the
JUNE 2016
Volume 7 | Issue 6
LOCAL happenings
EYE ON THE market Experts say our region’s weather is one month ahead of schedule this year, which means this spectacular spring has been perfect for home shopping and selling. The Northwest MLS reports most new listings coming on the market are receiving plenty of attention and sell within the first 30 days. Open house traffic is high, and buyers are still hopeful for a chance of owning a home this year. Low inventory remains a concern, but overall NWMLS listings were up 13.6 percent in April over the month before, helping to ease some of the strain. A lack of condo units for sale is often cited as a significant factor in the inventory shortage. Condos are very important to the health of our local real estate market for many reasons. Affordability, size, location and lower maintenance compared to single-family homes are just a few reasons condos attract first time home buyers and those looking to downsize. The latest Northwest MLS statistics show condo closed sales are up over this same time last year by 16.16 percent in King County and up 31.65 percent in Pierce County. Condo closed sales in Snohomish
County are down by 12 percent, primarily because condo listings were down by 42.66 percent compared to last year. Where are the condos? Restrictive condo laws in our state, meant to protect buyers, have deterred many developers from building condos since they came into effect. In recent months, there has been an increase in discussions about revisiting condo laws to make this type of construction more attractive to developers while still protecting consumers. In the meantime, what can we expect for the summer of 2016? More of the same: listings selling quickly and multiple offers on properly priced properties. We’ll also see more buyers looking to Pierce and Snohomish counties and beyond to buy a home that meets their needs while interest rates are still at historic lows.
THE BENEFITS OF naturescaping Landscaping with native plants conserves water and reduces maintenance costs, and once the plants are established, “naturescaping” saves you time. What exactly is naturescaping? It’s the practice of using native Northwest plants to create a more natural yard. Some benefits to naturescaping: Planned the right way, it can create a healthy, safe space for you and your family, free of chemicals. It saves money normally spent on lawn chemicals and on watering during the dry summer months. Once established, a naturescaped yard reduces your time mowing, raking and watering. There are many resources online that can help with your naturescaping planning. Here’s where you can learn more: green.kingcounty.gov/GoNative savingwater.org nativeplantsalvage.org
1-5 Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival bellevuedowntown.com 3-5 Edmonds Waterfront Festival edmondswaterfrontfestival.org 4-5 Maritime Gig Festival in Gig Harbor | gigharborchamber.net 10-12 Maple Valley Days maplevalleydays.com 10-12 Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival in Everett | everettwa.gov 11 Georgetown Carnival georgetownmerchants.org 11 Lake to Lake Bike Ride in Bellevue | bellevuewa.gov 11 National Marina Day in Seattle portseattle.org 11-12 Festival Sundiata at Seattle Center | festivalsundiata.org 11-19 Marysville Strawberry Festival maryfest.org 12 Woodinville Wine Ride cascade.org 17-19 Edmonds Arts Festival edmondsartsfestival.com 17-19 Fremont Solstice Celebration fremontsolstice.com 17-19 Meeker Days Festival in Puyallup puyallupmainstreet.com 18-19 Burien Wild Strawberry Festival burienstrawberryfestival.org
24 Auburn Kids Day auburnwa.gov 25-26 Bellevue Strawberry Festival bellevuestrawberryfestival.org 26 PrideFest in Seattle seattlepridefest.org
June I M P O R TA N T D AT E S Friday, June 3 Doughnut Day
Sunday, June 19 Father’s Day
Tuesday, June 14 Flag Day Tuesday, June 14 World Blood Donor Day Saturday, June 18 Go Fishing Day
Monday, June 20 Summer Begins Thursday, June 23 United Nations Public Service Day Friday, June 24 Take Your Dog to Work Day
Celebrating FATHERS: GIFT IDEAS FOR FATHER’S DAY 2016 Father’s Day has been an official observance to show our appreciation and love for more than a century. For those dads who are into 21st century gadgets, there are high-tech gifts to fit just about any interest. Here are a few suggestions: Grilling Dad—A lot of fathers like grilling, but most dads could do without cleaning the grill. That’s where the Grillbot automatic grill cleaning robot comes in handy. It’s like a Roomba for Dad’s dirty grill. grillbots.com
Golfing Dad—If his swing needs some improvement, get Dad a high-tech swing analyzer that attaches to his golf club or glove, then sends instant analysis to his smartphone or tablet without ever leaving the driving range. epson.com or zepp.com
Get-Fit Dad—We all want the fathers in our lives to be as healthy as possible. The Blaze by Fitbit is dedicated to fitness, and a great tool for motivating and tracking activity. fitbit.com Film Director Dad—Now Dad can project home movies and images up to 50” diagonal from his phone or tablet onto any flat surface with the Pocket Projector Micro, so small it fits in the palm of your hand. brookstone.com
Damage-prone dad? If you’re worried about dad damaging his new high-tech gift, consider getting an extended warranty. Be sure to read carefully what’s covered. Does it just extend the existing warranty? Provide a free replacement? Cover shipping to send the damaged one in for repair or exchange? squaretrade.com
Happy Father’s Day! Most importantly, after all the gadgets have been unboxed and taken for a test drive, don’t forget to let Dad know how much he means to you.
TO-DO LIST FOR OUTDOOR entertaining Utilize this useful checklist to prepare for fabulous outdoor entertaining this summer! GRILL | BBQ: Fill propane tank, stock up on charcoal. Light grill and give it a long burn period. Then clean thoroughly. Check propane tank for corrosion or signs of wear and damage.
YARD | HOUSE: Clean patio/lawn furniture. Prune shrubs and pull weeds. Wash windows, inside and out. Clean screens. Clean pool, summer toys and coolers. Check yard and shed for bee/wasp nests.
STOCK UP on: Sunscreen Bug repellant Citronella candles Anti-itch creams Allergy medicines BBQ skewers Ice packs Grill seasonings Long-reach lighters Paper plates, napkins Shade umbrellas, lawn chairs
Volume 7 | Issue 6
ENTERTAINMENT ideas: Ladder Golf Bocce Ball Horseshoes Croquet For kids: Hide-and-Seek Freeze tag Red Rover Beanbag toss