Steve Strauss Real Estate Group

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Steve Strauss Real Estate Group

Expert real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Bain in Kirkland, WA.

09/09/2026

Homes priced at $1M+ saw sales jump 14.8% compared to last year, even as the overall housing market cooled off. That’s according to the latest data from NAR.

If you’re sitting on a high-end property, this is a good time to be selling. Buyers with serious budgets are active right now, and well-priced luxury listings are moving fast.

Not sure how this applies to your house or our market? Drop a comment or send me a DM, and let’s figure it out together and build a plan that gets you the speed and price you’re after.

09/02/2026

Quick question: what's the one word you'd use to describe this year so far?

For a lot of people, it's stressful. And when everything feels shaky, it’s easy to second-guess the move you were ready to make. But the truth is, the housing market is one thing that’s been remarkably stable.

Home prices have been relatively steady for about 4 years now. The number of homes for sale is right about where it was last year (up 2%). And mortgage rates have held in the same general 6-7% range since late 2022.

A steady market comes with a perk. You can actually plan. What works for your budget today probably won’t look all that different in a few months.

You don’t have to wait for things to calm down. The housing market’s already pretty steady. Send me a DM or drop a comment below, and let's compare the market you walked away from to the one that's here now.

08/19/2026

Want to know who's got the upper hand in today's housing market? One number tells you almost everything you need to know. It's the months' supply of homes for sale.

If there's fewer than 4 months? Sellers have the advantage.
Between 4-6 months? Buyers and sellers are on equal footing.
More than 6 months? Buyers have the power.

Right now, nationally, this is the most balanced market we've seen in years. But balanced doesn’t mean the market’s the same everywhere.

Some places are already leaning much more toward buyers. Others still strongly favor sellers.

If you're wondering who's got the upper hand where we live, let's talk. I'll show you what the numbers look like in our market and what they could mean for your next move.

08/12/2026

Mortgage rates aren’t random. They’re affected by 2 numbers.

The 10-year treasury yield and something called "the spread." That's the gap between the 10-year treasury yield and mortgage rates, and it usually sits around 1.76 percentage points.

Back in 2023, the gap in the spread ballooned up to 3.19 in response to economic uncertainty. If it were still that wide today, rates would be pushing almost 8%.

But the good news is the gap has narrowed to 2.01 (a lot closer to the long-term norm). And that’s a big positive for rates. It’s why today’s mortgage rate is in the upper 6s instead of touching 8%.

Here's the part a lot of people miss. Where rates are right now are already pretty close to what a totally normal spread would produce – a mortgage rate around 6.5%.

In other words, the fact that the spread has narrowed in recent years has helped mortgage rates. Sure, they’re still higher than you may want, but it could be worse.

Wondering if...

08/05/2026

Stuck deciding between buying a home now and holding out for the “perfect” mortgage rate?

The truth is, trying to time the market rarely works. Home prices, mortgage rates, and inflation are all outside your control.

And if you wait for all of them to line up just right, you may be waiting a long time.

My advice? If you want or need to move, look at your own numbers instead.

Because whether it's a good time to buy really comes down to your financial situation.

Can you afford the monthly payment?

Do you have enough money left over as a safety net?

What about for repairs?

It’s not a bad time to buy if the math makes sense for you. And that’s true no matter what you’re hearing about the market right now.

Connect with a trusted lender to run the numbers, then let’s chat.

07/29/2026

You have a serious edge if you’re selling a luxury house right now.

Sale prices for luxury homes have gone up about three times faster than the rest of the housing market.

That’s because buyer demand is surprisingly strong for high-end homes. So, while most tiers are cooling off, luxury stayed hot this Summer.

And that means you’re in a good position to get the most possible from your sale.

Ready to cash out at the top? Let’s talk strategy.

07/22/2026

Headlines highlighting rising foreclosures have a way of stirring up 2008 flashbacks. But the data says not to panic.

We’re nowhere near what happened back then.

In the first half of 2008, foreclosures were filed on over 1.3 million homes. The first half of this year that number was less than 250k.

Now, seeing any homeowner go through this is hard. There’s no arguing that.

But just looking at the market as a whole, we’re a long way from crash territory – even with the recent uptick. So, don’t let the headlines stir up fear.

07/15/2026

One of the biggest seller myths floating around right now is that buyers have disappeared.
The headlines certainly make it feel that way.

But here's what the data actually says.

More homes are going under contract right now than they were at this point the last two years.

And here's how that's possible. Life doesn't wait for perfect mortgage rates. People still get married. Families grow. Jobs change.

At some point, waiting becomes harder than moving. So serious buyers still take the plunge.

So, if you've been wondering whether there are still buyers out there...

There are.

The key is knowing how to position your house to stand out in today's market. Send me a message if you want some advice on what it would take to get your house sold right now.

07/08/2026

If your student loans have you wondering whether buying a home is even possible, keep reading.

33% of first-time homebuyers have student loan debt. That's roughly a third. And if they're making it happen, maybe you can too. Here’s why.

Lenders look at your whole financial picture – your income, your credit, your overall debt – not just your loans. So, if your finances are in decent shape, you might be a lot closer to owning than you think.

Don't count yourself out before you even try. Connect with a lender and talk about your options.

07/01/2026

Why a Newly Built Home Could Save You $25K over 10 Years

Think a newly built home is out of reach? It might cost less than you’d think. Compared to an existing home, new homes save buyers an average of about $25,000 over their first 10 years. Because having a brand-new roof, HVAC system, and water heater means lower bills and fewer repairs early on. Ready to see if a newly built home is right for you? Let's look at what's available in your budget.

Address

550 Kirkland Way 100A
Kirkland, WA
98033

Telephone

+14254181481

Website

http://www.stevestraussgroup.com/, http://www.streamlinenw.com/

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