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Volume 10 | Issue 10
OCTOBER 2019
EYE ON THE MARKET As we move deep into the fall season, the market shows signs of change. In the past, many buyers looked to fall home shopping as a relief, a time to catch a breath from the frenzied pace of the summer. While, in some areas of the local market buyers are tapping on the brakes, brokers report that they continue to see a few multiple offers. Properly priced properties in good showing condition are still moving quickly.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS the year. While falling interest rates may mean refinancing and staying put for some, others will elect to take the leap and enter the market. The lure of a decrease in the overall monthly payment that results when taking advantage of low interest rates is enough to bump some off the fence. Depending on your price range this can mean a savings of a couple of hundred dollars a month.
The most recent monthly stats from the Northwest MLS show closed-sale prices for single-family homes in King and Snohomish held steady year-over-year. King County was up by just 0.15 percent and Snohomish County down slightly by -0.45 percent. Pierce County continued to percolate, experiencing an increase of 6.25 percent over the previous year.
Looking to the South Sound, Tacoma and nearby cities remain hot and popular. Recent infrastructure improvements such as the HOV and Interstate 5 realignment project through the South Sound’s main corridor are part of what’s drawing buyers to the area. Future light rail extensions will also pave the way for those who don’t flinch at a somewhat lengthy commute to jobs in Seattle or on the Eastside.
Mortgage interest rates remain at threeyear lows (still historically low). These low rates are providing some fuel for the market at a time when we’d expect a seasonal slowdown, but they’re not moving the needle as much as predicted earlier in
With several factors in play, we expect the remainder of the fall market to offer some new inventory. Sharp buyers may find a new home in time to celebrate the holidays. Savvy sellers might just be able to start their new chapter with the new year.
PUGET SOUND PUMPKIN PATCHES SNOHOMISH COUNTY Bailey Family Farm 12711 Springhetti Rd, Snohomish baileyveg.com/ pumpkins.html Baylor Farm 28511 Ben Howard Rd, Monroe 360.793.0822 Biringer’s Black Crow Pumpkins & Corn Maze 2431 State Route 530, Arlington facebook.com/biringers.black.crow Bob’s Corn & Pumpkin Farm 10917 Elliott Rd, Snohomish bobscorn.com Carleton Farm 630 Sunnyside Blvd SE, Lake Stevens carletonfarm.com/pumpkin
Craven Farm 13817 Shorts School Rd, Snohomish cravenfarm.com/activities Fairbank Animal and Pumpkin Farm 15308 52nd Ave W, Edmonds fairbankfarm.com The Farm at Swan’s Trail 7301 Rivershore Rd, Snohomish thefarm1.com Foster’s Produce & Corn Maze 5818 State Route-530 NE, Arlington fosterscornmaze.com Stocker Farms 8705 Marsh Rd, Snohomish stockerfarms.com Thomas Family Farm 9010 Marsh Rd, Snohomish thomasfamilyfarm.com continued on next page
3-10 Tacoma Film Festival tacomafilmfestival.com 4-6 Puyallup Oktoberfest oktoberfestnw.com 10/4- Earshot Jazz Festival 11/6 earshot.org 5 Kelsey Creek Farm Fair farmerjayne.com/ Special_Events.html 5 Monster Bash flyingheritage.org/ 5-6 Issaquah Salmon Days issaquahchamber.com 5-6 Lynden Lions Club Model Train Show | northsoundlife.com
5-6 OysterFest oysterfest.org 12 Orting Pumpkin Fest tacomaevents.com 12-13 Seattle Home Show seattlehomeshow.com 12-13 Snohomish River Run snohomishriverrun.com 19 Nordic Fair nordicseattle.com/events 19 Taste of the Region at Sea-Tac Airport | eventbrite.com 20 Halloween Pet Parade volunteerparktrust.org 25-26 Northwest Hiphop Festival eventbrite.com 26 Puget Sound Festival of Bands psfob.com