Join us on a comprehensive journey into first-time homeownership in Washington! In this episode, we dive into everything a new buyer needs to know—from understanding the competitive housing market to taking advantage of programs offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. We'll cover budgeting tips, navigating mortgage options, down payment assistance, and special advice for Bellingham and Whatcom County residents. Whether you're a local or planning a move, these expert insights will help turn your homeownership dream into reality. Tune in to take the first steps toward owning your own piece of Washington!

Resources:
https://www.wshfc.org/buyers/
https://www.wshfc.org/buyers/downpayment.htm
https://dfi.wa.gov/homeownership/buy-home

We'd love to show you around if you're looking for a new home! Visit us at:
BellinghamRealEstateAgents.com

Watch this podcast on YouTube: Click Here

In this podcast, we break down the recent report on the Redfin website, which provides a comprehensive overview of the Bellingham housing market, focusing on current trends, recent sales, school ratings, and environmental factors. It includes data on median sale prices, days on market, sale-to-list ratios, and migration patterns. Redfin also offers tools and resources for both buyers and sellers, including affordability calculators, home buying guides, and listings of recently sold homes. The website provides information on the competitive nature of the Bellingham market and highlights the different neighborhoods, zip codes, and nearby cities.

Neighborhoods discussed:

Happy Valley
Edgemoor
South Bellingham

Visit our website for more information or to contact your local broker and/or Realtor®:
Bellingham Real Estate Agents

Source Redfin Article:
https://www.redfin.com/city/1411/WA/Bellingham/housing-market

In this episode, we discuss falling interest rates and how they are impacting the housing market in Bellingham, Washington.

The discussion begins by explaining interest rates—the cost of borrowing money. When interest rates are low, it becomes more affordable for people to take out loans, especially mortgages. This has led to a 15% surge in home sales in Bellingham recently, as more buyers can qualify for loans.

However, this increased demand is also driving up home prices in the area, making it a challenging time for buyers, especially first-time and young homebuyers, to compete in the market. The episode also explores how this squeezes renters, as landlords sell rental properties to cash in on the hot market.

The hosts caution that this rapid price growth fueled by low interest rates could potentially lead to a housing bubble if prices become unsustainably high. They emphasize the need for responsible lending practices and consideration of other local factors beyond just interest rates.

Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive look at how the dynamics of falling interest rates are playing out in the Bellingham housing market, with both opportunities and risks for buyers, sellers, and renters.

Find out more online: BellinghamRealEstateAgents.com

Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cUpBo8ZXAQQ

Welcome to this episode of Bellingham Real Estate 411 where we explore Bellingham's commercial real estate trends for Q3 2024. If you're considering opening a business in Bellingham or just curious about the local economy, you're in the right place! We unpack the latest report, which reveals declining vacancy rates across the city, suggesting growth and healthy demand. But there's a twist—downtown Bellingham is bucking the trend, with rising vacancies and higher costs for retail space. Why is downtown struggling while other areas like the Meridian corridor thrive?

We discuss the nuanced factors influencing different parts of the city, from local policies to business preferences, and delve into potential strategies for revitalizing downtown. Plus, we pose a challenge to our listeners: If you were tasked with breathing new life into downtown Bellingham, what would your top priorities be? Tune in as we connect the dots and explore how data can shape the future of our city. Join us for an insightful look at Bellingham's changing economic landscape!

Check us out online: https://bellinghamrealestateagents.com/