House to Home: April Edition

Why List in the Spring?

Springtime is the right time to list your house for several reasons:

Better Weather

The weather is generally more favorable during spring, making it easier for potential buyers to view your property without having to navigate through snow or rain

Curb Appeal

Spring brings blooming flowers, green lawns, and more daylight, enhancing the curb appeal of your property and making it look more attractive to buyers

Higher Demand

Many people prefer to move during the warmer months, especially families with children who want to settle into a new home before the next school year begins This increased demand can lead to quicker sales and potentially higher offers

Market Activity

Real estate market activity tends to pick up in spring as buyers come out of winter hibernation, resulting in more competition among buyers and potentially driving up prices

Timing

Listing your house in spring allows you to take advantage of tax refund season when buyers may have more funds available for a down payment or closing costs

Overall, the combination of better weather, increased demand, and heightened market activity makes spring an optimal time to list your house for sale

Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 lbs bone-in skinless chicken breast or thighs

Salt/Pepper to taste

5 Tbsp butter

1 small yellow onion diced

1 cup carrots diced

2 sticks celery diced

3 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp hot sauce

Directions:

1/3 cup flour

4 ½ cups chicken broth

1 chicken bouillon optional

1 ½ cups half and half

¾ cup frozen peas

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp EACH: dried basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, mustard powder

¼ tsp ground sage

1/8 tsp pepper

Dumplings

2 cups cake flour or regular flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

½ tsp garlic powder

2 tsp sugar

¾ cup cold sour cream

¼ cup cold milk

4 tablespoons butter melted

Season each side of the chicken with salt and pepper Heat olive oil in a 4 ½-quart soup pot over medium-high heat Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes per side, until a little bit of a brown color has developed The middle will still be uncooked Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces (Discard the bones )Combine the seasonings and set aside Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery and cook for 5 minutes Add the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and seasonings Cook for 1 more minute Add the flour and toss to coat Cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously Add the chicken broth in small splashes, stirring continuously Scrape up any remnants from the bottom of the pot as you do so Add the half and half in the same manner Add the chicken bouillon, if using Add frozen peas Bring to a gentle boil and let it simmer, uncovered, while you make the dumplings Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, garlic powder, and sugar in a medium bowl Add the milk, sour cream, and melted butter Use a folding motion to combine and form a dough, but don’t overmix or they will be dense Add the chicken back to the soup along with any juices from the plate Stir to combine and reduce heat to low (If using leftover chicken, add it now ) Use a small cookie scoop and carefully place the dumplings over the soup in an even layer Spoon a little liquid over each one Cover tightly and increase heat slightly to bring it to a gentle simmer Set a timer for 15 minutes, don’t lift the lid during this time, the dumplings need to steam Open the lid and insert a toothpick into the middle of a dumpling to check for doneness If it comes out clean, it’s ready If not, cover and simmer for a few more minutes Once the middle is set, garnish with parsley and serve!

804 Queensbury Drive

Listedat$418,000

LuxuriouslivinginFriedbergVillage! ThepopularKingstonfloorplanwith sunroomofferstwobedroomsonthe mainlevel(includingtheprimary suite)whileathirdbedroom,bonus roomandfullbathroomareupstairs

5742

Clouds Harbor Trail

Listedat$426,127

TheHarborfloorplanoffersanopen layoutonthemainwithanoffice/flex spaceandhalfbath Upstairsincludes threebedrooms,includingtheprimary suitewithgardentub,additionalfull bathandaloft Upgradedfeatures throughout!

WHAT’S HAPPENING

HOMES SALE for around the city

Children’s Story Hour

Every Monday at 10:30 am

The Bookhouse

Run/Walk Club

Every Tuesday at 6:30 pm Wise Man Brewing

Yoga

Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm Radar Brewing Company

Piedmont Earth Day Fair

April 20th from 10 am - 4 pm Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

CraftHalf Half Marathon & 5K

April 20th at 8:30 am

Begins at Foothills Brewpub

The February numbers continued to build upon some promising indicators for our overall market that we noticed in January Around 33% of all listings are adjusting the price one or more times in order to sell This continues to show the value of sellers pricing their homes accurately from the beginning to minimize days on the market and maximize the selling price We dropped below 400 active new homes on the last day of the month for the first time since July of last year which means that builders will need to continue to work hard to keep up with demand The interest rates took a turn in the wrong direction after some better-thanexpected jobs numbers and continued rising inflation Many experts still expect rates to settle in the 6% range by mid-year and maybe enter the high 5% range by year end It is still a great time to sell in our marketplace and many Americans are now sitting on near alltime highs for equity growth in their homes