Real Estate Tipsseattlewindermere June 11, 2018

The Oleg Group Vlog

I am excited to share the First Episode of my Vlog. In this video you’ll see what I’ve been up to last month, learn why Kirkland’s residential price went up 32.5% (the highest price change in King County) within a year and why people love this beautiful city.

In the next episodes, I will be showing you other cities in WA state. Subscribe to my Youtube channel and stay tuned for the next episode!

Home BuyingMarket StatsReal Estate News May 9, 2018

How to Get Back to a Balanced Housing Market

Developers are not building enough single-family homes to keep up with demand. The reason why? Cost. Windermere’s Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner explains why new construction is so cost prohibitive and how to shift the trend.

 

First posted at Windermere.com

EventsSpring March 12, 2018

Snowless BBQ & photos from event

We had another amazing BBQ in March 2018. Over 200 people joined us for the Spring celebration. We look forward to our future events!

This event would never be possible without our clients and partners. We are glad that we became a reliable resource for people and we hope to bring you more value.

Special thanks to our partners who participated in the organization – Michael Milirud, Sergey Podlazov, and many others who made this event possible.

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Home Buying January 31, 2018

Study Shows “Millennials Deserve More Credit”

Study Shows "Millennials Deserve More Credit" | MyKCM

When it comes to talking about millennials, there are many stereotypes out there that have influenced the way the public feels about the generation. Whether it’s the assumption that millennials are irresponsible with money and would rather buy avocado toast than save for a down payment, or that millennials jump from job to job, the majority of these stereotypes paint the generation in a negative light.

A new study by Bank of America entitled Better Money Habits Millennial Report recently came to the defense of the generation when it reported that:

“Millennials deserve more credit – both from themselves and from others – for their mindfulness when it comes to money and their lives.”

Here are some key takeaways from the study proving that millennials deserve more credit for what they are already doing:

  • 63% are saving – (47% have $15,000 or more in savings)
  • 54% are budgeting – (73% who have a budget stick to it every month)
  • 57% have a savings goal – (67% who have a goal stick to it every month)
  • 46% have asked for a raise in the past 2 years – (80% who asked for a raise got one)
  • 59% feel financially secure – (16% have $100,000 or more in savings)

Many have wondered if millennials even want to own their own homes or if they would choose to rent instead. Well, not only do they want to own their own homes, but many already do and are looking to trade up! A recent study by realtor.com shows that 49% of Americans who plan to sell their home in the next 12 months are millennials!

Danielle Hale, realtor.com’s Chief Economist, gave some insight into why millennials are looking to sell,

“The housing shortage forced many first-time homebuyers to consider smaller homes and condos as a way to literally get their foot in the door. Our survey data reveals that we may see more of these homes hitting the market in the next year.”

Bottom Line

Not every millennial fits into the stereotypes that are so prominent in our society. Those who have risen above the stereotype are ready and willing to buy a home of their own, and many others already have!

First posted at www.mykcm.com.

Real Estate News May 31, 2017

Coffee with Oleg

How to Hire the Best Landscape Contractor for Your Project

You’ve approved your landscape architect’s final site plan for your landscape design, and now it’s time to get the project built. You can pay the landscape architect to select a contractor for you, or you can hire one on your own. Like other building professionals, landscape contractors have different skillsets and levels of experience. A landscape contractor does not need an award-winning portfolio of work in order to do a great job. The work of the contractor comes down to getting the job done on budget and on time while providing good, reliable service and quality installation work.

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Posted on 31 May 2017 | 6:30 pm

How are inventory shortages impacting the housing market?

The shortage of homes for sale has been a major concern for buyers and real estate agents over the last few years. Windermere Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, explains the impact these shortages are having on the housing market.

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Posted on 30 May 2017 | 7:25 pm

At Home in the Outdoors

More than 80 percent of Americans say they want an outdoor living space where they can relax and entertain. And it’s no wonder why. Outdoor spaces extend your livable space, add visual interest, and increase not only your quality of life, but also the overall value of your home. (In some cases, the increase in your home’s value can cover most or all of the cost to create the new space.) Here are some options to consider:

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Posted on 23 May 2017 | 8:50 pm

The Trump Administration’s Impact on U.S. Housing

Will the Trump administration have an impact on the U.S. housing market? Windermere Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, weighs in on how mortgage rates, inflation, and the possible repeal of Dodd-Frank could impact housing in the foreseeable future.

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Posted on 22 May 2017 | 7:00 pm

Windermere’s Chief Economist Weighs in on White House Uncertainty

Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, was interviewed by real estate industry news leader, Inman News, on what impact recent White House turmoil could have on the U.S. housing market. This is what he had to say:

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Posted on 18 May 2017 | 10:00 pm

5 Things Your Contractor Doesn’t Want to Hear

There are parts of every job, no matter what field you’re in, that are just less fun than others. Building professionals pride themselves on doing anything and everything to make clients happy. But that doesn’t always mean the builder is jumping up and down with excitement at every stage of a project.

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Posted on 18 May 2017 | 6:30 pm

Windermere Helps Fight Food Insecurity by Funding Weekend and Summer Meal Programs

For many children, the free meals that they receive in the school cafeteria may be the only food that they get for the entire day. And that’s just on the weekdays. On the weekends, children often go hungry because their families cannot afford to cover basic household expenses, including groceries. And when the school year ends, they lose the security of those two meals, making summer the hungriest season of the year for children in our communities.

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Posted on 17 May 2017 | 6:00 pm

Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Oregon State has added almost 40,000 new jobs over the past 12 months. Although growth has slowed significantly, we can attribute this to the fact that the state has reached “full employment.” When this is achieved, growth has to rely on the population rising to drive jobs higher and, inevitably, the pace slows. Year-over-year, employment in Oregon rose by 2.2%.

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Posted on 15 May 2017 | 6:00 pm

How to Stay Organized During a Home Renovation

When you’re embarking on a renovation project, it’s a good idea to clear as much space as possible before the chaos ensues. Think about what you want and need in your new room, and thoroughly declutter the area. Follow these tips for clearing, organizing and storing to ensure your building work creates as little upheaval as possible.

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Posted on 12 May 2017 | 6:30 pm

Colorado Real Estate Market Update

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Annual employment in Colorado grew by a respectable 2.3% in February, which equated to about 64,000 new jobs over the past 12 months. Within the metropolitan market areas included in this report, employment has been mixed, with Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs reporting above-average growth. However, Greeley and Grand Junction saw a modest decline in employment.

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