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.

We look at the extraordinary living on the eastern coast from the shores of Lake Washington to the destinations and communities nestling in the foothills of the Cascade. The landscape is gorgeous, the schools are among the best in the state, and the communities that comprise the bustling Eastside offer unparalleled opportunities for those looking to sell their home or find their next.

The Fast-Growing Brokerage Spurs the Second Largest Listing Volume by Brand in Northwest MLS; Executives Plan for Closings and Supply to Double in Spring Sales Surge Over Next 60 Days

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.

There's a lot to think about with 2020 in the rearview mirror and so much we have to look forward to, as you'll see in the RESIDE® Winter Issue. After such a challenging year, we all learned the value of where we call home is more important than anything—and together with our 375-plus brokers and staff, we have brought more families and their homes together, across all price points and property types than ever before.

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.

Sotheby's International Realty today announced that WP Realty is the newest member of its global network in South Korea and will now operate as Korea's Sotheby's International Realty. The addition marks the first affiliated office of the brand in the country and its continued strategic growth in East Asia, bringing its presence to 18 offices in the region.

We’re currently in the longest economic recovery in U.S. history. That has caused some to ask experts to project when the next economic slowdown (recession) could occur. Two years ago, 67% of the economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) for the Economic Forecasting Survey predicted we would have a recession no later than the end of this year (2020).