Seattle Real Estate Report

Are you thinking of changing jungles? How about this one? City 100 yards behind you, the countenance of the pacific northwest in the same breath.

People ask me why they should use a mortgage broker for a home refinance or purchase. It is pretty simple; A broker is not the employee of any lender and can quickly shop your loan to multiple lenders and then choose the one lender best suited for the loan you need.

Most lenders and banks require their employee loan officers to make loans "in-house" using that lender's rate sheet and that lender's underwriting guidelines versus directing the borrower to a competing lender with a better rate and/or underwriting process. Having worked the first 7 of my 12 years as a hand-cuffed 'in-house' loan officer and the last 5 years as a broker, I am quite familiar with both worlds.

In the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, Christmas trees need not be on the floor. This homeowner mounted branches of a very large tree to both sides of the room and hung simple string-pearls on the branches. Simple, elegant and timeless with all the same fragrance.