Raising the Bar

Additional Column Posts (1 - 20 of 33) Next Page

• The selling success of higher priced homes – Part 1

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Apr 10
  You might be surprised to find out what defines a ‘premier’ or ‘masterpiece’ or similarly labeled higher-priced property. It’s not simply price ...
  

• Consult an attorney before listing a distressed property

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Feb 13
  In the last five years we’ve seen a cottage industry arise, spawned from the economic crisis and housing market collapse. “Short sale negotiators” ...
  

• The benefits of renewing a defunct HOA

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Dec 12
  It’s been years since dues have been collected or meetings held. No annual updates of the homeowners association have been sent to the state. ...
  

• HOAs: The good, the bad, and the ugly

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Oct 10
  Many residential communities have Home Owner Associations. Often they might seem like they hold little relevance – until rules are broken. Resident...
  

• Buyers understandably wary of bidding wars

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Aug 08
  Currently there are few homes for sale and a disproportionate number of qualified buyers. We know there’s a huge “shadow inventory” of bank-owned ...
  

• Who nurtured your potential?

  By Elizabeth Erickson - May 09
  The micro-lending organization KIVA ( HYPERLINK "http://www.kiva.org" www.kiva.org) sent a reminder that the funds I’d loaned to three strangers ...
  

• Expectations of your buyer’s broker

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Mar 14
  So you’re ready to buy your home, but you’re not sure of the whole process; what to expect and where to find help. You’ve started looking online ...
  

• The changing role of appraisals

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Jan 11
  During the ‘crazy years’ from about ‘04 to ‘08, it was rare for appraisals to come in lower than the contracted sales price. The buyer’s lender’s ...
  

• Distressed properties: 'Everywhere else, but not here...'

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Oct 12
  “But ours isn’t a short sale... it’ll be better next spring... But we owe... we paid... we need...”    Brokers who still remain in the ...
  

• Should you buy or should you sell?

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Aug 10
  Last Thursday and again on Monday, Chicken Little was out squawking again, “The sky is falling!” as the stock market took big tumbles. By the time ...
  

• Home sale preparation: Clear out your clutter

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Mar 13
  Word’s out: The market is hot! Wait just a minute. In Mukilteo, there are currently 51 active residential listings – 37 houses, 14 condos – 30 of ...
  

• One small detail can make a big difference

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Jan 09
  The North West Multiple Listing Association’s real estate purchase and sale forms were a collaborative effort of many attorneys and real estate ...
  

• Real estate scams and scallywags

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Nov 14
  I’ve been “working” with an “all-cash,” “foreign buyer” who plans to buy a home sight-unseen and close in a month. He’s provided a Bank of China ...
  

• The transfer of home ownership

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Sep 12
  It’s difficult to remember a time when home sellers handed the keys to the new homeowner themselves. “Have a glass of lemonade! We’ll show you how ...
  

• Selling a home for more than asking price

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Jun 13
  This spring the overall real estate market has morphed from “languishing” into an environment that is generating multiple offers. This quick ...
  

• Create a successful partnership to sell your home

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Apr 11
  Sellers and listing brokers forge a relationship through a written contract, which has a beginning and an end. Optimistically, the end of a ...
  

• Short sales and what they mean for the American Dream

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Feb 08
  For too many homeowners in this worst of all possible worlds, the outstanding mortgage taken out in 2006-09 is more than the current value of ...
  

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”

  Dec 07
  According to the most recent Northwest Multiple Listing Service statistics for all NWMLS counties: “For homes and condominiums sold last month, ...
  

• Lessons from a learned negotiator

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Sep 14
  “That’s stupid! That’s just a stupid offer!” Looking back, it seemed like he levitated from his surly slouch. Presenting an offer to sellers ...
  

• Those pesky 2012 property tax assessments

  By Elizabeth Erickson - Jul 13
  (Side question of the month: In the last 6 months, how many homes sold for $1,500,000 or more in King, Snohomish, Island, San Juan and 5 other ...