Welcome to our Lifestyle & Real Estate blog.
Getting tired of the same old routine? Looking to add a little spice to your life? Well, you could try listening to the song “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls! (LOL) Ok, seriously, a home refresh is just what the Doctor and Team Skally ordered!
Read MoreHOTTEST SELLER’S MARKET EVER!
An incredible 71% of Eastside Homes in January sold above their list price! The median sold price is up 32% over last year!
You bought low and NOW is the time to SELL HIGH!
THE SELLER’S DILEMMA IS REAL!
Concern #1: “if we sell, where are we going to live”
Concern #2: “if we sell, what will we be able to afford”
NEVER FEAR, TEAM SKALLY IS HERE!
Read MoreHave you heard about the Team Skally “EASY BUTTON”? In this market, anyone can sell your home…but we will make it EASY for you to get TOP DOLLAR!
Read MoreWe often get asked what are the best colors to paint your home. Painting is such an easy and inexpensive way to make a home look refreshed and modern. Not only can it increase your home’s value it also can generate joy in having a fresh palette to work with.
Read MoreHOT is an Understatement…THIS MARKET IS ON 🔥!
The Eastside median sold price is now over $1.5M, up 32% over last year!
If you’re even a little bit curious about what your home would sell for in this ONCE IN A LIFETIME SELLERS MARKET, we’d be happy to perform a market analysis for you.
Read MoreHave you heard of the Universal Law of Attraction? Since the beginning of time, it has been used by the happiest and most successful people in the world to draw into their lives what they want to happen in their life. It can be summed up simply as “what we think about comes about.”
Read MoreThe quick answer is YES! Here’s why you should do both!...
Earlier this month Zillow announced the shuttering of its home flipping business largely due to inaccuracies in predicting home values. Zillow has acknowledged their algorithm is 82% accurate in predicting Seattle area home values within 10% of the actual selling price. So for nearly 20% of Eastside homes, Zestimate is off by more than $130,000!
Read MoreWhen the pandemic hit, we all scrambled to create remote work and learning spaces in our homes. Now that many of us have the option to flex or work remotely perhaps it’s time to refresh that permanent set-up or actually create a functional home office that allows for productivity, health, and happiness. Here are a few of the things that worked well for us that we hope can help you create the most positive and productive home office possible!
Read MoreClients often ask us the secret to making money in real estate. Our Uncle (RIP), who was quite successful as a real estate investor and manager, used to say: “your home is not an investment, it’s a lifestyle”. We certainly agree with him on the lifestyle point, as our Team Skally “reason for being” is to make our client’s Lifestyle Dreams Come True! But if he were around today we’d certainly love to debate him on the idea that your home is not an investment. With the median home appreciating 26% over the last year and another 18% forecasted by Porch.com over the next year, our homes have incredible equity to unleash!
Read MoreAlmost seven years ago we took a leap of faith, moving our family from Sunny California to Newcastle. While house hunting, people warned us that it was expensive here! To us it wasn’t all that bad given we were accustomed to California prices – you pay for the weather after all! While they warned us about the prices, they didn’t seem to mention the tough winters with an abundance of rain and grey. When someone finally warned us, we cheerfully replied, we’re not worried at all, we grew-up in Minnesota and there’s nothing quite like a Minnesota winter where temperatures often fall well below zero!
Read MoreHave you ever heard the phrase biophilic design? It’s one of the most significant trends in the building industry. In short, biophilic design seeks to maximize human health and productivity by connecting us to natural light, air, materials and water.
Read MoreHave you ever thought…There is so much I'd like to do to our home but I don't know where to start?
From our perspective, starting with the kitchen is a no-brainer. It's the heart of the home! We spend much of our time at home, nourishing our bodies, enjoying precious time with family and creating amazing traditions and memories with our friends. But, the scope and cost of a total kitchen remodel can be intimidating, so here are a few refresh ideas that provide exceptional bang for the buck.
Read MoreWe are frequently asked the question, "is now the right time to buy"?
With the median sold price on the Eastside increasing over 30% in the last year it certainly can be hard to believe that now could be a good time to buy. But when looking at the bigger picture...now, as in right now, can present a good opportunity to buy. Thinking we're a little crazy?! (LOL!)...here are a few key facts and trends that we're sharing with our clients/friends on the daily...
Low-interest rates have many homeowners wondering if it’s a good time to refinance. Refinancing can save you a lot of money in the long term when done correctly. It’s important to consider the drawbacks as well. Here are some reasons why you might want to refinance, and a few things to be cautious of.
Read MoreReal estate has long been considered a solid investment for many reasons. It is a relatively safe and easy way for people to build wealth beginning with a small amount of money. If you are interested in investing in real estate, I’d be happy to help you find the right properties.
Read MoreHome equity…Everybody wants it, but what exactly is it, and how do you get it?
Equity represents the degree of ownership an individual or entity has in an asset after subtracting any debts against the asset. To say someone shares equity in a company means they would share in any assets remaining after all debts are accounted for.
Read MoreBoth buying and selling a home can be equally stressful, and what about when you are trying to coordinate both at the same time? There are a lot of moving parts, and the agents involved work together to ensure the smoothest possible transactions for our clients. If you are selling your home and want to close on a new home purchase at the same time, here are some things to think about to make your move as smooth as possible.
On Earth Day, April 22nd, we celebrate our celestial home, planet Earth. It is a day to give thanks for the world around us and to take action to protect the natural resources we depend upon.
This year, I encourage you to spend Earth Day with your family, doing one of these fun activities designed to bring awareness of the ways we can all work to better our earthly home, reduce our carbon footprints, and build lasting family memories at the same time.
Luxury homes are generally described as those in the top 10% of their market. Luxury homes are usually located in the most optimal areas in a market, are large in size, and built with high-end materials. Luxury homes often have unique design elements and amenities not found in most homes. Want an indoor pool, a rock-climbing wall, a ballroom, or a bowling alley? A luxury home might have one of these– or all of them!
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