Editorial, by Tracy Ellis

EVERY HOME HAS A STORY, LET US TELL YOURS

What a year of highs and lows 2020 has been for all of us. When we began the year, who would have imagined we would be facing a global pandemic with the impact felt around the globe. There was so much uncertainty in all areas of our life and especially in the job market and in the real estate market. That was the first time in my real estate career that my phone rarely rang for a period of three weeks. Since that time, it has not stopped ringing and I am incredibly grateful.

The current real estate market reflects the reality that, after months of quarantine, many who have not been economically impacted by COVID-19, are realizing that there may never be a better time to sell their home than now. With home values at their peak and incredibly low interest rates, it is a winning combination. During the quarantine, many have been reminded about what they do not like about their home. We have seen more clients than ever who have been on the fence about selling their home, deciding that now is the right time to make their move. This pandemic has also made people realize they want to be closer to family. We have had many clients relocating to do just that, as well as clients who have decided they want to simply travel in their new RV’s and enjoy life a little more now that they are able to work remotely. Therefore, some have made the decision to downsize to a smaller home and travel.

After months of working virtually, more and more buyers are realizing they are not as restricted on where they live and some are looking for more space and privacy in the suburbs and rural areas. Since more Americans are now working from home, the need for a larger home to accommodate a quiet space to work has grown as well. In many states, buyers had moved to the city to be able to enjoy walking to restaurants, shops, and the nightlife without having to drive anywhere. Unfortunately, with COVID, in a lot of cities all over America, those businesses are no longer open. If the businesses are still open, some people in those areas are simply staying home. This has made some change their views on living in the city, especially since so many people are also working from home.

Many buyers are looking for larger homes, on larger lots to help accommodate the virtual learning for their kids and to have a quiet work environment for themselves. We have also seen more interest in families buying land in more rural areas to have more space or for families to have a place to build homes near each other for support purposes.

As many more Americans work, study, and exercise at home, they are expecting much more from their homes. Most buyers are looking for a multi-purpose sanctuary. I have seen many clients being very purposeful in their decisions on their next home than ever before. More clients are wanting more space to exercise, instead of a corner in a bedroom. They are looking for light-filled rooms or finished walk out lower levels that can help them feel like they are continuing with some what of their normal routine of a gym. Of course, the majority of home buyers, want a dedicated home office, if not two, with good lighting and a great backdrop for their many Zoom or Virbella calls. The outcome of the pandemic in housing, has been all about making our homes serve as all things since many of us have been spending a lot of our time now at home.

Although our homes functionality has become especially important during COVID, we have also seen many more spending a lot of time outdoors. So many have spent a lot of time and money on outdoor expansion more this year than ever. Homeowners want those spaces to be welcoming, with pools, cabanas, and outdoor living rooms with features like a fireplace, a television, a bathroom, and a kitchen with a pizza oven. Homeowners are also looking for quiet nooks so they can escape without ever leaving their home. Barn houses, sheds, garages, and carriage houses are being converted to artist studios, home offices, or classroom space for the children.

Rick and I did the same as well with the addition of an outdoor kitchen pavilion that we just had completed, I will share the photos here with you. We are so grateful to have this space, with many not feeling comfortable to gather indoors still. We have had more outdoor dinners this year than at any time in our 34 years together.

All of this brings me back to something I talk about in almost every edition of our magazine and often on our radio shows, our home truly is

our sanctuary. Our home is where we find peace, comfort, love, and joy. It is where the best memories in our life are made with our families. This year, more than ever, has reminded me of the importance of our job in representing not only our client’s best interest but listening to their wants and needs and treating them like a part of our family. We never take for granted the fact this is the largest investment most of us will make in our lifetime and are so grateful to all of our clients that have let us represent you for over twenty years now.

As I write this, we are only weeks away from a Presidential election. What a year it has been, a pandemic and now an election. I know this is a heated topic for many for obvious reasons, so I will not go into a lot of detail here except to say, I think more than ever we all need to be a little more kind to one another. It disturbs me to see something as serious as a Pandemic being turned into something political. I am looking forward to the election being over so that we can all enjoy the holidays in our homes with our families. Later in this issue you will find a story about why the holidays are so important to Rick and I and we will take you inside our home for the holidays. This is the first time we have shared our home, decorated for Christmas, in the magazine, but with everything going on this year, we wanted to spread as much joy and happiness as we could.

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year and we hope all of you spend it with family making wonderful memories. We thank you for allowing us into your homes and look forward to many more years of serving our community. If you know of anyone thinking of buying, selling, building, or investing in real estate, we would greatly appreciate if you would tell them to give us a call. Remember, Every Home Has A Story and We Would Love to Tell Yours.