I don’t typically outsource my writing. But I did give space to a very special guest writer for this blog - our pet rat Ryuu, who often joins me when i’m working from home and likes to walk across the keyboard. These are her own words.

I recently completed a seminar focused on listings and divorce, and it reinforced what I already understood, which is that most real estate agents are not prepared to support this type of transaction. Not because they're bad at their jobs in real estate, but because divorce listings require a different kind of fluency, including legal, emotional, and logistical. Supporting listings through a divorce takes a specialized expertise within real estate. This post is for anyone going through a divorce in Washington, who needs to sell their home, and wants to know what that process should look like and how to find an agent who knows what they are doing.

If you've asked your realtor about schools and gotten a vague answer, they weren’t trying to be unhelpful, they were following the law. The Fair Housing Act prohibits agents from steering buyers based on school quality, since school commentary has historically been used as coded language tied to neighborhood demographics. Setting the law aside, your agent's opinion probably wouldn’t tell you what you need to know anyway, since "good school" is subjective and depends entirely on your kid, your priorities, and what you find when you dig in. Here's how to do the research yourself, including the sites for Seattle Public Schools and Independent/Private school reviews and ratings.

Crown Hill is an unassuming neighborhood in NW Seattle that is quietly having a moment. Learn more about the history of this area, and why you may want to take a second look.

Seattle's real estate market has a rhythm, and if you know how to read it, it can work in your favor. New listings follow a predictable arc from a quick start in January to a packed May, and median sale prices follow close behind. The spread between the seasonal low and high isn't trivial, and neither is the difference in competition. Ten years of MLS data show that even COVID, rising interest rates, and ongoing economic uncertainty haven't erased the pattern. It bends, but it doesn't break. Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to understand what's happening out there, the calendar is worth paying attention to.

Real estate compensation is one of the most misunderstood aspects of a home sale. Most people see a percentage and assume they know what it means, but the business behind that number looks nothing like what it appears from the outside. I’m pulling back the curtain on how real estate agents get paid, how much it costs to do this work, what a good real estate agent actually does and has to be good at, and why the value of a good agent is so often invisible until something goes wrong.

Thinking about moving to Seattle? Or live ere already and just want to know more from an insider? Here is my overview of the history, industry, culture, lifestyle and best restaurants.

The homeownership rate for white households in the U.S. is 74%. For Black households, it's 44.7%. That gap exists in every city, every market, and it doesn't happen by accident. In Washington state, researchers found more than 40,000 racist housing covenants that explicitly barred people of color from buying homes in certain neighborhoods. Those covenants haven't been enforceable since 1969, but you don't undo a century of state-sanctioned exclusion in 50 years. This week I'm getting into the history, the data, and what's actually being done about it locally, including the programs I support.

If you've been following real estate news, you've probably heard about commissions, lawsuits, and sweeping changes to how agents get paid. The coverage has been loud, and a lot of it has been confusing, especially if you live in Washington State. The reality is far less dramatic than the headlines suggest, and if you're transacting in an area served by the NWMLS, you're in better shape than most of the country. Here's what actually happened, what it means for buyers and sellers in our market, and why Washington was already ahead of the curve.

For most single women, buying a home isn't just a lifestyle choice - it's the foundation of their long-term financial security. This week I'm getting into the real numbers behind women and homeownership, and why helping more women get there is at the heart of what I do.

I've been selling homes in Seattle for four years, and the question I hear most is: is it still worth it to stay? This week's millionaires tax debate got me thinking hard about that.

Washington just passed its first-ever income tax, and social media comments are loud and negative. But only 21,000 filers in the entire state will pay the new 9.9% rate. Everyone else gets expanded tax credits, child care funding, and school investment. So why is everyone so angry?

I went through the bill, the data, and the four loudest objections so you don't have to. Here's why I support the bill, and why I think you should too.

The First-Time Buyer Is Disappearing | Peri Erickson-Brown Seattle Real Estate

First-time buyers are at a 40-year low. Here's what's actually driving the trend -- and what it means if you're trying to buy right now.

If you have been searching for a home near Seattle with room to breathe, it might be time to look past the sound and follow the rivers. I am a Seattle-area real estate broker who works with buyers across the Puget Sound region, and river towns come up in my conversations more than almost anything else. People want space, trail access, and a sense of place, and these communities deliver all three. This guide covers seven of my favorites, from the Snoqualmie Valley towns of Carnation and Duvall to the historic streets of Snohomish.

Thinking about buying a home in Seattle and want to be prepared for all the costs you need to budget for? From the sidewalk in front of your house to the water and sewer lines from the city, and the underground oil tank buried in your backyard. Here are six homeowner costs that might surprise you, and that some buyers never learn about until it's too late.

Real headlines from Seattle Times about real estate market. Real estate news is old news. An experience, local real estate agent can help you make informed decisions today.

It's the first week of International Women's Month, and I'm sharing a brief history around women and homeownership. Partly because it's my job, partly because we are living in a time when civil rights seem to be moving in the wrong direction. Learn how even though Women were able to sell homes and own property in the early 1900s, it wasn't until the 1970s that women were able to purchase property without a male co-signer.

This Whittier Heights townhome is a diamond in a rough sea of townhomes. While others are stacked wall to wall or on streets with no parking, this townhome is on a quiet residential street, close to great amenities, and with the layout and features you actually want. Don’t miss it.

Understand the duties of a buyer to perform their own due diligence in a real estate transaction.

This checklist of Fall maintenance tasks will prepare your home for the colder weather, can protect your home from costly damage and keep you warm and safe this winter.

When people think of investing, typically the stock market and retirement accounts come to mind. But one of the most powerful, and often underestimated, assets in a financial portfolio is owning your home.