Real Estate Tacoma Washingtion

If you’re in the market for urban living in Tacoma, you might think about (or rethink) choosing housing in downtown Tacoma. There are amazing deals for buyers, great city culture and now finally the elusive grocery store for Tacoma’s downtown core.

Recently, the County Employment and Wages report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was released detailing what the average wage earner makes in each county statewide. This information may prove helpful if you are trying to decide which area of the South Sound is the best fit for your family to purchase a home.

Are you planning to purchase a home in the Tacoma/Pierce County area and love the arts? You’re in luck: The Tacoma Arts Commission recently awarded $265,000 to nine Tacoma-based arts organizations through its Arts Anchor Fund program, which supports artistic fees and production expenses to keep arts activities affordable and accessible. The awards range in value from $25,000 to $40,000.

Planning on moving to the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater or Tacoma area sometime soon? Making a move means not only uprooting your life but also the lives of your children. The Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Tacoma school districts all have multiple schools within, so before you buy a home, it's important to consider which of the many schools will be appropriate for your children. Once that decision is made, it will be easier to narrow your home search to within that school boundary.

Curious about the current job market in the Tacoma area? A recent report shows unemployment rates in the South Sound ranged from less than 9 percent to more than 14 percent during February, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The lowest rate, not seasonally adjusted, was reported in Thurston County, which came in at 8.9 percent. Lewis County had the highest jobless rate at 14.6 percent. The unemployment rate in Pierce County was 10.6 percent, while Mason County posted 12.4 percent.

Home values are again beginning to fall. What has caused this renewed downward pressure on prices? It can be directly tied to the number of distressed properties in the Tacoma area. Foreclosures and short sales impact prices in two major ways:

Olympia’s Evergreen State College is among the nation's Top Public Affairs Graduate Schools, according to the latest edition of the Best Graduate Schools published by U.S. News Media Group.

Next to listing a property on the local MLS and internet, making your property look attractive to buyers is the most important thing an agent must do. The way your listing looks is an important factor, if not the most important, in generating buyer interest. It's no secret that better-presented homes get more traffic and more buyer interest, therefore selling faster. More than ever, your listings must stand out from the crowd.

Are you animal lover looking to move to the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater or Tacoma area? Well you’re in luck! These communities boast an abundance of dog and cat friendly retail stores, off-leash parks and other pet-focused facilities that will keep your four-legged best friend well cared for. Here are some of my favorites for you to check out:

As underwriting guidelines for lenders become more stringent, it becomes clearer what a good mortgage application looks like. As prospective home buyers begin their search, there are a few things they can do to help get their loans approved (and with the best possible terms), and, at the same time, lessen some of the stress that goes along with the mortgage process.