Weathered siding Issues?

Certain sides of a house or anything in particular receive the brunt of the punishment of the weather. Here in Western WA, it seems to be primarily Southern & Western exposure. The combination of the sun, wind, rain, and varying degrees can wreak havoc on wood. I am here at an inspection with an inspector…

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Existing Homes Sales on the Rise

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose more than anticipated in August as investors used cash to buy distressed properties. (At a personal level, I have come across numerous homes in a distressed situation with multiple offers waiting for a lender’s decision. This is becoming more of the norm than the exception.) Purchases of existing…

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CA Dominates Zillow Study of Depreciating Markets

Real estate markets in California dominate a list of metro areas with the steepest percentage-based decline in home values over the past five years. Data prepared by online real estate valuation and search company Zillow — based on the company’s home-value estimates and its Zillow Home Value Index, which is generated from those value estimates…

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Seattle-Area Home Prices Increase in June

Seattle-area home prices rose in June for the second straight month, according to the Case-Shiller home-price index. Nationally, the index was up for the third straight month, numbers for June released Tuesday showed. In the Seattle metropolitan area, which includes King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, prices rose 0.7 percent between May and June, according to…

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10 Emerging City Neighborhoods

Richard Florida, author, analyst, champion of great cities – and a fellow writer for The Atlantic – has picked 10 great city neighborhoods on the rise for USA Today. These were mostly a bit gritty not long ago, but are now adding vitality practically by the day and embodying the rebirth of US cities. South…

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Mortgage Market in Review

Weather The mortgage interest rate markets are subject to an enormous number of factors. Most analysts agree that weather can have an effect on market activity. Although the effects are seldom long lasting, they can be quite significant. The United States is the world’s largest exporter of corn. Relatively rainy weather across the Midwest portions…

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2011 Superconforming Loan Limits

The new limits are technically only good through December 31, 2011. It is entirely possible that the limits may change again for 2012. (Information provided by David Henn of Landover Mortgage)

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Home Mortgage Interest Deductions at Risk?

If you take mortgage-interest tax deductions, the next 100 days could have significant financial implications for you, thanks to Congress’ federal debt-ceiling plan. Though the compromise legislation involved no new taxes, it created an unusual mechanism — an evenly split, 12-member bipartisan super-committee — that could call for major cutbacks in real-estate write-offs by Thanksgiving.…

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Some Advisers Are Recommending Real Estate Investing

With the Dow Jones Industrial Average down more than 400 points today, and many market experts predicting more volatility ahead, some advisers are recommending their clients put some of their cash to another use: To buy that house or summer home at the shore. Potential homebuyers certainly have plenty of incentives: Home prices are still…

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3 WA Cities Make Money Magazine’s Best Small Town List

Money magazine on Monday published its 2011 list of “100 best places to live in America,” highlighting small towns across the country with populations of 50,000 or less. For the annual cover story, which hits stands on Aug. 19, Money looked for places with the optimal combination of job opportunities, fiscal strength, top-notch schools, safe…

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