the
Volume 9 | Issue 12
EYE ON THE
DECEMBER 2018
market
As we move from fall to winter, the expected seasonal slow-down is in effect, but experts say this is hardly a cooldown period. Current market conditions could mean buyers have a wider selection, with more homes selling within their asking price range. Compare this to earlier this year when the Seattle market saw homes selling for an average of 7.5 percent above the listing price. A healthy market typically has four to six months of inventory, while the Seattle area is sitting with a little less than two months of inventory on the market. This is still healthier than we’ve seen in recent years. The tech industry is still a strong force for high-wage job creation in our region and continues to draw job seekers into the area. Seattle alone increased the number of tech jobs by 25.7 percent in the last two years, higher than other tech hubs such as Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Facebook, having already made its mark in Seattle, plans to expand to two buildings
LOCAL in Bellevue. Analysts point out that both Amazon and Facebook employ this strategy of having a company location on both sides of Lake Washing-ton. This most likely is a contributing factor in the continued high demand for housing in the central Puget Sound area. Amazon recently announced its second headquarters location will be split between Arlington, Virginia and Long Island, New York. Experts predict the decision could have a significant impact on the local housing market if Seattlebased workers decide to sell their homes here and relocate to the East Coast. Similarly, Facebook employees may find themselves working at the company’s Bellevue location versus Seattle, also causing ripples in the market. With Amazon and Facebook having high numbers of employees residing in the area, location changes by employees at both companies are expected to bring about some movement in the market. Whether home to a tech company or not, many communities around the Sound are waiting to see what the new year will bring.
TIPS FOR GREEN HOLIDAY
entertaining
A few tips to help you “go green” this holiday season: Stocking up—Buying in bulk in bigger Cooking—Support our community farms! containers helps to cut down on packBuy organic when you can, and visit your aging and reduce the number of trips local farms to get produce, meats and to the store to restock these items. dairy products. Many farms offer fresh items year-round, and you Decorating—Many of your might even discover a new guests will eventually come favorite. Ask for recipes and to the kitchen to hang out, so preparation tips if you’re trying to really get into the holiday something new. spirit, decorate your kitchen as well. For the kitchen (and Serving—Use cloth or compostall over the house), string LED able napkins, and invest in an lights, which use less energy. inexpensive set of flatware that Pinecones, evergreen branches and can be reused next year. Better yet, if boughs of holly you’ve collected from your event is casual, check your local your yard also make festive holiday vintage store for flatware and glassware decorations and don’t require any sets or individual pieces that meet your energy usage. entertaining needs. (continued on next page)
happenings
11/23-12/31 WinterFest at Seattle Center seattlecenter.com
11/28-12/2 A Victorian Country Christmas
avictoriancountrychristmas.com
12/1-12/2 Redmond Lights redmondlights.com 12/1-12/2 Seattle Festival of Trees seattlefestivaloftrees.com 12/1-12/16 Santa Train* trainmuseum.org 12/1-12/23 Issaquah Reindeer Festival cougarmountainzoo.org 12/1-12/24 Snowflake Lane snowflakelane.com
12/1-12/24 Santaland
macys.com/social/events/ event/?id=25669
12/1-12/27 A Charlie Brown Christmas taproottheatre.org 12/1-12/29 The Lights of Christmas thelightsofchristmas.com 12/1-12/31 The Polar Express Train Ride mtrainierrailroad.com 12/1-1/1 Fantasy Lights www.co.pierce.wa.us/1253 /Fantasy-Lights 12/1-1/1 Gingerbread Village gingerbreadvillage.org 12/1-1/5 WildLights at Woodland Park Zoo | zoo.org 12/1-1/6 ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium | pdza.org
12/2 Light Up the Night lakesammamishfriends.org *select dates (events continued on next page)