Earnest Money vs. Down Payment vs. Closing Costs, Untangled
Three checks, three jobs, one purchase. When each payment happens, where the money goes, and how earnest money gets credited back at closing.
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Seattle real estate, plainly explained.
What agents actually charge, which neighborhood fits your budget, and how to buy or sell without overpaying — researched for Greater Seattle, written in plain English.
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Capital Gains Tax When Selling Your Home in Washington
Most WA home sellers owe zero capital gains tax. How the federal §121 exclusion works, why WA's capital gains tax exempts real estate, and the math.
Escrow Fees in Washington: What You Pay and What You Get
What escrow actually does in a Washington closing, what the fee typically costs, how the 50/50 split works, and why signing day isn't closing day.
Title Insurance in Washington: Owner's vs. Lender's Policies
Why Washington closings include two title policies, who pays for each, what they actually cover, and whether the owner's policy is worth it.
Who Pays Closing Costs in Washington? The Buyer-Seller Split
Washington's customary buyer vs. seller closing-cost split, line by line — REET, title, escrow, agent fees — and which conventions are negotiable.
Mortgage Rate Buydowns Explained: 2-1 Buydowns, Points, the Math
How 2-1 buydowns and discount points actually work, what each costs on an illustrative $640K loan, and the breakeven math that decides which pays.
Seattle Condo HOA Dues: What They Cover and What High Dues Signal
What Seattle condo HOA dues actually pay for, why high-rise dues run higher, and how to tell healthy dues from a deferred-maintenance time bomb.
King County Property Taxes, Explained (Levies, Rates, Appeals)
How King County property taxes actually work — assessed value, levy rates, the 1% growth limit, due dates, and how to appeal — with worked examples.
Cost of Selling a Home in Seattle at $500K, $1M, and $2M
Worked seller-cost tables at three Seattle price points — commission, REET, title, escrow — showing why selling costs don't scale evenly with price.
Closing Costs for Buyers in Washington State: Line by Line
Washington buyers typically pay 1–3% of the purchase price in closing costs on top of the down payment. Here's every line item, with worked numbers.
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