If you’re a homeowner looking to set resolutions for the upcoming year, here are some ideas to help you maintain and enhance your home:

1. Home Maintenance Schedule: Create a yearly home maintenance calendar to ensure regular checks on essential systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, as well as tasks like roof inspections and gutter cleaning.
2. Energy Efficiency & Conservation Upgrades:  Look for areas where your home could be more energy-efficient, such as upgrading insulation, sealing drafts, and installing energy-efficient appliances. Implement water-saving measures, such as fixing leaks promptly, installing low-flow faucets and shower heads, and incorporating drought-resistant plants into your landscaping.
3. Declutter and Organize: Commit to decluttering and organizing your home room by room. Donate or sell items you no longer need, and create organized storage solutions to maintain a neat living space.
4. Landscaping and Outdoor Spaces: Plan and implement landscaping projects, examples include creating a garden, updating outdoor lighting, or adding a new patio.
5. Home Security: Enhance home security by installing or updating systems like smart locks, security cameras, and motion sensor lights. Review and update passwords for security systems.
6. Financial Planning: Evaluate your mortgage, insurance, and property tax situations. Are you able to make an extra payment to your mortgage, use equity for home improvement or to purchase another home? Be sure to update your insurance coverage (for the home and for yourself), and plan for property tax payments.
7. Emergency Preparedness: Create or update an emergency preparedness kit for your home. Include essentials like first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items. Ensure all family members are familiar with emergency procedures.
8. DIY Projects:  Learn and tackle a few DIY projects around the house, whether it’s painting a room, installing shelving, or updating cabinet hardware. Acquire new skills and save money by doing some tasks yourself.
9. Regular Cleaning Schedule: Establish a consistent cleaning routine. Break down tasks by room and create a schedule for deep cleaning, ensuring a fresh and inviting living space.
10. Smart Home Integration: Explore and integrate smart home technologies that can enhance your home’s functionality and efficiency. This could include smart thermostats, lighting systems, or home automation hubs.
11. Health and Safety Checks:  Schedule regular checks for safety features in your home, such as smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries as needed and update devices when necessary.
12. Budget for Home Improvements: Set aside a budget for home improvements and renovations. Prioritize projects that add value to your home or enhance your living experience.
13. Neighborhood Involvement: Get involved in your neighborhood community. Attend local events, join community groups, and build connections with your neighbors for a stronger sense of community.

Remember to tailor these resolutions to your specific home and lifestyle, and break them down into manageable tasks to make them more achievable throughout the year.

*List created with the help of ChatGPT

THANK YOU!

We continued our annual holiday season tradition with our 2 huge community support programs.  The first took place in November with our annual food drive and then our annual toy drive in the beginning of December.  Both were hugely successful and we could not have done it without your support!  Thank you so very much for all of your efforts.  From collecting non perishable foods, donating toys, wrapping toys and generally helping to spread the word you helped to make a difference for so many families during the holidays.

We thank you and wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024!!

The trend of limited supply continued to dominate the market and higher interest rates had a slight cooling effect for the last quarter of 2023.  In the past few months we have seen interest rates at their highest in years (over 8%).  The Federal Reserve recently indicated they are done raising rates and that inflation indications are looking better, this resulted in rates dropping in December and ending the year around 6.5%.  The combination of higher interest rates and the holiday season resulted in flat sales and prices for the end of the year.

On a positive note, home values continue to appreciate significantly over the past three years. If you’ve owned your home for several years or more, you are in a favorable position if you’re thinking about selling. It is expected that a significant increase in housing inventory may occur when interest rates begin to decrease, which could impact pricing, so do not delay in listing your home.

In the North and West Valley, prices have risen considerably compared to the same time in 2022.  Overall sales prices for 2022 vs. 2023 have remained relatively flat.  It is anticipated, that as interest rates come down this year (as predicted), then we will see an increase in buying power as well as activity.

Ultimately, pricing will always be influenced by factors such as the property’s condition, recent sales in the area, and the willingness of prospective buyers to pay for a similar home. If you would like to explore your options or delve deeper into this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via phone or email.