Some weeks, I know what I'll write about on Sunday morning. This was not one of those weeks.
As I looked through my photos, I came across this crooked kitchen, and it seemed to perfectly represent my week. A bit off kilter, and a little bit dizzying.
It was a long and winding road to get to Sunday. Literally. I put in many miles in and around both City and countryside, and, I have a mountain of dishes to let me know I haven't been home much. Some weeks are just like that in my world.
Weeks like this always leave me wondering if I accomplished anything. So, I had to dig through my daytimer (yes, I still use paper!) to recall everything that happened, and find those little nuggets of progress.
I got to spend some real quality time with some truly interesting & creative people, got to walk a 10 acre property on a beautiful fall day, met with my home inspector for the first time in a year (not many inspections happen in this market!), rented out my apartment, and got inspired for a cool new project.
It was one of those weeks that seemed a whirlwind on the surface, but, was actually very nice. There really was no rushing around, just constant movement.
Even though it was a crooked road, it was also pretty satisfying as I look back on it. Except for the mountain of dishes on my counter this morning, lol.

With all this talk of our current "seller's market", I don't want you to think it's impossible to buy right now. It's definitely challenging, but, it's certainly doable.
In most cases, buyers are competing for property at the offer stage, and the seller will have choices as to which offer to accept. So, you must put your best foot forward, and convince the seller you are the best buyer for them.
Preparation, flexibility, patience and persistence are all keys to success in this market. This is the general advice I give to all my buyer clients, regardless of whether they are first timers, move up/down buyers, or investors.
Buying a home really is an emotional purchase in many ways, so, it's most important that you have a clear picture of your financial capabilities, and a good knowledge of market values before the shopping gets serious. Otherwise, you're at risk of becoming slightly irrational in the frenzy of a passion purchase. ;)😉
Having said that, there are also two values ~ market value, and the value to you, whether that's more or less. It pays to keep a level head.
It's also good to have a clear picture of what you NEED to have in your home, and perhaps build in some flexibility with what you WANT in a home. With low inventory, and rising prices, the sooner you can make a purchase, the better, and, that may involve a bit of compromise.
Yes, it can be time consuming, and there may be a few disappointments along the way. But, if you can be patient and persistent, we've got this!

The biggest real estate event in our area this week, was that the average property values topped $500,000 in August. Wow! We've made some huge jumps over the last few years!
This is celebration news for those who own property. This means you've gained significant equity that can be used to move up, buy an investment property, retire in a much better position, even help the kids to buy their first home. It has certainly given all of us plenty of options and opportunities!
I know many of you are asking the questions ~ I've heard them several times this week alone! Is this a good time to buy? Is this a good time to sell? Great questions. And, from a strictly investment standpoint, yes. Absolutely.
If I've learned anything over the past 30+ years in this biz, it's that you can't time the market. No one saw this fast value rise coming, and no one can predict what will happen in the future. All we know for sure is what's happening right now. And, right now is pretty great!
Historically speaking, real estate has always been a solid investment. Yes, there have been a few dips and detours along the way, but, overall, values have risen. Never with as much gusto as recently, but, always upward. There's a great quote that rings true. "Don't wait to buy real estate, buy real estate and wait". It's a long term investment, no question there.
The question you really should be asking yourself, is whether this is a good time for you personally. Does it fit in with your life goals right now? Will it move you forward? If it does, take the plunge. If it doesn't, then perhaps this isn't the time.
Don't let the market intimidate you, my job is to help you navigate that.
Skip the news, and do what's right for you. Right now.