July 2020 Seattle Real Estate Summary

When organizing your home, knowing where to start can often be the most difficult part. Breaking the process down room-by-room and keeping the following tips in mind will help you get started and keep your home organized in the long run.

Kitchen

Given how much time is spent in the kitchen, it can get disorganized easily. Kitchen countertops are also one of the most frequently touched and used surfaces in a home. Taking items off the counters and storing them on shelving above or below is an effective first step. Open shelves are a great fixture for easy access while preparing and cooking meals. Store the items you use the most here and stow away large tools that you don’t use as often.

A lazy Susan is a must-have for kitchen organization, bringing the back of the cabinet to your fingertips. A great home for kitchen items that are heavy, clumsy or messy, they are highly accessible. Cleaning out a lazy Susan is much simpler than cleaning out cabinets, which frees up shelf space for those items that usually sit out on your kitchen counter.

Living room

A good first step for your living room is to take inventory. See what items can be disposed and what might belong elsewhere in the house. Take time to think about the flow of the room and how you envision foot traffic will interact with the space.

Multifunctionality goes a long way in the living room. Coffee tables, side tables, and ottomans that are designed with more than one purpose in mind will help to declutter. Look for pieces with underneath storage, drawers, or magazine holders.

Bathroom

For both aesthetics and functional storage, open shelving will help take your bathroom to the next level. It provides plenty of room to stow bathroom supplies, towels, toiletries, and brings a more welcoming feel to the space.

This is a great time to go through your bathroom products. Discarding old, expired, and unused items will free up additional space and give the room a cleaner feel. Once you’ve cleaned everything out, take this time to reorganize your medicine cabinet with your newly reduced bathroom inventory.

Bedroom

Keeping your bedroom organized is a matter of maximizing space and minimizing clutter. If you have limited closet space, try placing a garment rack in a corner or against a wall, or store out-of-season clothing items elsewhere. The underside of your bed is useful for storage. Try functional organizers such as bins and roll-out shelving. Using your dresser as a nightstand or your bookshelf as a décor piece will add flair and cut down on clutter as well.

Making the most of the hanging space in your closet is a sure-fire way of keeping it decluttered. Position the most-used items at eye level and stow lesser-used clothes and accessories higher up. Not only does this give priority to your closet which helps you stay organized over time, but it can save you time when getting ready.

Garage

A common tactic for creating storage space in your garage is to go vertical. This will help free up space for your stuff while maintaining the space reserved for your vehicles. The garage is also a good home for large or bulky items that you don’t use every day.

Going room-by-room will help you piece together the look and feel of the organized home you want to achieve. Be comfortable with clearing out a space in order to put it back together the way you have in mind. Sometimes rooms have to get messier before they get organized.

For some homeowners who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a high level of concern about paying their mortgage. Fortunately, there are options to aid struggling homeowners from governments, financial institutions, and loan providers. The following information is intended to provide clarity on which financial relief options are available to you during this time.

What are my mortgage relief options?

Newly placed into law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provides two protections for homeowners with federally backed mortgages:

1. Your lender or loan servicer may not foreclose on you for 60 days following March 18, 2020. The CARES Act prohibits lenders and/or servicers from beginning a non-judicial foreclosure, or finalizing a foreclosure sale, against you within this time period. While 60 days has passed since this was put into place, it is still important to be aware of in the event that any of these actions were taken against you.
2. You have a right to request a forbearance for up to 180 days if you experience financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also apply for a 180-day extension beyond the forbearance period. This does not require submitting additional documentation beyond your claim, nor will you incur additional fees, penalties or interest beyond what has already been scheduled.

Forbearance is…

• With forbearance, mortgage servicers and lenders allow you to pause or reduce your mortgage payments for a period of time while you get back on your feet financially.
• Different types of loans beget different forbearance options, understanding the differences and which options apply to your loan is key to navigating the forbearance landscape.
• Once your income is back to a normal level, contact your loan servicer and resume your payments.

Forbearance is not…

• Forbearance is not a means to forgive or erase your payments. Any missed or reduced payments still require payment in the future.

Which relief options do I qualify for?

The first step in discovering your mortgage assistance qualifications is to contact your mortgage provider. If you are unsure of how to get in touch with them, look at your mortgage statement for contact information or see what contact options are available online.

After you have successfully made contact, find out if your mortgage is federally backed. To be eligible for assistance under the CARES act, your mortgage must either be backed federally, or by one of the entities in the list below. These links show the agencies’ current advise and related loan information:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
• Fannie Mae – Loan Lookup
• Freddie Mac – Loan Lookup

For non-federally backed loans, contact your lender or servicer to learn more about their forbearance repayment options.

Today’s financial landscape can be stressful for homeowners, especially those that are struggling to keep up financially. Fortunately, these entities, institutions, and servicers have provided options to help lessen the burden. Knowing which options apply to you and your household will help you navigate through hardship as your finances recover.

Seattle Real Estate Market Update 6/20 

May’s data provides another opportunity to gauge the extent of the impact that COVID-19 is having on the Seattle real estate market. The data is echoing last months sentiment that the market is performing better than is expected – but that inventory levels are still very low as sellers aren’t going to market.

This is shown well in the chart above as we currently have 816 active listing in the metro Seattle market compared to 1,386 in May 2019. This 41% drop year over year is fueling severe competition among buyers resulting in sold listings only being down 12% YoY. If the market sees an influx of listings, it is very likely that the number of sales in June is higher than it was in 2019.

Buyer competition is highlighted by the fact that 34% of homes sold above list price. Furthermore, 69% of all listings sold within 15 days on market.

Months of inventory show the lack of new listings coming to market reducing the inventory count. Nearly all MLS areas are showing less inventory than last year.

The main take away from the Seattle real estate market update 6/20 is that buyers remain very active in the market while sellers are not listing their homes at the same rate as last year resulting in increased buyer competition. Sales are increasing on a weekly basis.

If you have any questions about the current market, how to be a competitive buyer or if it is the right time to maybe sell your home, please reach out and I would be happy to answer your questions.

Seattle Real Estate Market Update 6/20

When it comes to household expenses, staying at home has brought about savings in some areas, while increasing expenses in others. The laundry room has likely seen an uptick in usage, with its associated costs following suit. Save your energy and money by keeping these tips in mind as we continue to adapt to being home more often.

Master your machine settings

Review the owner’s manuals for your washer and dryer. There may very well be energy-saving settings you’re not using. For example, your washer’s “high-speed” or “extended wash” cycles will remove more moisture, which can help reduce drying time. A dryer’s “cool down cycle” allows clothes to finish drying using only residual heat.

Think twice before washing

Once you’re aware of the costs associated with washing and drying, and the natural resources this consumes, you may decide you don’t need to launder certain clothes as often – which can also extend the life of these garments. Some clothing, like jeans, sweatshirts, and sweatpants, can be worn a few times without a cleaning. Washing these items only when necessary will help you cut down. Another tip – keep another laundry basket in your room for those lightly worn clothes that you could wear again, so they keep separate from your clean clothes.

Use hot water only when necessary

Using warm water instead of hot can significantly cut down your washer’s energy expense. Using cold water puts less pressure on electricity grids, saving your household even more money and energy. Cold water washes are less likely to shrink or fade your clothing as well. To ensure your clothes still get clean, try using a cold-water detergent.

Right-size your loads

For both washing and drying, taking into consideration the size of your load can factor greatly into your savings. No matter the size of the load you wash, it costs the same amount to run a cycle. So instead of doing two small loads, wait until you have one large load. When drying, keep in mind that an overly full dryer will take longer to dry the clothes. A dryer with too few items inside costs more to operate.

Clean the dryer vent and filter

When the lint filter in your dryer gets clogged, airflow is reduced, and the dryer can’t operate effectively. Make a point to clean the filter after every use. If you use dryer sheets, scrub the filter every month to remove any film buildup. The venting that attaches to the back of your dryer also needs to be kept clean and clear.

Air dry

When the weather is sunny and warm, consider putting your clothes out to hang-dry. Doing so will keep your drying expenses to a minimum. It can also be a better drying method for clothing with delicate tailoring.

With staying at home being the new status quo, taking a look at the ways our homes use energy and incur expenses is more relevant than ever. These small changes in the laundry room are just some of the minor adjustments you can make in your household during these unique times.

Thanks to COVID-19, the new reality is that many open houses and home tours are being conducted virtually. For prospective home buyers, this new territory brings an added element to prepare for in the home buying process. Some of the questions that should be asked in a virtual Seattle home tour parallel those of in-person tours, but others are unique to today’s virtual world.

Could you zoom in?

• Sometimes it can be difficult to get a true glimpse at what you want to see in a room. Asking the agent to zoom in on specific features is commonplace in virtual home tours, and they understand this is part of the viewer experience. Don’t hesitate to ask multiple times. Getting a better look at everything you want to see will help you feel like you’ve gotten the most out of your virtual tour.

How many square feet are in this room?

• Virtual tours can slightly distort space, making it tough to gauge the size. The room-to-room square footage is information the agent is sure to have handy. Since you can’t be there in person, it will help you piece together the virtual visuals with the sense of physical space that we’re all accustomed to feeling in the places we live.

What color is that?

• In the smartphone era, and computer era at large, we have come to understand that digital representations of color are not always true to the eye. Ask the agent to confirm specific colors so you can plan accordingly. Have a color swatch on hand or look the colors up online as you go through the tour.

When were the appliances last updated?

• The importance of this question rings true in past, present, and future. Knowing the state of the home’s appliances, and the likelihood and timing of when they will need replacement, is vital information for both assessing the move-in readiness of the home and understanding what costs might lie ahead.

Has the seller provided an inspection?

• This is another example of a critical question, whether your home tour is virtual or physical. If the seller has already done an inspection, ask the agent to lead you to any areas of concern based on the inspector’s findings. If there is anything that has not yet been addressed by the seller, have your agent ask what their plan is for making the necessary repairs/updates.

When is the offer review date?

• Understanding the seller’s timeline for reviewing and accepting offers will help guide your decision-making process and allow you to strategize based on the timeline.

Whether your home tour is physical or virtual, getting the information you need to make an informed decision remains paramount. Although there is no substitute for physically being in the home you are looking to buy, keeping these questions in mind will position you well as you progress through the home buying journey. If you would like to schedule a tour in Queen Anne or elsewhere in Seattle please let me know by reaching out.

As buyers start to re-evaluate what they want, and likely what they need from their housing, it’s important to consider what the COVID 19 impact on home buying will be. Data is looking pretty unanimous that workers feel as though working from home policies will have long standing implications on their work / life balance, with 1/3 of Seattleites planning to work remotely for at least a year. The latest Residential Global Market Sentiment Survey from Savills meanwhile reports that 86% of respondents feel that they expect to increase working from home after coronavirus, with 73% also indicating that green space will be more important to them.

So what does it likely mean for buyer behavior in the Seattle real estate market? That same Savills report indicates that 61% of respondents anticipate an increase in demand in rural and suburban areas. As buyers contemplate likely changes to their routines and work patterns, it is highly probable that demand for single family housing will increase as high density living gets shunned. With many companies extending work from home policies, and some such as Twitter indicating they will be indefinite, proximity to work will be less important. This doesn’t necessarily mean the condo real estate market in Seattle is in dire straights – the impact will certainly be more pronounced in higher density cities. It will likely however mean that developers are going to have to cater to new expectations such as touchless building security and enhanced HVAC systems.

In a recent blog post, I discussed how buyers are not shying away from the market and while sold transactions were down year over year, they are steadily increasing as we come out of restrictions. So COVID-19 impact on home buying in Seattle won’t impact demand as much as behavior. High demand neighborhoods like Queen Anne, Magnolia, Madison Park, Montlake etc will continue to see similar high demand. But further out neighborhoods and even counties are likely to see a higher demand as buyers look beyond city centers in their search.

In a typical year, the real estate market heats up mid-February for a busy spring season before lulling a little bit over the summer months before a fall resurgence. In my recent blog post on the April MLS data I noted that the market was potentially not as impacted by COVID-19 as was predicted, but that there had nonetheless been a drop off in inventory and sales levels over the Spring. So what is a realistic Seattle real estate summer outlook? That was the topic of conversation this morning on a conference call with Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist at Windermere Real Estate.

Brief overview of COVID’S impact on US Economy & Seattle real estate

The economy was performing remarkably well in January and February before being effectively turned off in mid-March. While current national unemployment is near the 15% mark, and is expected to reach up to 18%, it is particularly prevalent in the restaurant and hospitality industries, which account for about 1 in 10 US jobs. Around 80% of the currently unemployed in the US are considered lower income. As a result, rental markets are likely to be the most adversely impacted.

Matthew Gardner reassured that the Seattle housing market, on the other hand, has proven itself to be quite resilient. It has remained a sellers market throughout the pandemic as well as the past 8 years, and 45% of King County homeowners have more than 50% equity in their homes – meaning they have more of a cushion to fall back on than, in comparison, most did during the 2009 housing recession. Builders, meanwhile, are not building much new housing due to uncertainties, resulting in likely upward price pressure for current inventory. He also added that while many stock portfolios have tumbled by as much as 32%, this did not occur in the housing market, meaning that many investors could eye the housing sector as a way to hedge risk against future pandemics.

Buyer competition

On a national basis, the Seattle economy will be comparatively OK. Locally it can almost be considered a predominantly health crisis and not an economic one – in terms of effect on housing. With a lot of high paying jobs in the area that weren’t proportionately impacted, buyer competition will remain high. This is fueled further by the transit difficulties meaning buyers prefer to be close to work. There are also predictions that a side effect of the pandemic will be a resilience on buyers to explore the condo market, creating more pressure on the single family home market.

With current sales numbers trending upward towards normal levels, it is predicted that we are in for a unseasonably busy summer market. This sentiment is echoed by Maggie Richter, a Senior Loan Advisor with RPM Mortgage who confirmed that they had more pre-approvals for loans in April of this year than they did in 2019.

In short

Buyer demand proved itself to be strong over the course of the pandemic thus far and is likely only going to remain the same as more inventory is added to the market by sellers who have been waiting. A summer outlook for the Seattle single family real estate market would be an unusually busy market in which prices are more likely to increase than go down. The condo and apartment markets on the other hand face more uncertain futures as the side effects of the economy and perception on public health could cause decreases in price points.

If you would like to discuss this in more depth or would like data to influence your purchase or sales strategies over the summer months please let me know and I would be happy to assist you.