James Bergstrom - Paramount Real Estate Group

11/10/2026

If you don't own your calendar, it owns you.

One block, protected, every day. Which one would it be?

James Bergstrom, Paramount Real Estate Group

11/09/2026

The detail people ask me about on Baltray: the primary bath. Soaking tub, separate shower, and it's its own room off the primary bedroom.

Message me 'MORNING' and I'll show it to you.

AI avatar, real home photos.
James Bergstrom · Paramount Real Estate Group

11/09/2026

Are price cuts a winning strategy for sellers today? It depends.

Say your house is listed but you’re not getting any offers, and you’re thinking about your options to try to draw buyers back in. Here are two routes you can take:

Option 1 (the most common): You drop your price by $10k and your buyer saves about $70 a month on the median priced home.

Option 2: You put that same $10k to work and pay for a 2-1 rate buydown. That could save your buyer roughly $500 a month the first year they own the home.

Same money, bigger immediate impact. And since buyers shop by monthly payment, it’s something at least worth considering.

Want to learn more about which concessions actually move the needle for buyers today? Let's talk.

And if you’re interested in a buydown, have a quick conversation with a lender about whether it makes sense for you.

11/08/2026

Is it expensive to live in Washington? One person says you'll save a fortune because there's no state tax on your paycheck. Somebody else says taxes, insurance and groceries will eat you alive. Both sound convinced, and they might be talking about different parts of the state, with different incomes and completely different lifestyles.

So I answered 10 questions that actually build a budget for a move to this side of Puget Sound. My lens is Kitsap, Pierce and Mason counties, not a statewide average.

A few of the numbers. Washington has no general state income tax on wages, and a new tax on income above $1 million is scheduled to begin in 2028, so verify its status when you plan. Average combined sales tax runs around 9.5%, and a fair comparison counts the difference from what you pay now. Bremerton's fast ferry has a $210 full-fare monthly pass and about 30 minutes of boat time, and weekday service went from 20 round trips to 13 in September 2026. That's boat time, not front door to desk time.

I'm not going to tell you the water view makes an uncomfortable budget worthwhile. Pick actual homes you could buy, get real insurance quotes, check the parcel's taxes, and compare the life that comes with each address. Washington isn't one housing market, and affordable isn't one number.

The full breakdown: https://youtu.be/qjQE66p0FY4

James Bergstrom, Paramount Real Estate Group

Ever wondered what the true cost of living is in Washington State? ...

11/08/2026

Toward the end of the year, the number of homes for sale usually starts to level off or dip as we enter the slower season in the market. But so far this year, it’s still going up.

And that break in the usual seasonal trend could be good for some buyers.

Part of the reason is that fewer people are shopping right now with mortgage rates where they are. But that gives anyone who can make the numbers work an opportunity.

If you’re able to buy at today’s rates, you have more options than you’d normally have. And that means more chances to find a home in budget – and less competition from other buyers.

You’ll likely even see sellers more willing to strike a deal.

What you’ll find depends on where you’re looking. Send a DM to see what’s on the market near you.

11/07/2026

Moving to Washington and buying a manufactured home? The county is not who you answer to. L&I is.

A manufactured home is how a lot of relocation buyers get land and space on this side of the Sound without the Seattle price tag. The rules here are not the rules back home, so I sat down with Roger Merrell Jr. of Merrell Inspection Services, 36 years of HUD and FHA work, the inspector lenders call when it gets complicated.

Three things from that conversation. In Washington, manufactured homes answer to the Department of Labor and Industries, not the county. A replaced roof, a new door in an exterior wall, even a replaced water heater needs an L&I permit, and unpermitted work surfaces when you go to sell. If you are financing with FHA or VA, you need a foundation certification signed by a licensed engineer, so order it early instead of finding out two weeks before closing. And any deck, carport or addition has to be self-supporting: cut every bolt that ties it to the home and it still has to stand on its own.

Roger's one piece of advice: have it inspected by someone who specializes in manufactured homes, and check their credentials, not their website.

The full conversation, including what FHA will not insure and what the wet side of the Cascades does to a foundation: https://youtu.be/wEzmBey-RZ0

James Bergstrom, Paramount Real Estate Group

The wrong deck, roof, or foundation can kill your manufactured home...

11/06/2026

Open houses this weekend across Kitsap and Pierce counties. 7 homes to tour.

SAT, NOV 7
11 AM–1 PM · 12817 60th Ave E, Puyallup · $725,000 · 4 bd · 2.5 ba
11 AM–1 PM · 129 Birch St, Fircrest · $499,999 · 3 bd · 2.5 ba
12 PM–3 PM · 1405 High Ave, Bremerton · $419,777 · 2 bd · 1 ba
12 PM–3 PM · 13922 Salvation Lane SE, Olalla · $890,000 · 3 bd · 2 ba
2 PM–4 PM · 3116 158th St Ct E, Tacoma · $1,095,000 · 3 bd · 2.5 ba

SUN, NOV 8
10:30 AM–12:30 PM · 10017 127th Street Ct, Gig Harbor · $1,298,777 · 4 bd · 2.5 ba
12 PM–3 PM · 3346 SW Mooring Lane, Port Orchard · $659,777 · 4 bd · 2.75 ba

Photos, times and directions for every one: openhouse.team

Paramount Real Estate Group

11/06/2026

What the Silver Tsunami Means if You’re Planning To Sell

The term “silver tsunami” makes it sound like a wave of houses is about to hit the market all at once. The research says otherwise.

According to Realtor.com, about 13.9 million homes owned by older Americans are expected to change hands by 2036. That's a big number. But it's spread across a decade, at roughly 1.3 to 1.5 million homes a year.

The pace is important. After the 2008 housing crash, builders spent years not building enough homes to keep up with demand, and the country still hasn't caught up. As longtime homeowners sell over time, their houses will help ease a shortage that's already there.

For buyers, that can mean more options. For sellers, it means there's no reason to put your plans on hold because of a trend that’s expected to play out over the next 10 years.

What matters more is what's happening in your area right now: how many homes are for sale nearby, what similar houses are selling for, and what buyers want.

Planning a move in the next year or so? Let's talk about what the local numbers mean for your house.

11/05/2026

My team is holding High Ave open Saturday, November 7, 12 to 2. Look at the kitchen first.

1405 High Ave, Bremerton. 1919 cottage, remodeled, 2 bed, 1 bath, fenced corner lot, $50/yr HOA. $419,777.

Sneak peek: 1405-high-bremerton.vercel.app

James Bergstrom, Founder | Broker, Paramount Real Estate Group

11/05/2026

Whose name just came to mind? Call them today, and don't open with sorry.

Gary's one-sheet on the late follow-up is yours if you comment PLAYBOOK.

James Bergstrom, Paramount Real Estate Group