Liven Up Your Holiday Celebration!

Just a few fun suggestions to consider adding 

to your holiday traditions!

Buyer and Seller Guides to Help You Plan for 2020

The Winter Buyer & Seller eGuides are a great way to learn more about what's most important in the market today - and they're available now! 

Let's connect to get them in your hands, so you can feel confident when buying or selling a home

November 2019 Real Estate Market Statistics

(For the past few years, I've used my photographs for the headline photos on the monthly market updates, using local area scenes in 2017 and roof tops of homes sold in 2018.  This year I'm featuring public art that can be found in our local communities.)

The following is the latest Real Estate Market Statistics for November 2019.
Click here for the full report

• Sales:   2,191 in November 2019 vs 2,144 last November:  2.2%

• Pending Sales:   2,274 in November 2019 vs 1,904 last November:  19.4%

• New Listings:   2,118 in November 2019 vs 2,310 last November:  -8.3%

• Average Sales Price:   $459,300 in November 2019 vs $453,100 last November:  1.4%

• Total Market Time: 60 days in November 2019 vs 57 days last November:  4.0%

• Inventory in Months: 2.4 months in November 2019 vs 2.89 months last November

Inventory by Area:

• NW Washington County   2.49 months
• Beaverton/Aloha               1.62months
• Hillsboro/Forest Grove     2.58 months

December 2019 Homework Series

If you need help finding professionals who can assist you with this checklist, I can provide you with a list of preferred contractors and vendors!  Just give me a call at 503-956-3505.

It's 'National Roof Over Your Head' Day!

Did you know that each year in the United States, we celebrate “National Roof Over Your Head Day” on December 3rd?

As noted on the National Calendar, it was “created as a day to be thankful for what you have, starting with the roof over your head. There are many things that we have that we take for granted and do not stop to appreciate how fortunate we are for having them.”

From bungalows to cottages, and farmhouses to treehouses, today we show our appreciation and gratitude for the places we call home. Owning the roof that shelters us is something many renters still aspire to, knowing there are so many financial and non-financial benefits to homeownership.

According to the 2019 State of the Nation’s Housing from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University,

“Cost-burdened renters now outnumber cost-burdened homeowners by more than 3.0 million. In addition, renters make up 10.8 million of the 18.2 million severely burdened households that pay more than half their incomes for housing.”

Homeownership drives many benefits, including providing families with a place to feel secure. It also helps promote confidence that they are investing proactively in themselves and their communities. That is why there are 77.7 million owner-occupied housing units in the United States.

Many, however, fear it is too expensive to own a home. In reality, however, it’s actually more expensive to rent. Here’s the breakdown as a percentage of income necessary for both – affording median rent and owning a home:

Bottom Line

Today we pause to appreciate the places we call home, and all of the other reasons we have to be truly thankful. For those who don’t own yet and would like to, it’s a wonderful time to start identifying the steps to take toward homeownership. Let’s connect today to begin creating your plan.