Matthew Gardner

Buying Homes New Agency Law Changes: Transparency, Consumer Protection, & Commitment New Agency Law Changes: Transparency, Consumer Protection, & Commitment On January 1, 2024, major changes to the Law of Agency will go into effect. These changes result from the real estate industry in the state of Washington wanting to elevate the level of transparency and consumer protection surrounding buyer representation. Senate Bill 5191 was voted […]
Buying Homes The Low Inventory Effect: Nationally and Close to Home The Low Inventory Effect: Nationally and Close to Home The video below from Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist, refers to the effects of constricted inventory levels on the national housing market in a higher interest rate environment. Review the localized numbers that I gathered that pertain to King and Snohomish Counties and then check out […]
Buying Homes Clarity Through Chaos: Using the Data to Guide Decisions Clarity Through Chaos Using the Data to Guide Decisions I think we can all agree that we have been on a bit of a wild ride over the last 12 months in the real estate market. When the Fed decided to change its trajectory on interest rates in mid-2022, it created chaos and confusion. During […]
Buying Homes 2023 Market Predictions, Fact Checked. 2023 Market Predictions, Fact Checked. One of the reasons why we are fortunate to have Matthew Gardener as our Chief Economist at Windermere is his transparency. Every year, Matthew makes predictions for the coming year based on his monumental research and years of experience. Just this week, he reviewed his 2023 predictions and recorded the […]
Buying Homes 10 Bills Passed That Will Affect Housing in Our State A Busy Legislative Session for Housing: 10 Bills Passed That Will Affect Housing in Our State On April 23rd the Washington State Legislature adjourned after passing 10 new bills that will affect housing. Some of the bills are geared toward creating more transparency around brokerage transactions, some are intended to institute more opportunities for building […]
Buying Homes The Difference Between Long-Term & Short-Term Interest Rates The Difference Between Long-Term & Short-Term Interest Rates It is very important that consumers understand the difference between long-term interest rates and short-term interest rates. Long-term rates involve home mortgages such as conventional 30-year fixed, Jumbo, FHA, and VA loans. Short-term rates involve car loans, credit cards, and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs). While […]
Buying Homes Housing Absorption Trends, Interest Rates Hovering, and Inventory Constricting Housing Absorption Trends, Interest Rates Hovering, and Inventory Constricting Three key elements to pay attention to when assessing prices and the real estate market. As we round out the first quarter of 2023, three real-time trends to pay close attention to in order to truly understand what is happening in the real estate market are […]
Buying Homes Which is Better, Renting or Buying? Which is Better, Renting or Buying? The Financial Benefits of Owning Real Estate Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, looking to purchase a second home, or considering assisting your adult children in buying a home, owning real estate can offer significant long-term financial benefits. While renting may be a more immediate and accessible option, the benefits […]
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Economic Forecasts & Trends 2023 Economic Forecast: Why This Market Won’t Be Like 2008 by Matthew Gardner 2023 REAL ESTATE FORECAST: WHY THIS MARKET WON’T BE LIKE 2008 By Matthew Gardner This video is the latest in our Monday with Matthew series with Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. Each month, he analyzes the most up-to-date U.S. housing data to keep you well-informed about what’s going on in the real estate market. Hello […]
Buying Homes An Economic & Housing Forecast for 2023 by Economist Matthew Gardner An Economic & Housing Forecast for 2023 by Economist Matthew Gardner Last week, my office had the pleasure of hosting Windermere’s Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner for his 2023 Economic and Housing Forecast. During this jam-packed hour of insightful delivery, he reported on the U.S. and local economies along with the U.S. and local housing markets specific […]
Buying Homes December is for Giving at Windermere North!   Between holiday parties, family obligations, work, and the pressure of finding the perfect gift, this time of year can come and go in a flash. At Windermere North, we never want this season to go by without coming together to lift up our community and give back in meaningful ways. Our office-wide annual holiday […]
Buying Homes Key Factors to Note as the Market Recalibrates in the New Year Key Factors to Note as the Market Recalibrates in the New Year 2022 has been an eventful year in the real estate market and the economy. After 2 years of pandemic-fueled demand and historically low interest rates, we experienced a shift. The Fed quickly raised rates (by 2 points) from April to October to combat inflation, […]
Buying Homes Matthew Gardner’s Top 10 Predictions for 2023                 Matthew Gardner’s Top 10 Predictions for 2023 1 There Is No Housing Bubble Mortgage rates rose steeply in 2022 which, when coupled with the massive run-up in home prices, has some suggesting that we are recreating the housing bubble of 2007. But that could not be further […]
Buying Homes Real Estate Market Update               At Windermere, we are fortunate to have Matthew Gardner as our Chief Economist. In fact, we are one of the only real estate companies in the country to have such a well-respected expert sitting in this role. Not only is Matthew an asset to Windermere brokers and their clients, but […]
Economic Forecasts & Trends Update: Global Influences on the Housing Market & Interest Rates     A lot has happened in our world since the first of the year, specifically the rise in inflation and the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. These factors can influence consumers and affect the housing and financial markets. Additionally, global unrest has had a clear influence on interest rates, driving them back down after […]
Gardner Reports Aligning With The Right Broker Matters More Than Ever 2022 has had an incredible eventful start in our local real estate market. In January, the average list-to-sale price ratio (the percentage a house sells for in comparison to the list price) in King County was 105% and in Snohomish County it was 106%. This is in conjunction with complete year-over-year median price appreciation (the […]
Buying Homes Matthew Gardner’s 2022 Predictions   In January, my office hosted our 14th annual Economic Forecast Event with Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist. It was an hour-long presentation followed by lively Q & A that was packed with useful information to help guide us as we start the new year. Matthew journeyed the audience through a macro to micro approach, […]
Events Is Your Home Windermere Ready?     How a home is prepared for the market has a direct economic effect on the results a seller will have in the marketplace. Making home updates to match today’s trends, repairing deferred maintenance items, deep cleaning, and home staging all help contribute to a higher return for home sellers and less time on the […]
Buying Homes The Zillow Algorithm vs. The Human Algorithm – what is best for the consumer?   The recent news of Zillow’s plan to shut down their iBuyer program due to a $328 million loss in the third quarter has heads spinning in the real estate world and on Wall Street.  Sadly, Zillow plans to eliminate 25% of its workforce because of its decision to move away from the practice of purchasing and […]
Buying Homes The Triangle of Buyer Clarity – Finding Buyer Success in a Seller’s Market   Embarking on a home purchase in a seller’s market can be intimidating, but it can be done. Long-term price growth confirms that owning a home is a key element to building household wealth. Home equity gained over time is typically the largest asset that contributes to a household’s net worth. Homeownership is not only an investment, but […]