LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOCAL MARKET.
Christmas Tree Farms in Snohomish
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Snohomish.
FAQS
Your most common questions about real estate answered.
WHAT IS ESCROW?
Escrow can mean 2 things. 1. The period of time between mutual acceptance and closing day. 2. The neutral 3rd party that handles documents and facilitates closing paperwork.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
Most escrows are around 30-45 days. Cash deals can decrease the escrow time, as securing the lending takes the majority of the time. You can decrease that time by being not only pre-approved, but pre-underwritten before you even make an offer.
WHAT SHOULD MY DOWN PAYMENT BE?
It depends on your loan, but typically they are between 3 and 5% of the purchase price. There are lots of down-payment assistance programs to help with this!
WHAT IS EARNEST MONEY?
It is a good-faith deposit you make to the seller. It can range from $500-$10,000+ depending on the list price of the home. You need to have these funds available when you make an offer on a house.
CAN I GET A BETTER DEAL ON A SHORT SALE?
The easiest way to understand a short sale is the sale of a home in which the proceeds from the sale are less than the balance of debts secured by liens against the property and the home owner cannot afford to pay the liens in full. Despite their name, they take much longer than your average sale.
HOW MUCH DOES IT ALL COST?
As a buyer, hiring a Realtor costs you NOTHING. The seller pays the commissions. A home inspection can cost between $400-600. Closing costs can be around 3% of the purchase price.
WHO PAYS FOR CLOSING COSTS?
It can vary. You can ask the seller to pay for them in full or pay up to a certain amount. We can find out closing costs before making an offer so you have all the information at hand.
DO I REALLY NEED TO DO A FINAL WALK THROUGH?
Legally, no. But you absolutely should. We will do that together to make sure the sellers left the home in good condition. You don't want to open up the door to your new home and see a broken water pipe...
You might be interested in…
What is closing? What happens? Please explain...
Find out in 10 easy steps.
Buyer’s 10 Steps to Closing
1. Apply for Loan Approval
Complete application and provide your loan officer with documentation supporting your income and assets. Ask me about the app!
2. Shop for a Home
Qualified applicants are provided with a conditional loan approval so your agent knows your target price range.
3. Make Offer on Home
When you’ve found your ideal home, your agent will negotiate the contract and your loan officer will move forward with your application.
4. Home Inspection
We have the home inspected and based on the findings we open up negotiations again!
5. Set Up Insurance
Work with an insurance agent to get homeowner’s protection on your property to begin on your closing day. Provide your loan officer with your insurance company’s information.
6. Home Appraisal
Your loan officer will order a home appraisal after a successful inspection. The appraisal gives you an opinion of your home’s value.
7. Loan Underwriting
Underwriters will review your loan application and documentation for final approval. Additional documents might be requested from you at this time.
8. Documents to Title Company
Your final loan documents will be sent from the lender to the title company for you to sign.
9. Closing
You’ll visit your title office to sign all the documentation and provide a cashier’s check for your down payment.
10. Funding
Your lender funds your loan. The title company records the deed with the county and your home purchase is complete!
You ready to take the first step?
Who pays for what in Real Estate?
There are a lot of expenses in a real estate transaction, but who pays for what?
There are a lot of expenses to consider when purchasing or selling a home. Let me know if you have any questions.
WHAT THE BUYER GENERALLY PAYS FOR...
Lender’s Title Insurance Premium
Escrow Fees
Recording charges for all documents in buyer’s name
Tax proration (from date of acquisition)
Homeowner’s Transfer Fee
All new loan charges (except those required by lender for seller to pay)
Interest on new loan from date of funding to 30 days prior to first payment
Assumption/change of Records fees for take-over of existing loan
Beneficiary Statement Fee for assumption of existing loan
Inspection Fees (roof, property inspection, geological, termite, etc.)
City Transfer/Conveyance Tax
Fire insurance premium for the first year
Notary Fees
Courier Fees
WHAT THE SELLER GENERALLY PAYS FOR...
Real Estate Commissions
Owner’s Title Insurance Premium
Document Preparation Fee for Deed
Document Transfer Tax
Any City Transfer/Conveyance Tax
Any Loan Fee required by buyer’s lender
Payoff of all loans in sellers’ name (or existing loan balance if being assumed by buyer)
Interest accrued to lender being paid off
Statement Fees, Reconveyance Fees and any loan prepayment penalties
Termite Inspection and work
Home Warranty
Any judgments, tax liens, etc., against the seller and recording charges to clear all documents of record against seller
Tax Proration (for any unpaid taxes up to time of transfer of title)
Any unpaid Homeowner’s Dues
Homeowner’s Association Document Fee
Any bonds or assessments
Any and all delinquent taxes
Notary Fees
Courier Fees
What is Earnest Money?
WHAT IS IT AND HOW MUCH SHOULD IT BE?
WHAT IS IT AND HOW MUCH SHOULD IT BE?
Earnest money is your "I promise I want to buy this house and here's how much I'm willing to lose to get it" money.
In Snohomish County the amount is typically about 1% of the offer price, while King County it averages about 3%.
For example:
In section 7 of Form 21, on an offer of $450,000, we would want to give an earnest money amount of $4,500.
When your offer is accepted, you will have 2 days to give that money to the escrow company.
There are a lot of ways to get that money back if we cancel the contract as long as we follow all the proper timelines.
You might be interested in….
10 Mistakes Buyers Make
Don’t fall victim to any of these common mistakes.
During a seller’s market, buyers have to be on their A-game. Here are the top 10 mistakes I see buyer’s make.
1. MAKING AN OFFER ON A HOME WITHOUT BEING PRE-APPROVED
Preapproval will make your life easier-so take the time to speak with a lender. Your situation will be different from anyone else, and your communication with a fantastic lender can make or break your financing.
2. NOT HAVING A HOME INSPECTION
Trying to save money today can end up costing you tomorrow. A qualified home inspector will detect issues that most buyers overlook.
3. LIMITING YOUR SEARCH TO OPEN HOUSES, ADS, OR THE INTERNET
Many homes listed in print ads or online have already been sold. Your best resource will be your Realtor and the NWMLS. They have up-to-date information that is unavailable to the general public.
4. CHOOSING A PART-TIME AGENT
Choose a professional who is dedicated to serving your needs before, during, and after the sale. You don't want to have to wait for your Realtor to get off work to go show you houses.
5. THINKING THERE IS ONLY ONE PERFECT HOUSE
Buying a home is a process of elimination, not selection. New properties arrive on the market daily, so keep an open mind.
6. NOT CONSIDERING LONG TERM
It's important to think ahead. Will the home suit your needs 3-5 years from now?
7. NOT EXAMINING INSURANCE ISSUES
Purchase adequate insurance. Advice from an insurance agent can provide you with answers to any concerns you may have.
8. NOT BUYING A HOME WARRANTY
This is essentially a mini insurance policy that usually lasts one year from the close of escrow. It can cover basic repairs you may need.
9. NOT KNOWING TOTAL COSTS INVOLVED
Early in the buying process, ask your lender for an estimate of closing costs. Title company and attorney fees should be considered. HOA fees, hold backs, etc.
10. NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON DUE DILIGENCE
Buyers should make a list of any concerns they have relating to issues such as; crime rates, schools, power lines, neighbors, etc. Be diligent so that you can have confidence in your purchase.
Are you ready to take the plunge and buy a home?
10 Things You Didn't Know About Snohomish
Planes, eggs, and cheerleaders. Oh my!
The town was originally called Cadyville.
Fun fact: Mary Low Sinclair, arrived in Cadyville on May 1, 1865, became Cadyville’s first permanent white female resident. She is considered to be the founder of education in Snohomish by opening her home as the first classroom. She lived on Pearl Street.
Old Ferg, the founder of Snohomish, had a daughter with an Indian woman, but married someone else.
Ferg lived with an Indian woman who soon gave birth to a girl. While in Olympia, he met Lucetta Morgan and they married in 1868. Ferguson rejected his common-law wife and child but continued to give them some support.
Snohomish means “Big Tribe.”
Snoqualmie...people of the moon
Stillaguamish...people of the river
Sultan...fastest, best
Pilchuck...red water
Mukilteo...good camp
Tulalip...shallow bay
Actors in the worst play to hit the Snohomish stage were forced to escape out the windows when the audience starting to throw eggs at them.
"The Times Special Service. Snohomish, Friday, March 26, 1909 — The Three of a Kind Company, a decidedly barn-storming aggregation, reached a dramatic climax at the Alcazar Theatre last evening when the audience rose en masse during the first act and threatened to present the play actors with a choice selection of eggs as a mark of their lack of appreciation.
"The stage manager promptly dropped the curtain to prevent any further demonstration. The audience waited a few minutes and as there were no further indications that the play would be resumed, a few bolder spirits went behind the scenes. They did so just in time to see the members of the company — four young women and several men — making frantic exits from handy windows.”
It cost approximately $700,000 to demolish the Hal Moe pool.
Real Estate Excise Tax funds of $700,000 were used to remove the building, fill the existing pools, and hydroseed the ground.
Back in the day the police chief had a monthly salary of $20, with an arrest bonus of $2 per arrest.
Hyrcanus Blackman, Police Chief.
Local legend has it that the ghost of a former policeman and many others still haunt the old Oxford Saloon in the city of Snohomish.
Chrissy Teigen was a high school cheerleader, working that team spirit as a student at Snohomish High.
The first airplane to carry mail took off from Harvey Field.
Noble Harvey established a family-owned airfield in 1945, which the family still operates as Harvey Airfield. In 1911, Nobel purchased the first automobile in the county, the same year he hosted the first airplane flight. Fred J. Wiseman’s flight in Snohomish was cut short by rain-soaked, fabric-covered wings and it ended in a muddy but safe nose-dive after reaching only 60 feet in altitude. The amazing machine was repaired, continued to break records, and is currently hanging in the Smithsonian Postal Museum as the first plane to carry the mail.
The Town Clock has a typo.
The town clock commemorates the incorporating of the City of Snohomish located at First Street and Avenue A. Can you find the mistake?
Give up? Look at 11 o’clock… oh wait… it says 12 twice!
You might be interested in…
Snohomish Taste of Music 2018
3 Days of an eclectic mix of music in beautiful historic downtown Snohomish!
3 Days of an eclectic mix of music in beautiful historic downtown Snohomish!
There's even a Blues-off on Sunday for the International Blues Challenge sponsored by the Washington Blues Society.
Food, beer and wine too!
The Bands
Friday 6-10PM:
Fonzarelli (New Wave Rock), George (Rockabilly)
Saturday Noon-10PM:
The Folsoms (Johnny Cash Tribute), The School of Rock Seattle All Star House Band (Classic Rock), Green River Revivalists (Credence Tribute), Groove Surfers (80s/90s Classics), Davin Michael Stedman (from the Staxx Brothers - Funk), Joe Slick Band (Headliner - Big Fun Country Rock!)
Sunday Noon-7PM:
Washington Finals- International Blues Competition (All Blues, All Day!)
Tickets
Friday Pass $10.00
Saturday Pass $10.00
Sunday Pass $10.00
3-Day Pass $25.00)
Or pay at the "door."
Where
Carnegie Center outdoor plaza
105 Cedar Avenue
Snohomish, WA 98290
Woodinville Sign Lady
Custom, hand-made signs that are special and meaningful for you.
Custom, Hand-Made Signs That Anyone Would Love.
I want you to meet Lacy, the Woodinville Sign Lady. She makes the most amazing handmade signs. Each sign is custom ordered and inspired by her customers. Hang them on your wall, display them at your wedding, or give as a gift.
Her turn around time is approx 2 weeks and prices vary by the size of the sign.
Watch the video below to find out more...
Are you in love with her signs yet?! Contact her to get yours made today.
Tell her MoveToSnoCo.com (Nicole) sent you!
You might be interested in…
Putt-Putt. Who's There?
18 hole championship mini golf course? I accept the challenge.
Snohomish Valley Golf Center
Looking for a fun and relatively inexpensive place to take the family? Snohomish Valley Golf Center is it. Their Championship 18 hole mini golf course was super fun and super challenging. Don't ask me what my score was. Ok, it was 91. My 9 year old got a 94. But, we won't mention that part.
We decided to go on a hot evening (aren't you loving these 88* days?). They have misters set up all around the course to cool off. They even have a mobile snack bar that comes to you right on the course. They know how to take care of their customers. The staff was friendly and helpful.
Tips & Tricks
1. Bring water - The mist sprayers were amazing, but our thirst was not quenched by water osmosis.
2. Leave your purse in the car - I lugged that thing around the whole time.. why!?
3. Let your kids keep score too - They loved doing it and it gave me a break.
4. Expect it to take longer than you think - We are a family of 6 and it took us almost 2 hours to make it through all 18 holes.
Enjoy!
Kla Ha Ya Days
Come see what Kla Ha Ya Days has to offer.
Parade 2018
What an awesome kick off to Kla Ha Ya Days. The parade was fantastically well run, and had a lot of fun entries. (watch the video above)
I parked over on Maple and watched the tail end of it. I thought it was the perfect spot. Easy walk back to my car, although there were some REALLY close parking options as you got closer that were only $10. We were near a ton of great booths. I even won a free Microdermabrasion from a raffle entry from Mary Kay! Saaweeet!
Looking forward to going next year and trying out the carnival.
Are you contemplating selling your home in the Evergreen State but feeling uncertain about the financial implications? Navigating the true costs of selling your house in Washington can be more complex than you think. Let's demystify the process and delve into both the known and the often-unanticipated expenses that come with selling a property.