Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? Is it missing that certain something to set it apart from past years? This cute do-it-yourself decoration idea makes for a fantastic family activity and the perfect addition to your tree.

To get started, you will need to collect some pine cones from around your neighborhood. Once you have your selection of pine cones, you will need some liquid glue, a paintbrush, and your favorite color of glitter (silver and gold is always a good choice). Use the paintbrush to cover the outside of the cone with glue. Once sufficiently covered, place the cone in a plastic container and sprinkle your chosen glitter over the top of the pine cone. Then, place a lid on the container and slowly flip the container over to maximize your glitter coverage. After a few flips, remove the pine cone and let the glue dry. Add a hook or tie a string to the end of the cone and your new Christmas ornament is ready for primetime! Even just a few of these cute additions can give your tree a stylish, rustic look you never knew your tree needed.

Happy Holidays!

“November Surprise” brings “plenty of buyers”; uptick in home sales, prices

Brokers with Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported “plenty of buyers” competing for sparse inventory during November, which ended with a 7% year-over-year increase in pending sales. The volume of mutually accepted offers rose even more (9.2%) in the tri-county Puget Sound region consisting of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, with Snohomish leading that list with a jump of about 12%.

Median sales prices also jumped compared to both a year ago and to October. For November’s 7,216 closed sales (which were up 5.5% from a year ago), the area-wide sales price was $434,900, a gain of about 10% from the same month a year ago. Compared to October, last month’s price on sales of single family homes and condos (combined) jumped 3.5%.

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