the
JUNE 2017
Volume 8 | Issue 6
EYE ON THE
market
Our market has no shortage of qualified buyers, and properly priced listings in most areas are selling quickly. In some neighborhoods, homes are selling, on average, in less than 30 days. Our strong regional economy includes global companies that are attracting workers to our region. These companies impact our local market simply by where they are choosing to locate their offices. Expedia will move its headquarters to Seattle in 2019. Amazon has announced plans to open offices in Bellevue, in addition to its main campus in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. REI has chosen to move its main office from Kent to Bellevue by 2020, and Weyerhaeuser has relocated from Federal Way to downtown Seattle. Buyers searching for affordable homes with reasonable commute times are
TIPS TO AVOID
LOCAL finding they need to expand their search to include areas to the north and south of King County. With commute times lengthening, listings close to transportation options are shooting to the top of prospective buyers’ must-see lists. Our region continues to experience price growth resulting from an expanding local economy and population. The most recent Northwest MLS statistics show price increases for single-family homes of 10 percent in Pierce County, 15.74 percent in King County and 17.33 percent in Snohomish County. Local economists predict the strong rate of job growth in our state will continue for the remainder of this year, but it is expected to ebb in 2018. The eventual slowing in job growth and anticipated mortgage rate increases towards the end of the year may relieve some of the pressure we’re currently experiencing.
2-4 Edmonds Waterfront Festival edmondswaterfrontestival.org 2-4 HONK! Fest West in Seattle honkfestwest.org 3-4 Duvall Days Festival duvalldays.org 3-4 Maritime Gig Festival in Gig Harbor | gigharborchamber.net 9-11 Maple Valley Days maplevalleydays.com 10 Georgetown Carnival georgetownmerchants.org
Meanwhile, warm weather moves in, and our pleasant Pacific Northwest summers take center stage, attracting even more new residents to our region.
10-17 Marysville Strawberry Festival maryfest.org 16-18 Edmonds Arts Festival edmondsartsfestival.com 16-18 Meeker Days in Puyallup puyallupmainstreet.com 16-18 Washington Brewers Festival at Marymoor Park washingtonbeer.com 17 Fremont Solstice Parade fremontartscouncil.org 17-18 Port of Seattle Classic Weekend portseattle.org 18 Fenders on Front Street in Issaquah fendersonfrontstreet.com 23 Auburn Kids Day auburnwa.gov 23-25 Taste of Tacoma tasteoftacoma.com 24-25 Bellevue Strawberry Festival bellevuestrawberryfestival.org 24-25 Seattle PrideFest seattlepridefest.org
wire fraud
Transactions can sometimes move along quickly close to the closing date. To be sure your hard-earned funds are sent to the correct place, here are a few things you can do:
Be vigilant when reviewing any nonsecure transaction-related emails, especially if you or someone else involved in your transaction uses a free Web-based email service such as Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail.
wire fraud is
Check email addresses to ensure they match ones you’ve verified to be correct.
Instead of replying to potentially nonsecure emails, forward the email, then enter in a verified email address you know to be correct.
Spread the word! The more awareness there is of wire fraud, the better the chance we have of preventing it.
happenings
ON THE RISE If you have questions about wire procedures, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and speak to someone you know and trust who is involved with your transaction.