Paulette Eaton
Spring will spring on March 20 which means what everyone knows — it’s time to buy or sell a house.
The days stay sunny later. Bicyclists are tuning up their gear. Hikers are buying their new boots at Sunbird Shopping Center. The Centralia Factory Outlets are selling outdoor clothing at a mad pace. Gardeners are starting to get their beds ready. Home remodel and construction crews are ecstatic that they no longer will have to work in ponchos and the freezing drizzle.
Yep, Lewis County is coming back to life after a pleasant fall and a not-so-pleasant, too-cold, too-long winter.
There are plenty of excursions to take around this great part of Washington in spring and summer. Drive up to Paradise on Mount Rainier for the spring flowers, or up to Mount St. Helens to stare into the crater and ponder the power and wonder of Mother Earth. Or get a few more runs in before the snow melts at White Pass Ski Resort.
You can also take a quick trip to Pike Place Market in Seattle or the vibrant food scene in Portland. If those destinations don’t work, head west to the Pacific Ocean and tip your feet into the cool waters. Those are all less than two hours away.
For those thinking about making Lewis County your permanent home or your second house getaway, the central location is attractive. And for those who are already in the know, the Twin Cities and surrounding small towns offer what we believe is the best of rural living.
And as the flowers pop up through the steaming soil, people start to stir, they start to check out the housing market both as sellers and buyers.
That’s where we come in. Lewis County has many outstanding brokers who are knowledgeable of our local market. When you are choosing to buy or sell your home choose a local broker with knowledge of what is happening here in Lewis County. The local brokers of Lewis County spend countless hours volunteering their time to give back to their communities.
Market facts of Lewis County: Median Price in January for a home was $228,200 with 93 new listings and total active listings of 218 with 111 pending sales. Our inventory is up slightly; it is still a great time to enter the real estate market whether you are selling or buying. The interest rates remain low and there are still buying opportunities. Contact your local real estate broker with your real estate questions.
About your local Realtors — the Lewis County Chapter of Washington Realtors held their installation banquet and charity fundraiser on Jan. 10. I was installed as chair of our county group. I work for RE/MAX Key Land Co. Our fundraiser chose Futurus High School to receive funds from our event. Both a silent and live auction was held and through the generous contributions the chapter was able to present a check to James Bowers at Futurus High School for $11,150. These funds will allow the students of Futurus to participate in activities that are not funded as part of their regular curriculum. I want to thank the Lewis County Realtors for their generosity and support.
Now, get out there and enjoy this upcoming spring weather.
•••
Paulette Eaton is chair of the Lewis County Washington Realtors.
