If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house, this is the time to think seriously about making a move. Fannie Mae’s recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) reveals the number of respondents who say it’s a good time to sell is higher now than it was over the past few summers (see graph below). Today, the majority of consumers, 75 percent, say it’s a good time to sell a house.

Why is sellers sentiment up year-over-year?

The higher good time to sell sentiment has to do with today’s market conditions, specifically low housing supply and high buyer demand. In the simplest terms, we don’t have enough houses available for sale to meet buyer demand.

According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR),…

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Whether or not you’ve been following the real estate industry lately, there’s a good chance you’ve heard we’re in a serious sellers’ market. But what does that really mean? And why are conditions today so good for people who want to list their house?

It starts with the number of houses available for sale. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows housing supply is still astonishingly low. Today, we have a 2.6-month supply of homes at the current sales pace. Historically, a 6-month supply is necessary for a ‘normal’ or ‘neutral’ market in which there are enough homes available for active buyers (see graph below):


 When the supply of houses for sale is as low as it is right now, it’s…

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BELLINGHAM, WA, August 30, 2021 – RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc. is pleased to welcome Jerry Flink to the Lakeway office. Jerry will be joining the Dream Home Team NW and will focus on residential real estate. 

Jerry started his real estate career back in 1978 when Carter was President and rates topped 18%. Jerry became self employed, starting a business in 1982 that was unrelated to real estate and then many years later, in 2010, became a broker in Whatcom County for another brokerage.  

Jerry has been in Whatcom County since 1990. He spent 18 years in a local Auto dealership after owning his own Menswear Store for many years before that. He negotiated leases, trained salespeople, and brainstormed with other managers and…

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BELLINGHAM, WA, August 30, 2021– RE/MAX Whatcom County is pleased to welcome Jose Perez to the Lakeway office. Jose will focus on residential real estate and has interest in potentially becoming a developer.

Jose moved to Bellingham almost 3 years ago from my native country of Spain. He has a Masters in Sport Sciences and Physical Education with emphasis in business development. He also completed a 400+ hour Commercial Agent training community manager course and has been part of “The Power MBA”, a revolutionary online training platform from Spain that’s making its way to the USA.

Jose owns a Spanish Imports company and does construction, landscaping and gardening. In addition to being well connected with the builders and contractors in Whatcom…

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5 Ways You Can Finance Your Home Renovation

Outdated kitchen. Overrun backyard. Unusable basement space.

If you have a home renovation project on the mind, the first thing you have to consider is how you are going to finance it. Here are the most common options to make your dreams become a reality.

1. Cash

Paying in cash is the most straightforward financing option, just save until you have enough money to cover the expenses. This will help eliminate spending outside your budget; however, it can also extend your timeline.

2. Mortgage Refinance

If you’ve been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than current market rates, you may be eligible for a mortgage refinance, reducing your payments and…

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PREP YOUR PETS FOR THE BIG MOVE

Your moving day is set and it’s time to start preparing. As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, don’t forget to factor in your furry friends. Here are some tips for making sure the process goes smoothly.

Medical records. When moving to a different city or state, one of the main things you need to take into consideration is finding a new veterinarian that is the right fit for you and your pet. If you have family or friends in the area ask for recommendations or do your own research by reading reviews and news articles. Once you find one, contact your current vet to initiate a transfer of medical records. Then schedule a “get to know you” appointment shortly after your move. Transportation. Whether…

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RE/MAX, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Team Up for Mega-Month of Local Fundraisers and Giving for Kids 

BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON, 8/17/21 – Inspired by a 25-year-long partnership between RE/MAX and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® (CMN Hospitals), RE/MAX Whatcom County is proud to celebrate the sixth annual Month of Miracles throughout August. This is a time to (1) celebrate and spread the word about your year-round efforts to support your local hospital, (2) strengthen your connection to your local hospitals, and (3) raise even more funds and awareness to help local kids. 

 

“It’s a priority for RE/MAX Whatcom County to give back to the community in which we live and work,” said Lori Reece,…

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Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don't forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase then the price of the home. Here are 5 fees to keep in mind as you begin to budget.

  1. Home inspection. This is a crucial step in the home buying process. The findings that come from the inspection can help you negotiate price and repairs. Generally, you can expect to pay between $300 to $500 depending on the home and the location.
  2. Title services. Title services encompass the transfer of the title from the seller and a thorough search of the property’s records to ensure to no one will pop up with a claim to the property. Additionally, you may need to buy…

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Home prices have increased significantly over the last year, which in turn has grown the net worth of homeowners. Appreciation and home equity are directly linked – as the value of a home increases, so does a homeowner’s equity. And with these recent gains, homeowners are witnessing their financial stability and well-being grow to record levels.

In more good news for homeowners, the most recent Home Price Expectations Survey – a survey of a national panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists – forecasts home prices will continue appreciating over the next five years, adding to the record amount of equity homeowners have already gained over the past year. Below are the expected year-over-year…

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For many young or first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home can feel intimidating. A recent survey shows some homebuyers ages 25 to 40 may be unsure about the homebuying process and what they can afford. It found:

  • “1 in 4 underestimated their buying potential by $150k or more”
  • “1 in 4 underestimated the increase in value by $100k or more”
  • “47% don’t know what a good interest rate is”

Because they feel uncertain, many young homebuyers have given up on their search, or worse, they’ve decided homebuying isn’t for them and never started on their journey to begin with.

If you’re interested in buying but aren’t sure where to begin, here are three key concepts about homeownership you should understand before you get started.

1. What…

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