New Market Data

Nationwide home sale reports for November came out yesterday and today, and both brought good news! Sale of new homes increase 5.5% over October and existing-home sales increased 5.6%. Although unemployment remains high, this report perhaps reflects increased consumer confidence. Average sale price also increased 1.2% over last year, a further indication that the market may have hit the bottom. Of the four regions in the national report, the Western Region reported the biggest gain, increasing 11.7% of the previous months sales.

Clark County Foreclosures Down in November

Last month the number of foreclosures dropped 39.8% from October, however year to date the number of foreclosures is still up 27% over 2009. The drop in November is likely the result of the temporary halting of foreclosure proceedings. Once banks resumed the foreclosure process, they often did so with more caution. Washington has the 17th highest foreclosure rating in the country, just two spots behind Oregon.

Price Reduction - 15802 NE 43rd St - $180,000

PRICE REDUCED!!! This amazing deal is not a short sale or bank owned. This home features lots of living space with a formal dining and living room, plus a large kitchen with eating area and family room. Upstairs has three bedrooms and two full bath, plus a bonus room over the spacious three car garage. Set in a quiet, East Vancouver neighborhood just blocks from 5 acre Fir Garden Park. Click here for the full listing. Call, text, or e-mail me to schedule a showing.

HomeSteps Smart Buy Program

Purchasing a bank-owned home is an excellent way to get a great deal without having to go through the lengthy short-sale process. However, these purchases are not without some risk. There is often a large amount of deferred maintenance and/or repairs that need to be done, which the bank will not do. The banks also do not provide a property disclosure for the home. Freddie Mac is now taking a little of the risk out of buying certain bank-owned homes by offering the HomeSteps Smart Buy Program. The two main components of the program are:

1. A two-year home warranty that covers repair or replacement of covered systems due to regular wear and tear.
2. An appliance purchase discount that saves you 30% on new appliances.

This program only applies to certain properties and the home being purchased must be for use as a primary residence. For more information on the program, go the Smart Buy Website.

For a list of homes that qualify for this program, send me an e-mail at johnblom@hasson.com or call me at (360) 977-8329.

Best Christmas Light Displays in Vancouver

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than driving through Starbucks, getting a peppermint mocha, then looking at some amazing Christmas light displays? The Columbian made it easier for you do find the best light shows, organized by area, with credit to the homeowners. Here are highlights. For hours and a full description, check out the full article here.

Central Vancouver

• 4009 NE 65th St (Freimuth)
• 1601 X St (Russell)
• 11212 NW 9th Ave (Blanca and Moore)

East Vancouver

• 16304 NE 63rd St (Whitehead)
• 2517 NE 176th Ave (Holloway, 2 more great displays just down the street)
• 11806 SE Riverridge Drive (Peppers)
• 7207 NE 92nd Ave (Kirschenmann)
• 4506 NE 106th Ave (Porter and Hubbard)

Orchards/Brush Prairie

• 13210 NE 93rd (Gertz)
• 20306 NE 68th St (Livingston)
• 9109 NE 109th Ave (Burnett)

West Vancouver

• 11111 NW 19th Ave (Kay)

East County

• 2707 NW LEadbetter Parkway, Camas (Giel)
• 4430 NW Crystal Ct, Camas (Pfeiffer)
• Sunset Ridge Subdivision, Washougal, along 51st St (community)

Sends pics/videos of your favorites and I will be sure to post them!

Happy holidays!

East Vancouver New Construction - Parkside Court

8 lots available - 6 back to Fir Garden Park. Plans available from Garrett Custom Homes, ranging from 1700 SF ranch to 2880 SF 2-story plan. Priced below $300k!!! Call to schedule a new home consulation.

• Hardwood Floors
• Granite Counters
• Stainless Appliance Package
• Customizable Plans
• One-stop Home Design Center

15802 NE 43rd St - 2417 SF - $199,900

Great fixer opportunity!!! Not a short sale or bank-owned. This home sits on an amazing 16,000 square foot lot in quiet, established community. Don't miss this opportunity -- call today!

• 2417 square feet
• 3 bedroom/2.5 bathroom
• 3 car garage
• Bonus room over garage
• 16,000 square foot lot
• Formal living/dining room
• Kitchen opens to eating nook and family room
• Nice sized laundry room
• RV Parking
• Very Private

Employment Trends Improving

Throughout 2010, economic analysts and commentators have stated that for the housing market to begin to recover, unemployment would have to decline. Two news reports released today provide some hope that next year might bring improvement in the job market. In an annual survey of CFOs 47 percent responded they expected to hire new employees next year. In last year's survey, forecasting for 2010, only 28 percent expected to grow their work force this year. Only 6 percent expected to layoff employees in 2011, compared with 9 percent who expected layoffs in 2010. The group of 801 CFOs that were surveyed also responded more positively in regard to future revenues and the condition of the economy as a whole. Read the full news report here.

Initial jobless claims also dropped last week, from a seasonally adjusted 438,000 the previous week to 421,000. This decline exceeded analysts expectations. The drop also brought the 4 week moving average to its lowest point since August 2008.

Employment data is not only important for those looking for a job, it also provides a sense of security to those currently employed. Although interest rates have increased over the past four weeks, they are still considerably lower than the historical norm. However, people concerned about their job security are wisely hesitant to take advantage of these low rates and low housing prices to move into a new home.

8 Ideas for Winter Curb Appeal

The latest issue of Realtor magazine had some great tips for improving your home's curb appeal during the winter. The first impression a prospective buyer has of your home is the view from the street...make it a great impression with some (or all) of these ideas:

1. Add splashes of green or purple - Place a small evergreen shrub in a planter or hang a wreath on the door to introduce some color. Plants in the cabbage family can add bright purple tones, a nice contrast to the gray skies of winters in the Northwest.
2. Give it seasonal sparkle - Use twigs with red berries or glass balls covered with sparkles to give off a "happy holidays" feeling.
3. Make the garden statuesque - Frost-resistant outdoor sculptures are a great way to bring an otherwise dormant garden to life during the winter.
4. Light it bright - Get the maximum wattage bulbs for your exterior light fixtures and make sure to keep them clean. If you have showing scheduled in the evening, leave the interior lights on as well. Not only will this keep buyers from stumbling around in the dark, it makes the home seem warm and welcoming from the curb.
5. Show off the lifesteyle - Take the cover off your barbecue or the hot tub right before a showing to help buyers picture themselves enjoying these amenities during the summer.
6. Make the deck and extension of the house - If you have a covered patio, leave your outdoor furniture out during the winter. Even though you probably won't use it, presenting a nice outdoor living space is a great way to entice buyers.
7. Create a photo display of summer days - Using a photo album or digital picture frame, leave some pictures of what your home looks like the rest of the year. Find pictures that show flowers in bloom to let buyers know what they have to look forward to come spring.
8. Don't forget to clear a path - On the occasion that we get snow or ice, make sure to shovel a path so that buyers and their agent can get in and out of your house safely.

For more information go to www.realtor.org/realtormag.

Pending Sales Increase 10%

The National Association of Realtors released new housing data this morning that showed pending sales increased 10% nationwide in October over the previous month, although they remained lower than October 2009. Unemployment claims also reached a two-year low at the end of November.

Dean Maki, Chief Economist at Barclays Capital Inc., said of the new data, "The fundamentals that are driving home sales are low mortgage rates combined with job and income growth and that's why housing should be expected to grow in coming months...housing activity will still look low relative to the boom years, but we expect a solid growth rate to occur."

In Clark County, pending and closed sales dropped in October, so local activitiy does not necessarily reflect national trends. As consumer confidence increases, however, we should see sales data improve in our local area.