the
Volume 10 | Issue 10
OCTOBER 2019
EYE ON THE MARKET As we move deep into the fall season, the market shows signs of change. In the past, many buyers looked to fall home shopping as a relief, a time to catch a breath from the frenzied pace of the summer. While, in some areas of the local market buyers are tapping on the brakes, brokers report that they continue to see a few multiple offers. Properly priced properties in good showing condition are still moving quickly.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS the year. While falling interest rates may mean refinancing and staying put for some, others will elect to take the leap and enter the market. The lure of a decrease in the overall monthly payment that results when taking advantage of low interest rates is enough to bump some off the fence. Depending on your price range this can mean a savings of a couple of hundred dollars a month.
The most recent monthly stats from the Northwest MLS show closed-sale prices for single-family homes in King and Snohomish held steady year-over-year. King County was up by just 0.15 percent and Snohomish County down slightly by -0.45 percent. Pierce County continued to percolate, experiencing an increase of 6.25 percent over the previous year.
Looking to the South Sound, Tacoma and nearby cities remain hot and popular. Recent infrastructure improvements such as the HOV and Interstate 5 realignment project through the South Sound’s main corridor are part of what’s drawing buyers to the area. Future light rail extensions will also pave the way for those who don’t flinch at a somewhat lengthy commute to jobs in Seattle or on the Eastside.
Mortgage interest rates remain at threeyear lows (still historically low). These low rates are providing some fuel for the market at a time when we’d expect a seasonal slowdown, but they’re not moving the needle as much as predicted earlier in
With several factors in play, we expect the remainder of the fall market to offer some new inventory. Sharp buyers may find a new home in time to celebrate the holidays. Savvy sellers might just be able to start their new chapter with the new year.
PUGET SOUND PUMPKIN PATCHES SNOHOMISH COUNTY Bailey Family Farm 12711 Springhetti Rd, Snohomish baileyveg.com/ pumpkins.html Baylor Farm 28511 Ben Howard Rd, Monroe 360.793.0822 Biringer’s Black Crow Pumpkins & Corn Maze 2431 State Route 530, Arlington facebook.com/biringers.black.crow Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm 10917 Elliott Rd, Snohomish bobscorn.com Carleton Farm 630 Sunnyside Blvd SE, Lake Stevens carletonfarm.com/pumpkin
Craven Farm 13817 Shorts School Rd, Snohomish cravenfarm.com/activities Fairbank Animal and Pumpkin Farm 15308 52nd Ave W, Edmonds fairbankfarm.com The Farm at Swan’s Trail 7301 Rivershore Rd, Snohomish thefarm1.com Foster’s Produce & Corn Maze 5818 State Route-530 NE, Arlington fosterscornmaze.com Stocker Farms 8705 Marsh Rd, Snohomish stockerfarms.com Thomas Family Farm 9010 Marsh Rd, Snohomish thomasfamilyfarm.com continued on next page
3-10 Tacoma Film Festival tacomafilmfestival.com 4-6 Puyallup Oktoberfest oktoberfestnw.com 10/4- Earshot Jazz Festival 11/6 earshot.org 5 Kelsey Creek Farm Fair farmerjayne.com/ Special_Events.html 5 Monster Bash flyingheritage.org/ 5-6 Issaquah Salmon Days issaquahchamber.com 5-6 Lynden Lions Club Model Train Show | northsoundlife.com
5-6 OysterFest oysterfest.org 12 Orting Pumpkin Fest tacomaevents.com 12-13 Seattle Home Show seattlehomeshow.com 12-13 Snohomish River Run snohomishriverrun.com 19 Nordic Fair nordicseattle.com/events 19 Taste of the Region at Sea-Tac Airport | eventbrite.com 20 Halloween Pet Parade volunteerparktrust.org 25-26 Northwest Hiphop Festival eventbrite.com 26 Puget Sound Festival of Bands psfob.com
OCTOBER IMPORTANT DATES Saturday, October 5 World Teachers’ Day Monday, October 7 National Child Health Day Wednesday, October 16 National Boss’s Day Friday, October 18 National Mammography Day
Saturday, October 26 National Make a Difference Day Thursday, October 31 Halloween
is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
PUGET SOUND PUMPKIN PATCHES continued from previous page
KING COUNTY Baxter Barn 31929 SE 44th St, Fall City baxterbarn.org/pumpkins.html Carpinito Brothers 27508 W Valley Hwy N, Kent carpinito.com Fall City Farms 3636 Neal Rd, Fall City fallcityfarms.com Fox Hollow Farm 12123 Issaquah Hobart Rd SE, Issaquah foxhollowfamilyfarm.com Remlinger Farms 32610 NE 32nd St, Carnation remlingerfarms.com Serres Farm 20306 NE 50th St, (3 miles east of Redmond) serresfarm.com Thomasson Family Farm 38223 236th Ave SE, Enumclaw thomassonfarm.com
PIERCE COUNTY Double R Farms 5820 44th St E, Puyallup double-r-farms.net Maris Farms 25001 Sumner-Buckley Hwy, Buckley marisfarms.com Picha’s Farm 6502 52nd St E, Puyallup pichafarms.com/pumpkins.php Scholz Farm 14310 128th St E, Orting piercecountyfresh.org Spooner Farms 9710 SR 162 E, Puyallup spoonerberries.com/harvest-festival
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE SEASON IS BACK! Enjoy this seasonal favorite throughout the fall when you keep a few ingredients on hand: • 1 cup milk, soy milk or almond milk • 2 teaspoons sugar, or more to taste • 4 teaspoons pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (plus extra for optional garnish)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • Espresso or strong black coffee • Whipped cream and cinnamon stick (for optional garnish)
To make the pumpkin spice latte mix: Combine 1/2 cup milk and the sugar, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup milk, whisking until combined. Strain mixture through cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp. Return milk mixture to saucepan and simmer until hot, whisking again for 2 minutes. Add desired amount of espresso or strong black coffee to the saucepan and whisk one last time until foamy (1 minute or less). Top with whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice, and drop in a cinnamon stick (optional). The mixture (before adding the coffee) will keep in the fridge for two to three days. Makes one latte.
Before the first frost O C TO B E R I N YO U R G A R D E N
October is here, and with it comes the cold! Here are a few tips for preparing your garden for fall and winter, and keeping it quietly thriving until spring.
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Check weather forecast daily for frost warnings.
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Using low tunnels or cloches covered with frost blankets over food crops and cutting gardens may extend the growing season up to one month.
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You can also preserve root crops and extend harvest up to one month by removing green leaves and covering with straw, soil or mulch.
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Protect winter greens such as kale and chard, from the rain and wind by pushing heavy wire or PVC pipe into the ground to make hoops over the plants. Drape with row cover material or frost blankets which can be found at your local gardening store.
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To help prevent slugs, clean up their common hiding areas, such as weed piles, boards or stacked pots.
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In October, start cutting back perennials, leaving 3-inch stubs near the ground. These stubs will catch fallen leaves and provide insulation from the cold.
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Add mulch to keep root temperatures stable, and add compost to supply organic nutrients to the soil. Don’t fertilize, as this will prompt new growth at the wrong time of year.
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Cover paths between vegetable beds with leaves or mulch to deter weeds next spring.
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Cover plants with cardboard or other material (except plastic) during frost. Wait until air warms to remove cover.
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Continue watering new additions to the landscape that were planted within the last 12 months. Many plants die from drought during their first winter. Volume 10 | Issue 10