LOCAL MARKET UPDATE

Home prices were up in King County in March, but inventory continued to be very tight.

  • There are still far more buyers than sellers. The strong demand and lack of inventory have kept home values strong. Sale prices are up, but are rising at a slower pace – a good sign of a stabilizing market. The median price of single family homes sold in King County in March was up 6 percent over a year ago. Sale prices on the Eastside increased 9 percent to $599,950. Seattle home prices dropped 3 percent to $450,000.
  • A serious lack of listings continues, with King County showing just 1.8 months of inventory. A 4-6 month supply is considered balanced, so the current market definitely favors sellers. Competition for homes has caused an increase in bidding wars, with escalation clauses not uncommon for homes in the most popular price ranges.
  • While still historically low, interest rates continue to creep up and are now about a point higher than they were a year ago. Economists expect that trend to continue. If you’re considering buying, sooner is better than later when you run the numbers on how mortgage rates affect purchasing power.
  • Population growth and a strong local economy are expected to keep the real estate market strong. A U.S. Census Report ranks King County #2 in fastest growing counties in the country. Two-thirds of the county’s gains are coming from people moving here. And those people are all searching for homes in a market that already can’t keep up with demand.

Read more about King County’s population boom

If you’d like information on your specific neighborhood, give me a call and I’ll be happy to send you a report.

EASTSIDE EQUESTRIAN LIFE

Summer Horse Camp on the Sammamish Plateau

Do you have a child who keeps begging you for a pony? Fulfill their dreams this summer without the full time commitment of buying a horse at the beautiful day camps at RockMeadow Equestrian Center in Sammamish. Deborah Ritchie runs an exceptional program with beautiful schooling horses and ponies, days filled with crafts, nature walks, riding lessons and more.

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