Laura White's Blog

Laura White's Bloghttp://laurawhite.com/en-usMon, 14 Nov 2011 11:24:00 GMT10GDRSSFeeds v1.0King County housing-affordability index best in 17 yearshttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/11/14/king-county-housing-affordability-index-best-in-17-years  <div>The Seattle Times reported today that King County's Housing Affordability Index for the 3rd quarter of 2011 is the best it has been in 17 years. This topped the previous record which was set in the 2nd quarter of 1998.  Lower housing prices and record low interest rates combined to make housing much more affordable:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Seattle Times Reports Housing Affordability Index: Best in 17 Years" href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016739766_affordability11.html">Seattle Times Reports Housing Affordability Index: Best in 17 Years</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/11/14/king-county-housing-affordability-index-best-in-17-years" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/11/14/king-county-housing-affordability-index-best-in-17-years#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/11/14/king-county-housing-affordability-index-best-in-17-yearsMon, 14 Nov 2011 11:24:00 GMTCNN Money Picks Sammamish, WA In Best Places To Livehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/16/cnn-money-picks-sammamish-wa-in-best-places-to-live<div><span class="messageBody" data-ft='{"type":3}'>It happened again...CNN Money picked Sammamish, WA as one of the top places to live. Sammamish came in at #15...</span></div> <div> </div> <div><a title="CNN Money: Best Places To Live/Sammamish" href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2011/snapshots/PL5361115.html">CNN Money: Best Places To Live/Sammamish</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/16/cnn-money-picks-sammamish-wa-in-best-places-to-live" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/16/cnn-money-picks-sammamish-wa-in-best-places-to-live#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/16/cnn-money-picks-sammamish-wa-in-best-places-to-liveTue, 16 Aug 2011 20:08:00 GMTTacoma and Seattle Lead List of Strong Housing Markets.http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/15/tacoma-and-seattle-lead-list-of-strong-housing-markets<div><font face="Arial">Wall Street Journal forecasts a rebound for Tacoma and Seattle. According to the article, Tacoma should see a 25% increase in pricing by spring of 2013. David Stiff, Fiservï¿½s chief economist, says cities like Tacoma and Seattle have strong, diverse economies and should fare well over the next two yearsï¿½</font></div> <div> </div> <div>To read more, click below:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Wall Street Journal Blog: Tacoma and Seattle Lead List of Strong Housing Markets." href="http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2011/08/09/tacoma-seattle-lead-list-of-strong-housing-markets/?mod=WSJBlog&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fdevelopments%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+Developments+Blog%29">Wall Street Journal Blog: Tacoma and Seattle Lead List of Strong Housing Markets.</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/15/tacoma-and-seattle-lead-list-of-strong-housing-markets" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/15/tacoma-and-seattle-lead-list-of-strong-housing-markets#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/15/tacoma-and-seattle-lead-list-of-strong-housing-marketsMon, 15 Aug 2011 11:54:00 GMTInterest Rateshttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/08/interest-rates<div><span style="color: #0000ff"><em> </em></div> <div><em>I thought you might find this interesting...</em> <div> </div> <div> <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt"><font face=""></font></span></span></span></p> <div id="SafeStyles1312828755"> <div> <div id="SafeStyles1312828506"> <p style="margin-bottom: 12pt" class="MsoNormal"><font face=""></font></p> <div class="WordSection1"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt"><span style="color: #000000">I received an email from a lender this morning.  He said that interest rates are currently at a low point for the year at 4.125% for a 30 year fixed.  If you are thinking of purchasing now may be the time to make your move.  As a rule of thumb a 1% rise in interest rates is equivalent to roughly a 10% decrease in purchasing power.<br /> </span></div> </span></span> <p class="WordSection1"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt"><span style="color: #000000">Let me know how I can best be of help. </span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/08/interest-rates" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/08/interest-rates#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/08/08/interest-ratesMon, 08 Aug 2011 13:30:00 GMTWhat Cities Are Best For College Grads?http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/06/10/what-cities-are-best-for-college-grads<div>Seattle made #8 on Kiplinger's "10 Great Cities For New College Grads."  </div> <div> </div> <div>The reasons?  Forty one of Seattle's businesses, most of them being mid-sized, plan to add new jobs this year.  Amazon recently posted ads for 1900 new jobs in their south Lake Union office.  Studio apartments on Capitol Hill rent for well under $1000 a month.  Seattle is known for its music, theater and coffee culture.  This coupled with a relatively low crime rate put Seattle in the #8 slot.</div> <div> </div> <div>To read more go to:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Kiplinger's 10 Great Cities For New College Grads" href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/10-great-cities-for-new-college-grads.html">Kiplinger's 10 Great Cities For New College Grads</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/06/10/what-cities-are-best-for-college-grads" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/06/10/what-cities-are-best-for-college-grads#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/06/10/what-cities-are-best-for-college-gradsFri, 10 Jun 2011 15:13:00 GMTCNN Money.com: Rent or Buy? 10 Cities Ratedhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/05/18/cnn-moneycom-rent-or-buy-10-cities-rated<div><a title="CNN Money: Rent or Buy? 10 Cities Rated" href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/real_estate/1105/gallery.rent_or_buy/2.html"><br /> <font face="Arial"><span style="color: red"><font style="color: black" face="Arial"><font face="Arial"><font face="Arial">CNN Money says it is a good time to buy in Seattle!  Gains need only come close to the normal growth rate for buyers to come out richer than renters in 8 years</font>.</font> <div> </div> <div>To judge whether major metro areas were better suited for renting or buying, two real estate professors looked at rental versus sale prices and at how quickly prices have risen in the past.</div> <div> </div> <div>The consensus for the Seattle area?  Good time to buy!</div> <br /> To read more click below:<br /> <br /> </font></span></font>CNN Money: Rent or Buy? 10 Cities Rated</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/05/18/cnn-moneycom-rent-or-buy-10-cities-rated" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/05/18/cnn-moneycom-rent-or-buy-10-cities-rated#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/05/18/cnn-moneycom-rent-or-buy-10-cities-ratedWed, 18 May 2011 15:48:00 GMTFortune Magazine Says Time To Buyhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/29/fortune-magazine-says-time-to-buy<div>Fortune Magazine recently published an article advising "Forget stocks. Don't bet on gold. After 4 years of plunging home prices, the most attractive asset class in America is housing..."</div> <div> </div> <div>Mike Castleman, founder and CEO of Metrostudy--a company that has for 30 years tracked real time data on new home inventory says "...in 35 years I've never seen a shortage of new construction like the one I'm seeing now today."</div> <div> </div> <div>Each quarter Castleman sends 500 inspectors to drive through 45,000 subdivisions across the nation covering around 65% of the U.S. housing market.    They are now seeing an amazing reversal of the new home inventory glut that helped sink prices a few years ago.  Inventory is 1/4 what it was in the peak.  Two factors laying the foundation for dramatic recovery in residential real estate are the historic drop in new construction coupled with the steep decline in prices which have fallen approximately 30% nationwide since 2006.  The hardest hit markets have fallen as much as 55%.</div> <div> </div> <div>All this makes for an historic time to buy.</div> <div> </div> <div>Read more at:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Fortune Magazine: Time to Buy Real Estate" href="http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/28/real-estate-its-time-to-buy-again/">Fortune Magazine: Time to Buy Real Estate</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/29/fortune-magazine-says-time-to-buy" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/29/fortune-magazine-says-time-to-buy#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/29/fortune-magazine-says-time-to-buyFri, 29 Apr 2011 16:15:00 GMTKiplinger: Seattle One of Eleven Comeback Cities 2011http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/18/kiplinger-seattle-one-of-eleven-comeback-cities-2011<div>Kiplinger picked Seattle as one of the eleven cities chosen in their "Eleven Comeback Cities for 2011."</div> <div> </div> <div>They predict employment will rise better than 2% due to clean technology, health care, hospitality and information technology in the area.   This is after a recession that cut employment by nearly 8%.</div> <div> </div> <div>Boeing is adding new employees and Seattle City Light's energy efficiency program will create about a thousand new jobs.</div> <div> </div> <div>To read the entire article click below:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Eleven Comeback Cities 2011: Seattle" href="http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/comeback_cities/11.html">Eleven Comeback Cities 2011: Seattle</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/18/kiplinger-seattle-one-of-eleven-comeback-cities-2011" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/18/kiplinger-seattle-one-of-eleven-comeback-cities-2011#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/18/kiplinger-seattle-one-of-eleven-comeback-cities-2011Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:21:00 GMTBest Cities for Active Retirement/Seattle?http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/17/best-cities-for-active-retirementseattle<div>Forbes published an article listing the twenty five cities with populations over 100,000 considered best for an active retirement and Seattle is one of them!  In a nutshell, their metrics including top cities for bicycling/walking, volunteering, low crime and proximity to doctors.</div> <div> </div> <div>Read more:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Forbes Best Cities For Active Retirement" href="http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/11/25-best-cities-active-retirement-bicycling-walking-volunteering-crime-doctors.html">Forbes Best Cities For Active Retirement</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/17/best-cities-for-active-retirementseattle" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/17/best-cities-for-active-retirementseattle#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/04/17/best-cities-for-active-retirementseattleSun, 17 Apr 2011 12:27:00 GMTHappiest Large Cities in Americahttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/29/happiest-large-cities-in-america<div>Care2 recently posted an article on the happiest large cities in America based on survey results and Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue came in at #4.   Large cities were defined as those with over one million residents.  Here are the results:</div> <div> </div> <div>1.  Washington DC-Arlington-Alexandria</div> <div>2.  Austin-Round Rock, TX</div> <div>3.  San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA</div> <div>4.  Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA</div> <div>5.  San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA</div> <div>6.  Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington</div> <div>7.  Boston-Cambridge-Quincy</div> <div>8.  San Diego-Carlsbad0San Marcos, CA</div> <div>9.  Raleigh-Cary, NC</div> <div>10. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT</div> <div> </div> <div> </div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/29/happiest-large-cities-in-america" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/29/happiest-large-cities-in-america#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/29/happiest-large-cities-in-americaTue, 29 Mar 2011 11:51:00 GMTRemodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Reporthttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/25/remodeling-magazines-cost-vs-value-report<div><span class="messageBody">Check out Remodeling Magazine's latest Cost vs. Value Report  for 2011 showing the average cost recouped for remodeling projects. First impressions matter (entry doors, garage doors) and minor kitchen remodels still recoup 72.8% of dollars spent in the Seattle area.</span> <div> </div> <div><a title="Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report: Seattle, WA" href="http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2010/costvsvalue/division/pacific/city/seattle--wa.aspx">Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report: Seattle, WA</a></div> </div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/25/remodeling-magazines-cost-vs-value-report" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/25/remodeling-magazines-cost-vs-value-report#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/03/25/remodeling-magazines-cost-vs-value-reportFri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:00 GMTHousing Market: Best Recovery Bets-Tacoma #1, Seattle #6http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/22/housing-market-best-recovery-bets-tacoma-1-seattle-6<div>CNN Money published an article on February 7th with their take on which cities in the nation are the best recovery bets.  They predict home prices will fall overall in most markets this year, but think 2012 will bring a rebound.</div> <div> </div> <div>On that list <strong><em>Tacoma, WA </em></strong>is number one, and <strong><em>Seattle, WA </em></strong>is number 6!</div> <div> </div> <div>Read more at:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="CNN Money/Housing markets: Best recovery bets" href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/real_estate/1102/gallery.best_recovery_bets/index.html">CNN Money/Housing markets: Best recovery bets</a></div> <div> </div> <div> </div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/22/housing-market-best-recovery-bets-tacoma-1-seattle-6" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/22/housing-market-best-recovery-bets-tacoma-1-seattle-6#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/22/housing-market-best-recovery-bets-tacoma-1-seattle-6Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:47:00 GMTWhere Is It Safe To Buy?http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/16/where-is-it-safe-to-buy<div>  <br /> Seattle area home prices have low risk of future price decline over the next 2 years according to Private Mortgage Insurance Group, a company whose livelihood depends on accurate forecasting. Click on the interactive map published by <span style="text-decoration: underline">Smart Money, Real Estate: Where is it safe to buy?</span> <div> </div> <div><a title="Smart Money: Where is it safe to buy?" href="http://www.smartmoney.com/tools/worksheets/?story=SMARTMONEYMARKET101115">Smart Money: Where is it safe to buy?</a></div> </div> <div> </div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/16/where-is-it-safe-to-buy" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/16/where-is-it-safe-to-buy#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/16/where-is-it-safe-to-buyWed, 16 Feb 2011 14:57:00 GMTAre Super Low Mortgage Rates Gone?http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/15/are-super-low-mortgage-rates-gone<div>The Seattle Times recently published an article titled "Era of Super-Low Mortgage Rates Appears To Be Over."</div> <div> </div> <div>Mortgage rates for 30 year home loans rose above 5% for the first time since April 2010.  Rates were at a forty year low in November 2010.</div> <div> </div> <div>Since a 1% rise in a mortgage rate means a 10% loss in buying power, it would be a good time to take advantage of the excellent values on the market.</div> <div> </div> <div>Click on the link to read the Seattle Times article:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Era of super-low mortgage rates appears to be over" href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014183578_apusmortgagerates.html">Era of super-low mortgage rates appears to be over</a></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/15/are-super-low-mortgage-rates-gone" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/15/are-super-low-mortgage-rates-gone#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/15/are-super-low-mortgage-rates-goneTue, 15 Feb 2011 17:57:00 GMTEconomic Forecasthttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/11/economic-forecast<div><span class="UIStory_Message">I enjoyed hearing Matthew Gardner's economic outlook on Tuesday. In  nutshell he said the economy is now slowly growing, we are creating jobs (also slowly), unemployment rate is lower, consumer confidence is starting to grow. <br /> <br /> Matthew forecasts a moderate GDP expansion 2.5% in the next two years. As far as our area,  Matthew projects that Washington will fare better than any other west coast state<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></span></div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/11/economic-forecast" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/11/economic-forecast#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/02/11/economic-forecastFri, 11 Feb 2011 15:19:00 GMTSeattle Times Neighborhood of the Week: Sammamishhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/seattle-times-neighborhood-of-the-week-sammamish<div>The Seattle Times reports that home values in Sammamish have held up over the past year.  With Pine Lake, Beaver Lake and panoramic Cascade vistas, the Sammamish Plateau is a very scenic area.  In 2009 Sammamish was 12th in Money magazine's list of 100 best small towns in America.  (In 2007 Sammamish was 11th).</div> <div> </div> <div>Jolene Gensheimer wrote "Known for its world-class golf courses, including Sahalee and Aldarra, the Sammamish Plateau also has attracted acclaim for its livability and schools."</div> <br /> <a title="Neighborhood of the week: Sammamish Plateau" href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2013971513_realneighborhood23.html?syndication=rss">Neighborhood of the week: Sammamish Plateau</a><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/seattle-times-neighborhood-of-the-week-sammamish" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/seattle-times-neighborhood-of-the-week-sammamish#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/seattle-times-neighborhood-of-the-week-sammamishMon, 24 Jan 2011 15:38:00 GMTPaulson Says Time To Buyhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/paulson-says-time-to-buy<p> </p> <div><font face="Arial">John Paulson, the multibillionaire hedge fund operator who made a killing betting against subprime mortgages a few years ago recently spoke at a standing room only crowd at New York's University Club.  Paulson he thinks inflation is in store by 2012 and he thinks the run up in bonds is over. He also told the crowd:</font></div> <div><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"> </font> </div> <div><strong><em><font face="Arial">"...this is the best time in 50 years to buy homes...your debt and interest payments get locked in at record lows, while the price of your home will rise."</font></em></strong></div> <div><strong><em><font face="Arial"></font></em></strong><strong><em><font face="Arial"> </font></em></strong> </div> <div><strong><em><font face="Arial">"If you don't own a home, buy one...if you own one home, buy another one, and if you own two homes, buy a third and lend your relatives the money to buy a home."</font></em></strong></div> <div><br /> To read the related Forbes article click below:</div> <div> </div> <div><a title="Forbes Article By Robert Lenzner: Streettalk" href="http://blogs.forbes.com/robertlenzner/2010/09/27/john-paulson-sell-bonds-buy-stocks-double-digit-inflation-coming/">Forbes Article By Robert Lenzner: Streettalk</a> </div> <div> </div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/paulson-says-time-to-buy" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/paulson-says-time-to-buy#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/24/paulson-says-time-to-buyMon, 24 Jan 2011 12:50:00 GMTWhen Will Peak Values Return?http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/15/when-will-peak-values-return  <p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 20pt; font-family: Perpetua; language: en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">When Will Peak Home Prices Return?</span></span></span></p> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Perpetua; language: en-US"><span style="font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: ; language: en-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt">A Fiserv Case-Shiller Home Price Insight predicts “</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: ; language: en-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12pt">a prolonged recovery beginning early in 2011. In many markets, the emphasis is on the word 'prolonged,'" said David Stiff, Chief Economist, Fiserv. "We see several powerful forces in the market that will severely hinder the housing recoveries of many metro areas, particularly in the hard-hit states of California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada. It will take these markets 15 or more years before home prices climb back to their peaks."   <br /> <br /> In a report titled "For Many U.S. Markets, the Return to Peak Home Prices Will Be a Long, Slow Road" there is an attached geographic map depicting when various geographic markets are predicted to return to peak values.</span></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 10pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Some areas suchs as the hard-hit states of California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada are anticipated to take 15 or more years to climb back to peak values.  Washington state, however has a more encouraging outlook.  According to the report parts of WA will return to peak values before 2013 and other areas will return to peak values between 2013 and 2014.  (See attached map)</span> <div> </div> <div><a title="Fiserv Case-Shiller Home Price Insights U.S. Markets map" href="http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20100408005302/en/1976816/Fiserv-Case-Shiller-Home-Price-Insights-U.S.-Markets">Fiserv Case-Shiller Home Price Insights U.S. Markets map</a></div> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"></div> <div> </div> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <div> </div> <div> </div> <p> </p><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/15/when-will-peak-values-return" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/15/when-will-peak-values-return#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2011/01/15/when-will-peak-values-returnSat, 15 Jan 2011 09:18:00 GMTBloomberg Businessweek Predicts WA Reboundhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/23/bloomberg-businessweek-predicts-wa-rebound<div><span style="color: #0000ff"><em>More good news coming from Bloomberg Businessweek.  David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv says the bottom is near.  US home prices have declined 29.5 percent in the past 4 years according to their Case-Schiller index.</em></div> <div> </div> <div><em>Out of 384 places surveyed, the Bremerton-Silverdale area in WA state has the highest four year growth forecast.   Prices are predicted to increase 44.7% from 2010 to 2014.  Prices in the Seattle area are predicted to increase 25.5% by 2014.</em> <div> </div> <div>To read more, go to:</div> <div> </div> <div><font style="color: #333399" color="#0000ff" face="Arial">http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/housing-markets-that-will-be-strongest-by-2014</font></div> </div> </span><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/23/bloomberg-businessweek-predicts-wa-rebound" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/23/bloomberg-businessweek-predicts-wa-rebound#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/23/bloomberg-businessweek-predicts-wa-reboundMon, 23 Aug 2010 11:59:00 GMTExperts Predict Washington To Be Nation's Top Home Value Rebounderhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/11/experts-predict-washington-to-be-nations-top-home-value-rebounder<div><span style="color: #000080">Great news...economic forecasters Fiserv and Moody came out with a report on Friday that lists Washington state as the the number-one state in an upcoming rebound in home values.</span> <div> </div> <div>Read more of this article from King 5 news written by Gary Chittim:</div> <div> </div> <div>http://www.king5.com/news/consumer/Washington-State-Nations-Top-Home-Value-Rebounder-100163129.html</div> </div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/11/experts-predict-washington-to-be-nations-top-home-value-rebounder" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/11/experts-predict-washington-to-be-nations-top-home-value-rebounder#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/08/11/experts-predict-washington-to-be-nations-top-home-value-rebounderWed, 11 Aug 2010 22:02:00 GMTInterest Rates Even Lowerhttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/06/04/interest-rates-even-lower-<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">  </div> <div style="line-height: normal; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt">Interest rates are at unbelievably low rates!  <br /> <br /> At least two lenders emailed last week quoting 30 year fixed rates at 4.25% with no buy down.  <br /> <br /> Did you know  that for every .25% improvement in rates it is the same as a 2.5% discount in home price, in terms of monthly payments? You potentially get a 2.5% discount on a home you wish to buy, at least for today.         </span></div> </span><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/06/04/interest-rates-even-lower-" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/06/04/interest-rates-even-lower-#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/06/04/interest-rates-even-lower-Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:56:00 GMTSeattle Economy #1http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/05/27/seattle-economy-1  <p align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt">Encouraging News!</span></em></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><em> </em></strong></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">I wanted to pass along this encouraging bit of news. ..I hope it brightens your day!</span></em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">The Puget Sound Business Journal recently published an article about a recent study done by a Florida research firms that states the Seattle area has the best economy in the country!</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">Policom Corp </span></span></em></strong><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">is an independent economic research firm that specializes in analyzing local and state economies. Their recent findings show that out of the nation's 366 metropolitan statistical areas, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue rates No. 1, moving up from last year's twelfth place ranking. They use 23 different economic factors to make their determinations.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">For more details go to:</span></p> </span> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Perpetua; color: blue; font-size: 16pt">http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/05/10/daily23.html?ed=2010-05-12&ana=e_du_pub</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">Always ready to help,</span></p> <p> </p> <div><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt">Laura</span><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt"></div> </span> <p><u><span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 16pt"></u> </p> </span> <p> </p><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/05/27/seattle-economy-1" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/05/27/seattle-economy-1#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2010/05/27/seattle-economy-1Thu, 27 May 2010 16:34:00 GMTMoney Magazine Names Sammamish #12http://laurawhite.com/blog/2009/07/16/money-magazine-names-sammamish-12-<div>I love Sammamish, but I didn't know that Money Magazine thought so highly of it.<br /> </div> <div>Money Magazine lists Sammamish, WA as #12 in  a list of top places to live.  A few of the reasons given are the beautiful parks, outdoor activities and proximity to high tech jobs and Lake Sammamish.</div> <div> </div> <div>To view this article to to: </div> <div> </div> <div>http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/snapshots/PL5361115.html</div><P><a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2009/07/16/money-magazine-names-sammamish-12-" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://laurawhite.com/blog/2009/07/16/money-magazine-names-sammamish-12-#comments" target="_blank">Comments</a></P>Laura Whitehttp://laurawhite.com/blog/2009/07/16/money-magazine-names-sammamish-12-Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:45:00 GMT