the
Volume 9 | Issue 3
EYE ON THE
MARCH 2018
MARCH happenings
market this might start a trend of companies choosing to locate their main offices or expansion offices in more affordable cities. Others believe this may take some pressure off our local market and slow price increases, although the effect may not be felt for years into the future.
In the wake of an historically hot 2017, we’re already seeing the signs of another banner year. The Puget Sound region is bursting at the seams with people moving into the area, while the inventory of homes for sale struggles to keep pace. The latest statistics from the Northwest MLS show closed-sales prices for singlefamily homes are again up year-over-year in King County by a stunning 19.69 percent, while in Snohomish County, prices are up by a still-impressive 9.76 percent and in Pierce County by 15.9 percent.
After increases at a slow burn over the last couple of years, mortgage rates are now more noticeably on the rise. Rates are still low enough that qualified buyers remain in a good position to buy a home. Sellers looking to buy a move-up home will also still be able to take advantage of historically low rates even if they climb above 4 percent this year.
1-4 Emerald City Comic Con emeraldcitycomiccon.com
3-4 Outdoor Gear & Adventure Expo trailtoadventure.com 3-4 Penn Cove Musselfest thepenncovemusselsfestival.com 10 Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair bellevuecollege.edu/sciencefair 15 GeekWire Bash geekwire.com/events 16 Landing of St. Patrick irishclub.org/irish-week
Overall, the backlog of demand for homes remains high, and it's a great time for sellers to maximize their return.
We know that there’s no better place to We now know that Amazon HQ2 will not live than right here in the Puget Sound area, and we look forward to another be located in Washington state. Some exciting year for our local market. are disappointed and speculating that
springtime FIRST IMPRESSIONS If you’re planning an open house, here are a few tips that will help you make a great first impression: ALL OVER THE HOUSE: Consider removing personal photos from display. Wastebaskets are empty. Rooms are dusted and vacuumed. Window blinds are open. Lights are on. Calm music is playing.
BEDROOMS: Beds are nicely made. Dirty clothes are out of sight. Toys are put away.
KITCHEN: Sink is clear of any dishes. Countertops are clear of toaster, coffee maker, etc. Range and microwave are clean
PETS: Food bowls are put away. Litter and cages are clean.
BATHROOMS: Non-essentials are out of sight. Shower and tub are clean. Towels are folded neatly. Toilet lid is down.
LIVING ROOM: Pillows/cushions are tidy. TV screen is dusted.
YARD: Yard is tidy for time of year. Walkway/doorstep is swept. Outside lights are on. Outdoor toys and tools are put away.
17 Kirkland Shamrock Run 5K kirklandshamrockrun.com 17 St. Paddy’s Day Run 5K/10K/ Half Marathon/Kids 1K stpaddyruntacoma.com 17 St. Patrick’s Day Dash 5K stpatsdash.com 17 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade irishclub.org/irish-week 17-18 Irish Festival seattlecenter.com 19 Free State Park Day discoverpass.wa.gov 31 Bunny Bounce at Woodland Park Zoo | zoo.org 31 Snohomish Easter Parade snohomishcoc.com/Easter 31 Spring Eggstravaganza redmondtowncenter.com
March
March Is Women’s History Month
I M P O R TA N T D AT E S Tuesday, March 20 Spring Begins! Tuesday, March 20 International Day of Happiness Thursday, March 22 World Water Day 2018 Friday, March 23 National Puppy Day Friday, March 30 National Doctors' Day
Saturday, March 3 World Wildlife Day Thursday, March 8 International Women’s Day Sunday, March 11 Daylight Saving Time Begins *Set clocks ahead 1 hour* Saturday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Wednesday, March 21 World Poetry Day
The purpose is to remember and celebrate the contributions to society of both notable and ordinary women. The hope is that the day will soon come when women are written back into the history books and it’s impossible to teach or learn history without remembering these contributions. For more information, visit www.nwhp.org/.
post-winter HOME CHECKLIST
If you’re not quite ready to get your spring cleaning started in earnest, here are a few things you can do around your home right now:
Clean the kitchen exhaust hood
and filter. Replace the furnace filter. It may be especially filthy after the winter months. Inspect the roof for water damage. It’s also a good idea to check any fences, carports and sheds. Tip: Check the south end of your roof first; it is the first to show wear. Test the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Clear the gutters of any buildup to allow for proper functioning.
Be sure no inside or outside air vents are blocked by fallen debris. Clean the windows and screens. Repair any holes in screens and replace if needed. Inspect siding and exterior paint. Fix or replace damaged siding. Strip peeling paint and replace it with a new coat.
Check the basement for water damage. Pay attention to musty smells, water stains and damp surfaces.
celebrating ST. PATRICK’S DAY AROUND THE SOUND KING COUNTY (not Eastside) The Blarney Stone blarneystoneseattle.com The Celtic Swell celticswell.com The Chieftain Irish Pub chieftainirishpub.com Conor Byrne Pub conorbyrnepub.com Fadó fadoirishpub.com Finn MacCool’s finnmaccools.com The Harp Bar & Restaurant theharpbarandrestaurant.com Hudson hudsonseattle.com
Kells Irish Restaurant kellsirish.com Madrona Arms madronaarms.com McGilvra’s mcgilvras.com/206.325.0834 Molly Maguires 206.789.9643 Mulleady’s Irish Pub mulleadyspub.com Murphy’s www.murphysseattle.com The Old Pequliar 206.782.8886 The Ould Triangle 206.706.7798
Owl N’ Thistle Irish Pub owlnthistle.com Paddy Coyne’s (Seattle) paddycoynes.net Shawn O’Donnell’s (Seattle) shawnodonnells.com T.S. McHugh’s tsmchughs.com EASTSIDE JJ Mahoney’s Irish Pub jjmahoneys.com Paddy Coyne’s (Bellevue) paddycoynes.net Wilde Rover Irish Pub wilderover.com
Volume 9 | Issue 3
PIERCE Doyle’s Public House 253.272.7468 Flanagan’s Craft Pub 253.268.3246 O’Malley’s Irish Pub 253.627.9403 TK Irish Pub tkirishpub.com SNOHOMISH The Irishmen Pub theirishmen.com Shawn O’Donnell’s (Everett) shawnodonnells.com