Market Update

Wow, it is the holiday season already!  This year has gone by so fast.  I hope you had a great time with your family over Thanksgiving and continue to enjoy this month full of fun for the upcoming holidays and into the New Year.  As I run into family and friends at neighborhood events and gatherings (soooo grateful those have resumed), the conversation frequently turns to the real estate market.  Everyone wants to know whether the market is still running strong to end the year, and what will happen next year.  My latest response is: from a historical perspective, it’s insane!  Inventory of homes for sale in our area (which includes inside the Beltway, Fairfax, Prince William and Fauquier counties) has dropped to a mere 1,886 homes! This is a record low for this time of year.  Additionally, new sales contracts written the previous seven days were the second highest ever, exceeded only by 2020.  Typically we see approximately 415-460 contracts written during Thanksgiving week; we had 653 this year!  Demand continues to outpace the supply by a wide margin.  Despite the factors, buyers are still being circumspect regarding price and condition, unlike in the Spring.  So what’s the answer to the question: “Should I sell my house during the holidays?”.  My answer is it depends on your motivation.  If you really need to sell, now is a great time as inventory levels are low and demand is high.  Houses typically look and feel festive this time of year, which is an added staging bonus.  Just understand that the pricing still needs to be on point for a house to sell, even in the environment we are currently experiencing.  I can’t tell you how many buyers I’ve spoken to in the last month who say “I see prices coming down” in their searches.  Sales price are not falling but over ambitious sellers and agents are taking a lot of price reductions!  So if you are looking to “cash-in” and hit a home run (and a double on top of it), now is not the best time to sell.  This is the time to hire a great agent who really, really knows the market and can nail your pricing to maximize your net.  So, if you are considering a move now or in the future, please call me. We can get you positioned for success.

Merry Christmas, and have a great holiday season with your family and friends!

Chris Dominick

 

6 Home Office Trends to Watch

By Dave Adams, BDI Furniture | NAR Blog

The home office is one of the most coveted spaces in a home. Find out what styles are trending for this room or how to create one when square footage is tight.

  1. Home buyers are looking for homes with dedicated office spaces.With the housing market exploding, many home buyers who work remotely need a dedicated office space. Home offices are no longer an afterthought; it’s now essential, and you should pay attention to staging this room.
  2. Dedicated spaces can be created in shared rooms.For homes without dedicated office space, you can create workspace nooks in bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas. The dining table no longer cuts it as a place to work long-term. For office nooks in shared spaces, consumers are using room dividers, shelving, or even topiary walls or living planters to help create separation. This can help people mentally get into work mode—and then leave it  behind at the end of the day.
  3. Hybrid furniture solutions can offer multiple functions.In many households, more than one person may be working from home, which requires getting more creative with space. Many with smaller floorplans are turning to hybrid designs with furniture that plays various roles. For example, coffee tables can convert to a workstation, laptop tables can easily be transported room to room, and storage furniture can double as accents in open spaces.
  4. Standing desks are gaining popularity.Consumers have started to embrace standing desks—well-known for their health benefits—at home over the past year. If you’re opting for a standing desk, some important features to consider are wire management (make sure the desk has a place to tuck away cords), keyboard storage, cabinets, antiglare desktop surfaces, and  lifting mechanisms for monitors and other items.
  5. Less storage is needed.Remote workers have fewer requirements for large storage units like filing cabinets, which has shifted demand away from big, bulky office furniture. To be sure, office furniture still needs to serve a function. But today’s digital age provides a greater ability for furniture to be creative and reflect personal style.
  6. Create a “Zoom room.”Most remote workers will need a place appropriate for video conferencing. Ideally, you want your “Zoom room” to be in a quiet area of the home. You want your background to be professional but infused with some items that show your character. You can enhance the natural light in the room with lamps or ring lights to get the right look. You also want to sit with good posture so your face is at the right level and angle to the camera. An ergonomic chair can help.

 

Recipe Corner

Loaded Tater Tot Bake

www.tasteofhome.com

Yields 6 servings –  Prep 15 min. | Bake 35 min.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 6 ounces Canadian bacon, cut into 1/2-inch strips
  • 4 cups frozen Tater Tots, thawed
  • 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 2-3 minutes. Add Canadian bacon; cook until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
  2. Line bottom of a greased 11×7-in. baking dish with Tater Tots; top with Canadian bacon mixture. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, cream and   seasonings until blended. Stir in cheese; pour over top. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 35-40 minutes.

Enjoy!

 

6 POPULAR HOME WELLNESS TRENDS

Source: rismedia.com

Incorporating wellness features into the home design process is not only becoming more mainstream, it’s becoming more expected in homes, especially in the luxury market. The foundation of health and wellness begins at home, so it’s no wonder that these features are becoming more conventional.  Below are the home wellness design trends expected to become increasingly more prevalent in the coming year.

Home Air Purifiers

As the country continues to return to a more normal way of living, having proper ventilation and pure indoor air quality is more important than over. An indoor air purifier can lessen air contaminants, bacteria and viruses. Air purification systems can be installed into HVAC systems and take the form of stand-alone units.

Indoor Gardening

Bringing the outdoors in can offer a host of health benefits, from physical to mental. Greenery can be visually calming, air purifying and can contribute to an immunity-boosting diet. Building an indoor garden can deliver all these benefits. Whether you create a stand-alone greenhouse or a more undersized garden stand, you can have fresh fruit and vegetables readily available and the live plants can aid in purifying your air.

Touchless Appliances

Touchless appliances can help curb the spread of germs throughout your home. From motion-activated toilets, kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, light switches, locks or garage door openers, simply waving your hand to activate these high-touch surfaces can help stop germs from spreading.

At-Home Fitness 

Creating a fitness space beyond the Peloton and treadmill makes a well-rounded fitness and wellness routine at home. A heated yoga studio or meditation room facilitates a mind-body wellness routine from the comfort and safety of home. For additional wellness benefits, adding a massage studio lets your masseuse come to you.

Embracing Minimalism

A clutter-free home creates a stress-free oasis that is so important for mental clarity and health. Devising a decluttering system that works for you can be therapeutic and result in long-term psychological and physical health benefits. Aspects of this system may include a more sophisticated custom storage system or hiring a professional organizer. In addition, a lighter physical space can often create a lighter headspace.

Enhanced Outdoor Living

Outdoor living and entertaining increased over the pandemic and don’t show any signs of slowing down. From full outdoor kitchens to enhanced lounging areas to additional protection from the elements, equipping your home with the features to host and live comfortably outdoors is essential.

 

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