Puget Sound Properties & Lifestyle

The Washington real estate market never stands still—and 2025 is no exception. Buying a home in Tacoma or selling a home in Seattle has changed. Across the Pacific Northwest, both buyers and sellers are adjusting to a new landscape shaped by changing preferences, evolving economic factors, and the appeal of our region’s location. Whether you’re planning to buy your first home, relocate for a job, or sell a long-time family property, understanding these shifts is crucial to navigating today’s market with confidence. Below are three notable changes in home-buying behavior this year and what they mean for both sides of the transaction, along with strategies sellers can’t afford to overlook. 1. Longer Days on Market One of the most significant changes in 2025 is that homes in many Northwest markets—Tacoma, Seattle, and surrounding communities—are staying on the market longer. Gone are the days of buyers waiving contingencies after a single weekend of showings. Instead, buyers are taki...

  When Enough is Enough - The Moneypit Home Being invited into a homeowners living room to talk about listing their home is a common activity for most real estate agents. Selling your home in Washington can oftentimes mean timing the market to maximize your return after years of sweat equity and real expense. As a homeowner you’ve often replaced many systems, made repairs and upgrades during your time owning the home, and you’re looking for some return on your investment. But how much spend is too much? Recently in Federal Way, I had the opportunity to meet with homeowners who had spent years touching every corner of their property, making upgrades to flooring, stairwell railings, paint, appliances, room additions, landscaping and more. They showed me their new water heater, new power panel, water filtration system, new furnace, extra storage in the garage. On and on they went, pointing out the amazing work they’d done to their home. And it truly was great work. And now they wa...

  How To Sell Your Home (Part II) This is a 7 step/two-part list of everything you’ll need to consider before selling your home. Please review my post earlier this week for steps 1-3. Whether you're selling your home in Tacoma or anywhere in the Puget Sound, these steps are invaluable to any homeowner looking to move. 4. When to Upgrade or Leave Alone One of the most common questions I get from homeowners who want to list their home for sale, is whether to address upgrades to increase the value of their home on the open market. I am generally never in favor of kitchen/bath remodels or installing wood flooring or spending thousands on vanity items  right before going to market . Oftentimes, the headache and cost of doing major projects can be more work than it’s worth. Will they make the home potentially more marketable? Yes, and you may increase the overall value of the home, but was the time and expense worth it? Here are some low-cost updates that matter.   Re...