Here are our U.S. housing market forecasts for 2017.

Housing markets in a handful of metro areas will continue to sizzle in 2017, while the rest of the country could experience a cooling trend. Mortgage rates will likely hover in the 3.5% range for the short term, but could rise above 4% through the first half of 2017. Loan limits could also rise in some parts of the country next year, in response to rising home values.

Let’s take a closer look at these and other housing market forecasts and predictions for 2017.

1. Home prices nationwide to rise 3% – 5% over next 12 months.

In October, the economic research team at Zillow issued this 12-month forecast for the U.S. housing market: “United States home values have gone up 5.1% over the past…

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Here are our U.S. housing market forecasts for 2017.

Housing markets in a handful of metro areas will continue to sizzle in 2017, while the rest of the country could experience a cooling trend. Mortgage rates will likely hover in the 3.5% range for the short term, but could rise above 4% through the first half of 2017. Loan limits could also rise in some parts of the country next year, in response to rising home values.

Let’s take a closer look at these and other housing market forecasts and predictions for 2017.

1. Home prices nationwide to rise 3% – 5% over next 12 months.

In October, the economic research team at Zillow issued this 12-month forecast for the U.S. housing market: “United States home values have gone up 5.1% over the past…

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KIRKLAND, Washington (Nov. 4, 2016) – Home sales around Western Washington outgained new listings again in October, fueling competition for scarce inventory and pushing prices higher. Some seasonal slowdown is still expected – and the Nov. 8 elections may be in play as well, according to brokers at Northwest Multiple Listing Service who commented on last month’s activity.   Closed Sales Up 10.1% Pending Sales Up 6.8% Active Listings Down 13%
 
MLS members reported 9,950 pending sales during October, but they added only 7,591 new listings, the lowest number since January. A year-over-year comparison of pending sales shows there were 633 more mutually accepted offers last month than twelve months ago for a gain of 6.8 percent. 
 
Closed sales…

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Remind your clients that even if these “adverse situations” wouldn’t bother them as home owners, they could be the bane of their existence as sellers.

high voltage power lines  

In 2001, when I first got my real estate license, I took a class at my brokerage about how to show properties. Seems silly, right? How hard is it to unlock the door? But this class was about practical ways to make sure the buyer focuses on the most important factors of a home. I still follow some of the tips from this class today. One of them was to advocate caution to a buyer considering a house with an “adverse situation.”

What’s that? It’s a condition that will affect the resale of the property. I remember the instructor saying, “When my past clients call me up and ask me to…

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haunted-house

Who believes in ghosts, anyway? But then again, there you are: alone, in the dim, waning hours of night, listening to that odd, undefinable rustling, whimpering noise right outside your bedroom window, and—wait a minute! Is that noise coming from inside the house?

Thirty-seven percent of Americans believe in haunted houses, according to a 2005 Gallup poll. For those who believe, some cities offer spookier home options than others.

To find the spookiest ZIP codes, ATTOM Data Solutions analyzed more than 40,000 single-family homes nationwide to find the highest number of vacant properties as well as those that have a home owner who is now deceased.

In Halloween fun, we've released a list of the following top 10 ZIP codes to find the most…

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Welcome Back To The Cascade Team Ethan Pruett!

Ethan Pruett

  • Office: 800-509-6905 Ext. 1151
  • Cell: 425-919-2440
  • Fax: 425-996-9520
  • Email: ethan@thecascadeteam.com

We are happy to welcome back Ethan Pruett to The Cascade Team! Ethan will be working out of our Main Issaquah Office. He brings with him 15 years of real estate experience.  In his off time, he enjoys spending time with his son, a National Champion of the Mini Sprint Car Racing Association.

Ethan will be a wonderful addition to The Cascade Team and we look forward to his continued success with us!

OUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE TEAM

Cascade Team Real Estate agents are proactive in serving their customers, studying the market and touring homes, so they can provide the…

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A couple of weeks ago, we asked our readers for their scariest experiences in the field, and the horrifying stories poured in. We ran a few of the most frightening, but we can’t get enough. Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, and to stay in the “spirit” as long as we can, we’ve decided to bring you more of your fellow practitioners’ freakiest moments on the job.

This batch of tales are more the eerie kind. They’re not so much about actual paranormal activity in homes — but they’re the kind of situations you’ll be happier to read about than experience yourself. Here’s part two of our favorite scary stories from real estate professionals.

 

  • I listed a home in which a well-publicized murder had recently taken place. Everyone knew…

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Just in time for Halloween 2016, we thought we would share a little info about an often overlooked yet still very serious problem of "The Nightmare Neighbor" issue.

Half of Americans say they currently have a dispute with a neighbor, according to a new survey from North American Van Lines.

In fact, 13 percent of Americans say they have moved just to get away from their next-door neighbor.

Take a look at this infographic to see the conflicts home owners are having with their neighbors.

How to Deal With the ‘Neighbor From Hell’

A messy neighbor can hamper your property–by as much as 20 percent off the market value, says Sid Davis, author of A Survival Guide to Selling a Home.

No one wants to live next to the neighbor with the…

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TRICK Or TREAT on Snoqualmie Ridge!

   

The Cascade Team invites you to get your spook on!

Located at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA:  35018 SE Ridge Street, Snoqualmie WA 98065

Saturday, October 22nd from 11am to 2pm.


At this annual event, costumed kiddos will begin their spooktacular adventure at Sno Falls Credit Union where they will pick up their treat bag and passport. Visit participating businesses in your passport, located along the Ridge, collect a passport stamp and a treat until you reach your final destination at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA. 

At the Y, kids can turn in their completed passports for a special treat!

   

Carnival GamesJoin us for:

  • FREE Pumpkins
  • Pumpkin Decoration Booth
  • Arts & Crafts
    • …

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