Prepare your home for fall and winter!

With summer a fading memory, now's the time to get your home  ready for fall and winter's cooler temps and unpredictable weather conditions.

1. Clear out the gutters.

Remove leaves and other debris from your drainpipe and gutters to prevent clogging. In areas with cold winters, outdoor faucets should be drained in the fall.

2. Clean the fireplace and chimney.

You can clear out ash and charred wood from the fireplace yourself, but leave the chimney cleaning to a professional. Have the chimney cleaner check the damper to ensure it can be tightly closed to prevent drafts.

3. Check the heating system.

Do a survey of your home’s heating vents to make sure they’re not blocked or covered by furniture, carpeting, or curtains. Dust vents and clean all filters. Make an appointment for an annual heating system check-up.

4. Store air conditioners.

If you have removable window air conditioners, be sure to unplug them before taking them down. Dust and clean before covering or storing.

5. Check for drafts.

Stay warm, save energy, and reduce your heating bills this fall by examining windows and doors for cracks and sealing them to prevent drafts.

6. Put up storm windows.

If you have removable screens, now’s the time to clean, store, and replace them with storm windows.

7. Ready the water heater.

Prepare for cooler weather by draining the water heater and clearing out any debris that has settled in the tank.

What happens to your digital assets?

A staggering 63% of Americans don't know what will happen to their digital assets when they die. This includes your music library, online shopping sites, social media accounts, your personal files, photos, emails, banking information passwords etc.

It is a great idea to give your estate appointee/executor access to your digital footprint by storing your personal information in an encrypted vaulted ap like Master Lock Vault or goodle vault.

Real Estate Market Snapshot

July Market Snapshot for Portland & Vancouver Real Estate

 

PORTLAND,OR

July, 2016 statistics gathered by RMLS for the Portland metro area indicate the fast pace sellers market we have experienced for the past many months is starting to take on a slightly slower pace. Inventory of listings is still up from the same time last year, but new listings were down in July 2.9% from June. This July still  marks the strongest year since 2008 for new listings. Pending sales are also down 5.5% from this July than in July 2015 & 6% from June 2016 to July. July, 2016 closings fell 19.6 % from the July the preceding year & the listing inventory would currently last 1.9 months without any additional homes listed. Comparing 2016 to 2015 through July, the average sale price rose 11.4% from $351,600 to $391,600. In the same comparison, the median sale price rose 11.5% from $304,900 to $340,000.

 

 

VANCOUVER, WA

The Clark County, Washington real estate marketplace has some unique characteristics. There is a much higher proportion of active residential listings in Clark County that are Proposed, defined as "not yet under construction", than exists in any other RMLS™ area. This means that there are fewer homes listed as Active that are ready to move into in an immediate timeframe.
Southwest Washington had cooler activity in July, but all measures are up for the year overall. Pending sales fared 4.4% better than in July 2015 but ended 6.5% under the offers accepted last month in June 2016. New listings fell 2.4% short of July 2015 and 1.4% short of June 2016. Closed sales were 10.2% cooler compared to the 820 closings posted last year in July 2015 and 9.2% cooler compared to closings posted last month in June 2016. Pending sales are up 4.5%, closed sales are up 4.0%, and new listings are up 1.4% for the year thus far. Comparing 2016 to 2015 through July of each year, the average sale price rose 9.7% from $292,900 to $321,400. In the same comparison, the median sale price rose 9.6% from $260,000 to $285,000.

 

LEWIS REALTORS FORECAST

Lewis Realtors predicts that August statistics will show a decline in pending sales, new active listings and that sales prices will begin to plateau. Professionally and personally in the trenches of the field we have seen a significant drop in multiple offers for the month of August. Although it is still a sellers market, we are now starting to see investors entering the marketplace which could indicate some change about to occur in the housing market.  

 

Oh & by the way, I am never too busy for your referrals.

 

From Unhappy to Happy...

As a child I was not happy. I actually had to learn to be happy & learn to get comfortable with smiling and laughing. Through my life lessons I learned how to be happy and I wanted to share what I have learned with my clients, friends and family to help build your happiness plan for a more fulfilling life. These principals have changed the way I interact with my friends, family & clients & increased my capacity to live a better life.

Happiness is a mental and emotional state of well being.

4 things happiness is not

• a genetic disposition
• not contingent on anything or anyone
• a constant state
• is not just for others 

4 things happiness is

• a choice
• an attitude
• a commitment
• a byproduct of a daily intent to lived an inspired life

4 things when people are the most happiest

• When you are growing
• When your actions are aligned with your beliefs
• When you are healthy
• When you are connecting

5 Tips for Daily Happiness

• Daily meditation/silence
• Exercise 20 minutes per day
• Write 3 things you are grateful for each day
• Send a note or email of encouragement to one person
• Describe one new positive experience over the last 24 hours

The days are long, the years are short, make today count.

3rd Annual Oaks Park Fun