ISSUE 93 | JULY 2019
WITH COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON
THE ISACC FOUNDATION On February 8, 2007, Holly Lytle suffered a tremendous loss when her son Isaac, diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, unexpectedly passed away just 6 weeks short of celebrating his fourth birthday. Determined to turn her personal tragedy into an opportunity to help families similar to her own who were struggling with the hardships of having a loved one affected by autism, Holly channeled her grief and founded the ISAAC Foundation in July of 2007. This was no easy task as the year following Isaac’s death Holly gave birth to her youngest son, Caleb, who was later diagnosed with high functioning autism. Through it all, Holly never allowed personal hardship to derail her desire to provide services for families in need. In the early years, the ISAAC Foundation provided financial support to hundreds of children in the region diagnosed with autism so that they could receive critical therapy interventions that were not covered by their insurance. She later broadened the scope of ISAAC Foundation’s mission to include emotional support programs for parents and siblings, educational programs for parents, teachers, employers and regional first responders, and a weighted blanket program that hand-makes and distributes over 200 weighted blankets and lap pads per year to individuals in need in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. When asked to describe a typical day at the office, Holly just smiles and laughs. “Like autism, there is no such thing as typical. There are never two days that look exactly alike, in part, because there is no one-size fits all approach
Article by Larry Lapidus, Realtor®
when it comes to autism.” The needs of each family is different which is why the ISAAC Foundation provides a very diverse set or programs and services. Sometimes a family’s greatest need is emotional support, which is why the foundation hosts monthly mom, dad and sibling support groups. Other times families are looking for help finding therapists, navigating Individualized Education Plans, and applying for services through the Department of Developmental Administration. The ISAAC Foundation has an extremely loyal and dedicated network of supporters in the region. “Our supporters consist of local organizations and families who have often experienced first-hand the quality of services the ISAAC Foundation provides to the community. It’s through these experiences, both the good and the bad, that we are able to form strong bonds that keeps us connected throughout their autism journey.” The ISAAC Foundation is more than just a foundation providing programs and services to the autism community. It has become the glue that connects a diverse tribe of individuals, families, and organization that together impact the lives of thousands of individuals touched by autism throughout the region. To learn more about autism, The ISAAC Foundation, or its various community trainings, follow us on Facebook or visit its website at theISAACfoundation.org.
BE READY FOR THE APPRAISER Whether you are planning to sell your home, or to refinance in order to put some of your equity to work elsewhere, you should realize that you have a visit from an appraiser in your future. Follow these tips to ensure the best possible outcome:
1. CLEAN UP YOUR YARD FOR CURB APPEAL
• Walk out front and look at your home with fresh eyes. Weeds in the driveway and scattered toys are all minor issues you can take care of quickly. • Create a home appraisal checklist in the weeks leading up to your appointment. Then do a few projects or repeat some tasks each week. • Adding a few new plants in pots or the ground can bring some new life to your home’s exterior. • Be sure to repair any chipped or peeling paint. • Cleaning your windows can make a difference.
2. THE $500 RULE IS REAL
• Appraisers often measure home value in $500 increments. If your home needs some relativity-minor repairs, get them taken care of; it may increase your appraisal by hundreds, even thousands of dollars..
3. DOUBLE CHECK THE BASICS
• Having lights, doors, or windows not working can affect your home’s effective age. If elements in your home are in disrepair its perceived age will be higher, and it will be put into a category with older homes of lesser value. • Think of these small repairs as the tipping point. If the appraiser sees lights or doors not functioning properly, they may wonder if the homeowner has kept up with larger home repairs.
4. KEEP A LIST OF REPAIRS AND UPGRADES
• Make a list of the repairs and upgrades you have made
and show them to the appraiser. This allows the appraiser to see the the time and care you have invested.
5. SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS INSTALLED AND WORKING • Make sure to check your safety devices, like the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Remember to check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher, too.
6. CHANGE WHAT WILL ADD THE MOST VALUE
• The kitchen and bathroom hold the biggest opportunity for return on investment. • Some other elements that greatly increased the home worth are wood floors, landscaping, and a lockable garage. Anything below grade, basically the ground or foundation, aren’t factored into square footage.
7. DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FUNDAMENTALS
• Appraisers are looking for the overall structure of the home to gauge the quality of the build. The size of the property greatly impacts the total value. Lastly, the condition of the exterior and interior will be used to determine the place of the property on the spectrum of value.
8. REMEMBER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
• Location is famously important in appraising a home. • What improvements have happened since you moved in? Was a new school, restaurant, or park built? Note if your roads have been recently re-paved. • What is within 10 miles of your home? A luxury shopping center, university, or sports stadium can all affect the perceived value of your home.
MEDITERRANEAN WATERMELON SALAD
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
INGREDIENTS • 2 cups thinly sliced cucumbers (Persian cucumbers are preferred. English or European cucumbers should be peeled. Persian cucumbers need not be.) • 3-4 cups small watermelon balls • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese INSTRUCTIONS • 3 tsp finely chopped fresh basil 1. Thinly slice 2 cups of cucumbers • 1 tbsp + 1 tsp rice vinegar (Persian cucumbers are preferred. English or European cucumbers This is NOT Aunt Ethel’s dreaded fruit should be peeled. Persian “salad,” replete with sugar and Miracle cucumbers need not be.) Whip, but a light, refreshing dish, perfect 2. Slice 3-4 cups of watermellon into for 21st Century summer entertaining small balls (save resulting juices and set aside). 3. Combine sliced cucumbers and watermelon into bowl and add 1/3 cup of cumbled feta cheese. Mix with wooden spoon. 4. In a small bowl, mix 3 tsp of finely chopped fresh basil and 1 tbsp + 1 tsp rice vinegar. 5. Add juices resulting from making watermelon balls into bowl and stir 6. Add the dressing to the cucumber, feta and watermelon mixture and mix with a wooden spoon and marinate for at least one hour. This salad can be made the day before and should be served chilled. Very refreshing!
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA is ranked #3 out of 300 metros in the country in the month of April. This is a ‘Very Hot’ market that is ‘Heating Up’ compared to last month, and ‘Heating Up’ compared to last year. Median days on market is 31 days, with inventory moving 9% ‘Faster’ than last year and 27 days ‘Faster’ than the US overall. Properties in the area receive an average number of views 1.9 times ‘Higher’ than the US average.
NOW TRENDING: DITCH THE WOOD BALUSTERS
Tired of maintaining the wood balusters on your exterior railings? Is custom steel fabrication out of budget? Consider these two time and money-saving replacements: electrical conduit or black pipe.
of the annual maintenance required by wood balusters. By removing the existing balusters and placing the conduit or pipe horizontally, one can take advantage of the existing deck posts and top rails to transform most any existing railing system.
runs, a code requirement. Use the drill/screw gun to accommodate the fasteners you have chosen, and the grinder to cut specific lengths and to make snug joints at the corners. Coat the black pipe with a clear finish if you don’t like the ‘rusty’ metal look.
Conduit is galvanized (silvery finish) metal, and is typically 10’ long. Black pipe comes in various lengths up to 42’. Many fastener types can be used; be creative in your choice. Couplings and other joiner fittings are available to create longer runs. Be sure to make joints at existing rail posts to make for easier connections. Drilling through the pipe to accommodate your chosen fastener is easily accomplished.
The combination of wood and metal will save you a great deal of time and trouble, while providing a unique look and better visibility.
Using ‘specialty’ tools such as a drill/ screw gun and a hand-held grinder you can create a sleek, nearly Simply lay out your horizontal runs maintenance-free deck railing, free being careful not to exceed 4” between
Submitted by Dale Smith, Realtor®
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson 4102 S Regal St, Suite 201 Spokane, WA 99223
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ISSUE 93 | JULY 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 7.9% 55
48
The average closed price 2019 was $289,308 compared to June 2018 62 55 for June 50 44 when the average price was $268,039. (Does not represent home values) 59 53 45 40 53 45 MEDIAN PRICE UP 8.2%35 53 39 30
36 31 The median closed price35for June 31 2019 was $265,000 compared to June 2018 52 28 when the median price was $245,000. (Does not represent home values) 53 37 35 54 43 33 55 single family 44 35on less than one acre including condos for Closed sales of homes 56 764 compared 42 36 June 2019 total to June 2018 when the total was 923. 59 45 39 60 49 44
SALES DOWN 17.2%
INVENTORY DOWN 6.1%
Current inventory, as of this report totals 1,335 properties which represents a 1.7 months supply. (Months supply based on closed sales for June) 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
2019 is already another record year in Spokane. The amount of distressed sales (e.g. bank-repos,short-sales, etc.) is one way to measure a market’s strength: the fewer the better. Since 2013, these sales have been decreasing. In the Spokane market, there were just over 200 distressed sales in 2018, 50% fewer than in 2017. Currently, we’re on pace to have only 130 for 2019. Less financial hardship and a growing local economy mean greater market activity. As of April 2019, realtor.com is reporting Spokane/Spokane Valley the 3rd hottest market in the nation, and market activity has been intense since then too! As the market continues to change, so should your planning strategy. Let your Coldwell Banker Tomlinson real estate professional be your trusted guide in this hot market. Article by Cody Kerr, Realtor®
CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR DETAILED MARKET INFORMATION.