The condo market has made a full recovery from the impacts of the pandemic and tourism shut down last year. The number of sales increased by an impressive 134% from the same period last year while median prices increased to $460,000.  The number of active condo listings remains at a decade's record low of 1122.  Sales momentum and declining inventory levels will likely lead to continuing upward pressure on prices.

Scarcity of available homes for sale continues to be the story for the single-family market. Bidding wars continue to be common with 58% of homes sold in June closing over the asking price.  The median price of a single-family home increased to a record high of $979,000 while the number of sales was up 49% to 456.

Higher prices and the move towards normalcy in our daily lives may account for an increase in new listings brought to market in June.  New single-family listings increased 23% while new condominium listings increased 31%.  

We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts:

• Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.
• Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
• Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
• Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. Keep citronella candles, tiki torch products and insect coils of out pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.

Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbeques can be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol.

Sometimes, it just means taking the first step. We host monthly virtual workshops hosted by experienced Brokers and Loan Officers. The casual information sessions are interactive and designed to let you have all your questions answered.

If you are currently renting, take the first step toward paying your own mortgage instead of someone else's!

To register for the workshop, please visit here.

Please feel free to call me for more information or if you plan on attending.

Architects and interior designers strive to improve living spaces so their clients will be happier and more productive. One increasingly popular approach is called biophilic design, which “seeks to connect occupants more closely to nature,” according to Archdaily.com. 

Biophilia simply describes the affinity and love humans have for the natural world and its life forms. It’s the reason we have house pets, indoor plants, and install skylights, wood floors and granite countertops in our homes. We screen windows and doors to let in the fresh air. We are willing to pay much more money for homes with views of the ocean or lake, the mountains, or park-like landscapes.

Humans spend 90% of their time indoors, so we’re happier when we can bring the outdoors inside, which explains the booming houseplant industry, reports Fastcompany.com. We’re simply happier, more focused, and healthier in a biophilic environment, and there are numerous studies confirm the direct positive effect nature has on our well-being.

So how can you incorporate biophilic design into your environment? LifestyleAsia.com suggests that objects, materials, textures, colors, shapes, and sequences that mimic nature will stimulate visual, auditory, haptic, and olfactory connections to the natural world. Start with plenty of natural light. Add a water feature, such as a small entry fountain. Use walls to hang landscape paintings or botanical wallpaper. Add fragrant plants, flowers and candles with pine, lavender, and other soothing scents.

You’ll soon see that furniture, art, décor and architecture can work together to create a peaceful haven.

For 2021, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac raised the maximum conforming loan limit for a single-family property from $510,400 in 2020 to $548,250. In high-cost areas, including parts of California, New York, Washington D.C. and others, the limit for conforming mortgage loan limits is 150% of that limit, or $822,375. You can also get a jumbo FHA loan, which follows the same limits as for conforming loans, with the exception that some counties in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam have limits as high as $1,233,550.

What if you need to borrow more? You’ll need a jumbo mortgage loan, defined as a loan that’s any amount over conforming limits. If you’re wondering whether you will need a jumbo loan to buy your next home, check conforming loan limits for your area here and FHA loan ceilings here.  

What does it take to qualify? Ally.com suggests that non-conforming loans pose a higher risk to lenders. Qualification requirements can vary among lenders, but you will likely need higher credit scores, down payment and cash reserves, and you’ll pay higher interest rates and experience greater scrutiny of your financial sources.

Not all lenders provide jumbo loans, so it’s wise to shop around to get the best terms. You can also ask your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional for referrals to lenders who are experienced and willing to make jumbo loans or that offer other loan products that allow you to meet the FHFA limits for high-cost areas.