Real estate

Agency finalizes protections for mortgage borrowers

The government’s consumer lending watchdog finalized new rules Thursday aimed at protecting homeowners from shoddy service and unexpected fees charged by companies that… Continue reading

Home plan

If you’re looking for an open, highly functional one-story layout, take a look at plan HMAFAPW1720 from Homeplans.com. The single-level, four-bedroom design features 3,029 square… Continue reading

Should heirs sell condo or rent it out?

Question: I have a question about an inherited condo. My father-in-law passed away. His will states that proceeds from the sale of his condo will… Continue reading

Married top earners to pay most in taxes

that is, when it comes to high earners’ tax bills. U.S. taxpayers with income of more than $200,000 a… Continue reading

2012: A home seller’s market in Snohomish County

Snohomish County’s real estate market validated the law of supply and demand in 2012, with weak inventory and willing buyers adding up to… Continue reading

Rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.42%

Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week but remained near record lows, keeping home buying more affordable. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac… Continue reading

New home sales fell in Dec., sales for year up

Sales of new U.S. homes cooled off in December compared with November but for the entire year were the best since 2009. The… Continue reading

U.S. home prices accelerated in November

U.S. home prices accelerated in November compared with a year ago, pushed higher by rising sales and a tighter supply of available homes.… Continue reading

Home plan

Reminiscent of a turreted castle, Plan HMAFAPW1721 from Homeplans.com offers a contemporary open layout and spiral stairway inside, and multiple porches, a lanai and a… Continue reading

Homestead exemption might not protect home

Q: We are having trouble paying our bills and are concerned about losing our home. I’ve heard something about homesteading your property so that nobody… Continue reading

Home prices increase in 88% of U.S. cities as recovery broadens

Prices for single-family homes climbed in almost 88 percent of U.S. cities in the fourth quarter as the housing recovery broadened. The median sales price… Continue reading

Meet an 18-year-old real-estate agent

Caleb Houvener has always been a guy with entrepreneurial ideas. It started in fifth grade, when he wrote silly slogans such as “fuzzy… Continue reading

Rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.63 percent

The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week to its highest level in seven months but remains near historic… Continue reading

Lenders again testing subprime market

Michele and Russell Poland’s credit was shot, but they managed to buy their suburban dream home anyway. After a business bankruptcy and a home foreclosure,… Continue reading

Supply of homes for sale tightens in county

It’s 2007 all over again for the county real estate market as antsy buyers rush to buy what’s available in a tight supply… Continue reading

U.S. home prices up 10.5% in past year

A survey shows U.S. home prices rose 10.5 percent in March compared with a year ago, the biggest gain since March 2006. Core… Continue reading

How Stanwood landed a factory and 62 jobs

When you think of electrical panel and control systems manufacturing, you probably wouldn’t put Stanwood very high on a list of likely contenders.… Continue reading

Retail space, 350 apartments planned for Lakewood

A small city is coming. Shops on the ground floor, apartments above. It’s the way the downtown areas of major American cities used… Continue reading

Ready to retire? Avoid refinance

Q: I have five years left until I pay off my 30-year mortgage. I received an offer to refinance, which certainly is tempting, but I’m… Continue reading

Real estate Q&A: Son’s ex-wife blocking short sale

Q: My husband and I co-signed a loan for our son and his now ex-wife. Our son stayed in the home but fell behind on… Continue reading