Welcome to 2020, the official start of a new decade! We hope you had a restful and joyous end of the year, filled with friends, family and fun celebrations.

As we start to get back into the swing of things, we're sending information to keep you up-to-date on the national real estate market. Of course, it’s impossible to predict the future! However, by going over the latest market trends, this information provides some insight on what to expect in the months ahead. You’ll also learn about several significant changes we’ve seen over the past 15 years that indicate a steady housing market today.

The real estate market is always a hot topic, especially at the start of the year. If you have questions about what you’re hearing in the news, don’t hesitate to reach out! At the end of the day, real estate is local, and we're always happy to walk you through what’s going on and how it applies to you!

Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year! Everywhere you turn, people are celebrating the joy and cheer that comes with this season. As you get ready to host or attend your own celebration with friends and family, why not make it one for the books?

This month, we're sending you a few ways to liven up any holiday celebration! Get ideas for games, party activities and entertainment to keep guests happy. If you are the guest this year, try taking some of these ideas to the party instead!  Additionally, we're sharing tips we can all use to help us stress less this season and focus on what truly matters.

No matter how you celebrate this holiday, we hope you are surrounded by great food, fellowship and fun! It’s been a pleasure serving you this year, and we look forward to providing you with even more excellent value and service in 2020. Happy holidays!

Holiday cards are a great way to send warm wishes to friends and family during the season. But getting everything together takes time – something that can be pretty tough to come by during this busy time of year. That’s why this month, we're sending you some information on how to create a holiday card on a time crunch. You’ll find tips and tricks to choose a photo, design the card and get it printed and mailed out with time to spare. Best of luck! 

A grateful heart lifts your own spirits and the spirits of those around you. When you commit to an attitude of gratitude, you foster more meaningful relationships with the ones you care about — yourself included.
 
We know that practicing gratitude has a powerful impact on others, but did you know it can impact you too? The information we're sending this month serves it all up with some science on the side. You’ll learn three simple ways to express gratitude each day, and how each one has been proven to increase your well-being. We also suggest a few apps you can use to track your happiness, so you can see how your emotional state changes when you commit to a grateful heart! 
 
With so much giving in the air this time of year, take a few moments to reflect on your own practice of gratitude. Remember, we're grateful for you and if there’s anything we can do to be of service during this busy time of year, give us a call!

Remember the Jetsons, that futuristic family from the popular ‘60s cartoon? Their house had all types of neat gadgets and gizmos that you probably wished for in your own life. Believe it  or not, today’s tech is making these “homes of the future” accessible now — and it’s more practical than you might think.   
 
In this month’s flyer, we’re taking a look at some recent smart home innovations. You’ll learn what these are and why they’re starting to catch on in the “real world.” We're also sharing a few of the latest products that will allow you to make coffee with a voice command or turn off the lights from the grocery store.
 
In fact, these kinds of smart technologies are actually increasing the value of homes, making them more attractive to potential buyers. Circle a few that you might want to include in your own home. Give us a call if you’re wondering what this technology could do to increase the value of your home!

As your trusted real estate professional, we want to keep you up-to-date on the market. One real estate buzzword you may have recently heard is “iBuyer.” These are mostly online companies that make an instant offer on your home, buy it, list it and sell it to someone else. In light of these developments, we want to provide context on this latest addition to the real estate space and explain why a real estate pro is still the most cost-effective and convenient way to buy or sell your home. 

In a world where you can buy or sell a home with the click of a button, the work of a real estate agent becomes even more critical. Sure, you may be able to perform an actual sale on the web, but the extra perks an agent provides simply can’t be replaced by the internet. If you’ve ever worked with a real estate pro before, you know that this process is much more than just a clickable transaction.
 
To show you what we mean, we want to share a few of our “not-so-hidden talents” with you this month. These are some skills, benefits and knowledge we provide in addition to assisting you with buying or selling your home. You’ll also find a few numbers speaking to the high-quality work real estate agents provide for their clients. It is our hope you grasp a completely new perspective on what a great real estate professional can do for you.
 
We will always strive to provide you with an unparalleled level of service with anything you may need, regardless of whether it’s real estate related or not. Need a referral for a great contractor? Have a question about these topics? Give us a call — we would be honored to serve you.