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Sarah Forbes-Newman, Brown McMillen Real Estate, Burlington, WA (2026)

09/25/2026

🏡 5 Steps Toward Homeownership

Ready to turn “someday” into a plan? Buying a home can feel like a big undertaking, but breaking it down into a few simple steps makes the process much easier to navigate. 🔑

1️⃣ Get Pre-Approved
Connect with a trusted lender to understand your financing options, buying power, and estimated monthly payment.

2️⃣ Set a Realistic Budget
Just because you qualify for a certain amount doesn’t mean you have to spend it. Choose a price range and monthly payment you’re comfortable with.

3️⃣ Create Your Home Wish List
Think about your must-haves, nice-to-haves, preferred locations, and the things you’re willing to compromise on.

4️⃣ Find the Right Realtor
Work with a local agent who takes the time to understand your goals, knows the market, and will guide and advocate for you throughout the entire process. Like me!

5️⃣ Start Touring Homes! 🏡
This is where the fun begins! We’ll tour homes together, evaluate your options, and when you find the one, I’ll help you put together a strong offer, negotiate on your behalf, and guide you through the transaction all the way to closing.

Thinking about becoming a homeowner? You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Send me a message and let’s take the first step together! 🏡✨

09/24/2026

🏡 7 Tips for Showing Your Home

Buyers start forming an opinion about your home within moments of walking through the door. Make those first few minutes count. 👀✨

The little details can influence how a buyer feels in a space, and whether they can picture themselves calling it home. Before your next showing, take a few minutes to do these 7 things:

1️⃣ Leave the home before showings.
Give buyers the space to look around, take their time, and speak openly with their agent.

2️⃣ Open all blinds & curtains.
Let in as much natural light as possible to make your home feel bright and inviting.

3️⃣ Turn on all the lights.
Yes, even during the day! Good lighting can completely change how a room feels.

4️⃣ Turn on the fireplace. 🔥
When appropriate, a fireplace adds warmth and creates an inviting atmosphere, especially as the months get darker and colder.

5️⃣ Add something fresh. 🍋💐
Fresh flowers or a simple bowl of lemons in the kitchen adds an easy finishing touch.

6️⃣ Take care of trash & recycling.
Empty bins and keep them out of sight when possible.

7️⃣ Minimize signs of pets. 🐾
Put away bowls, beds, toys, litter boxes, and other pet items, and make sure the home smells fresh.

A successful showing isn’t just about how your home looks, it’s about how buyers feel while they’re there.

Thinking about selling? I’ll help you prepare your home to make a strong impression from the moment buyers arrive. Send me a message and let’s talk! 🏡✨

09/22/2026

🏡 Terminology Tuesday: Assumable Mortgage

What if you could buy a home and take over the seller’s existing mortgage rate instead of starting over with today’s rate? 👀🔑

That’s the potential benefit of an assumable mortgage.

An assumable mortgage allows a qualified buyer, under certain circumstances, to take over the seller’s existing home loan, including the remaining balance, interest rate, and repayment terms.

Why does this matter?

If a seller has a significantly lower interest rate than what’s currently available, assuming their mortgage could potentially save a buyer a considerable amount in interest and result in a lower monthly payment.

But there are a few important things to know:

🔑 Not every mortgage is assumable.

💰 The buyer may need to cover the difference between the seller’s remaining loan balance and the purchase price with cash or other financing.

📄 The buyer still has to meet the lender or loan servicer’s qualification and approval requirements.

🏡 FHA, VA, and USDA loans may be assumable when certain requirements are met, while most conventional mortgages generally are not.

An assumable mortgage isn’t the right fit for every purchase, but when the numbers and circumstances line up, it can be an option worth exploring.

Thinking about buying? There may be more ways to structure your purchase than you realize. Let’s talk about your options and find a strategy that works for you. 🏡✨

09/21/2026

🏡 Becoming a homeowner usually starts with a few key pieces 🏡

✔ A steady source of income
Lenders want to see reliable income that can support your monthly mortgage payment.

✔ Qualifying credit
You don’t necessarily need perfect credit. Different loan programs have different requirements, and a lender can help you understand where you stand.

✔ Money for your down payment & closing costs
20% down isn’t always required! Depending on the loan program and your qualifications, lower down payment options may be available.

✔ Manageable monthly debt
Your lender will look at your existing monthly obligations compared with your income to help determine what you may qualify for.

And then these two very important pieces help bring it all together:

✔ A mortgage pre-approval with a lender
A pre-approval helps establish your buying power and gives you a clearer picture of your potential price range and monthly payment.

✔ The right team
Having an experienced lender and Realtor by your side can make a huge difference. We’ll help you understand your options, answer questions, and guide you through the process from pre-approval to closing day.

Not sure if you check all the boxes yet? That’s okay! You don’t have to be ready to buy tomorrow to start the conversation. Send me a message and let’s talk about where you are today and what your path to homeownership could look like. 🏡✨

📱 360.391.4531
✉ [email protected]

09/18/2026

Hi, I’m Sarah! 👋

I’m a Realtor, artist, designer, mom, wife, daughter, friend, and school art docent volunteer. ❤️

Real estate is a big part of what I do, but it’s only one part of who I am. I love creativity and design, connecting with people, and helping others through some of life’s biggest transitions.

As a Realtor, I bring local market knowledge, a strong eye for design, and a thoughtful, hands-on approach to every transaction. Whether I’m helping a seller prepare and position their home for the market or guiding a buyer through showings, inspections, negotiations, and all the details that come with purchasing a home, my goal is to make sure my clients feel informed, prepared, and well represented from beginning to end.

To me, real estate isn’t just about buying or selling a house. It’s about understanding what matters to each client, protecting their interests, and helping them make confident decisions about what comes next.

Whether you’re searching for a new home, preparing to sell, or simply curious about your options, I’d love to be someone you can turn to.

Thinking about making a move? Send me a message, I’d love to get to know you and help you with your next chapter. 🏡✨

📱 360.391.4531
✉ [email protected]

09/17/2026

🏡 Questions to Ask When Buying a Home

Before you fall in love with the kitchen, the backyard, or that perfect primary suite… make sure you’re asking the questions that could really impact your purchase. 👀🏡

A beautiful home can still come with expenses, restrictions, or surprises you weren’t expecting. Here are a few important things to ask:

🔑 How old are the roof, furnace, and water heater?
Knowing the age and condition of major systems can help you anticipate future maintenance and replacement costs.

🌊 Is flood insurance required?
Find out whether the property is located in a designated flood zone and whether your lender may require additional insurance.

📋 Is there an HOA?
If so, what are the dues, rules, restrictions, and financial health of the association? These can all impact your monthly expenses and how you use the property.

📅 How long has the home been on the market?
Days on market, price changes, and previous listing activity can provide valuable insight when deciding how to structure your offer.

The right questions can help you look beyond what you see at a showing and better understand what you’re actually buying.

Thinking about buying? Let’s connect! I’ll help you ask the right questions, look at the bigger picture, and make informed decisions every step of the way. 🏡🔑

📱 360.391.4531
✉ [email protected]

09/16/2026

🏡 Coming Soon Listings Are Now Available in Washington State!

This is a big change for both buyers and sellers. Coming Soon listings have been permitted in other states for years, and now Washington buyers and sellers have another tool to help prepare them for their next move.

For sellers, Coming Soon status gives you up to 21 days to build exposure while putting the finishing touches on your home before it officially goes "Active". That extra time can be used for:

✔️ Professional photography
✔️ Staging and finishing touches
✔️ Last-minute repairs
✔️ Fine-tuning your pricing strategy
✔️ Building early interest with qualified buyers

And one of the biggest benefits? Your home won’t begin accumulating Days on Market until it officially goes Active.

For buyers, this creates an exciting new opportunity. Coming Soon listings are entered into the NWMLS before they become Active, which means buyers working with a licensed Realtor, (like me), can learn about homes that are preparing to hit the market through their agent and MLS-powered home search.

That gives you an earlier look at potential options, more time to prepare, and a chance to be proactive rather than reactive in a competitive market.

Thinking about buying or selling? Let’s talk about how Coming Soon listings could fit into your real estate strategy. 🏡🔑

📱 360.391.4531
✉ [email protected]

09/15/2026

🏡 Terminology Tuesday: Home Sale Contingency

Found the home you want to buy… but still need to sell the one you’re living in? 👀🏡

That’s where a home sale contingency may come into play.

A home sale contingency is a condition in a real estate offer that makes the buyer’s purchase of a new home dependent on the successful sale of their current home.

In simple terms: the buyer wants to buy, but they need to sell their existing home first. 🔑

This type of contingency can give a buyer the opportunity to secure their next home while their current home is on the market. However, it also adds another layer to the transaction because the purchase depends on another sale successfully moving forward.

For sellers, accepting a contingent offer involves weighing the strength of the buyer’s offer along with the likelihood and timeline of their home selling.

Every situation is different, which is why understanding the terms, timelines, and potential risks of a contingent offer is so important for both buyers and sellers.

Buying and selling at the same time? Let’s talk about how to create a strategy that works for your move. 🏡✨

09/14/2026

🏡 What Buyers Notice the First 90 Seconds of a Showing

First impressions happen FAST, and buyers are taking in more than you might realize before they’ve even seen the whole house.

Here’s what they notice right away:

1️⃣ The Street, Curb Appeal & Front Door
Buyers are forming an opinion before they ever step inside. The neighborhood, landscaping, exterior condition, and entry all set the tone for what they expect to find inside.

2️⃣ The Smell
Within seconds of walking through the door, buyers notice odors; pets, smoke, cooking, mustiness, or even overly strong air fresheners. A clean, fresh-smelling home makes a difference.

3️⃣ The Stains
Ceilings, walls, carpet, flooring; buyers notice them. Even an old stain from a problem that was repaired can leave buyers wondering if there’s a bigger issue hiding somewhere.

4️⃣ The Windows & Lighting
Natural light can completely change how a home feels. Clean the windows, open the blinds and curtains, and turn on the lights so rooms feel bright, warm, and inviting. ☀️

Those first 90 seconds can shape how a buyer feels about the rest of the home.

Preparing your home to sell isn’t just about making it look pretty, it’s about anticipating what buyers will notice and making sure the right things stand out.

Thinking about selling? I’ll help you prepare your home to make a strong impression from the moment buyers pull up. 🔑

09/11/2026

🏡 Before You List: Seller Checklist

You only get ONE chance to make a first impression on buyers, so make it count! ✨

The way your home looks, feels, and is priced from the moment it hits the market can have a big impact on buyer interest. A little preparation before listing can go a long way.

✔ Declutter each space so buyers can better see the size and function of the rooms.

✔ Take care of small repairs like loose handles, scuffed walls, and minor touch-ups.

✔ Deep clean from top to bottom to create a fresh, move-in-ready impression.

✔ Use simple staging to highlight each room’s best features and help buyers envision themselves living there.

✔ Replace burned-out lightbulbs and make sure the home feels bright, warm, and inviting.

✔ Depersonalize by removing excess family photos, collections, and anything that may distract buyers from the home itself.

✔ Have a clear pricing strategy so you hit the market competitively from day one.

Preparing your home for the market isn’t about making everything perfect, it’s about knowing where to focus your time and money to make the strongest impact.

That’s part of what I help my sellers with before we ever put the “For Sale” sign in the yard. From preparation and staging recommendations to pricing and marketing strategy, we’ll have a plan to help your home stand out from the competition. 🔑

Thinking about selling? Let’s talk about how to get your home market-ready!

Sarah Forbes-Newman, Brown McMillen Real Estate

09/25/2026

09/24/2026

09/22/2026

09/21/2026

09/18/2026

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09/11/2026

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