the
home connection
Volume 11 | Issue 6
JUNE 2020
EYE ON THE MARKET
As expected, new listings are down in recent weeks as potential sellers stay put and take a wait-and-see position in respect to the global crisis. The most recent statistics from the Northwest MLS show that while listings are down overall, median closed-sales prices for single-family homes are up year-over-year in King County by 3.62 percent, in Snohomish County, prices are up by 5 percent, in Pierce County by 13.16 percent and in Thurston County by 8.79 percent. The real estate industry has quickly adapted to the new normal in an
EXPERIENCE THIS! effort to continue to provide clients with opportunities to buy and sell homes while respecting physical distancing guidelines. Most buyers in the market at this time are quickly becoming comfortable with evaluating homes without the need for multiple (or even one) in-person visit. Virtual tours and live-streamed open house events have replaced the traditional in-person events. Experts are predicting that with physical distancing and remote working becoming a way of life, the trend will be for many to look to find homes in the suburbs with wide open spaces and larger lots. Buyers seeking to move away from traditional job centers might find they are able to buy more land and home for their budget. Combine that trend with the continued historically low interest rates and the result is a housing market that is definitely finding a way to simmer during this time.
Travel Tacoma Virtual Tours
NASA’s Langley Research Center
National Nordic Museum
Dramatic stages around the world
Space Needle
San Diego Zoo
Pacific Science Center, Naked Mole Rat Cam
Metropolitan Opera Virtual Shows
Seattle Waterfront
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
GIFT IDEAS TO CELEBRATE DAD Here are a few ideas to help you find the perfect gift:
Create a personalized children’s book Help Dad get into his happy zone
from hoorayheros.com or ieeme.com Help him stay healthy with phone soap smartphone sanitizer from uncommongoods.com The warmer weather means more grill time to use Kabob grilling baskets from uncommongoods.com Keep him laughing with the book “101 So Bad, They’re Good Dad Jokes” from amazon.com So nice he won’t want to use one of these engraved pocket knives from Woodpresentstudio on etsy.com He’ll sleep like a rock with a weighted blanket from laylasleep.com
with wireless headphones from Bose or Apple Daddy Shark T-shirt by PINKFONG on amazon.com He’ll rise right on time every time with an Eco Spark smart alarm clock from amazon.com He’ll never have to go to the barber when he has a subscription to Dollar Shave Club dollarshaveclub.com Only the best for Dad in the GQ Best Stuff Box beststuffbox.gq.com Chow down anytime with a tried and true gift card to his favorite restaurant
June IMPORTANT DATES Friday, June 5 Doughnut Day
Sunday, June 21 Father’s Day
Sunday, June 7 World Ocean Day
Tuesday, June 23 United Nations Public Service Day
Sunday, June 14 Flag Day
Friday, June 26
Sunday, June 14 World Blood Donor Day
Saturday, June 27 National Sunglasses Day
Thursday, June 18 Go Fishing Day
Tuesday, June 30 Social Media Day
Take Your Dog to Work Day
Saturday, June 20 Summer Begins
wire fraud damage control Scammers are determined to catch people off guard during these stressful times. If you suspect that you are a victim of wire fraud, it’s important to act quickly. Take these steps immediately:
1) Contact your financial institution immediately upon discovering the fraudulent wire transfer and request that they make attempts to stop it. 2) Request that your financial institution contact the corresponding financial institution where the fraudulent wire transfer was sent. 3) Notify your local Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office as soon as you suspect a fraudulent wire transfer. The FBI, working with the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, might be able to help return or freeze the funds. 4) Be sure to file a complaint with the FBI, regardless of dollar loss, here for business email compromise/email account compromise: www.ic3.gov. 5) Notify all affected or potentially affected parties. 6) Change all of your passwords. If possible, change usernames as well. 7) Whether the scammer contacted you via email or phone, report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1.877.382.4357 or online at www.ftc.gov/complaint.
What law enforcement needs to know: When contacting law enforcement or filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, identify your incident as “BEC/EAC.” Then provide the following helpful information to investigators: Date and time of incident Amount transferred Originating business name Originating financial institution name and address Originating account number Beneficiary name Beneficiary financial institution name and address Beneficiary account number Correspondent bank if known IP, email address and/or phone number of fraudulent contacts Incorrectly formatted letterhead or email signature Description of contact with the scammer, including frequency and timing of calls and emails Describe if something just seemed “off,” such as timing, requests for secrecy or immediacy, and/or unusual wording in the fraudulent phone calls or emails. Volume 10| Issue 6
Rooms for kids With everyone spending more time at home, now is a great time to refresh a child’s room, to make it a more comfortable space for living and in some cases, also learning. Here are a few tips to help you create a space your child will enjoy for years to come. Choose a few durable, high-quality items that will grow with your child. Many furniture items are designed to adapt to a growing child with just a few adjustments. The simpler it is, the more flexible it is. Think out of the box for storage options. Kids of all ages need lots of storage for their toys, clothes, shoes, sports equipment and learning-related items. A hanging shoe organizer will serve nicely to organize toys for a toddler but then can later be used for shoes when the child is older. Labels will help your child know where to put things when it’s time to straighten his or her room. Use your child’s own artwork and photography instead of purchasing art for the room. Order enlargements online made in standard sizes which will make it easy to find frames to fit. Place art, photos and other wall accessories at a height that works from their perspective. Use space based on the age of the child. A toddler will need more floor space to play, while an older child may want a table and chairs to sit and do homework with friends. Removable wall decals allow you to change out the theme of a room without having to plan and budget for a major project. And finally (or perhaps the first thing you should do), let your child have a say in how their space is decorated. Help them search for items that express their interests and their personality.