Windermere Blog

May 23, 2019

Windermere Supports Red Nose Day

Posted in Windermere Foundation by Windermere Foundation

Last year, the Red Nose campaign raised $47 million, setting the total raised since 2015 to over $150 million, and have changed the lives of over 16 million children. These funds help buy vaccines and medical services, as well as meals, educational assistance and more.
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May 22, 2019

The Housing Market in 2019

Posted in Economics 101 Videos and Market News by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate

The last time we saw a balanced market was late 1990s, meaning many sellers and buyers have never seen a normal housing market. Windermere Real Estate’s Chief Economist Matthew Gardner looks at more longer-term averages, what does he see for the future of the housing market?
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May 20, 2019

Renting vs Buying: Which is better for you?

Posted in Buying by Meaghan McGlynn

The debate about whether it makes more financial sense to rent or buy has been raging for decades. Advocates of buying argue that when you pay rent you’re paying for someone else’s mortgage. When you buy, you are making an investment, which can significantly increase in value every year you live in the home.
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May 15, 2019

13 Appliance Tips & Hacks for Household Chores

Posted in Living by Kenady Swan

Modern home appliances make our lives so much easier: They tackle dreaded household chores, saving us time and effort. There are lots of ways to use them, however, that you may not have thought of before. From cleaning your ceiling fixtures in the dishwasher to vacuuming your pet, here are 13...
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May 15, 2019

Hawaii/Maui Real Estate Market Update

Posted in Hawaii/Maui Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate

Hawaii’s economy continues to add jobs, but the rate of growth remains tepid. Over the past 12 months, the state added 3,200 new jobs, representing a growth rate of .5%. This lackluster growth may be due to the fact that the unemployment rate was a very healthy 2.7%. On Maui, employment growth dropped 2.2% year-over-year, and has been contracting for the past 14 months.
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May 14, 2019

Big Island of Hawaii Real Estate Market Update

Posted in Hawaii/Big Island Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate

Hawaii’s economy continues to add jobs, but the rate of growth is tepid. Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added just 1,400 new jobs, representing a growth rate of 0.2%. Even with this lack of job formation, the state has a very healthy 2.8% unemployment rate. On the Big Island, year-over-year employment dropped 4.7% to 84,600 persons and has been negative for the past eight months.
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May 13, 2019

Designing the Perfect Office to Work From Home In Style

Posted in Living by Kenady Swan

Working from home is an aspiration for many of us, but to do so effectively takes work. A disorganized space at home can be just as troublesome as a hectic office. The most disciplined telecommuters will tell you that you need a structured routine and organization to rise...
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May 13, 2019

Montana Real Estate Market Update

Posted in Montana Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate

Over the past 12 months, Montana has added 4,800 new non-agricultural jobs. This represents an annual growth rate of a modest 0.9%, which is lower than the national growth rate of 1.7%. In the first quarter of the year, the state lost 1,300 non-agricultural jobs, which was a disappointment, but I remain hopeful we will see some improvement as we move through the balance of the year.
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May 09, 2019

Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update

Posted in Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate

Oregon added 29,500 new jobs over the past 12 months, representing an annual growth rate of 1.5%. The current pace of job growth continues the slowdown that started in mid-2018. I am not overly concerned by this slowdown in growth, as it is typical for this stage in the economic cycle.
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May 08, 2019

How Reliable Are Home Valuation Tools?

Posted in Selling by Kenady Swan

What’s your home worth? It seems like a simple question, but finding that answer is more complicated than it might seem. Sites like Zillow, Redfin, Eppraisal, and others have built-in home valuation tools that make it seem easy, but how accurate are they? And which one do you believe if you get three different answers?
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