KAREN J. BURKE

Best wishes for a happy start to 2023! A review of 2022 shows a tale of two markets, as talks of rising interest rates and inflation stole the headlines for much of the year. We began 2022 with 30-year mortgage rates just above 3%. Rates peaked around 7% in early November, and ended the year at 6.5%. There's optimism that rates will return to the mid-5%'s later this year. Markets go up, and markets make adjustments. But in the midst of an ever-changing real estate landscape, this quote from Ray Brown always holds true: "The best time to buy a house is always five years ago!"There's opportunities to look forward to 2023, and we're here to help guide you through your home ownership decisions. Take a look at our year-end local market summaries and let's connect to discuss how the trends impact your real estate plans in the days ahead. Please also enjoy these timely home and lifestyle-related articles and video content. This month we're talking packing fragile dishes for a move, setting goals, and retaining your home's value. Hopefully it's news you can use or pass on to a friend. I am always here for your referrals. Please don't hesitate to pass my contact on to others.

Here's to a healthy and fabulous 2023!