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Three Tips to Escape Summer Heat in Seattle
August 10, 2018 /The Puget Sound area has shifted into full summer mode, and it feels (and tastes!) glorious. The blueberries are fat and sweet, and on the Kitsap Peninsula, Local Boys’ special orange creamsicle melon tastes exactly like an orange creamsicle, except better. Plus, taking a dip in the Sound feels a bit less bone-shatteringly glacial than usual. However, it’s no news that Washingtonians aren’t exactly accustomed to heat, and that they tend to wilt when temperatures rise above a mild 70 degrees. In fact, since it only gets this hot for about a month or so each year, only one third of Seattle homes have air conditioning. According to the Weather Channel, this is lowest percentage of households with air conditioning of the 41 metros included in a United States census survey. Even so–who needs air conditioning when you have an entire state full of beaches, rivers, and other shady spots? To help you both escape the heat and make the most of these gorgeous and fleeting summer days, the list below offers a few cool tips. To talk to Pickett Street about real estate in this Puget Sound paradise, get in touch with them at info@pickettstreet.com or 425-502-5397. 1. Get…Read more
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Seattle Summer Real Estate Update
June 18, 2018 /What are you up to this summer? I sincerely hope that, whatever your plans are, they involve eating good fresh food, getting out on the water, slowing down, and doing a whole lot of nothing with your favorite people. Perhaps your summer plans also involving buying a home, selling a home, or engaging in some other part of the real estate world. So, while you’re enjoying a cool beverage, here is a Seattle area real estate update. Also keep in mind that the first thing you should do is contact Pickett Street at info@pickettstreet.com or (425) 502-5397. They have the know-how and the skills to help you navigate real estate with as little stress and as much enjoyment as possible. 1. Mortgage rates increased. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage recently rose to 4.62%. (One year ago, this rate was 3.92%.) The 15-year fixed rate mortgage rose to 4.07%. (One year ago this rate was 3.18%.) The plus side of this is that mortgage application activity has also declined, which may mean less competition if you are looking to buy a home this summer. However, according to economist Joel Kan, “government applications increased, driven largely by increases…Read more
