Puget Sound Properties & Lifestyle

Selling a home in the Puget Sound can be a rewarding and exciting process. But even with strategic upgrades, proper staging, and market-savvy pricing, some elements that influence your final sale price are simply beyond your control. As a veteran Realtor, I’ve seen firsthand how certain outside forces — from neighborhood changes to problematic neighbors — can affect how buyers perceive value and ultimately your home. Understanding these factors is essential for managing expectations and planning your next steps wisely. Here are six uncontrollable factors every PNW homeowner should keep in mind when preparing to sell: 1. The State of the Market No matter how polished your home is, you can’t control the broader real estate market. Interest rates, economic conditions, inflation, and even global events can shift buyer behavior and affordability. In a buyer’s market, you may face more competition and longer days on market — even for a turnkey property. Timing matters, but so does flexi...

  While You Weren’t Looking, Homeowners Insurance Changed For Owners & Landlords Let’s be clear. It’s critical to have homeowners insurance in today’s quickly shifting world of climate issues. Let’s also understand that insurance companies that offer homeowners insurance have hollowed out coverage and sharply increased rates to cover the steep losses caused by a slew of natural disasters. This is the era of insurance exclusions and diminishing coverage, meaning that if you’re not paying attention, you could be on the hook for it all. From your perspective, it’s their job to cover the cost of damage. From their perspective, it’s their job to delay, deny and reduce their liability at every turn.  As a landlord, you have many responsibilities, and protecting your property is one of the most crucial. Whether you own a single-family home, a condo, or an apartment building, securing the right insurance is essential, especially with changes in homeowners insurance policies. I...

Building Your Dream Home: Part III - The Build Out We close out this week’s three-part series on building your dream home. Earlier his week we covered land, feasibility, contractors, architects, permits and many other topics. We’re ready to build our home!  If you’re lucky enough to have cash in hand and you have approved your contractor bid and have permits ready to go, you can begin the process of demolition (if needed) or site preparation. Your contractor and your architect should be on the same page with detailed plans and execute the plan you’ve put together.  If you need to get pre-approved from a lender for a construction loan or a rehab loan, that process should already be completed before you start writing checks. Each bank/lender is going to have their own construction process. They’re going to need to know who the builder is, and have them conform to the banks process for taking draws as the construction project progresses. Each month, your contractor will be su...

Relocating to Puyallup, Washington: The Hidden Gem of the Pacific Northwest Nestled in the heart of Pierce County, Puyallup (pew-AL-ep), Washington, is a charming city that offers a unique blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities. The city's name comes from the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans and means "the generous people." If you’re considering a move to the Pacific Northwest, Puyallup stands out as an ideal destination for families, young professionals, and retirees alike. Located just 10 miles southeast of Tacoma, here’s why Puyallup is a fantastic place to relocate to. Proximity to Mount Rainier One of Puyallup’s most alluring features is its proximity to the majestic Mount Rainier. Just a short drive away, this iconic mountain provides breathtaking views and a plethora of outdoor activities. You can gaze at the majestic mountain from endless areas around Puyallup. Whether you’re into hiking, skiing, or simply enjoying nature, Mount Rainier offers cou...

  When Buying A Home…What Makes A Good Offer: When it comes to buying a home in Washington, making a compelling offer is crucial. In a competitive real estate market, it’s important to understand that a good offer is not solely about the highest price or being the first to make an offer. There are multiple factors that can influence the seller's decision. Here are three key aspects to consider when crafting a strong offer: 1. It’s More Than Price While offering a competitive price is very important, it’s not the only factor that sellers consider. As buyers agents, it’s incumbent upon us to ask the listing agent/owner, what’s important to them. It could be flexible timeline. It could be trying to offload existing furniture to ease the move. It could be wanting to find someone to care after a specific thing the property has like gardens or historical architecture. Other key items could be: Contingencies: Contingencies are conditions that must be met for the sale to proceed. Common c...

  Hello ADU's! In recent years, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have become an increasingly popular housing option in Washington state. Buying a home in Tacoma or Gig Harbor is far more expensive than it used to be, and Seattle home prices have outpaced wages. These smaller, secondary residences, often referred to in other markets as granny flats, in-law suites, casitas or backyard cottages, offer numerous benefits that make them a valuable solution to the housing challenges faced by many communities. From increasing housing affordability to promoting sustainable living, ADUs are proving to be a versatile and practical addition to Washington's urban and suburban landscapes. Addressing Housing Shortages One of the primary reasons ADUs are valuable is their ability to address housing shortages. Washington, like many states, is experiencing a significant housing crisis, with a growing population and limited housing stock driving up prices. ADUs offer a way to increase housing dens...

  Offer Strategies That Work - Part II In the world of buying real estate, knowing what to offer on a home can be, one of the most anxiety filled decisions of the process. Am I getting a deal?    Am I paying too much?    Will the seller be interested in my offer?    Are their other offers?    How much are the other offers?    What can I do to set my offer apart from other offers?  The number of questions swirling around your head as a buyer (and real estate agent) can be overwhelming, especially when you’re ready to buy a home.  If you’re in the market, everyone is looking for a deal. But if you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, sellers have held the upper hand in real estate because we don’t have enough homes to sell for various reasons. Limited inventory keeps prices elevated. Buyers who’ve chosen to wait out this cycle may wait a very long time. And because there’s pent up demand that has been building f...

  Making an Assumption is Never Good…Until Now In today’s world of real estate, it’s tough paying higher prices for both homes and interest rates. We were in a low-cost interest rate environment for so long, it almost feels criminal to pay more than 7% to borrow money, but this is today’s inflationary world. What most people don’t know, is that some mortgages are completely assumable…meaning you can take over the current homeowners mortgage which includes a likely far lower interest rate. But, there are several things to consider before making this plan a reality. If you're looking for a home in Tacoma or the Pacific Northwest, it's an important option to consider.   Only FHA and VA loans can be assumable, because they are government backed. Conventional loans are generally not assumable because they have a due on sale clause, meaning the owner must pay the balance in full upon sale of the property. Because FHA loans are likely more common in lower priced homes, it can be...