California tiered home pricing
If lower rates are to continue to prop up home prices, the Fed will need to “go negative,” an unprecedented move that would boost borrowing during 2020’s triple whammy of a pandemic, financial crash and economic recession. However, the overall trend for home prices in the next couple of years will be down, the result of plummeting sales volume and historic job losses. Home prices are expected to bottom in 2022, to rise with the next jobs recovery.
Ralene Nelson, REALTOR®
SOLD – 585 Stewart Wy. Rio Vista
Located in Homecoming, 2 stories 4 bedrooms 2.5 baths with RV parking, large lot. Newer interior paint and carpet upstairs. Kitchen with oak cabinets/floors, granite tile counters, newer stainless gas stove, and refrigerator. Lot is large enough for pool or parking for extra cars or RV/boat. READ MORE
Labor Day Activities to Soak Up the Last Moments of Summer
You’ve made it through the highs and lows of an unusual spring and summer, and just as you’re getting settled into an undoubtedly new school routine, it’s time to celebrate Labor Day! Typically celebrated on the first Monday of September, this day of beauty was dreamed up by the labor movement in the latter part of the 19th century, and it’s been a Federal holiday since 1894.
You’re likely no stranger to labor these days. The extra cooking, cleaning, and parenting required with staying closer to home means that this year you deserve a fun holiday more than ever. The great news is that many stores and restaurants were already closed on Labor Day, so you might end up having a holiday that feels more normal than you think. You could plan a barbecue and cook up some of the best grilling recipes and easy summer desserts and play an array of outdoor games suitable for all ages.
Feeling fancy? Anyone can watch a parade, but why not break out the bikes and organize your very own socially distanced Labor Day parade up and down the block? Really, the possibilities are endless—which is why we’ve done all the, well, labor and come up with a ton of family-friendly ideas for a day well spent.
Organize Your Own Labor Day Parade
Labor Day parades are such a teachable moment for kids. You can demonstrate the best waving technique, a catch-and-release strategy on candy (never dive for a Tootsie Roll), and ideal positioning for easily getting out of the area once the parade is over. Just remember to keep a safe distance if you invite the neighbors!
Set Up the Sprinkler
Little kids love running through a sprinkler for a good reason. This Labor Day, channel your inner child and join them for a run through or two and just try to keep that delighted smile off your face.
Turn Your Backyard into a Movie Theater
Wait until the cool of the late afternoon when the lighting is just right and set up an outdoor movie theater. Add cozy seating on your lawn with floor cushions and blankets. If you want to go all out pack a basket with popcorn and milk duds and string up light for extra ambiance.
Upgrade Your Happy Hour
Toast summer goodbye with a bubbly blend of sparkling rosé, mashed raspberries, and a variety of other refreshing summer cocktails.
Get Crafty with Oversize Pinwheels
Just because you can’t host a crowd doesn’t mean you can’t make a fun and easy craft to make your family gathering special. These patriotic fabric pinwheels (with soda cap centers!) use heavy-duty, double-sided fusible webbing to attach two fabric squares together, cut in from corners, and hot-glue alternating points to the center.
Tackle a House Project
An extra day off work means you can finally get to those house projects you’ve been putting off all summer. Easy day-jobs include painting a room, organizing your closet, or these easy kitchen updates.
Throw a Hot Dog Cookout
You don’t get more American than hot dogs, friends. Serve up a side of beans cooked up in a U.S.-made cast-iron skillet, and you’ve got the perfect dinner menu for Labor Day.
Set Up Camp in the Backyard
Take advantage of that no-school, no-work Monday with a Sunday-night sleepover under the stars. Sure, you could go to a campground, but why do that when you can “rough it” and still enjoy the comforts of home (hello kitchen, hello bathrooms!) when necessary. Check out these easy campfire recipes to make your menu!
.Host an Ice-Cream Social
Kids and adults alike will line up to make soda and scoop pairings like cola and cherry ice cream, root beer and vanilla ice cream, ginger beer with lemon sorbet, or really any combo you can imagine!
Set Up a Pretty Backyard Picnic
No need to come up with an excuse to avoid the teeming crowds at popular picnic spots! Hang out (worry free!) in your own backyard with an easy picnic setup. The best part about being that close to your house is that you can bring out some of your prettier pieces without fear of them getting broken in transit.
Read a Book
There are some who will scoff at the notion that reading a book is a good way to spend Labor Day. Those people are wrong. There’s nothing more satisfying than sitting outside and enjoying a great book in the company of other book lovers.
Fire Up Some Labor Day S’Mores
Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on the traditional s’more! These massive s’mores are made with a variety of cookies (Chips Ahoy!, chocolate wafer cookies, and graham crackers), lots of chocolate, fruit (that makes them healthy, right?), and of course, marshmallows.
Homes Are Going Under Contract in Record Time
Contract signings posted another big jump in July, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Thursday. This marks three consecutive months of growth as markets continue to roar back after facing initial closures from the COVID-19 outbreak this spring.
Pending home sales are now up 15.5% year over year. Each of the four major regions of the U.S. saw increases in pending home sales, both month over month and annually. And NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said there are no indications that contract activity will wane anytime soon, particularly in the suburbs.
Listing Price Growth Puts Sellers in Driver’s Seat
Listing prices are experiencing the fastest growth since January 2018, realtor.com® reports. The median listing price in the U.S. is 10.1% higher than a year ago, buoyed by low inventory and strong buyer demand, according to realtor.com®’s latest Weekly Recovery Report, covering the week ending Aug. 15.
“With supply and demand moving in opposite directions, sellers are clearly gaining the upper hand in the market as buyer competition builds up and prices gain momentum going into the fall,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com®.