My New Blog

Good news!!! If you are a homeowner in the Seattle - Tacoma area, the Seattle real estate market was awarded the #1 city most likely to rebound.

In a recent article from Forbes.com, "Real Estate Markets Most Likely to Rebound," they cited a survey of real estate professionals including, private developers, real estate agents, and real estate investment executives identifying Seattle as the top city to have the best chance for a speedy recovery.  The survey was completed by The Urban Land Institute.

The article writes:

Seattle is "a diversified market, has a good base of business and is becoming a 24-hour city," says Stephen Blank, senior resident fellow, finance, at the Urban Land Institute. "It's going to be in a good position to come back."  

These traits landed Seattle the NO. 1 spot on the list.

According to the survey, the 5 cities most likely to rebound:

1. Seattle
2. San Francisco
3. Washington D.C.
4. New York
5. Los Angeles

Positive news for owners of King County Real Estate and Pierce County Real Estate.  Another good read is, Is the Washington State Real Estate Market Tide Turning?

Read the complete article,  http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/foreclosure-recession-cities-forbeslife-cx_dp_1029realestate.html

------------------- Additional Featured Articles -----------------

Is the Washington State Real Estate Market Tide Turning?

Home Buyers CAN Find Loans - The Right News!

------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE Seller Resources

Tips to Sell Your Home

Get the Highest Price Selling Your Home

Tips to Stage Your Home to Sell

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Search for Homes for Sale 

> Pierce County Washington Real Estate <

Search Pierce County Homes for Sale

Search Pierce County Foreclosures

 > Thurston County Washington Real Estate <

Search Thurston County Homes for Sale

Search Thurston County Foreclosures

 > King County Washington Real Estate <

Search King County Homes for Sale

Search King County Foreclosures

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Owning a Home is Still the American Dream!

Now may be the best time in the past 20 years to buy or invest in Real Estate. House sales in many areas have stabilized, mortgage interest rates are down, inventory has declined over the last 2 months nationally, and housing affordability has improved.   

The National Association of Realtor recently posted the following facts from a Real Estate Survey:

• Home ownership is an investment in your future. Owning a home helps build wealth over the long term, and it provides significant social benefits.
• On average, owners who purchased their home six years ago have seen the value of their home rise 24.3 percent during that time, despite recent price declines.
• In a recent survey of economists, 8 out of 10 believed home prices will be higher in 5 years than they are today.
• First-time home buyers can now get $7,500 tax credit for qualified home purchases from April 9, 2009 to June 30, 2009, thanks to recently passed housing stimulus legislation. Details of the $7,000 tax credit
• An overwhelming majority of economists surveyed - by a better than 5-to-1-ratio - agreed with the statement, "A person can increase their long-term wealth by purchasing a house rather than renting."

*Baylor University Keller Center for Research

Consult your local Realtor for Real Estate opportunities in your area.

Read more about the $7,500 Tax Credit for Home Buyers

Is the Real Estate Market Tide Turning?

Seattle Real Estate Market Best for Speedy Rebound

------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE Seller Resources

Tips to Sell Your Home

Get the Highest Price Selling Your Home

Tips to Stage Your Home to Sell

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Search for Homes for Sale 

> Pierce County Washington Real Estate <

Search Pierce County Homes for Sale

Search Pierce County Foreclosures

 > Thurston County Washington Real Estate <

Search Thurston County Homes for Sale

Search Thurston County Foreclosures

 > King County Washington Real Estate <

Search King County Homes for Sale

Search King County Foreclosures

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter

by Brandon Cornett

Most real estate experts agree that it's best to sell your home during the warmer months of spring and summer. For one thing, home buyers with children will often plan their house hunting / home buying process for the summer, when their children are out of school.

But what if you can't sell your home during the spring or summer? What if it's just not in the cards? Perhaps you cannot afford the home any more and you need to sell it fast, regardless of the season. Or maybe you have a job transfer that requires you to move during the winter months.

Whatever the reason, you need not despair. While there are certain challenges to selling a home during winter, they do not by any means make it impossible. On the contrary, if you follow the selling techniques and tips in this article (and the advice provided by your real estate agent), you should be able to sell your home in the winter nearly as easily as you would in the summer.

Contrast the Cold With the Warmth

Emotions play a big role in the home buying process. Granted, the buyers will be most concerned with the size of the home, the number of rooms, and other tangible items. But "gut" feelings and first impressions go a long way as well. So even in the coldest winter months, you can put this knowledge into practice. In fact, you can even take advantage of the winter cold!

The best way to do this is by showcasing the warmth and coziness of your home. By doing this, you will create a favorable first impression that the buyers will take with them throughout your house. Let's look at an example of this concept in action.

Imagine This Realistic Scenario

Local home buyers John and Jane visit your home while house hunting. It's cold outside, with wind and rain on top of that -- the kind of conditions that make you want to hunker down someplace warm. John and Jane open the front door and enter the home. The house is well lit and exudes warmth. Candles burn atop the mantle. A fire crackles softly in the fireplace. The smell of gingerbread cookies (recently baked on offered on a glass plate) permeates the air.

Doesn't that feel inviting? It will be the same way for buyers. So just by showcasing the warmth of your home, you have increased the likelihood of selling it. You are creating a favorable first impression by literally welcoming the buyers in from the cold.

You can think about it in terms of both psychology and physiology. The first physical impression will be one of warmth and relaxation, just as soon as the buyers walk in. This will lead to a favorable mental impression as well, and the buyers will carry this impression with them through the rest of the home.

Conclusion

Some people will tell you that selling a home fast during winter is impossible. We say it depends upon two things -- (A) the amount of effort you put into it, and (B) the type of real estate market you are in. So one cannot say across the board that selling a home fast in winter is impossible. It is a case-by-case situation. Use the tips provided in this article, follow the expert advice of your real estate agent, and you have every chance of selling your home during winter!

* Copyright 2008, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article if you retain the citation notes and hyperlink below.

Citation Note: This article was created by Brandon Cornett, publisher of the Home Buying Institute network of real estate websites. You can learn more or contact the author by visiting his mortgage refinance blog at http://www.mortgage-refinance-advice.com/blog/

How to Buy a Home With a Low Down Payment

by Brandon Cornett

It's no surprise that so many Americans are looking for ways to buy a home with a low down payment.

After all, with so many other costs associated with a home purchase -- like closing costs, furniture, moving expenses, etc. -- coming up with a large down payment isn't always an option. So the idea of buying a home with a low down payment can be very appealing to many buyers, especially first time home buyers.

Many people mistakenly believe that a down payment of at least 20 percent is required in all mortgage scenarios. This is the way things were for a long time. But these days, there are more flexible loan programs and terms available to home buyers. In fact, some mortgage lenders will extend loans to qualified buyers with a down payment as low as 5 percent of the purchase price.

Generally, a mortgage loan with a down payment of less than 20 percent is referred to as a low down payment mortgage loan.

But like all things in life (and in home buying), there are special conditions to buying a home with a low down payment. For instance, many mortgage lenders who grant loans with such a low down payment usually require that the loan be insured in some way. This insurance is aptly called mortgage insurance.

Mortgage Insurance for a Low Down Payment
Mortgage insurance is just what it sounds like -- insurance on a home mortgage loan. This type of insurance protects the lender financially in the event that a homeowner defaults (ceases to make payments) on the mortgage.

Mortgage lenders usually require mortgage insurance on loans with a down payment of 20 percent or less. In other words, some form of mortgage insurance is almost always required for a low down payment mortgage. The home buyer is usually required to pay the cost of this mortgage insurance.

Two Types of Mortgage Insurance - Government and Private
Let's recap what we have covered so far. We know that it's possible to buy a home with a low down payment, and that a 20 percent down payment is not always necessary. We also said that most lenders who offer mortgages with a low down payment (below 20 percent) will also require some form of mortgage insurance. Thus, buying a home with a low down payment almost always requires mortgage insurance.

With that straight, let's talk about the two types of mortgage insurance -- governmental and private.

Government Mortgage Insurance
Government-backed mortgages are usually insured by one of three federal organizations. These mortgages are either insured by (A) the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA; (B) the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA; or (C) the Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service, or RHS.

Each of these agencies has its own criteria for the types of loans they will ensure. For example, the VA Home Loan program only applies to military veterans or their spouses, and RHS loans are usually reserved for people in rural areas.

The FHA requires a minimum down payment of 3 percent. They also limit the loan amount that they're willing to ensure based on geographic area.

So this is governmental path to buying a home with a low down payment. When you obtain a mortgage loan backed by one of the federal organizations listed above, you can make a down payment less than the traditional 20 percent.

Private Mortgage Insurance
In addition to the three governmental options above, there are also private companies willing to insure mortgage loans. This too can be a path to home buying with a lower down payment. Private mortgage insurance is aptly referred to as PMI. Private mortgage insurance is available to a much wider audience than the governmental options listed above. For instance, there are no restrictions regarding military service or rural residence.

Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is available on a wide variety of low down payment home loans and there is no pre-determined limit on the loan amount (as there usually is with the government-backed mortgage loans).

Conclusion
These days, it is certainly possible to buy a home with a low down payment. In this context, "low" refers to a down payment of less than 20 percent. These types of home loans require some form of mortgage insurance, either government insurance or private mortgage insurance (PMI). Here are some resources to help you learn more about home buying with low money down.

* Copyright 2008, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article if you retain the citation notes and hyperlink below.

Citation Note: This article was created by Brandon Cornett, publisher of the Home Buying Institute network of real estate websites. You can learn more or contact the author by visiting his mortgage refinance blog at http://www.mortgage-refinance-advice.com/blog/

No-Nonsense Guide to Home Buying - 12 Steps to Success

by Brandon Cornett

In the last few years, the process of buying a home has been altered by the so-called mortgage crisis and the continued evolution of online real estate tools. So in this article, we will take a fresh and modern look at the process of buying a house. More specifically, I will outline the general process in twelve clear steps.

1. Check Your Credit

Credit scores have always been important for home buyers, but they are more in the wake of the mortgage meltdown of 2007 - 2008. According to industry experts, home buyers in 2006 needed a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for the best interest rates on a loan. Two years later, borrowers needed a score of 760 or higher to get the best rates. That's a much stricter requirement!

So your first step should be to review your financial situation. Order your credit reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and check them for errors. Order your credit score (different from your reports) to see how you stack up against the national average. If necessary, focus on improving your score by paying down credit card balances, making all future payments on time, etc.

2. Determine Your Budget

Don't make the mistake of letting a mortgage lender tell you what you can and cannot afford, in terms of a monthly mortgage payment. In reality, the only thing a lender can tell you is the amount you qualify for -- not the amount you can realistically afford. In other words, you should determine your home buying budget for yourself. There are a lot of free mortgage calculators online that can make this process easier for you.

3. Research and Choose a Type of Mortgage

Do you know the difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and an ARM? This is just one of the things you need to understand before applying for a mortgage loan. Because of increased competition in the lending industry, there are more types of home loans today than ten years ago. The key to success when choosing a mortgage is to consider your long-term plans and find a loan that matches those plans. To do this, you must learn the pros and cons of the primary loan types.

4. Get Pre-Approved for a Loan

Pre-approval is a process in which the mortgage lender reviews your financial and credit history to determine your "creditworthiness" ... an industry term that means: "How much of a risk is this person, and how much are we comfortable lending?" When you get pre-approved for a certain loan amount, there's a good chance that you'll receive final approval for that amount as well, when the time comes.

Having a pre-approval letter in hand also shows sellers that you are serious about (and capable of) purchasing their home. This can make a big difference in hotter real estate markets, where the seller may receive multiple offers from competing buyers.

5. Find a Real Estate Agent

If you are buying a home for the first time, or in a new city you're not familiar with, it's wise to hire a professional real estate agent. When you compare the amount of money you'll pay for a new home with the size of the agent's commission, you'll see that it's worthwhile to hire an agent. Choose an agent who specializes in helping buyers, as opposed to sellers.

6. Narrow Your Search

The neighborhood you choose is nearly as important as the house itself, because both have a direct bearing on your quality of life -- not to mention the future resale value. For these reasons and more, it's always best to live in a city for a while before buying a home, even if it means renting an apartment for a while. That way, you can discover which areas you like best before committing to an area.

7. Begin House Hunting

This is where you and your agent visit properties in order to find one that matches your needs. Here are some helpful tips. Take a digital camera with you to get pictures of each home. This will help you recall the details later on. Bring a notepad as well, and for the same reason. While you're at it, you might want to bring a friend along for an unbiased opinion of each property -- you know, that outspoken friend who calls it like it is.

8. Evaluate the Asking Price

It's referred to as the "asking price" for a good reason. Just because a property is listed at $250,000 doesn't necessarily mean it's worth that amount. This is another area where it helps to have a real estate agent. Most agents are expert at validating sale prices against recent sales in the area, and that's the best way to find out if the price is realistic or inflated.

9. Make an Offer

Once you've determined that the price is fair and reasonable, you are ready to make an offer on the property. Always make the offer contingent upon the home inspection (see next item). That way, if the inspector uncovers an issue that you consider a deal breaker, you have a way out of the contract. Ask your agent about contingencies.

10. Get a Home Inspection

Most inspections only cost a few hundred dollars. That's a small price to pay for the peace of mind you get in return. A home inspector will review the structural and mechanical aspects of the house, including (but not limited to) the roof, foundation, electrical, and heating / cooling system.

11. Attend the Closing / Settlement Process

So, you've made it through all of the inspections and the process is still on track. Great! The next step will be the closing / settlement process (it goes by different names in different parts of the country). Actually, you can prepare for this process early on by putting extra money aside. This is when the title to the property is transferred from the seller to the buyer. You'll also be signing a lot of paperwork and paying any other fees that are due.

12. Tie Up Loose Ends

After your move, you'll have a few more things on your task list. Transfer your utilities if you haven't done so already. Complete a change-of-address form with the post office. Get a safe deposit box for your home insurance policy and other important documents. Set up a mortgage payment schedule or an online auto-pay system. And give yourself a pat on the back ... you're now a homeowner!

* Copyright 2008, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article if you retain the citation notes and hyperlink below.

Citation Note: This article was created by Brandon Cornett, publisher of the Home Buying Institute network of real estate websites. You can learn more or contact the author by visiting his mortgage refinance blog at http://www.mortgage-refinance-advice.com/blog/

Mortgage Prepayment Fees can STING!

How they swarm: You may need to sell your home sooner than expected, or you may have received an inheritance that you would like to use to pay off your mortgage. If your home mortgage has a prepayment penalty clause, you may owe the lender a fee equal to up to six months of interest just to get out of the loan.

How not to get stung: The best practice upfront is to avoid mortgages that carry these prepayment penalty clauses. If you need to sell your home and you have a prepayment penalty, you are probably out of luck.

If you inherited the money or want to use a tax refund, you may opt to make a large payment on the mortgage loan to avoid the penalty. Make sure to be specific and instruct the lender to apply the extra payment towards the principal only. Although all mortgages are unique, read your loan papers carefully, but you should be able to make an additional large payment of up to $20,000 per year with no incurred fees.

----------------------------

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

ACT NOW!  $7,500 Tax Credit available... 

Tax credit offered to new homebuyers

Expires June 30, 2009!

1.       Who is eligible?

·    First-time homebuyers or any homebuyers who have not owned a principal residence in the last three years.

2.       Who does it work?

·     Eligible purchasers can claim the $7,500 credit on their annual tax return form.

·  Amount of credit: 10% of cost of home or a maximum of $7,500.

3.       Repayment:

·    Two years after the credit is claimed, the homebuyer will have to start paying it back.

·     15 equal annual installments will have to be paid back to the IRS every year.

·  6.67% of the borrowed amount or a maximum of $502.

·    If home is sold before 15 years, the remainder of the loan will have to be repaid to the IRS upon sale.

·  Part of the liability can be forgiven if the gain on the sale is less than the amount of the loan.

4.       Restrictions:

·    Home purchase time limit:

· Homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009.

·    Home must be a single family residence (including condos, coops) that will be used as a principal residence.

·    Home must be located in the United States.

·    Home cannot be financed through mortgage revenue bonds.

·    Income restriction:

· To qualify for a full $7,500 credit, the taxpayer must make no more than

a.  $75,000 for single returns

b.  $150,000 for joint returns

·   To still qualify for credit but at a lesser amount, the following income caps apply

a.  $95,000 for single returns

b.  $170,000 for joint returns

For more information on the tax credit:

http://www.realtor.org/gapublic.nsf/files/hbtaxcreditqa2008.pdf/$FILE/hbtaxcreditqa2008.pdf

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq.php

Call The Trey Affolter Team @ 253-222-6000

to take advantage of the tax credit

before it expires June 30, 2009!

------------------- Additional Featured Articles -----------------

Need Down Payment Assistance to Buy a Home?

Home Buyers Can Find Home Loans - The Right News!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 ---------> FREE HOMEBUYER RESOURCES <---------

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Search for Homes for Sale 

> Pierce County Washington Real Estate <

Search Pierce County Homes for Sale

Search Pierce County Foreclosures

 > Thurston County Washington Real Estate <

Search Thurston County Homes for Sale

Search Thurston County Foreclosures

 > King County Washington Real Estate <

Search King County Homes for Sale

Search King County Foreclosures

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Need a Loan to buy a Home?

Contrary to what you may have heard, there is money available for home buyers who qualify and can prove they can afford the loan. So, if you are considering investing in a home in Tacoma Washington, or the surrounding cities of Pierce County, North Thurston County, or South King County, don't let the media discourage you.

Brian Everstine and C.R. Roberst recently wrote the following article for the Tacoma News Tribune on the same topic. Here is a bit of what they wrote:

____________________________________________________________________________

Home, auto buyers can still borrow money

No matter what you might have heard, it's not impossible to get a loan. But you need a good credit score and a steady income.

BRIAN EVERSTINE AND C.R. ROBERTS; brian.everstine@thenewstribune.com c.r.roberts@thenewstribune.com

Published: November 1st, 2008 11:10 PM | Updated: November 2nd, 2008 12:09 AM

We've heard a lot about trying to borrow money recently: There's none available. Banks are holding onto their funds. The requirements are so high no one can get a mortgage or buy a car.

But what if you do want to buy a house - you need more space or you have to relocate for work? What if your 12-year-old minivan died on the freeway, and you need a way to get to work?

We talked to bankers, loan officers, mortgage brokers and car dealers in the South Sound to find out what's going on.

The bottom line? There's money out there, but you have to be able to prove you can afford a loan and you probably will need a down payment.

HOME LOANS

Don't listen to all the bad news, there are still loans out there for home buyers - if they can qualify.

Read the full article

____________________________________________________________________________

Another Featured Article on Washington State Real Estate: 

Is the Washington State Real Estate Market Tide Turning?

____________________________________________________________________________

Search for Homes for Sale 

> Pierce County Washington Real Estate <

Search Pierce County Homes for Sale

Search Pierce County Foreclosures

 > Thurston County Washington Real Estate <

Search Thurston County Homes for Sale

Search Thurston County Foreclosures

 > King County Washington Real Estate <

Search King County Homes for Sale

Search King County Foreclosures

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Pierce County Washington Real Estate

Below are final updated Real Estate Sales Statistics for Pierce County, WA through September 2008.

Detailed Sales Statistics for Pierce County real estate, Washington Residential Houses & Condos.

Sales Statistics for PIERCE County WA

Single Family Residence
Time Period	Number of Sales	Median Sale Price
Sep 2008	822	$244,725
Sep 2007	795	$269,952
Aug 2008	717	$256,450
Aug 2007	1,164	$283,446
2008 YTD	7,153	$260,000
2007	12,500	$276,500

Condominium
Time Period	Number of Sales	Median Sale Price
Sep 2008	71	$199,900
Sep 2007	109	$219,500
Aug 2008	83	$195,000
Aug 2007	138	$229,950
2008 YTD	785	$201,950
2007	1,488	$224,000

(Stats provided by Realist, NWMLS)  

For more current & local market information call The Trey Affolter Team.

______________________________________________________________

Search Pierce County Homes for Sale

Search Pierce County Foreclosures

_____________________________________________________________ 

 Find out what your home is worth...

For a FREE Highest Price Analysis, call THE TREY AFFOLTER TEAM 

today @ 253-222-6000.

_____________________________________________________________ 

FREE Seller Resources

Tips to Sell Your Home

Get the Highest Price Selling Your Home

Tips to Stage Your Home to Sell

 The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions Tacoma Real Estate and surrounding cities in Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

King County Washington Real Estate

Below are final & updated Real Estate Sales Statistics for King County, WA through September 2008.

Detailed Sales Statistics for King County real estate, Washington Residential Houses & Condos.

Sales Statistics for KING County WA

Single Family Residence
Time Period	Number of Sales	Median Sale Price
Sep 2008	1,493	$400,000
Sep 2007	1,748	$442,500
Aug 2008	1,623	$415,000
Aug 2007	2,618	$450,000
2008 YTD	14,682	$428,376
2007	26,264	$449,950

Condominium
Time Period	Number of Sales	Median Sale Price
Sep 2008	519	$284,000
Sep 2007	841	$290,000
Aug 2008	467	$275,000
Aug 2007	1,152	$293,303
2008 YTD	5,244	$290,000
2007	11,319	$291,000

(Stats provided by Realist, NWMLS)  

For more current & local market information call The Trey Affolter Team.

______________________________________________________________

Search King County Homes for Sale

Search King County Foreclosures

_____________________________________________________________ 

 Find out what your home is worth...

For a FREE Highest Price Analysis, call THE TREY AFFOLTER TEAM 

today @ 253-222-6000.

_____________________________________________________________ 

FREE Seller Resources

Tips to Sell Your Home

Get the Highest Price Selling Your Home

Tips to Stage Your Home to Sell

 The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Thurston County Washington Real Estate

Below are final & updated Real Estate Sales Statistics for Thurston County, WA through September 2008.

Detailed Sales Statistics for Thurston County real estate, Washington Residential Houses & Condos.

Sales Statistics for THURSTON County WA

Single Family Residence
Time Period	Number of Sales	Median Sale Price
Sep 2008	339	$248,000
Sep 2007	396	$263,480
Aug 2008	339	$250,000
Aug 2007	486	$269,925
2008 YTD	3,126	$252,725
2007	4,844	$261,345

Condominium
Time Period	Number of Sales	Median Sale Price
Sep 2008	10	$191,574
Sep 2007	13	$180,900
Aug 2008	11	$146,000
Aug 2007	18	$216,925
2008 YTD	167	$183,950
2007	202	$205,000

(Stats provided by Realist, NWMLS)  

For more current & local market information call The Trey Affolter Team.

______________________________________________________________

Search Thurston County Homes for Sale

Search Thurston County Foreclosures

_____________________________________________________________ 

 Find out what your home is worth...

For a FREE Highest Price Analysis, call THE TREY AFFOLTER TEAM 

today @ 253-222-6000.

_____________________________________________________________ 

FREE Seller Resources

Tips to Sell Your Home

Get the Highest Price Selling Your Home

Tips to Stage Your Home to Sell

 The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate. 

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Tacoma & Pierce County Washington Real Estate show signs...

Sales of existing homes shot upward in September, as buyers took advantage of price reductions, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Sales of existing homes rose 5.5 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million units, and up from 4.91 million units in August. September 2008 sales figures are 1.4 percent higher than the 5.11 million units sold in September 2007.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said more markets are seeing year-over-year gains. “The sales turnaround which began in California several months ago is broadening now to Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Rhode Island,” he said.

Also encouraging are the recent declines in inventory. Total housing inventory at the end of September fell 1.6 percent to 4.27 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.9-month supply at the current sales pace.  This is a decrease from a 10.6-month supply in August, and marks two consecutive monthly declines since inventories peaked in July of 2008.

To read the entire NAR release, click here.