Blog

How Soon After Chapter 7 Can I Sell My House Tacoma

How Soon After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Can You Sell Your House

By

Americans filed 581,570 non-business bankruptcy cases in the twelve months ending June 30, 2026. That’s a jump of 12 percent over the prior year, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Plenty of those filers own a house, and once the first shock of the bankruptcy wears off, nearly every one of them … Continued
Should I sell my house and move to an apartment In Tacoma

Should I Sell My House and Move to an Apartment

By

Four bedrooms, and two of them have sat empty since the kids graduated. You still heat those rooms. You still pay tax on them, insure them, and re-shingle the roof over them. I hear “Should I sell my house and move to an apartment?” most weeks, often from someone standing in the kitchen where they … Continued
Is It Smart to Renovate Your Kitchen Before Selling in Tacoma

Should I Remodel My Kitchen Before Selling My Home?

By

A seller asked me recently whether new quartz counters would push her asking price into a new bracket. Her kitchen hadn’t been touched since the Carter years. The kitchen had gold oak cabinets, laminate counters with a scorch mark by the stove, and a dishwasher loud enough to hear from the porch. My answer let … Continued
Home Equity Loan Alternatives

Home Equity Loan Alternatives for Homeowners Without Refinancing

By

Americans have never owned this many of their own houses. Mortgage holders held a record $18 trillion in home equity in the second quarter of 2026, according to ICE Mortgage Technology’s August 2026 Mortgage Monitor. My phone still rings with the same call, though. A homeowner with piles of equity on paper just got turned … Continued
Selling House Needing Repairs Washington

How to Sell a House That Needs Repairs in Washington

By

Your house needs work. Maybe a lot of work. The roof has been on your mind for two winters, the HVAC system groans on cold mornings, and two plumbing estimates have been sitting on your counter since spring. You’re not the only one. Thousands of Washington homeowners reach this same fork every year. The route … Continued
Capital Gains on Sale of Rental Property Washington

Capital Gains Tax on Selling a Rental Property in Washington State

By

Somewhere between the second lease renewal and a third tenant moving in, plenty of Washington landlords stop thinking about the eventual sale. Rent covers the mortgage, the property appreciates, and life is good. Then a CPA runs real numbers, and the capital gains tax on selling a rental property in Washington State turns into a … Continued
Selling directly by owner main benefits Tacoma

Top Benefits Of Selling Your House For Sale By Owner

By

Most people assume the only reason to sell a house yourself is saving a few bucks on commission. That’s not wrong, but it’s also about a third of the story. Selling your home without a real estate agent, a for sale by owner (FSBO) transaction, puts you in the driver’s seat on price, timeline, and … Continued
How to Avoid HOA Dues Tacoma

How To Legally Get Out Of Paying HOA Dues On Your Home

By

Most homeowners don’t find out how aggressive a homeowners’ association can be until they’re already behind. By then, they’re searching for how to get out of paying HOA dues before the balance costs them the house. One missed payment becomes two, then two becomes a lien, and suddenly you’re staring at the possibility of losing … Continued
Can You Delay Mortgage Payments While Selling Tacoma

Can You Pause Mortgage Payments While Selling Your Home

By

She was six months behind when the call came in. Not in foreclosure yet, but she could feel it closing in. She wanted one thing answered before we talked numbers: “Can I just stop paying while I figure this out?” Whether you can pause mortgage payments while selling comes up constantly. The honest answer is … Continued
FSBO Earnest Money Considerations

How Earnest Money Works When Buying a For Sale by Owner Home

By

A couple in Tacoma called me on a Tuesday morning, four days after their buyer stopped responding. They’d gone the FSBO route, signed a handwritten agreement, accepted the earnest money as a personal check, and held it in their own bank account. No title company, no attorney, no escrow. When the sale collapsed, their buyer … Continued

How Long After An Appraisal Can You Close On A House

By

How long after an appraisal can you close on a house? Most sellers I talk to think the appraisal is the finish line. You get the number, the buyer’s lender nods, and everyone heads to the closing table. An appraisal is actually closer to the halfway point, and what happens in the weeks after it … Continued