With spring arriving, many of us are once again in “spring cleaning” mode. Recently I purged an area of my home and made a “mud room” complete with hooks and baskets–it was so gratifying! Here are some other fun and creative ideas for organizing–check out the disappearing doggie dinner dish in this article titled, “22 Smart Organizing Ideas to Keep Your House Tidy.”
Are you thinking of buying a second home? With the recent gains in the stock market and in real estate values, many people are! Here are some things to consider before you take the leap. While it can be a potential source of passive income or a nice getaway, there can be added costs and it could impact your lifestyle in unexpected ways. For more info and insights, click here
Photo by Ostap Senyuk on Unsplash.
Millennials are now the biggest contingent of home purchasers ever. “82% of younger millennials and 48% of older millennials were first-time homebuyers, more than other age groups,” according to the National Association of Realtors. Gen Z is also entering the housing market and is now considered an active group of home buyers. Click here for more stats and details.
This past year the housing market surprised a lot of us: Sales were brisk, prices rose, and interest rates hit record lows, fueling demand. Who would have predicted this during a pandemic? The winds of change may be blowing, however. This article discusses various factors that may point to an upcoming correction in the housing market. Click here for more info.
I have heard it many times from friends and clients, “I’m never going to move!” While this is likely 100% true, at some point your home will probably be sold to someone. Even if you do not expect this to happen for a long time, there are little things you can do along the way to make your home more pleasant, attractive, and comfortable today and in the years ahead. Eventually, if you do not plan on being the one who will sell your home, doing little things over time will make the seller’s job easier when it is time to sell since there won’t be a backlog of things to do/update.
This article discusses ten updates that can increase the value of your home on any budget. If you are considering changes, I would be happy to do a walkthrough of your home and discuss your ideas. Consulting with a real estate professional before committing is a wise idea, since many homeowners make expensive remodels and updates only to later realize they will recoup just a fraction of the money they have invested. If you are not sure whether certain improvements are worth it, reach out! I’m here to help with your real estate needs before, during, and after a sale. #yourhomesherpa
If you are considering purchasing a home, this year could be a fantastic time! This article discusses the costs of waiting in a rising market.
Good thoughts on the benefits of refinancing. Rates are currently fantastic so it might make sense to refinance now. If you need any lender recommendations, I can direct you to several good ones.
http://www.freddiemac.com/blog/homeownership/20210302_4_reasons_to_refinance.page?sf139674175=1&fbclid=IwAR281qIrpIEO3nPIAmVhra8yN0PWtd-AHgMWXE3Ng9e8n7T4kde40z4DZKI
Do you love looking at paint colors and current trends in decorating? If so, here are the latest HGTV Colors & Palettes for 2021. Enjoy!
Seattle has a looong history of discrimination and suffers from its effects today. In Seattle, there are some neighborhoods where for decades certain classes of people were not allowed to purchase a home; these areas had restrictive language specifying who could and could not live there. In 1968 with the Fair Housing Act, discrimination on the basis of race (and other criteria) became illegal. However, as we all know, simply passing a law and putting something on paper doesn’t eliminate discrimination or discriminatory practices (I wish it did). As a result of both overt and covert practices, our society and societal structures have discrimination baked into them. Many vestiges of discrimination that actively work against minorities are alive and well. Shockingly, discriminatory language is still in the chain title, even today.
What can be done to undo this damage? One step is to remove discriminatory language from restrictive covenants and the chain of title. If you are not familiar with restrictive covenants, they are essentially agreements in a certain neighborhood that prohibit particular classes of people from living in that area. The map below shows neighborhoods in Seattle that restricted home ownership on the basis of race and religion.
Windermere and I are committed to taking active steps to eliminate this language and end racism and discrimination. Windermere has developed a process and helps its agents eliminate discriminatory language when we encounter it in covenants and in title. Although this is only one small step, it is an important one towards making our society one that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive. #AllInForYou
For more info from the Windermere Blog, read here.
For a quick history of discriminatory practices, click here. For maps of Seattle showing “redlining,” click here.
The map of Seattle below is a “redlining” map. The red areas are neighborhoods that racially restricted home ownership. To dig deeper, check out the UW’s maps https://depts.washington.edu/civilr/covenants_map.htm
In this hyper-competitive escalating housing market, many homeowners are having difficulty buying their first home. Due to rock-bottom interest rates and scarce inventory, demand is through the roof, so too many buyers are competing for too-few available single-family homes. This is true for not just the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett metropolitan area, but further afield as well. While I’m not advocating that you move away, it’s eye-opening to see what homes go for in other cities. Realtor magazine just published a list of the 10 Most Affordable Cities for First-Time Home Buyers. Click the link to learn where they are.
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