Get a head start on spring!
As we start the new year, don't forget to think of your home!
Get a head start on spring cleaning and begin the decluttering process.
Thinking of selling? Decluttering is a great way to prep your home for sale!
Keeping your home clean & decluttered is tricky, especially with kiddos or fur-babies!
Hopefully, these few tips will help you:
1. Clear off all flat surfaces - and keep them clear! Start by putting everything on the floor (or table) and only add back the essentials.
2. What items do you use? Keep those and ditch the rest!
3. Tackle the job in stages . . . . start with one room or closet and then move on to the rest.
4. Make sure everything you own has a “home.”
5. Use baskets, hooks, bins to help keep essential things organized.
6. Invest in furniture that can also hide clutter such as ottomans with hidden storage.
7. Be selective with your home decor. Avoid having too many knick-knacks. Pick your favorites and store the rest for seasonal rotation or donate.
8. For closets & clothes - only keep items that you love and fit well. Donate the rest. Organize by color. It will feel great, I promise!
9. Use Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist to sell or “gift” any unwanted furniture or household items. Donate the rest to Goodwill or ReStore!
10. Keep at it. Clutter creeps up fast! If you do a little now, you won’t have to do a LOT later.
Have any other tips? Add them in the comments below.
2022 predictions in real estate
Last year we saw record home sales ($6M nationally) with tight inventory. Home prices increased roughly 20%!
What will this year look like?
Here are a few predictions . . .
Prediction #1:
Home prices will continue to increase but not as dramatically as last year, more like 5% instead of 20%.
Prediction #2:
The reason why home prices will continue to increase is due to tight inventory. Last year, we averaged 30 days of inventory (1.3M homes for sale nationally). This year, we'll see closer to 1.8M homes for sale. This will be more in line with inventory levels from 2020.
Prediction #3:
New construction will help alleviate our short inventory supplies. If the Federal Reserve can help move inflation down from 6.8% to 3.8% by the end of 2022, the cost of supplies and building materials will be more affordable prompting new construction, which in turn will help inventory levels.
Prediction #4:
Buyer demand will remain strong. Millennials, the largest generation in the US, will continue to flood the market as first time homebuyers. We’ll also see Baby Boomers begin to downsize and seek new construction, townhouses, condos or single family homes with main floor living. In addition to these two groups, 30-40 year old professionals, with growing families will begin to upsize, seeking their “forever homes.” This will be especially true if people continue to work from home instead of going into the office for work.
Prediction #5:
The average days a home is listed for sale (DOM) will increase ever so slightly from a national average of 22 DOM to 28 DOM. We’ll see this take place as inventory begins to loosen up throughout the year.
What does this all mean?
Interest Rates will increase. The last Fed meeting discussed raising the interest rates to help ease inflation. Increases may take place two to three times throughout 2022. Last year, we saw interest rates hover around 3%. This year, interest rates may rise to 3.75%. If you are thinking of buying, now is a great time to beat the spring rush and lock in a good rate!
What are your predictions for the 2022 housing market?