May 20, 2019
Renting vs Buying: Which is better for you?
Posted in Buying by Meaghan McGlynn
The debate about whether it makes more financial sense to rent or buy has been raging for decades. Advocates of buying argue that when you pay rent you’re paying for someone else’s mortgage. When you buy, you are making an investment, which can significantly increase in value every year you live in the home.
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May 15, 2019
13 Appliance Tips & Hacks for Household Chores
Posted in Living by Kenady Swan
Modern home appliances make our lives so much easier: They tackle dreaded household chores, saving us time and effort. There are lots of ways to use them, however, that you may not have thought of before. From cleaning your ceiling fixtures in the dishwasher to vacuuming your pet, here are 13...
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May 15, 2019
Hawaii/Maui Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Hawaii/Maui Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Hawaii’s economy continues to add jobs, but the rate of growth remains tepid. Over the past 12 months, the state added 3,200 new jobs, representing a growth rate of .5%. This lackluster growth may be due to the fact that the unemployment rate was a very healthy 2.7%. On Maui, employment growth dropped 2.2% year-over-year, and has been contracting for the past 14 months.
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May 14, 2019
Big Island of Hawaii Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Hawaii/Big Island Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Hawaii’s economy continues to add jobs, but the rate of growth is tepid. Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added just 1,400 new jobs, representing a growth rate of 0.2%. Even with this lack of job formation, the state has a very healthy 2.8% unemployment rate. On the Big Island, year-over-year employment dropped 4.7% to 84,600 persons and has been negative for the past eight months.
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May 13, 2019
Designing the Perfect Office to Work From Home In Style
Posted in Living by Kenady Swan
Working from home is an aspiration for many of us, but to do so effectively takes work. A disorganized space at home can be just as troublesome as a hectic office. The most disciplined telecommuters will tell you that you need a structured routine and organization to rise...
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May 13, 2019
Montana Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Montana Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Over the past 12 months, Montana has added 4,800 new non-agricultural jobs. This represents an annual growth rate of a modest 0.9%, which is lower than the national growth rate of 1.7%. In the first quarter of the year, the state lost 1,300 non-agricultural jobs, which was a disappointment, but I remain hopeful we will see some improvement as we move through the balance of the year.
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May 09, 2019
Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Oregon added 29,500 new jobs over the past 12 months, representing an annual growth rate of 1.5%. The current pace of job growth continues the slowdown that started in mid-2018. I am not overly concerned by this slowdown in growth, as it is typical for this stage in the economic cycle.
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May 08, 2019
How Reliable Are Home Valuation Tools?
Posted in Selling by Kenady Swan
What’s your home worth? It seems like a simple question, but finding that answer is more complicated than it might seem. Sites like Zillow, Redfin, Eppraisal, and others have built-in home valuation tools that make it seem easy, but how accurate are they? And which one do you believe if you get three different answers?
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May 08, 2019
Idaho Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Idaho Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Job growth in Idaho continues to moderate. The state added 19,400 new jobs over the past 12 months, representing an annual growth rate of 2.7%. That said, the growth rate remains well above the national average of 1.7%. In March, Idaho’s unemployment rate was 2.9%, matching the level seen a year ago.
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May 07, 2019
Central Washington Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Central Washington Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Washington State employment slowed to an annual growth rate of 1.7% — a level not seen since 2012 — and continues a trend of slowing that started in the summer of 2018. Over the past 12 months, the state added 56,100 new jobs. Month-over-month, all metropolitan areas in the state either saw the number of jobs contract or remain at their existing levels. This is a little unusual and may be...
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