WCB 253 Magazine December 2023

NOVEMBER 2023

Local Real Estate Market Trends Plus...

Get to Know Our Office Meet Our Front Office Team

Indoor Activities Rainy Day Activities

2024 Predictions Matthew Gardner’s “Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2024”

...and more The power of Windermere. The personalized service of Windermere Chambers Bay.

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.”

–Mary Anne Radmacher

Local Real Estate Market Trends Plus...

Get to Know Our Office Meet our front office team

Local Feature

Point Defiance Zoo: Zoo Lights, The new polar bears

Rainy Day Ideas Where to go for indoor play

Holiday Hosting Tips Be the hostess with the mostess

2024 Predictions Matthew Gardner’s top 10 housing predictions

December Events What's Happening?

Market Update Why the PNW is different

WCB IN THE COMMUNITY! University Place Tree Lighting Friday, December 1 The rain didn’t stop us from having a great time!

Title & Escrow Bingo Our REALTORS engaged in a lively game of title and escrow bingo. Learning can be fun!

Supporting our new neighbors at Chambers Bay Distillery. Go check them out, their flatbreads are delicious too!

GET TO KNOW...

OUR OFFICE TEAM Meet the incredible individuals who make our office a vibrant and efficient hub! Our team is the heart and soul of our workspace.

Together, we bring a wealth of skills, passion, and professionalism to ensure a seamless experience for our clients and REALTORS®. Here are the faces behind the scenes, working to make every day in the office a success.

PATIENCE COLKITT REALTOR® Designated Broker

ELSA BORGEN REALTOR® Managing Broker Branch Manager

ASHLEY PULLEN Marketing Coordinator

CHRISTINA RAU Licensed Office Administrator

SHAKTIE RYGERS REALTOR® File Manager

Zoo Lights Dazzle at Point Defiance

By: Celeste Schueler

Residents of the South Sound area do not have to venture far to see things “merry and bright” this winter. For over 35 years, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium has put together brilliant light displays to celebrate the holiday season.

Families all over Tacoma are welcome to take in the cheer of the bright lights that celebrate not only the animals of the zoo, but also the culture of the Puget Sound.

This year will be truly extraordinary, with new light displays celebrating the zoo’s latest additions: twin polar bear sisters Astra and Laerke and the new baby muskox, Willow. Fan favorite light displays, including Mount Rainier, the 100-foot-wide giant Pacific octopus, and the glowing Seahawks Tree, are also back this year. With over 800,000 LED lights at this annual event, there is definitely a light display to please anyone and everyone.

There are also dozens of 3D light displays that capture the festive spirit this time of year. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium boasts beautiful lights perfect for any selfie or family photo, especially in the lighted tunnels throughout the zoo. The festivities are only beginning with the lights.

video preview of zoo lights provided by Point Defiance Zoo

Not only can families take in the beaming lights, but young and old are welcome to pet and feed the zoo’s family of goats. The zoo’s carousel will also be running every night during Zoo Lights. There are polar bears and walruses, as well as horses and other animals to pick for a cheerful ride. For a bit of extra fun, tickets to feed and groom the goats in their jolly sweaters may be purchased.

Zoo Lights is happening now through January 1, with closures on December 24 and 25.

Do not miss this exceptional and classic holiday experience of the South Sound. Bundle up the family for a night of festivities that everyone will remember. The zoo is open for the spectacular lights from 4:30 pm until 10 pm.

Tickets for Zoo Lights: Monday through Thursday: $14 for general admission, $7 for members Friday through Sunday: $18 for general admission, $9 for members Parking is always free.

Holiday Hosting Tips Hosting during the holiday season can be a joyous yet sometimes challenging endeavor. Here are 10 tips to make your holiday gatherings cozy and stress-free: Plan Ahead: Start your preparations early. Create a checklist for shopping, cleaning, and decorating to avoid last-minute stress.

Warm Welcome: Set the tone by creating a warm and inviting entrance. Consider placing a festive wreath on the door or some twinkling lights to greet your guests.

Ambiance is Key: Create a cozy atmosphere with soft lighting, such as candles or fairy lights. Consider playing holiday music softly in the background to enhance the festive mood.

Comfortable Seating: Ensure there's plenty of comfortable seating for everyone.

Arrange furniture to encourage conversation and connection.

Festive Decor: Deck the halls with festive decorations, but don't overdo it. A few wellplaced decorations can create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

Signature Drink: Create a special holiday drink for your guests. It could be something warm like mulled wine or a festive mocktail.

Cozy Blankets and Pillows: Provide soft blankets and pillows for guests to snuggle up with. This adds an extra layer of comfort and warmth to your gathering.

Scent of the Season: Use seasonal scents to enhance the ambiance. Consider simmering potpourri on the stove with cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and cloves.

Simple Menu: Plan a menu that allows you to spend time with your guests rather than being stuck in the kitchen. Consider a potluck-style dinner or prepare dishes in advance.

Games and Activities: Have some holiday-themed games or activities on hand. This can be a great way to break the ice and keep everyone entertained.

Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy the time with your loved ones.

Happy hosting!

Indoor play for Cold and Rainy Days!

Odyssey 1: Play space with ball pits, tunnels, jumping area, balls, and more. One side is the jungle gym play area and the other is an arcade.

It’s open all day every day from 10am to 9/10pm. $7.85 for kids ages 2 and over Mon. - Fri. $9.45 Sat. & Sun. $2.25 for little kids under age 2.

FREE for kids under age 2 with a $7.85 or $9.45 paid admission FREE for the supervising adults Defy Tacoma: A big space full of various trampolines! This place is great for expending all that energy. All jumping, all the time.

Mon. - Thurs. 9am to 9pm, Fri. and Sat. 9am to midnight, Sun. 11am - 7pm.

Pricing $15.64 for kids 6+ years old, $12.16 for 6 years old and under, for 1 hour. Plus, you will need to buy the grip socks $3.63 which are reusable.

Pump it Up: A warehouse with lots of bouncy house type inflatables.

Need to make reservations with small groups as they don’t currently have a schedule for “open jump.”

Pricing varies STAR Center Treetops Playground: This indoor play space has tunnels, slides, and balls.

Kids only play: Mon.-Thur. 9am-12pm and 4-8pm, Fri. 9am-12pm.

Family Play: Mon. - Thur. 12pm - 4pm, Fri. 12pm - 6pm. Sat. 10am - 4pm Sun. 12pm - 4pm. $8 per child for the day with membership or additional $5 per day. Children six months through 12 years old.

Children’s Museum of Tacoma: Exhibits here are aimed at young children (8 years old and younger) and keeping parents engaged in the creativity of their kids.

Public Hours: Thur. 1pm-pm, Fri. - Sun. 10am-5pm. There are also low sensory hours, member-only hours, and playful programs.

Admission to the Museum is Pay As You Will, which means it is donation only.

Reindeer Scavenger Hunt December 1-15, 2023 Chambers Creek Regional Park Help locate all of Santa's nine beloved reindeer before they head back to the North Pole on December 15.

CANDY CANE HUNT

ICE LIGHTS

December 1-22, 2023 Cross Park

December 1 - 31, 2023 Sprinker Recreation

Explore the park and complete your form by checking off the locations where you find candy canes. Once you're done, return the form to the community center during regular business hours, and we'll reward you with a delicious candy cane treat bag.

The ice rink is transformed into a winter wonderland with over 35,000 lights, animated displays, cascading lights on ice, and falling snow with a giant lighted tree in the center of the rink.

Tacoma Light Trail

Zoo Lights

December 31- January 14, 2024 Downtown Tacoma

November 24 - January 1, 2024 Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

The Tacoma Light Trail is a free walkable/driveable Trail of light art in downtown Tacoma. A Sound Trail pairs music and poetry with each light location via QR code. Live performances and a Lighted Bike Ride bring the Trail to life.

The Zoo is transformed into a colorful winter wonderland with over 800,000 lights.

PIERCE COUNTY STATS

November 2023

Median SOLD Price

511,950 Even Year over Year Up 2.7% from last month

Number of Closed Sales this Month

625 Down 36% compared to last month

Days on Market

17

Up 1 day compared to last month

Buying to Selling in this Market

Months of Pending Inventory

New Listings in Pierce County

2.2

861

Even compared to last month

Down 21.7% compared to last month

Sold values and days on market are holding steady while the number of closings show a seasonal decline. It happens at this time every year.

Who you work with matters.

Why the Pacific Northwest is Different Real estate often makes national headlines. Lately, we are reading about commissionrelated lawsuits and potential price fixing by the National Association of Realtors, along with local Realtor Associations’ being too aligned with the Multiple Listing Service, or MLS. In many / most parts of the country, the MLS is owed by the Realtor Association. Not here.

The Northwest Multiple Listing Service is an independent nonprofit operated by a board and directed to provide service to all members - Realtors and Non Realtors alike. In 2019 the NWMLS took a proactive approach to protect consumers by displaying commissions more transparently and disclosing that they are clearly negotiable.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the state will require not just a Listing Brokerage Services Agreement but also a Buyer Brokerage Services Agreement to further protect the consumer and create clear guidelines and expectations about commissions from both sides of the transaction.

Windermere Chambers Bay

MUCH LIKE PEOPLE, EVERY MARKET IS UNIQUE. SOME MARKETS HAVE VIEWS, SOME LARGE YARDS. FROM HOMES BUILT AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY TO NEW CONSTRUCTION, EACH AREA HAS ITS OWN FEATURES AND TYPES OF HOMES.

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