Western Washington housing market “energized” and showing signs of “definite turnaround” KIRKLAND, Wash. (May 3, 2012) – Northwest Multiple Listing Service brokers reported double-digit gains in both pending and closed sales during April compared to a year ago, but the most eye-catching number may pertain to prices. For the first time in more than four years [...]
“Buyer Ready” Home Shoppers Have Edge as Brokers Report Rise in Multiple Offers KIRKLAND, Wash. (April 5, 2012) – The housing market in the Puget Sound region is pointing toward a sustainable recovery, according to several brokers who commented on the March activity report from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. MLS Members reported 9,126 pending sales [...]
For many people, buying a home is a once in a lifetime experience. As with anything that is new or unfamiliar, the home buying process can be stressful, but the written contract spells out the entire transaction, in part, to keep stressful situations to a minimum. The price of the house, the closing or settlement [...]
With homeowners in the United States and elsewhere continuing to struggle to pay their mortgages, some believe that foreclosure is their only option. However, because of the distressed housing market that has existed since 2007, short sales have become considerably more prevalent. Although the short sale is by no means a painless option, it is [...]
Washington homebuyers realizing “market may have reached bottom of cycle” KIRKLAND, Wash. (March 5, 2012) – With spring on the horizon and consumer confidence on the rise, members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service are reporting positive gains in activity. Pending sales for February increased more than 27 percent from a year ago, more sellers are [...]
How to Buy a Home with a Small Down Payment: The Advantages of Using FHA Financing It usually takes many years of penny pinching, sacrifice and firm self control to save enough money to buy a house. Many Americans end up using their life savings to pay for the costs associated with a home purchase. [...]
Northwest MLS brokers report more than 56,000 sales during 2011, outgaining prior year by 7.4 percent, but total dollar volume shrinks KIRKLAND, Wash. (Jan. 23, 2012) – Members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service tallied 56,290 closed sales of single family homes and condominiums during 2011, improving on 2010’s volume by 4,290 transactions for a 7.4 [...]
Housing market “healing itself,” numbers are “astoundingly good” KIRKLAND, Wash. (Feb. 6, 2012) – Pending sales may not appear to be much higher than 2011 (up 13.7 percent in January), but the numbers are “astoundingly good,” considering such factors as harsh weather and the tax credits that boosted sales at this time a year ago, [...]
“Healthy marketplaces” emerging with shrinking inventory, favorable financing KIRKLAND, Wash. (Jan. 4, 2012) – Home sales finished the year much stronger than they started, with pending sales for the fourth quarter outgaining the first quarter by more than 3,000 transactions for a 21 percent increase, according to new figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. A [...]
What is a Multiple Listing Service? Multiple listing services, also known as MLS systems, are the database systems real estate agents use to market homes, apartments, land or other types of property. Without MLS systems, home shopping would not be possible due to the sheer volume of homes in the marketplace. Houses that show up [...]
