REALTOR® News

A: The Snohomish County Camano Association of REALTORS® (SCCAR) has worked hard to keep REALTOR® safety a foremost priority, but what about people looking to either buy or sell a home? Safety is a conversation far too many real estate professionals omit from their discussions with sellers and buyer. As September is REALTOR® Safety Month, SCCAR wanted to share some safety tips for buyers and sellers:

Most consumers know homeownership is among the soundest investments an individual can make to begin building their personal wealth. However, owning a home is not just in the best interest of the homeowner. “Homeownership provides stability, builds communities, and is a driving force in our economy,” stated Julie Love, President of the Snohomish County-Camano Association of REALTORS® (SCCAR).

Here’s how you can help spread the word about the benefits of owning a home and support advocacy efforts to expand housing access.

On May 31st, United States President Joe Biden issued a national proclamation about National Homeownership Month (June). Read it here on the SCCAR website:

The 2023 legislative session that just wrapped up is being called "The Year of Housing!" A historic number of WA State Realtor®-backed bills were passed and are now being signed into state law. Watch the following video to learn about all the policy wins.

You have just completed the biggest financial transaction of your life and can now call yourself a homeowner. With the help of a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, you purchased your first home, signed all the necessary paperwork and are about to walk up to your front door, keys in hand.

Racial injustice is deeply rooted in American history and is apparent in housing discrimination, even today. In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to highlight what we, as REALTOR® associations, are doing to ensure fair and equal housing opportunities.

“Real Estate Agent” is a catchall phrase used, in casual conversation, to describe the three types of professionals who buy and sell real estate: agents, brokers, and REALTORS®. No, they’re not really the same. Yes, you should care about what makes them different. Here’s a breakdown:

Oh, let’s just admit it, shall we? Browsing for homes online is fun and exciting! However, it is important to take everything with a grain of salt. Browser beware, though: those listings may be seductive, but they might not be giving you the complete picture.

Phishing, hacking, wire fraud - these are all ways people attempt to steal from others online. As real estate searches and transactions move more and more online, the chances of being caught up in a cyber scam have become even greater.

Just as modern research is documenting the rapid urban decay and racial disparity of redlining, the latest data and mapping tools are underscoring present-day tax assessment practices that are unfairly burdening urban core properties while under taxing affluent properties in the suburbs and outskirts.

SCCAR is the biggest community contributor to the local Snohomish County food banks. “In 2021, REALTORS® raised almost 19,000 pounds of food and well over $140,000.00 for food banks across Snohomish County and Camano Island. Our plan is to raise even more this year,” stated Ellen Bohn, President of SCCAR.

We have worked hard to keep REALTOR® safety a foremost priority, but what about people looking to either buy or sell a home? Safety is a conversation far too many real estate professionals omit from their discussions with sellers and buyer.

Of course, it’s undeniable the volumes of information made available by the Internet have changed the home buying and selling process. What’s also undeniable, although less intuitive, is that these transformations have made real estate professionals even more critical.

Regardless of the market, buying a home is complicated. Buying a home is for many the most complex and important transaction they’ll ever do. It involves expert negotiations and familiarity with contracts and extensive paperwork. A good REALTOR® will have a thorough understanding of homebuying process and the current market.

“This is normal,” said Ellen Bohn, owner of RE/MAX Elevate in Stanwood and Camano Island. “This is a readjustment of what was an inflated market to now a more balanced, healthy market. I think that’s a really good thing, especially for buyers, who have had it really unfair.”

Why celebrate homeownership; why does it matter? “Most consumers know homeownership is among the soundest investments...However, owning a home is not just in the best interest of the homeowner."

As you walk through your brand-new house, you are probably thinking, now what? This is a common question new homeowners ask themselves when the time comes to settle into a new home. With all the excitement and work involved in finding a first home, first-time buyers may not have a transition plan or a checklist for the first few days in their new house.