Rent is softening with people moving away from Seattle due to COVID, ongoing protests, and a crazy city council.I think the real housing crisis in Seattle is that $1,860 is still too expensive for many.Seattle has been making large investments in rent restricted units.

If things start to soften, consider moving the property or locking in long-term debt.  

I've heard several predict that a softening is coming.2) What are your opinion of discount-commission real estate agents?

I think it’s probable that there is less non multi-family/commercial construction which if true should soften construction costs as a whole by less demand for materials.

She can use the $50 card to buy some fabric softener to freshen up the clothes. 

Eg most of us would tell you no more moving parts than absolutely necessary (no garbage disposals, no water softeners, etc.).

At any point they decided that payment was not in the cards, we could have been forced to start the eviction process with no security deposit to soften our losses.

(I think we'll see a softening in the next 12 months as well). 

Even some hot markets have shown signs of softening.

Prices were softening pre-covid and the fundamentals for any appreciation have only gotten worse since.