Lawrence Home Team

10/19/2026

WAIT…a home loan with only 2.25% down? 👀

Join our live every Thursday at 1:00PM - What is this... Questions answered... How to apply... What type of homes are available using this program? All answered at the live stream

DM us to get the link directly sent to you, invitation only for these Thursdays events.

The HUD Section 184 Native American Home Loan program has existed for years, yet many eligible Native American and Alaska Native buyers have never heard about it—or assume it is only available when purchasing on tribal land.

That isn’t necessarily the case.

In Washington, eligible borrowers may be able to use Section 184 financing to purchase, build, renovate or refinance a primary residence. The program can offer a low down payment, fixed-rate financing and no annual mortgage-insurance premium on newer loans.

But it isn’t “free money,” and eligibility alone doesn’t guarantee approval. Income, credit, debt, property requirements and lender underwriting still matter.

As a Sealaska shareholder with Haida and Tlingit heritage, I wanted to create a practical guide that explains the program without the hype.

👉 Read the complete HUD Section 184 guide: Facebook/Tiktoc/Instagram/Google LIVE STREAMING every THURSDAY

Know somebody who may be eligible? Please share this with them. A lot of families simply haven’t been told this option exists.

John Lawrence
The Lawrence Home Team | Skyline Properties

Tlingit & Haida WA Chapter Sealaska

10/19/2026

WAIT…a home loan with only 2.25% down? 👀

The HUD Section 184 Native American Home Loan program has existed for years, yet many eligible Native American and Alaska Native buyers have never heard about it—or assume it is only available when purchasing on tribal land.

That isn’t necessarily the case.

In Washington, eligible borrowers may be able to use Section 184 financing to purchase, build, renovate or refinance a primary residence. The program can offer a low down payment, fixed-rate financing and no annual mortgage-insurance premium on newer loans.

But it isn’t “free money,” and eligibility alone doesn’t guarantee approval. Income, credit, debt, property requirements and lender underwriting still matter.

As a Sealaska shareholder with Haida and Tlingit heritage, I wanted to create a practical guide that explains the program without the hype.

👉 Read the complete HUD Section 184 guide:
Johnlawrence.skylineproperties.com

10/19/2026

🏡 One in four King County listings has reduced its price—but that doesn’t mean every home is suddenly a bargain.

King County buyers have more choices, homes are taking longer to sell and the average sale-to-list ratio has fallen to approximately 98.1%. On the Eastside, the differences are even more noticeable: inventory in the Sammamish/Issaquah–East Lake Sammamish area increased approximately 71% year over year, while West Bellevue reached more than eight months of supply.

At the same time, mortgage rates remain around 7.4%, so buyers still have to balance negotiating power against the monthly payment.

I broke down what the numbers actually mean, where buyers may find leverage and why sellers need to take pricing and preparation seriously—without calling the market either “great” or “terrible.”

👉 Read the complete Eastside and King County update: https://johnlawrence.skylineproperties.com/blog/33/One+in+Four+King+County+Listings+Has+Cut+Its+Price%E2%80%94What+Does+That+Actually+Mean++Homesdotcom_PNW++%7C+Looking+to+buy+and+sell+real+estate+

If you want a neighborhood-specific analysis rather than a broad headline, send me a message.

John Lawrence
The Lawrence Home Team | Skyline Properties

One in Four King County Listings Has Cut Its Price—What Does That Actually Mean?By John Lawrence | The Lawrence Ho

10/15/2026

One day from closing on this beautiful Camano Island home—and the photos only tell part of the story.

They show the kitchen, the beams, the setting. What they don’t show are the conversations it took to get here.

During inspection, we found a crawlspace issue. The proposed cleanup and repair work was roughly $9,000. As we worked through it, the conversation expanded to additional work, including upgrading to spray foam insulation.

That brought up a question that comes up more often than you’d think:

Where does restoring something to proper condition end, and upgrading it begin?

My perspective is that we should establish what qualified contractors recommend to address the existing problem, what that work costs, and then negotiate a fair solution. If someone wants a different system or an upgrade beyond that scope, we need to identify that cost separately.

But people don’t experience these decisions the same way.

For one person, it’s a repair with an estimate attached. For another, it raises concerns about their family, a previous experience, or what else might be hiding underneath the house. Those concerns deserve to be heard.

You can be looking at the same inspection report and having two completely different conversations.

That’s where the way we communicate matters.

“There’s a problem with the house” lands very differently than, “Here’s what we found, here’s what the contractor recommends, and here are our options.”

Same issue. A much clearer path forward.

My job is to help my clients understand the facts, advocate for them, and keep a difficult conversation productive. Sometimes that means pushing for more. Sometimes it means explaining why a request goes beyond the repair. And sometimes it means getting everyone on the phone before another email makes things harder.

I hear a lot about AI taking over real estate. I use technology, and I see tremendous value in it. But a repair estimate doesn’t tell you why someone is scared—or which conversation will help everyone reach an agreement.

That takes listening, judgment, and someone who can stay steady when the people involved have a lot at stake.

Here we are, one day from closing. Still working through the details, with the finish line in sight.

Beautiful homes make great photos. Helping people navigate everything between the offer and the keys is the work behind them.

John Lawrence
The Lawrence Home Team | Skyline Properties

10/12/2026

This is entirely too accurate for anyone currently going through the home buying process. Send this to a friend who is house hunting right now!

10/12/2026

Found an old picture of myself - wasn’t a good idea 🤷🏻‍♂️

10/11/2026

It’s the little things we do, we don’t just sit back and wait. We need to get things ready for the buyers to arrive. Adding a to the home.

10/10/2026

Your backyard view shouldn’t be your neighbor’s kitchen. 👀🌲

Take a look at my newest Kirkland listing—a remodeled home in Juanita that backs to a park, giving you a little more breathing room and a beautiful green backdrop.

📍6978 NE 139th St, Kirkland, WA

Could you see yourself living here? Comment “KIRKLAND” or message me for pricing, the full photo gallery, or a private tour.

John Lawrence | The Lawrence Home Team
Skyline Properties

10/05/2026

Mortgage rates just reached 7.28%—but that is only half of the Eastside housing story.

King County inventory is up, closed sales are down, and most homes in Bellevue, Sammamish, Kirkland and Redmond are not selling above asking price.

That does not mean the market is crashing. It means buyers have more negotiating room, while sellers need to be much more intentional about preparation, pricing and their first 10–14 days on the market.

I broke down the numbers, including:

• What the latest rate increase means for monthly payments
• Why the weak jobs report has not lowered rates yet
• King County inventory, prices and market time
• How often Eastside homes are actually selling above asking
• What buyers should negotiate
• When sellers should list—and when they should wait

Read the complete Eastside and King County market analysis here:

If you want the numbers for your neighborhood or price range, send me a message.

John Lawrence
The Lawrence Home Team | Skyline Properties