After the initial quarantine of the pandemic, many analysts commented on the outlier trend of residential housing sales. An examination of the data from the Eastside to Bainbridge Island and other areas by Realogics Sotheby's International Realty one year later shows that the lack of inventory and the flood of purchasers was not an isolated incident.

The real estate market had a great start this year. Low inventory, rising median home sales prices, and short time on the market continued these patterns in the second quarter of 2021, putting sellers in the driver's seat. Each quarter, Realogics Sotheby's International Realty analyses five significant areas to see where the market has been and where the trends are leading us.

Welcome St. Kitts & Nevis Sotheby’s International Realty! With the inauguration of Sotheby's International Realty in St. Kitts and Nevis, Sotheby's International Realty is increasing its footprint in the Caribbean. The acquisition marks the brand's continuous expansion in the Caribbean, bringing the total number of offices in the region to roughly 30. The announcement comes at a time when the Caribbean market is booming, thanks to rising interest in second homes and investment properties fueled by the ability to work remotely.

S&P Dow Jones issued their April 2021 CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index as Seattle sweltered under the heat dome in late June. The index revealed historic residential price increases across the board, with just Chicago falling short of a 10% year-over-year increase. Seattle and San Diego, with gains of 20.2 percent and 21.6 percent, respectively, continued to outperform their West Coast counterparts.

For Tax Day, executives from Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty (RSIR), Caliber Home Loans, and O’Connor Consulting Group released research demonstrating that new tenants who chose to live in brand-new, luxury apartments rather than purchasing a similar condominium had paid more than $50 million in unrecoverable lease payments (or $218,983 individually) over the last decade. Meanwhile, the average renter lost out on an estimated $288,934 in average capital appreciation over the same time period, as well as $9,228 in income tax deductions in 2020.

Realogics Sotheby's International Realty is releasing two reports this year to help buyers and sellers in the Puget Sound real estate market make informed decisions. To begin, the 2021 Exclusive Report examines how Seattle's burgeoning and diverse economy has fueled unprecedented development and population growth, indicating a clear urbanization trend.

Good morning, RSIR Nation! I'm curious to see if history will repeat itself. A century ago, America rolled into one of the most transformative eras of economic growth and lifestyle pursuits with the first world war over, a booming stock market, integration of consumer debt products (leverage) and new innovations. This was the birthplace of many personal liberties, good times and prosperity. A lot of the convenience was brought by the mechanical devices that made life better. American cities flourished.

Sotheby's International Realty Sees 32% of Sales Growth and Achieves $150 Billion in Global Sales Volume as 2020 Changes Definition of the word "Home".

The November Case-Shiller Home Price Index reported that for the tenth consecutive month, the Seattle metro area remained second in the nation in terms of residential price growth year after year after nationwide leader Phoenix. For the fourth month, San Diego remained in third place, outranking Tampa in August for the first time. In all three of these top cities, residential price indices rose year-over-year at rates between 12 and 14 percent. Over the same period, no other West Coast city has seen prices increase by more than 10 percent.

Sotheby's International Realty today announced that, with the opening of Elite Sotheby's International Realty, its presence in Ohio is expanding. The addition marks the continued growth of the brand in the state and its third Ohio affiliated company. Ken Schmidt and Mike Schmidt are the owners of Elite Sotheby's International Realty and will be headed by Managing Broker Joanne Zettl.

On December 31, when the clock reached midnight, few were surprised to see 2020 expire. But despite the difficulties of the last year, the real estate market remained resilient. It continued to boast median home prices that had continued to grow since the initial lockdown last March, more closed home sales than this period last year, and low inventory for its quarterly reporting in almost all market areas.

As Fast-Growing Brokerage Earns Top Ranking for Luxury Sales and Productivity per Broker in 2020, Gross Sales Production increased 69 percent; Executives Plan Roster & Division Expansions in 2021

The strongest headwinds caused by COVID-19 in 2020 were in urban centers across the country. According to S&P/Case-Shiller reports, Downtown Seattle was not sheltered, despite the Seattle metro area commanding the highest aggregate median home price increases in the U.S. for most of the year.

The real estate market has largely been a beacon of positivity in an extraordinary year. Every quarter, Realogics Sotheby's International Realty (RSIR) looks at these five market areas to determine where our market has been and plan for where it is going next.

A year ago, additional space and extra amenities had a very different feel for homebuyers. Today, the health crisis has brought to light how valuable more square footage and carefully designed floorplans can be. Home offices, multi-purpose rooms, gyms, and theaters are becoming more popular, and some families are finding the space they need for these upgrades in the luxury market.

There has been much talk around the possibility that Americans are feeling less enamored with the benefits of living in a large city and now may be longing for the open spaces that suburban and rural areas provide.

Like many Americans, Seattleites are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home. According to Zillow…

Whether you're thinking of buying or selling a home this year, there are perks today that are rarely available, and definitely worth looking into. Here are the top two.

Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest jobs report. It revealed that the economic shutdown made necessary by COVID-19 caused the unemployment rate to jump to 14.7%.

Danny Varona and Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty proudly presents its annual summary of the Real Estate Market in Western Washington. Each year, this in-depth analysis provides data and information by market areas and reflects on how the news events of the past year could economically impact the home buying and selling process.