In a normal market, it’s good to have an experienced guide coaching you through the process of buying or selling a home. That person can advise you on important things like pricing your home correctly or the first steps to take when you’re ready to buy. However, as Oly Pen Broker Cassie Prom points...
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During the Great Recession, just over a decade ago, the financial systems the world depended on started to collapse. It created a panic that drove some large companies out of business (ex. Lehman Brothers) and many more into bankruptcy. "Our situation today is not the same." explains Melissa Champ, associate broker at Oly Pen...
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When buying a home, it’s important to have a budget and make sure you plan ahead for certain homebuying expenses. Saving for a down payment is the main cost that comes to mind for many, but budgeting for the closing costs required to get a mortgage is just as important. What Are Closing Costs? According to Trulia: “When you...
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This may be just one opinion, but it is a well experienced and a well-educated opinion. Dave Ramsey does not see this market as a bubble. Nor does not see a benefit to waiting for a crash to purchase a new home. If you are waiting for more favorable prices he encourages you to...
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Many people are sitting on the fence trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a home. Some are renters who have a strong desire to become homeowners but are unsure if buying right now makes sense. Others may be homeowners who are realizing that their current home no longer fits their changing...
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o far this year, mortgage rates continue to hover around 3%, encouraging many hopeful homebuyers to enter the housing market. However, there’s a good chance rates will increase later this year and going into 2022, ultimately making it more expensive to borrow money for a home loan. Here’s a look at what several experts...
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Most of us have heard it since we were children. “If you are not learning, you are not growing .” Because this is as true today as it has ever been, the Oly Pen family, located in Monetsano, Washington, have firmly entrenched continuing education as a cornerstone philosophy and one of the most important...
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Homeownership is a foundational part of the American Dream. As we look back on more than a year of sheltering in our homes, having a place of our own is more important than ever. While financial benefits are always a key aspect of homeownership, today, homeowners rank the nonfinancial and personal benefits with even higher value....
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Last week’s Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows sales have dropped by 3.7% compared to the month before. This is the second consecutive month that sales have slumped. Some see this as evidence that the red-hot real estate market may be cooling. However, there could also be a simple explanation as...
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Don’t be impressed by the headlines reporting year-over-year housing numbers for the next several months (data covering March, April, May, and June). The data will most likely show eye-popping one-year increases. Housing Market Covid Collapse and Subsequent Rebound While the year-over-year jumps will certainly be striking, consumers should take these numbers with a grain...
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