WINDERMERE NORTH BLOG

The headlines are swirling about the real estate market. The environment is shifting from a seller’s market to a balanced market, creating opportunities for buyers and holding sellers to exacting standards. The primary factors affecting this shift are inventory levels, interest rates, and consumer confidence. These are the same factors that commonly influence the market conditions, […]

Last week, our office hosted a panel discussion on the hot topic of homeowners insurance. In the wake of several natural disasters, supply chain issues, and inflation on building materials, homeowners insurance is currently experiencing a “hard market”. Non-renewal and cancellation rates are rising, some carriers are leaving certain states, and specific aspects of a home, […]

As your trusted real estate advisors, our service to you is beyond the transaction of buying and selling real estate. Your home is your nest egg and often your most significant financial investment, requiring care and attention to maintain and protect it. An important aspect of protecting your home is your Homeowners Insurance Policy. In […]

Year-to-date 2025, there have been more new listings than in 2024. After two years of tightly constricted inventory, this has been a welcome relief for buyers. Closed sales are trending up despite stubborn interest rates, and it is still a seller’s market with under two months of inventory. The increased selection has tempered the month-over-month […]

As we head into Q2, we wanted to review preliminary Q1 stats in order to report the latest trends in the market. The spring market has sprung, and activity is positive on both the seller and buyer side. The two charts above show key market factors from two points of view, March 2025 over February […]

Last month, our office invited a panel of insurance professionals to discuss the volatility of the Homeowner’s Insurance (HOI) market so we could learn the latest to best inform our clients. In the wake of several natural disasters, the LA Fires is one of the most recent, HOI companies have become much more scrutinous and […]

As we start a new year, we are often asked where home prices are headed.  While we don’t have a crystal ball, we study the market trends and activity closely.  Many aspects affect home prices, such as the overall economy’s health, inventory levels (supply & demand), and interest rates.  Seasonality is also a pattern we […]

On January 22, our office hosted renowned economist and housing market specialist Matthew Gardner, who shared his 2025 Economic & Housing Market Forecast. We spent an hour listening to his keen analysis and insights, which included a look back at 2024, some discussion about what to expect with the new administration, and a look ahead to […]

The 2024 real estate market experienced price growth and stability amongst volatile interest rates and tight inventory. There was a welcomed increase in closed sales in 2024 compared to 2023, which recorded the lowest level of closed sales since 2008. Low inventory levels were driven by the “lock-in effect” from the previous lower interest rates. […]

Reflecting on the joy of the holiday season always brings with it gratitude. One of the most important pieces of our business is working with an office that always makes it a priority to come together as a team throughout the year to lift up our neighbors in need and give back to our communities. […]

As we head into the holidays and mark the final stretch of the year, we wanted to report on the 2024 real estate market and where we might be headed in 2025. To set the stage, we must mention the ride that it has been over the last five years. Since 2019, we have experienced […]

As 2024 starts to come to a close, we want to spend some time talking about first-time homebuyers. Even if you already own a home, this is an important message to share; it can change someone’s life! In 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, first-time […]

Your home is your shelter where you make memories, a large part of your financial nest egg, and a vehicle for creating wealth. Knowing what your home is worth is empowering and important. The reasons that may come up when you need to know your home’s value can have a direct impact on your financial health. Do you need […]

The third quarter saw an increase in inventory, a decrease in interest rates, and continued price stability. Interest rates continue to be volatile, and in Q3 they came down by almost 2 points year over year. This caused more buyers to enter the market and pending sales to rise. The number of available listings has […]

As we celebrate the start of autumn, the season of change, the leaves on the trees are not the only things that are falling. Interest rates have gradually fallen throughout the year. Just 11 months ago, rates were almost 2 points higher; in the frothy spring market, they were nearly 1.5 points higher. During this […]

Summer 2024 welcomed an increase in available inventory, a drop in interest rates, and continued price stability, which has upheld strong home equity levels. After a double-digit ramp-up in price appreciation in the first half of 2024, prices have slightly come off the peak of May 2024 and found stability. This trend is historically consistent with […]

As we approach November and the Presidential election nears, it would be good to look back on how election years have historically affected the real estate market.  There is certainly a lot going on and this stimulation can cause pause.  Buying and selling real estate is a big life event and the election is a […]

Higher-density housing is happening in our state and quite possibly right in your own backyard. This is called middle housing. Middle housing is a term for buildings that are compatible in scale, form, and character with detached single-family houses. In 2023, House Bill 1110 was passed in a bipartisan 35-14 vote in the Senate and 79-18 vote in […]

Home values had positive growth in the second quarter of 2024, and inched close to the peak levels we saw in Q2 2022 before the post-pandemic housing correction. Despite inflation and interest rates remaining stubborn, demand has continued to be strong, resulting in a seller’s market. A bright light for buyers is the recent uptick […]

As we approach the mid-point of the year, we want to take a moment to explain all that has happened in the 2024 real estate market and where we might be headed. We have had strong price growth since December 2023, and in May 2024 prices matched the peak we saw in spring 2022. The […]

As promised, here is the latest update regarding the $418 Million NAR Lawsuit Settlement and how it will affect real estate operations in WA State. As the deadline to opt in to the NAR Lawsuit Settlement approaches, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) announced last week that they have voted to NOT opt-in to the settlement. […]

As we sit almost five months into 2024 in the middle of the spring market and I reflect on how the year is going, I am grateful, amazed, and locked in on the stats. You see, the last four years since the start of the pandemic have been an eventful and wild ride. 2020 saw […]

The real estate industry has been in the news a bit lately. Not so much about the trends and home values. More so about class action lawsuits, which have stolen a lot of attention away from the positive activity that is happening in our market. While the lawsuit is an important story to track, one […]

After an almost two-year journey of recovery and stabilization since the spring 2022 correction, the market has started to experience solid price appreciation. The median price in Q1 2024 vs. Q1 2023 shows that despite interest rates remaining stubborn, buyer demand is returning to the market. Improved consumer confidence and acclimation to lending costs have caused […]

As we are sure you have heard on the news, there is a proposed settlement agreement for the NAR (National Association of Realtors) Class Action Lawsuit. It has certainly stirred up plenty of headlines that have been glossy, and in many cases, inaccurate. Many of the reports and headlines have been national and it is […]

When Punxsutawney Phill climbed up to his perch at Gobblers Knob on February 2nd and did not see his shadow, an early spring was predicted. Little did we know that he would be referring to the real estate market! As we experience temps in the 30s and scattered snow showers in the first week of March, we […]

Effective January 1, 2024, the statute in Washington that governs real estate brokerage relationships (RCW 18.86) otherwise known as the “Agency Law” – was significantly revised. The revisions modernize the 25-year-old law, provide additional transparency and consumer protections, and acknowledge the importance of buyer representation. KEY REVISIONSFor decades, real estate brokerage firms were only required […]