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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If you have an extra day off this weekend, enjoy!  I’m taking some extra time to reflect on how I serve others.  Hoping each time I some into someone else’s life I add value. 
This is one of the reasons I enjoy hosting open houses so much.  I get to meet strangers and aim to brighten their day and share knowledge that will help them meet their real estate goals.  ​

Find me today from 1-3PM at 30 Gordon Ct. in North Napa.  This 4 bedroom , 3 bath home is 2287sq ft and offered at $829,000. 

Sunday, January 19, 2020 Open Houses

Today you will find me at 1236 Yajome St. from 1-3PM.  This is currently a 2 bedroom, 1 bath updated house including a basement with laundry and a decent sized yard.  Located downtown 2 blocks from Pizza Azurro and the new restaurant,  Hal Yamashita www.halnapa.com,   The house overlooks the hills in the East, The Westin Hotel and Oxbow. 
Offered at only $489,000 this house is move in ready.  Hope to see you today!
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All open houses for today are below. While touring the open houses of 2020 some tips to keep in mind:

• Tell the hosting realtor that you are working with me right away so they don’t bother you with the hard sell.
• Ask if there are inspections on file such as pest, roof or home.  What are the major findings?
• For country properties, where is the well or septic located?
• Where is the laundry facilities?  Is the washer and dryer included?
• Notice updated windows
• Always pay attention to neighbors.  You can change anything about the house but the neighbors and how they care for their house effect your property value.
• Make note of things you would want to include in the purchase such as window coverings, wine refrigerator, hot tub, furniture

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Rachel Stults consulted with designers nationwide and came up with these design trends from the last decade that are going out of style. 
Some of you have heard me predicting number 10.

1. Accent wall color. Try using a bold color throughout and don’t forget about wallpaper, it has made a big comeback.
2. Minimalist design. Out with the modern mid-century sleek looking décor and on to bigger and bolder roaring 20’s style.
3. Faux natural wood materials.  You just can’t fake the good stuff, we are on to you!
4. Rose gold and millennial pink. Mixed metals are still on the scene but colors are bolder.
5. Farmhouse style. What?!  Experts say you can still mix in some pieces but the look should not be so mass produced.  More one of a kind pieces must be included.
6. Cool and light neutrals.  Look to navy and emerald green.  Also warm earth tones are sneaking back.
7. Fast furniture.  Good for our budgets but bad for the Earth.  Again, more one of a kind, unique and real pieces are trending.
8. Neon word signs.  Honestly, I didn’t ever think these were in style.  Maybe it skipped Napa.
9. Bedding in a kit.  So easy but looks like you put in zero effort. Add layers and mix patterns or textures for the place you spend almost half of each day.
10. Open floor plans.  I knew it was coming!  Millenials, who make up the largest group of buyers, do not want to eat where they work, live and cook.  No one wants to look at your mess and it is nice to have some separation with some purposeful spaces.

The theme here is authenticity, personal style and boldness. Keep this in mind while improving your spaces in 2020! Read the entire article for yourself here.

There are many, many houses for sale that are not on the market quite yet.  I can give you access to those first!  Update me on what you are looking for!
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You have to click here to see me in action!  If you can’t beat the 13 year olds, you have to join them!

2019 was a year of adulting!  I finally got a financial planner, our trust complete, house painted and kitchen updated.  Business and personal health goals were met.  I am definitely counting my blessings! 

None of this would have been possible without the guidance of my friends and family. 

• My financial planner is a friend of a close, trusted friend. 
• Our trust was completed by a fellow parent from our children’s school who served on the PTA with me. 
• The house painter was hired as he has painted the home of many of our local firefighters. 
• The kitchen was updated by my doctor’s contractor. 

These referrals were key to my success in 2019. 

But that’s not all, the referrals of my friends and family were also almost half of my real estate sales in 2019 and my first 2 listings scheduled for 2020 were recommended to me by friends.  Thank you!  I appreciate the confidence and support and rely on my referral partners, friends and family to keep sending me people you know I can help with their real estate goals. 

I’m here for you too!  Let me know what recommendations you are looking for to meet all of your 2020 goals.  Send me anyone you know who may need assistance with real estate in 2020.  I look forward to the opportunity to help a few good people this year.

Happy New Year!
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Last week I also helped an investor complete his purchase of a rental property on S Franklin St.  This move in ready 2 bedroom, 1 bath home with a large back yard and 2 car garage is ready for it’s next tenants for $2,500/month.  Let me know if you know someone who may be interested.
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Looking for some Christmas spirit?  Enjoy this Napa tour of some of the very best Christmas lights in town.  I’ve mapped it all out for you here https://www.jennygass.com/blog/napa-holiday-light-tour-for-you-featured-open-house
 
I wish you a peaceful Christmas with those you love!
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