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The Veteran Team

Veteran real estate team that caters to the military, first time home buyers, buyers, sellers and the latino communities.

09/18/2026

FEATURE FRIDAY | KAYAK POINT REGIONAL COUNTY PARK 🌊🌲

Looking for a place where you can trade the usual weekend routine for fresh air, waterfront views, and a little room to slow down?

This week’s Feature Friday takes us to Kayak Point Regional County Park in Stanwood, Washington.

Set along the shores of Port Susan, Kayak Point offers more than 3,300 feet of shoreline surrounded by evergreen forest. It’s a place where you can spend the day exploring the beach, walking the trails, fishing from the pier, enjoying a picnic by the water, or launching a boat.

For those looking to stay a little longer, the park also offers camping and yurts surrounded by wooded areas. 🌲

And if you’re the type who enjoys being out on the water, the 300 foot fishing pier is a popular spot for fishing and crabbing when in season.

There’s also ongoing renovation work at the park in 2026, with improvements focused on the day use area, recreation space, parking, the boat launch, and habitat improvements.

📍 Kayak Point Regional County Park
Stanwood, WA

Sometimes you don’t have to go far to find a place that feels like a getaway.

Have you been to Kayak Point? What’s your favorite thing to do there?

09/17/2026

🚰 THURSDAY REAL ESTATE TIP: TEST THE WATER PRESSURE

When you’re touring a home, it’s easy to focus on the kitchen, flooring, countertops, and overall layout. But some of the most important details are the ones you can actually test while you’re there.

Before you make an offer, turn on a few faucets and showers.

Pay attention to:

• 💧 Water pressure
• 🔥 How quickly the water gets hot
• 🚿 Whether the pressure changes when another faucet is running
• 🛁 How quickly sinks, tubs, and showers drain

These quick checks can give you a better idea of how the home’s plumbing performs during everyday use.

You don’t have to be a plumber to notice something doesn’t feel right. If the water pressure seems unusually low or something concerns you, ask questions and consider having it checked during the inspection process.

A good showing tells you what a home looks like. A little testing can tell you how it works.

Thinking about buying a home? Don’t just look around. Test the things you’ll actually use.

09/16/2026

🏡 YOUR HOME. YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLE.

Every buyer has that one thing they simply won't compromise on.

Maybe it's:

🌲 A big backyard
🍳 A spacious kitchen
🚗 A garage
🛏️ Enough bedrooms for everyone
📍 A specific location
☀️ Plenty of natural light
🛠️ A home that doesn't need a long list of projects
🐕 Space for the dogs
🏔️ A view worth waking up to

And sometimes, it's something completely unexpected.

For me, one of the most interesting parts of helping people buy a home is discovering what actually matters most to them. It's not always the biggest house or the newest finishes. Sometimes it's the one detail that makes a house feel like home.

So let's settle this:

If you could only choose ONE, what would your home non-negotiable be?

Drop yours in the comments. 👇

09/15/2026

🏡 TUESDAY REAL ESTATE TERMINOLOGY

🔑 DUE ON SALE CLAUSE

You may own the house, but that doesn’t always mean you can simply transfer the mortgage to someone else.

A Due on Sale Clause is a provision in many mortgage agreements that allows the lender to require the remaining loan balance to be paid if the property is sold or transferred to another person.

In simple terms:

Sell or transfer the property → the lender may have the right to call the loan due.

This is one reason you shouldn’t assume that a buyer can simply “take over” a seller’s existing mortgage.

There are exceptions and specific situations where a loan may be assumable, and VA loans have their own rules surrounding assumptions.

💡 The takeaway: Before transferring ownership or assuming someone else's mortgage, understand what the existing loan actually allows. The deed and the mortgage are two different pieces of the transaction.

Real estate terminology can sound complicated, but knowing what these terms mean can help you avoid expensive surprises.

09/14/2026

MONDAY MARKET TRENDS: The Number Behind the Asking Price

Here’s a market number I think more buyers and sellers should pay attention to: the sale-to-list price ratio.

In Snohomish County, the median sale-to-list ratio is currently sitting around 100%. At first glance, that sounds like sellers are getting exactly what they’re asking for.

But there’s more to the story.

Current data shows that while some homes are still selling at or above asking, a significant share are selling below the original list price. In fact, about 41% of recent sales closed below the asking price, while roughly 30% sold above it.

That tells me something important:

The market is rewarding accurate pricing more than optimistic pricing.

For sellers, putting a high number on the listing and hoping the market catches up can mean more time sitting on the market and eventually having to make adjustments.

For buyers, this creates an opportunity to look beyond the asking price. A home that has been sitting for a while may have more negotiating room than its original list price suggests.

And for VA buyers, this matters too. Your purchasing power is about more than just the price on the sign. The monthly payment, financing terms, appraisal and overall value all need to make sense.

The market isn't necessarily telling sellers to accept less.

It’s telling them to price with the market, not against it.

That distinction can make a big difference.

📞 Thinking about buying or selling a home in Washington? Let’s connect and talk about what you’re seeing in your local market.

09/11/2026

Today, we pause to remember September 11, 2001.

We honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the countless individuals who showed extraordinary courage in the moments that followed.

We remember the first responders who ran toward danger, the service members who answered the call, and the everyday people who stepped up to help others when it mattered most.

Twenty five years later, their lives, courage, and sacrifices remain forever in our hearts.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

September 11, 2001
Always remembered. Never forgotten.

09/10/2026

Real Estate Tip: The Seller Doesn't Always Have to Leave the House Empty!

A lot of buyers assume that when they get the keys, the house will be completely cleared out. That is not necessarily the case.

What gets left behind can actually be part of the purchase agreement.

For example, a buyer and seller can agree on things such as:

Furniture
Garage shelving
Outdoor play equipment
Curtains and rods
Free-standing appliances
Security cameras
Hot tubs
Pool equipment
Even certain items the seller originally planned to take

The important part is don't rely on a verbal agreement.

If you want something that isn't normally included with the home, make sure it's specifically addressed in the purchase contract.

The same goes the other way.

If a seller has something they want to take with them, it should be clearly excluded so there isn't a surprise right before closing.

Here's the tip:
If you see something in the house and think, “I really want that to stay,” don't assume it comes with the property.

Ask. Put it in writing. Make sure everyone agrees before you sign.

Because sometimes the little things can become the biggest closing day surprises.

09/09/2026

Buying a home is exciting, but sometimes a deal doesn't make it to the finish line. One of the biggest questions buyers ask is:

"What happens to my earnest money?"

The answer depends on why the transaction falls through.

✅ If the contract is terminated under a contingency you have in place, such as financing, inspection, or another agreed-upon condition, you may be entitled to receive your earnest money back.

⚠️ However, if you back out without a valid contractual reason, you could risk losing some or all of your earnest money.

That's why it's so important to understand your purchase agreement before signing and to work with an experienced real estate professional who can guide you through each step of the process.

Every situation is different, and the terms of the contract matter.

If you're planning to buy a home in Washington and have questions about earnest money or the home buying process, I'm always happy to help.

09/08/2026

🎖️ VETERAN REAL ESTATE TERMINOLOGY

VA FUNDING FEE EXEMPTION

Buying a home with a VA loan? You may have heard of the VA Funding Fee, but did you know that some veterans may be exempt from paying it?

The VA Funding Fee is a one time fee associated with many VA backed home loans. It helps support the VA loan program and is typically based on factors such as the type of loan and the veteran's circumstances.

However, not every veteran has to pay it.

You may qualify for a VA Funding Fee exemption if, for example, you are:

Receiving VA compensation for a service connected disability
Eligible to receive VA compensation for a service connected disability but receiving retirement or active duty pay instead
A surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Why does this matter?

A funding fee exemption can potentially save a veteran thousands of dollars at closing.

💡 The takeaway: Don't assume the funding fee automatically applies to you. Your VA eligibility and benefit status can make a difference.

Understanding the terminology behind your VA benefit can help you make more informed decisions when it's time to buy.

Know your benefit. Know your options.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day

Today is a chance to recognize the people who keep our communities moving.

The early mornings. The long shifts. The extra hours. The work that happens behind the scenes and the work that never gets noticed.

Labor Day is a reminder that hard work matters, but so does taking a moment to slow down, spend time with the people you care about, and appreciate how far you’ve come.

To every worker, veteran, parent, tradesperson, first responder, teacher, healthcare worker, small business owner, and everyone putting in the effort every day:

Thank you for what you do.

Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and well deserved Labor Day.

Address

15117 Main Street B106
Mill Creek, WA
98012

Website

http://TheVeteranTeam.US/

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