To everyone who reads my articles, and those of you who have offered great feedback or contacted me to help you buy or sell your home, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you.
Most of the time, I have no idea what I am going to write about from one month to the next, but something always comes up that I feel would be great to share. If there are any subjects you would like discussed, or information you would like, please let me know.
Quick Market Update
The holiday season typically sees a slowdown in sales, with less demand. What makes this year different from previous years, however, is the lack of inventory. We still are in a very strong seller’s market, with far less inventory than demand. We have 63 days of inventory compared to 83 days this time last year, which is a 32 percent decrease. Yet sales are up 4.5 percent. With stronger demand and less inventory, you can expect to see multiple offers on homes and prices continue to increase even over the slower holiday season and into the spring of 2018.
The Mesa median sales price has dropped from $250,000, in September, to $248,000, in October, which is expected as we head into the holidays. November prices usually go down slightly, as well. This year, though, the price has increased in the first two weeks of November, which is more support that this season could be stronger than normal. As of October, the median sales price has increased 6.8 percent from the beginning of the year.
With such a strong seller’s market, buyers had better brace themselves for what could be one of our best spring selling seasons in a decade.
A Christmas Tradition—Christmas Crackers
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and my favorite time of the year.
One English Christmas tradition, which has been around for more than 165 years, is the Christmas crackers. Being from England myself, I’ve never had a Christmas without them.
So, what are they? Created by Tom Smith, in 1847, the crackers are cardboard tubes covered in brightly colored twisted paper. When the cracker is pulled by two people, each holding one end of the twisted paper, the friction creates a small pop, which is produced by a narrow strip of chemically treated paper. The cardboard tube contains a brightly colored paper hat (which I make everyone wear, whether they want to or not), a small gift and a motto or joke.
Christmas crackers have been a tradition for the English Christmas dinner since their inception. Even the royal family will have Christmas crackers adorning their Christmas dinner table. When I came to America, I had to carry on this English tradition with my family here. Back then (pre-Amazon), I used to have to get them shipped in from England, but now they can be found everywhere, Costco, World Market, Bed Bath and Beyond just to mention a few and of course, Amazon.
The price you pay will depend on the gifts inside. They usually are inexpensive, but you can get expensive ones, with elaborate gifts inside, or you even can make your own, using a toilet paper tube and colored paper. Then, you can put your own gifts inside, and even make them specific for each guest, if you are that adventurous.
Christmas crackers are a lot of fun and something the whole family will love. They spruce up any table with their bright Christmas colors and festive designs. We pull our crackers as soon as we all sit at the table before we eat (watch out for flying gifts). Throughout the meal, we go around the table telling the jokes which can be so corny you can’t help but laugh. For us Britts, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without them.
So, next time you are at the store and see these brightly colored crackers, buy a box, and start a new family tradition. I would love to hear from anyone who tries them this year.
Another family tradition is to make the breakfast casserole on Christmas Eve so it’s ready to pop into the oven on Christmas morning and bake while we open presents. This is Rick’s family’s recipe that has been passed down, and he is always the one to make it while I just sit and watch. Now I know why I like Christmas so much.
Recipe
Breakfast Casserole
- 1/2 pound sausage browned (we use hot Jimmy Dean to add some flavor)
- 9 eggs—lightly beaten
- 3 cups half and half (we use half skimmed milk and half, half and half and can’t tell the difference)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 pounds cheddar cheese
- Butter
- 10 slices bread, crusts removed—or enough to cover the bottom of the pan
- Butter one side of the bread and put butter side down in 9-by-13 baking dish.
- Mix eggs and milk mixture, add salt.
- Layer sausage and cheese twice on top of bread. Then, pour eggs and milk mixture over. Top with a layer of cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Lorraine Ryall has been a Multi-Million Dollar producer for the past nine years. If you are thinking of buying or selling and would like more information or a market analysis, please contact her at Lorraine@Homes2SellAZ.com, or call (602) 571-6799. Visit her website at Homes2SellAZ.com.