the
Volume 8 | Issue 8
EYE ON THE
AUGUST 2017
market
Our market is just as hot as our fabulous Puget Sound summer weather. The most recent stats from the Northwest MLS show that an encouraging number of sellers got off the fence and decided to list their homes for sale this summer.
Brokers are reporting that the pace of sales is slowing as some buyers plan to take a break for the late summer. This may bring a bit of breathing room to those hopeful buyers who remain. Brokers note that many tech workers are continuing to look beyond King County, as condos closer in to Seattle are becoming increasingly scarce. Pierce and Snohomish County builders and
LOCAL sellers have seemingly anticipated this and spurred a slight uptick in new condominium listings for June. New listings for single-family homes were up year-over-year for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Even with all the new homes entering the market, total active listings were down in all areas compared with last year. Our region’s strong job market continues to draw more residents looking to buy than it has housing to sell. Prices continue their upward trend, with the Northwest MLS reporting singlefamily home prices increasing by 13.86 percent in King County, 11.54 percent in Pierce County and nearly 14 percent in Snohomish County in June compared with the same month last year. Brokers note that it’s still common for listings to have an offer accepted within 30 days, but they caution that listings need to be properly priced and in good condition to attract the most eager and qualified buyers.
national night out IS AUGUST 1 The “dog days” of summer are prime season for home burglaries. Here are a few helpful tips to share with your neighbors when you join them Tuesday, August 1, for National Night Out Against Crime:
If you are home and someone knocks
1-6 Seafair Fleet Week in Seattle seafair.com/p/schedule/294
4-6 Magnolia Summerfest magnoliasummerfest.org 4-6 Seafair Weekend Festival seafair.com 5 Brew Five Three: Tacoma’s Beer & Blues Festival broadwaycenter.org 11 South Lake Union Block Party slublockparty.com 11-13 Kirkland Summerfest kirklandsummerfest.com
11-13 A Taste of Edmonds edmondswa.com 11-13 Festival at Mt. Si festivalatmtsi.org 12 AuburnFest auburnwa.gov 15 North City Jazz Walk in Shoreline northcityjazzwalk.org 18-20 Gigantic Bicycle Festival in Snoqualmie giganticbicyclefestival.org 19 Celebrate Woodinville Festival celebratewoodinville.com
on the door, make sure they know someone is home. If you don’t want to answer the door, tell them you are busy and cannot answer. Turning the TV or radio on loudly also sends a signal that the home is not empty.
Purchase a reinforced door jammer for each door that leads outside. (They work on sliding doors as well.) These should be put in place on every door, except the front, when you leave home. It’s also a good idea to put them on at night when you go to sleep–they can be easily removed if there is an emergency situation.
happenings
Photograph valuables (including electronics) and keep them safe, along with original receipts and serial numbers. If they do get stolen, most insurance companies will want both for the claims. (continued on next page)
19-20 Viking Days in Seattle nordicmuseum.org 24-9/4 Evergreen State Fair in Monroe evergreenfair.org 26 Poverty Bay Blues & Brews in Des Moines | drinktomusic.org
August I M P O R TA N T D AT E S August 6-12 Tuesday, August 1 National Night Out Against Crime National Farmers Market Week August 12 (peak) Annual Perseid Meteor Shower
Sunday, August 6 International Friendship Day
https://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors
rate update
Here’s a look at the yearly average interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for the past 10 years. At the time of this writing, the highest rate so far this year was 4.2 (in March), and the lowest was 3.9 (in June). The average for 2017 is 4.08, which is higher than the annual average for 2016, but still historically low. YEARLY AVG. INTEREST RATES (30-YEAR FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES) Year
High Low Monthly Monthly Average Average
Yearly Average
2017 4.20 (Mar)
3.9 (Jun)
4.08*
2016 4.20 (Dec)
3.44 (Jul & Aug)
3.65
2015 4.05 (Jul)
3.67 (Jan 3.85 & Apr)
2014 4.43 (Jan)
3.86 (Dec)
4.17
2013 4.49 (Sep)
3.41 (Jan)
3.98
2012 3.95 (Mar)
3.35 (Dec)
3.66
2011 4.95 (Feb)
3.96 (Dec)
4.45
2010 5.10 (Apr)
4.23 (Oct)
4.69
2009 5.42 (Jun)
4.81 (Apr)
5.04
2008 6.48 (Aug)
5.29 (Dec)
6.03
2007 6.70 (Jul)
6.10 (Dec)
6.34
*through Jun
CLEAN OUT THE
Yearly avg. interest rates since 2000: (30-year fixed-rate mortgages)
Data from ww.freddiemac.com/pmms/pmms30.html
clutter
Before your vacation or prior to back-to-school preparations, end of summer is ideal for purging before fall. Check this list before heading to the transfer station: [charities] CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BARGAIN BOUTIQUE | seattlechildrens.org (Click on “Ways to Help.”) New or gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing; housewares; quilts; linens; art; and furniture. NW FURNITURE BANK nwfurniturebank.org Furniture bank for homeless families in transition in Pierce & South King County.
GOODWILL| goodwill.org New or gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing; housewares; quilts; linens; art; and furniture. Contact your local Goodwill for items such as computers, vehicles or mattresses before bringing them by for donation. SIGHT CONNECTION sightconnection.org Clothing, small appliances, bedding, books and household items. Volume 8 | Issue 8
national night out: AUGUST 1 (continued from previous page)
Do not leave windows open (even a little) at night or during the day while you are out.
If you have an alarm system, be sure to activate it each time you leave and place signs and stickers around your house advertising that you have a system. If you don’t have an alarm system, consider getting one. Investigate inexpensive systems that do not have a monthly fee. Video doorbells allow you to see who is at your door without getting up or being there to check. When you’re away, you may choose to have the system call or alert your cellphone when you have a visitor. Many home insurance companies will offer a discount if you have an alarm system or cameras. Make your backyard a struggle for thieves to get into by placing a lock on the gate and repairing any missing fence posts. Keep ladders and tools locked away – don’t assist the burglar with getting in. Purchase a high-quality fire-resistant safe and put all valuables in it. The safe should be heavy, making it inconvenient for anyone to grab and run with. Don’t keep valuables in your dresser. That is a common place, and burglars know to look there. Keep your recycling/garbage bins in an enclosed area such as your backyard or garage. This will assure they are not rummaged through only to find boxes from your newly purchased items. The best advice is to know your neighbors. Stay in communication with them, and consider setting up a neighborhood watch. More information on National Night Out can be found at www.natw.org.
[non-charities] FRIENDLY EARTH E-CYCLING friendlyearth.org FREE recycling—electronics, appliances, scrap metal, computers, batteries, ink and toner, cellphones and more. RUBBISH WORKS | rubbishworks.com Removal and disposal of nonhazardous materials. 1 GREEN PLANET | 1greenplanet.org FREE recycling—electronics, appliances, scrap metal, computers, batteries, ink and toner, cellphones and more.