"Anything You Need to Know About Real Estate: Your Writing Realtor"

Owning your first home can be an exciting time, but it can be a little nerve-wracking too. First-time home buyers may not know where to begin the home-buying process. The key to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible is learning from the mistakes of other first-time homebuyers. If this is your first rodeo as a homebuyer — or if it’s been many years since you last bought a home — knowledge is power. Along with knowing where the pitfalls are, it’s important to know what to expect and what questions to ask. This article outlines the six biggest first-time homebuyer mistakes, along with smart ways to avoid them. 1. Not Exploring Mortgage Options Before Buying First-time buyers often get a mortgage from the first (and only) lender or bank they talk to, and that’s a big mistake. Explore your lending options and talk with multiple mortgage lenders to shop for the best deals. Different lenders and brokers can offer varying interest rates and mortgage amounts.  Your lender...

Those who make an offer on a home in Washington over the holidays could save money — even in the competitive Seattle real estate market. Less competition and more motivated sellers. Those are just two of the potential perks of buying a home in Washington State over the holidays. And a recent report added a third item to the list. Buyers could also get a better deal on their purchases. If you’re trying to figure out what to expect when buying a house in Washington, the process depends on where exactly you’re aiming to land in the Evergreen State. For example, Seattle — home to many well-paid workers in the tech industry — is extremely expensive. According to a housing report by the  Madrona Group , the city’s average sale price hit $935,000 in September. Elsewhere in the state, though, your budget can look quite a bit smaller. In Spokane, for example,  Redfin data  shows the median sale price at just $380,000. While the number of homes for sale has risen in recent months, ...