Real Estate Information Archive

If you are renting and think you can't qualify for a mortgage payment, read this article.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 425-308-3669. Or you can speak to my lender, Ken Allen at 425-670-2418.

Karen Villa Schweinfurth, ABR, CRS, SRES, e-PRO Internet Certified, RE/MAX Northwest Realtors, Inc.

karen@karensvillas.com

www.karensvillas.com

Here's a great web site for getting tips on saving money at tax time.

Here is an interesting article on the national real estate market conditions and predictions that most markets have hit bottom and are beginning to stablize.

Karen Villa Schweinfurth, ARB, CRS, SRES, e-PRO, Broker

RE/MAX Northwest Realtors

425-308-3669

karen@karensvillas.com

Here is an interesting article on the national real estate market and price stabilization.

As all real estate is local, please contact me for your local Market Analysis.

Karen Villa Schweinfurth, ABR, CRS, SRES, e-PRO

RE/MAX Northwest Realtors

425-308-3669

karen@karenrsvillas.com

First delivery of the 787 in Everett. Read here!

It's that time of year to think about the harvest, corn mazes or just find that perfect pumpkin. Here's a list of pumpkin farms in the Puget Sound area. Treat the family to a fun weekend.

Should you have any real estate questions, please contact me at karen@karensvillas.com, 425-308-3669 or

www.karensvillas.com

Many appraisals locally and across the nation are coming in at lower value than the purchase and sales agreement. Here are some tips if that happens to you. Click here to read the full story and other links.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 6, 2011

Washington REALTORS® endorse McKenna for governor

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington Association of REALTORS®, the state’s largest professional organization of 15,000 members, today endorsed Attorney General Rob McKenna in his 2012 bid for governor of the state of Washington.

The endorsement decision followed candidate interviews held today at the organization’s office in Olympia with a 17-member panel that included state officers, Realtors selected by local associations and representing every region of the state and a representative from the Washington State Commercial Association of Realtors. The interview questions posed to both gubernatorial candidates—Attorney General McKenna and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee—involved issues that impact the real estate industry, homeownership and our state’s economy.

“As the key advocates for the residential and commercial real estate markets that are critical to our economic recovery, this endorsement matters,” says Washington Realtor president Phil Harlan. “The real estate market recovery has faced huge headwinds. Our endorsement decision today is not based on partisan politics, but on who will best champion the issues that will encourage real estate—one of the state’s top economic engines—to regain strength and lead the recovery for the sake of our families, our citizens and Washington’s economy.”

The Realtors’ endorsement will include the financial support of the Realtor PAC, the state’s largest political action committee, with nearly 5,000 contributors.  RPAC is bi-partisan and endorses Democrats and Republicans who share the organization’s concerns for the residential and commercial real estate industries, homebuyers and home and business owners in Washington.  In 2008, Realtors invested more than $750,000 in support for candidates around the state; that year, 93 percent of Realtor-endorsed candidates from both parties were elected to office.

               Realtors endorsed McKenna for state attorney general in both 2004 and 2008.  Harlan says the decision to endorse him for governor resulted from the interview today as well as his long record of consistently protecting consumers, especially homeowners in distress. In addition, the endorsement is a nod to McKenna’s commitment to create jobs so often generated by entrepreneurs like Realtors as well as the small business owners that operate within the residential and commercial real estate industry. McKenna’s priority for improved and innovative education in Washington state was also a consideration by the panel. Good schools are a top priority for Realtors.

As Washington’s Attorney General, Rob McKenna has been in the forefront of efforts to protect distressed homeowners. He is serving on the Executive Committee of a multi-state group to investigate improperly submitted documents related to foreclosures; he co-chairs the Mortgage Fraud Working Group of a joint federal-state initiative, which is also investigating certain aspects of foreclosure problems. On the local front, his Consumer Protection Division has been investigating reports of lenders and trustee services not properly reviewing foreclosure documents or following other legal procedures.

“Rob has valiantly protected homeowners. From preventing mortgage scams and fighting improper foreclosure practices to improving banks’ efforts in loan modifications, he has looked for and promoted solutions that keep people in their homes,” says Faye Nelson, Realtors’ president-elect. “His top priorities are the bi-partisan issues Realtors care about – homeownership, consumer protection, jobs and great schools for our communities.”

Washington Realtors are the key advocates for homeownership and represent the interests of thousands of home buyers and sellers each year and the more than 2 million homeowners throughout the state of Washington.  Realtors’ top public policy priority is building communities that have a strong economy, attractive home choices, great schools and parks, safe neighborhoods and good transportation choices.

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“REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics”

Read the full story here knowing that the National Association of REALTORS is backing this proposal

Are you ready to buy real estate? NOW is the time. Interest rates have dropped to their lowest since 1971. Read more here.

Have questions on the local market, contact me.

Karen Villa Schweinfurth, Broker, ABR, CRS, SRES

RE/MAX Northwest Realtors

425-308-3669

karen@karensvillas.com

www.karensvillas.com