Thrifting & Real Estate Market
Happy Holidays to you and yours. Sincerely. I have been delighted to see the feedback and appreciation from you since I started this newsletter, it is gratifying to know that I’m not yelling into the void. I hope you stay healthy and joyful this season and only curse the winter on a rare occasion.
My first broker always said that a real estate professional must either buy and sell their own home or make a major move and/or remodel to truly be a solid representative of someone experiencing the process. Last year, I started a private “I told you so” run in this spirit. I tried all the things my clients asked about.
I had my air ducts cleaned - totally worth it. I tried new carpeting cleaning technology - not worth it. I took advantage of my own home warranty - totally worth it. It did make me better, and a recommendation from someone who has done it always beats Google.
In 2024, I doubled down and did the buy/major move/remodel trifecta. I DIYd, hired amazing contractors, designed, thrifted, and wow-I’m coasting into December on some kind of super reserve. A year well lived even if it isn’t as you wrote it in your goal planner is a year worth celebrating. That is where this newsletter finds me, grateful for and reflective on this wild life. It has made me appreciate each and every one of you even more. Thank you for your trust and friendship, it is the best of abundance.
Design Corner: Thrifting
One of my favorite rediscoveries of the last year is thrifting and sourcing. Furnishing the Draper involves sourcing time capsule and period pieces where it makes sense and mixing in modern pieces for the AirBNB guests with the same vibe.
This finds us with fun, sometimes in search of a mate unique vintage pieces we can’t resist. The hunt ensues-And then one day the right google search found the mate for my favorite lamp on Etsy. It is delightful to see this pair reunited.
Economic/Market Update:
Election year real estate is a wild market, and in recent times the velocity only seems to amplify with every election cycle. The election math tells us that half of people think things are going to get better and the other half think things are going to get worse in 2025. What matters for the economy is who takes the most actions on those beliefs and how quickly their behavior changes. For a few months each cycle, it is a bit of a stalemate-which is great if you don’t have to sell a home in order to buy and can seize the window.
The savvy buyers in these next few months are first time buyers, downsizers, cash buyers and investors. They are all benefitting from the stalemate in lower prices, better terms and reduced risk.