Free 2026 buyer’s guide
Buying in Snohomish or King County? Here’s exactly what to do next.
A 16-page, no-strings guide from pre-approval to keys in hand, with real local numbers and a showing checklist written by a former general contractor.
- September 2026 prices and days on market for 9 local areas
- Washington buyer agreements, explained in plain English
- What buying really costs, plus a printable budget worksheet
- State down payment programs most buyers never hear about
Free. It’s the same guide I’d hand a client in our first meeting. Yours to keep either way.
Send me the guide
Instant download, right on this page.
What’s inside the guide
Most of the hard parts of buying happen before you ever tour a house. The guide puts every step in order, so you walk into your first showing knowing more than most buyers do by the time they write an offer.
The market right now
Current prices, days on market and inventory for both counties, and what those numbers mean for your offer.
Your buyer agreement
What Washington requires in writing, how agents get paid now, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
The real cost of buying
Earnest money, inspection, appraisal and closing costs with typical ranges, plus a budget worksheet.
Down payment help
Washington state and local programs, who they’re for, and the one requirement almost all of them share.
The contractor’s checklist
Roof, crawl space, sewer line, electrical panel and the other things I check at every showing.
Offer to keys
How sellers compare offers, the protections in a typical contract, and a day-by-day closing timeline.
A peek inside: real neighborhoods, real numbers
| Area | Median sold | Avg. days | Homes and lifestyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everett | $660,000 | 28 | Widest range of homes and prices, waterfront and historic neighborhoods |
| Lake Stevens | $725,000 | 38 | Lake access, newer subdivisions, room to spread out |
| Silver Firs and South Everett | $739,000 | 22 | Planned neighborhoods, parks and trails |
| Bothell | $1.05M | 50 | Revitalized downtown, easy Eastside commute |
| Mill Creek | $1.09M | 38 | Town Center walkability, trails, established HOA neighborhoods |
Single-family homes, September 2026. NWMLS data via TrendGraphix. The guide covers nine areas, and every area gets a monthly update on my Market Reports page.
Written by someone who’s been in the crawl space
Before real estate I spent years as a general contractor. The guide’s showing checklist is the list I run in my head at every house, so you can tell cosmetic from costly before you fall in love.
- Roof age, moss and drainage away from the foundation
- Crawl space moisture and vapor barrier
- Water heater, furnace and electrical panel age
- Why a sewer scope is cheap insurance on older homes
Get pre-approved with a lender I trust
Pre-approval is the first real step, and it’s easier than most people expect. I send my buyers to Mike Bon at American Pacific Mortgage. He’s attentive, reachable by phone most hours, and can tell you which homes qualify for which programs, like down payment assistance, and what each means for your bottom line.
- Apply online. Mike is notified the moment you finish.
- Upload your documents. He sends a secure link and a checklist for your loan type.
- Talk it through. He reviews your options, including down payment help.
- Get your letter, then tour. We can write an offer the day you find the one.
Mike Bon, Senior Mortgage Consultant
American Pacific Mortgage
NMLS #119781
Call or text 253-495-2095
mike.bon@apmortgage.com
You’re free to choose any lender. American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #1850. Loan approval, terms and programs depend on credit, income and property eligibility. Not a commitment to lend.
Who I am
I’m Michael McKay, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams, based right here in Silver Firs. Before real estate I was a general contractor, a facilities coordinator and a chef, which means I’ve read the inspection report, stood in the crawl space and taken care of people for a living.
Every client gets fast answers, plain English and my full attention.
“Find the right price, then put in the work to make it home.”
What happens after you sign up
- You download the guide right on this page, the moment you sign up.
- A day or two later, I’ll check in once to see if anything in it raised a question.
- That’s it. No 15-email drip, no string of calls. You keep the guide either way.
Questions people ask
Is it really free?
Yes. No card number, no catch. It’s the same guide I’d hand a client in a first meeting.
Will you call me?
Only if you check the box that says I can, and then just once to check in. Tell me you’d rather not hear more, and I’ll leave it there.
What if I’m just looking?
Good, that’s most of who downloads this. It’s built for people still figuring it out, not just people ready to sign today.
What if I’m a year away from buying?
Even better time to read it. Credit, budget and choosing a lender are exactly what you want to sort out a year out, not a week out.
Do I have to work with you?
No. Nothing here obligates you to anything. If it’s useful and you want help later, I’m around.
Will my information get sold or spammed?
No. It comes to me, not a list, and it’s never sold or shared.
You don’t have to guess your way through this.
Get every step laid out in front of you, from checking your credit to getting your keys.
Send me the guideRather talk it through? Book 30 minutes or call or text (206) 249-6925.
Michael McKay, REALTOR® · WA license #26016936 · Keller Williams Everett, 1000 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 201, Everett, WA 98208. Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Market data deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The guide is general education, not legal, tax or lending advice. If you are working with another agent under a buyer agreement, this is not a solicitation.