August 2020 Real Estate News - Skagit County

real estate market snapshot A U G U S T

Jean Groesbeck

2 0 2 0

By Jean Groesbeck Median Home Price

Skagit County

$400,000

Anacortes

$605,000

Mt. Vernon

$399,950

Burlington

$385,000

July 2020

All Time

HIGH

Down from $414,400 in May (all time high) when there was an abundance of new construction available.

Number of months of inventory based on pending sales (The lower the number, the better the market for sellers. The norm is 5-7 months) 4 3 2 1 0

2.0

2.1

2.6

3.2

2.1

All MLS

Seattle

Skagit

Anacortes

Mt. Vernon

1.3 Burlington

People are moving to improve their quality of life.

Larger homes are becoming more popular again as home buyers expect another year of staying home and possibly working from home long term.

Large lots and large level back yards are extremely desirable among all age groups.

People are leaving city life all across the country for more rural settings.

We have lists of buyers waiting for homes that meet their needs. They want to move now and will pay a premium for move-in ready homes.

If your home is unique to the point there is a smaller market for it, this is the time to sell. Buyers are choosing location over features. The number of buyers looking for homes in our market has never been higher.

If you are thinking of selling this is your opportunity to get top dollar.

The 2021 seller's market might not be as strong as it is right now.

360.941.3734Â

Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com

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Remodel OR Move?

Deciding whether you should remodel your current home or buy a new one isn’t an easy decision. It truly comes down to your personal situation. For example, If your goal is to downsize, remodeling rarely makes sense.

The need for a new home is often triggered by changing needs. That charming little rambler a newly married couple started out in suddenly becomes an overstuffed home with too few bedrooms. On the other hand, a home that was once perfect for a family of 5 suddenly seems empty and uncomfortably idle.

Remodeling often requires a massive outlay of funds and usually a seller does not recoup the costs unless they do the homework ahead of time. What are the current desired features on a home in the area? Are paint color trends just temporary or here to stay? Will adding a deck add value to the home?

Before you make the decision, think about how your current home works for your current life stage and what you will need in five to ten years. You want a home that can grow and change with you—or you want to be prepared in case you might need to move sooner than you would like.

As a homeowner, you’ll want to carefully weigh the choice between remodeling and moving. If you can't decide which option is best for you, give us a call! We will be happy to assist and guide you in the right direction.

Call, text or email us: 360.941.3734 - Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com.

We are available 7 days of the week.

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Pets Can Help You

Pets make great companions, which is particularly important these days, when so many of us are cut off from family and friends.

If you live alone, just having another living creature in the house can make you feel less isolated. It’s not just the companionship that makes a difference. Many pets are able to pick up on stress, anxiety and sadness. Simply knowing you’ve got a loyal friend who’s there for you and loves you no matter what will give you an emotional boost.

Even if you can not commit to take care of a pet full-time, you can provide a temporary home for animals who can’t adapt to the shelter or those who need to be nursed back to health. Call your local shelter to see if there is anything you can do to help.

Pets can go a long way toward helping you feel better everyday, especially during these trying times.

THE GROESBECKGROUP 2020

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SELLING YOUR HOME

during COVID-19

By Jean Groesbeck

We are continuing to sell homes through the COVID-19 virus. Some sellers actually like having their home listed during these times because there are no "looky loos", just qualified buyers.

The Groesbeck Group cares deeply about the safety of our clients and team members. We have adapted our services to add the necessary precautions against COVID-19. We take recommendations from state, local officials and the CDC into account to keep our clients, ourselves, and the rest of the community safe.

Below you will find the official changes we have implemented to adjust to the new norm.

We follow strict home showing protocols approved by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control and state and local rules and regulations.

In-person showing requirements will be changing as our county changes COVID-19 phases. At this time, we are asking every buyer who wants to see your home and agent who shows your home to sign a health disclosure assessing their current health and ask whether they have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19. They will not be allowed in the home if they are having any symptoms or have been around anyone with symptoms. In addition, they are required to provide us with a preapproval or proof of funds letter or statement before looking at your home.

Once a serious buyer has provided all the required documents, we will arrange for an in-person showing at a time that is convenient for you. Showings are limited to 3 people including the buyer’s agent. All parties at the showing are asked to wear booties, gloves, and a protective face mask before being allowed inside your home.

We are conducting “touchless showings” meaning you will be asked to leave all lights on and bedroom and closet doors open. The buyers will be asked not to touch anything during the showing but if they forget, they will be wearing gloves. Everything from signing docs to closing can be done electronically for the most part. At the end of the day, many people need or want to move and the market has never been busier.

We recognize selling during a pandemic adds a whole other level of stress to the home selling process. We’re here for you to guide you with expert advice from preparing your home for the market until after closing while keeping your safety our top priority.

360.941.3734 Jean@JeanGroesbeck.com

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809 7th St Anacortes, WA 98221 THEGROESBECKGROUP.COM AnacortesRealEstateGuide.com

Taby  Jean Eileen Summer Jean 360.941.3734 Taby 956.337.2131

Eileen 360.770.7090 Summer 360.540.7716

Info@JeanGroesbeck.com *If you are currently working with a broker, this is not intended to solicit our business.

NOW

is the best time to sell your home in decades...

Maybe ever!

Depleted inventory of homes for sale, an exodus from city living, virtual home showings and historic low interest rates have led to a buyer frenzy. Sales growth is limited by a lack of homes for sale. Skagit County is down to 36 days of inventory (the norm is 5-7 months!).

SKAGIT COUNTY RECAP Total Active Listings

Median Price

477

July 2019

255

July 2020

0

100

200

$360,000

July 2019

$415,000

July 2020

300

400

500

$0

$100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000

If you have been on the fence about selling your home, this truly is a perfect time to do so. Let's start the conversation today. Give us a call at 360. 941.3734 or 360.899.5027.