This month, Where Next visits Nashville, Tennessee with Zeitlin SIR Managing Broker, Stephanie Brooks. The SeattlebyDesign team invited Stephanie to share insights with us about what makes Music City such a special place.
Where Next: Tucson, Arizona
This month, Where Next visits Tucson, Arizona with Russ Lyon SIR’s, Marta Harvey. The SeattlebyDesign team invited her to share insights with us about this warm weather locale that many PNW residents flock to annually.
Private Mortgage Insurance and the Alternatives
Let’s talk about Private Mortgage Insurance, or as we know it, PMI and it’s alternatives. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender will typically require a down payment equal to 20% of the home’s purchase price. If a borrower can’t afford that amount, a lender will likely look at the loan as a riskier investment and require that the homebuyer take out PMI, also known as private mortgage insurance, as part of getting a mortgage.
It’s important to realize, though, that mortgage insurance — of any kind — is neither “good” nor “bad”. Mortgage insurance helps people to become homeowners who might not otherwise qualify because they don’t have 20% to put down on a home. But as it adds to the total cost of your monthly payments, many wonder what options they have.
Annual Waterfront Report
The beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest aren’t complete without our water views. From in-city waterfronts along our lakes and the majesty of the Puget Sound, to Seattle’s iconic floating home communities, there’s nothing like finding a piece of waterfront to call your own.
Flooring, Cabinet & Countertop at Wholesale Prices!
Contract Furnishings Mart is a flooring, cabinet and countertop vendor with 14-showrooms across Seattle and Portland. They are a family-owned business, in continuous operation since 1981. CFM offers a highly knowledgeable sales staff and an impressive selection at great prices.
Where Next: Insights from our Broker Network
HAWAII! Andrea Healey is an Associate Broker at Oceanfront SIR, serving Greater Kauai. Caring, meticulous, goal-oriented, and outgoing, Andrea has made the most of island life and developed strong relationships across the community.
Q&A with Barb Fox—Senior Account Manager at Rainier Title & Escrow
This month, we had the pleasure to sit down with Barb Fox—Senior Account Manager at Rainier Title & Escrow. Barb has been providing exceptional service for more than 17 years in the title and escrow industry. As our go-to professional, Barb is a wealth of knowledge and it was incredibly valuable to sit down with her to get some must-know information about title insurance and escrow as part of the home buying process.
Read the Q&A below!
Where Next: Insights from our Broker Network
SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX! Brad Kimmelman is an Associate Broker at Russ Lyon SIR, serving the Phoenix Metro Area. Brimming with endless warmth and charm, Brad is a talented partner well-equipped to make good on your real estate goals.
Touring the Floating Homes of Lake Union
They are some of Seattle’s most unique and recognizable homes, and there’s only 500 of them. Last month, team member Enrico Pozzo—an expert in all things floating homes—led a tour of Lake Union and the homes that top its waters. Skippered by Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty (RSIR) CEO Dean Jones, our team was joined by nearly 40 of our RSIR colleagues and a few guest brokers from our affiliates in New York and California.
Insights from Our Broker Network
Throughout the years, we have befriended many quality real estate brokers around the country and other parts of the world. In our effort to always provide the best possible service to our clients, we have built professional relationships and friendships with the best of these brokers and touch base on a regular basis to discuss how our individual regions are changing while learning about new services and technologies they’ve implemented. This year, we will share a collection of articles co-written with some of these amazing professionals.
