Latest posts
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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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Capital Gains Tax When Selling Your Pierce County Home: What You Need to Know
Do I owe capital gains tax when I sell my Pierce County home? Most primary-residence sellers in Pierce County owe little to no federal capital gains tax, thanks to an exclusion of up to $250,000 in gain for single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly, provided you’ve owned and lived in the home…
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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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Downsizing in Pierce County: When It’s Time to Sell
When does it make sense to downsize in Pierce County? Downsizing typically makes sense when your current home’s space, maintenance, or cost no longer matches your life — often after kids move out, a life transition, or a desire to convert built-up equity into more flexibility. In Pierce County’s current market, many longtime owners are…
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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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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.
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Seller-Paid Rate Buydowns in Pierce County: How They Work and When They Make Sense
With mortgage rates near 7%, a seller-paid rate buydown can lower a buyer’s payment more than a similar-cost price cut. Here is how temporary and permanent buydowns work, the lending limits, and when they make sense.