​Right before we had to shelter in place, I won a little award naming me in the top 10% of Sales Associates Internationally! 
I wanted to share that good news on this rainy, pandemic day!
 
Also, yesterday it was announced that Residential Real Estate is now listed as an essential service in the March 28, 2020 Federal list of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers.
Coldwell Banker is still looking into the details of this and at Napa County and Napa City standards again as the most restrictive standard regarding what qualifies as an essential service will still govern the activities of a Realtor. 
At this point we know:
1.   No open houses should be held.
2.  Showings should be done virtually, if at all possible.
I will share more information as it becomes available as I know many of you are still browsing homes as a few more have trickled onto the market.  I am still working so feel free to contact me with any questions.
 
Looking for some great recipes to cook while sheltering at home?  I’ve been cooking Ayesha Curry’s recipes and a few more.  I share them on Instagram so follow me @jgass0

Ayesha Curry’s Bacon Bread Pudding
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Stay healthy and let me know if you are in need of any resources!
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We had family in town this weekend which meant cousin time!  Lots of fun and smiles, especially since Allison just got her braces off!  She’s officially ready for 8th grade graduation! 
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I attended a unique four plex open house yesterday at 344 Brown St. offered for $899,000.  Let me know if you would like me to share information or a video with you of the property. 
 
3928 Pall Mall is another favorite opportunity of mine with a new price of $699,000 open 2-4PM today. 
All open houses are below for your enjoyment. 
I am here for your questions.
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Bright and open with lush greenery showing for every window.
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Saturday, March 7th Women InPower is hosting their 3rd annual International Women’s Day Celebration at Copia.  I have recently attended another event hosted by this group and was impressed by the desire the women participating have to support women in this community.  I met winery owners, business owners, winemakers, and other professionals who were eager to connect and utilize the services offered by women in Napa. 

I am sponsoring and attending this year’s event and thought you might be interested in attending as well.  The day at Copia starts with a Bubble Reception at 12:30 by the new bubble wine bar opening in downtown Napa, Be Bubbly.  There will be guest speaker and a panel of speakers.  These speaker sessions are separated by a networking hour with wineries pouring and sponsors set up in a marketplace setting.
See the entire program and get your ticket at 

Every week I am asked for a recommendation of a local professional or business.  I love connecting people! I am a big fan of supporting each other and using people I can trust to provide high quality service.  I want to patronize the businesses of those who are part of my village.  Two communities I am a part of in Napa have set up business directories so we can utilize trusted professionals within our organization.  Some of these people I see almost every day and didn’t realize what business they owned or service they provide to our community.    Here is the link to the business directory at St. John’s Lutheran.  This is my children’s school.  It is wonderful to be able to support the community helping me to raise my children.  So, if you are looking for a stump removal service, looking for a Dr. recommendation or always wondered who own’s Allison (In Wine Country) in St. Helena, take a look and support our local community.
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My family spent the end of the week at my daughter’s last Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament in Portland.  She and my son competed in a variety of events including piano, dance, swimming and singing.  We also celebrated my son’s 12th birthday and enjoyed all of what Portland has to offer. 

Some highlights worth checking out next time you are in Portland:

• Salt & Straw Ice Cream- I ate almond brittle with chocolate ganache ice cream..sooooo good!
• Pok Pok- you must have the whiskey sour and all of their steamed buns
• Glowing Greens- underground, glow in the dark mini golf course and escape room
• Slappy Cakes- a blast for the kids and the jalapeno bloody mary kept me company
• Bollywood Café- bring a group so you can try it all at 2 different locations; Division St. location has a Whiskey Soda Lounge down the street to stop by 1st
• Nike Employee Store- you need to know an employee to get access and then is 40% off all their latest items- we went a little bananas
• Culmination Brewery- perfect Portland vibe
• Voodoo Donuts or even better, Blue Star Donuts

 
Highly Recommended by our friends (we just didn’t have enough time):

• Por Que No? Taqueria
• Pine State Bisquits

 
All of today’s open houses are here for you.  Let me know if you have questions.
 
 

​Today you will find me at 755 La Homa Dr. from 1-3PM.  I will be wearing my 49er red and showing off this 3 bedroom, 3 bath single family residence offered at $579,000.  Enjoy the private backyard, spacious rooms with lots of natural light and walking distance to Silverado Plaza and Trancas Crossings Park.

​The Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, is the Fed's monetary policymaking body. It is responsible for formulation of a policy designed to promote stable prices and economic growth. Simply put, the FOMC manages the nation's money supply.
 
The federal funds rate is a benchmark interest rate. It is the rate at which American banks lend to each other in dollars. Many other interest rates are calculated from it; the federal fund rate plus 0.25 percent, for example, would be the interest rate on a loan to a large company.
 
This is the latest on this week’s Fed’s Reserve Meeting announcement regarding their federal funds rate…
 
Fed Leaves Main Rate Unchanged, Saying Policy Is Appropriate
By Craig Torres
 
-Powell stresses Fed not comfortable with inflation under 2%
-Says policy well positioned to serve interests of Americans
 
The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged and continued to signal policy would stay on hold for the time being as the U.S. enters a presidential election year.
 
The central bank also made a technical adjustment to the rate it pays on banks’ reserve balances and said it would extend a program aimed at smoothing volatility in money markets -- at least through April.
 
“We believe monetary policy is well positioned to serve the American people,” Chairman Jerome Powell told a press conference Wednesday in Washington following the decision.
 
U.S. stocks climbed and then pared those gains, while yields on the 10-year Treasury declined, as did the dollar.
 
The target range of the federal funds rate of 1.5% to 1.75% is “appropriate to support sustained expansion of economic activity,” the Federal Open Market Committee said, repeating language from the December statement.
 
Fed raises interest on excess reserves by five basis points
Policy makers also changed their language to say that the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate to support “inflation returning to the committee’s symmetric 2% objective.” Previously they had said policy was supporting inflation “near” the goal.
 
Powell explained in his press conference that the change was made to send “a clearer signal” that the committee was not comfortable with inflation running persistently below target. “We wanted to underscore our commitment to 2% not being a ceiling,” he said.
 
Their preferred personal consumption expenditures price index rose 1.5% for the 12 months ending in November.
 
Officials approved a 5 basis-point increase on the rate they pay on excess reserves to 1.6% -- a technical adjustment designed to keep the main funds rate within its designated range. In another tweak, the Fed raised its overnight reverse repurchase rate by the same amount to 1.5%, and extended term and overnight repos at least through April. The central bank had earlier signaled such measures were possible.
 
In addition, the FOMC downgraded its assessment of household spending to say it has been rising at a “moderate” pace, instead of its earlier characterization of the rate as being “strong.” The committee repeated that economic activity has been rising at a “moderate” rate, with “strong labor market conditions.”
 
Officials gathered with financial markets on edge as a deadly virus in China weighs on its economy and could threaten global growth. Policy makers also endured another attack from President Donald Trump, facing re-election in November, who reiterated in a tweet Tuesday his latest call for the Fed to cut rates.
 
The FOMC decision was the panel’s second-straight unanimous vote.
 
Following three cuts in 2019, U.S. central bankers have said their policy is supporting the country’s record expansion despite headwinds from trade and geopolitical uncertainty.
 
Nonfarm payroll growth averaged 176,000 a month last year, while the unemployment rate held below 4% for most of the year.
 
Open Houses for this weekend are below.
And, of course, GO NINERS!

This weekend's open houses:
Saturday, February 1, 2020

Sunday, February 2, 2020

​I am preparing 3 listings to hit the market this spring.  They are located on Sycamore St., Skycrest Way and Whiskery Ct.  There are many more off market listings within my office. I am even touring one of these off market listings for myself this morning!  Be sure I know what you are looking for so I can inform you have any listings before they come on the market.
 
Today you will find me at 3210 Buckeye Ct. from 1-3PM.  This 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom home is located in a Brown’s Valley cul de sac.  Enjoy the downstairs bedroom and full bathroom plus updated kitchen and spacious living space.

Plus a large side yard for a garden!
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