LinkedIn recently released their monthly Workforce Report, which outlines national and local employment trends using data obtained by LinkedIn users. Here I outline key trends from Seattle’s report. In November 2018, hiring was 1.2 percent higher than it was at this same time last year, though seasonal adjustments revealed numbers slightly (0.2 percent) lower in November than October.
Read MoreSmart home technology is rapidly advancing and ranges from a smart home assistant — such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa — to complex systems managing every aspect of a residence. While some homeowners make the assumption that adding smart home technology will increase their home’s value, Mansion Global warns that things aren’t quite so simple: “Your home’s smart technology could give you an edge over other sellers whose homes don’t have it, but it’s challenging to assign a dollar value to it, experts say.”
Read MoreWe are mere days from the start of the new year and with it, comes an onslaught of expert predictions from a range of industries. Nerdwallet recently put together a list of the top nine trends for the coming year, which outline another challenging year for home buyers (though less so than in recent years), tight inventory, home price and mortgage rate rises, and more.
Read MoreThe U.S. economy is producing more wealth while hiring fewer people. I recently watch an interesting documentary entitled Most Likely to Succeed, which discussed the current educational system in the U.S. This system was developed a century ago during the rise of the Industrial Age and was once the envy of the world. Since that time, the world economy has transformed profoundly, however, and the U.S. education system has not followed suit. Schools are attempting to teach and test skills that when mastered, still leave graduates woefully unprepared for the 21st Century.
Read MoreOn January 11, 2019, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is set to permanently close the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the first step in a series of efforts to alleviate congestion but that will first make things worse for Seattleites. In what has been called the “period of maximum constraint,” movement in and around downtown will be difficult, as private and public construction will cause street closures and delays.
Read MoreThe nearly two-decade-long effort to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct will soon hit a major milestone, as the viaduct is set to close on January 11th, 2019 as it is replaced by the Highway 99 tunnel spanning Sodo to South Lake Union. The closure has undoubtedly caused concern and confusion for commuters and Seattleites alike, especially given that there will be an approximate three-week gap between the closure of the viaduct and the tunnel’s opening. Using research obtained by Seattle Times, let’s take a look at answers to some of the biggest questions surrounding the project.
Read MoreS&P Dow Jones recently released the Case-Shiller Home Price Index for August 2018, revealing that Seattle home price growth continues to slow. Up until just two months before that, Seattle led the nation in single-family home price gains for 21 consecutive months, but that run was ended as Las Vegas took over the lead.
Read MoreIf you’ve sold a home this year, then you can expect that come springtime, you’ll be facing a capital gains tax. As Homelight describes, “your house is considered a capital asset and, depending on how much you sell it for and how long you’ve owned and lived in it,” you may qualify for a number of tax deductions that will “lower your capital gains tax obligation.”
Read MoreThe much-anticipated airport at Paine Field took a huge step this week as Alaska Airlines began ticket sales for flights that begin February 11th. According to Puget Sound Business Journal, Alaska Airlines has added more flights to their schedule, after Southwest Airlines put an “indefinite hold” on their planned operations in Everett.
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