Real Estate Videos by Andrew L. Parker with RE/MAX

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Home Staging - Things To Do

A conversation with Charlotte Graham owner of Jan Sewell Design about staging and preparing a home for the real estate market. When selling a home the Seller has 20 seconds to make a good first impression. Graham makes suggestions for home Sellers that will help create an emotional connecting between the home and the future Buyer.

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Home Staging For Home Sellers

A conversation with Charlotte Graham owner of Jan Sewell Design about staging and preparing a home for the real estate market. When selling a home the Seller has 20 seconds to make a good first impression. De-cluttering, paint color, lighting, art, furniture, and furniture placement are all important to create an emotional connecting with the future Buyer.

North Seattle - State of the Market

The real estate market in Northwest Seattle is hot! It has shifting from a Buyer’s Market to a Seller’s Market. The supply of homes is low and the demand is high. However, when comparing February of 2007 to February of 2012 the median home price is down 8.5%. With home prices lower and mortgage interest rates around 4%, in King County the monthly mortgage payment is less expensive than the monthly rent for the average home.

Northwest Seattle includes the neighborhoods of Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake, Phinney Ridge, Loyal Heights, Crown Hill, Greenwood, Broadview, Bitterlake and many more.

Queen Anne and Magnolia - State of the Market

For the month of February the real estate market in the Seattle, Washington neighborhoods of Queen Anne and Magnolia appears to be shifting from a Buyer's Market to a Seller's Market. The supply of homes is low and the demand is high. However, when comparing February of 2007 to February of 2012 the median home price is down. With home prices lower and mortgage interest rates around 4%, in King County the monthly mortgage payment is less expensive than the monthly rent for the average home.

Home Mortgages and Refinancing Pt. 1

In this video Andrew L. Parker with RE/MAX Metro Realty and Craig Walker with Cascade Mortgage discuss home mortgage interest rates, refinancing a home, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and refinancing a with second mortgage.

Home mortgage interest rates are currently hovering around 4% to 4.25% for most borrowers. Current and future rates are based on the value of mortgage backed securities. When economic data is weaker than expected bond prices typically move up and interest rates go down. When economic data is stronger than expected bond prices typically move down and interest rates go up. Rates will very week by week and day by day...

Mortgages Part 2

In this video Andrew L. Parker with RE/MAX Metro Realty and Craig Walker with Cascade Mortgage discuss loan limits, jumbo loans and renting versus owning. The type of loan one gets depends on the amount of the loan. In Seattle, Washington, a loan would be considered "Conforming" if the value is less than $417,000. It would be considered a "Conforming Jumbo" if it is valued between $417,000 and $506,000. While it would be considered a "Jumbo" if it is valued above $506,000. With home interest rates and home values down, more buyers are entering the market. In King County is has become more affordable to pay the monthly mortgage payment for the average home than it is to rent the average home.

Thank you, Craig Walker with Cascade Mortgage for help with this video. Craig may be reached at 206-999-5600 or visit www.cascademc.com/content/cw.

Making an Offer on a Home

When making an offer to buy a home it is important to get yourself in the right mind set. This video was made to help coach home buyers with negotiating strategies for making a strong offer.

Home Appraisals

With every real estate transaction that is funded with a loan, an appraisal is ordered to justify the value. This is to help protect the interests of the Buyer and the Lender. An Appraiser is hired to look at the property and compared it to others that have sold recently in the area. A value is then placed on the property. Once complete, the appraisal is then sent to an Appraisal Management Company to review the appraisal and compare it to the MLS Listing and the County Records.

All parties want an appraisal that is at or above the purchase price. If the value of the appraisal is less than the purchase price, the Lender will not fund the loan. In this case, the appraisal can be challenged if there is an error and the price adjusted. Otherwise, the Seller will need to sell the home for less, the Buyer will need to pay a larger down payment, or the sale fails.

Homeowners who remodel or update their homes significantly without getting the proper local permits may have difficulty selling. The change may cause a red flag for the Appraisal Management Company who may not approve the appraisal. At which point the Homeowner would need to get the updates permitted, or the home would need to be reappraised without the updates. These two options are not ideal. To save time and money it is best to get permits during construction.