There has been so much talk, discussion, and questions around the Snohomish County real estate market if it has peaked, are home value going to plummet or continue to increase, how long will the shift last, and how high will interest rates go? All those are valid concerns for home owners, potential buyers, investors and if you're like us, this is not the first time you've experienced a market shift.

Regardless of shift, people need housing and many times housing is dictated by events in that person(s) life. Family could be growing or shrinking, job changes drive moves to new areas, wanting personal space and not having roommates or the opposite of wanting roommates, and/or just a change of scenery. Whatever the reasons, homes still become available and sell during shifting markets.

So, how do residents stay current with the Snohomish County housing market when there is so much uncertainty around housing prices, mortgage interest rates, housing inventory, and avoid the feeling of defeat? Simple, continue reading.

One of our Arlington clients called asking what we know about the Snohomish County Assessors visiting properties, taking pictures, and stating it was for a 6 year property valuation. We knew the Assessors office conducted site visits in the past yet thought that practice was put out of practice years ago. To learn more about the Assessors visit a call was placed to their office this morning.

Did you know there are closing costs, costs associated with a buyer's purchase, when purchasing a home? If not, you're not alone. The home & property purchasing process has many moving parts and complexities not found in other purchases. That is why we set buyer consultation appointment to detail the home buying experience and cover the many details one will encounter.

During the process, if a buyer is using financing to purchase, the buyer will meet with a home loan specialist to discuss types of financing, obtain a per-qualification, and learn all the costs associated with their purchase. However, with the amount of information a home buyer will receive its not uncommon for closing costs to be forgotten. So to help understand what home buying closing costs are here are 10 Common Buyer Closing Costs when Purchasing a Home.

1. Home Inspection: Usually not a financed cost yet a cost a buyer will incur if their purchase and sale contains a home inspection addendum. In addition, a home inspection's costs are not refundable whether a a buyer chooses to move forward or terminate the contract based on the inspection's findings.

Our preferred lender, Joy Blodgett with Caliber Home Loans, has published a video titled Practical Tips to Become a Saver in Uncertain Times gives you ideas that can be implemented immediately to help you save money and improve personal finances if you're planning to purchase a home. Click below to watch her latest video.

When Do I get My Keys after Signing Closing Documents? That is a common question throughout the purchasing process and rightfully so. Keys are important and after searching for the right home, working through the home loan process, navigating the home purchase process, and managing personal stress its always nice to receive keys sooner than later and be finished.

Eventhough the purchase is nearly complete buyers are still unclear when they'll receive keys. In this article, three ways will be shared about how and when buyer's receive their keys when purchasing a home.

UPON CLOSING: Line 11 of the Purchase & Sale Contract outlines the Closing Date and Possession Date. If the closing date is for August 19, 2022 and the box is checked for Possession upon closing then buyer will receive keys after the property closes and records at Snohomish County.

When selling a home or property, every property owner will incur costs which are commonly known as Seller's Closing Costs. Yet, many real estate brokers don't adequately explain what those Seller's Closing Costs are. It is highly important to understand expected closing costs, how much closings costs are, and have a breakdown detailing those closing costs.

It’s no secret that we love the outdoors here in the pacific northwest. If there’s one thing we have plenty of, it’s great outdoor spaces. Whether you’re looking to sit by the ocean, take the kids to the playground, or enjoy a nice stroll through the forest, there are plenty of options - which is why we’re giving you the top 5 best parks in Snohomish County.

#5: MARTHA LAKE PARK

Best For: Kids, Family, Swimming, Fishing

Sitting on 6 beautiful acres, this park is like a hidden gem in the heart of a fast-growing urban area. Located in Lynnwood, Martha Lake Park is the perfect mix between spending time in nature and having access to all the amenities you may need. It offers a fishing dog and boardwalks throughout so you can explore the wetlands and lake before spending some time at the elaborate playground. Picnic shelters are available to reserve, and there are permanent restrooms open from Spring until Fall.

Fun Fact: Prior to what it is today, Marth Lake County Park was originally planned to be developed into condominiums or a business park, but the plans made by the previous owner proved infeasible by the county, so community groups pushed to create a regional park!

It’s no secret that home prices have risen to great heights in recent years. With low supply and high demand in Snohomish County, Washington, these prices aren’t predicted to drop anytime soon. But as real estate agents who’ve handled the housing market in all sorts of scenarios - from the ‘90s market to the 2008 market to the Covid market - we at Barnett Associates know that fluctuations and changes are normal. No matter what the market looks like, it’s important to know how to work with what you have. So maybe your budget left you with a bedroom that’s slightly smaller than you planned - but that’s nothing to be discouraged about. Here are our top 4 tips to easily increase the size of your space when you can’t, you know, actually increase the size of your space.

1. Choose the Right Paint

Oftentimes, it’s assumed that light colors are the only way to make a room appear larger. While this is typically the case, you aren’t only limited to off-whites and light grays. And while we’re a big fan of grays, here in the Pacific Northwest, it can benefit your space to add in something other than gray tones to contrast with the amount of cloud coverage and rain we have.The main goal here is to give the illusion of a wider room that has more depth. Light colors are inherently reflective, which is why they make a room feel bigger. But pairing light paint color with a darker accent wall can create contrast to achieve this illusion as well. So, while you may want to stick with a neutral taupe or crisp white, pairing a pale blue with a navy blue accent wall can benefit your space too. Another way to achieve this is to use an eggshell, semi-gloss, or satin finish instead of matte because these finishes will boost that reflective property.

To start, let start by putting the previous years into context by visiting the past a bit in this opinion piece.

During the Great Recession, home buyers no longer felt the need to keep up with their peers when purchasing a home. Buyers decided that location, floor plan, bedroom count, and lot size were far more important than counter tops, types of flooring, and modern interior paint colors like previous buyers did.

On the flip side, sellers had to negotiate a buyer's offer when a buyer submitted an offer the requested seller's contribution to buyer's closing costs, contained a home inspection addendum and subsequent work items and other potential terms written into a purchase and sale offer - read why I don't like the term "bid" here.

As we become older, our real estate needs change. Once what was needing more beds, baths, and/or acreage has pivoted to downsizing, estate planning, wills, and enjoying those later years of life. Sadly, this article will cover items items to consider when selling a property as an estate sale after a person(s) pass away while owning a home or property.

Let's get started.

1. What is an Estate Sale?

In a real estate transaction when a person, or persons, pass-away their home or other types real property, is sold and the proceeds are to be distributed to those person(s) heirs based on deceased person(s) will. This is what we call an Estate Sale which is not to be confused when personal property is sold via estate sale. When this scenario happens the seller is usually listed as The Estate of John Doe Morgan and not John Doe Morgan.

Here is an example from a purchase and sale were we represented the seller and the seller's daughter had a Power of Attorney to complete the sale.