Covington, WA

I was reading an article today that talked about the new trend in home sizes. I was very surprised to read that bigger is not always better, and the newest trend is for smaller homes. The average size of new houses being started in the third quarter of 2008 was 2,438 square feet, down from 2,629 square feet just a quarter before.

Buyers are not so much feeling the need to down-size, as much as they want to "right size." They are giving up unused spaces and wanting homes that better fit their needs. Buyers are wanting what they call "Wii-sized spaces" - family rooms that are flexible enough to accommodate lots of family activities, including room to play the all popular Wii.

Buyers are looking for affordable prices, natural light and comfortable gathering areas.

Some other trends are:

Fewer luxuries - Though things like upgraded landscaping, upgraded finishes like granite and luxurious master suites are still popular, they are becoming less important. And the one new trend that surprised me... fewer fireplaces. 62% of new homes completed in 1991 had at least one fireplace in them while that number dropped to 51% in 2007.

Getting organized- With smaller spaces, organization systems continue to gain popularity. Having every spaced used wisely and having ample of storage are of great importance to buyers.

Going Green - Both do to our concerns for the environment and the current economic situation, buyers are more concerned than ever about having energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Energy efficient appliances are also very important to buyers, especially freezers. Buyers, as are most Americans, are getting back to basics. Buyers are looking for items on sale and stocking up rather than running to the store every day, so freezers are making a come back.

Just like clothing styles come and go, so do trends in housing change with time. What was cutting edge just a few short years ago may already be considered out of date.

Happy Friday to all!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! The sun is out in my little corner of the world, so it makes it just perfect!

Here is my selection of quotes for this week.

See ya next Friday.

..geri

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When you look like your passport photo, it is time to go home. -Erma Bombeck

Sometimes success is due less to ability than to zeal. -Charles Buxton

We all need lots of powerful long-range goals to help us past the short-term obstacles. -Jim Rohn

We are told to never cross a bridge until we come to it, but this world is owned by men who have "crossed bridges" in their imagination far ahead of the crowd. -Unknown

Happy Friday to all! I hope your day is going well.

Here is my selection of quotes for this week. Enjoy!

See ya next Friday.

...geri ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try and the faith to believe that it is possible. -Richard M. Devos

Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want. -Jim Rohn

Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly. -Robert F. Kennedy

We find by losing. We hold fast by letting go. We become something new by ceasing to be something old. -Frederick Buechner

Happy Friday to all! I hope your week is wrapping up nicely!

Here is my selections of quotes for the week. I hope you are inspired :)

Have a wonderful day and I will see you next Friday!

...geri ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities. -William Arthur Ward

It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. -Elizabeth Kenny

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. -St. Francis of Assisi

As one goes through life one learns that if you don't paddle your own canoe, you don't move. -Katharine Hepburn

Forever is a ling time, but not as long as it was yesterday. -Dennis H'Orgnies

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing. -Benjamin Franklin

THE CITY OF COVINGTON ROAD CLOSURE

The City of Covington has announced the closure of a portion of SE 240th Streets - between 192nd Place SE and 193rd Place SE.

The City states that they have closed the road due to flood damage and they have pictures on their website, just follow this link.... see pictures. They state the road closure will remain in effect until further notice. At this time, all other roads in the City of Covington are open.

We certainly have had a crazy winter so far. What will be in store for us next?