One of the most requested posts of this site is the one dealing with the Washington Seller Disclosure (Form 17) which I posted nearly four years ago. If you think that the folks in Olympia have made more changes since then, you are correct. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether private seller or agent, HUD, Washington Law and MLS require that all listings be non-discriminatory and comply with fair housing laws (pdf file). The lengthy list of discriminatory words includes the obvious such as "cripple" and "Caucasian" but it also contains "wheelchair" and "walking distance." Read the rest of this entry »

"Why did you sign this document as the Selling Agent?" one of my clients asked. You are representing me, the buyer, are you not? You are right, I replied; I do represent you and I would prefer to be called the Buyer's Agent. But never mind. As part of the new change in Washington State law, the term "Agent" is eliminated altogether and replaced with "Broker". All real estate agents are now brokers. Read the rest of this entry »

Seattle real estate: the search terms tell what's on people's minds. Seller disclosure statement dominate the list. Searches range from tax credit for first time buyers to home style and features. Read the rest of this entry »

In real estate, property rights and value have been established through documentation of title. The derivatives that caused the current financial crisis lack most any documentation and thus, can't be valued. (Hernando de Soto: March 25, 2009, The Wall Street Journal. The Mystery of Capital, Basic Books 2000.) Read the rest of this entry »