Karen McKnight's Blog

Interest Rates Down = Affordability Up
Last week, the benchmark 30-year mortgage rate fell below 5 percent to reach an all-time low of 4.96 percent. This rate is down from two weeks ago when it hit 5.01 percent.  ?The outlook is very positive that these low mortgage rates will persist at least through the first half of the year. That is [...]

Don?t Let Winter Storms Catch You Unprepared
Realtors and other service providers are often on the road when many people are safe at home.  To be prepared for emergencies, I have stocked my car with Emergency Supplies.  Last December I was stranded in flooded water and this December, I found myself driving through a lot of snow on slippery roads. I decided to make sure [...]

Housing Stats Imply Its Time To Buy
According to a recent report from Global Insight, an economic and financial analysis forecasting firm, current housing statistics indicate that now is the right to time to buy. They claim that the U.S. housing market as a whole is undervalued by 3.8 percent. Global Insight analyzed 330 metropolitan areas in the United States and found [...]

Tax Credit Insights for Newly Defined First Time Homebuyers
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008,the most sweeping housing legislation since the Depression era, was passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives at the end of last month and was signed into law by President Bush. The new law addresses various aspects of the housing downturn, including assistance for homeowners who are [...]

Down Payment Assistance
For first-time buyers, often the first thought that comes to mind is, ?I need a down payment.? This is often followed by the question, ?Now, where do I get that down payment?? utho Depending upon the loan type, a home mortgage typically requires 3 to 5 percent down. If you have the money, then you?re set. But [...]

Emergency Preparation for School, Car, and Home
With climate changes seeming to be part of every day life, it is becoming ever more important to be prepared.  an informative web site with checklists, resources, and supply kits on sale is http://www.emergencyreadinessnow.com .  The free information is deeply researched and the products are of very high quality and can be shipped directly to your doorstep. These [...]

30 Year or 15 Year Mortgage?
Which is better, a 30-year or a 15-year fixed rate mortgage?  A common and important question which, when answered, affects both the monthly payment and the amount of interest paid on a mortgage loan. While paying less interest over a shorter timeframe seems to be the obvious answer, the difference in monthly payment is surprising [...]

Rates Creep Up
Recent indication is that first time home buyers are getting tired of sitting on the sidelines. According to a recent online poll taken by the National Apartment Association, 17 percent of renters plan to make the jump to home ownership in the next year; 41 percent of the 2,041 respondents planned to be home owners [...]

Keller Williams Offices Get top Ratings on Industry Surverys
Every year, RISMedia and REAL Trends release two of the real estate?s most comprehensive surveys: the RISMedia Power Broker Report and the REAL Trends 500. Both surveys rank the largest residential real estate brokerages in the U.S. based on both transaction sides and sales-dollar volume, and these reports are frequently used as referral tools and [...]

Seattle Metropolitan Area is Recession Resistant
Just today I read an article in Forbes Magazine / online and it rated Seattle as number 8 of the top ten Recession Resistant cities.  According to Forbes, Seattle Area Homes have appreciated 1.1% through 2008 and our employment rate is holding steady.  Actual appreciation or slight depreciation varies by neighborhood. To see actual Inventory Versus [...]