Buying • Living • Selling • December 29, 2015

Practical Resolutions: Making Your House a Home (Part II)

by Windermere Staff

Your home is a reflection of your tastes, your lifestyle and your ambition, and many of us are regularly transforming our homes one way or another to fit our adjusting needs. Whether it is refreshing a room to fit your style, reorganizing a closet to accommodate the holiday excess, going green to save the planet and a couple of bucks or a complete renovation of your kitchen- homes take maintenance. Some projects come about on a whim, but if you have any plans to make your nest nestier here are some ideas for not getting too overwhelmed by the process- no matter how large or small the changes you want to make:

Get Organized: Whether it is your closets, books, pantry or your entire basement identifying the problem is the first step. Once you know where to focus your energy think about the purpose your space should fulfill, what you want it to look like and how you can keep it organized for the long-term. Sometimes getting organized is a matter of doing a little bit every day, or it is finding the right storage solution. Once you know what the problem is you can identify your steps, timeline and budget. Ultimately, getting rid of the clutter and holding onto items you love the most and use will keep your spaces easy to manage year round.

Do a little every day: Everyone has a different method to managing home madness; some have a weekly cleaning routine, some focus room by room others pile everything in the closet until they have to deal with it. If you have a goal of getting rid of old possessions and clutter, remodeling your home office or keeping your home cleaner spend five to thirty minutes a day working to achieve your goal. Here is a good idea for keeping your home clean by doing a little every day, rather than spending your weekend playing catch up.

Beautification/ Gardening: This year my big goal is to finally start our edible garden, but I have been overwhelmed by all the steps- from finding the right containers for the garden, deciding what to plant, when to start the starts, etc. Each region has different gardening challenges; the plants that thrive in Seattle are different than Spokane or San Diego so if you are planning on a garden make sure you familiarize yourself with local resources that will give you advice specific to your area. If you have any landscaping projects, keep in mind advance planning is paramount to making this affordable, timely and sustainable. If you are planning on putting your house on the market eventually, make beautification a priority and plan your exterior in a way that will increase the curb appeal of your home in the future.

Home Improvement Projects: If you have an ongoing list of home improvement projects, make sure you have the right tools in your toolbox and prioritize and plan. You don’t want to spend every weekend working on dripping faucets so create a routine. When looking at the year ahead, think about seasonality of the projects. It is important to know when to ask for help from a professional in order to have repairs done right in the first place to avoid putting yourself at risk or the safety of your home.

Go Green: If your resolution this year is to save money and the planet by reducing your carbon footprint there are projects you can do large and small. Start with an energy audit, that way you know where your energy is actually being used- you may be surprised. Easy fixes start with replacing light bulbs with CFLs and buying energy cords that limit vampire appliances to use energy when they aren’t in use. If you are replacing your old appliances with newer energy efficient models, make sure you check into recycling programs in your area. Go here for more green resolution ideas.

Renovations: Whether you are doing the renovations yourself or working with a contractor, projects of scale are never easy. Make sure you plan for the inconvenience of going without a kitchen as well as the details of putting your new kitchen in place. Also, before investing in a renovation, make sure you will get a return on your investment when you resell. If you are looking to increase the value and marketability of your home check out this list before you start tearing down walls.

This is the second post in our four-part home resolution series. Find the first article on how to identify and plan for your new year’s goals here.

Buying • Living • Selling • December 29, 2015

Practical Resolutions: Preparing for the Best in 2016 (Part I)

by Windermere Staff

Everyone’s list of things to accomplish in the upcoming year is different, but one thing is pretty universal: most of us are too ambitious for our own good. The best thing to do is make reasonable goals for yourself and work towards accomplishing them one at a time. So be realistic. You may not renovate your entire home, but in all likelihood you can finish your kitchen remodel. You may start the year with plenty of momentum; just remember to pace yourself when it comes to big goals–it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Here are some tips to keep your goals in check:

Set a goal: I find it useful to create a bucket list of all the things I want to do and prioritize the most important, most time consuming and most expensive. Your goals and what you do to accomplish them will differ whether you are making your home more your style, saving to buy or preparing to sell. From this list you can prioritize the goals in order by urgency, seasonality, and difficulty. If you cannot fit all your projects in this year, move them to the rolling 2012 bucket list.

Make a budget: Do your research and make an informed budget. If you are looking to renovate, you will want to make a plan, check resources and make an informed budget. If you are looking to save up for your down payment on a home, you will want to assess how much you need to have saved in order to have enough to put down, and create a budget plan. Creating a budget is a great way to keep your finances in check and keep your projects as affordable as possible.

Set benchmarks: If you have a big goal, breaking it up into smaller bites is the best way to stay motivated. If you can do a little bit every week to keep your home clean and tackle an organization project, you are more likely to sustain the momentum than if you attempt a complete overhaul. Also, there’s one great thing about goal setting, budget making and project planning: the more you practice, the better you become!

Stay motivated: Your resolutions may already be going by the wayside now that we are caught back up in life-as-always. It may help to write out your resolutions in a central place–a document on your computer desktop, a list on your fridge, or benchmark reminders in your mobile calendar. The key is to keep your resolutions at the top of your mind so you can work towards them a little bit every day/week. For more advice on how to keep your momentum, go here.

The new year offers the chance of renewed energy to accomplish the goals from past years and start fresh projects. This is the first post in a four-blog series about setting home resolutions, come back to see more information on making your existing home more personal, and buying and selling your home in 2016.

Living • December 23, 2015

Raise a Glass and Celebrate the New Year!

by Guest Author

Sparkles. Confetti. GLITTER. All New Year’s Eve staples. In fact, we’re pretty sure that New Year’s Eve is the quintessential holiday for all things glitter. Whether your plans involve throwing a party or attending one, here are some creative ideas to step up your game.

Confetti Wands: All you need is clear tubes and confetti, how simple is that?! Once you stuff them, lay them out somewhere all your guests can easily find them (so probably by the bar). We know what you’re thinking: “Don’t they make a mess?” Well yes they do, but what fun can you have without making a little mess?! So sparkly and festive!

Bubbly Bar: It’s not a New Year’s Eve party without one of these. A “bubbly bar” allows your guests to taste and personalize their champagne drinks. A bar cart is a great alternative if you want to make the bubbly bar a mobile attraction. They’re the perfect display for your champagne and treats. P.S. metallic straws are totes all the rage. Pop, fizz, clink!

Golden-Brushed Balloons: Go out and get a dozen helium-filled white latex balloons with strings attached. Wear gloves and hold the balloon by the tied end. Use gold enamel paint or “liquid gold leaf” and apply to balloons in quick, upward strokes. Make sure to only gild the bottom third to get this look. OR you could just buy gold balloons if you’re running low on time/gumption/is it 2016 yet?

Sparkly Bottles: Glam up your bottles and make them as sparkling as the wine inside. Grab a can of Super 77 adhesive spray, latex gloves, an old sheet, and as much glitter as you can find. Spray the bottle and sprinkle glitter over the adhesive one section at a time. Repeat until the whole bottle is covered, then shake off the excess glitter and display. Make sure to leave the top third of the bottle clean so you can pop the champagne! Hint: this is probably the easiest, yet most effective way to take your shindig to a whole new level!

Quirky Tip: Add a little extra something by hanging a fortune cookie off of each champagne glass. Everyone is going to want to know what’s in store for them once the clock hits midnight. And we all know fortune cookies always tell the truth.

New Year’s Eve is obviously the perfect reason to get fun with your champagne, so try something new this year! What’s better than some good ol’ bubbly? PINK bubbly. Cuz everything’s better in pink. Check out more ideas and details on our Pinterest page.

More • December 18, 2015

#YourStoryIsOurStory: Three Generations

by Windermere Staff

You know you trust your realtor when you will recommend their services to your parents and your children! Sue Rockwell has known Chip and Teresa for decades, as a friend and trusted real estate advisor, but when their aging parents, George and Teresa needed help selling their townhome, they knew they could depend on her to make their transition into their retirement community seamless. And when Blakeley, their daughter was looking for her first place to own, Sue was right there to help her every step of the way.

Throughout the year we will be posting some of our favorite #YourStoryIsOurStory videos, photos, and blog posts. Please take a minute to share your experiences, and follow #YourStoryIsOurStory on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest pages.

More • December 17, 2015

Happy Holidays from Windermere Real Estate

by Windermere Staff

On behalf of everyone at Windermere Real Estate, we wish you a very happy holiday season!

More • December 16, 2015

There’s No Need To Panic About Rising Interest Rates

by Windermere Economics

This article originally appeared on Inman.com

After seven years of some of the lowest interest rates in recorded history, the Federal Reserve has decided to raise the key Fed Funds Rate by 0.25 percent, which is causing some to be concerned that it will lead to a jump in mortgage rates and negatively impact the US housing market.

So, the question everyone wants to know is, do we need to worry about interest rates leaping?

While I expect there to be some volatility in rates for a while, I don’t believe the real estate market will implode in a rapidly rising interest rate environment. So, yes, interest rates are going to rise modestly, but no, I don’t think we need to be overly worried about it.

To qualify this statement, we need to understand that mortgage rates do not run in “lock-step” with the Fed Funds Rate. Although the Fed Funds Rate is a bellwether for the greater economic environment, there have been times when these two rates have moved in opposite directions, such as we saw in 2004/2005.

It’s also important to understand that while interest rates for revolving credit, such as credit cards and home equity loans, are tied to the Fed Funds Rate, non-revolving loans – like mortgages – are not. Mortgage rates are tied to bond yields – specifically the 10-year treasury.

So what do I think will happen?

I believe interest rates will rise above 4 percent, but we will not see a sharp spike in rates. The Fed has stated that any upward movement in the Fed Funds Rate will be slow and steady, and will reflect the greater economy. And I believe that mortgage rates will follow suit. Additionally, mortgage rates have already moved higher in anticipation of an increase in the Fed Funds Rate.

That said, it is worth noting that any weakness in the global economy can actually have a downward effect on interest rates. This is referred to a “flight to quality”. In essence, investors seek safe haven during times of economic uncertainty. If markets outside the U.S. continue to underperform, there will likely be increasing demand for bonds which will drive up their price and drive down interest rates. Between China, the Eurozone, war in the Middle East, and a massive drop in oil prices, it’s certainly possible that the price of mortgage backed securities could rise, leading U.S. mortgage rates lower.

Interest rates could not realistically stay at their current levels forever. But an increase should not be a great cause for concern. Yes, an increase makes mortgages more expensive, but not to a point where they will have a negative effect on home values. That said, the rate of home price growth will undoubtedly slow in the coming year, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

A little perspective might help: the average rate for a 30-year loan in the 1970’s was nine percent. It was 13 percent in the 1980’s and eight percent in the 1990’s. And yet people still managed to buy and sell homes throughout those years. With that in mind, the rate increases we’re likely to see in 2016 are nothing to fret over.

The increase in the Fed Funds Rate should be taken as a sign that our economy is expanding and is a preemptive move to limit anticipated inflation. While interest rates have risen from their all-time low, they are still remarkably favorable. And will remain so through 2016.

Matthew Gardner is the Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, specializing in residential market analysis, commercial/industrial market analysis, financial analysis, and land use and regional economics. He is the former Principal of Gardner Economics, and has over 25 years of professional experience both in the U.S. and U.K.

Design • December 16, 2015

Holiday Mantel Glam Decor

by Guest Author

Anyone who has a fireplace can appreciate how versatile a mantel is. It's easy to change its look with the different holidays and seasons. And there’s no better season to do this than Christmas. Hang a wreath, decorate it with candles, ornaments, and twinkling lights. The options are endless. If you’re not sure where to start, pick a theme. Here are some ideas to consider.

Gilded

Gold never goes out of style – especially when it comes to the holidays. If you choose this theme, the majority of your pieces on your mantel should be gilded in one way or another. Generally, it's good to have a centerpiece. Try a wreath like this gilded metal wreath to hang above the mantel and make a bold statement.

All White Everything

Nothing says Winter Wonderland like an all-white theme. All-white is pretty glam as it is, but you can use these stockings to add that little extra je ne sais quoi. What's even better is you can keep it on after the holidays, through the winter. Add a mirror to the wall above the mantel for added appeal.

Go Green

Go natural with some lush greenery. Create a base of winter greenery and lights, then layer on the Christmas touch with holiday candles and reindeer. Once the holidays are over, switch out the Christmas candles for plain ones and put away the trees and stockings. Leave the garland, crystal and silver candlesticks, and even the wreath for a fantastically decorated fireplace focal point for the remainder of the winter season.

Rustic Glam

Start with a pre-lit sparkling garland along the mantel top and a pre-lit wreath above. Add in some pine cones, candles (in mason jars or try glassybabies), and silver accents in whatever way you deem fit. Add some white stockings (try these) with a variety of textures and designs and you're ready to go.

Colors Galore

If you have kiddos running around your house, a colorful theme is a good way to go. You can't go wrong with reds, blues, pinks, greens, oranges, etc.; anything bright makes for one of the most festive themes! You can make a DIY Ornament Garland if you have a bunch of leftovers from your tree. Take a few boxes and frames, wrap them with colorful paper and bows, and lay them tastefully on your mantel.

See our Pinterest board for some visual inspiration!

More • December 15, 2015

Heading into the New Year, Agent Safety Still a Top Priority

by OB Jacobi

As the New Year approaches, the real estate industry can look back on 2015 and be proud of the accomplishments to continue to make realtor safety a top priority. At Windermere, we pride ourselves on making realtor safety a top priority. Industry leadership requires both constantly looking for new innovative products to help protect the health and safety of our agents and team members, and also promoting resources available from the National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) – REALTOR® Safety Program

The NAR 2015 Member Safety Report reminds us of the need to remain vigilant. It asked members how safe they feel on the job, about their personal safety experiences and about the safety procedures and materials provided by their brokerage. Interestingly, the report found that while 96% of realtors have never been the victim of crime, 40% have found themselves in situations where they have feared for their safety or the safety of their personal information.

During the 2015 REALTORS Conference and Expo, our agents and their colleagues from across the country had the opportunity to attend “Real Estate Safety Matters”, a safety class that serves as a primer on how to limit risk and protect themselves should the need arise. Realtor and safety course supervisor Tamara Suminski emphasized the importance of awareness and trusting your instincts. NAR also provides excellent year-round safety resources, including materials to share in the office or online such as safety presentations, videos, articles and webinars.

In September, Windermere began to pilot new technology from React Mobile for National REALTOR® Safety Month. Since then, we’ve provided about 150 Seattle-area agents with the React Sidekick Bluetooth panic button. The React Sidekick is a personal panic button that can be used to quickly and remotely activate a widespread emergency alert without the need to find, unlock, and dial from a phone that may be out of reach.

When the Sidekick is activated, whoever the agent has designated to be a part of their emergency network receives a “Help Me” alert text message and email that includes a link to their GPS location. Users can also choose to automatically post their alerts to Facebook and Twitter to let an even wider network of contacts know where they are and that they need help.

React Mobile is a featured safety provider in the National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) – REALTOR® Safety Program and an example of our commitment to provide agents with the latest resources to protect themselves. As we approach 2016, our goal remains to give them an extra layer of security in situations when it matters most.

More • December 14, 2015

Perspectives: No Child Sleeps Outside

by Jill Jacobi Wood, OB Jacobi & Geoff Wood

States of emergency are usually proclaimed after natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, but last month city leaders declared one in Seattle for homelessness. The numbers they quoted were staggering. Over 10,000 homeless people in King County. Sixty-four homeless deaths so far this year. And the stat that really sank our hearts: nearly 3,000 children in Seattle Public Schools are homeless.

These kinds of numbers make you feel like the situation is almost hopeless. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. That’s what we’ve been doing in our own small way through the Windermere Foundation. Since 1989, the Windermere Foundation has donated over $30 million to organizations that provide support to low-income and homeless families. While one of our main goals is to fund preventative services to help families stay in their homes, sometimes we’re contacted after it’s too late.

Like the time we received a call from a Seattle Public School counselor seeking rental funds for a family who was living in their car after being evicted. The mom was undergoing treatment for cancer and all they needed was someone to cover the costs of their deposit and first/last month’s rent. How could we say no?

We had the same response when we were contacted last year by Mary’s Place to support their “No Child Sleeps Outside” campaign. They needed help funding an emergency winter shelter for more than 500 families. Now in the second year of their campaign, their goal goes beyond providing temporary shelter for families during the cold winter months; it’s also to start those families on their journey into permanent housing. That’s a goal we’re very proud to support.

The only way we’re able to do any of this is because of the generosity of our agents. Every time they help someone buy or sell a home, a portion of their commission is donated to the Windermere Foundation. But it’s also thanks to our clients who make it all possible by choosing to work with Windermere. Thank you for enabling us to continue making a positive difference in the lives of our neighbors in need.

More • December 11, 2015

#YourStoryIsOurStory: Finding the Right Home for the Right Time

by Windermere Staff

When looking for a real estate agent, it’s important to work with someone who really understands where you are in life, and can help you find the right home for your circumstances. Julie Huff has worked with Doug and Alyson through three different moves. From Doug’s bachelor pad to their first family home, and most recently, a new spot for their expanding family. After sharing so much together through the years, Julie and her clients have built a relationship that goes well beyond a single transaction. It’s a relationship for life.