How to Decorate After Christmas for Easy Winter Decor

by Bibi Vladimirova

DECORATE AFTER CHRISTMAS WITH EASE

How do you usually decorate after Christmas?

Many times, people are confused on what the “protocol” is.

Decorate after Christmas with pine branches.

Do we jump straight to spring?

Should we decorate for the smaller holidays in January and February?

Do we leave everything undecorated for a visual break from clutter?

The answer is: yes. Yes to whatever your preference is.

Personally, I like to keep my winter decor extremely simplified for a visual break. Someone else might want to jump straight to vibrant spring colors during the grey days of January and February.

Whatever your preference, I hope that the following information is a great help as you determine how you will decorate after Christmas!

HOW DO YOU TRANSITION FROM CHRISTMAS TO WINTER DECOR?

Often I find that the transition from Christmas to winter decor is a slower and more subtle change than other seasons.

Winter seems to have less overt decor than other seasons. Spring is a no brainer with spring flowers and lots of vibrant green. Fall is simple with leaves, moody colors or even things like hay bales for the front porch. Summer is pretty straight forward with fresh flower arrangements and bright colors.

But winter? Winter can feel drab and boring once all the Christmas decor is stripped away.

Thankfully, the transition can be very simple. Start by removing anything overtly Christmas related. Things like Santas, Christmas ornaments, reindeer, nativities, stockings and bright red elements scream holidays.

Start the transition to winter decor by taking those down and storing them away. (Grab my Christmas decor storage tips here.)

Leave up cedar or pine greenery, undecorated pine trees, and even flocked wreaths at first. Once you have everything else taken away, you can live with it for awhile and see if you’d like to keep taking down greenery or start to add other decor back in.

HOW TO DECORATE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY?

Once you’ve removed the Christmas and holiday related decor, you have lots of options for decorating in January and February.

WHAT DECORATIONS DO YOU PUT UP AFTER CHRISTMAS?

The winter-specific decor I like to use most after Christmas is natural elements.

Pine garland with candles for decor after Christmas.

Cedar or pine branches in a vase
Birch logs
Rich leather accents in pillow coveres
Bowl of pinecones
Cedar wreaths
Live Norfolk pine tree

Norfolk pine tree used to decorate after christmas.

I find these items blend so easily into year round decor. If you’d like to go more overtly winter, add in winter artwork, snowflakes, or mini pine trees.

HOW DO I MAKE MY HOUSE FEEL COZY AFTER CHRISTMAS?

The best way to create a cozy environment in the winter months is to cover all the senses.

Candles or a cozy fire for ambiance
Blankets for warmth
Simmer pots for natural scent
Ambient lighting with lamps in the evening
Light music playing in the background
Delicious comfort food every once in a while for a little indulgence

With all of the above said, here are some very practical and straight forward ways to decorate after Christmas!

Remove overly Christmas related items like Santa’s, nativities, bright reds, stockings, nutcrackers, and reindeer.
Leave up simple accents like undecorated pine trees, bottle brush trees, deer or snowman figures.
Add live norfolk pines to your live plants.
Leave up minimalistic wire wreaths with cedar or juniper accents.
Leave up winter garlands for warmth and coziness.
Layer candles in groupings for added impact.
Bring in pretty blankets to serve as decor and a cozy cover.
Medium to dark tone baskets ground a space for pretty storage.
Add in darker wood tones with antique finds or shelf decor.
Incorporate rich leather elements into pillows, vases, figurines or furniture.
Arrange a vase of plain pine or cedar branches.
Make natural garlands from citrus, pine cones or cedar clippings.
Put a bowl of pine cones collected from the yard out as simple and free decor!
Cut any remaining healthy Christmas tree branches off before disposing of the tree and pop them into a basket or outdoor planter for added greenery.
Hang blankets on a wall for pretty textural elements and easy storage.
Declutter and streamline as much possible for a blank slate.
Keep your decor fairly neutral, using greenery as a natural accent.
Add thrifted winter artwork to your walls.
Create a cozy sensory experience with candles (or battery operated candles) and warm scents like vanilla.
Cut some birch logs (or buy online) for a simple stack next to the front door or fireplace (even if it’s not a wood burning fireplace!)
Bring in cozy textures like velvet, wool or sherpa in pillow cases and blankets.
Add beautiful paper whites as a dining centerpiece.
Simplify the front porch with a winter doormat and faux cedar spheres in pretty planters. (Keep white lights up all winter!)
Undecorate altogether! Take this season to keep your home mostly empty of decor for a visual break and reset to the year.
Skip straight to spring! Put everything you would normally use in spring decor out except for spring flowers like tulips or items like bunnies or chicks. Then they are simple to add later.

Market Update • December 10, 2023

Top 10 Housing Predictions for 2024

by Bibi Vladimirova

Matthew Gardner’s Top 10 Predictions for 2024

1. Still no housing bubble

This was number one on my list last year and, so far, my forecast was spot on. The reason why I’m calling it out again is because the market performed better in 2023 than I expected. Continued price growth, combined with significantly higher mortgage rates, might suggest to some that the market will implode in 2024, but I find this implausible.

2. Mortgage rates will drop, but not quickly

The U.S. economy has been remarkably resilient, which has led the Federal Reserve to indicate that they will keep mortgage rates higher for longer to tame inflation. But data shows inflation and the broader economy are starting to slow, which should allow mortgage rates to ease in 2024. That said, I think rates will only fall to around 6% by the end of the year.

3. Listing activity will rise modestly

Although I expect a modest increase in listing activity in 2024, many homeowners will be hesitant to sell and lose their current mortgage rate. The latest data shows 80% of mortgaged homeowners in the U.S. have rates at or below 5%. Although they may not be inclined to sell right now, when rates fall to within 1.5% of their current rate, some will be motivated to move.

4.Home prices will rise, but not much

While many forecasters said home prices would fall in 2023, that was not the case, as the lack of inventory propped up home values. Given that it’s unlikely that there will be a significant increase in the number of homes for sale, I don’t expect prices to drop in 2024. However, growth will be a very modest 1%, which is the lowest pace seen for many years, but growth all the same.

5. Home values in markets that crashed will recover

During the pandemic there were a number of more affordable markets across the country that experienced significant price increases, followed by price declines post-pandemic. I expected home prices in those areas to take longer to recover than the rest of the nation, but I’m surprised by how quickly they have started to grow, with most markets having either matched their historic highs or getting close to it – even in the face of very high borrowing costs. In 2024, I expect prices to match or exceed their 2022 highs in the vast majority of metro areas across the country.

6. New construction will gain market share

Although new construction remains tepid, builders are benefiting from the lack of supply in the resale market and are taking a greater share of listings. While this might sound like a positive for builders, it’s coming at a cost through lower list prices and increased incentives such as mortgage rate buy downs. Although material costs have softened, it will remain very hard for builders to deliver enough housing to meet the demand.

7. Housing affordability will get worse

With home prices continuing to rise and the pace of borrowing costs far exceeding income growth, affordability will likely erode further in 2024. For affordability to improve, it would require either a significant drop in home values, a significant drop in mortgage rates, a significant increase in household incomes, or some combination of the three. But I’m afraid this is very unlikely. First-time home buyers will be the hardest hit by this continued lack of affordable housing.

8. Government needs to continue taking housing seriously

The government has started to take housing and affordability more seriously, with several states already having adopted new land use policies aimed at releasing developable land. In 2024, I hope cities and counties will continue to ease their restrictive land use policies. I also hope they’ll continue to streamline the permitting process and reduce the fees that are charged to builders, as these costs are passed directly onto the home buyer, which further impacts affordability.

9. Foreclosure activity won’t impact the market

Many expected that the end of forbearance would bring a veritable tsunami of homes to market, but that didn’t happen. At its peak, almost 1-in-10 homes in America were in the program, but that has fallen to below 1%. That said, foreclosure starts have picked up, but still remain well below pre-pandemic levels. Look for delinquency levels to continue rising in 2024, but they will only be returning to the long-term average and are not a cause for concern.

10. Sales will rise but remain the lowest in 15 years

2023 will likely be remembered as the year when home sales were the lowest since the housing bubble burst in 2008. I expect the number of homes for sale to improve modestly in 2024 which, combined with mortgage rates trending lower, should result in about 4.4 million home sales. Ultimately though, demand exceeding supply will mean that sellers will still have the upper hand.

About Matthew Gardner

As Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, Matthew Gardner is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data and its impact on the real estate market on both a local and national level. Matthew has over 30 years of professional experience both in the U.S. and U.K.

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew sits on the Washington State Governors Council of Economic Advisors; chairs the Board of Trustees at the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington; and is an Advisory Board Member at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington where he also lectures in real estate economics.

Holliday Events • December 4, 2023

Festive Feasts

by Bibi Vladimirova

Christmas, New Years events and dining suggestions:

New Year’s Eve

Indulge in a 4-course dinner on New Year’s Eve. Get started with a choice of king oyster mushrooms, tuna tataki, Dungeness crab cake, or pan seared foie gras, before moving on to French onion soup or choice of salad. Mains include Indonesian rice noodles, Utah mountain red trout, Maine lobster risotto, Mary’s airline chicken breast, beef tenderloin, and braised lamb shank. Finish with a selection of house made desserts. First seating begins at 5 p.m. ($150 per person), and second seating begins at 7:30 p.m. ($250 per person). Entertainment will take place from 9 p.m. – midnight.

Christmas Eve

Spend Christmas Eve celebrating the cherished French tradition of Le Réveillon de Noël with a family style meal from 5 – 9 p.m. $100 ages 13+, $45 ages 4 – 12. Reservations are available at OpenTable.

Courchevel Bistro will be open through Hannukah and New Year’s Eve, Wednesday – Sunday, 5 – 9 p.m.

Build Your Board

Saturday, Dec. 9 – Sunday, Dec. 10 | 3:30 – 5 p.m.

It’s a board bonanza that’s all about delicious indulgence! Create cheese, charcuterie, antipasto, and dessert boards that are pure eye candy. Unleash your inner artist and build boards that are as delightful to look at as they are to devour! $55 per ticket. Reservations available .

Gingerbread House Decorating

Daily from Friday, Dec. 15 – Sunday, Dec. 24 | 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Join Deer Valley’s pastry pros for a festive time decorating your very own gingerbread house. With a cup of hot cocoa in hand, you’ll bring your gingerbread dreams to life with an array of frostings, candies, confections and cheer. $72 per guest, one gingerbread house per guest. Reservations available .

Deer Valley invites you to savor the magic of the season with our holiday menu, with succulent braised short ribs, creamy smashed potatoes, and roasted Brussels sprouts. Pair your meal with pies, cookies, and a delectable carrot cake. To place an order, please call us at 435-615-2400 or order online at .

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Gather with loved ones for a festive feast in the charming, storied Inn. Indulge in a 3-course, prix-fixe holiday menu curated by the award-winning culinary team. Celebrate amid candlelight with special holiday pairings and delectable dessert. $145 per person.

Christmas Eve Dinner: 5 – 9 p.m.

Christmas Dinner: 5 – 9 p.m.

Reservations are available on .

New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day at The Goldener Hirsch Restaurant

Ring in the new year with a festive fête in The Goldener Hirsch Restaurant. Raise a glass to new beginnings with loved ones and enjoy a delectable 7-course, prix-fixe menu featuring an array of alpine holiday favorites with a modern flair. $195 per person.

New Year’s Eve Dinner: 5 – 9 p.m.

New Year’s Day Dinner: 5 – 9 p.m.

Reservations are available on .

Holidays at The Kitz

Open 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Enjoy New Year’s Eve dinner with a choice of wild rice and mushroom soup or a Caesar or house salad, roasted strip loin or certified Angus beef and jumbo king crab leg, choice of potato, and a dessert selection from the homemade dessert tray. $125.75 per person. Reservations are available on .

Breakfast with Santa

December 3, December 10, December 17

8:00am – 10:30am

Partake in a delightful morning with Santa over a festive breakfast buffet. Children ages 3-14 are invited to have a magical time decorating their own gingerbread house. Indulge your young ones in an enchanting Candy Land experience, where they shall delight in the opportunity to personally handpick an exquisite array of delectable confections throughout their visit.

Reservations required 48-hours in advance, limited availability. $50 per person for ages 3 and up. Fee will include breakfast with Santa and gingerbread house decorating. Children 3 and under are complimentary. Additional gingerbread houses available for $30 per house. All ages are welcome.

Alpenglobe Dining

Savor a private dining experience unlike any other in our Alpenglobes. Enjoy a unique mountain-inspired menu while immersed in the gorgeous alpine oasis of Deer Valley. Take in the stunning winter surroundings from the comfort of our temperature-controlled enclaves. Each globe accommodates up to 6 guests, making it the perfect setting for a romantic evening or a Montage Memory with the whole family. Limited availability. Reservations, required in advance, can be made by calling (435) 604-1402.

Rental fees: Breakfast: $125 Lunch: $200 Dinner: $350. Subject to food and beverage minimums.

Partake in the festive Christmas menu by starting with a chive potato latke and heading into the first course of scallops, root vegetable salad, and foie gras torchon. The second course brings confit of duck leg, smoked Wagyu short rib, black cod, and charred roasted cauliflower. Top it off with Hukambi chocolate mousse, gluten free angel food cake, or white chocolate semifreddo. $135 per person. Call 435-647-5566 or visit for reservations.

Christmas Eve at The Glitretind

The Glitretind will offer a special prix-fixe menu and wine pairing with seatings beginning at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A children’s menu will also be available. $235 for adults, $50 for kids 5-12. Limited selections will also be offered at Troll Hallen. Reservations open Friday, Dec. 1.

Christmas Day at The Glitretind

Indulge in the traditional Christmas Day buffet from 11 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. and 5 – 7:30 p.m. $185 for adults, $50 for kids 5-12. The full Troll Hallen menu will also be available in the Troll Hallen Lounge.

New Year’s Eve at The Glitretind

Close out the year with a special prix-fixe dinner including a band, dancing, and festive décor. The first seating at 5:30 p.m. features a 5-course menu and special kid’s menu. $275 for adults, $55 for kids 5-12. The second seating at 8:30 p.m. offers the 5-course menu (no kid’s menu). $300 for adults only.

New Year’s Day at The Glitretind

What better way to start 2024 than with Stein Eriksen Lodge’s Sunday brunch buffet? Reservations for the lavish spread, including a number of New Year’s specialties, will be available from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $100 for adults, $50 for kids 5-12.

Enjoy an elevated New Year’s Eve with an exquisite multi-course dinner party at Riverhorse on Main. The evening will include captivating live performances by local musician and recent contestant on The Voice, Ryan Innes, as well as The Jersey Street Band. Secure your tickets for the festivities by reaching out to them via email at events@riverhorseparkcity.com.

Enjoy the annual Christmas dinner from 3 – 9 p.m. $69 for adults. Book online or call 435-800-2884 for reservations.

Holiday Events • November 23, 2023

Holiday Events

by Bibi Vladimirova

2023 Snow Globe Stroll

Date: November 22, 2023 – January 5, 2024
Time: 8:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Price: Free
Recurring: Recurring daily
Presented by: Historic Park City Alliance
Location: Historic Main Street

Event Website

Community Tree Lighting & Fireworks at Canyons Village at Park City Mountain

Date: November 24, 2023
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Price: Complimentary
Presented by: Canyons VMA
Location: Canyons Village

Montage Deer Valley

10th Annual Tree Lighting

Date: November 25 | 5:30pm

Join us on the front drive for our annual tree lighting ceremony accompanied by live entertainment, holiday cookies and a gourmet hot chocolate bar.

9100 Marsac Avenue
Park City, UT 84060

Clydesdale Wagon Ride with Santa Picture

Date: November 30, 2023
Presented by: DeJoria Center
Location: DeJoria Center

BUY TICKETS

Tree Lighting Celebration with Santa & Reindeer at Pendry

Date: December 2, 2023 – December 2, 2023
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Pendry Park City

Restaurants in Park City • November 7, 2023

Where to get a Thanksgiving Dinner

by Bibi Vladimirova

Forget about grocery lists and long lines this Thanksgiving season.

There are several restaurants in and around Park City offering nothing but the best for your holiday experience. From Thanksgiving classics, to prix fixe dine-in dinner options, to curbside pickup, and even an entire Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, you and your guests can easily enjoy a meal fit for the whole family.

Butcher’s Chop House & Bar: Offering a full Thanksgiving meal from 2 to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and more, followed by your choice of traditional pies. Regular menu is also available as well as to-go and curbside pickup. Reservations are recommended and can be made on Resy.com or by calling (435) 647-0040.

Deer Valley Resort: Offers a unique Thanksgiving experience with their specialty take-away menus. They provide delectable options for various holidays, including Thanksgiving, carefully crafted with the finest ingredients to make your celebrations extraordinary. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for two, or a feast for the whole family, Deer Valley has you covered. You can place your order by calling 435-615-2400, and all orders are available for pickup at the Deer Valley Café, allowing you to focus on creating cherished moments with your loved ones.

Escala Provisions Company: Join Escala Provisions Company for Thanksgiving, with dinner available from 1 to 9 p.m. Enjoy a choice of sweet potato & bourbon bisque or sherry-poached pear salad to start, followed by a main course featuring citrus & herb-brined turkey, sage & sausage stuffing, whipped buttermilk potatoes, haricots verts & wild mushrooms, roasted sweet potatoes, and crispy Brussels sprouts. A vegan option includes roasted delicata squash and dirty Calrose rice with vegan sausage. Finish your meal with family-style desserts. All this for just $69 per person. Reserve your spot on Open Table.

Flanagan’s On Main: Invites you to join them for a Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 23, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The menu featuring options like sweet potato soup or green salad for starters, turkey breast with house-made mashers, brown gravy, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce for the entrée, and homemade apple cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The price is $50 for adults and $20 for children under 12, plus tax and gratuity.

Grub Steak: Offers a Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 23 featuring a three-course meal. You can choose from starters like house salad, wild rice and mushroom soup, or baby romaine caesar salad. The entrée options include carved roasted tom turkey, autumn harvest stuffing, and various accompaniments. For dessert, you can indulge in pumpkin pie with vanilla bean whip cream or spiced apple bread pudding with a High West Bourbon sauce. The cost is $45.75 for adults and $24.75 for children 12 and under.

Hearth and Hill: Is open from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day offering a holiday special of butternut squash soup, roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce and homemade pie. A full a la carte menu will also be available.

Hill’s Kitchen: Provides a Thanksgiving family meal that serves eight guests. This fully cooked meal includes a Mary’s Free-Range whole turkey, rosemary and sage cornbread stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes with smoked cheddar cheese, candied yams with marshmallows, roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and dried cranberries, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. You can also add extra sides for an additional cost, such as cheddar biscuits with honey butter and more. Pick-up is available on Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and a credit card is required to reserve your order.

HoneyB Cakes and Pastries: This hidden gem bakery, adds a sweet touch to your Thanksgiving feast. Their Thanksgiving Dessert Menu offers a delightful array of options: classic pumpkin pie and mixed berry pie, both with a buttery crust, the elegant almond apple galette, and the indulgent chocolate cream Pie. Complement your meal with a dozen soft, pull-apart butter rolls, and finish on a high note with pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Make your Thanksgiving sweeter with HoneyB’s delectable treats.

Chefsgiving at KITA: Offering a special Thanksgiving event where their talented chefs prepare a four course Thanksgiving dinner that includes roasted butternut squash soup, autumn harvest salad, sage and honey glazed turkey plate and a selection of delightful sweets for dessert. This event aims to give back, with a percentage of every meal going to support the Christian Center of Park City’s food assistance programs. They even offer children’s plates, so it’s a great choice for the whole family. Reservations are recommended and the event takes place on Nov. 23 from noon to 9 p.m.

Luna’s Kitchen: Offering a special Thanksgiving menu for pick-up on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The menu includes a chef curated charcuterie and cheese platter, crudités and hummus platter, curried butternut squash bisque, sage and apple stuffing, green bean casserole, creamy Boursin mashed potatoes and more. They also provide dessert options like pecan pie and dutch apple pie. Additionally, you can enjoy a Black Friday brunch featuring a whole quiche and ooey gooey cinnamon rolls.

Mountain Wellness Bar: Offers a Thanksgiving menu that’s available until November 19th, with orders to be placed by 11 a.m. The full Thanksgiving menu can be picked up or delivered on Tuesday, November 21st, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Serving 6 or more, the menu features mouthwatering items, including gluten-free cornbread sausage stuffing, sweet potato mash with roasted maple pecans and house-made paleo marshmallows, roasted carrots with tahini and pomegranate, green bean casserole, and organic cranberry sauce. Elevate your Thanksgiving with Mountain Wellness Bar’s wholesome offerings.

No Name Saloon & Annex Burger: Annual free turkey dinner starting at 2 p.m. until it’s gone. A long time tradition, the annual free turkey dinner will be plated and served directly to your table. Dine-in only. If you are craving a famous buffalo burger, the full menu will be available for purchase after 6 p.m as well.

Park City Culinary Institute: Discover the art of pie-making at Park City Culinary Institute’s holiday class. Learn to create their crowd-pleasing pumpkin pie infused with whiskey and topped with scented whipped cream. Plus, master the craft of making a bourbon chocolate pecan pie to take home for your loved ones. Elevate your dessert game this Thanksgiving with these delectable pies!

Sip, Shop & S’mores at Pendry Plaza: Pendry Plaza at Canyons Village is offering a delightful way to kick off the holiday and ski season with their Sip, Shop & S’mores event during Thanksgiving weekend. You can stroll through the plaza’s boutiques, specialty stores, and galleries and enjoy a variety of dining options. They will even provide complimentary hot chocolate and s’mores bar at the Après Pendry patio and fire pits. It’s a great opportunity to make your holiday shopping merrier while enjoying the seasonal ambiance. The event takes place on Friday, Nov. 24, and Saturday, Nov. 25, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Powder at Waldorf Astoria Park City: Offers a Thanksgiving experience for $135 per person, excluding taxes and gratuities. They recommend making reservations for this special event. The menu features a variety of options, including roasted butternut squash soup, belgian endive salad, cider braised pork belly, slow roasted prime ribeye, slow roasted turkey two ways and pan seared Alaskan halibut. Family-style sides and a selection of delectable desserts are also included. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a lavish Thanksgiving feast.

Savoury Kitchen: Although closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, pre-made meals are available to be delivered the day before. Choose from a sage butter rubbed oven roasted turkey, a roasted dry aged beef rib roast, or a maple glazed pork roast. Add a variety of traditional sides like green beans, glazed carrots, preserves, biscuits and more. Don’t forget pie, they have pies for days! All food is packaged in eco-friendly tins, with re-heat instructions and an easy clean up. Call (435) 608-1408 or email info@savouryparkcity.com to place an order.

The St. Regis Deer Valley: Offering a bountiful and beautiful Thanksgiving Buffet at their award-winning signature restaurant, RIME. This luxurious mountain resort provides a unique Thanksgiving experience, complete with activities for all to enjoy, including an outdoor petting zoo, candle crafting, s’mores tradition and live music. The Thanksgiving Buffet menu includes a variety of soups, salads, mini plates, a carvery, side dishes and a dessert station. Adults can enjoy this lavish buffet for $130, and children under twelve can join for $50. The buffet is served between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and reservations can be made on their website.

Vessel Kitchen: Offering made-from-scratch, delicious sides to compliment your home cooked bird. Menu offerings include “Everything but the Bird” family meal bundles, the perfect variety of Thanksgiving dishes so you can focus on just one thing, the turkey. The standard bundle includes a choice of two fall market sides, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, cheesy bread pudding stuffing, brussels slaw, cranberry sauce, house-made dinner rolls and pecan-pie bread pudding. The gluten free bundle comes with choice of three fall market sides, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, gluten free stuffing, Brussels slaw, cranberry sauce, gluten free dinner rolls and specialty normal ice cream. You can also order an array of side dishes from the fall menu. Place your order online for pickup, today.

Market Update • Uncategorized • November 6, 2023

Q3 2023 Utah Market Report

by Bibi Vladimirova

Regional Economic Overview

After picking up in the second quarter of this year, year-over-year employment growth has pulled back again. Utah added 39,000 jobs over the past 12 months, which represents an annual growth rate of 2.3%. This is the lowest pace of job gains since the pandemic started. Job growth was led by the Salt Lake City metro area, where employment rose 2.7%. This was followed by the Ogden and Provo metro areas, where employment rose 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively.

Utah’s unemployment rate in August was 2.5%, which is up .1% year over year. At the county level, the lowest jobless rate was in Morgan County (2.5%) and the highest was in Weber County, where 3.1% of the workforce were without jobs. In aggregate, the unemployment rate within the counties contained in this report was 3%.

Utah Home Sales

❱ In the third quarter of 2023, 6,675 homes sold in the areas covered by this report. This was down 9.5% compared to the third quarter of 2022 and was 5.7% lower than in the second quarter of this year.

❱ Although total sales volumes have fallen, they rose in Wasatch, Summit, and Morgan counties compared the third quarter of 2022. These same three counties also saw sales grow between the second and third quarters of this year.

❱ As sales volumes fell, listing activity rose 28.7% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Clearly, more choice in the market was not enough to tempt buyers who were also faced with significantly higher financing costs.

❱ Pending sales fell 8.9% from the second quarter, suggesting that closings in the fourth quarter may also be lackluster.

A bar graph showing the annual change in home sales by county in Utah from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023. Weber County had the least change with -4.2% and is represented with the bar in the center of the graph. Morgan County had the greatest increase of 40% and Davis County had the greatest decrease of 13.5 percent.

Utah Home Prices

❱ The average sale price grew 4% from the same time in 2022 to $651,913. Prices were also 3.8% higher than in the second quarter of 2023.

❱ Regionally, median list prices in the third quarter were flat compared to the second quarter of the year. However, asking prices were higher in Wasatch, Summit, and Morgan counties.

❱ Year over year, prices rose in four counties but fell in three. With just 28 sales in the quarter, Morgan County had a significant price increase, but it’s such a small market that sizeable price swings are not unusual. Compared to the second quarter of 2023, prices rose in all counties except Davis and Summit, where prices fell 1.7% and 13.8%, respectively.

❱ Price growth has been slowing, which is to be expected given the significant rise in mortgage rates. I don’t expect to see much in the way of price growth for the balance of the year due to both higher financing costs and more choice in the market.

A map showing the real estate home prices percentage changes for various counties in Utah. Different colors correspond to different tiers of percentage change. Morgan and Summit Counties came in above 6% and are represented in the corresponding navy color. Weber and Salt Lake came in the 2 and 3.9% range. Davis, Wasatch, and Utah Counties were in the -0.1% to -2% range and are represented in the light grey color on the map.

A bar graph showing the annual change in home sale prices by county in Utah from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023. Utah County had the least change at -0.1% while Davis had the greatest decrease of 1.8% and Morgan had the greatest increase of 30.4%.

Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates continued trending higher in the third quarter of 2023 and are now at levels we have not seen since the fall of 2000. Mortgage rates are tied to the interest rate (yield) on 10-year treasuries, and they move in the opposite direction of the economy. Unfortunately for mortgage rates, the economy remains relatively buoyant, and though inflation is down significantly from its high, it is still elevated. These major factors and many minor ones are pushing Treasury yields higher, which is pushing mortgage rates up. Given the current position of the Federal Reserve, which intends to keep rates “higher for longer,” it is unlikely that home buyers will get much reprieve when it comes to borrowing costs any time soon.

With such a persistently positive economy, I have had to revise my forecast yet again. I now believe rates will hold at current levels before starting to trend down in the spring of next year.

A bar graph showing the mortgage rates from Q3 2021 to the present, as well as Matthew Gardner's forecasted mortgage rates through Q3 2024. In Q3 2023 Mortgage Rates hit 7.04% and Matthew Gardner predicts rates will decrease steadily over the next 4 quarters.

Utah Days on Market

❱ The average time it took to sell a home in the counties covered by this report rose 17 days compared to the same period in 2022.

❱ Homes sold fastest in Salt Lake County; Wasatch County was the slowest. All areas saw market time rise compared to the third quarter of 2022, but all counties except Wasatch saw market time fall compared to the second quarter of this year.

❱ During the third quarter, it took an average of 52 days to sell a home. Market time fell three days compared to the second quarter of 2023.

❱ Even when faced with more inventory and higher financing costs, it was impressive to see the length of time it took to sell a home in the region fall, albeit modestly, from the second quarter.

A bar graph showing the days on market by county for homes in Utah in Q3 2023. Salt Lake County is at the top with the least days on market of 35 and Wasatch is at the bottom of the graph with the most days on market of 74. Weber and Utah Counties are in the middle with 44 days on market.

Conclusions

This speedometer reflects the state of the region’s real estate market using housing inventory, price gains, home sales, interest rates, and larger economic factors.

The region saw average market time fall even though the number of available homes rose, which should favor home sellers. That said, closed and pending sales fell, and list price growth was flat.

This suggests to me that the market is lacking direction, which is to be expected given that mortgage rates are at their highest level in over 20 years. Current buyers are likely weighing whether interest rates will come down and, if they do, how long they’ll have to wait to refinance out of a loan with a rate well above seven percent.

A speedometer graph indicating the market in Utah for Q3 2023. The needle points to the middle of the meter in the “balanced market” portion.

Inventory growth and mortgage rates aside, the market has seen a very significant runup in prices since the start of the pandemic, so it wouldn’t surprise me if both prices and sales remain fairly static for the balance of the year.

As such, I am moving the needle more toward the middle, with neither buyers nor sellers really having the upper hand.

Newsletter of the month • November 5, 2023

Welcome to November!

by Bibi Vladimirova

Park City Utah Real Estate

As the leaves fall and the first snowflakes hint at the winter to come, I’m thrilled to bring you a blend of valuable content. In this issue, you’ll find the latest real estate market statistics, eagerly anticipated 2023-24 Utah Ski Resort opening dates, insightful real estate articles, economic updates shaping our market, a look at Ski Magazine’s top 30 resort rankings for 2024, Deer Valley’s new snow park project, Park City Thanksgiving Feasts and Festivities, and a curated collection of real estate listings. Join me on this journey through the changing seasons and the vibrant world of Park City real estate. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and a touch of mountain magic as we head into the holiday season.