Latest posts
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What Happens If a Home Appraises Low in Washington?
When a home appraises below the contract price, the lender lends on the lower value. Here’s how Washington’s financing addendum handles it and what buyers and sellers can do.
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Selling an Inherited Home in Pierce County: Probate, Taxes, and Next Steps
Selling a parent’s or relative’s home starts with legal authority to sell. Here’s how probate, nonintervention powers, disclosure, and taxes work for inherited homes in Pierce County.
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How to Price Your Home to Sell in Pierce County
The right list price is what today’s buyers will pay, based on sold, pending, and active homes. Here’s how Pierce County sellers get it right before the first weekend.
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Home Inspection Contingencies in Washington: What Pierce County Buyers Should Know
What does a home inspection contingency actually protect in Washington? A home inspection contingency gives buyers a defined window after mutual acceptance to inspect the property and either request repairs, ask for a price adjustment, or exit the contract if significant issues turn up. In Pierce County’s older housing stock alongside newer construction, it remains…
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What Happens During Mutual Acceptance in a Washington Real Estate Transaction?
What happens at mutual acceptance in a Washington real estate transaction? Mutual acceptance is the moment both buyer and seller have signed and agreed to all terms of a Washington purchase and sale agreement, including any counteroffers. It’s the official start date for nearly every contingency deadline in your contract, so it matters more than…
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Contingent Offers in Washington: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know
What is a contingent offer in a Washington home sale? A contingent offer is a purchase agreement that depends on a specific condition being met before the sale can close — most commonly, the buyer selling their current home first. In Pierce County’s more balanced market, contingent offers have become a realistic tool again for…
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What Is the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) in Washington?
What is the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) in Washington? The Real Estate Excise Tax, or REET, is a state and local tax owed by the seller on the sale price of real property in Washington. It’s calculated on a graduated scale based on your home’s sale price and is typically paid out of your…
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Buying a Home With a Private Well in Pierce County: Inspection and Testing Guide
Buying a Pierce County home with a private well? Here is what a well inspection should cover, what the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department recommends for testing, and how to handle results.
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Rent-Back After Closing: How Move-Up Sellers Stay in Their Home in Washington
A rent-back lets move-up sellers close, receive their proceeds, and stay in the home for a short agreed period. Here is how it works in Washington, typical limits, and what the agreement should cover.
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Escalation Addendum in Washington: How Form 35E Works for Buyers and Sellers
An escalation addendum (NWMLS Form 35E) lets a buyer automatically beat competing offers up to a set maximum. Here is how it works, the appraisal risk, and what sellers should weigh.