Let’s take an updated look at some Seattle-area rent vs. buy comparisons to see if the situation has improved at all since we analyized it last summer. Back then, the real-world example I used compared two similar homes in Kirkland. Total monthly costs for the rental were $1,515, while the home for sale would have…
Tag: affordability
DIY Solution for Affordable Housing
I expect August stats from the NWMLS to be posted either today or tomorrow, but here’s something from the lighter side to kill some time until then. Mark Zimmerman (zim) had a problem that many have been faced with thanks to the housing bubble: A few years back, I got tired of living the American…
WCRER: Affordability Drops Again
The Washington Center for Real Estate Research posted their latest “Market Snapshot” data (pdf) this week. Here’s an article on the data from the Times: Home sales still sliding in state, Puget Sound region WCRER director Glenn Crellin continues to blame the media and buyer fear for the floundering market: “Buyers see and hear stories…
WCRER: Housing Market Improving for Buyers
The latest quarterly housing market snapshot from the Washington Center for Real Estate Research (WCRER) was released yesterday, and as expected, the news continues to get better for home buyers. Since we’re talking about January through March, there are no surprises here for anyone that has been following the NWMLS data and the Case-Shiller index….
Is the Seattle Area Becoming Unlivable?
Couched in woeful tales of local residents that have been priced out of living in Seattle (buying or renting), a story in yesterday’s Seattle Times explored the question of whether an expensive Seattle is a desirable Seattle. Can Seattle really claim to be a livable city when the median home value is half a million…