We mixed it up on The 425 Show today. We went deeper on the local real estate statistics and I shared the top 10 things I’m grateful for right now. Gratitude is always a good way to go, and it feels like we need it now more than ever.
On the real estate front, we dove into the stats. They give us a look at what is really happening vs what we ‘think’ is happening.
Here are some of the highlights from the charts below:
- Pending sales (Homes that received an offer) were up 6% in June of 2020 vs June of 2019.
- Pending sales for last week vs the same week in 2019 are up 136%!
- Payments have gone down 5% because of the reduction in interest rates.
That’s great news for Buyers and Sellers.
For Sellers, there is high demand from Buyers right now. Many homes are selling in 30 days or less.
For Buyers, even though prices have gone up, homes are more affordable because the interest rates have brought the payments down to less than they were last year.
If you have real estate questions, I invite you to email me and we can set up a time to chat.
For buyers typically the most important thing when purchasing a home is price – but more importantly how much will their monthly payment be? The chart below shows from 2019 to 2020 the difference in sales prices over the year. In 2019 the average sales price on the Eastside was $950,000 with a monthly payment of $4,427 a month – for 2019 interest rates. In 2020 the average sales price increased to $976,000 with a monthly payment of $4,203, based on today’s lower interest rates gives you a savings of $224.00 a month!
Below is my top 10 list of things I am grateful for during COVID19.
GRATITUDE LIST 10 -1:
#10 – QUARANTINE PROJECTS – We’ve cleaned the garage, and even that random closet under the stairs that we have been avoiding for the last 10 years. We built a gym in the newly cleaned out garage and best of all we sanded down some chairs for our back deck, creating a new outside space to enjoy with friends and family!
#9 – EXPLORING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD – We typically walk the same trail each day when we take the dogs out. Lately we’ve been exploring different streets and neighborhoods on our walks. It’s been quite the adventure.
#8 – READING AND LEARNING – I’ve always been an avid reader, and listen to several podcasts. One of the best books I’ve read in the last few months is “Automatic Habits” – Tiny changes, with remarkable results. If you’re looking for an uplifting podcast check out “Yoga Girl” – for 5 – 7 minutes of daily positive thoughts.
#7 – COMPASSION – This is great time to practice extra compassion for others, and yourself. There are a lot of feelings swirling around out there, and you don’t always know what one person may be dealing with vs. another. Just remember for all of us – our inner 2 year old is just below the surface, ready to throw a tantrum when we least expect it.
#6 – TIME WITH FRIENDS – We have always been very social people, but lately just a quiet evening in the backyard, or a Facetime call has been some of the best quality time we’ve spent with our friends, enjoying deeper conversations that don’t revolve around sports, or our kids activities.
#5 – KIDS FINALLY HAVE A SUMMER – Summer always feels like it goes by so fast! Jam packed camp days, traveling and sports my kids haven’t truly felt like they’ve had those Summers we had when we were kids. Summer’s now are filled with time with pick up basketball games and time at the lake.
#4 – APPRECIATING THE LOCAL BEAUTY – I was looking at a picture on Instagram the other day of a beautiful hotel in the European Alps set on a picturesque mountain lake. I had a moment of sadness at not traveling right now, and then was overcome with gratitude realizing that we are surrounded by our own amazing beauty in the Pacific Northwest. There are dozens of beautiful spots less than an hour from the Eastside to get lost in nature.
#3 – FAMILY DINNER – We are so rushed during the week from work schedules to sports every night, it’s rare for us to sit down as a family. We have been coming together each night for family dinner, and it’s been amazing!
#2 – SMALL BUSINESSES CREATIVITY – There’s no other way to put it. These last few months have been rough on small businesses. Now more than ever, where you chose to spend your dollars matters. But I’ve also noticed many small business and restaurants rising to the occasion in many creative ways to stay afloat and stay connected. These business owners inspire me every day to give more and find new ways to connect.
And my #1 on of My Gratitude list – THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING – Now more than ever YOUR VOICE MATTERS! There are a lot of things at play right now, and we can’t assume everyone else will ‘just take care of it for us’. Every vote matters, now more than ever.
What are you grateful for?
If you or someone you know is looking at buying or selling, or would like more information on the real estate market I encourage you to reach out. Stay safe, and remember to be thankful for the little things in life.
Cheers!
Nicole
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