WITH AMANDA HEATH
STREAMLINE YOUR
Take Time
Set your alarm to go off a few minutes before the kids get up to create a little "me" time. Meditate, read or exercise whatever clears your mind for the day ahead.
Clock Central
Place easy-to-read clocks around the house to help remind kids of what time to have breakfast, brush teeth and be out the door.
Musical Motivation
Make a morning-specific playlist and use it to time your departure. When that final song comes on, everyone will know it's time to jump in the car.
Outfit Planning
On Sunday night, plan the week's outfits to avoid any AM drama. Include socks and undies so getting dressed, even for little ones, is super simple.
Minimize Choices
Instead of asking children what they'd like to eat each morning, limit them to just a couple choices. They'll
feel like they have a say, and you won't feel like you're running the "International House of Breakfast."
Reminder Cards
Place a brightly-colored card in each backpack the night before so forgetting lunch will be practically impossible.
Family Command Center
Transform even the smallest space into a command center that'll help keep everyone organized and on track by hanging clipboards, frames and cork boards to wrangle important contact information and documents. Add even more functionality with colorful hooks for keys, totes and backpacks.
Kid-Friendly Backseat Organizer
Keep a stash of snacks, study aids and school supplies in the car so you're prepared for anything both to and from school.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL DAYS… LOCALLY!
Follow along on my social media to see which local venues I will be highlighting this month!
Aug. 4 • Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Aug. 8 • Pickleball Day Aug. 13 • Filet Mignon Day
Aug 15. • Relaxation Day
Aug. 23 • Cuban Sandwich Day
GREATER WINSTON SALEM MARKET UPDATE
Residential Sales Activity by Price Range (Last Six Months)
Residential Sales Activity by Zip Code (Last Six Months)
Did you know...for every transaction I close, a donation is made to the Second Harvest Food Bank and Samaritan Ministries in an effort to give back to the community.
DIRECTIONS:
INGREDIENTS:
• 5 peaches , peeled, cored and sliced (about 4 cups)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• ground cinnamon
Add the sliced peaches, sugar and salt to a saucepan and stir to combine. Cook on medium heat for just a few minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and helps to bring out juices from the peaches. Remove from heat and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice butter into pieces and add to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place the pan in the oven while it preheats, to allow the butter to melt. Once melted, remove the pan from the oven. In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, just until combined. Pour the mixture into the pan, over the melted butter and smooth it into an even layer. Spoon the peaches and juice over the batter. Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 38-40 minutes. Serve warm, with a scoop of ice cream, if desired.
Through the second quarter of the year, we have seen the continuation of trends that have defined our market for the last year. Lingering inflation concerns and economic data have caused mortgage interest rates to continue to stay consistent at levels around 7%. Many buyers who expected prices to adjust downward have realized that they can’t wait any longer for rates to drop and have reentered the market. However, investors have had a harder time finding mortgages and finding homes available at prices that make sense for them to purchase. The continued low inventory has led to the average sales price rising to historic levels. The month of June set all-time records for the median sales price at $295,130. We also set a new high median price for homes listed at $330,250 and for homes that went under contract at $305,000.
After a slower start to the year in the first quarter we saw things pick up in the 2nd quarter reminiscent of more typical Spring markets. There were 36% more homes sold than in the first quarter of the year and the total sales volume was up 44%from the first quarter. The average sales price also went up 6% vs the first quarter. If we look at the market over the last 12 months compared to the prior 12 months units are down 8%, volume is down 2%, and the average sales price is up 7%. Days on market have also risen almost 25% over the last year. Resale properties have cooled some after seeing an increase at the beginning of the year. This category is down for units sold by nearly 12% over the last 12 months and down 2% from this same time last year. The luxury market, homes priced over $600,000 continue to be a bright spot. Sales for these homes has increased over 34% year-to-date vs the same time in 2023. Sales for homes over $900,000 have increased 20% year-over-year and are up 7% vs this same time last year. New homes continue to do well with 8% more units selling year-to-date. We had 920 new listings hit the market in June of this year vs 898 last year. We have had three consecutive months of seeing the highest number of new listings since the middle of 2022. We are currently sitting at a little over a 1.6-month supply of inventory. Homes that sold with zero price changes spent on average 15 days on the market and sold for 99.6% of asking price. Homes with 1+ price adjustments sold on average in 69 days and at 93% of the original asking price. Close to 33% of all listings are adjusting the price one or more times to sell. In June, there were 185 new construction homes closed which is the second highest total in two years. There is currently a 2.3-month supply of new construction homes actively on the market.
The sales activity by price range and zip code chart compares the current active inventory to the number of closed sales during the last six months. The most active price range remains between $200,000-$300,000, with over 37% of all closed sales, with the average home selling for 99.1% of list price. If you look at homes that closed over $600,00 there were 293 units in the last 6 months. This is 22% more than this same category one year ago which is indicative of the continued rise in property values across the board. The zip codes with the lowest supply of homes are 27028, 27104, 27107, and 27295, with no more than a 1.5 month supply available. The Mocksville and Lexington zip codes being on this list may indicate people are looking outside of Forsyth County for more affordable housing options. The most active zip code continues to be 27284, Kernersville, with 408 closed sales and the average home selling for 99.6% of list price and that is followed by 27295, Lexington, with 341 closed sales and homes selling at 99% of list price.
Recipe and photo from tastesbetterfromscratch.com
