By Rena Behar

The days are getting longer. Ice cream truck jingles echo up and down the block. But the surest sign that summer is here? It just might be those "For Sale" signs popping up like dandelions in your neighborhood.

Yep, we're smack dab in the middle of the most popular time of the year to buy and sell a home. If you're thinking of starting your home search, your first instinct as a savvy shopper might be to stay away and wait for the weather—and the market—to cool down. Why battle the crowds and bidding wars if you're in no rush to move?

1. Prices aren't necessarily higher

A huge myth about the real estate market is that homes sell for more in the summer and less in the winter. This is simply not true!

Let's be clear:

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If your home is struggling to catch the eye of a buyer, it could be for an entirely valid reason. Maybe you're stuck in a sluggish market or have the poshest place on the block (always a tough sell). But there's another possibility, too—your home could be sitting on the market because of a rookie selling mistake. All of us can make 'em, even those of us who actually have a few home sales under our belts.

The good news? These basic slip-ups can be easily corrected or avoided. To help you out, I have identified some of the most common mistakes people make in trying to sell their home. Sidestep these flubs to avoid sabotaging your own sale.

Rookie mistake No. 1: Overpricing your home

All sellers want to get top dollar for their house. Unfortunately,

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At a time when a lot of young adults are postponing marriage, the number of Americans buying a house on a single income is substantial. According to the Millennial home buyers last year were unmarried. Because single mortgage applicants rely on one salary and one credit profile in order to secure a loan, getting through the underwriting process can be a bit trickier. However, the more you understand about what the process entails, the better your odds will be of getting a lender to say “yes.” Here are four crucial things that can help;

Check Your Credit:
When you apply for a mortgage on your own, lenders will be looking at just one credit profile: yours. Needless to say, it has to be in great shape. It’s always a good idea to review your credit

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Welcome To The Cascade Team Nichole Mills!

We are happy to welcome Nichole to The Cascade Team!

Nichole is a motivated, passionate individual with experience in operations, customer service and sales.  She has been a stay at home mom to her two young children and is excited to learn and grow professionally in a new field.  Nichole is an outgoing person with exceptional interpersonal skills who enjoys hiking, camping, boating, and being outdoors.

Nichole will be a wonderful addition to The Cascade Team and we look forward to seeing her success!

OUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE TEAM

Cascade Team Real Estate agents are proactive in serving their customers, studying the market and touring homes, so they can provide the most accurate housing market

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Brokers suggest improving inventory may mean “season of opportunity” for weary house hunters!

Inventory up 6.8% New Listings At A 7 Year High!
13,497 New Listings Added in May (27% Increase from April) Pending Sales up 2.7% 9188 Pending Sales in May = All Time Record For Pending Sales in 1 Month!
KIRKLAND, Washington (June 6, 2017) – Would-be buyers who have been shut out of the real estate market should test the “real estate waters” during the summer months suggests one industry leader.
“Summer might provide some competitive relief for weary buyers,” said Gary O’Leyar, owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Signature Properties, pointing to some of the newly-released statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service as…

Welcome To The Cascade Team Jennifer Martin!

We are happy to welcome Jennifer to The Cascade Team!

Whether you're looking to sell your house or find a new home, vacation or investment property, Jennifer will bring a focused, creative and detail oriented approach to your situation.  She has a deep knowledge of the local communities, a passion for the real estate market and the desire to help you achieve your goals.

With a post graduate degree in Public Relations and over a decade of experience in the corporate world, Jennifer is an open communicator who will be honest and available to you while positioning your house or offer in the best possible light.

When you're selling or searching for the right property, it can be stressful -

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Welcome To The Cascade Team Eric Siroka!

We are happy to welcome Eric to The Cascade Team!

I am thrilled to be part of the Cascade Team, joining a group of warm, welcoming, talented colleagues committed to excellence in serving our community. After twenty-five years in non-profit leadership, it is exciting to turn my focus to engaging with you to make your Real Estate experience healthy, positive and rewarding.  My spouse and I have two teenage children and reside in Klahanie.  We’re all crazy about music and pop culture.  Transplants to the area, we love the Pacific Northwest – and the East Side is an amazing place to live!  In addition to my passion for working with people, I am a baseball enthusiast, political junkie, history wonk and cooking

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View from Issaquah Highlands to Seattle:

by Tatevik Aprikyan

What do you think? How much would you be willing to pay to protect your view? Our area is growing at an amazing pace with new neighborhoods, remodels, and much needed new housing all over. Can you put a price on the peace of mind in knowing your current view will last?

SEATTLE — Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, and now a popular trend in some of the country’s largest metropolitan areas is becoming more common here in Seattle.

People are buying air above homes to protect views, usually from new construction or neighbors wanting to remodel and build larger homes that will block views.

Imagine a house lower down on a hill and a home above it. The home

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Brokers suggest improving inventory may mean “season of opportunity” for weary house hunters!

Inventory up 6.8% New Listings At A 7 Year High!
13,497 New Listings Added in May (27% Increase from April) Pending Sales up 2.7% 9188 Pending Sales in May = All Time Record For Pending Sales in 1 Month!
KIRKLAND, Washington (June 6, 2017) – Would-be buyers who have been shut out of the real estate market should test the “real estate waters” during the summer months suggests one industry leader.
“Summer might provide some competitive relief for weary buyers,” said Gary O’Leyar, owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Signature Properties, pointing to some of the newly-released statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service as…

By Judith Crown

Help Sellers Choose Between Multiple Offers

Juggling multiple offers is an enviable problem to have, but it isn’t always easy territory to navigate. For clients who think the highest bid is the default choice, it’s important to explain that price is just part of the calculation. Other factors include move-in timeline, potential appraisal and inspection contingencies, the amount of earnest money a buyer is willing to put down, and negotiations around home repairs, among other issues.

When Less Is More

Some sellers come into the process with priorities that are more important to them than the sale price. Make sure you know what those are at the start so that you can help weed out bidders who are not able to meet the

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