What areas do you specialize in?

I specialize in Kitsap & Pierce County, WA with a focus on luxury and high-end homes. I’m highly knowledgeable in waterfront and unique properties across Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, and North Tacoma.

How long have you been in real estate?

16+ years in real estate, including 12 years as a Managing Broker and 2 years leading my own team.

What makes your approach different?

Relentless negotiation skills, mastery of digital marketing and video, and a blunt, witty, fun voice—always professional and focused on results.

Do you only work with luxury clients?

No. I help clients at all price points. My focus is luxury, but I’m approachable for everyone. The goal is to give every client a high-end experience.

How do you market homes?

Professional photography and cinematic video tours, a strong social media and blog presence, and targeted luxury branding and storytelling tailored to your property.

What can I expect when working with you?

Clear communication with no fluff, data-driven market analysis, and a little humor backed by a lot of expertise—delivering a smooth process and real results.

How do we price my home so it doesn't sit, so I don't leave money on the table?

Price is a strategy, not a feeling. We analyze hyper-local comps (active, pending, sold), absorption rate, and buyer price bands, then model two pricing brackets (aspirational and market-magnet) to balance traffic and leverage. We time the launch for maximum velocity and align price with presentation so you net more with fewer days on market.

What should we fix vs leave “as-is” before we list?

Fix what buyers notice in the first 30 seconds or what could spook underwriting. High-ROI polish: paint, lighting, landscaping, deep clean, hardware refresh. Conditional repairs: roof/HVAC/moisture/safety items to avoid renegotiations. Nice-to-haves (counters/flooring) only if the comp set demands it. Pre-inspection can reduce surprises and support pricing.

Should I offer Buyer Broker Compensation? Is it required?

It isn’t required—it’s negotiable. You may offer it as a marketing incentive to widen the buyer pool and smooth negotiations, or opt not to. I’ll model both scenarios (net sheets, likely buyer behavior) so you can choose the path that maximizes your net with minimal friction.

What does the timeline look like from “let’s list” to closing?

Weeks 0–2: prep & media. Week 3: launch (brokers’ open + weekend opens + heavy digital). Days 5–10: offer window and strategy adjustments. Under contract: inspections, appraisal, title, lending (30–45 days typical). I project-manage each step to protect your leverage and keep closing on schedule.

What’s the real first step—tour homes or get pre-approved?

Meet to review WA Agency Law and the Buyer Brokerage Agreement, then get pre-approved before touring. Sellers value certainty; an underwritten pre-approval clarifies budget, sharpens the search, and makes your offer look like a sure thing. Knowing lender speed lets us tighten timelines and craft appraisal strategies.

How do Buyer Brokerage Agreements & compensation work?

You’ll likely sign a buyer representation agreement that outlines services and compensation. Options include payment by the buyer, by the seller as a marketing incentive, or another negotiated structure—always disclosed up front. My job is to deliver strategy and negotiation value that more than pays for itself in your net outcome.

What money do I need beyond the down payment?

Plan for earnest money (typically 1–3% of price, credited at closing), closing costs (roughly 2–4% depending on loan and rate), inspections (varies by size/scope), and move-in costs (utilities, immediate fixes, furnishings). We estimate these before offers so you’re never surprised.

How do we win in a competitive situation without doing something reckless?

We win with leverage and certainty, not risk. We tailor terms to the seller’s priorities, pair underwritten pre-approval with tight timelines and strong earnest money, use inspection and appraisal strategies that protect you, and keep a clean, complete offer. A smart backup offer can also position you to win without overpaying.

Stacia Whatley 11/30/25 Stacia Whatley 11/30/25

Pierce County Quarterly Housing Market Update: Sep - Nov 2025

Welcome back to the Quarterly Pierce County Housing Market Update covering September through November 2025. Instead of tracking the week-to-week noise, we’re now zooming out to give you a clearer, more meaningful look at how the market is actually performing across the quarter. No boring reports, no data overload, just the truth about what’s happening in our local real estate landscape.

And let’s kick things off with a little good news: interest rates finally dipped a bit this quarter. Not a dramatic plunge, but enough to matter. In real estate, even a tiny shift can unlock new opportunities for buyers and boost confidence for sellers.

Stacia Whatley 10/12/25 Stacia Whatley 10/12/25

Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update: Oct 6-12, 2025

This week’s Pierce County Housing Market Stats show a strong rebound after last week’s slowdown, proof that the local market still has plenty of life in it! Active listings jumped from 72 to 256, giving buyers a much wider selection of homes to choose from. That boost in inventory is a welcome sign as we head deeper into fall, showing that sellers are still confident about putting their homes on the market.

Stacia Whatley 9/29/25 Stacia Whatley 9/29/25

Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update: Sep 22-28, 2025

This week’s Pierce County Housing Market Stats brought a little more movement compared to last week, with several categories showing shifts worth watching. Active listings dropped from 270 to 242, meaning there are fewer homes on the market for buyers to choose from. At the same time, pending inspections jumped from 125 to 142, and pending sales increased from 82 to 88. That uptick in pendings shows buyer activity is alive and well, even with fewer homes available.

Stacia Whatley 9/21/25 Stacia Whatley 9/21/25

Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update: Sep 15-21, 2025

Reading my weekly market stats is like skimming the dashboard before you hit the gas. Active listings are everything currently for sale, your real-time inventory. If actives climb week over week, buyers have more choice and sellers may need sharper pricing; if they fall, expect tighter competition. Pending inspection means a buyer and seller have agreed on price and terms, but the home still has to survive the inspector’s flashlight. Think “under contract, not out of the woods.” Pending (no inspection left) has cleared major hurdles and is marching toward closing; rising pendings signal fresh demand right now, not last month.

Stacia Whatley 9/14/25 Stacia Whatley 9/14/25

Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update: Sep 8-14, 2025

Pending sales data is one of the juiciest pieces of intel we now have access to inside the NWMLS and it’s something you simply can’t find anywhere else. Unlike closed sales, which are already in the rearview mirror, pending sales show you what’s happening right now. They’re a sneak peek into the market’s next moves, giving us a window into buyer demand, price trends, and how quickly homes are being scooped up. Think of it as reading tomorrow’s headlines today.

Stacia Whatley 9/8/25 Stacia Whatley 9/8/25

Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update: Sep 1-7, 2025

Welcome back to this week’s Pierce County Housing Market Update! Each week, I break down what’s really happening so you can see how our local market stacks up without having to sift through boring reports. This week? Things stayed pretty steady, but here’s a bit of sunshine: interest rates are finally dipping down a little. It’s not a huge drop, but in real estate, even a slight shift in rates can open new doors for buyers and give sellers a reason to smile.

Stacia Whatley 9/1/25 Stacia Whatley 9/1/25

Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update: Aug 25th - Sep 1, 2025

The Pierce County Weekly Housing Market Update is designed to give you a clear, up-to-date picture of what’s happening in our local real estate market. Each week, I break down the latest trends, including how many homes are actively on the market, how many have sold, and what’s happening with new listings. Whether you’re thinking about selling now, in the future, or simply want to stay informed, this report keeps you in the loop about the direction of our market.