Patti Berube John L Scott Real Estate

04/10/2026

Affordability is improving, first-time buyers are returning and inventory is slowly rising. Here's what to watch this season.

02/12/2025

As a buyer less competition and more ability to negotiate is worth getting out in the cold weather to look at homes!

Let’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates.

12/28/2024

Thought I would share my 2025 RE Predictions! Much of the info is borrowed (and added to as my personal opinion) from articles from NAR, Zillow, JLS Lennox Scott, and the Seattle Times.

****PATTI'S 2025 REAL ESTATE PREDICTIONS****

1) As we look ahead to 2025, the Seattle-area real estate market will likely continue to be a mix of opportunity and challenge. While home prices will keep climbing, it’s expected to be at a slower, steadier pace of 4% to 5%, much like what we saw in 2024. Even though prices remain high, especially for first-time buyers, there are affordable cities like Tacoma, Renton, Burien, Des Moines, and Kent. Additionally, condos in are an option for buyers feeling priced out of single-family homes.

2) Many predict Mortgage rates are projected to stay between 6% and 6.5% throughout 2025, but looking at high 6's right now, I wonder if they're right? Many experts, including the National Association of Realtors' Lawrence Yun and Realtor.com Danielle Hale, foresee this as the “new normal,” offering some stability. Though mortgage rates and home prices may still be high, the so-called "lock-in effect" — where homeowners stay put to keep their low rates — is starting to ease, which could result in more home listings/sales in 2025.

3) Another key trend to watch in 2025 is the shift toward smaller homes. With many buyers moving away from the desire for massive living spaces, there’s a growing interest in homes that are more affordable, sustainable & efficient.

Builders like DR Horton are responding by offering smaller homes at lower prices, which is good news for first-time buyers. The use of terms like “cozy” in listings is on the rise, reflecting this new preference for well-designed, functional spaces over vast, open layouts. Small condos are also finding stability in price after some turbulence in the downtown market.

4) In addition, while there’s broad agreement that the entire Seattle area needs more homes to ease the housing crunch, the road to building new properties remains tricky. Rising construction costs, driven by factors like higher material prices and potential regulatory changes, could limit the number of new homes built. National politics, including proposed tariffs and labor shortages, may also complicate the situation. All of these factors may result in continued upward pressure on home prices, even as local governments work to make more land available for development.

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I hope my crystal ball is right and that we see more listings in 2025 as I know buyers are definitely ready for that. Hopefully 2025 offers both buyers and sellers what they're looking for!

Please let me know if I can answer any questions you may have about either buying or selling!

After 17+ years I've seen almost every market there is and I LOVE my job!

07/16/2024

Great article, I get asked this same question several times a year!
It's always the same answer, it's OK to remove the tub from the primary bedroom, as long as there's one bathtub left in the house for resale.

A tub-to-shower bathroom conversion can be a game-changer. But it may not be right for everyone.

04/16/2024

Great article. It talks about the reasons why there won't be another housing bust like the Great Recession.
#1 - limited inventory - not overbuilt like before
#2 - tighter lending guidelines - no "liar" loans or "stated income"
#3 - more buyers than sellers
#4 - sellers have a ton of equity

Yes, the market has cooled. But experts agree that there will be no housing market crash — in fact, prices remain near record levels.

02/29/2024

Great opportunity in Lacey!
Looking to downsize, need a second home in Washington and another in the Sun? Or maybe you're a first time buyer, this is the house for you!
Move-in-Ready with 1401 sq ft, 2 bedrooms and 1.75 baths - but BOTH have private bathrooms. Dual Primary Suites!
New flooring throughout, new countertops, molding and doors, and a roomy 2 car garage PLUS a private, fully fenced backyard!
MLS #2199830
$459,000
4501 Alexandria Lane SE, Lacey
HOA Dues $155/month BUT the HOA takes care of the ENTIRE front yard!
Steps from the Chehalis Western Trail for walking and biking!

02/10/2024

So lucky to have the best clients and business partners that help me be successful!

12/12/2023

This is interesting, they reviewed 47 million transactions to get this info :0
But something else it says inside is:

"When it comes down to it, if buying a home is your goal and within your budget, the best time to buy is when you’re ready financially and you can find a home that fits your needs,” said Matt Vernon, head of consumer lending at Bank of America. “Even in the current interest-rate environment, there are clear benefits to purchasing a home and beginning to build equity.”

The overall job market remains tight, even if it shows recent signs of softening. But every state is different.

12/07/2023

Yes the Real Estate market is much slower this time of year anyway, but with inventory levels so low - anyone who is out looking is serious!
Plus the interest rate has been dropping to just above 7% right now, with predictions for it to be at 6.5% by next Spring.

Sellers listed fewer homes in all four counties, with new listings in King County down 29% from October and 11% from the same time a year ago. The Seattle area recorded one of the biggest year-over-year drops in new listings in the U.S. last month.

Fewer homes meant fewer sales. The number of pending sales was down all across the region in November, particularly in Kitsap and Pierce counties, where sales were down by double-digit percentages from a year earlier.

Homebuyers and sellers in the Seattle area are hunkering down, and it's not just the holidays or weather making them stay put. See what's happening near you.

12/01/2023

Great information for updating your home to age in place, or for moving move parents in or disabled family members.

Making disabled-friendly home improvements can alter the quality of a resident's life for the better.

11/07/2023

I LOVE that they have huge searches with "pickleball" in them!

Plus, what’s on its way out.