WHO PAYS FOR WHAT AT CLOSING?

The Seller can normally be expected to pay for the following:

• Real estate commission
• Owner’s title insurance premiums
• ½ of the Escrow fee
• Payoff of all loans in Sellerʹs name including the interest accrued to lender being paid off, Statement Fees, re‐conveyance Fees and prepayment penalties
•  Any loan fees required by Buyerʹs lender per the contract
• Home warranty according to the contract
• Any judgments, tax liens, etc. against the Seller
• Recording fees to clear all documents of record against the Seller
• Tax pro‐ration ‐ this is for any unpaid taxes at the time of transfer of title until the deed is recorded in your name
• Any unpaid Homeowners Association dues
• Any bonds or assessments

WHO PAYS FOR WHAT AT CLOSING?

The Seller can normally be expected to pay for the following:

• Real estate commission
• Owner’s title insurance premiums
• ½ of the Escrow fee
• Payoff of all loans in Sellerʹs name including the interest accrued to lender being paid off, Statement Fees, re‐conveyance Fees and prepayment penalties
•  Any loan fees required by Buyerʹs lender per the contract
• Home warranty according to the contract
• Any judgments, tax liens, etc. against the Seller
• Recording fees to clear all documents of record against the Seller
• Tax pro‐ration ‐ this is for any unpaid taxes at the time of transfer of title until the deed is recorded in your name
• Any unpaid Homeowners Association dues
• Any bonds or assessments

Justice Department probe, civil lawsuits pose challenge to real-estate industry practices

“Plaintiffs’ allegations plausibly show that the Buyer-Broker Commission Rules prevent effective negotiation over commission rates and cause an artificial inflation of buyer-broker commission rates,” the judge wrote last year. “But-for Defendants’ conspiracy, each Plaintiff would have paid ‘substantially lower commissions.’”

Transparency in Commissions

Fact: Real estate brokers’ commission rates are not regulated in any state and are ALWAYS 100% negotiable.

The end goal of this lawsuit is for “Buyer Agent Commissions” to be fully seen as a fee paid for and financed in the buyer’s loan.

For example, on a $1 million home with a 3% commission the

Is It Time To Move on to a New Home?

If you’ve been in your home for longer than five years, you’re not alone. According to recent data from First American, homeowners are staying put much longer than historical averages (see graph below):   

As the graph shows, before 2008, homeowners sold their houses after an average of just five years. Today, that number has more than doubled to over 10 years. The housing industry refers to this as your tenure.

To really explore tenure, it’s important to understand what drives people to make a move. An article from The Balance explores some of the primary reasons individuals choose to sell their houses. It says:

“People who move for home-related reasons might need a larger home or a house that

5 Tips for Making Your Best Offer

In today’s sellers’ market, standing out as a buyer is critical. Multi-offer scenarios and bidding wars are the norm due to the low supply of houses for sale and high buyer demand. If you’re buying this fall, you’ll want every advantage, especially when you’ve found the home of your dreams.

Below are five things to keep in mind when it’s time to make an offer.

1. Know Your Budget

Knowing your budget and what you can afford is critical to your success as a homebuyer. The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a loan. As Freddie Mac puts it:

“This pre-approval allows you to look for a home with greater confidence and demonstrates to the seller

5 Tips for Making Your Best Offer

In today’s sellers’ market, standing out as a buyer is critical. Multi-offer scenarios and bidding wars are the norm due to the low supply of houses for sale and high buyer demand. If you’re buying this fall, you’ll want every advantage, especially when you’ve found the home of your dreams.

Below are five things to keep in mind when it’s time to make an offer.

1. Know Your Budget

Knowing your budget and what you can afford is critical to your success as a homebuyer. The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a loan. As Freddie Mac puts it:

“This pre-approval allows you to look for a home with greater confidence and demonstrates to the seller

•       August show month-to-month drops in new listings, total inventory, pending sales, close sales, and median prices.
•          NWMLS statistics show the volume of new listings added during August declined from July (down 11.5%)
•          “We are seeing homes stay on the market slightly longer and more instances of sellers overpricing their properties.
•          Prices showed signs of moderating during August. The average price was down $10,000 from July.

Northwest MLS brokers say August housing activity follows patterns of seasonal slowing KIRKLAND, Washington (September 7, 2021) – August typically brings a dip in housing activity and this year was no different, according to representatives from Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Why It’s Still Safe To Sell Your Home

If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to sell your house this year, there’s good news. Real estate professionals are highly experienced in how to sell houses safely during the pandemic. Over the last year, agents have adopted new technologies and safety measures designed to keep you safe. And experts say these practices are here to stay. As Bob Goldberg, CEO of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it:

“The pandemic has confirmed to all of us in the industry that technology will continue to transform real estate.”

Below is a closer look at some of the new tools real estate professionals are using to better serve sellers.

New and Existing Technology Are Impacting the

• August show month-to-month drops in new listings, total inventory, pending sales, close sales, and median prices
• NWMLS statistics show the volume of new listings added during August declined from July (down 11.5%)
• “We are seeing homes stay on the market slightly longer and more instances of sellers overpricing their properties."
• Prices showed signs of moderating during August. The average price was down $10,000 from July.

Northwest MLS brokers say August housing activity follows patterns of seasonal slowing KIRKLAND, Washington (September 7, 2021) – August typically brings a dip in housing activity and this year was no different, according to representatives from Northwest Multiple Listing Service when commenting on newly-released

•       August show month-to-month drops in new listings, total inventory, pending sales, close sales, and median prices.
•          NWMLS statistics show the volume of new listings added during August declined from July (down 11.5%)
•          “We are seeing homes stay on the market slightly longer and more instances of sellers overpricing their properties.
•          Prices showed signs of moderating during August. The average price was down $10,000 from July.

Northwest MLS brokers say August housing activity follows patterns of seasonal slowing KIRKLAND, Washington (September 7, 2021) – August typically brings a dip in housing activity and this year was no different, according to representatives from Northwest Multiple Listing Service