Bellingham Homes & Real Estate

                 So, you’ve been searching for that perfect house to call a ‘home,’ and you finally found one! The price is right, and in such a competitive market, you want to make sure that you make a good offer so that you can guarantee that your dream of making this house yours comes true! Freddie Mac  covered  “4 Tips for Making an Offer” in their latest  Executive Perspective. Here are the 4 tips they covered along with some additional information for your consideration: 1. Understand How Much You Can Afford “While it's not nearly as fun as house hunting, fully understanding your finances is critical in making an offer.” This ‘tip’ or ‘step’ should really take place before you start your home search process. As we’ve mentioned  before , getting pre-approved is one of many steps that will show home sellers that you are serious about buying, and will allow you to make your offer with the confide...

Buying a Home? Do You Know the Lingo? Buying a home can be intimidating if you are not familiar with the terms used during the process. To start you on your path with confidence, we have compiled a list of some of the most common terms used when buying a home. Freddie Mac has compiled a more exhaustive glossary of terms in their “ My Home ” section of their website. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – This is a broader measure of your cost for borrowing money. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees and certain other credit charges a borrower is required to pay. Because these costs are rolled in, the APR is usually higher than your interest rate. Appraisal – A professional analysis used to estimate the value of the property . This includes examples of sales of similar properties. This is a necessary step in getting your financing secured as it validates the home’s worth to you and your lender. Clos...

This is the #1 question I'm getting from buyers. I break it down here: Mortgage Interest Rates Went Up Again… Should I Wait to Buy?

Now we are past the holidays, are you finally getting ready to buy a home? First step is to get your Free guide here and then call me to set up a game plan. This year is going to be crazy and you'll want to have a solid plan in place. Get my FREE buyers guide !  

2017 has started with housing inventory at historic lows! If you have been on the fence about selling your home, get your game face on! Homes are selling in less than 24hrs, even in late December and early January. Check out this latest blog post and call me so we can get your home listed! Inadequate Inventory Driving Prices Up  Jack Otto eXp Realty #1 Agent in Social Media in Washington jack.otto@exprealty.com

Home sales continue to keep pace through the Fall and Winter months! Check out this infographic! Existing Home Sales Surge Through The #Holidays [INFOGRAPHIC]    If you have been on the fence about selling your home, let's talk. 2017 is going to be another blockbuster year for home sellers. Let's make sure you are ready and get all your questions answered. I offer a FREE home selling consultation complete with home value, marketing plan, staging checklist etc.  Jack Otto 206-388-6102 Top Agent in Social Media in Washington (mondinion.com)

It may be the second week of November, but the housing market is humming right along. Are you looking for your next home? Check out the great new listings this week!  ow.ly/nicZ3065qCU If you have questions, want to get email alerts on the new properties, or have questions about the home buying process, please don't hesitate to call or email me ! Jack Otto Jack.otto@exprealty.com 206-388-6102 #1 REALTOR® in Social Media ranked by Mondinion.com

The Bellingham area housing market hasn’t seen a home shortage like this in over a decade, if ever. There is less that 2.5 months of inventory currently in October. A number we have never seen in my time as an agent. What does this mean for you? Well if you are looking to sell, even going into the holidays, you are going to be getting top dollar for your home. The down side is competition is fierce for buyers. Homes are getting multiple offers and spending as little as a day on the market. Yes, even in October! If you are in the market to buy or sell, give me a call and let’s get our game plan together!

How Historically Low Interest Rates Increase Your Purchasing Power According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey , interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are currently at 3.47%. Rates have remained at or below 3.5% each of the last 16 weeks, marking a historic low. Read more here:   http://mykcm.com/2016/10/18/how-historically-low-interest-rates-increase-your-purchasing-power/

You've probably already heard that there is a shortage of homes on the market. Well it's true, it isn't something we are saying to get you to list your home. But if you wanted to get top dollar for your home in a "sellers market" this is the year!   I offer all my clients a FREE Home Selling guide as well as a FREE orientation to discuss the steps needed to sell your home. But most importantly I want you as a client for life. So I always make sure my clients know where they are going after they sell there home. Whether it's renting, a new house, or moving out of state, I'll be with you the whole way.       Check out these charts and let me know what you think!   3 Charts That Scream ‘List Your Home Today’    

You've been looking at homes for awhile now. Interest rates have kept their historically low value for more than a year. What's the rush to buy a home? Well rates will go up, and early to mid 2016 might be your last chance to get in on the best interest rates you may ever see. Take a look at this graphic to better understand how much home you can afford. http://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2015/12/04/do-you-know-the-difference-your-interest-rate-makes-infographic/?a=231791-0b7756d6164c4cb25cd772e41d399a7a

It's almost 2016 and you want to sell your home this coming year. Wouldn't it be nice to get all the info you need with plenty of time before spring? Get a home value plus free home selling guide to help guide you through the process. From 3D tours to a world class social media strategy. Let's discuss how to get the most money for your home in the least amount of time. #1 Agent in Social Media in Washington    

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All-Cash Offers: Healthy for Real Estate Market, or a Hindrance? We've all seen a lot of cash offers in the last few months. With rising interest rates and shortage of supply, are these cash offers really good for the market? Come share your thoughts and read what AOL had to say.