Q2 Newsletter '14 [Scott MacRae Realitor Concierge

206.499.5766

Scott@SmacRae.com

Hi everyone! Welcome to my 2nd quarter newsletter!
In this quarters newsletter I am going to be highlighting what is happening in the local real estate market.  I will be including links to current real estate reports that talk about local trends, providing personal insight about the strength and direction of the market, and where the mortgage markets are trending. I also  included an Audi Club Northwest update too. Quattro Fest is right around the corner! What‘s Quattro  Fest? Well read on! Hot off the presses: ﷯Mortgage news: Some great links below to information for consideration; the effects of the Government shutdown on FHA loans, weekly market commentary, and a great blog site called Calculated Risk that Steve Bozick with Landover Mortgage shared with me who is from our in house mortgage company, off their blog site 1) FHA and other Government backed loans 2) Weekly Market Commentary 3) Calculated Risk website and blog 4) Mortgage News from our Landover Mortgage team click here Home market news: Housing market is still at a 10 year low for available inventory, but there is a bright  spot in that we are back up to a 2 month supply of inventory. We had been as low as a 1 month supply  this summer. This low supply was part of the 1990 economic issues, and some pundits where holding the collective breath waiting to see if history was about to repeat itself with a crash in the real estate market  this year. This is another great link from Calculated Risk, talking about the real estate market, supply and demand, and seasonal influences. My thoughts for the next quarter: Fall into winter can be an interesting time to bring a home onto the market. As we get closer to the December madness of the holidays, people shopping for a home tend to  take a break in their efforts. But last December we had the significantly lowest inventory and some of the highest sales levels of the year!?! What this November/December trend might well translate into is the best time to market your home. You  will be in a market that has low inventory, a potentially active core of buyers, and your house getting extra attention as it is one of the few options available to those shoppers. What that potentially translates into is  a much better price for your home! What I've been up to: ﷯It has been a little over 5 months since I joined Coldwell Banker Bain here on Mercer Island. I have officially gotten through my first 4 home deals and what an amazing feeling that is! The first: was as a listing agent for a condo on Mercer Island. It sold in 3 days for $5,000 over list as an all cash deal. And people told me this was a tough business?! Someone started counting chickens that had yet to hatch… The second: deal as a buyer’s agent, taught me that there really is no ‘easy transaction’. It was a tough series of negotiations, a myriad of inspections, but ultimately I helped a great family get a house far under original asking price in the neighborhood that I grew up in! They have two awesome girls that are 2 and 3 ½ that are looking forward to their ‘super cool house’ and ‘neat new neighborhood’. The third: deal as a buyer’s agent, I was able to take care of the best man of my wedding and his  awesome wife and find them the oft clichéd ‘dream home’. This house ticked so many boxes of must  haves, it was almost eerie! It is an amazing place up on Union Hill, and will be a home that will bring a lot  of pleasure to them and their family and friends for many years, and I might be invited to a few barbeques  if I am lucky! The fourth: transaction as a buyer’s agent was for another amazing couple that have been in my life for many years, and are also great friends. They realized that with their young son, a condo was just never  going be enough space. We found an awesome house in South Juanita that was just a hobby room short  of perfect, but so amazing on all the other levels they had to have it. It is truly the best feeling in the whole world when you get to hand someone a set of keys to a new home!
All said and done, I am right at $2,500,000 in transactions from when I started in May, with November  marking my 6 month anniversary in Real Estate. Time flies when you are going full speed ahead and no slowing down in the foreseeable future! If you know someone I can help with finding or selling a home, I would be grateful for your confidence  in referring them to me. I assure you that with the experience in my team’s court, it will be a smooth  transaction with very positive results, and I pledge to make your recommendation one you will be thanked  for by whomever you give me the opportunity to work for. Audi Club Northwest: ﷯As an instructor for Audi Club NW, there is one of two events that I really look forward to coming up in November. The event is Quattro Fest at Portland International Raceway, November 2nd & 3rd. This event and Matt Amon Memorial Driving School, are events that we get to take ‘new to track driving’ drivers and expose them to performance driving and vehicle safety. It is really amazing how few of us have ever really experienced ABS braking, and further understand that you can steer away from an accident with it. This maximum braking exercise is one of the many great skills we teach people in any car they bring to the events, not just Audi’s. Hint, hint for all you non Quattro types out there! Bring it! Run it! Love your car in a whole new way! Have questions about the Audi Club North West?
Click this link http://www.audiclubnw.org/page/annual-events to see what a group of dedicated Audi-philes’ bring to a track near you several times a year! Helpful reminders: November 3rd is ‘Fall Back’ as we come off Daylight Savings time. So set that clock back an hour Saturday night. This was my favorite day in the restaurant business, especially those nights I had to close… November 5th is Election Day. So remember to take the time to let your voice be heard, and let those in government know how you feel about their current value to you and your family. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter, and allow me to share with you all  that is going on in my world. Have a great Halloween, and I hope Fall brings much fun to you and yours in one of my favorite seasons. ﷯

Government backed loans

Weekly Market Commentary

Calculated Risk

click here

Calculated Risk

http://www.audiclubnw.org/page/annual-events