Smart home technology is a growing trend, with nearly half of American households now implementing at least one form o the technology. As Realtor.com outlines, these products can make our homes a better place, saving us “money, time, headaches, and other hassles.” Below I’ve re-capped their top five reasons to “go smart.”
Read MoreWhen considering home renovation, it’s important to think not only about how added features will add value to daily life but also how they will impact your home’s value when it comes time to sell. MarketWatch recently put together a list of the top home features that boost a home’s value, both at the entry-level and top tier price points. Data was compiled by Zillow and utilized the listing descriptions, sold prices, and sales times for over 4.6 million home sales in 2017 and 2018.
Read MoreIf you’ve sold a home this year, then you can expect that come springtime, you’ll be facing a capital gains tax. As Homelight describes, “your house is considered a capital asset and, depending on how much you sell it for and how long you’ve owned and lived in it,” you may qualify for a number of tax deductions that will “lower your capital gains tax obligation.”
Read MoreWhether you are a new Seattle-area resident or have lived in the city for years, choosing a neighborhood can be a tough. Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty recently put together a list of the top five things to consider when starting a home search in the Emerald City.
Read MoreAs an ever-popular real estate website in the U.S., homeowners and potential buyers have long looked to the Zestimate tool when exploring what a home may be worth. Though it can sometimes provide a helpful starting place, there are also pitfalls to the algorithm-based system, which doesn’t account for system errors and the human element of valuing a home. For example, how is Zillow to know if the owners put thousands of dollars into a brand new, state-of-the-art kitchen? These flaws were recently on display in Washington, as Seattle Times reported that a home in Mason County was over-valued by a staggering 700-percent in its Zestimate.
Read MoreThe colder weather and shorter days of winter signaled a cool down across the board for real estate. However, as we enter into Spring, the housing market begins to thaw. The median home price in King County has continued to rise with the temperature, hitting nearly $600,000 in February; the Eastside, Snohomish County and Seattle proper all set new price records. With many houses selling for well over the asking price, buyers are anxious to place their bid now instead of waiting until the busier spring season. The continued low inventory is due in part to the high demand, but also to the number of people unwilling to put their homes on the market while knowing they will have to purchase another expensive property.
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