Market Insights

Market Insights Blog

Data-driven analysis of Eastside Seattle real estate.

Featured GuideUpdated May 9, 2026

The Eastside Seattle ADU & DADU Guide (2026)

What buyers, sellers, and homeowners on Seattle's Eastside actually need to know about ADUs and DADUs in 2026: definitions, zoning by city, costs, financing, rental income, resale impact, timelines, and the red flags that kill projects.

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June 21, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

The Questions I Keep Getting, Answered

Since announcing CVA Realty Group, I've had a steady stream of the same questions: is it a good time to buy, where are prices headed, rent or buy. I've put my honest answers in one place.

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June 15, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

The Small Trim Update That Makes an Older Home Feel New Again

Buyers glance at honey-oak trim and think 'dated'; they glance at clean white trim and think 'updated.' That perception, not a full remodel, is what a weekend of trim work actually fixes.

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June 6, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

A Malaysian Highland Investment Opportunity: Different Category, Different Math

A cash-flow-focused investment in Malaysia's Genting Highlands at around $260K USD entry. Different from the Riviera Nayarit second-home category, and surfaced through the network rather than a property I've visited personally. Here's the honest read.

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May 9, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

Kirkland Just Made ADUs Faster and More Predictable: Here's Why It Matters

Kirkland's Pre-Approved DADU Program gives homeowners a faster, cheaper path to adding a backyard unit. Here's how it shifts value for Eastside properties.

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April 15, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

The Mortgage Math Most Buyers Miss: Purchase Price vs. Interest Rate

Both purchase price and interest rate matter when buying a home, but they impact your finances in very different ways. Depending on how long you own the home, one can matter much more than the other.

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April 1, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

When Renting Beats Buying: Why the Math Now Points Back to Real Estate

A real estate broker's honest look at rent-vs-buy. Using real Eastside and S&P 500 data, a 2023 renter who invested the difference came out well ahead of a 2023 buyer, but that same stock-vs-housing divergence is exactly why the forward move now points back to real estate. With a Common Critics Q&A.

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March 31, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

Mercer Island's February Reset Showed Why Prepared Buyers Should Watch Winter Windows

Mercer Island's median single-family sale price fell from $2,850,000 in January 2026 to $2,230,000 in February 2026, a 21.8% month-over-month drop. Even the Eastside's most expensive neighborhoods can open brief buying windows when winter demand softens.

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March 15, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

A Beachfront Pre-Sale in Riviera Nayarit, and Why I Share Opportunities Like This

Most international real estate deal flow moves through agent networks, not Google searches. Here's a current pre-sale on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit, and why subscribing connects you to opportunities like it before they reach US-facing sites.

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March 1, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

Redmond's January Reset Was a Chance for Prepared Buyers Before Spring

Redmond's median single-family sale price fell from $1,780,000 in December 2025 to $1,389,995 in January 2026, a 21.9% month-over-month drop. Winter dips in a city like Redmond can be brief, making preparation essential.

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January 15, 2026 · Chandru Swaminathan

Sammamish Home Prices Dropped in December 2025. Why Winter Buyers Should Notice

Sammamish's median single-family sale price fell from $1,685,000 in November 2025 to $1,400,000 in December 2025, a 16.9% month-over-month drop. Winter softness on the Eastside can be temporary, so buyers need to be ready when it appears.

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