Real Estate Weekly April 14, 2023

All real estate advertised in Real Estate Weekly is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” We will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed

that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

For further information call HUD Toll Free at 1-800-669-9777.

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Skagit Publishing is not responsible for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers.

Real Estate Stat 57%

57% of homes sold in February were on the market for less than a month. Properties typically remained on the market for 34 days in February, up from 33 days in January and 18 days in February 2022.

“ This iconic “Pink Lady ” is a one - of-a kind Vic torian home setting on 1 ¾ acres that boasts amazing sunrises and sunsets, fields of flowers, snow geese, Trumpeter swans and a view of Mt Baker! There are several bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms, gorgeous woodwork, some stained glass, and etched glass windows. Charming kitchen has slate counters, lots of cabinets and a sweet, sunny eating area. Large back deck to take in the peaceful surroundings and ever- changing views and the many flowering trees and shrubs.

MLS# 2043187 351439-1

Why advertising matters

No matter the size of your business, good and thoughtful promotion will always help you grow awareness about your brand, get in front of more serious prospective clients, and ultimately boost your revenue. Advertising has been shown to be worth the investment, and we’re taking a deeper dive into why it really matters and what you can do to spread the word about your business.

• It creates brand awareness.

• It provides credibility.

• It helps you reach potential clients.

• It drives lead generation.

• It produces more continuous business.

• It improves your digital presence.

• It encourages customer engagement.

• It keeps your consumers up to date.

• It leads to repeat business.

The bottom line? Advertising really works. It’s a key component to building your brand, growing your earnings, and maintaining a successful real estate business. Our marketing solutions can help you get lots more eyes on your business with targeted online advertising.

Let us help you meet your marketing goals by advertising your listings in Real Estate Weekly.

by Erik J. Martin

If it’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words, a good picture of your home for sale may have the potential to attract a thousand buyers (well, maybe not a thousand, but a lot more than you’d expect). at’s because high-quality listing photos – snapshots of your home’s interiors and exteriors that appear in your for-sale listing online and in print –can speak volumes visually about the multiple merits of your property.

“Listing photos showcase the inside and outside of a home for sale, highlighting its best features and giving potential purchasers or renters a glimpse of what the residence looks like,” says Brett Rosenthal, a Realtor and

Why listing photos matter

team leader with the Revolve Philly Group at Compass in Philadelphia. “Listing photos usually appear on online real estate marketplaces, such as Zillow, Redfin, Trulia and Realtor.com, as well as on the agent’s website, social media platforms and marketing materials. Anyone with access to these platforms can see the listing photos, including interested buyers, renters and other real estate agents.”

Your agent or Realtor is responsible for taking these photos or hiring a professional photographer to do it for them, ensuring that the images are of high quality and accurately represent the home for sale. Sellers usually are not charged a separate fee for these photos being taken; the cost is commonly factored into the agent’s

commission.

Skyla Gagnon, a Realtor in Killingly, Connecticut, says the quality of listing photos is of utmost importance.

“ ese are the first impressions of your home to all buyers searching online. A beautiful, bright photo of the front of your house or your updated kitchen will quickly grab the attention of home shoppers,” she says. “On the other hand, dark, out-of-focus photos with clutter in the picture may cause buyers to look right past your listing.”

Carrie George, a Realtor with Keller Williams Top of the Rockies Real Estate, says each room should have at least two shots – often more depending on the room.

“Kitchens, for instance, usually require a minimum of four photos, especially if

it is an attractive kitchen,” George notes.

e experts agree that a plentiful array of images is best. Rosenthal recommends having at least 25 photos in your listing, if possible, “unless the home is enormous and has tons of rooms or special outdoor spaces, in which case you want to include more photos. But you don’t want to put in too many pictures or too few, so keep that in mind.”

Your agent, in conjunction with the professional photographer enlisted for the job, will determine which areas of your home inside and out to photograph and which specific angles will be most pleasing to buyers, according to Eric Bramlett, a Realtor and owner of Bramlett Residential, a brokerage in

Austin, Texas.

“ e agent should also assess the home as a whole and strive to capture photos that will make a lasting impression on buyers while also accurately capturing the property and its features,” says Bramlett.

In some instances, the agent/Realtor may take the photographs themselves if they are experienced in this craft. Regardless of who takes the photos, take the time to carefully review the shots with your agent before including them in your listing.

“If you are not happy with one or more of the listing photos used or to be used, you have every right to request that the photos be removed, deleted or retaken. And if you decide that the agent does not have the

photography skills you had hoped for, you can always request that a professional photographer be brought in,” Gagnon recommends. George says some sellers are not comfortable with their children’s rooms being photographed and used in a listing, or if they have an expensive piece of art in their home, they may not want that to be publicized. Before photography day, expect your agent to tell you how to prepare. For instance, you may need to carefully declutter rooms and living spaces, remove extraneous items from counters, open your shades, match towels in the bathroom and kitchen and take other steps to ensure proper home staging and more attractive photos.

Ways to lower your insurance premiums

Question:

Like a lot of younger people, we want to start saving for a first home. How much can we save by moving in together?

Answer:

While many people would like to get married, marriage levels have declined substantially. According to the Census Bureau, the marriage rate in 2018 was 6.5 per 1,000 people, down from 10.4 per 1,000 people fifty years ago. One result is that many adults now share apartments and homes. A 2023 study by Realtor.com and HarrisX found that “70% of all respondents who have moved in with a partner reported that they were able to save money by moving in.”

e most common amounts saved per month, according to the study, were:

$1- $500 (27%)

501 - $1,000 (20%)

$1,001 - $2,000 (13%)

$2,001 - $5,000 (6%)

More than $5,000 (4%)

While monthly savings may sound attractive, there can be complications.

“Living with a romantic partner might bring a couple closer together, but it can also magnify potential issues in a relationship,” said Realtor.com’s Executive News Editor, Clare Trapasso. “While the idea of splitting the rent or mortgage can be very attractive, it’s important to have tough conversations with your partner and think through how living together will work before you take the plunge.”

First, an apartment lease can make each tenant responsible for the rent, all the rent. In other words, if someone moves out the landlord still needs to be paid in full. It’s important for tenants to have reserves, and it’s a good idea to have a tenant agreement prepared by a legal clinic or attorney.

Second, if the idea is to go in together to buy a home, the co-borrowers should speak with a local attorney. Look into co-ownership agreements as well as wills and related paperwork. Among other issues, consider what happens if someone loses a job or wants to sell.

ird, local housing costs vary and that means

ASK OUR BROKER

By Peter G. Miller

location plays a big part in possible savings.

“Rents have skyrocketed in New York in the past year,” says RentHop.com. “A one-bedroom unit now asks for, on average, $3,950. Meanwhile, two-bedroom monthly rents average $5,295, which translates to $2,648 per person. In other words, by having a roommate, renters can save $1,303 per month.”

Alternatively, RentHop points out that “renters in Toledo pay, on average, $630 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, while a two-bedroom unit costs $795. is means that renters looking to save on rent can find a roommate and reduce their monthly housing costs by $233.”

Having savings is a good thing, but the related question is what to do with the money. If the goal is to buy a home, then it becomes important to use housing savings to bulk up cash reserves, assure that monthly bills are paid in time and in full and, if possible, to pay down consumer debt, especially high-cost credit cards.

Email your real estate questions to Mr. Miller at peter@ctwfeatures.com.

“Work It Out: STR Ownership Might Not Offer Easy Money”

Marilyn Kennedy Melia

What could be better than getting a paycheck without the work?

is seductive message promoting various types of “passive income” has gained traction on social media platforms like TikTok. It’s helping fuel interest, especially among younger adults, in ventures like owning a “short-term rental,” {STR}, using platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. In reality, most STR

owners are “usually are over 35” and have the income to own a property that allows them to rent a room and bath or an entire home, notes Annie Sloan, CEO of e Host Co., which provides automation to sell STR guests extras, like fl owers.

Even before the popular passive income messaging, “the huge success of short-term rentals in 2021” pushed the supply of US listings 24.6 percent to 1.3 million in 2022,

notes Mariah Kamei of AirDNA, a data and analytics provider on STRs.

But, especially in markets where the supply of STRs is exceeding demand, owners can’t simply post their listing and profi t. With “more competition for guests, it will become more important for hosts to pay attention to their guest reviews and adjust their operations if they want to maintain high levels of performance,” Kamei notes.

Moreover, says Sloan, many travelers now expect a STR to feel like a hotel stay, offering reliable Wi-Fi, toiletries and cleanliness. While it’s possible to hire a property management firm to handle bookings and cleaning, that cuts STR income. is year, AirDNA forecasts a nine percent increase in STRs listed, and boosting income is hardly passive. “Providing hospitality and great customer service can be a full-time job,” notes Kamei.

Before getting into the business by renovating your home to provide a room and bath with a separate entrance, or buying a vacation property, research income potential. “Study the occupancy rate [for STRs] in your area,” suggests Sloan. “If you’re buying a vacation home that you want to use too, remember that the days you want to use it might be the same times renters probably will, too.”

7.5 acres of rich farmland with 200 fruit trees, ¾ acre blueberr y, 3 acres strawberries, ¾ acre blackberr y, ¾ acre raspberr y, 60x30 paver patio in place, incredible view, fully fenced with beautiful rolling gate, some farm implements and a trac tor included.

MLS#2050192

COMMER CIAL

Custom build your commercial enterprise: 13,361 square foot commercial trac t (two lots) zoned C-2. Great location near recreation center; major grocer y store; hotel; restaurants; offices; health club; house and farm supply stores; gas stations; banks; and I-5. Water, Cascade Natural Gas, Puget Sound Energy, City sewer, and Comcast are all in the street MLS#2009122

There are so many investment possibilities with this home and proper ty. Classic 4 bed/2.5 bath farmhouse style 2560 sq.ft home with east facing deck on 1.7 acres Home offers kitchen w/island and ceramic tile floors, office, bonus room, mud/laundr y room, living room with propane fireplace, built-in bookshelves, and beautiful laminate over hardwood floors Studio cottage has own kitchen and bath. Proper ty also features a 16,000+ sq.ft. pole building/barn with office space, shop, and room for RV storage. Potentially 5K in rental income each month from the cottage, barn, and RV storage. MLS#2028784

Mondo is a well- established and wellloved family-style restaurant at the foot of the Cascade Mountain Range. Locals and travelers make this par t of their Hw y 20 and Nor th Cascade National Park trip. Major ar terial choice to Newhalem and continue on to Winthrop; or cross the Skagit River bridge and continue up to Cascade Pass and hiking to Stehekin. The restaurant is warm and inviting, with incredible fare. Ver y spacious dining area. Some outside seating available. Small gift shop area. The kitchen is beautifully remodeled. New flooring and ex terior lighting. MLS#2038466

BUSINESS ONLY $375,000

Saturday, April 8th was a fun, busy day at the Kiwanis Tulip Festival Salmon BBQ held at Hillcrest Park Lodge in Mount Vernon. The Salmon BBQ is open each Friday, Saturday, & Sunday in April, ser ving 11 am to 7 pm. There is delicious meals, a raffle for a stunning quilt ($1 tickets), smoked salmon to take home (sold by the pound), and sometimes live enter tainment. Saturday we had the Voices of the Village to delight and enter tain ever yone. Be sure to visit the Kiwanis Salmon BBQ this year and suppor t the youth of Skagit Count y.

60102 State route 20, MarBleMouNt $675,000

Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294

2121 MarKet Street, MouNt VerNoN $279,000

Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294

Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294

Danya Wolf (360) 708-8294

Danya Wolf

Designated Broker/Owner (360) 708-8294

CRS/CBA/GREEN