January 2022 Newsletter

the

Home Connection

Volume 13 | Issue 1

JANUARY 2022

eye on the market Despite the cold rainy weather and onset of the holidays, home buyers and sellers were not deterred from participating in the housing market last month. The typical winter slow-down usually gives buyers an advantage as many people put purchasing homes on hold this time of year. However, this has not been the case this winter as buyers have been very active and demand remains high. In fact, according to recent reports, new listings, pending sales, and closed sales were higher than in past years at this time, and home prices rose a little more than 15 percent compared to this time one year ago.

experience this! ago. In King County prices are up by 12.25 percent, in Snohomish County up by 22.79 percent, in Pierce County up by almost 18.87 percent, in Thurston County up by almost 22.10 percent, and in Spokane County up by nearly 18.20 percent (Spokane Association of REALTORS).

Price escalations and a lack of inventory have continued to make it a seller’s market. With steady open house traffic, buyers are still experiencing tough competition and having to pay above asking price in the face of multiple offers.

Builders and developers are also working frantically to alleviate these situations by adding more new construction to the market. Meanwhile, brokers also believe some sellers are reluctant to give up their homes since finding a new home is so The data coming from Northwest MLS also challenging. It will be interesting to see if shows closed sale price escalations were the new year brings an influx of housing widespread across most counties when inventory and how buyers and sellers will compared with the same month a year fare in the upcoming spring market.

Tips for hosting a winter party Though the weather may be frightful, you can still throw the perfect winter party outdoors. Here are a few ideas to help you have the perfect cozy get-together.

• Provide heat outside. To keep guests • Choose weather friendly food and warm, a constant source of heat is drinks to serve. Meals should be warm needed. These can include a fire pit, or contain warming spices. Things like bonfire, chimeneas or patio heaters that stews, kebabs, and s’mores are all are free-standing. examples of foods that can help keep guests warm and can be made easily or • Decorate your yard. Creating a theme outside. There are also a can help your decorating have variety of drinks to serve direction and aid in choosing such as hot chocolate or items. Festive winter décor like cider, tea, or even cocktails fairy lights and wreaths can give like a hot toddy or hot your party a cozy and colorful buttered rum. touch. You can also strategically place outdoor furniture near • Plan activities heat sources to keep guests and entertainment. comfortable. Tablecloths and Plan activities and centerpieces can also be added to picnic entertainment based on the predicted tables or patio furniture to further weather for day of your event. elevate your party’s ambiance.

Resolution Run & Polar Bear Dive 1/1

Tacoma RV Show 1/20-1/23

OrcaCon 1/7-1/9

PBR Spokane Classic 1/22

Die Hard RC Experience 1/8, 1/22

Spokane Bridal Festival 1/22-1/23

Monster Jam 1/14-1/16

Broadway Show Anastasia 1/25-1/30

Cirque du Soleil Alegria 1/18-3/13

The Harlem Globetrotters

Januaryimportant dates Saturday, January 1 New Year’s Day Thursday, January 13 National Clean Off Your Desk Day

Sunday, January 23 National Pie Day

Monday, January 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day CW and Counties are closed

Monday, January 24 National Compliment Day

Thursday, January 20 Get to Know Your Customers Day

Friday, January 28 National Data Privacy Day

Houseplants 101 – tips for taking care Being a plant parent can be difficult during winter. With colder temperatures and dryer air, house plants require different care routines. Here are a few tips to help your favorite indoor foliage flourish this winter.

• Water your plants less than normal. Your indoor plants still

need to be watered during winter, but not nearly as often. To see if your plant needs water, insert your finger about two inches deep into the dirt surrounding your plant to see if the soil beneath the surface is dry. If so, lightly water the plant.

• Give your plants a bath. Wash your

plants down gently to remove dust and dirt from leaves. Small plants can be washed in the sink while larger plants can be washed in the shower with a spray nozzle. Use room

temperature water and gently rinse the leaves, being careful not to soak the base and soil. Let drip dry before returning the plant to its regular location.

• Keep plants in sun and avoid heaters and cold

drafts. Avoid putting plants in drafty locations or in an area where a heater will directly blow on your plant. Instead, try to find an area where there is sunlight or under a lamp that has a plant lightbulb.

Post-holiday Recycling Tips and Tricks After the holidays are over, there is often a surplus of wrapping paper, presents, and various holiday decorations that need to be taken care of. Here are seven ecofriendly tips for reducing post-holiday waste while helping the environment.

• Recycle wrapping paper. Most traditional wrapping

paper is recyclable except for anything with plastic, metal, or foil on the paper.

• Save the accessories. Keep bows, ribbons, or other decorations that are in good shape to be used for upcoming holidays or celebrations.

• Keep packing materials. Store tissue paper, shipping peanuts, and bubble wrap, as these can be to used when you need to ship something or for storing fragile items.

• Recycle old Christmas lights. Instead of throwing out

Christmas lights that no longer work or are no longer wanted, look for stores that will accept them. Call ahead to ask your local Home improvement stores such as Home Depot and or Lowe’s if they allow customers to recycle non-functioning lights.

• Recycle old electronics. If you received a new TV, computer or

other electronics for the holidays, now you’ll need to properly dispose of your old equipment. Preventing E-waste is very beneficial for the environment which can be done with proper recycling of your old electronics. Many product manufacturers offer an e-cycle program to take old products back. Or you can research places in your area that offer similar services. A great resource to check is the EPA website; https://www.epa.gov/ for a complete list of places where you can drop off or mail in old electronics.

• Compost left over food scraps. While you are cooking or

after your holiday meals, throw leftover food scraps into a compost pile or bin. This helps to reduce waste and compost can be used to improve your yard.

• Recycle your Christmas tree. Check your local area’s rules on how to recycle or compost your tree as many areas offer tree collection and wood chipping services.

Volume 13 | Issue 1