Blog - Luke Bartlett

Local Events & Community

2024 Holiday Happenings Around the Sound

OK, who is ready to beat the gloom? Below are some Seattle-area holiday favorites to help brighten your spirits. You can bundle up and bask in breathtaking outdoor light shows, or just relax and enjoy from the comfort of a cruise ship or theater seat… Winterfest at Seattle Center 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA […]
Real Estate

Selling Your Home: 5 Common Myths

Selling your home is a crash course in real estate education. My clients learn a LOT as we work together to find a buyer and sell at the right price. As you prepare to sell, it’s important to remember that that not everything you’ve heard is true. There are several common myths that can lead […]
Real Estate

How’s the Market? Q3 2024 Review of Seattle Area Real Estate

While Q3’s summertime market slowed a bit from the frenetic spring pace of Q2 (we call this the “Summer Slump”), median home values are up across the region compared to this time last year. Most homes still sold at or above their listed prices in the first 10 days on market. However, buyers had more […]
Real Estate

Buying a Fixer-Upper

For some homebuyers, a fixer-upper is their idea of a dream home. However, the process of buying a fixer-upper comes with additional responsibilities compared to properties in better condition or new construction homes. Preparing for the process comes down to creating a remodeling plan, knowing what to look for when searching for listings, and understanding […]

Local Events & Community 2024 Holiday Happenings Around the Sound OK, who is ready to beat the gloom? Below are some Seattle-area holiday favorites to help brighten your spirits. You can bundle up and bask in breathtaking outdoor light shows, or just relax and enjoy from the comfort of a cruise ship or theater seat… Winterfest at Seattle Center 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA […]

Real Estate Selling Your Home: 5 Common Myths Selling your home is a crash course in real estate education. My clients learn a LOT as we work together to find a buyer and sell at the right price. As you prepare to sell, it’s important to remember that that not everything you’ve heard is true. There are several common myths that can lead […]

Real Estate How’s the Market? Q3 2024 Review of Seattle Area Real Estate While Q3’s summertime market slowed a bit from the frenetic spring pace of Q2 (we call this the “Summer Slump”), median home values are up across the region compared to this time last year. Most homes still sold at or above their listed prices in the first 10 days on market. However, buyers had more […]

Real Estate Buying a Fixer-Upper For some homebuyers, a fixer-upper is their idea of a dream home. However, the process of buying a fixer-upper comes with additional responsibilities compared to properties in better condition or new construction homes. Preparing for the process comes down to creating a remodeling plan, knowing what to look for when searching for listings, and understanding […]

Seller Tips Understanding Contingent Offers: A Seller’s Guide With the market shifting toward balance between buyers & sellers, “contingent” is a word sellers will be seeing more of. It’s important to understand the difference between a “contingent offer” and one with “contingencies.” Contingent offers allow the buyer time to sell their current home first before they complete the purchase. On the other hand, […]

Local Events & Community 2024 Football & Hockey Schedules, Recipes, & Tips Football is almost here and hockey is coming in hot behind it! Scroll down for printable schedules, tailgating hacks (including how to pack the perfect cooler!), and favorite gameday recipes. Fans of all ages will also love our printable football and hockey bingo sheets. Need to brush up on your sports lingo? Check out Wikipedia’s […]

Market Updates How’s the Market? Q2 2024 Review of Seattle Area Real Estate Median sales prices were up across the region in Q2 of 2024 compared to this time last year, with the Eastside posting the highest year-over-year appreciation. What should you know that the numbers don’t show? We’re back to a typical PNW seasonal market. Higher temps typically lead buyers to lose focus. There is still quality […]

Living & Trends 9 Fun Summer DIY Projects for Your Home Sun’s out…fun’s out! Our glorious PNW summer is coming in hot with endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Here are some fun and easy project ideas to help you make the most of it! 1. Backyard Movie Theater Outdoor movies are a great way to enjoy your yard and entertain a crowd (and keep […]

Buyer Tips Why Buyer Representation Matters So Much to Sellers In today’s rapidly changing real estate landscape, understanding the critical role of buyer representation has never been more essential for home sellers. With the pending NAR settlement on the horizon, many sellers may not fully grasp the significant impact these changes will have on their transactions. The urgency to adapt is real, and overlooking the […]

Buyer Tips What You Need to Know about the Washington State Seller Property Disclosure – Form 17 Washington State requires sellers of residential real property to thoroughly disclose material facts on a form called the Residential Real Property Disclosure Statement (often referred to as Form 17). Unless the buyer has expressly waived their rights, the seller must deliver this completed disclosure within 5 days after mutual acceptance. The buyer then has a […]

Local Events & Community 2024 Seattle & Eastside Farmers Markets: Locations, Times & More Summer is just around the corner, and so are these farmers markets! Spend an evening or weekend finding your new favorites among the tents. Think it’s all about kale? Think again. Most offer live entertainment along with a mouth-watering variety of local brews, cheese, bread, meat/seafood, honey, hand roasted coffee, and other hidden gems (in […]

Market Updates How’s the Market? Q1 2024 Review of Seattle Area Real Estate The Seattle/Eastside real estate market is hot and the Q1 stats support the claim; most homes sold in the first 10 days and either at or above their listed prices. Eastside median sales prices saw double-digit gains of 14% compared to this time last year, while Seattle was close behind with a 9% price bump. […]

Living & Trends Which Documents Should You Shred, and When? As the spring cleaning bug hits, many of us will finally be tackling those stacks of paperwork that have been piling up throughout the year. It’s tempting to chuck it all in the recycle bin and be done with it. However, did you know that it’s actually legal for someone to dig through your […]

Buyer Tips Moving Day: Checklists & Tips to Stress Less Ah, moving day…that magical mix of excitement, chaos, and occasional panic. Whether it is across town or cross-country, the reality of packing, moving, and setting up a new home can become overwhelming. No list can make a move “stress free,” BUT planning ahead and staying organized can help make your move a little smoother. […]

Seller Tips Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home It’s common for homeowners to feel compelled to remodel their homes before they sell. Renovating the spaces in your home can increase its value and help you compete with comparable listings in your area. However, some remodeling projects are more beneficial than others as you get ready to hit the market. Always talk to […]

Real Estate Tax Benefits Every Homeowner Should Know About More than 26,000 low-income seniors and disabled people in King County who qualify for a tax exemption haven’t claimed it…are you or your family member one of them? If you are homeowner, make $58k or less per year, and are either age 61+ or retired due to disability, there is a good chance you qualify. […]

Market Updates How’s the Market? An Annual Review of Seattle Area Real Estate Median home sales prices across the region saw a year-over-year dip compared to 2022, with prices settling just above their 2021 levels. That being said, most homes still sold within the first 10 days on the market and either at or above the listing price. Today’s higher rates, in concert with constricted inventory, have slowed […]

Buyer Tips 2024 Buyer Agency Law Changes: What Every Buyer Should Know Maybe you’ve heard about the class action lawsuits in other states, or maybe you’ve clicked a link discussing how REALTORs® conspired to artificially inflate home prices through price fixing of commissions. What you probably haven’t seen is that in Washington our REALTORs® and our NWMLS have been actively working to make the real estate […]

Buyer Tips When is the Best Time to Buy or Sell a Home? Market peaks, holidays, school, oh my! Once you’ve decided that you want to sell or buy a home, the when can be tricky to tackle. Many factors contribute to optimal timing. Scroll down for the pros and cons of selling or buying in each season. While each season has its perks and challenges, your personal […]

Seller Tips To Sell or to Rent? The Perks and Pitfalls of Being a Landlord Analyzing whether to sell or rent your home is a BIG deal…and it deserves careful consideration. Ultimately, the right choice for you depends on your financial situation, goals, and personal preferences. Here is a quick run-down to help you decide: Renting Out Your Home Might Make Sense If… You don’t need the funds from […]