And the sky is a hazy shade of winter

Happy New Year! If you are reading this, you made it to 2024! Woohoo! 🥳 I hope you've had a chance to relax and look back on 2023. 

You may have seen recent news about earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Just last year I drove through the town of Grindavik in Iceland, and I'm shocked to see the damage. This made me think about my own preparedness for an emergency or severe weather event.

Preparing yourself and your home for emergencies is similar to preparing to buy or sell a property - it takes some planning, but it can make the process much less stressful. Figure out which types of disasters could affect your area and your home, and make a plan for your household, including your pets. Check out this month's articles to learn more about developing an emergency preparedness plan.

With potential snow in the forecast this winter, get ready to see salt on the roads and sidewalks. If you're going to salt your own walkways, you may want to use a shovel. Read more on how rock salt affects sidewalks and gardens. 

In real estate news, we've seen interest rates come down into the 6% range (yay!), and it is predicted that the Federal Reserve may be looking at three additional cuts which is promising for those looking to buy and/or sell. If you have been waiting for rates to drop more, this could be the year to buy, or for those who bought at a higher interest rate, a time to refinance. 

I look forward to staying connected with you and getting more connected with the community. If you know of an organization that may need volunteers, I would be interested to see how I can help. Are you looking to give back? Let's join forces and do more good together!

Here is to living in the present and feeling positive in the year ahead!  
Jen

P.S. Did you guess this month's song? Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter."