the
SEPTEMBER 2016
Volume 7 | Issue 9
EYE ON THE
market
It’s hard to believe fall is just around the corner. This time of year usually means fewer buyers in the market as many return to a school-year routine. Some will wait for spring, while more resolute buyers will take advantage of continuing low interest rates and stay the course. While interest rates remain at historic lows, buyers will find higher prices throughout our region. In King County, listings experienced a 14.43 percent year-overyear closed sale price increase for single-family homes. Despite higher prices, our market continues to experience frequent multiple-offer situations. On a positive note, recent broker reports have mentioned fewer offers coming in for each listing, which could provide the breathing room buyers have been waiting for. The most current MLS stats also show active listings are at the highest level
decorating
LOCAL since September of last year. Even with more listings on the market, however, brokers still report a swift market, with most properly priced listings selling within the first 30 days. While the slight increase in active listings is good news, price increases in King County continue to affect neighboring counties by sending buyers to outlying areas in search of homes. The latest MLS stats show closed sale prices increased year-over-year by 11.57 percent in Snohomish County and 15.38 percent in Pierce County. Multiple offers are also on the rise in both counties, as both builders and buyers are looking to these outlying areas for available land to develop and affordable homes to buy. Properties within reasonable commuting range of job centers will attract plenty of interested and eager buyers. Buyers will need to remain diligent in their search and be prepared to make a solid offer when opportunity knocks this fall.
happenings
Ending
Evergreen State Fair 9/5 evergreenfair.org (begins Aug. 25) 2-4 Bumbershoot Music Festival at Seattle Center bumbershoot.com
2-25 Washington State Fair in Puyallup | thefair.com (the Fair is closed Tuesdays)
9-11 Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival mukilteolighthousefestival.com 10 Arts-A-Glow Lantern Festival in Burien | burienwa.gov 10 Hops & Crops Music & Beer Festival in Auburn wrvmuseum.org 10-11 Arlington Art in Legion Park arlingtonartscouncil.net 17 Round the Rock Paddleboard Race in Bellevue roundtherock.com 17-18 Edmonds Art Studio Tour edmondsartstudiotour.com
WITH FALL COLORS
Here are a few ideas for bringing the colors of autumn into your home.
A splash of orange can create a modern feel. Paint cabinet door fronts or the back wall of a bookcase to draw attention to your favorite tomes. Reds, rusts and chocolates can add a rich warmth and sense of refinement to a room. In the dining room, a tablecloth or accent wall in rust or crimson can stimulate the appetite in advance of your next fall feast. Naturals and neutrals harmonize well when used as a base for the colors of fall. Set an earthy neutral as your base color and decorate with accessories in the bolder colors to set a fall mood.
Harvest yellows can brighten a room even on an overcast fall afternoon. Lamp bases on the mantel or framed fall botanicals or other artwork using yellow will pop against a textured brick fireplace or wall. Lastly, bringing colorful autumn foliage into your home is a temporary way to create a natural fall display. Use leaves, pinecones and tree branches cut during fall yard maintenance, along with pumpkins and more from your end-of-season garden, to create unique seasonal decor.
21 Luminata Lantern Parade at Green Lake Park fremontartscouncil.org 21-25 Fashion Week at The Bellevue Collection fashionweekbellevue.com 23-24 Renton Oktoberfest rentonoktoberfest.com 23-25 Fremont Oktoberfest fremontoktoberfest.com 23-25 Kirkland Oktoberfest oktoberfestkirkland.com 24 Artisan Cheesemakers Festival in Seattle washingtonartisancheese.com
September
IMPORTANT DATES
MONDAY, September 5 Labor Day, Counties and CW Title Closed
SUNDAY, September 11 Grandparents Day
FRIDAY, September 17 Constitution Day | Citizenship Day
THURSDAY, September 8 International Literacy Day
SUNDAY, September 11 Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
THURSDAY, September 22 Fall begins
BACK TO SCHOOL
checklist
This time of year sneaks up so fast … summer is here and then gone in a flash! Use these helpful tips to get settled into a new routine for fall: Talk to your child about their
feelings and concerns about the new year. Talk to your child about their dayto-day routine once school starts. For small children, tour the school and show them where each of their classes will be, along with the cafeteria and restrooms. Determine how your child will get to school, and practice the route. Find a walking/bus buddy for younger children. Arrange a carpool if needed.
Establish a time for homework and
dinner. Obtain an alarm clock for your child and discuss the best time for which to set it. Establish a school-night bedtime, and stick to it. Read the school handbook with your child and discuss any concerns. Find out when parent-teacher night is and mark it on your calendar. Find out the school lunch schedule and how much lunch costs.
Create a contact list of other parents
who are able to pick up your child in case of an emergency. Be sure to share it with the school. Arrange child care and/or afterschool activities. Set rules for activities such as TV/ video games, tablets, playtime and the completion of long-term school projects. Stay involved with your child, their school and their daily routine!
MORTGAGE RATES through the years Mortgage rates remain at historic lows! Below is a chart showing 30-year fixed-rate mortgages since 2000. (Yearly average interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages) High Monthly Low Monthly Year
2016* 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Volume 7 | Issue 9
Average
Average
Yearly Average
3.87 (Jan) 4.05 (Jul) 4.43 (Jan) 4.49 (Sep) 3.95 (Mar) 4.95 (Feb) 5.10 (Apr) 5.42 (Jun) 6.48 (Aug) 6.70 (Jul) 6.76 (Jul) 6.33 (Nov) 6.29 (Jun) 6.26 (Aug) 7.01 (Mar) 7.16 (Jun) 8.52 (May)
3.44 (Jul) 3.67 (Jan & Apr) 3.86 (Dec) 3.41 (Jan) 3.35 (Dec) 3.96 (Dec) 4.23 (Oct) 4.81 (Apr) 5.29 (Dec) 6.10 (Dec) 6.14 (Dec) 5.58 (Jun) 5.45 (Mar) 5.23 (Jun) 6.05 (Dec) 6.62 (Oct) 7.38 (Dec)
3.63 3.85 4.17 3.98 3.66 4.45 4.69 5.04 6.03 6.34 6.41 5.87 5.84 5.83 6.54 6.97 8.05
Figures from www.freddiemac.com *through July 2016