ISSUE 94 | AUGUST 2019
WITH COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON
FOSTERING A MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD
Article by Melissa Blaine, Realtor®
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass
“What happens when people open their hearts? They get better.” – Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood
In today’s current political and social climate, we see so much turmoil and differing opinions about immigration and homelessness. While this is not a real estate market topic, this is a Spokane topic and reaches far beyond our city and state borders. In upcoming issues, we will feature a few very specific articles about our marginalized youth. This is not a political stance or policy discussion. This is about what is being done now by local organizations to help youth that will grow up to be our future neighbors, employees, and leaders. This is about what we can do as a community to make a difference in the next generation. to “be the change we want to see”.
This month’s feature is the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Program through Lutheran Community Services. I first heard about this program in the fall of 2018. Since that time, my husband and I have attended their orientation, signed up and have now just completed all of our required classes and licensing criteria to be able to be foster parents to a URM youth. We will be accepting a child into our home starting in August!
Building walls or shelters or policing policy are reactions to current stresses in our culture. We will focus on a few local organizations that are engaging youth early to hopefully change their life trajectory and in time, make a difference for all.
Most of the children that need placement in a foster home in this program are teenagers. The program’s most urgent need is for licensed foster parent. There are, however, several ways you can participate in this program: providing respite care, acting as a mentor, and donating. The youth through this program are in the United States on an asylum visa. This is not a pathway to adoption, but rather a long term guardian role with the possibility of reunifying the child with the family. Here is more from the LCS staff: ...continued on next page
“FOSTERING A MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD,” CONTINUED “Three years ago, our Child Welfare team launched its Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) resettlement program – making Spokane home to one of only 31 such programs in the country. Since then, we’ve placed 29 youth from around the world into foster homes here in our community. In order to be resettled as unaccompanied refugee minors, these youth must be under the age of 18, meet the legal definition of a refugee, and have no adult guardian who is responsible for their care.
before finally being approved for resettlement with a foster family here in the US. The other half of our youth have fled trafficking and gang violence in Central America – often traveling for weeks or months by foot or on top of trains to come seek safety in the US. Like those from other parts of the world, these Central American youth have endured immense trauma, both in their home countries and on their journey north. Upon arriving in the US, they enter into legal proceedings to determine whether or not they will be allowed to stay. Once their claims for protection are approved by the courts, these youth become eligible for resettlement through a program like ours.
“Three years ago, our Child Welfare team launched its Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) resettlement program – making Spokane home to one of only 31 such programs in the country.”
So who are these refugee minors and where are they coming from? Half of the youth in our program arrive from overseas through the UN refugee resettlement process. Many of them have lost parents to violence, genocide, and disease. Others have been separated from their families somewhere along the journey to safety, leaving them wrestling with the painful question of where their loved ones are or if they’re even still alive. Regardless of their circumstances, these youth all find themselves alone and responsible for their own survival at a very young age, sometimes living on their own in refugee camps for years
Interested in learning how you can make a difference in the life of a refugee youth? Join us at one of our Information Nights, held on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30pm at our office (210 W Sprague Ave, Spokane WA 99201). For more information, contact Theirhope@lcsnw.org or call (509) 747-8224.”
BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD WITH CITRUS VINAIGRETTE
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use pre-shredded sprouts or shred whole sprouts using the shredding blade of a food processor. 2. Place brussel sprouts in a large bowl and combine with chopped bacon, red onion, cherries, almonds and optional goat cheese. 3. Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients. 4. Add vinaigrette immediately before serving and toss well to coat. Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but bitter brussel sprouts are a thing of the past. Every place you look (Trader Joe’s, Rosauer’s, Yokes, etc.), you can find sweet, delicious and highly healthful brussel sprouts. This salad is a great way to enjoy them. Forget the meatloaf!
FLUFFY. A small, sweetand cuddly cat who would love to curl up on your lap and purr you to sleep. #2019-7083
SALAD INGREDIENTS
• 24 oz. Brussels sprouts, shredded – may purchase 2-10 oz. pre-shredded (also known as shaved) Brussels sprouts or substitute shredded cabbage • 6–8 slices crisp cooked bacon, chopped (recommend Pederson’s Natural Farms Bacon) • 1 cup sliced red onion • 2/3 cup dried cherries, unsweetened (may substitute cranberries or raisins)
RIKER. A very happy, sweet, energetic boy who will need exercise. He will need a strong and patient person to teach him manners. #2019-6920
• 2/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted • 4 oz. goat cheese, soft & crumbled (optional – omit for dairy-free and Whole30) • 1 cup citrus vinaigrette (or pre-made Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Vinaigrette-not Whole30)
CITRUS VINAIGRETTE INGREDIENTS • 1 small orange, juiced • 1 tsp. orange zest • 1 lemon, juiced • 2 Tbsp. finely minced shallots (may substitute 1 Tbsp. minced garlic)
• 1 tsp. yellow mustard • 3/4 cup avocado or olive oil • 2 tsp. fresh thyme, minced (may substitute an equal amount of tarragon, basil, rosemary or oregano or 1 tsp. dried herbs of choice) • Sea salt and pepper to taste
Interested in adopting or donating? Call SCRAPS Today! 509.477.2532
NOW TRENDING: ROOFING MATERIALS – YOU HAVE OPTIONS! cedar, these shingles are long-lasting and provide a traditional look to most homes. While once considered a fire risk, these shingles can now be purchased with a flame-retardant additive, allowing them to be used once again in many fire-prone areas.
roof can reduce energy costs in the summer by keeping your attic space cooler. Metal panels and shingles come in a variety of designs and colors. Metal roofs tend to stay cleaner and don’t contribute to the buildup of sediment in your gutters.
Asphalt composition shingles are the most popular, cost-effective and labor-saving roofing shingle there is. They come in a variety of colors, textures and weights. Typically, a heavier shingle will outlive a lighter weight shingle.
Other newer roofing trends are synthetic and solar producing materials that mimic the appearance of slate, cedar and asphalt shingles. Always take care to provide proper attic ventilation in a new or existing shingle application.
Many property owners take their roofs for granted and don’t pay them much attention until they have a problem. What are your options when a replacement roof is needed? There are many materials and styles If longevity and durability are a high priority, consider a tile or metal to choose from. roof. Tile roofs are very heavy and Traditionally, wood shingles and require additional structural support, shakes were the go-to for roofing but a metal roof is light weight and materials. Typically made from reflective. The reflectivity of a metal
Submitted by Dale Smith, Realtor®
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson 4102 S Regal St, Suite 201 Spokane, WA 99223
ISSUE 94 | AUGUST 2019 ©2019 Coldwell Banker Tomlinson. All rights reserved. Each office is independently owned and operated. If you currently have an Agent assisting you with the purchase or sale of property, this is not a solicitation for business.
SPOKANE REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS 2016
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2018
2017
MARKET UPDATE
2019
AVERAGE71 PRICE57UP 15.2% 55
48
The average closed price was $298,337 compared to July 2018 62 55 for July 2019 50 44 when the average price was $259,059. (Does not represent home values) 59 53 45 40 53 45 35 MEDIAN PRICE UP 14.9% 53 39 30
36 31 The median closed price35for July 2019 was $270,000 compared to July 2018 52 31 28 when the median price was $235,000. (Does not represent home values) 53 37 35 31 54 43 33 55 single family 44 35on less than one acre including condos for Closed sales of homes 56 850 compared 42 36 2018 when the total was 899. July 2019 total to July 59 45 39 60 49 44
SALES DOWN 5.5%
INVENTORY DOWN 2.7%
Current inventory, as of this report totals 1,428 properties which represents a 1.7 months supply. (Months supply based on closed sales for July) Information comes from the SAR’s Monthly Activity Report which looks at single family residential/site built properties on less than one acre and condominiums.
DAYS ON MARKET JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
2016
71
62
59
53
53
52
53
54
55
56
59
60
2017
57
55
53
45
39
35
37
43
44
42
45
49
2018
55
50
45
35
30
31
35
33
35
36
39
44
2019
48
44
40
36
31
28
31
Do you know how to tell whether a property is on the market too long and in danger of not selling, what we call “market weary?” Well, that depends on how it compares with the average days on market of other homes of similar price. Specialty properties or high-end listings often take months or even years to sell, so the average for that market segment is longer. About 90% of homes in the Spokane market sell for less than $525,000. The average home in that market segment is on the market for 40 days. If you have a home on the market in that price range for much longer than 40 days, it may be overpriced. And if you’re shopping for homes, seeing a “market weary” listing with high days on market may be a deal in the making. Article by Cody Kerr, Realtor®
CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR DETAILED MARKET INFORMATION.