Explore the highlights of our area and gain insights with practical real estate tips and the latest local market trends.
December 2023 Market Insights December 2023: December marked the lowest number of new listings for all of 2023 in both the Stanwood and Camano Island markets. As a result, active inventory is the lowest that it has been since April. Seasonal patterns typical of this time of year and low inventory resulted in the lowest […]
Pantone 2024 Color of the Year: How to Use Peach Fuzz in your Home Written By Meghan McGlynn The global color experts at Pantone have spoken, announcing the 2024 Color of the Year to be “Peach Fuzz.” Leatrice Eiseman, the Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute shared this explanation on the website, “in seeking a hue that echoes […]
How to Prepare for an Open House To successfully sell your home, you need to attract buyers. This is why open houses are an integral part of the selling process: they allow buyers to experience the property for themselves and envision what life will look like in their new home. To prepare for an open […]
What is Italianate Architecture? Italianate architecture has roots in Italy’s countryside villas, palaces, and overall romantic building aesthetic. Those ancient buildings inspired a new wave of home design that borrowed from the classic concepts found throughout a country beloved for its classic details and charm. Let’s dive into this special version of Mediterranean design to learn […]
November 2023 Market Insights November 2023: The past weeks have seen gradual declines in interest rates. 30-year fixed mortgage rates have dropped over a point and a half over the past two months to just over 6.6% currently. Economists are predicting an additional drop in rates to 6% in the latter part of 2024. This […]
Multigenerational Home Buying Guide For any family looking forward to multigenerational living, there’s much to consider when trying to find the right property. Whether you’re planning to welcome your parents or grandparents, provide a comfortable space for adult children, or simply want to create a home that accommodates your extended family, finding the right place […]
How to Stay Safe at Home During a Power Outage A stormy night with the lights out can complicate things at home. But with the right preparation, you and your household can switch gears quickly and ride out the blackout period, however long it may last. Power outages can happen unexpectedly, so taking the necessary […]
October 2023 Market Insights October 2023: In the past months, the purchasing power of potential home buyers has weakened further with rising interest rates and a continued lack of inventory, creating a slowdown in market activity. Active listings in our combined market have remained fairly steady over the past six months at just over 100 […]
Should I Tell Buyers My House is Haunted? This time of year is full of spooky moments. If you’re selling a home that has a history of paranormal activity, it could scare buyers away, or intrigue them. Haunted houses are a great attraction for thrill seekers, but buying one is a completely different matter. There’s […]
August 2023 Market Insights September 2023: Home values are still holding strong with Average Sales prices at over $700,000 for our two zip codes. Additional home price gains are more challenging in the short term due to continued mortgage rate increases that limit prospective buyers’ purchasing power. The result is a continued decline in transaction volume in our current […]
What Does DOM Mean in Real Estate? As you start searching for homes, you’ll likely come across different terms that describe the status of different listings. One term, “Days on Market” (DOM), can play a role in your strategy for making an offer. Knowing what this term means will help to inform your discussions with your […]
August 2023 Market Insights August 2023: Pending sales on homes during August in our two markets were both up year over year from 2022. We had 29 listings find a buyer on Camano Island and 34 in Stanwood, versus 25 and 31 respectively last year. Other key metrics for August activity showed year-over-year declines, including […]
What do I do after moving into a new home? Nothing beats the feeling of buying a new home. You’ve worked hard with your agent to find the right home for you, you’ve worked with the seller to finalize the deal, and you’ve signed all the paperwork to transfer ownership. Congratulations! Everything has led to securing […]
July 2023 Market Insights July 2023: Economists are predicting that mortgage interest rates will adjust down over the next couple of quarters. Predictions are that we will see rates fall below 6% in the 2nd quarter of 2024. When this happens, the housing market will be poised to grow again. The hope is that many […]
Should I Sell My House Now? The selling process is an emotional one. Fortunately, you’ll have an agent by your side from list to closing to help you take things one step at a time. A real estate agent’s expertise ranges far and wide, but as you prepare to sell your home, it helps to […]
10 Important People in the Home Selling Process Good news! Selling a home is not a solo endeavor. Your goal in selling your home is to get the best price in a timeframe that meets your needs. To do that, you’ll enlist a team of professionals. So, who are the parties involved in a real […]
June 2023 Market Insights June 2023: the Stanwood and Camano Island area markets have seen our highest volume of closed sales last month (61 homes) in over nine months when we saw 81 homes sold in August 2022. The result, our current active listings are down 17% for the same time period as last year, […]
Turnkey vs. Fixer-Upper: Pros and Cons written by Sandy Dodge The beauty of real estate is that different properties satisfy different needs. Although single-family homes are great for putting down roots, that may not be your motivation for purchasing your next home. If you’re looking to buy a property with the intent of renting it, both turnkey […]
May 2023 Market Insights May 2023 in Stanwood and Camano Island, the current combined inventory is higher than it was at the same time last year, with a total of 105 active residential listings at the end of May 2023 as compared to 88 last May (a 19% year over year increase). Even with this, […]
A waterfront home offers surroundings unlike any other. Their prime locale and stunning views virtually guarantee a lifetime of relaxation, waterfront get-togethers, and summer nights under the stars. Waterfront homes have great potential as investment properties as well. But for all the perks waterfront homeownership offers, it comes with its own set of responsibilities, too. Should I […]
