Jenny4stlouis

 

It’s pretty hard to believe that 2016 is coming to a close.   To say it has been a “interesting” year would be an understatement!   Dominated by the most bizarre election cycle in my adult life, news and fake news, Bruce Jenner’s transition into Caitlyn Jenner, on going racial tensions and police issues, I for one am hoping for a less exciting 2017 and hopefully one filled with more peace world wide.

Having said that,  I hope to have a very exciting 2017 in real estate!  We are optimistic that the promise of lower taxes and lower health care costs will help motivate those who are on the fence to make the move they’ve been considering.   Interest rates have already risen a quarter of a percent so buying power will be reduced for some.   But as I continue to preach, my first home had an interest rate of 10% !  So until we get back up in that range, NO COMPLAINING!  🙂

Another thing I would love for you all to put in the back of your minds, is referrals.  If you have anyone in your circle of family or friends who are in need of professional real estate guidance, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to them.  I am also able to make out of town/state referrals if you have family far away who need real estate help.   I had the pleasure of working with a buyer this year who was referred to me by her uncle in California who was a real estate agent there but obviously could not assist her here in Missouri!   Last year I assisted members  of my own family as they relocated back here to Missouri from Texas, referring them to a Texas Coldwell Banker team to assist them with selling and then I helped them to buy here while they were still out of town.   I know sometimes you may not think that I can assist folks that don’t actually live here but we can!  And when we make the referral to a Coldwell Banker agent in another city, they keep us in the loop on what is happening with that transaction so we can monitor things for our referred client.

I just want to say thank you to all the wonderful people that I had the privilege of working with this year.   It’s such a wonderful thing to help folks find their new home and to help those selling an home make as stress free a transition as possible.   That’s our motto at the Town and Country CBG office….”We manage the details, you live the dream….”   It’s our goal to make your buy or sell as positive an experience as possible with the least amount of drama possible!

I hope you all have wonderful holidays – Merry Christmas to those who celebrate.  Happy Hannukah to those who celebrate and a Blessed, Prosperous and Healthy 2017 to you all.

WOW!   Election over…not what most of us were expecting, I am sure.   Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook on my personal page, know my feelings on the subject for better or for worse .   YIKES!      But I’m not here to write about the election so much, or even how I feel about it -but to discuss a bit of what Mr. Trump’s election might mean for the housing market in our area and nationally.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post that you all received/read, the St. Louis market is very affordable compared to markets nationally.  The President of CBG in St. Louis spoke to us recently about the stats both nationally and here.    National home ownership is at a 50 year low of 64%…this in part due to the housing crash and folks having credit scores adversely affected.   In the St. Louis area, home ownership is at 72% due much to our affordability indexes.   Even millennials have higher home ownership rates here than nationally (STL: 47%   Nationally:  42%)  Per Realtor.com

So if you are thinking of buying or selling or both…our area is ahead of the national averages overall.   With the upset election of Mr. Trump we will probably begin to see a gradual increase in interest rates.   Originally, the rates were projected to stay lower due to the Brexit affect on markets etc.    Depends on which outfit you get your info from but National Association of Realtors predicts interest rates at 4.5% by end of year 2017 (this was before the election).    This is about a percent higher than what we have now – again depending on loan type.   However, it is still a historically low rate!   My first home the interest rate was 10% and this was a bargain after the late 1970’s rates that were 15-20%!!  I always try to put some perspective on this when the subject comes up!

This rise in interest rates is something to consider if you are planning to purchase a home or upsize etc.   A 1% increase in the rate reduces purchasing power by 11%!   Lesson:  NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!   We’ve also been hearing that Mr. Trump’s election will mean the repeal/amending of Dodd Frank and that may mean some changes in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which affects lending.    We shall see.

Since Trump’ election, the markets have not dropped as predicted and many are optimistic about the overall outlook for the market – including housing.    We are hopeful in the industry!   One sticking point has been credit rates which have kept many from entering the home buying market.   The average credit score for millennials is below 670.   FHA loans are lending at an average of  680 and conventional loans at 790!   The millennials score of below 670 would explain the lower home ownership rates for that group.   But even older folks who have suffered job loss/housing bubble would have credit rating affected making it harder to get a home loan.  Perhaps with a president who is apt to be less regulatory in his policies this will help.   Time will tell.

So as always, stay calm, take of yourselves and your families and if you or someone you know is in need of professional real estate guidance, please let me know!

It’s almost over!!!!  By the time you read this, our new overlord-I mean President- will be chosen and this whole damnable election cycle will soon be history!   If we can just hold on a bit longer and not lose our collective minds, we will be free from all the vitriol,  corruption and negative advertising and start to think on the upcoming holidays.   If our country doesn’t self destruct in the process.  *sigh*

No matter who wins on November 8,  we as a people still need to work, and provide a home and security for our families.   In the end we need to take care of ourselves.   Those idiots in Washington are certainly not.   We can also look out for each other – through our charities and churches.   Hopefully, our so called elected officials will not do too much damage to us with their policies.

For most of us, our biggest asset is our home.   It’s still a goal in life, even for our up and coming millennials who are now graduating college, beginning to marry , have families and buy homes.   For those of us baby boomer types and Gen X’ers – we are either downsizing or looking for the larger move up home as families grow and schools become important.

The trends in our St Louis area are very good.   St. Louis is considered one of the most affordable cities in the country for home ownership.   Strong public schools in the county especially promote this, but even the city is enjoying a resurgence and is aided by a good private/parochial school network.   Many first time buyers look to the city for their first home and there are many established neighborhoods that are thriving.   There is also a fair amount of “re-gentrification” in economically hard hit areas.   St. Louis is truly a hidden gem in our country.  Our tech sector is bringing folks here from the unaffordably priced markets on the West Coast.

There has been a bit of holding back in the upper end home market.  Not sure if buyers and sellers are holding back waiting to see how their stock accounts will be affected after the election or if there is something else at play there.  These homes are still selling but not as robustly has we saw in early 2015.   Another reason to be glad to see the back end of Election 2016!    Our hopes are high for spring 2017 in this category.    Just from relief alone folks will be giddy and happy and buying homes.

Don’t feel like you have to wait for spring though.   There are some distinct advantages to selling in the fall/holiday season.   First of all, less competition on the market – this is true for both buyers (think no feeding frenzy and multiple offers) and sellers ( buyers who are looking at this time are pretty serious buyers) and less competition for your home.  Plus, homes look exceptional when decorated during the holidays and show beautifully.   It’s something to seriously think about if you are considering buying or selling.

If you are considering buying or selling I am happy to have a consultation with you free of charge.   Referrals are always welcome too and much of my business is through happy client referral!   We can discuss a game plan, timing and pricing/pre-qualification.   Until we talk, have a cocktail ( or five) and get ready to cast your ballot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Usually by the time we get close to October, the frenzy of the real estate market is slowing down.   People do still buy and sell homes in the fall/winter and there can be some advantages to this time of year – especially for buyers who don’t want to be caught up the feeding frenzy of the spring.   And homes decorated for the holidays often look extra beautiful.   But this is the perfect time to prepare your home for sale and to prepare yourself to be a buyer in the upcoming spring market.

If you are a buyer, you can start the pre-qualification/lending process now by speaking to a reputable LOCAL bank or lending company.   I would tell any buyer I work with, I do not recommend you deal with the large banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo or Chase for home loans.  Their track record is abysmal.   They do not have local underwriters which makes it very hard for an agent or buyer to have someone to interface with during the contracting/loan process.   Local banks are much better to work with but even they are bound by rules and regulations per the federal government that makes it harder for them to underwrite someone with less than perfect credit.   The mortgage companies have an easier time of this and are not bound by some of the rules banks are.   Lending rules are easing somewhat but if you are thinking of buying a property in the next year, now is the time to get your ducks in a row and get ready to be a qualified buyer.   If you find you are not ready to purchase you have some time to do what is necessary to become qualified in time for the spring season.   We also now have a rent to own program that can assist those who wish to purchase but are not able for various reasons at this time.

Sellers, of course need to think about getting a home market ready.   We all think we have the perfect home and often our homes are wonderful, well kept and show ready.   But even the nicest home can use some prep.   The first thing to do is have an agent (me, of course! ) come by and visit your home and give some tips on what to do or not to do to get the home ready for market.

Exterior  fixes and curb appeal are the first impression, so fall is a great time to do some outside clean up and maintenance to insure that by spring your home will be inviting to buyers.  Clean gutters and trim trees/bushes/flower beds.   Paint any trim or siding and consider the condition of roofing and downspouts.   Clean out the garage and organize.

Inside is just as, if not more important.    I cannot stress enough how much taking care of your home is to future sale and realization of highest price possible.   Cleanliness is important and shows that a home has been well cared for.   A home that is filthy sends warning signals to buyers and may put them off.    Unless you plan as “as is” sale and are willing to adjust your sale price to reflect need for updates and maintenance, then inside clean up/update/repairs are also very important.

Don’t panic!  You don’t need to redecorate your entire house.   The first order of business is to de-clutter and de-personalize your home.   Take down half of your personal photos and all religious items.    The idea is that once you choose to list your house you want it to appeal to the most buyers possible.   You also want a buyer to come into your home and imagine their own things there.   You don’t want them to only see your stuff.

Secondly, neutralize any really taste specific decor.   Use neutral paint to show kind of a blank slate if you will for a buyers furnishings.   Neutral taupe’s, beige’s and cream colors go with any type of furniture/decor so these colors make it easier for a buyer to move their own things in without a complete repaint.   Take down chintzy wall paper or dated draperies.   If you remove drapes make sure you patch any holes from rods etc.

Thirdly,  remove some furniture to open up spaces in rooms to show more open space.   Depending on the home, it might even pay to rent a storage unit to store pieces until you move.    I can also bring a staging professional to help you stage your own furniture to better showcase your home.   If I recommend this, it usually means it is needed!   Professional photographers want very little on tables/counters because knic- knacs throw shadows in photos which is not something we want.

Lastly, be realistic about price.   Before listing, ask me for a current market analysis of your neighborhood/like homes in the area and set a price that is realistic.   Homes that are priced properly tend to sell quicker and for more money because they are priced right.   Many sellers think they need to build in negotiating room in their price but this is not needed.   In fact a high price can delay sales.  If you price a home properly, agents and buyers will see the value and offer  your price and even generate some competition.     The reverse can also be said of buyers.   You don’t need to low ball to be able to negotiate up.   If a home is priced right, it’s priced right and low offers can cost you the home if another buyer offers a higher price.

If you are considering a move up, a downsize or know someone who needs a first home – call me now!   You want to be ready to take advantage of the busy spring market and in our business, this starts in mid to late January depending on the weather!   I am happy to come to you and get you on the right path!

 

I generally do not sell/buy foreclosure properties.   Luckily, I work with clients and in areas that have very little of these types of properties for sale.   As a control freak agent the normal type of sale that I deal with allows me a lot of involvement in the process and a lot of control over it.   The best thing about having a real estate agent – and the biggest thing your commissions pay for is having someone knowledgeable managing the process for a buyer or a seller.   We know the deadlines for inspection, for negotiating, for survey and loan commitment.   We lose sleep over these much of the time.   But in the end we can call and get answers on any issue we face fairly quickly when we need them.   If we need an amendment to extend a deadline or change the contract in some way, we fill out the proper form and send it to our clients for signature – DONE!

Not so with the HUD foreclosed property.   This is the foreclosure that was probably an FHA loan at one time and the owner was unable to keep up payments etc.   Thus the federal government owns the property.    When it’s time for these properties to go onto the market, an agent/broker does list it on the MLS on behalf of the “owner.”   So when my client wants to see one of these properties and/or purchase one the real fun begins.

First, one must bid on the property via the HUDHOMES website.   Then, if you are lucky enough to win the bid you have 2 days to produce all the mountains of paperwork required to make the bid an actual contract for purchase.   No electronic signatures are allowed.  So there is a race to understand the paperwork, as well as meeting with clients to get “wet signatures” as they are referred to and submit to the agency managing the contract – which of course is different than the broker who put the property on the MLS and different from HUD itself.   So at this point you are dealing with three entities.   HUD, the agency hired by HUD to oversee the contract process and the listing broker.   Once the contract is received and ratified then the buyer has 15 days to get inspections and decide if they want to proceed at all.   Heaven help you if you have a question or need an amendment or any change to the contract!   You have to divine who to call to ask and in order for any changes to be made, an act of Congress is required.  For a control freak agent like me, this is a huge problem.    In the end, those who remain calm and persevere will win out on these properties.   They can be a great opportunity to buy low and realize instant equity after work on a property is completed.

I am writing about this because as I have recently gone through and am still in process with such a property.   I have been faced with the  reality of government involvement in any area is a problem.   Why so many people involved?   When I needed an amendment for Lead Paint Credit, one person sent me the form, but it needed to be sent to another person once filled out.  No one communicates unless you bother them.

To find out if an extra vacant lot was included in our purchase, I actually called HUD in Washington DC.  No one could tell me if it was locally….someone at the managing company finally produced the paperwork showing the extra lot was included.   Why was this not listed as part of the sale by the local broker?   Title shows the property as  separate address…Title needed it to be included …another amendment was needed for that.   We are getting through it.   But it’s so cumbersome and convoluted that it is maddening.

All I have been able to think about through this process is – why on God’s green earth would anyone want their health care managed in this way?   Why does anyone think this is a good idea?    Why do we want our health managed like the DMV?   Or HUD?   Our tax dollars pay for jobs within these agencies that are over lapping and seemingly not necessary.   It’s wasteful and appalling and it has driven the point home to me that private market entities are SO much better.  If a private company did its business like the government, it would be out of business in a year.  Or less.    Private markets might have their issues but at least the consumer as recourse if they have an issue.   Okay, I’m done ranting now.

I told my sweet client who is trying to purchase this property that we just need copious amounts of alcohol.   It will keep us calm and philosophical on the whole thing.    And at this point it’s my competitive streak that makes me so want this to work for my client and his family but also so I can say “We survived a HUD deal!”   We will drink to celebrate and I will have T-shirts made.  🙂

 

So this summer has been the summer of revelations….mainly regarding our soon to be 21 year old son John.   Home for the summer with an internship at Hussman Refrigeration, he has also taken on the job of selling Cutco Knives to all of our friends, family and acquaintances.  No one will ever speak to Mike and I again, I am sure.   And for those of you who have given him the opportunity to demonstrate these superior knives and perhaps purchased from him, I thank you.

The revelation has been this seemingly overnight drive to work 14 hour days, sometimes longer.   What happened to my “vampire child” – the one who slept til dusk and then roamed the night?    Who slept until the last possible second before rising, racing to get dressed and getting to work?    What happened to the child whose bedroom looks like a terrorist bomb went off in a department store?   What happened to the child who we used to joke would burst into flames if he saw the sun?

This year he is up at 4am to work out for 2 hours….then dress, off to work at Hussman…only to come home and go on rounds of demo appointments for Cutco.   If he has no demos he goes to the Cutco office at night to call for appointments.   It’s a transformation not unlike a religious conversion….he’s all full of fervor and passion and will talk to anyone who will listen about his Cutco Knives, his internship or  his workouts.

The biggest revelation and perhaps the scariest is he is acting JUST LIKE HIS FATHER!  This actually could be a sign of the apocalypse.   I’ve always said another Mike Pappas would be a scary thing…well, here he is folks.   Mike Jr.   And the irony of ironies, my husband is concerned that his son is excelling at sales …he doesn’t want Mike Jr. to be in sales after all the money we’ve spent at Indiana’s business school…LOL!    Having said all of this, John has not really made it his goal to sell either but he is enjoying the challenge.   This is a good thing right?   In order to be in business one must learn many aspects of business and one aspect is sales!   His internship is rewarding too but he is more confined in what jobs he is given and pretty much has to follow orders.  Not as much of a challenge.  Hmmm, Mike, I wonder who that is like???

I must say, I am rather proud of my son…he is persistent with calling and following up.   He is entertaining his “clients” with his demonstrations and he is selling to folks who have told him point blank they are not buying anything but are happy for him to do the demo!  I, of course have heard all of this from those friends who I see shortly after his visits.   Its a great thing to hear good feedback from real grown ups that your child has done well or impressed them.   I hope and pray this behavior continues.   If nothing else this experience this summer has taught him a lot, not just about his own skills, drive and challenges but it has given him a new appreciation and respect for his dad who has slogged it out in the sales world his whole professional life and also his mom in real estate.   He’s learned its hard work and perseverance that pays off and he’s vowed not to ask us for any spending money in the coming school year.   I’ll keep you posted on that one!  *wink, wink*

So, its 800 degrees outside and other than to sit around the pool in order to baste and bake; there isn’t a lot of motivation to do much right now.   Don’t get me wrong this doesn’t mean I am not doing anything….of course I am attending to my business etc.  It’s just too hot for feeling excited about much right now.   I am hopeful this isn’t an indicator of the rest of the summer!  It’s not even July yet!

Anyway…in an effort to conserve my energy in the heat – even mental energy-I am going to give you some quick hit’s ….short twitter worthy thoughts on a variety of topics that spring to mind.   Twitter limits one to 149 characters to get a point across – so short random thoughts.  Here we go….

*Game of Thrones, episode 9 was LIT.   Best episode ever in the entire series to date.   If you don’t watch GOThrones, then you have no idea what I am talking about…if you do I do not need to elaborate.
*In the upcoming election we basically as an electorate are faced with “SOPHIE’S CHOICE”….
*Eventually your children do grow up into responsible adults.   It’s always startling to realize that this has  happened.   Especially when your child tells you he has an appointment with a financial planner.
*My dog Zeke is the boss of us.  He controls our everyday lives…what time we get up, when we come home from work, when we go to bed at night.   He also must be bribed to do things we need him to do, like  “come” or “stay”.
*If guns kill people…then so do knives, cars and slow cookers….why doesn’t congress ban those too?  Or do background checks on those before we can purchase them?
*I hate appraisers.   At least this week.  Glad I don’t have to see them.
*I have paranoia about lenders.  But I must get along with them since I have to see them.
*Why is it that exercise is supposed to be good for me but it makes me borderline crippled?  I can be thin or I can move…but not both??
*Why are the Kardashian’s famous/rich?   Is there no God?
*Why does the press ask Ivanka Trump about her father’s treatment of women and not ask Chelsea Clinton the same question?
*Who the H**L does Trump’s hair?  He looks a bit like an oompa loompa.
*Who the H**L styles Hillary?  Her jackets look like Mao Tse Tung designed them.
*Massages are the best thing ever!   And a real part of my wellness plan!
*Why is it my husband falls asleep the minute he sits down?
*When it’s this hot, grilling outside is akin to being thrown in a blast furnace.
*The Cardinals are a little shaky this year, but go to Chicago…and it’s a sweep.   I can live with this.
*And last but not least….if you are thinking of selling a home or buying a home or know someone that is…CALL ME.   #realestate  #summer  #quickhits # staycool #deepthoughts

Usually when I write this time of year I am touting the Cardinals Baseball season and the onset of summer.   Ironically, this year we are having 40’s at night in May and the Blues Hockey run of a lifetime!!!   It seems to be a foreshadowing of things that fireplaces and heaters are running while our beloved Blues are in the final round before the Stanley Cup series.   Hockey means winter and ice and cold weather….not summer and heat.   So I’ll take the cold and cheer the Blues on!

Frankly, I’m happy for cooler days because as I’ve gotten older, I don’t do well with oppressive humidity and heat.   I can only tolerate it if I am at the beach.   And then I gladly  deal with it while I sip a margarita and bury my toes in the sand with a book in my hand….but I digress.

My husband had season hockey tickets for 28 years…it wasn’t until we had school aged children that we got rid of them because we just couldn’t go to all the games and attend to homework, school events and a real schedule.   But we always follow the Blues in their season efforts.   In years past  we have suffered some pretty difficult first round disappointment in the play off’s because the team was eliminated in the first round – even when they seemed to be the favorite/promising team that year.   This year it’s a bit of disbelief….they are in the finals – only a few games to go to have a chance at the coveted Stanley Cup.  We are almost afraid to believe.  Or look.

I personally can’t watch the games.   It’s way too stressful.   Just tell me when it’s over.   The lack of control over the puck is a nightmare for a person  who likes to be in control like me.   Both Football and baseball allow a great deal of control over things when you are on offense.  And unless you make a mistake or fail to move the ball, things can go your way.  Hockey  is like a crap shoot.   And I don’t play craps.  I have enough stress in Real Estate.   So I stay in my room and watch HGTV or Food Network while my husband and son yell at the TV during the games.    If I want excitement all I have to do is get into a multiple offer situation with a buyer!  It’s quite enough, thank you very much.

But I wanted to pay homage to the faithful Blues….it’s time, please put us out of our Stanley Cup misery and WIN IT this year.   I believe it will happen….the cold weather is an omen.

 

 

 

Above is a picture that appeared in the West News Magazine…some of the top agents in my office were featured.   I was proud to be included in this group.   This is a representation of some hardworking real estate agents. And its because of these hardworking  agents that leads me to my topic this month.   Discount/gimmick brokers.   I am particularly sensitive to radio/TV adverts from other real estate outfits.  You often hear about “4%” commissions if you list with “x”….or if we don’t sell your home we’ll buy it…or if we don’t sell your home in 30 days we will pay you $5000.   The last one actually has the audacity to state they “don’t use gimmicks”…Riiiight.  We agents are often up against these discount brokers and For Sale By Owner’s.  Often, people  think they are saving money in commissions by not hiring an agent or going with the lower commission broker.   

Lets be clear – any reputable company with properly trained agents will not discount the value of their agency or their agents.   I am affiliated with Coldwell Banker Gundaker who happens to be the number one company in the St. Louis area.   I went to Coldwell Banker Gundaker’s real estate school as I prepared to get my license.  They invest in the training and continuing education of their agents.   So not only does CBG properly train agents, they also support them in learning the newest contracting issues, ethics, and also brings in people to teach the latest in technology.   The other piece here is that Coldwell Banker Gundaker brings power to its agents and by extension, their buyers and sellers.  By power I mean corporate presence and reach.   When you list or buy with a CBG agent you are not just getting a properly trained and supported agent, you are getting the positioning of your property online that CBG brings to the table.   You are getting the best national relocation reach as well as international reach so buyers from around the country or even abroad will see our listings first.   As an agent, my listings automatically go to the head of the class in terms of exposure on line.   This what your commission buys.   That, and the best agents in the business if I do say so myself.

The For Sale By Owner is a particularly frustrating situation to be in as a buyer’s agent. I often wonder why a seller is happy to have buyers come with their agents to purchase their home but they don’t think having their own representation is a good idea!   Ultimately most homeowners have no clue how to read or understand a sales contract, they don’t have the proper counter offer documents, nor do they know how to read and respond to an inspection notice.   They are completely unaware of deadlines and legal ramifications.   Unless one is an attorney,  having an agent is important because the pitfalls can be great. Many FSBO’s engage a transaction broker who for a small fee or 1% of sale price will put your home in the MLS.  How hard do you think someone is going to work for you for a small fee?   How much online exposure do you think your home will get for $100?  And even if you do get a contract how much will they be available to you for advice and contracting issues?

I had a buyers who were wonderful (they know who they are ) and found a home that was FSBO.   As their agent, I wanted them to have the home they wanted so we wrote an offer which was accepted.   Long story short, I only had a fiduciary responsibility to my buyers.   But I ended up helping the seller too – even though it really wasn’t my job.   I had to coach the seller on how to deal with inspection notice issues etc.   We closed successfully but I did the work of the listing agent too.   About 3 weeks after closing I noticed the property was still showing in the MLS as pending….I called the transaction broker that did nothing to help the seller and they asked me for a copy of the closing documents.   I told them to call the seller.   They didn’t even know the sale had closed.

So the next time you hear the gimmicks from the discount brokers remember, they are “buying” your listing so they can grab buyers from showing your home…then they will go to a home that is listed for the going rate  and happily collect the commission from another seller .   They are banking on volume so they will have enough business to hedge against their “gimmick” whatever that may be.  Don’t be fooled – statistics show those who sell with an agent get higher prices for their homes.   They also avoid costly mistakes from not understanding procedures and deadlines.   Don’t go cheap with the sale or purchase of your largest asset.   If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, imagine what it will cost you to hire an amateur!

Ahh spring.   That wonderful time of year when we all crawl out of our homes and winter hibernation and go outside to recreate for the first time in months.   Being from Florida originally, I never really appreciated spring until I lived through a winter or two up here in the great white north.   It’s kind of a small miracle to see the trees, flowers and bushes come to life again and see the red bud trees blooming….even the stinky pear trees are beautiful.   And people step outside to work in the yard or exercise in kind of a trance – like vampires scared to see the sun- not sure if they will burst into flames or not if they venture out too long!

But of course with this come some definite downsides.   Spring allergies – for one- with the beautiful flowerings come  all that pollen and dust.   It coats everything and makes life miserable for those who are sensitive.  It seems a cruel joke that during the time when the weather is the most temperate, one cannot open windows to enjoy the breeze for fear of weeks of gunky noses and wheezing lungs.  Running in the park?   Heaven’s no…the pollen will kill me.

The other downside is  the “springing forward” of the clocks.   I hate it.   I prefer to sacrifice longer daylight so I can sleep longer.  Who cares about an extra hour of daylight anyway.   It will stay light longer either way as the summer months progress.    I just have never understood the need.   My husband will disagree with me.   He is one of those early risers ….loves to be outdoors until all hours … it’s a huge issue in our marriage.   He’s far too “up and at ’em” than I will ever be.   He has -after 27+ years of marriage- learned to be QUIET when he gets up before me.  Either that or die.   And he gets up with Zeke the Basset hound whenever Zeke deigns to get up before 7 am.   Really, though – this morning even Zeke wasn’t into getting out of his bed.  Smart dog.

As a realtor, the spring also heralds the INSANITY of the SPRING MARKET.  It starts as soon as we have one or two warm days in February.   Suddenly, my phone is ringing and folks are ready to get homes on the market and/or shop for that mover upper or downsizer.   And this year is no exception.   This year is looking  to be a very good one for the real estate market.  West county in particular and South County too have very low inventories so lots of buyers and not a lot of homes to choose from.  So of course, if you are considering selling or buying this is a great time to start the process!   This is of course not a downside of spring, it is a wonderful time that mimics the “growth” of the trees and flowers.   Folks take this spring time to plant new roots in a new home.   It’s exciting and full of promise and possibility.

So as the blooms appear, enjoy these beautiful warm days and cool nights …try not to sneeze too much and ignore the clock as much as you can.   And of course, give me a call if you need any real estate help!