Market Advice

Market Advice, Video Blogs

September 2026 Eastside Market Update

Before rates crept back up, we actually had a few bright spots: pending sales jumped 19% from the prior month, and inventory dipped 2% — the first drop we’ve seen all year. That’s worth noting. But zoom out, and inventory is still up 45% year-over-year. Months of supply sits at 3.5, up 30% from last […]
Economy, Market Advice

Thinking About Tapping into Your 401(k) To Buy a Home? Read This First.

Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home. Maybe you’ve caught the buzz and wondered whether that money could get you into a home faster, especially with affordability as tough as it is. Here’s what you need to remember. Pulling from your retirement […]
Market Advice, Video Blogs

August 2026 Eastside Market Update

Four months of inventory. Let that sink in. We are teetering on the edge of a buyers’ market — territory the Eastside hasn’t seen since around 2012. This is uncharted water. But uncharted doesn’t mean dangerous. It means you need a good navigator. Let’s start with what the data is actually telling us. The median […]
Economy, Market Advice, Mortgage Rates

Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now

If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole […]

Market Advice September 2026 Eastside Market Update Before rates crept back up, we actually had a few bright spots: pending sales jumped 19% from the prior month, and inventory dipped 2% — the first drop we’ve seen all year. That’s worth noting. But zoom out, and inventory is still up 45% year-over-year. Months of supply sits at 3.5, up 30% from last […]

Economy Thinking About Tapping into Your 401(k) To Buy a Home? Read This First. Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home. Maybe you’ve caught the buzz and wondered whether that money could get you into a home faster, especially with affordability as tough as it is. Here’s what you need to remember. Pulling from your retirement […]

Market Advice August 2026 Eastside Market Update Four months of inventory. Let that sink in. We are teetering on the edge of a buyers’ market — territory the Eastside hasn’t seen since around 2012. This is uncharted water. But uncharted doesn’t mean dangerous. It means you need a good navigator. Let’s start with what the data is actually telling us. The median […]

Economy Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole […]

Economy Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First. Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating. But it’s a real possibility. A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not […]

Economy Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time If you’re a homeowner getting ready to move, one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? There’s no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted agent can help […]

Economy More Homes, Better Prices: A Buyer’s Summer If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from. In many places, both sticking points are letting up this summer, with lower asking prices and more homes for sale. Let’s look at the […]

Economy Student Loans Are Back in the News. Don’t Let It Put Your Homeownership Plans on Hold. Student loans are back in the spotlight. And whether you’ve been following the headlines closely or just catching bits and pieces here and there, there’s a good chance they’ve been on your mind lately. And if you’re questioning whether you have to hit pause on your plans to buy a home, here’s the thing you […]

Economy That House That’s Been Sitting Could Be Your Best Shot at a Deal Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer. Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets. Where […]

Economy The 1 Factor That Explains Everything Happening with Home Prices Right Now You’ve probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that’s true – nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending on where you are. Some areas are still seeing solid price growth. Others have gone flat. A few have actually dipped slightly negative. So, what’s […]

Economy Think Home Prices Will Crash? Here’s What the Experts Actually Expect. One of the biggest reasons buyers are still sitting on the sidelines is because they think home prices are going to come down. Some believe a crash is coming and they’ll get a better deal if they hold off. Others worry they’ll buy now and watch their home’s value fall later. And nobody wants to […]

Economy Should You Pay for Your Buyer’s Closing Costs? What Sellers Need To Know. A few years ago, sellers could get away with saying “no” to just about everything. No repairs. No concessions. No negotiation. If buyers wanted the house, they pretty much had to take it on the seller’s terms. But now that inventory’s grown, negotiations are becoming a normal part of the process again. That’s why one […]

Market Advice The Mid-Year Housing Market Update: Why Forecasts Changed in 2026 If the housing market feels confusing right now, you’re not alone. Mortgage rates have risen. Home sales haven’t picked up like expected. And many buyers and sellers are wondering when things are going to feel easier or be more affordable. The truth is: a lot changed over the first half of this year. Back at […]

Market Advice The Real Reason Some People Are Still Moving Right Now You may be telling yourself you’re going to wait to move – maybe you’re hoping mortgage rates will come down, prices will fall, or the market will feel a little easier. And honestly? A lot of people feel that way right now. But here’s what some are starting to realize. Waiting doesn’t usually fix the […]

Market Advice Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Age At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up: “Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?” It’s not always urgent. It often shows up in small moments, like going up and down the stairs, keeping up with the maintenance, or just […]

Economy May Eastside Stats Inventory is at its highest level since 2019, homes are taking longer to sell, and the geopolitical backdrop isn’t helping buyer confidence. Buyer reluctance is real — and you feel it most on the homes that don’t sell the first weekend. Sellers need to win both the price war and the beauty contest. The market […]

Market Advice The Secret To Selling Fast, No Matter the Market When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. But the thing is, nationally, it’s taking a little longer to sell lately. And that slowdown can feel frustrating if you want a fast process. Here’s what you need to realize. In every market […]

Market Advice Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Age At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up: “Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?” It’s not always urgent. It often shows up in small moments, like going up and down the stairs, keeping up with the maintenance, or just […]

Market Advice Weekly Update April 16, 2026

Home Knowledge Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind. With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember. While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different […]