Author: burleyfincham

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

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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 a deposit as a personal check, and held it in their own bank account. No title company, no attorney, no escrow. When the deal collapsed, their buyer demanded … Continued

How Long After An Appraisal Can You Close On A House

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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 can make or break your sale. What Is a Home Appraisal … Continued

Who Pays Real Estate Agents When You Buy Or Sell A Home In Washington

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Most sellers I talk to in Washington assume the buyer pays the agents. Then they get to the closing table, look at the settlement statement, and feel their stomach drop. Surprise in that moment is avoidable. Agent commissions in this state follow patterns that are worth understanding before you sign anything, whether you’re selling a … Continued
Home Appraisal Repairs Needed for a House Sale in Washington

Appraisal Required Repairs in Washington

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A seller in Kirkland called me on a Thursday afternoon, a week before her closing date. An FHA appraiser had flagged three repairs; her buyer couldn’t close without them, and she had no idea what any of them meant. That’s a call I get more than people outside this industry would expect. Appraisal-required repairs aren’t … Continued
How to Divide Home Equity Fairly During a Washington Divorce

How To Split House Equity Fairly In A Washington Divorce

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Sitting across the kitchen table from your spouse, knowing this house is about to become a legal question instead of a home, is one of the hardest moments most people ever face. The equity you built together over the years doesn’t care about your feelings. It just sits there, tied up in drywall and property … Continued
Can a Buyer Back Out After a Home Inspection in Washington

Can a Buyer Back Out After a Home Inspection in Washington State

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Your home just went under contract. You’re making plans, maybe even eyeing your next place. Then the buyer’s inspector spends four hours in your attic and crawl space, and suddenly you’re waiting by the phone. Can a buyer back out after a home inspection in Washington? Yes, and it happens more than most sellers realize, … Continued
How long can property taxes go unpaid Washington

How Long Can You Go Without Paying Your Property Taxes in Washington

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Most homeowners I’ve spoken with across Washington, from the Rainier Valley to Spokane’s South Hill, assume they’ll get a single warning letter before anything serious happens with unpaid property taxes. It doesn’t quite work that way. From the moment you miss a payment, the state has a very specific clock running, and the end of … Continued
Understanding How Long a Real Estate Contract Lasts in Washington

How Long Does a Real Estate Contract Last in Washington?

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Picture this: a seller in Redmond signs a purchase and sale agreement on a Tuesday, hands the paperwork to their agent, and then spends the next three weeks staring at their phone, wondering what’s actually happening with their house. The gap between signing and closing is one of the most misunderstood stretches in Washington real … Continued

Can You Sell A House With Termites In Washington?

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A family in Lynnwood sat across from me at their kitchen table last spring with a stack of pest inspection reports and no idea what to do next. They’d found the infestation during a routine maintenance check, right when they’d planned to list. Their first thought was that the sale was dead. It wasn’t. But … Continued
Selling a house with mold in washington

Can You Sell A House With Mold In Washington State

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A family in Spanaway called me last spring, two weeks before their planned closing date. Their buyer’s home inspector had found mold behind the drywall in the master bathroom and up into the attic. A termination notice arrived from the buyer’s agent that same afternoon. Two months of prep work, an accepted offer, and a … Continued
What Happens If a Seller Declines to Close In Tacoma

What Happens If a Seller Refuses to Close on Your Home Purchase

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Most people allocate a large share of their finances to buying a house, so it’s crucial that the closing process is handled efficiently to finalize the sale. Unfortunately, there is always the possibility that the seller will refuse to close even after a binding contract has been signed, and it can happen for a number … Continued
Typical Home Staging Costs In Washington

How Much Does it Cost to Stage a House in Washington

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To sell a house in Washington, simply putting it on the market at the right price isn’t enough. There is a very competitive real estate market, and presentation matters a lot. Home staging is one way to help sell a house. By making a home look more visually appealing to potential buyers and creating a … Continued