Our preferred lender, Joy Blodgett with Movement Mortgage, 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.

Credit score is an integral part of qualifying for a home loan and typically the most critical. So, here are 10 simple ways to improve your credit over the next 6 months.

But before getting into the the 10 ways, let's look at factors that impact a credit score. According to the Experian app.:

• Payment History: 35% of your FICO score is based on payment history.
• Types of Credit Used: 10% of your FICO Score is based on the different types of credit you have.
• Pursuit of New Credit: 10% of your FICO Score is based on recent inquiries and recently opened accounts.
• Length of Credit: 15% of your FICO Score is based on how long you've had your credit.
• Outstanding Debt: 30% of your FICO Score is based on your outstanding debt.

Over the years, I've spoken with many folks who think their credit is in such dire shape that there is little hope of fixing it. Since they think there's no hope, they usually do nothing and the credit problem persists. However, it is very important to know that there is hope, credit can be fixed, and it won't take the rest of your life to do.

These recommendations are not something dreamed up, these are strategies to improve your credit score.

Are you researching the home loan process? If so, here is an easy to follow flowchart on the Do's & Don't of a Smooth Home Loan based on our experience and recommendations from our preferred lender.

The closing documents have been signed and you are now holding the keys to your new home. At the Barnett Associates Tea,, we strive to deliver an exceptional level of service in a ll phases of the homebuying process and are pleased to assist after the purchase as well.

So, What Should You Do After Closing on a Home?

Get Excited: Purchasing a home is really big deal, lots of hard work, and should be celebrated. Yet, don't celebrate to hard as there is lots to do while planning the move.