JENNY'S GARDEN TIPS: Six Activities for Gardeners to Do This Winter
Here’s my list of 6 different activities you as a gardener or would-be gardener can do to get you through winter and start thinking about spring. There are places to visit and things you can do. Hope you can
at least try one of these!
Real Estate Update
IN THE MARKET
JUST LISTED 4BR/1.75BA HALLER LAKE TUDOR $650,000
A recently released report on real estate activity nationwide shows the Seattle Metro area with 19 of the 25 most competitive neighborhoods in the country.This study took into account price appreciation, days on the market, how many sales were above list price, and other factors. Our region is hot and competition is strong.
The January statistics from the Northwest MLS show that closed-sale prices in King County are up year-over-year 14.8, Snohomish is up 7.2% and Pierce is up 11.7%.
WHAT TO WATCH IN 2018:
Inventory will continue to be the top issue in our market, as homebuilders work to maintain the new construction boom in our region.
Our region’s high-paying job opportunities will keep unemployment low and attract millennials from across the country. Drawn by good jobs and the great quality-of-life, these 30 somethings are starting families and purchasing homes.
According to the US Census, an estimated 1,000 new residents are moving to our area each week. As demand for rentals rise, so will rental prices. Many renters are choosing to purchase homes instead.
Affordability will remain a hot topic. A report released in late 2017 by HSH.com revealed that it takes and annual income of $93,400 to be able to afford monthly payments on the median house in the Seattle Metro area. This is up from around $82,000 the previous year.
Our diverse economy and educated workforce and startup spirit will continue to fuel innovation and strengthen our region in 2018 and the years to come.
I am happy to meet for coffee to discuss the market and how it impacts your real estate goals. We can get a plan in place!
MORTGAGE RATES
THROUGH THE YEARS
Did you know 2017 interest rates were
some of the lowest in history? The great
news for 2018 is that the current rates
remain at historic lows.
Whether buying or selling, it’s still a great
time to enter the market.
JUST SOLD | Purchase in West Seattle
4304 SW Mills St Seattle, WA 98136
Read MoreJUST SOLD | Haller Lake Tudor
13026 1ST AVENUE NORTHEAST, SEATTLE, 98125
Read MoreReal Estate Update
Salon
Millennials are moving back in with their parents
By Tyler Gillispie
Nearly 40 percent of Florida adults ages 18-34 are living with their folks
:: read full article here
Buying a home in 2018? Here's what you need to know
By Maurie Backman, The Motley Fool
Homeownership can be a costly endeavor, especially since certain tax breaks are now less generous. Here are a few things to be aware of if you're planning to go from renter to owner this year.
::: read full article here
(Jared Soares/The Washington Post)
What home sellers need to know about appealing to millennial buyers
By David Charron
Millennials make up more than 50 percent of all first-time home buyers and represent a growing segment of the Washington-area population. These young professionals and activists are looking to make their mark on the world at the epicenter of American politics and culture.
::: read full article here
Getty Images
How to Save Enough for a Down Payment
By Devon Thorsby
For most first-time homebuyers, securing a down payment is the biggest hurdle.
::: read full article here
Rogue Ones: Why Parents Identify With Yoda When It Comes to Personal Finances
By Brian O'Connell
What do Star Wars and family finances have in common? Plenty, according to one new report.
::: read full article here
Getty Images | Nora Carol Photography
10 moves to boost your wealth in 2018
By Lorie Konish
If you set the right financial goals now, you could be wealthier by next year.
::: read full article here
Take a home tour with a robot
By Diana Olick
There was no one home when Avisheh Madani arrived to tour a San Francisco rental property. No one human, that is.
::: read full article here
Houzz
10 home-design trend predictions for 2018
By Megan McDonough
Home remodelling and design platform Houzz forecasted these trends, based on discussions with industry professionals and styles noticed on social media.
::: read full article here
The Week
The best homes of 2017
By The Week Staff
Each week, we feature some of the best properties on the market. With 2017 coming to a close, let's check in on some of the best properties of the year.
::: read full article here
Local News...
NWMLS
King County Home Prices End 2017 Up 16 Percent
By Neal McNamara , Patch Staff
2017 was a "banner year" for Puget Sound real estate agents, but buyers face an uphill battle, according to the latest local stats.
::: read full article here
Zillow: Seattle housing prices will continue to climb in 2018, but not as quickly
By Sarah Anne Lloyd
That’s for both renters and buyers
::: read full article here
Image: Thinkstock
75% of the Most Competitive Neighborhoods for Homebuyers in the U.S. are here in Seattle
by Gena Wynkoop
How do you feel when I say these words…“Seattle housing market.”
::: read full article here
Photo: Mary Ngyuen/FloorPlanOnline
Historic low inventory makes a tight market in Seattle
By Zosha Millman
You may have heard: Seattle's a tough real estate market in which to be a buyer.
::: read full article here
Sweeping Seattle parking changes may be on the horizon
By Chris Daniels
It's the first step in what could be a massive parking overhaul in Seattle, aimed at identifying and utilizing unused spots near transit corridors.
::: read full article here
Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
Report: Seattle has highest forecasted rise in rent
By Zosha Millman
And we're the No. 3 hottest market in the country. Woohoo?
::: read full article here
Seattle area rents expected to go up 3.5 percent this year
By Bernard Ellouk
Seattle will be the third-hottest housing market in the country in 2018, based on analysis by Zillow.
::: read full article here
Zillow Shutterstock
Hottest Markets for 2018 Include Tech Hotspots, Southeastern Charmers
By Lauren Bretz
The U.S. housing market is hot, with more than half (52.6 percent) of all homes nationwide worth as much or more than they were at the peak of the national housing boom in April 2007.
::: read full article here
Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to keynote Bellevue gala
By Bellevue Reporter
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will discuss basketball, libraries and books when he headlines the King County Library System Foundation’s 25th annual Literary Lions Gala fundraiser on March 10 in Bellevue.
::: read full article here
Low inventory does not reduce demand in Bellevue housing market
By Annie Gustafson
The number of homes available for purchase in December 2017 was exceptionally low in Bellevue, even by “typical” end-of-year standards.
::: read full article here
Kirkland remains hot in the housing market
By Kailan Manandic
Experts agree that 2018 will be another hot year for the Puget Sound housing market and Kirkland is only getting hotter as demand increases while inventory remains low.
::: read full article here
Real Estate Update
Remodeling an icon: A sneak peek inside the Space Needle renovation project, high above Seattle
By Kurt Scholsser
Everything's changing in Seattle - even our iconic Space Needle is getting a facelift. Take a look at this sneak peek of it's renovation. I"m beyond excited to see the completion. One of my favorite architectural firms Olson Kundig Architects is overseeing the renovations. Are you brave enough to dine 500 feet above on a glass floor? I have a fear of heights but I'm all in for this one!
shutterstock
Why Seattle Real Estate Will Maintain Its Hot Streak
By Anthony Hitt
"Seattle is one of the fastest growing American cities, attracting an average of 57 new residents per day from 2015-2016. The real estate market in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods is highly competitive, commanding increasingly high selling prices. While the steadily climbing real estate prices have some concerned about a potential real estate bubble, the consensus among economists is that the real estate market’s growth will hold firm."
Worth a read. Economist consensus is Seattle's real estate market growth will continue. Questions? Get in touch with me. I'm happy to be of help.
The Amazon spheres in downtown Seattle (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)
Watch Amazon’s Seattle campus quadruple in size in a decade
By Mike Rosenberg
We are home to the largest urban campus in America. Want to see how Amazon made that happen over the last decade? Check out the year by year GIF that shows Amazon's Lake Union campus growth. 8,000 apartments are slated to be built in the area with completion by 2019 to support the continuing growth.
While some cities thrive, others are left behind
Seattle is one of few cities that have flourished in the 10 years since the Great Recession began in December 2007. Other cities are still struggling.
Andrew Burton for the New York Times
The Great American Single-Family Home Problem
By Conor Dougherty
Building more housing, more densely, could help address a widespread economic challenge. A fight over one lot in Berkeley, Calif., shows how tough that could be.
Photo by Education Images
10 books that boost money IQ
By Lorie Konish
If you want to be wiser and wealthier in 2018, these 10 books will boost your financial acumen.
Home remodeling done right
By Pat Mertz Esswein
Line up the money and a good contractor. Then turn your wish list into reality.
Photography by Bob Coscarelli
This mid-century modern home is a stylish time capsule
By Mary Jo Bowling
If anything could be considered a midcentury modern miracle, this is it.
Local News...
Seattle’s condo conundrum: A historically low supply
By Jake Whittenberg
Seattle, amid all its growth, is experiencing a historic shortage of condos, as developers choose to build apartments rather than market-ready living spaces.
Survey to help shape the next decade of Capitol Hill development
By jseattle
GeekWire Photo / Monica Nickelsburg
photo by Genna Martin, seattlepi.com
Photos And Listing Courtesy Of Marlow Harris/seattledreamhomes.com
photo David Montesino Staff file, 2017
Good news: Seattle buyers like our homes. The bad news: Seattle buyers like our homes.
By Debbie Cockrell
Low inventory prospects may not change next year. One local broker weighs in on how we got here and what’s next.
Purchase in Haller Lake
Purchased at $515,000
Read MoreThe gift of giving plants
Peace Lily
by Jenny Mandt, Owner, Garden
Coaching Solutions
“A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you would expect.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Read MoreTara’s Seattle Gift Guide 2017
Shop local this holiday season and support your community! Why shop local? Here are just a few reasons: your money will be kept in the local economy, you help create local jobs, help the environment, conserve your tax dollars, and you have invested in entrepreneurship. Here are some local businesses I love and some great gift ideas for holiday giving!
Read More