May is here, and the Seattle market is moving into peak season with more inventory than buyers have seen in years. Active listings climbed to 1,265 — up 28% year-over-year — with months of supply at 1.9. Still a seller's market, but buyers have real room to compare and consider. The median closed price landed at $998,899, down 3% from last April. Rates eased too, from 6.7% to 6.3%, trimming the typical monthly payment by about $432. Lower price, lower rate — the entry point is better than the headline suggests.

For sellers, preparation and pricing still separate the outcomes. 38% sold above list when the home was priced and presented well. The other 24% needed a reduction before they moved — and that correction costs time and money. Price it right from the start and the market still rewards you.

Opportunity is real on both sides right now. Happy to talk through what it means for yours.

— Erik

Local Look: A Shifting Spring Market

The spring market is still moving—but it looks a little different this year. In this month’s Local Look, Windermere Principal Economist Jeff Tucker explains how rising inventory, shifting buyer demand, and global uncertainty are shaping the housing market across Western Washington. Watch the video for the full update.

Click to view full update

Protect Your Home: Free Title Fraud Monitoring Is Available In Most Counties

Keeping you informed about ways to protect your investment is one of my top priorities — and one of the easiest steps you can take right now costs nothing and takes just a few minutes.

Property Fraud Is on the Rise

Seller impersonation and deed fraud are becoming increasingly common. Bad actors file fraudulent documents with the county recorder — sometimes transferring ownership of a property or taking out loans against it — all without the real owner's knowledge. Because property records are public, they're an attractive target.

How Title Monitoring Works

Most counties offer a free alert service. Once registered, you'll be notified any time a document is recorded that matches your name. It won't prevent a fraudulent filing, but it gives you early warning to investigate and respond before serious damage is done.

Signing up is free and takes just a few minutes — and I've done it myself for our home in King County. If you own property there, here's where to start:

→ King County Monitoring

→ King County Parcel Lookup

Own property in another county?

Reach out and I'll point you to the right resource.

Windermere Community Service Day

Every year, Windermere Real Estate closes its offices across the Western United States so our agents, managers, and staff can spend the day giving back to the communities we call home. Established in 1984, Windermere's Community Service Day has grown into a nationally recognized volunteer program — and a tradition we're proud to be part of. This year, our team will be volunteering with Wellspring Family Services, https://wellspringfs.org/, and helping with neighborhood clean-up in Columbia City. To learn more about the program, visit windermere.com/about/community-service-day.