Scott Your Broker

During this Holiday Season my wish for you is that you are busy being happy. Happy Holidays and may your New Year be the best for you and yours! Happy Holidays! Scott C. Dickinson Real Estate Broker 360-518-7197 https://linktr.ee/yourbroker

Like many of you who got lost in the HBO series Game of Thrones , I revel in the proclamation that is,  " Winter Is Coming ". But if you know me you will know I love, love, LOVE summer and I always hate for it to end. I celebrate the warm air, I love the water related activities. I love wearing flip flops and shorts. And in general, I love the party that IS summer and I want it to go on and on and on. Do you know that guy who is always the last one at the party, ready to Go All Night??? Well, that's me. And that's how I normally treat summer. I want it to go on forever. I go kicking and screaming into fall and eventually winter.  But there is a good side to winter coming.  At least, for those who are looking to sell their home. Many sellers believe spring is the best time to put their homes on the market because buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. What they don't realize is if every homeowner believes the same thing. then that's w...

It's impossible to not hear someone's opinion these days about the economy and what's going on with home prices. Loud mouths on the news, Facebook, heck, even your drunk Uncle Joe, all seem to have all the answers these days. But while your uncle might be good for uncomfortable jokes, chances are he really doesn't know what he is talking about with where home prices are going.  Sure there is uncertainty about the economy, triggered by a potential trade war but you need to listen to experts in the housing and lending world. Many people are dragging their feet in purchasing their new home or their dream home because "someone" said they think home prices are going to fall over the next few years. But, the experts disagree. And this is why I listen to experts because, well...they are experts and your drunk Uncle Joe is just that. But he is still your uncle. But I digress. Here is a table showing the predicted levels of appreciation from six major housing sourc...

As you know, there is chaos in our world today. Whether it's a badly needed orchestrated change or unchecked pandemonium is the topic for someone else's blog. But you can't deny it exists. And it is having a direct impact on the housing market. The reality is: some of it is positive and some of it may be negative. Here are three areas of the housing market that are critical for you to understand: interest rates, building materials and the outlook for an economic slowdown. 1. Interest Rates Without argument, one of the most important things to consider when buying a home is the interest rate you will be charged to borrow your money. In a recent blog of mine, I explored the questions, "Mortgage Rates: How Low Will They Go?" The latest information from Freddie Mac  seems to say lower rates are here to stay for the near future. We are currently at a 21 month low in interest rates.  2. Building Materials The reality of tariffs and the threat ...

Unless you are in a coma, you think about your future money. Every American wants their nest egg to last as long as needed. For decades, one of the top worries of Seniors is whether their savings and investments will last as long as they do. Let's face it, the idea of living a longer, healthier life only works if your money is right there with you. Every year, Gallup surveys  Americans to determine their choice for the best long-term investment. Respondents are given a choice between real estate, stocks, gold and savings accounts. For the sixth year in a row, real estate has topped the list of the best long-term investment! That has not always been the case. Gallup explains: "Between 2008 and 2010, covering most of the Great Recession period that saw plummeting home and stock values, Americans were as likely to name savings accounts or CDs as the best long-term investments as they were to name stocks or real estates." This year's results showed th...

Who is your trusted news source? Uncle Joe? Facebook?? Cable News??? If you listened to any of these 'trusted sources' over the last year you were probably told that because the Federal Reserve was raising interest rates, mortgage rates were going to skyrocket. "The Sky Is Falling! The Housing Market Will Crash!! The Good Deals Are All GONE!!! Well, if you listened to any of this fear mongering garbage you were sent down the wrong information highway. The Federal Reserve raising rates 'can' effect mortgage rates but it's not guaranteed or certain. But the reason why this is the case is for another blog, another day. The bottom line today is mortgage rates are falling! Interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage have been on the decline since November, hitting lows last seen in January 2018. According to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey , rates came in at 4.12% last week! This is fantastic news for anyone who is plann...

For most people, understanding how your credit score is figured is right up there with me explaining to you how my color television works. I can use it just fine but I can't tell you how it does what it does. Often, the same mystery is surrounding most American's knowledge of what credit score is needed to buy a house. Recently, it was reported by Bank of America that 24%  of renters believe they need a 780-800 credit score to be considered for a mortgage. This perceived reality is wrong. Only 25% of Americans have a FICO score between 740 and 800. Here is the breakdown according to Experian: 16% Very Poor (300-579) 18% Fair (580-669) 21% Good (670-739) 25% Very Good (740-799) 20% Exceptional (800-850) I am a huge of fan of improving your credit score. Being able to borrow smartly and affordably is powerful and a better credit score gives you the leverage to do that. I have a previous blog that talks of ways to improve your credit. And I love CreditKarma   fo...