Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate Federal Way & Puyallup

Some Highlights: The housing market is forecasted to finish the year with growing strength. Historically low mortgage rates are creating great potential for homebuyers, and home sales are on the rise. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, reach out to a local real estate professional to maximize your opportunity today. JULY 31, 2020 / BY  KCM CREW

As remote work continues on for many businesses and Americans weigh the risks of being in densely populated areas, will more people start to move out of bigger cities? Spending extra time at home and dreaming of more indoor and outdoor space is certainly sparking some interest among homebuyers. Early data shows an initial trend in this direction of moving from urban to suburban communities, but the question is:  will the trend continue? According to recent data from  Zillow , there is a current surge in urban high-end listings in some larger metro areas. The month-over-month increase in these homes going on the market indicates more urban homeowners may be ready to make a move out of the city, particularly at the upper end of the market  (See graph below): Why are people starting to move out of larger cities? With the ongoing health crisis, it’s no surprise that many people are starting to consider this shift. A July survey from  HomeLight   notes  the top reasons people are actually m

Here's the top 5 things Paul recommends you should know as a first time home buyer.   We challenged our agents to post an informative video to their social media every day for 30 days. This series contains a few examples of videos you can post anytime to add value to your social media. Like our Puyallup and Federal Way Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/BHHSPuyallup https://www.facebook.com/berkshire.ha... Contact Paul for real estate business coaching: http://coachwithpaul.com/

So far, it’s been quite a ride this year, and our nation has truly seen its fair share of hurdles. From COVID-19 to record unemployment and then the resulting recession, just to name a few, the second quarter of 2020 has had more than a few challenges. Amidst the many roadblocks, however, the U.S. homeownership rate rose again, signaling great strength in the recovery of the housing market and an indication that even in a time of crisis, Americans still feel confident about buying a home. Yesterday, the  U.S. Census Bureau   announced : “The homeownership rate of 67.9 percent was 3.8 percentage points higher than the rate in the second quarter 2019 (64.1 percent) and 2.6 percentage points higher than the rate in the first quarter 2020 (65.3 percent).” The increase is also represented by race and ethnicity of the householder: There are many reasons why the homeownership rate in this country is rising, and one of the key factors is historically- low mortgage rates . Rates hovering at all

Tips for deciding the right home for your family. We challenged our agents to post an informative video to their social media every day for 30 days. This series contains a few examples of videos you can post anytime to add value to your social media. Like our Puyallup and Federal Way Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/BHHSPuyallup https://www.facebook.com/berkshire.ha... Contact Paul for real estate business coaching: http://coachwithpaul.com/

We challenged our agents to post an informative video to their social media every day for 30 days. This series contains a few examples of videos you can post anytime to add value to your social media. Like our Puyallup and Federal Way Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/BHHSPuyallup , https://www.facebook.com/berkshire.ha... Contact Paul for real estate business coaching: http://coachwithpaul.com/

We challenged our agents to post an informative video to their social media every day for 30 days. This series contains a few examples of videos you can post anytime to add value to your social media. Like our Puyallup and Federal Way Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/BHHSPuyallup https://www.facebook.com/berkshire.ha... Contact Paul for real estate business coaching: http://coachwithpaul.com/

Some Highlights A recent study shared by  NAR  notes that both buyers and sellers think an agent is more helpful than ever during the current health crisis. Expertise and professionalism are highly valued and can save buyers and sellers time and effort along the way. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, be sure you have a trusted professional on your side. JULY 24, 2020 / BY  KCM CREW

With a worldwide health crisis that drove a pause in the economy this year, the housing market was greatly impacted. Many have been eagerly awaiting some bright signs of a recovery. Based on the latest Existing Home Sales  Report  from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), June hit a much-anticipated record-setting rebound to ignite that spark. According to  NAR ,  home sales jumped 20.7%  from May to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.72 million in June:   “Existing-home sales rebounded at a record pace in June, showing strong signs of a market turnaround after three straight months of sales declines caused by the ongoing pandemic…Each of the four major regions achieved month-over-month growth.” This significant rebound is a major boost for the housing market and the U.S. economy. According to Lawrence Yun,  Chief Economist  for NAR, the momentum has the potential to continue on, too: “The sales recovery is strong, as buyers were eager to purchase homes and properties that

PPP Loans have been extended! As the Small Business Administration’s Nevada District Director, Joe serves as a champion for the state’s entrepreneurs and is focused on increasing the utilization of SBA services across Nevada. An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll).

The health crisis we face as a country has led businesses all over the nation to reduce or discontinue their services altogether. This pause in the economy has greatly impacted the workforce and as a result, many people have been laid off or furloughed. Naturally, that would lead many to believe we might see a rush of foreclosures like we saw in 2008. The market today, however, is very different from  2008 . The concern of more foreclosures based on those that are out of work is one that we need to understand fully. There are two reasons we won’t see a rush of foreclosures this fall: forbearance extension options and strong homeowner equity. 1. Forbearance Extension Forbearance, according to the  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  ( CFPB ), is  “ when your mortgage servicer or lender allows you to temporarily pay your mortgage at a lower payment or pause paying your mortgage.”  This   is an option for those who need immediate relief. In today’s economy, the CFPB has given homeowners