Olympia Real Estate Blog

You gotta love the day in which we live! It is hard for me to believe that now I can conduct business, almost completely, from a single device. I can take a picture, upload it to any number of internet host sites, add text and other content and send it out over my cell phone all in minutes. It (my phone) will navigate me to my nearest favorite eatery, tell me how many calories any meal on the menu has and book hotel or airline reservations all in a few simple keystrokes. I can review work documents, answer emails, post blog entries and listen to all my favorite tunes. I can buy and sell almost anything, even read a bar code to comparison shop. I can page through a million recipes and construct a shopping at the same time and even email it to Safeway for them to make a home delivery with it just as I am arriving home.  I can pay my bills online, I can read my favorite novel and I can take incredible pictures or even shoot digital movies. I can watch TV and monitor my favorite sports teams', I can access the local weather forecast complete with streaming video all with my CELL PHONE!!!  I am impressed if not a little overwhelmed. I feel a little stressed as I ponder what might be next. Soon there will be no reason at all for me to ever leave mah chair. Perhaps in the meanwhile they can invent a battery that will make it through the day and text big enough for my aging eyes!

Agent Essentials

What should one look for in a real estate agent?  This is a vital questions that people do not ask nearly enough.  Having travelled the pathways of real estate for many years now, I can identify the essential qualities of a well rounded agent.

In our economy, we evaluate the business cycle in terms of phases:  Contraction, Trough, Expansion, and Peak.  In spite of efforts, even economic masterminds cannot predict when the next phase will come.  It can even be difficult to tell which phase we are currently in.  The contraction is determined by economic slowing, measured in terms of indicators such as Gross Domestic Product.  It is clear that we crossed this threshold some time ago.  The trough is the phase that contains what we call "The Bottom", which is what we have been hoping and praying for.  The trough is a springboard for the expansion phase, where the economic pace speeds up and the country is prospering.  The peak contains the point at which the economy begins the next contraction.

So, where are we?  Many would say that we are falling further into the trough, based on reports of increasing unemployment foreclosure rates.  These are no doubt dire times for our country, but the bigger picture may be a bit brighter.

The way you approach mortgage shopping can literally save thousands of dollars. Take time to understand the system and make educated decisions.  Doing so may very well cost you less over a shorter period of time.

If we can explain any steps along the way, please ask. We're always happy to help as well as referring you to our select group of qualified, reputable lenders.

It's a great time to buy a home, rental properties, land and/or real estate in the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Greater Thurston County area ... so choosing your real estate professional is, perhaps, the most important decision you can make during your real estate journey. We believe the more you look around, the more you will see the value of working with our team.

However, no matter whom you choose, these simple tips will help you find and purchase the home of your dreams more quickly and efficiently. If you're a first-time buyer you can find more information here.

The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle — safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.

Here are a few tips to that will help determine a great neighborhood for you to live in the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm and Rochester areas. 

With the current market conditions and record low interest rates, now is a great time to buy real estate in the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rochester, Fort Lewis and Greater Thurston County area.   

Choosing your real estate professional is, perhaps, the most important decision you will make when buying property. We believe the more you look around, the more you will see the value of working with us. 

Having the right sales price for your home or property is as important has ever due to the current market conditions. If you currently have a house, property or land listed and you've had zero response, most likely the price is too high.

Before we set the sales price of your house, we'll run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that will show the listing price of similar houses in the area as well as the prices at which the houses actually sold. Additionally, the analysis will give us information about houses currently on the market and about houses that were on the market but never sold.