics summarizing May activity. The new report showed a significant increase in active listings…

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Download Your Home Selling Game Plan

Ready. Set. Sell.

Table of Contents 

1. Welcome to the Game: Discovering Your Why

2. Game Prep: Get Serious About the Finances

3. Pre-game: Tackle Your ''To-Do" List

4. Prepping the Field: Staging Your Home

6. Checking the Equipment: Cleaning House

7. Let the Games Begin: Negotiation Time

8. The Last Play: Inspections

9. The Final Timeout: Waiting for the Closing

10. Happy Selling

Some Seattle area suburbs have literally doubled in price over the past 12 months!

The 8 Seattle Area Suburbs With the Biggest Home Price Increases in 2022 So Far! (# 1 is going to blow your mind!)

King County had the steepest drop in active listings, shrinking nearly 59% from a year ago,…

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When you’re ready to list your home, your agent will work with our coordinator team to secure any needed home renovations. Payment is deferred until home closing, or 180 days and escrow will deduct costs from net proceeds to pay for services rendered.

Preparing your home for sale is essential to capturing the highest offer, fastest. Simple steps like fresh paint before an open house can increase offer amounts by 10% vs. homes with no work done. And with prices averaging over $1,000,000 we’re talking some serious return on investment!

When you’re ready to list your home, your agent will work with our coordinator team to secure any needed home renovations. Payment is deferred until home closing, or 180 days and escrow will deduct costs from…

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Dear Real Estate,

Remember when we first got together? People didn't think we’d last. Maybe they didn't always say it, but they thought it. “You could do so much better. Why would you be a real estate agent?” “What’s your back-up plan?” “You should get a real job...” I’m sure they were well-intentioned. But I ignored them. There were times, though, when even I wondered if you were worth the chase. You do tend to play hard to get. Not even sure you know you’re that way. But maybe you do. Maybe you just wanted to see how much I really cared. I've come to love and appreciate that about you. If you were too easy, our relationship wouldn't be so rewarding...and my love and respect wouldn't be so deep. Who knows, maybe I’d have scrammed when times got…

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Buyers Pour into the Housing Market Amidst Rising Mortgage Rates

Just two weeks ago we predicted that January would be a competitive month as buyers rush to find a home before mortgage rates climb—and that's exactly what we're seeing.

Prices surged last week 16% over 2021, kicking off what could be the most competitive month in housing history.

You can find our full report in this week's housing market update. 

Projections are homes listed by March and closing in April will see the maximum number of bidding wars and escalating prices.

According to NWMLS, despite historically low inventory levels, home sales in the Central Puget Sound region increased to levels not seen since 2006, with Pierce and Kitsap counties seeing the most sales…

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Here is your chance to be part of an innovative Real Estate Brokerage that's changing how things are done!

  • Issaquah, WA
  • Full-time
  • Salary: $18.00 to $20.00 /hour

Transaction Duties:

Create Files for New Transactions: Read through contracts and file; ensuring we have mutually signed contracts, and all forms relating to the transaction. Creates commission disbursement forms.

Escrow Duties: Open escrow and assists with communication between agents, escrow, and The Cascade Team; ensuring Escrow receives all pertinent forms for each transaction.

Time Frames and Deadlines: A real estate Transaction Coordinator's job includes paying attention to deadlines for items such as earnest money, inspections, and other related deadlines.

…

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  •         Seattle area home prices are expected to increase by another 18% in 2022
  •         Mortgage rates are expected to climb to around 3.7%
  •         Buying NOW lets you lock in what’s going to be the best price of the year and also the best rate!

There’s a myth that the real estate market shuts down over the holidays and that it’s a terrible time to buy a home—because who wants to buy a home when you could be spending that time with family. You saw where we said “myth,” right? 

The truth is that buying a home over the holidays can yield you a great deal while minimizing the competition. Here’s what you need to know if you’re in the market now. 

Look past the sparkle

You’re going to see some inflatable Santas and lights galore.…

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Would you buy a haunted house? According to a recent poll that’s been released by Real Estate Witch, 73% of Americans said that they would at least consider it. The recent poll surveyed a total of 1,000 Americans who were asked 20 questions regarding their paranormal experiences, what they prefer when buying a home, etc…

WHAT’S SCARIER THAN LIVING IN A HAUNTED HOUSE?

Among people who believe in the supernatural, 44% say paranormal activity has increased since the pandemic began — yet more than half of Americans say problems such as mold or foundation issues are still scarier than living in a haunted house.

As Americans plan their Halloween costumes and indulge in scary movie marathons this October, many sense a ghostly chill in the air. 

…

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