We had a wonderful Eastside Windermere Kick-off yesterday to get our brokers ready for 2016! It was full of information, fantastic speakers, and plenty of inspiration for helping our buyers and sellers move this year.
Economic Update
Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner and Zillow‘s Skylar Olson had a great discussion to open up our event. They talked about wage growth, our strong economy, why there’s no bubble threat, and more. Mortgage rates will be increasing, but to what level? While we may end up somewhere between 4.4 and 4.9 percent, the biggest hurdle will be psychological as buyers realize we’ve crossed into the 4 percent realm.
One of the strongest takeaways from Gardner and Olson was their overview of millennials in our housing market. It’s not just student loans holding them back from purchasing a home. While it may play part of the equation, the bigger issue is actually rising rent costs. Millennials are putting off social events like marriage, families, etc., until later in life and thus renting longer. As they’re trapped renting in the expensive rental market longer, they’re struggling to save enough for a downpayment. This is especially true in our region.
Legal Update
Attorneys Justin Hagg from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service and Lars Neste from Demco Law Firm also got on stage to walk us through changes in MLS guidelines and real estate law.
We’ll be seeing some new forms to use in 2016 and helpful changes to the system so we can focus on making buying and selling your home easier.
Do It Well. Make It Fun.
Our keynote speaker was Ron Culberson who encouraged brokers to always add humor to our lives. This applies to more than just our work lives. Managing stress, communication, and the ups and downs of work are his focus, and we encourage you to check him out yourself!
The Eastside Windermere Kick-off was an inspiring event full of information to help our brokers prepare and get excited for the year ahead. We’re excited to put this knowledge to good use as we help you navigate the listing or sale of your home in 2016!
Windermere Eastside 