Something from Bob
Fall has come a bit early in the PNW. Well, really, summer just ended with a extended slide into Fall temps. Have you started planning your activities to get ready for winter? Furnace check? Garden cleanup & mulch? Sprinkler winterizing? Gutters cleaned? If you need them, I have resources to help.
For the first time in a while, the yearly average for mortgage rates has gone down (month to month). It is virtually the same as the 2023 yearly average. The expected Fed rate cut coming this month should help to bring it down even more. To see how the current yearly average compares with last year and the years past, check out my website.
A recent market update from the NWMLS shows an over 34% increase in inventory for August 2024 compared to August 2023 -- that's quite good for buyers. But, with Amazon requiring all employees to be in the office 5 days a week starting the first of 2025 (and other companies likely to follow suit), I'm expecting our market to be much more active as we go into Fall and Winter.
As always, I'm available to talk about your plans and/or anything I've mentioned above.
Until next month... |
Selling Your Home Quickly: What Works and What Doesn't
Oftentimes, when listing your home for sale, you are hoping the process will go quickly. A swift sale is a good strategy for securing the best price, as homes that linger unsold on the market tend to become less desirable over time. So, how do you sell your home quickly and affordably? Many tips claim to help, but they often prove ineffective and counterproductive. To sell your home quickly for the most money... Read More
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Online Searches Highlight Growing Home Design Trends
Houzz, the popular home design and renovation website, studied user searches from January to March 2024 compared to the same months in 2023 and found the following growing trends:
Organic Modern Design: This style blends sleek lines with natural materials and forms. Searches for "organic modern bedroom" have surged nearly 3.5 times year over year and are growing... Read More
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Autumn Prep: Must-Do Home Maintenance for a Cozy Season
As the summer heat begins to fade, it's time to prepare your home for the cooler months ahead. Before you break out your cozy sweaters and fall decorations, make sure your home is ready. Tackle these essential home maintenance tasks to ensure both comfort and savings as temperatures drop.
HVAC System Checkup
Your HVAC system works overtime to keep... Read More
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Is the Housing Market Starting to Favor Buyers?
After years of Americans struggling to make purchases in a seller's market, there are signs that the current housing market is swinging back toward favoring buyers. As recent market trends continue, buyers will find themselves with more homes to choose from and greater negotiating power.
Slower Home Sales Give Buyers an Edge
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), monthly existing-home sales in June fell 5.4% both month over month and year over year. What's more, every sales region in the country posted sales declines... Read More
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Create an Emergency Go Bag for Disaster Preparedness Month
September is Disaster Preparedness Month, reminding us that natural disasters can strike without warning. Both the Red Cross and FEMA emphasize the importance of being ready by preparing an emergency go bag.
Sherri McKinney, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, explains, "Being prepared for any type of emergency or disaster can make the difference between life and death. We can't stress that enough. Have a plan, have a kit, and know how to evacuate your area."
What to Include in Your Go Bag: A go bag should be something portable, like a backpack, that you can... Read More
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Mortgage Rates since 1971
Interest rates have changed -- jumped, some say. But, looking at the past can put into perspective how good or bad the current rates really are. Take a look.
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Market Statistics Around the Puget Sound Region
The market has been very dynamic for years -- either a strong seller's market or a strong buyer's market. I've put together some graphs to show what's happening.
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Past Newsletters
In case you missed a previous newsletter, all of my Out of Bounds Realty newsletters can be found here.
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