“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus
Here are some fun Halloween facts:
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Candy Corn: Candy corn, those colorful triangular candies, is a classic Halloween treat. In the United States, over 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced each year.
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World Records: The Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of zombies in one place was achieved in 2010 when 8,027 zombies gathered in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Additionally, the world’s largest pumpkin weighed over 2,600 pounds!
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Costume Traditions: The tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween dates back to the belief that dressing up as ghosts or other creatures would confuse and ward off evil spirits.
I am always available if you have any questions about the real estate market, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me with a call, text, or email.
See you soon,
Joujou
Be a Holiday Shopping Ninja
Holiday shopping is right around the corner. If buying gifts for friends and family is stressful for you, you’re not alone. Recent data found that December is the most stressful month for consumer shopping, with November in second place. Another survey found that 54% of this year’s holiday shoppers expect to feel financially burdened.
If the thought of holiday shopping is keeping you awake, relax. Here are some ways to reduce stress and spending.
Shop for gifts earlier. Retailers are already aware that inflation will affect sales; that’s why big box retailers like Target and Best Buy have already introduced members-only price cuts. Amazon and Walmart are expected to join them soon. If you can spread out your purchases over the next three months, your monthly income will suffer less.
Traveling? Here’s some good news, airfares are down 12% to 14% from last year.
Be like Santa. Make a list. Decide on a detailed gift budget before you shop. Not only does this help prevent financial strain — it will also help eliminate last-minute shopping. Battling stores just before a holiday often results in overspending, stress, and much smaller gift selections.
Be careful with credit. While credit cards often offer rewards and special offers, they can rack up a painful amount of debt if you’re forced to carry a balance in the months ahead. Inflation has pushed the average credit card rate up to over 20%, which is a record high.
Take stock of your gift cards. Did you know that almost half of us have at least one unused gift card in our desks, wallets, or handbags? There’s nothing wrong with using your gift cards to help supplement shopping during the holidays.
Explore Compass Curated Fall/Winter Edition
Our Featured Properties:
Iconic Blackhawk Estate: 81 Eagle Ridge Place, Blackhawk
Villa Venti Venti: 2020 Victorine Road, Livermore
4456 Deer Ridge Road, Blackhawk
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The top emerging housing markets in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com (both owned by the same company) were judged by Real-estate supply, Real-estate demand, Median home-listing-price trend, Unemployment, Wages, Regional price parities, Amenities, Commute, Foreign-born residents, Small businesses and Property taxes. Topeka, Kansas was #1! (WSJ)
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Reading is faster than listening: For example, reading 300 words takes an average of one minute, whereas listening takes 150 words per minute. Because of the speed, you may listen to an audiobook in one hour, whereas reading a book takes only 30 minutes! (GoTranscript)
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Millennials (aged 27–44) now form the largest generation group in the United States (about 72 million strong), and make up the largest percentage of new home buyers (43%, according to the National Association of Realtors). They are projected to be the dominant force in the home market for years to come. (Morgan Stanley)
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Kitchen islands took off in the US in the 1960s but, from around some time in the 1980s, the kitchen underwent a big bang, a hot period and space in which it slowly expanded to occupy almost the whole of the ground floor of some houses. The kitchen island has evolved, now some are almost the size of studio apartments! Some are taller at barstool height while others drop to accommodate dining table height. I just recently built a kitchen where the front of the island doubles as the back of the seating for a banquette.
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Since 1970, the planet has witnessed a devastating loss of one-third of its remaining wetlands, accompanied by an alarming 83% decline in freshwater wildlife populations. These grim statistics are not merely ecological concerns; they translate into a colossal economic risk. A recent World Wildlife Fund report estimates the annual economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems to be a staggering $58 trillion, equivalent to 60% of the global GDP. (The Cape Times)
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The Seattle area – home to Microsoft and Amazon (as well as a COMPASS’ tech hub) has the highest proportion of advanced tech workers in the US relative to cities with similarly sized tech workforces (Burning Glass Institute). Of all US large cities (25,000-plus tech workers), Seattle was followed by the metroplexes of San Jose, San Francisco, Boston, Austin, San Diego, New York, Los Angeles, Portland, and Raleigh. But tech is growing around the country in medium and small cities too: Kansas City is adding an $800 million META data center. (WSJ)
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From 1980 to 2012, a steady 25% of all homes were owned by those 65 and older. Today that figure stands at 33%. Older homeowners often have paid off their mortgages, usually have more assets and savings than younger generations, and their savings now yield higher returns, which all means the chances of them defaulting – or being forced to sell – are lower than in prior decades. (BLOOMBERG)
