Courtney H oustonGroup
FRESH AIR OUTSIDE
What’s Growing in April
FIRST QUARTER MARKET TALK
Is the Market Heating Up?
WHAT TO PLANT IN MARCH
Flowers, Veggies, & More
FRESH AIR OUTSIDE
what is growing in april
Spring is here for real! The grass is finally green again. The pollen is out of control. My bulbs have all come up and are starting to bloom, the dogs are starting to track mud in the house from us starting to water the grass. The chickens are living their best lives. And somehow, the yard suddenly needs your full attention! And this year feels extra special because I get to watch my daughter do her very first Easter egg hunt. I cannot wait! We have even been giving her trial runs for fun so when she goes with the big kids, she will know what to do!
Also, small reminder… if anything in this newsletter sounds a little too good to be true… it’s April. Stay alert!
This time of year makes you want to do everything all at once. Looking at the beds and figuring out what actually needs to be filled in versus what just needs a minute.
The nurseries are starting to wake up too, but not everything is out yet, so this is the awkward stage, where we are *patiently* waiting, and honestly doing the important “busy work.”
But in prep we’ve been weeding the beds, you know we don’t use any pesticides or chemicals around here! Clearing out what didn’t make it through winter. Spraying pollen off anything that sits still long enough. Just enough to make everything feel fresh again.
The chickens are thriving though. Fresh grass, bugs everywhere, longer days and sooo many eggs!
This month is such a fun bridge month in the garden. You still have some cool season things hanging on, and the warm season plants are starting to come in.
Think strawberries, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, onions, herbs, and the very beginning of your summer crops if your beds are ready. If you’re planting now, the best thing you can do is focus on your soil first. Healthy compost, good drainage, and patience will take you a lot farther than overplanting a tired bed.
FIRST QUARTER REPORT market talk update
Q1 MARKET TALK
Now for the market side of things — The first quarter was strong. Reaaaally strong.
We closed $1,362,500 in sales in Q1 and we’re carrying $1,405,000 pending into Q2, which feels like really good momentum going into the heart of spring.
On the rate side, the story over the first quarter was not a straight line down. There was some early optimism around easing, but by late March the average U.S. 30 year fixed mortgage rate had moved back up to 6.38 percent, a six month high. Reuters tied that move to higher oil prices and Treasury yield pressure as markets reacted to conflict related disruptions in the Middle East and the inflation concerns that come with them.
That matters because mortgage rates tend to track the 10 year Treasury more than the Fed funds rate directly. When energy shocks push inflation expectations around, borrowing costs can respond quickly, even before the average consumer really feels like anything has changed. Reuters also reported that by March 31, U.S. Treasury yields had started pulling back from their recent highs, which is exactly why this environment feels so sensitive and fast moving.
And what we’re seeing on the ground is that well prepared homes are getting attention fast. We’ve had some activity where homes are getting multiple showings in the first day or two and moving quickly when they are priced right and presented well. I’ve seen this be the difference in homes who are strategically prepped and ready to roll, every agent can sell but NOT every agent knows how to list.
Pssst..btw, have you seen my seller’s guide? Feel free to ask for a copy if you know someone who is wanting to look at selling.
WHERE THE MARKET IS HEATING UP
This is the time of year when PCS season really starts heating up.
Summer movers are not waiting until summer. They’re acting now. Touring now. Making offers now.
That buyer pool gets hot fast, and for sellers, timing is everything. You do not want to miss it because you were still trying to declutter, find your agent, or figure out what to do with the yard while the best buyers are already writing offers.
If I knew I needed to sell this spring or early summer, I would already be working the plan. Sit down with your agent now and get a strategy in place.
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