A hint of fall is in the air as we move into the Labor Day Weekend. Please read our fall newsletter below to learn more about current real estate market conditions and other topics related to your house and home.
Seattle Market Update:
Home prices are still rising although the pace of appreciation has slowed down a little. Extremely low inventory in the past couple of years, an influx of buyers relocating to Seattle, low interest rates, as well as foreign investors have been the main drivers in prices skyrocketing.
It is still a seller’s market but not as strong as just 6 months ago. We have seen the supply of homes improve slightly in some areas, nonetheless, inventory remains well below the supply needed for a more balanced market, so buyers are still competing for homes and are having to make strong offers with few or no contingencies for a chance to secure a home, especially in popular neighborhoods with good schools. However, there are some rural areas that we would no longer consider to be in a seller’s market.
Most people know that the best time to sell a house in Seattle is between April – June. However, did you know that September is the second best time to sell your house! We expect to be very busy, in fact we will have several listings coming on the market in the first two weeks of September.
Our Listings
Burien Rambler – 11641 16th Ave S, Burien, WA 98168: 4 bedroom / 1.5 bath – spacious rambler on large lot. $295,000. More info at http://www.propertyinseattle.com/listings.html
Shoreline Condo – coming soon: 2 bedroom / 1.5 bath beautifully remodeled Shoreline condo.
Seattle Townhouse – coming soon: 3 bedroom / 2.5 bath Jackson Park townhouse.
We’d love to help you sell your home if you are thinking of selling.
Get your house ready for the Wet/Cold Season
1) Furnace Inspection: Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts. Change your furnace filter.
2) Get the Fireplace Ready: Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. Call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote. Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
3) Use weather stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows. If you have storm windows, install them.
4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts: Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home. Replace worn roof shingles or tiles. Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
5) Check Foundations: Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
6) Buy new smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends. Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
7) Prevent Plumbing Freezes: Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency. Drain all garden hoses. Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
Fun Things To Do In the Fall
Seattle is a great city with lots of diverse indoor and outdoor events – take a look at the Seattle Events calendar to find out more about activities like beer tasting, dancing, carnivals, arts shows, car shows, parades, sports events and more.
Any questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us any time, we’d love to hear from you.
Happy Fall!
*** Kerstin & Krisanne ***
Kerstin G. Brooks, Broker 