Notes from the team.

Sep 10, 2026 Data Centers Are Moving Closer to Homes. What Does That Mean for You? Data centers probably weren't on your list of things to think about when buying or selling a home. Market Talk4 min read Read → Sep 9, 2026 The Housing Market Split in 2. Which Side Is Your House On? Ask a couple people how the housing market is doing and you’ll probably get a couple different answers. That’s because right now, the market runs on 2 very different tracks, split by price point. Market Talk3 min read Read → Sep 7, 2026 Remote Work Could Be Your Affordability Answer For most first-time buyers, the hardest part of buying a home is making the numbers work. You budget, you save, and the finish line still feels far away. Buying3 min read Read → Sep 3, 2026 Why Buyers Shouldn't Overlook a Fall Move You've been waiting for something to change before you buy. It just might not be the thing you expected… Buying4 min read Read → Sep 2, 2026 Think New Homes Cost More? Not Right Now. Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s actually backwards. Buying3 min read Read → Sep 2, 2026 Assumable VA loans: how a JBLM buyer can take over a seller's 3 percent rate Any qualified buyer can assume a VA loan at the seller's original rate. The math on a Spanaway home, the equity gap, the 0.5 percent fee, and what sellers with 2020 and 2021 loans give up. Military Moves5 min read Read → Sep 2, 2026 September in Spanaway: lanterns on the lake, Bison football, and the fair DiNero's neighbor's calendar for the month: Light the Lake, the Bethel home opener, the State Fair, the JBLM half marathon, pumpkin season, and what WSDOT is planning for Pacific Avenue. I Love Spanaway5 min read Read → Aug 31, 2026 Thinking About Tapping into Your 401(k) To Buy a Home? Read This First. Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home. Buying3 min read Read → Aug 30, 2026 I Love Spanaway Local Business Spotlight: Woofers Grooming & Goodies Episode 1 of DiNero's new local video series: 18 years of family-run grooming, walk-in nail trims, and the World's Longest Biscuit Buffet. I Love Spanaway8 min video Watch → Aug 27, 2026 Sellers Are Cutting Prices To Meet Buyers Where They're At You're scrolling through listings on your phone and everything looks good until you see the price (or the estimated monthly payment). Then you close the app. Selling3 min read Read → Aug 26, 2026 Worried About a Housing Crash? The Numbers Tell a Calmer Story. A recent survey from Talker Research asked Americans to pick one word to describe how 2026 has felt so far. The winner? Stressful. And honestly, there’s been a lot going on. Market Talk3 min read Read → Aug 24, 2026 Most Home Sales Close – Here’s How To Keep Yours on Track Few things are as rattling as the thought of your home sale falling through at the last minute, right before closing. All that waiting, all that progress, out the window. Selling4 min read Read → Aug 20, 2026 One Number Could Change Everything About Your Next Move When's the last time someone told you what your house is worth? Not what some online valuation tool guessed. Not what your neighbor's house sold for. What yours is actually worth right now. Selling4 min read Read → Aug 19, 2026 Higher Rates Could Actually Help Housing Supply – Here’s How. You may have heard the number of homes for sale isn’t growing like it was. And maybe that has you worried you won’t find a home you love when it’s time to make your move. Market Talk3 min read Read → Aug 17, 2026 The Kind of House Buyers Are Willing To Pay More For That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you've been using for storage. To you, it's extra space. But to a growing pool of buyers, it's the reason they'd pick your house. Selling3 min read Read → Aug 13, 2026 Who Has the Upper Hand in Today's Housing Market? Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there's a way to get a better deal. Market Talk3 min read Read → Aug 12, 2026 Here's Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now If you're waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. Mortgage Rates3 min read Read → Aug 10, 2026 The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home If you're planning to buy your next home soon, you've probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment. Buying3 min read Read → Aug 6, 2026 Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First. Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven't changed much. Mortgage Rates3 min read Read → Aug 5, 2026 Big Investors Are Backing Off and That's Your Opening For years, a lot of would-be homebuyers have worried about the same thing. Buying3 min read Read → Aug 3, 2026 Here's Where To Start if You're Selling and Buying at the Same Time If you're a homeowner getting ready to move, one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? Selling3 min read Read → Jul 30, 2026 Buying a Home? Here's What You Should Know About Home Insurance Costs. If buying a home is on your radar, you've probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. Buying3 min read Read → Jul 30, 2026 PCS to JBLM: the 90-day home search timeline Orders to Joint Base Lewis-McChord come with a countdown attached. Military Moves2 min read Read → Jul 29, 2026 Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing. After more than a year of headlines talking about how home prices are going to crash, the latest data shows that price growth may be starting to pick back up again. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jul 27, 2026 Selling a Luxury House? Here’s Why Now Is a Good Time If you own a luxury house, you're in a stronger spot than most sellers right now. Selling2 min read Read → Jul 23, 2026 The House That Started It All Could Kickstart What's Next Remember how exciting it was to buy your first place? It felt like crossing a long-awaited finish line. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jul 22, 2026 Priced Out? A Condo or Townhome Could Be Your Way In. Today's home prices have a lot of buyers, especially first-time buyers, wondering if there’s even anything out there that’s in their budget. Buying3 min read Read → Jul 20, 2026 More Homes, Better Prices: A Buyer’s Summer If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from. Buying2 min read Read → Jul 16, 2026 14 Years Running: Why Real Estate Is Still America’s Favorite Investment Quick gut reaction. Which investment do Americans trust more than stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds? Buying3 min read Read → Jul 15, 2026 Think Nobody's Buying Homes Right Now? Think Again. If you've been thinking about selling, you've probably seen plenty of headlines suggesting buyers have just about disappeared. Buying3 min read Read → Jul 13, 2026 The “Take It or Leave It” Attitude Is Fading from the Market, What That Means for You Negotiations are back. More buyers are asking for better deals, and more sellers are giving them. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jul 9, 2026 What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026 If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you're not the only one. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jul 8, 2026 Student Loans Are Back in the News. Don't Let It Put Your Homeownership Plans on Hold. Student loans are back in the spotlight. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jul 6, 2026 What Buying or Selling a Home Gives Back to Your Community Buying or selling a home is a big financial decision. And right now, it feels even bigger. Selling2 min read Read → Jul 2, 2026 Down Payments Are Smaller Than They’ve Been Since 2021 Saving for a down payment can feel like the hardest part of buying a home. Buying3 min read Read → Jul 1, 2026 The Housing Market Is Stronger Than You Think You've probably heard plenty of doom and gloom about the housing market lately. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jun 29, 2026 The 1 Factor That Explains Everything Happening with Home Prices Right Now You've probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that's true, nationally. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jun 25, 2026 Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s How To Turn It Around. When your house doesn’t sell, it’s not just disappointing. It messes with your timing. Selling3 min read Read → Jun 24, 2026 More Sellers Are Taking Their Homes off the Market. Here’s What You Need To Know. You may be hearing that a near-record number of homeowners are pulling their houses off the market. Selling3 min read Read → Jun 22, 2026 That House That’s Been Sitting Could Be Your Best Shot at a Deal Open up a home search and you'll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jun 18, 2026 Is It Still a Seller's Market? Here's What the Data Says. Remember a few years back when sellers held all the power and buyers were stuck offering way over asking or waiving inspections just to get a chance at the house? Selling3 min read Read → Jun 17, 2026 Think Home Prices Will Crash? Here's What the Experts Actually Expect. One of the biggest reasons buyers are still sitting on the sidelines is because they think home prices are going to come down. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jun 15, 2026 Should You Pay for Your Buyer’s Closing Costs? What Sellers Need To Know. A few years ago, sellers could get away with saying "no" to just about everything. Selling3 min read Read → Jun 11, 2026 Two Big Reasons To Move This Summer A lot of people who want to move are telling themselves the same thing: "Maybe I'll just wait until later this year once things calm down." Market Talk3 min read Read → Jun 10, 2026 Lower Asking Prices Are a Win for Today’s Buyers If affordability has been the biggest thing standing between you and a home, there's a little good news. Buying2 min read Read → Jun 8, 2026 Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Everything About Your Budget? Whether you're dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you're in, affordability is probably weighing on your mind. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jun 4, 2026 What Rising Inflation Means for Your Move Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jun 3, 2026 The Mid-Year Housing Market Update: Why Forecasts Changed in 2026 If the housing market feels confusing right now, you’re not alone. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jun 1, 2026 Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Buyers You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Buying3 min read Read → May 28, 2026 The Real Reason Some People Are Still Moving Right Now You may be telling yourself you’re going to wait to move, maybe you’re hoping mortgage rates will come down, prices will fall, or the market will feel a little easier. Market Talk3 min read Read → May 27, 2026 The Truth About Affordability Today Let's be real with each other for a second about affordability. Market Talk3 min read Read → May 25, 2026 What Most Veterans Don't Know About Their VA Home Loan Benefit Nearly half of Veterans (49%) feel homeownership is currently out of reach, according to a recent survey from NewDay USA. Military Moves2 min read Read → May 21, 2026 Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier. Market Talk2 min read Read → May 20, 2026 Record High Mortgage Debt Sounds Scary. Here’s What the Headlines Leave Out. You may have seen the headlines lately about mortgage debt in America hitting a record high. Mortgage Rates2 min read Read → May 18, 2026 Are Home Prices Going To Fall? It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now: “What if I buy, and home prices go down?” Market Talk2 min read Read → May 14, 2026 The Pricing Mistake That Could Cost You Your Sale Most sellers come into the market with one number in mind. And it’s often the one that costs them the most. Market Talk3 min read Read → May 13, 2026 What the Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t Telling You You've probably seen the headlines saying, "foreclosures are on the rise,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008. Market Talk3 min read Read → May 11, 2026 Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring Selling your house this season? You’ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. Selling2 min read Read → May 7, 2026 Could Co-Buying Be the Answer for Some First-Time Buyers? For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. Buying2 min read Read → May 6, 2026 The Secret To Selling Fast, No Matter the Market When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. Selling3 min read Read → May 4, 2026 4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge This Spring Looking to buy a home this season? Here's what you should know. Market Talk2 min read Read → Apr 30, 2026 Is Late May the Best Time To List Your House? You may have heard April 12-18 was the “best week” to list your house. Selling2 min read Read → Apr 29, 2026 Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Age At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up: Selling3 min read Read → Apr 27, 2026 Think You Have To Put 20% Down? Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t. According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. Buying2 min read Read → Apr 23, 2026 3 Things That Are Not Going To Happen in Today's Housing Market There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and that’s leading to some dramatic headlines. Market Talk3 min read Read → Apr 22, 2026 More Options Are Popping Up This Spring Did you try to buy a home last year, but you ended up pressing pause? Market Talk2 min read Read → Apr 20, 2026 The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach. Buying3 min read Read → Apr 16, 2026 Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? Buying3 min read Read → Apr 15, 2026 Getting a Tax Refund? Here’s How It Can Help You Buy a Home If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. Buying2 min read Read → Apr 13, 2026 Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind. With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. Buying3 min read Read → Apr 9, 2026 When Buying a Home Feels Out of Reach, Some Families Do This Instead For a lot of people, the math on buying a home just doesn’t really work right now. Buying2 min read Read → Apr 8, 2026 Thinking About an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Here’s What You Need To Know. If you’ve been looking for a home lately, you’ve probably felt how tough affordability still is. Mortgage Rates3 min read Read → Apr 6, 2026 Your House Hasn’t Sold Yet. Should You Rent It Out Instead? When your house sits on the market longer than expected, it can get frustrating fast. Selling3 min read Read → Apr 2, 2026 Before You Fall in Love with a House, Do This First. Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? Market Talk2 min read Read → Apr 1, 2026 Don’t Let Home Prices Headlines Fool You Spend about 5 minutes online searching for news about the housing market, and odds are you’ll see something pop up about home prices. Market Talk2 min read Read → Mar 30, 2026 This’ll Change What You Think About Investors in Today’s Housing Market There’s a lot of noise out there right now about investors in the housing market. Buying2 min read Read → Mar 26, 2026 The Best Week To List Your House Is Just Around the Corner While the Spring season consistently offers up some of the best conditions for home sellers, Realtor.com says there’s one window where the stars really seem to align year after year. Selling2 min read Read → Mar 25, 2026 You Can’t Control What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates. But You Can Control This. Mortgage rates have been volatile lately. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. Mortgage Rates2 min read Read → Mar 23, 2026 The Remodel You’ve Been Dreaming About May Be Closer Than You Think That kitchen you’ve been mentally redesigning... Market Talk3 min read Read → Mar 19, 2026 Affordability Has Improved in All 50 States For the past few years, affordability has been what’s stopped a lot of buyers in their tracks. Market Talk2 min read Read → Mar 18, 2026 3 Must-Do’s for First-Time Home Buyers Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also be a little nerve-wrecking because it’s something you’ve never done before. Buying3 min read Read → Mar 16, 2026 The #1 Reason Buyers Walk Away (And How To Get Ahead of It) You may have seen headlines on social saying the number of buyers backing out of their contracts is on the rise, and has recently reached a high not seen since 2017. Buying3 min read Read → Mar 12, 2026 One Key Sign We’re Not Headed for a Wave of Foreclosures Foreclosures are ticking up. And that may make your mind jump straight to thoughts of 2008, specifically to what happened to the market during the housing crash. Market Talk2 min read Read → Mar 11, 2026 If Your House Isn’t Getting Offers, Read This. Online searches for “can’t sell house” just hit an all-time high according to Google Trends. Selling3 min read Read → Mar 9, 2026 Should You Wait for Lower Rates? Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. Mortgage Rates2 min read Read → Mar 5, 2026 Spring Sellers Have an Edge. Here’s Why. Homeowners looking to sell usually want three things: plenty of interested buyers, strong offers, and a short timeline. Selling2 min read Read → Mar 4, 2026 Are Home Prices Dropping? Here’s the Real Story. You’ve probably seen posts on social media talking about how “home prices are falling.” And when you see something like that, it’s normal to wonder: Market Talk2 min read Read → Mar 2, 2026 The Hidden Advantage Repeat Buyers Have Right Now What if you didn’t have a mortgage payment on your next house? Buying2 min read Read → Feb 26, 2026 Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them) Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. Market Talk3 min read Read → Feb 25, 2026 Renting vs. Buying: The Numbers Might Surprise You Renting can feel like the easier choice right now. There’s no big down payment. Buying2 min read Read → Feb 23, 2026 How Your Equity Could Help Younger Generations Buy a Home For a lot of parents or grandparents, watching a family member struggle to buy their first home right now is hard. Buying2 min read Read → Feb 19, 2026 The Price You Set Can Make (or Break) Your Sale There’s one decision you're going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly, or it sits. Market Talk2 min read Read → Feb 18, 2026 The Real Reason Home Sales Slowed in January. And It’s Not What You Think. If you saw headlines that talked about how “home sales fell sharply in January,” it probably raised an eyebrow, especially if you’re thinking about selling your house. Market Talk2 min read Read → Feb 16, 2026 Move-Up Buyers Are Choosing New Construction At some point, a house that once felt perfect just… doesn’t anymore. Buying2 min read Read → Feb 12, 2026 Four Ways Your Home Equity Can Work for You You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. Market Talk3 min read Read → Feb 11, 2026 Inventory Is Making a Comeback in 2026 After a long stretch where buyers were competing for too few homes, inventory has made a comeback over the past year. Market Talk2 min read Read → Feb 9, 2026 Why Townhomes Are Popular with Today’s First-Time Buyers Buying your first home can feel frustrating when the numbers don’t line up the way you expected. Buying2 min read Read → Feb 5, 2026 Top 3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you may be focused on the spring market. Buying2 min read Read → Feb 4, 2026 It’s Getting More Affordable To Buy a Home There’s finally a little good news for anyone who’s been priced out or sitting on the sidelines. Buying2 min read Read → Feb 2, 2026 Home Insurance Costs Are Rising: What Buyers Should Plan For Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. Buying3 min read Read → Jan 29, 2026 Why So Many Homeowners Are Downsizing Right Now For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jan 28, 2026 Top 2026 Housing Markets for Buyers and Sellers Who doesn’t love a top 10 list? Well, here are two top 10 lists for the housing market this year. Selling2 min read Read → Jan 26, 2026 You May Not Want To Skip Over That House That’s Been Sitting on the Market When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jan 22, 2026 Mortgage Rates Recently Hit a 3-Year Low. Here’s Why That’s Still a Big Deal. If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. Mortgage Rates2 min read Read → Jan 21, 2026 Why Rising Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t a Red Flag for Today’s Housing Market If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months, it’s easy to assume that's a sign of trouble for the housing market. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jan 19, 2026 Home Updates That Actually Pay You Back When You Sell Planning to sell this spring? Selling2 min read Read → Jan 15, 2026 Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth. It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim: Buying2 min read Read → Jan 14, 2026 The #1 Regret Sellers Have When They Don’t Use an Agent Want to know the #1 thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent? Selling2 min read Read → Jan 12, 2026 The Credit Score Myth That’s Holding Would-Be Buyers Back Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. Buying2 min read Read → Jan 8, 2026 Expert Forecasts Point to Affordability Improving in 2026 Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. Market Talk3 min read Read → Jan 7, 2026 Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First. If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options: Selling2 min read Read → Jan 5, 2026 Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step, Not an Afterthought Finding the right home feels exciting, but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Market Talk2 min read Read → Jan 1, 2026 More Buyers Are Planning To Move in 2026. Here’s How To Get Ready. Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Buying3 min read Read →