Susan Says Real Estate - Exp Realty

10/20/2026

Want to move but don’t want to give up your current low rate? This is for you.
Data shows homeowners with a mortgage have an average of $310K in equity right now.

And that means if you've been putting off a move because you don't want to give up the mortgage rate you locked in a few years ago, your equity could help.

You could use it toward a bigger down payment and borrow less at today's rates.

Or, if you're downsizing, you might even be able to buy your next home in cash. No mortgage. No worrying about today’s rates.

Want to know how much equity you have and what it makes possible for you? DM me, and I'll help you find out.

10/19/2026

🌿 **RARE IN WATER GARDENS!** A DETACHED RAMBLER in the gated, resort-style 55+ community of Water Gardens in Maple Valley!

🏡 3 spacious bedrooms | Approx. 1,900 sq. ft.
🔑 You OWN the land!
🌳 One of only FOUR homes backing to dedicated green space
☀️ Extraordinary 1,000-sq.-ft. patio
🔥 Dramatic double-sided fireplace
💚 Scenic ponds, waterfalls, walking trails & community activities

**A rare find. An extraordinary setting. A lifestyle all its own.**

Offered at $550,000.

🌐 liveatwatergardens.com

**Susan Feldman | eXp Realty**
📞 425-466-7620
✉️ [email protected]

10/19/2026

What if your first home isn't a house at all?

If you've been struggling to find a traditional single-family home that fits your budget, don't overlook condos.

According to Zillow, the typical starter condo costs under $200k nationally. Part of the reason they can be more affordable than a single-family home is because they’re normally smaller.

Sure, you may trade some square footage or a backyard for shared walls and an HOA fee. But you could also get a lower purchase price, great amenities, and less maintenance to handle yourself.

And if that means getting your own set of keys sooner, it could be an option worth exploring.

Your first home doesn't have to check every box you originally imagined. It just needs to be the right fit for your life and your budget right now.

Let's look at what's available in our area and see if a condo could be your way into homeownership.

10/18/2026

Why There are More Homes for Sale Right Now (and What It Means for You)

In many places right now, inventory is growing and homes are taking a bit longer to sell. And that’s information that should shape the strategy you use going in.

Whether you're buying or selling, let's look at how long homes are taking to sell in your neighborhood, so your offer, or your price, fits today's market.

Mortgage rates being back above 7% isn't exactly the news most people wanted. But it’s changing the market in ways that matter whether you’re buying or selling.

10/17/2026

Home sales may be slower than last year. But that doesn't mean buyers have disappeared.

At the current pace, almost 4 million homes are expected to sell this year. That's about 11,000 each day, 450 an hour, and nearly 8 every minute.

Why? Because even in this market, there are still buyers out there who have a reason to move.

People get new jobs, families grow, people retire, downsize, and move closer to the people they love. And those changes create buyers and sellers in every kind of market.

In fact, the latest report from NAR shows sales actually ticked up slightly in September, even though they're still below last year's pace.

So, don't let a headline convince you no one is buying. You don't need every buyer. You just need the right one – and a strategy that helps your house get their attention.

If you're thinking about selling, let's talk about how to make yours one of the homes that sells.

10/16/2026

Hoping mortgage rates will come down soon? The latest inflation report just made that outlook a little more complicated.

Inflation climbed to 3.7% in September, higher than economists expected. And while rising gas prices were a big driver, costs increased across several other categories too.

Why does that matter for housing? Because stubborn inflation makes it harder for the Fed to justify lowering their Federal Funds Rate. It could even increase the chances of another hike.

Now, the Fed doesn't directly control mortgage rates. But inflation and Fed expectations influence them, which means there's no guarantee mortgage rates will move lower anytime soon.

If you're planning to buy or sell, don't let a hoped-for rate drop be the only thing driving your timeline.

Let's look at what today's market means for your move and build a plan around the numbers you can actually work with.

10/16/2026

🏡 WHAT IN THE REAL ESTATE IS GOING ON?! 🤦‍♀️😂
After 35 years in real estate, I've experienced just about every kind of market imaginable. But this one? It's certainly keeping us on our toes!
September's King County housing numbers reveal an interesting contradiction:
🏡 New listings increased 10.4%.
📉 Pending sales dropped 12.9%.
📉 Closed sales declined 17.6%.
💰 The median sales price slipped 2.2% to $950,000.
📈 Available inventory jumped 28.1%!

Think about that for a moment. More homes are entering the market, but fewer are going under contract.

And with 4.1 months of inventory compared to 3.0 months last September, buyers have more options and considerably less pressure to make quick decisions.

So where does that leave homeowners who want to sell?
It means we need to pay closer attention to what buyers are actually doing, not what we wish they were doing.
A home can be beautifully maintained, professionally photographed, and extensively marketed, but if buyers don't see the value compared to competing properties, they're likely to keep looking.

And that's where experience comes in.
I've spent more than three decades helping homeowners navigate changing markets. The approach that worked six months ago may not be the approach that works today.

The market hasn't stopped moving. It's simply moving differently.
If you're considering selling, let's talk about what these changes mean for your particular home and neighborhood.

💜 Susan Says Real Estate

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service, September 2026 King County residential statistics.

10/15/2026

Homes Are Still Selling – Even in a Slower Market

Don't let a headline about slowing home sales convince you no one is buying. Homes are still selling every minute of every day.

If you need or want to move, let's talk about what it'll take to make sure yours is one of them.

If you’ve seen headlines saying home sales are slowing down, you may be wondering: is this really a good time to sell?

10/15/2026

While student credit cards can help college students build credit, they do come with some conditions.

Building good credit takes time, and it can be a few years before college students or graduates have...

10/14/2026

Same time of year. 2 very different stories. And mortgage rates are a big reason why.

Last fall, mortgage rates came down and the number of homes for sale barely budged. This fall, rates have climbed above 7%. Some buyers have pulled back, homes are taking longer to sell, and instead of coming off the market, more listings are sticking around.

Since August, the number of homes for sale has grown by about 25,000. So, what does that mean for you?

Buying? You’ve got more homes to choose from and potentially more room to negotiate on price, repairs, or closing costs.
Selling? Buyers have more options, so you’ve got to give them a reason to choose your house. That means getting the price right from day one and making sure your house stands out from the competition.

Want to know what this shift looks like where you live? Drop a comment or send me a DM, and let’s look at the local numbers together.