Emmanuel Fonte - Real Estate Specialist

Stain and Finish Wood Furniture

2011-04-02T20:04:00.001-07:00

Hardly Working – A look into business at the workplace

2010-11-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hardly Working – A look into business at the workplace

Another way to look at inventory

2010-11-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

Another way to look at inventory

What Your Smartphone Says About You

2010-10-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

What Your Smartphone Says About You

Fannie, Freddie, FHA loan limits extended

2010-10-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

Fannie, Freddie, FHA loan limits extended

Kachess River Retreat

2009-03-02T14:52:00.001-08:00

www.LakeEastonEsates.com

2009-02-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

We learned yesterday that President Obama announced a plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosure which involves two different initiatives.

1) A refinance program that will help for homeowners who have played by the rules (made their payments on time) but have been unable to refinance because they owe more on their home then it is worth.

2) A loan modification program that is designed to keep troubled homeowners out of foreclosure and to keep “at risk” borrowers from defaulting in the first place.

Although lenders are not required to participate the plan is designed to entice the lenders and mortgage services by offering new incentives.
Since the loan-modification plan does not mandate lenders to take part in either program it will require banks and financial institutions to follow the government’s protocols who have received capital under the government’s $700-billion financial bailout program known as TARP. Other lenders can use their own discretion when offering these types of loans.

To be eligible:

1 -The home must be a borrowers primary residence
2 -The loan must be a conforming loan (at or below $417,000) and guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
3 -Borrower does not need to be behind in payments (in fact a mortgage servicer will be paid a higher incentive fee if a modification is done before a borrower falls behind).

What the Plan does not do:

1) The plan will not require participating lenders to reduce the principal on a borrowers mortgage because the home has lost value. The modification will act to lower monthly payments, (by lowering rate or extending the term) but the homeowner’s outstanding debt will probably not change.
2) The plan will not help borrowers with “jumbo” mortgages—any loan above $417,000.
3) The plan does not include second mortgages, such as a home equity line of credit, any modification or refinancing would apply only to the first mortgages.
4) It is not targeted to help non-occupied borrowers who have “investment” properties as it only applies to primary residence.
5) The plan does not mandate lenders to participate.

It has been reported that the number of borrowers who are in “trouble” on their mortgages has risen from 10 million to 15 million, yet the plan may only help 7 to 9 million. As you can imagine there are some good things here yet officials acknowledge that the plan will not help all borrowers or prevent all foreclosures. The policies of the plan are to be released on March 4th 2009.

Lessons of the Hot Dog Vendor

2009-02-18T20:54:00.000-08:00

During these days of continually being bombarded by doom and gloom about the economy, it might be a good time to re-visit the story of the Hot Dog Vendor...

A Man lived by the side of the road...and sold hot dogs.
He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspaper. But he sold good hot dogs.

He put up a sign on the highway, telling how good they were. He stood by the side of the road and cried, "Buy a hot dog, mister!" And People bought.

He increased his meat and bun order, and he bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He got his son home from college to help him. But then something happened. His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio? There's a big Depression on. The international situation is terrible, and the domestic situation is even worse."

Whereupon the father thought, "Well, my son has gone to college. He listens to the radio and reads the newspaper, so he ought to know." So, the father cut down on the bun order, took down his advertising sign, and no longer bothered to stand on the highway to sell hot dogs.

His hot dog sales fell almost overnight. "You were right, son", the father said to the boy. "We are certainly in the middle of a Great Depression."

Moral of the story ~

Stop reading the newspaper, turn off the news on the radio and television, and serve your clients!

How the Stimulus will effect housing

2009-02-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

Just signed and sealed...a $787 Billion Stimulus Plan made up of tax cuts and spending programs aims at reviving the US economy. Although the package was scaled down from nearly $1 Trillion, it still stands as the largest anti-recession effort since World War II. The package signed by President Obama increases the home buyer tax credit to $8,000, drops the repayment feature, reinstates last year's 2008 loan limits for FHA, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae loans, and provides $2 billion in additional funding for states and localities to be used to purchase, manage, repair and resell foreclosed and abandoned properties.

Homebuyer Tax Credit. The bill provides for a $8,000 tax credit that would be available to first-time home buyers (those who haven't owned in at least three years) for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. The credit does not require repayment for buyers who hold onto their property for at least three years. Most of the mechanics of the credit will be the same as under the 2008 rules: the credit will be claimed on a tax return to reduce the purchaser's income tax liability. If any credit amount remains unused, then the unused amount will be refunded as a check to the purchaser.

The three-year minimum holding period is a safeguard against speculators' use of the credit. The legislation also extends the effective date of the credit to December 1 from June 30, and extends eligibility to borrowers who buy their home with the help of state or local financial assistance that comes from the proceeds of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.

The start date for the first time homebuyer credit is January 1, 2009 through and before December 1, 2009.

FHA and conforming loan limits. Specifics have not been released but reports indicate that the 2008 limits have been reinstated for 2009 except in those communities where the 2009 limits are higher. Additional increases in individual communities may also be available at the discretion of the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Foreclosure mitigation and neighborhood stabilization. Funding for states and localities to be used for neighborhood stabilization activities for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes are authorized. Some news reports put the funding level at $2 billion.

Rental assistance. Up to $1.5 billion to provide short-term rental assistance and other aid for families during the economic crisis. Transportation infrastructure. Up to $29 billion for highway construction projects, $8 billion for rail projects.

Rural housing development. Increased funding for the Rural Housing Service direct and guaranteed loan programs.

Low-income housing grants. Allow states to trade in a portion of their 2009 low-income housing tax credits for Treasury grants to finance the construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of low-income housing, including those with or without tax credit allocations.

Tax-exempt housing bonds. Tax-exempt interest earned on specified state and local bonds issued during 2009 and 2010 will not be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). In addition, financial institutions will have greater capacity to purchase tax-exempt state and local bonds.

Energy efficient housing. Grants for energy retrofits for federally assisted housing (Section 8), funding for energy efficiency and conservation block grants to states, increases in the residential tax credit through 2010 for certain energy efficient upgrades and $5 billion to weatherize low-income homes. Another thing to keep an eye on in the coming weeks is President Obama's plan to help struggling borrowers before they are faced with a default on their mortgage.

According to reports, the Obama administration is discussing plans to help borrowers who are struggling to stay afloat, but who have not yet fallen behind on their payments. At this point, details are scarce; however, reports indicate that President Obama is looking to spend approximately $50 Billion to directly help homeowners before they face foreclosure and financial disaster.

While this is good news for individual homeowners, it will likely be good for the housing industry as a whole. That's because, assisting struggling borrowers before they default should help stop the wave of foreclosures, which are estimated to top two million this year. That, in turn, will help stabilize home prices.

A Recession is a Terrible Thing to Waste

2009-02-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

We are in a recession… there…now, let’s all take a breath and move on.
What we are not in is a depression. I am not intending to be flippant or insensitive to the plight of many in horrendous situations but consider this: history will show that the times we are experiencing most certainly are challenging, albeit devastating for some, but pale in comparison to what we have endured as a nation in the past.

As we move forward in 2009, it is important for all to take stock and gather some perspective. Depending on who you listen to, the experts say we may be half-way through this present recession. Economic historians observe, that after every valley (recession) we always see a recovery climb following

Here are three factors that have or will come into play:

Liquidity: Contrary to many reports, borrowers that are responsible are able to secure financing. In fact, rates are historically low right now.

Employment: This is obviously a major concern for potential borrowers. Most believe that unemployment will reach 8% to 9% in 2009. My home province of Quebec that the unemployment rate reached 14% in the early 1990s. Thankfully, the job market did not remain in that territory for an extended period. Keeping things in prospective – the unemployment rate during the great depression was 25%. Consumer confidence may take some time to return.

Affordability: The peak of 2005’s market pushed affordability out of reach of many. The correction we’ve seen has brought much needed affordability back into the equation.

What you need to know… and why demand IS coming!

Due to the recent financial collapse, developers are not able to access the monies required to build multi-home or condo developments. The impact of situation will result in a building shortage within the next three years.
Even though the mortgage industry has tighten and some people will not qualify for a loan, the overall health of the housing market will be improved due to the stringent regulations.
People are living longer, for most, that’s a good thing! As Americans live longer lives their housing needs will affect the supply.
Prior to August 2007 The availability of “free” purchase money and minimum standards for investors to jump in was out of control. The market is in the process of correcting itself and both the unqualified buyer and the amateur investors will be few and far between. Financing is available and for qualified buyers.

As I look at all of these indicators, I believe that within the next three years we will have a housing shortage! For many the current real estate market is a chance for many to take advantage of the possibilities this moment in time affords.

Emmanuel Fonte - Real Estate Specialist: New Music (at least to me)#links

2009-01-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Emmanuel Fonte - Real Estate Specialist: New Music (at least to me)#links

New Music (at least to me)

2009-01-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, my sister Isabel gave me a CD that I just can’t get enough of. Even before opening the familiar sized package, I knew I’d be in for a treat; she has such intriguing taste. The Lost Fingers is a Quebec jazz trio named in tribute to Django Reinhardt's 2 lost fingers (who turned a terrible manual injury into a technical advantage on the guitar). Performing jazz swing covers, double bassist Alex Morrisette and guitarists Christian Roberge and Byron Mikaloff have all their fingers, and have them poking about in the 80's hit parade for tunes to twist in a lively, acoustic style. Material ranging from AC/DC and Soft Cell to Paula Abdul and George Michael. The first track is telling—the trio’s cover of Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam” may be the most absurd inclusion, but possibly the strongest.

The Lost Fingers—Lost in the 80’s is just plain fun! Who would have ever thought that Samantha Fox’s “Touch Me” could be sung in a gypsy swing? What would Stevie Wonder say about his “Part-time Lover” sung with Quebecer's bouncing jazz harmonies...? Maybe it’s because the 80's represent my high school and college years, but I can’t help but smile when I hear a boggie swing of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. When you listen to “You Shook Me All Night Long”, you might think that Randy Newman was on the disc playing and singing a cameo. The fact that a Jazz trio could take an AC/DC song and put doo-wops and scat in it is nothing short of genius! I was never a Paula Abdul fan, but it is a kick to tap your foot to her “Straight Up” without the aid of drum machines (BTW: no drums at all on the disc) or synthesizers.

Though it may be a little bit of a shtick, The Lost Fingers have a really cool concept here. Idiosyncratic, unusual and entertaining are all words to describe this musical escapade you’ll be sure to enjoy.

Whisper Creek Retreat

2009-01-11T17:38:00.001-08:00

www.WhisperCreekRetreat.com

Where is Market Value?!

2008-12-29T09:20:00.000-08:00

The historical definition of “Market Value”: “What a willing and able buyer is prepared to pay for a property”. Traditionally, sellers have set their prices based on either their competition, recent sales activity or a combination of both. Historically, this information was provided to the Seller by a real estate agent. The internet created a paradigm shift of access to information that has changed the real estate business for everyone. Today, as consumers garner information, they have the resources to flex their shopping muscles and dictate sale prices.

Since the Wall Street collapse, many buyers have been reticent to pull the trigger on purchases. As they watch the downward trends, those that do, enter negotiations armed with data and a confidence that has not been seen in at least a decade. The difference this time is that almost any purchaser can harvest data in minutes. Not only do they dictate “what” the market price is, but “where” it is going.

Many sellers maintain the expectation that their home should sell for more than the most recent sales; while a buyer will insist on a price still 5-10% from the bottom. Due to the pressures sellers are feeling (ie longer selling time and lack of offers), they tend to back down at a much faster tempo than in the past. An experienced agent can assist a prepared buyer and negotiate terms that were previously unheard of. As a market-savvy agent, I have helped by clients write offers that at face value match the listed price but also include back-end concessions (for closing costs or repairs) that benefit the buyer and still allow the seller/developer to save face.

My concern for sellers today is that if they don’t get ahead of the curve it could become more and more costly for them. There is a difference between pricing a percentage below the last sale and pricing below the competition. The way we predict what a willing, able buyer will pay is to objectively look at these numbers - they will tell us where market value is.

Whisper Creek Retreat

2008-11-14T18:16:00.001-08:00

www.WhisperCreekRetreat.com

Who are the Joneses, and why is everyone trying to keep up with them?

2008-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month and with the recent crisis that has caused many to rethink what is important, I have been opining on a thought. It is not meant to judge or critique, just observations. My clients are confident that I served them to the best of my ability, taking a long-term approach to home ownership. The complexity of the current crisis has been illustrated by smarter people than I. However, I believe this is a crucial part of the dilemma.

It used to be that spending money on status symbols for the sake of flaunting your wealth was an activity reserved for celebrities and millionaires. That has all changed. Conspicuous consumption, what was once referred to as "keeping up with the Joneses", has brought the lifestyles of the rich and famous to suburbia.
The demand for status goods, fueled by conspicuous consumption, has diverted many resources away from investment in the manufacture of more material goods and services in order to satisfy consumer preoccupations with their relative social standing and prestige.

The philosophy of "keeping up with the Joneses" has widespread effects on society. According to this philosophy, conspicuous consumption occurs when "households care about their relative standard of living" in relation to their societal peers.

One area in which "living above ones' means" has caused negative social effects is that of credit card usage. In the first quarter of 2002, total credit debt was $660 billion. By 2005, the total credit card debt had increased to $735 billion. Americas' average credit card debt in 2007 was $8400 per household. By the end of 2007, consumer debt in America had risen to $2.5 trillion. According to the Federal Reserve, over 43% of households spend more than they earn.
Another recent example is the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis, in which credit was eagerly extended to homebuyers who were unable to afford the homes that they were purchasing. That in and of itself is an issue that has been addressed by many smarter people than me.

The Trappings Of SuccessEveryone is looking for the smallest phone, the cable provider with the most channels and the television with the biggest screen. Add in desktop computers and high-speed internet access and you've created a list of America's growing "necessities". According to a 2006 survey entitled "Necessity or Luxury" by the Pew Research Center, 33% of Americans now view cable or satellite TV as a necessity. In 1996 that number was 17%. Also, 51% now can't live without a home computer, up from 26% in '96.

Some items that were seen as fads or didn't exist ten years ago have jumped onto the necessity list:
· Cell Phone: 49%
· High-speed internet: 29%
· Flat-screen TV: 5%
· iPod: 3%

This tableau is at once absurd and sad--but not altogether surprising. We are, after all, a nation of accomplished spenders, slaves to advertising and status symbolism. The conspicuous fruits of our consumption shout out our aspirations and insecurities.

Why are we killing ourselves this way? In large part, we work so that we might spend. Americans are engaged in an intensifying national shopping spree rooted in competitive emulation--keeping up with the Joneses on a manic scale. We are impoverishing ourselves, in pursuit of a consumption goal that is inherently unachievable.

Corrosive consumerism, of course, has existed as long as envy and avarice. Look at the pharaohs' pyramids. Evidence of its current manifestation will seem blatantly familiar to anyone with a TV, a car, or kids. (The coolest brands are often fashion brands or 'badge items' that people wear and relay a message about themselves.)

In the late 20th century, competitive spending has intensified insidiously. In part, that's because the gap between rich and poor has widened, creating a highly visible class of superwealthy who set outrageous spending precedents for everyone else. At the same time, TV ads, not to mention the programs they punctuate, have brought images of Lexuses and Rolexes, directed at the rich, to the gazes of average Joes.

Much of our spending clearly is unnecessary or wasteful, raising troubling moral questions. Moreover, the uphill pursuit of material nirvana is stressing us out. Amid widespread wealth, most Americans aren't content with their lives.

Why We Do It
There are a variety of factors driving consumption:
· The desire to show off our success
· The need to have what other people have
· Prolific advertising and product placements
· Easy credit
· A society that favors instant gratification over hard work

The Joneses Are Broke
Many of the people driving around the suburbs in their giant SUVs while talking on their new cell phones are deeply in debt. If you ask them how they are doing, they will tell you that they are just barely getting by. Why so much debt and such a grim outlook from areas of obvious affluence? It's simply a matter of people spending far more money than they should. If you can "afford" life's luxuries but aren't funding your 401(k) and investing in your retirement savings, you may want to reevaluate your financial situation.

If you believe what you read, we have to have stuff! More and more stuff! Without it we are less important, less beautiful, and less popular and the biggest lie, less happy. Let us CHOOSE to be grateful for what we have and those around us.

The sky is NOT falling

2008-10-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

Everyone has an opinion... that's okay, this is AMERICA!!

I'm sad to say that to one degree or another, everyone is guessing. There were those that said early 09 was when it was turning around. That was said in late fall of 07, just after the crisis of August 6th impacted everyone.

The sky is NOT falling, we will adapt and be better than before. I believe this is the time when people willing to take a risk will be industry leaders in the future.

When a business cycle starts to falter, the media start wringing their hands. Then big businesses do, freelancers, entrepreneurs and soon everyone is keening.

People and organizations that have no real financial stress start to pull back, "because it's prudent." It's almost as if everyone is just waiting for an excuse to do less. In fact, they are.Growth is frightening for a lot of people. It brings change and the opportunity for public failure, they find an excuse. We decide to do it later, or not at all.

But uncertain times, frozen liquidity, political change and poor astrological forecasts all lead to less competition, more available talent and a do-or-die attitude that causes real change to happen.

"Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today's average price is out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers." ~Science Digest 1948 (average price at the time: $8,000)

"The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to a close." ~Money Magazine 1981

"Most economists agree...a home will become little more than a roof and a tax deduction, certainly not the lucrative investment it once was..." ~Money Magazine 1986

"Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment." ~Kiplinger's Personal Financial Magazine 1993

The JUMBO Effect

2008-09-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been fraught with hysteria, calamity, fear and anxiousness. We could all use a little good news couldn’t we? I believe one of the factors that will bring health and balance to our Eastside market is the resizing of the Jumbo Loan… actually the fact is that the conforming loan is getting bigger. Allow me to explain.

Prior to the first stimulus package the maximum loan amount for a confirming rate was $417,000.00. When the Congress and the President signed the first package there was a temporary ceiling (expiring December 31, 2008) on the maximum to $567,500.00. The investors didn’t feel the kind of confidence (due to the climate we were in) required to offer the rates that the lower price loans would receive, so there actually became a third tier—Conforming Jumbo. Now that the second stimulus package has been passed, there is a new permanent loan limit. For King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties it is now $522,100.00.

This is exciting because the median home price in our counties is certainly above the $417,000.00 limit. Those buying a home with conforming loans will receive not just better rates but better terms as well.

The trickle up effect this will have is a fundamental in inventory being absorbed. Considering the fact that there is now over a $100,000.00 increase in the ceiling that will assist those that should be buying in our median price range, this will give them the ability not to overstretch, but find reasonable monies to fulfill their housing objectives.

As we pray to see our young men and women come home from the conflicts in the middle east soon. In the past, those service men and women, using their V.A. (Veteran's Administration) loans were forced to live farther out due to the maximum limits as well. As they return home, they will also have the opportunity to take advantage of the new higher loan limits.

As the more affordable price points see sales increase it will help absorb the upper-end price points. That’s an effect we can use.

CopperRidge Townhome

2008-09-11T10:37:00.001-07:00

Spectacular Sanctuary Retreat

2008-07-09T08:01:00.001-07:00

Visit www.WhisperCreekRetreat.com

Emmanuel Fonte Marketing

2008-07-02T10:20:00.001-07:00

Lake Sammamish Home

2008-07-02T09:35:00.001-07:00

visit www.LakeSammamishHome.com for more

Emmanuel Fonte Real Estate Marketing

2008-06-28T21:57:00.000-07:00

Emmanuel’s approach to real estate sales and marketing is both straightforward and complex. He operates with the utmost reliability and candid professionalism, his practice is client-centered and people-driven. Emmanuel’s clientele and their needs always come first.

Conversely, the effective marketing of residential real estate properties is, by nature, complex. Every listing is professionally managed throughout this complicated process. Each property receives the assistance of industry-leading marketing, as well as advertising, working together to develop a strategic and tactical marketing plan customized to each client and each property.

Emmanuel’s marketing approach includes an aggressive mix of sophisticated multi-media internet marketing that includes Architectural Digest-quality photography, professional copy writing, high-quality video tours as well as full-color brochures and high quality publishing.

At every juncture of this multi-faceted process - from signed listing agreement to close of escrow - Emmanuel’s clients receive streamlined, measurable, up-to-the-minute feedback and updates as to the marketing and sales status of their property.

By ensuring his clients’ needs are met at all points in the marketing and sales process, Emmanuel works hard to earn both your trust and referrals.

Bellevue Urban Living

2008-06-27T08:23:00.001-07:00

Go to www.AstoriaBellevue.com for more

What my Clients have to say.

2006-10-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

You can go to my website by clicking on EmmanuelFonte

H Emmanuel Fonte has been an extremely effective agent and an absolute delight to work with. He treats us as friends and works enthusiastically for our best interest, rather than trying to get a big, easy commission out of us as “clients”. He was always available and flexible, giving us all the time we needed at the best hours for our schedules. We were very grateful for his ability to find potential properties that would meet our many stringent requirements and then help us evaluate their price, quality, and suitability for our family’s priorities. He confidently negotiated the very best price for us, while at the same time facilitating the buying process so smoothly that our sellers thanked us profusely for such a wonderful experience! ~ Marcia -Redmond

H Working with Emmanuel has been a truly pleasurable experience, and we've made a new friend along the way. He is always so professional, both in manner and presentation. I could see from the first time I met him that he was serious about his job and loved doing it too! He has been extremely patient with us as he helped us search for the "perfect" investment, never pushy, but honest where it counts, and always very respectful. He has gone out of his way to be accommodating to our needs and situation. Finding the right home or investment can be a stressful process but Emmanuel really went beyond what's expected to make sure that he could serve us to the best of his ability. Thank you Emmanuel!

H I've bought and sold a number of properties over the years and I want to say that Emmanuel Fonte was the most professional real estate agent I have ever had the pleasure to work with. We were truly a team. What impressed me the most about Emmanuel was his marketing savvy and his communication skills; not only with me, but with potential buyers as well. Because of Emmanuel's skills and dedication, my property sold in just three weeks--and I got the full-asking price! ~ John -Seattle

H Emmanuel has been a great friend and wonderful real estate agent for us. He took his time to guide us each step of selling our house. We had many worries about selling our house but his professional knowledge and wisdom really help us to sell our house quickly. When it was time for us to buy our new home, he was always there to answer our questions quickly and he took his time to explain to us with all the paperwork. But the most important aspect about him is his follow ups. Emmanuel still calls and emails us to make sure we are happy with our new home. We really appreciated his heart to serve us with his very best. We have already made several referrals to our friends and family. We just want to say that he is a great man of God and a wonderful friend.~ Jung and Simone - Bellevue

H Emmanuel Fonte has done an outstanding job as our realtor. Right from the start he was constantly in contact with us to make sure he was helping us with the utmost care. He found homes for us to look at very close to what we actually wanted and we appreciated not having a lot of homes to look at that weren't our taste. He was always in communication with us and if there was a question, he would respond right away. I always knew that I could ask him anything and if he didn't know the answer, he would certainly find out in a timely manner. Emmanuel has an enthusiasm for his job that spills over to his clients. He was thorough in looking over contracts and saved us some money that we wouldn't have otherwise known about. I would highly recommend Emmanuel to anyone; he will go beyond the call of duty to help any prospective buyers or sellers.
~ Linda Mathre – Redmond, WA

H We began looking for a new home off and on starting about 3 years ago. With the addition of our second child to our family we needed a house that had more bedrooms. The difficulty was that we loved the street we lived on. So we would look for homes on our own when we had time and walk into open houses if we happen to be there at the ‘right time’. Then we would think about remodeling our current home, and we vacillated back and forth.

Emmanuel Fonte was someone we had become friends with over the last 7 years. He is a man that always put the need of others first and so when we decided that we needed to have help in making a decision about what to do - he was someone we trusted to help us do that.

Emmanuel sat down with us and went over all our options as home buyers. We discussed the pros and cons of remodeling versus purchasing another home. He then quickly did a market analysis of our current home and had us fill out a questionnaire to gage the type of home and location which would match our needs. He knew the three main factors that were leading our decision making were 1) location 2) price 3) home lay-out.

During the course of our meetings, he realized before we did that remodeling was the better option in our case, and he counseled us toward that. He had pinpointed that location was our main priority after showing us a number of houses in the right price range and since we still didn’t want to leave he suggested that perhaps we really needed to pursue the idea of remodeling seriously.

That was cemented when he found us what should have been the perfect home. It was priced right, ready for my home-based business, move in ready for a family and in a location that was within the radius we had set – but we still felt tied to our current home. He truly helped us to make the final decision – which was to stay in our current home and remodel it, with no regrets – knowing we had explored all of our options.

Emmanuel’s enthusiasm, dedication to his clients, thorough knowledge of the market and his ability to accurately perceive the individual needs of his clients make him an exceptional real estate agent. We felt his goal was to make sure we were truly satisfied with the final decision and we cannot express our gratitude enough for all he has done for us and continues to do.
Sincerely,
Jeff and Donna Bender

H Emmanuel is not only my realtor; he is first and foremost my friend. He is committed to his mission of providing the best possible service to all his clients - no matter who you are - no biases, no favorites! This attitude is borne out of his genuine desire to help and serve people. He will go the "second mile" for you. I know that full well because he did for me. ~ Arlene - Kirkland

H I deal with numerous real estate agents on a weekly basis in my business of land development and general contracting. My position and experience affords me the ability to analyze and evaluate the performance of the agents in which I place my trust. I can confidently say that Emmanuel Fonte is a consummate professional. He’s polished, polite, patient and warm hearted. His knowledge of his craft is vast and his dedication to his clients is sincere and enduring. Building relationships and serving others has been the core of his being for many years. I’m yet to see anyone else with the ethics and drive that Emmanuel possesses. If I could hire him for my own company I’d do it in a heartbeat. I highly recommend him. ~ Christopher Olsen, VP - Bushnell Homes, Inc. - The Bushnell Group, LLC

H Mr Emmanuel Fonte has showed great balance of professionalism and personal touch through out our home buying experience. As a 1st time home buyer I had many questions and Emmanuel answered my emails at 10:00pm in the night. He always got back with answers and when he was not able to answer my question, he successfully pointed us to one of his expert contact in his network that was able to answer the question. Because of his ability to pay attention to details I am glad that he was on my side during the closing process. I think I have found my real estate agent and a friend for life. – Kirtan Shah

H I had a great experience with Emmanuel while trying to find my new place. He is very knowledgable, was always trying to understand the things I needed and was never pushy about closing deals faster or anything like that. He was always trustful and a lot of times he pointed me details on the houses that I myself would have missed. Now I recommend Emmanuel's services to whoever asks me how was my homebuying experience. ~ Daniel - Redmond

H As the advance party for our return to the beautiful Northwest, I started looking for a home a couple of months before my wife arrived. By chance, I met Emmanuel at an open house, I was pleased to find myself with someone I knew I could trust. Even though we were months away from becoming serious buyers, Emmanuel prepared a great set of materials to advise us on the process of home purchase and made certain my wife was involved through emails and the internet. It was clear to us that Emmanuel wanted the best for us. He guided us through an initial information gathering process where he listened carefully to our preferences so that the second home he took us to we liked and wanted. He recommended however that we look at others just to make certain. Emmanuel is a person of integrity who genuinely desires to find the best home possible for his clients. From experience we are able to recommend him wholeheartedly. We are grateful for the day I bumped into him at that very first open house. ~ Dave & Anne - Redmond

H I don’t know what I would have done without Emmanuel. He took absolute responsibility of all my family’s needs and proved to me that he genuinely wanted us to have the perfect home. The end result was a home that exceeded my family’s needs and expectations. ~ Roth Earl - Lynnwood

H Emmanuel was our agent as we recently bought a home through John L. Scott real estate. Chris and I were looking for a very specific type of property and had a limited budget to work with. Emmanuel took time on several occasions to meet with us and help narrow our search. He also would up-date us via email daily with new homes on the market that met our criteria. We really appreciated his dedication to our search, and attention to detail as our needs were very specific. I would recommend Emmanuel and plan on using him to sell our home, if we ever get enough energy to move again. ~ Amanda & Chris - North Bend

H What a great experience!!! Emmanuel did a fantastic job educating us on selecting and buying our first home. We absolutely love our new home and we are so thankful to Emmanuel for making it such a smooth transition for us. ~ Trish Brown - Issaquah

H We wanted to thank you for your efforts in assisting us in locating and purchasing our new home in Redmond, Washington. You really listened to us concerning our wants and needs in a home. Your expertise in diverse matters such as the quality of the neighborhoods, commute issues, remodeling, and life style considerations helped us all along the way.
We particularly appreciated your assistance in establishing a negotiating strategy. Your comparable sales research and presentation of the offer to the sellers enabled us to establish a negotiating range, resulting in a purchase at a very acceptable price. Thanks again for every thing you did for us. You turned what is normally a very stressful life event into one that was an enjoyable journey. ~ Patti and Roger - Redmond

H Emmanuel Fonte is the reason my husband and I have the highest regards for the the John L. Scott Reality team. Emmanuel exceeded what we believed a realtor would do for us. It was very apparent from the start that Emmanuel is a compassionate real estate professional who knows the business and Seattle area. He addressed all of our questions related to properties and Washington real estate laws.

Months before my husband and I listed our duplex, Emmanuel volunteered to come by our home to recommend value adding renovations and staging options. He truly focused on what would give us the largest return on investment. He helped us sell our duplex in a challenging market and then helped us quickly buy a beautiful home in the perfect location. Emmanuel was attentive to the smallest details and quickly addressed our questions. We hit a couple of snags along the way when a housing inspection came back unfavorably, but Emmanuel tapped his network of labor professionals and the problem was taken care of in under a day.

Throughout the process Emmanuel was pro-actively looking for & showing us potential properties, was perceptive to our family needs and took the time to understand exactly what my husband and I were looking for in a Kirkland/Eastside property. Emmanuel was supportive in helping us make a purchase decision and finally very detailed oriented in helping us bring this transaction to a close.

I especially appreciated Emmanuel’s honesty throughout the process. He didn't always say what we wanted to hear, but he thoughtfully offered suggestions and helped my husband and I focus on our stated goals. It really makes a difference when a Real Estate agent cares more out our overall happiness than a quick sale.

My husband and I enjoy working with Emmanuel and have complete trust that he was looking out for our best interests ensuring that the transactions closed without issues. Emmanuel continues to help us in areas beyond our property's closing in areas such as home services, Seattle area related questions, phone numbers, repairs, etc.
I now recommend Emmanuel to all of my family and friends. I am proud to say Emmanuel is more than an agent to us, he is a personal friend. ~ Jon & Casey - Kirkland

H Thanks so much for representing us with our Issaquah home sale. We really appreciate the high level of service you’ve provided us. Your professionalism throughout the entire process from staging the house to closing on it was impeccable. We would definitely recommend you.

Again thanks, Kim and Arne - Issaquah

H Now that my new home has been secured and I am completely moved in I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your professionalism in helping me take a very important step towards my new life after a devastating event. I believe one reason for you success is your ability to listen to what my needs were and assess how that fit with what you knew of the market we were dealing in. I appreciated seeing homes above and below my stated price point. Also, at no time did you make me feel that I was being ignored for other busines, even though I am sure you had other business to attend to, you remained in almost constant contact with me and always left me feeling as though you were always on the job. After my experience with you I will certainly recommend you and John L. Scott to anyone I know. I also feel I have made a friend I can count on. ~ Rod Stanley - Renton