Real Estate With a Better Plan.
Local knowledge. Honest advice. A smarter way to move.
Meet Jake
I’m Jake Pierpoint, with Olympic Sotheby’s International Realty serving Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and the greater Thurston County area.
But real estate is only part of who I am.
I’m a husband, dad, local community member, and someone who genuinely loves living and working in the South Sound. When I’m not helping clients buy or sell a home, there’s a good chance I’m at one of my kids’ games, checking out a new development around Lacey, supporting a local organization, or creating content about what’s happening in our community.
My work focuses on residential real estate in Thurston County, including buying and selling homes, Buy Before You Sell strategies, lakefront and lake-community properties, home equity strategies, relocation, new construction, and helping homeowners prepare their property for sale.
My approach is pretty simple: know the local real estate market, tell people the truth, have a plan, and take care of people.
Buying or selling a home is a big decision, and I don't believe my job is to pressure someone into making it. My job is to help my clients understand their options, navigate financing and negotiations, anticipate problems before they happen, and make confident decisions based on their individual situation.
I’m especially passionate about helping homeowners who want to make their next move but aren't sure how to get from their current home to the next one. That may mean selling first, buying first, using existing home equity, negotiating seller concessions, or simply determining that now isn't the right time.
I also spend a lot of time following the things that affect Lacey and Thurston County real estate beyond the house itself, new development, neighborhoods, local businesses, schools, lakes, infrastructure, housing inventory, mortgage rates, and changes happening throughout the community.
At the end of the day, I want to be more than the person someone calls when they're ready to buy or sell.
I want to be the local real estate resource they call when they start wondering what's possible.
Why use Buy Before You Sell?
How Buy Before You Sell Works?
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HomeLight® will determine how much of your equity you can unlock for the purchase of your new home.
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Win your dream home by making an offer with no home sale contingency.
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Move in immediately upon closing, saving you the cost and hassle of showings, moving twice, and temporary housing.
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List your current home vacant and staged to attract the strongest offer possible.
FAQs
Should I buy a home now or wait for interest rates to come down?
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There isn't one answer that works for everyone. Rates are an important part of the equation, but so are home prices, negotiating power, seller incentives, and most importantly, what the monthly payment looks like for me.
Instead of trying to perfectly time interest rates, I help my clients look at the entire picture. In today's market, that can include negotiating closing costs, rate buydowns, repairs, or other terms that may not have been available when buyer competition was stronger.
If the numbers don't make sense yet, I'll tell you that too. The goal isn't just to buy a house—it's to make a move that makes sense.
Can I actually afford to buy a home right now?
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Affordability is an important concern for many buyers today. Home prices, mortgage rates, and monthly payments all play a role in determining what makes sense financially.
The good news is that there are often more options available than people realize. Different loan programs, financing strategies, and planning approaches can help buyers navigate today’s market more comfortably.
The key is understanding your numbers early so you can explore realistic possibilities and move forward with clarity.
How much money do I actually need to buy a home?
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Probably not as simple as “I need 20% down.”
Depending on the loan program and my situation, there may be options with significantly smaller down payments. I also need to consider closing costs, inspections, appraisal costs, reserves, and what I want left in savings after closing.
In some situations, we may also be able to negotiate for the seller to contribute toward closing costs or an interest-rate buydown.
Before we start looking at homes, I'll help you understand the numbers and connect you with a trusted lender so we know exactly what buying comfortably looks like.
Is it still a good time to sell my home?
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Homes are still selling, but today's buyers have more choices, which means pricing and preparation matter.
The days of simply putting a home on the market and expecting multiple offers aren't something I would build a strategy around. I look at the competition, recent sales, current inventory, buyer behavior, condition, presentation, and pricing before deciding how we bring a property to market.
Sometimes the best strategy is maximizing price. Sometimes it's creating better terms or incentives. Sometimes it's making a few improvements before listing.
The important part is having a strategy before the sign goes in the yard and not OVERPRICING in this market.
You hire me, and sometimes the numbers do not come out as much as you want to hear, but again, just putting a sign in the yard is not a strategy. Pricing today matters more than it has in a very long time.
How do people buy and sell a home at the same time?
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Timing the sale of one home and the purchase of another is one of the biggest concerns homeowners have. Many people worry about selling too soon, buying too late, or needing to move twice.
Fortunately, there are several strategies that can help simplify this transition depending on your situation. Some homeowners explore options that allow them to buy before selling, while others focus on structuring timelines that reduce pressure and uncertainty.
The right approach depends on your goals, finances, and timing, which is why having a clear plan before making a move is so valuable.
Can I ask a seller to pay my closing costs?
Yes. In many transactions, we can negotiate for the seller to contribute toward a buyer’s allowable closing costs, depending on the loan program and terms of the offer.
This can potentially reduce the amount of cash needed at closing and, in some cases, the credit may be used toward things like an interest-rate buydown.
Every situation is different, though. I look at the home, how long it has been on the market, competing offers, the seller’s position, and the overall deal before recommending how we structure an offer.
Price is only one part of a negotiation. Sometimes the terms can be just as valuable.
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How does my real estate agent get paid?
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This is something I want every client to understand clearly before we start working together.
When working with a buyer, we’ll go over and sign a Buyer Brokerage Services Agreement that explains our working relationship, what services I’ll provide, and how my compensation works.
Depending on the transaction, some or all of that compensation may be paid by the seller or negotiated as part of the offer. In other situations, the buyer may be responsible for some or all of it.
Rather than leaving questions about compensation until the end, I prefer to discuss it upfront so there are no surprises. Before we start touring homes, we’ll go through the agreement together, talk about the different scenarios, and make sure everything is clear.
What should I fix before selling my home?
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Not everything needs to be remodeled before selling. In fact, spending money on the wrong improvements can mean putting money into a home without getting it back.
One strategy I often recommend is completing a pre-listing home inspection before the property hits the market. This gives us an opportunity to identify potential problems before a buyer and their inspector find them.
From there, we can decide what should be repaired, what can be left alone, and what simply needs to be disclosed.
It gives us more control over the process, helps reduce surprises during the transaction, and allows us to bring the home to market with a plan instead of reacting to problems after we're already under contract.
The goal isn't to make the house perfect. It's to know what we're selling and prepare for it properly.
Not Sure What Your Next Move Looks Like?
That's completely fine. Tell me a little about what you're thinking, and we'll start there. No pressure just a conversation about your options.
LET'S TALK: Or call or text me directly: (360)259-3807