November Newsletter

the

Home Connection

Volume 11 | Issue 11

NOVEMBER 2020

eye on the market This fall has been record-setting for the Pacific Northwest real estate market.

Mortgage rates have remained historically low and housing inventory is still below the high demand needed by prospective homebuyers. It has been reported that it is not uncommon for homebuyers to experience fierce market competition, including multiple offers on houses and many instances of the seller closing well above the asking price.

Housing prices have also increased significantly across the PNW over the last month, with data from the Northwest MLS showing ‘double-digit year-over-year’ increases in median home prices in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Thurston County.

Year-over-year in King County prices are up by 14.18 percent, in Snohomish County up by 15.74 percent, in Pierce County up by almost 13.13 percent and in Thurston County up by nearly 12.12 percent.

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Data from the MLS also shows 10,175 closed sales transactions in September alone, which is the highest monthly volume since June of 2018.

The competitive real estate market and high prices on homes are said to have derived from factors like low inventory, low mortgage rates, and an extreme surplus of homebuyers. This combination has been noted as the ‘perfect storm’ for options in the current marketplace conditions to tighten and for the pace to increase even as we move quickly into the winter season.

These challenges appear to not have discouraged homebuyers from purchasing houses and it will be interesting to see if sellers become more incentivized to put their homes up for sale with the ongoing market heat. With winter just around the corner, we look forward to comparing home buying activity to the previous winter’s numbers and seeing what trends will emerge in the upcoming season.

Auburn’s Salute Veterans 11/7

Virtual Tours: Buckingham Palace

Harvested Holiday Market 11/14

International Center of Photography virtual tour

TEDx Seattle Saturday 11/21

Ulura-Kata Tjuta National Park Virtual Tour

Mill Creek Memorial Day Parade

Cincinnati Zoo Safari Live Stream

A Virtual autumn leaves experience

Garfield Park Conservatory digital tour

Winter Home Improvements With the colder months just around the corner, now is the perfect time to complete home improvement projects that will make you more comfortable during winter and prepare you for the spring. Here are some easy winter projects you might want to tackle this season.

• Keep heating system maintained. With fireplace or you run your heating system more use during the colder months, it six months a year to year-round. is important to maintain your heating

system. You can do this by • Decluttering. Taking care making sure water levels of organizational tasks in your boiler don’t fall too during fall and winter can low and inspect/change the help take the stress away heating system filters. On from the upcoming ‘spring average, HVAC and furnace cleaning’ season. With filters need to be changed more time spent indoors, at least every three months it is also easy to appreciate or as often as once a month if you a clean and neat space. Go room by have pets, someone in your household room and get rid of old clutter and sort has allergies, you occasionally use a through items to decide what you will continued on next page

November important dates Wednesday, November 11 Friday, November 27 Sunday, November 1 Black Friday Daylight Saving Time Ends Veterans Day Tuesday, November 3 Election Day

Monday, November 23 Espresso Day

Saturday, November 28 Small Business Saturday

Wednesday, November 4 National Candy Day

Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving

Monday, November 30 Cyber Monday

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keep. From there you can find the right places to store your belongings and best utilize the space in your home.

• Assess bathrooms. Updating your

GivingTuesday

A truly meaningful holiday season is found in helping those around us. If you are looking to spread some thankfulness, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving will be the start of GivingTuesday. GivingTuesday is a global movement in generosity that works to improve communities around the world. Each year nonprofits plan their campaigns and give to their efforts with the generous donations from those who get involved. There are also ways to get your organization involved or to help on an individual level by volunteering in your community, being a local activist, donating goods or money, or simply helping with acts of kindness in your neighborhood. For participating nonprofits, causes, and more information on how to contribute, visit the website www.givingtuesday.org.

Rain barrels and water collection Rainwater is an excellent resource for many of your gardening needs. Irrigating the garden, watering indoor plants, or washing your car can all be done with natural rainwater. Rainwater harvesting also helps to conserve water and can even lower your water bill.

• Check the laws for rainwater collection

Winter Home Improvements

beneath the gutters on top of a strong and flat surface. You may want to create a stand for the barrel to sit on as a flat raised surface is ideal for accessing the spigot. A mesh screen should be placed on top of the barrel to act as a filter for the falling rainwater. Water should be thoroughly filtered for bugs, leaves, and other large items before entering the barrel. Put a tap or spigot at the bottom of the barrel to release the rainwater when you are ready.

in your area. Most states have regulations in place for rainwater collection. Look for laws on the amount of rainwater that can be collected and other guidelines.

• Close off your system as much as possible. Still water can be a breeding • Gather the proper equipment. To collect rainwater, you will need a barrel. ground for mosquitoes, other bugs, and small animals, so it is important to keep The barrel you choose should hold a the top part of your barrel closed. You large amount of water without leaks can do this by connecting a hose or tube or contamination of toxic materials.

There are barrels you can make yourself from the gutter directly to the barrel.

This will allow the water to go straight following ‘DIY’ guides, or there are into the barrel without leaving any part barrels that are made specifically of the barrel open. for rainwater collection available for purchase. You will also need a spigot • Keep up with maintenance. Safe and to attach to the bottom of the barrel, clean water can only be achieved when hose, a hose adaptor, mesh, a jigsaw, the rainwater harvesting system is and a wrench to build a standard water properly maintained. It is recommended harvesting system. that gutters, rain heads, water diverters • Build your rainwater harvesting system. and barrels are checked regularly and cleaned annually.

Harvesting systems work their best when placed beneath the gutters of your house. Place your rain barrel Volume 11 | Issue 11

bathroom is a great way to increase the comfort of your home and elevate the look. Inspect the bathrooms in your home to decide if certain elements are in need of a makeover. Some things to consider replacing are faucets, sinks, bathroom décor, grout, light fixtures, and paint.

• Work on floors. Putting in carpet is a

great winter project since it adds to the comfort of your home. It is also a good idea to refinish floors that need to be refreshed as doing so can help keep your home looking polished.

• Improve or add insulation. Adding

insulation can lower your utility bills, increase energy efficiency and help make your home cozier during the colder season. Start by checking your attic, basement, and crawl space to see if more insulation is needed. Since heat rises, adding another layer of insulation to your attic can dramatically improve warmth retention. You can also add insulation in your basement and in crawlspaces to prevent heat loss in those areas.

• Check smoke detectors. Smoke alarms

that use AA or 9-volt batteries are recommended for the batteries to be changed at least once a year or sooner if the alarm chirps. During the fall or winter is a great time to get in the habit of checking smoke detectors to prepare your home for winter. For smoke alarms that have a built-in 10-year lithiumpowered battery, check the date on the back of the alarm and replace the entire unit if that time has elapsed.