Blog - Denni Shefrin

Market News, Matthew Gardner

Would the FHFA Mortgage Fee Changes Have Favored Buyers with Low Credit Scores?

The Federal Housing Finance Authority recently put a hold on raising upfront mortgage fees given pushback that suggested home buyers with good credit were being penalized. Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner looks at Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs) to explain why some headlines were misleading. This video on the proposed FHFA mortgage fee changes is […]
W Report

W Report – May 2023

Local market update. Dwindling inventory across King County has led to rising prices, causing a small upswing in the market despite higher interest rates. Although prices are down year-over-year, the steady monthly price growth is encouraging to prospective sellers.Find our full market recap here. News + trends. [THE STATE OF] REAL ESTATE Where local Millennials […]
Design

How Much Paint Do I Need? Indoor Paint Calculator

Whether you’ve just bought a house or you’ve lived in your home sweet home for years, at some point its walls and surfaces will be due for a fresh coat of paint. Repainting can breathe new life into an interior and help you personalize the space, whether you’re working within the latest interior design trends or blazing […]
Living

Managing Your Investment Property: DIY vs Hiring a Professional

Owning real estate is an efficient and productive addition to your investment portfolio. For an investment property that you don’t plan to live in, whether it’s your second home or you’ve done this a few times before, you’re faced with decisions about how to best use that investment for your goals. Some investors will remodel their new property and […]

Market News Would the FHFA Mortgage Fee Changes Have Favored Buyers with Low Credit Scores? The Federal Housing Finance Authority recently put a hold on raising upfront mortgage fees given pushback that suggested home buyers with good credit were being penalized. Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner looks at Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs) to explain why some headlines were misleading. This video on the proposed FHFA mortgage fee changes is […]

W Report W Report – May 2023 Local market update. Dwindling inventory across King County has led to rising prices, causing a small upswing in the market despite higher interest rates. Although prices are down year-over-year, the steady monthly price growth is encouraging to prospective sellers.Find our full market recap here. News + trends. [THE STATE OF] REAL ESTATE Where local Millennials […]

Design How Much Paint Do I Need? Indoor Paint Calculator Whether you’ve just bought a house or you’ve lived in your home sweet home for years, at some point its walls and surfaces will be due for a fresh coat of paint. Repainting can breathe new life into an interior and help you personalize the space, whether you’re working within the latest interior design trends or blazing […]

Living Managing Your Investment Property: DIY vs Hiring a Professional Owning real estate is an efficient and productive addition to your investment portfolio. For an investment property that you don’t plan to live in, whether it’s your second home or you’ve done this a few times before, you’re faced with decisions about how to best use that investment for your goals. Some investors will remodel their new property and […]

Market News Q1 2023 Western Washington Real Estate Market Update The following analysis of select counties of the Western Washington real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact your Windermere Real […]

Market News Mortgage Rate Predictions and Misconceptions The Federal Reserve Bank of New York just released their 2023 Housing Survey, which shows how the U.S. population feels about the housing market. Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner digs into the mortgage rate predictions, showing how demographics played a role in the results. This video on mortgage rate predictions is the latest in our […]

Buying 10 Important People in the Home Buying Process It takes a village to purchase a home. Though it’s ultimately you who is paying for the property, successfully purchasing a home is a result of several people’s contributions. It helps to know who these individuals are, how they responsibilities pertain to your home purchase, and when you’ll encounter them during your journey. Here are […]

Selling 8 Tips for First-Time Home Sellers You’ve seen “For Sale” signs around your neighborhood, but what does it take to actually put your home on the market? First-time home sellers often enter the selling process unaware of what’s to come, their heads full of questions. Understanding the selling process will inform your conversations with your real estate agent and will help […]

Market News Will Rising Foreclosures Impact the Housing Market? How will rising foreclosures impact the U.S. housing market? To give his answer, Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner sheds light on the latest foreclosure data and shows how prepared home buyers are to manage their mortgage debt today compared to the 2000s. This video on foreclosures is the latest in our Monday with Matthew series […]

Living 7 Tips for Cleaning Your Appliances Your appliances help your home run like a well-oiled machine. But without the proper cleaning and maintenance, they can make your life more complicated. When thinking about the most helpful cleaning tips around the house, we often center our efforts on open, high-foot-traffic areas. However, spending some time cleaning your appliances will have your home […]

W Report W Report – March 2023 Local market update. Recent interest rate fluctuations have caused shifts in market activity, with some buyers converging on available listings and others waiting for rates to drop. Sellers have been hesitant to let go of their favorable mortgages, leading to low inventory.Find our full market recap here. News + trends. LOCAL ECONOMY Black-owned businesses are […]

Buying Homeownership Terms to Know: Pre-Approval, Pre-Qualification & More Throughout the home buying process, you’ll encounter several checkpoints. At every stop, you’ll get closer to the ultimate goal of purchasing your next home. Each one satisfies unique criteria required to become a homeowner, and each one has its own terminology. Before you begin your home buying journey, it’s helpful to know about pre-approval, pre-qualification, and […]

Market News Renting vs. Buying a Home: The Financial Benefits of Homeownership This video is the latest in our Monday with Matthew series with Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. Each month, he analyzes the most up-to-date U.S. housing data to keep you well-informed about what’s going on in the real estate market. Renting vs. Buying a Home One of my followers asked me about some of […]

Design What is a Rambler House? 5 Features of Ranch-Style Architecture The distinct rambler architectural style is known by several names: rambler, ranch house, California ranch, and more. Whatever you call it, it has played an important role in the evolution of the American home. From its spacious interior to its welcoming layout, these homes are tailor-made for a comfortable home life. History of the Rambler House It […]

W Report W Report – February 2023 Local market update. Buyers are once again competing with one another in King County, possibly marking an early spring for the housing market. With somewhat lower mortgage rates, sellers and buyers alike may be able to take advantage of new opportunities. Find our full market recap here. News + trends. [THE STATE OF] REAL ESTATE State […]

Market News Q4 2022 Western Washington Real Estate Market Update The following analysis of select counties of the Western Washington real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact your Windermere Real […]

Market News 2023 Real Estate Forecast: Why This Market Won’t Be Like 2008 This video is the latest in our Monday with Matthew series with Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. Each month, he analyzes the most up-to-date U.S. housing data to keep you well-informed about what’s going on in the real estate market. Hello there, I’m Windermere’s Real Estate’s Chief Economist Matthew Gardner and welcome to the first episode […]

W Report W Report – January 2023 Local market update. Last year ended on a much slower note than it began, as December closed home sales dropped across King County. With fresh momentum already on display in January, what will the 2023 market bring?Find our full market recap here. News + trends. WINDERMERE INSIGHTS Practical advice for this year’s real estate market […]

Selling Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home It’s common for homeowners to feel compelled to remodel their homes before they sell. Renovating the spaces in your home can increase its value and help you compete with comparable listings in your area. However, some remodeling projects are more beneficial than others as you prepare to sell your home. Always talk to your agent to determine […]

W Report W Report – December 2022 Local market update. Mortgage rates, earlier-than-usual winter weather and the busy holiday season are all factors in the slower pace of King County’s real estate market. Although sales were down last month, prices are still up year-over-year.Find our full market recap here. News + trends. [THE STATE OF] REAL ESTATE New affordable housing to be […]