The Bellingham Business Journal

Susan Stecher, an agent with RE/MAX Whatcom County, recently earned the residential finance consultant designation, signifying her ability in helping buyers and sellers understand the tax advantages, financing alternatives and investment aspects of home ownership.

Stecher completed training and gained a series of finance applications.

“With tighter credit and tougher underwriting requirements, buyers need help avoiding difficulties, plus guidance in the decision-making process,” Stecher said. “Few people know that a 1-percent increase in a mortgage’s interest rate is equal to a 10-percent increase in price. Waiting for a lower price can actually hurt a buyer since mortgage rates are now at historic low levels.”

Stecher also received training to help sellers increase a listing’s marketability, such as financing concessions that can be used for an interest rate buydown, toward closing costs or a combination of both.

Stecher has more than 25 years of experience in real estate, marketing, investing and financial planning. She also has completed continuing-education classes to earn designations in numerous areas of real estate, including short sales, luxury homes, staging homes, sustainable properties and negotiations.