Jim Valentine: The winter factor

National items and events affect us to an extent and must be monitored. Those include interest rate adjustments, up and down, media hysteria touting the next recession and real estate crash, and world events. They are actually not having the effect we’ve seen them have in the past whereas local events are having a greater impact on the residential real estate market.

Spring is finally springing out with warmer weather, snow melt, and renewed hope that this wild winter will go away quietly. It was a winter for the history books for sure. Record or near record precipitation, both hard and wet, cold, storms and restricted travel caused many to remain home where their power availability fluctuated. It was an adventure that added character to our daily lives.

Unfortunately, living in the mountains isn’t for everybody. Some recent transplants don’t seem to comprehend that this weather is an anomaly and not our normal experience. Without much to measure against when they see the snow on the ground for three months instead of the normal two weeks maximum; two-foot snow dumps in the valleys instead of four inches, and the multiple road closures; some of have declared that they’ve had enough. We are hearing of a number of them looking to pack up and move on to avoid a repeat of this once in a lifetime experience.

We know that wherever they go they will have some sort of uncomfortable life interruptions whether it be warm winds bringing fire, twirling winds in the form of a tornado or hurricane, or critters or people that mean them harm. Every locale has its challenges. Ours just got a little bigger this year which does happen when you are dealing with nature. With the weather now being more conducive to planning a move, we anticipate these folks to bring their property on the market just in time to coincide with the spring listing season.

Every year the market surges in the spring and there is no reason it won’t happen this year. People move for a variety of reasons, but weather is not often one of them. Extremes, however, often result in extremes. This may be one of those situations if evidenced by a surge in inventory with a singular motivation — no more winter. Good news for the many who are wanting to buy right now.

Other local factors continue to be… the weather. We have four good seasons and love each of them for what they bring and represent. The wildlife will be bounding about soon with the weather change and the babies of spring will soon be bounding and flying about. The greens and many colors of summer are on their way. The lakes will be full for recreation due to the great recharge they received by our wonderful winter. It’s almost time to play which will bring more people to the area to consider a move.

We are a resilient lot we are, us Nevadans. Our rootstock were tough, whether they were here for thousands of years living off the land, or they migrated across a great ocean and vast land expanse without the benefit of air conditioning and satellite radios to complement their cell phones. Today, we’ve a bit of snow to excite our lives, but not cost us ours such as what happened to those in the Donner Party. Sell if you must but be assured that others will come and enjoy the challenges we offer and the resulting joy of having conquered them.

Our challenges are natural, brought to you by mother nature, while their challenges causing their departure from their current homes are man-made.

Welcome to Nevada. Appreciate us for what we are and join us. Don’t try to change us, rather adapt to our wonderful lifestyle, and enjoy your life here. It will be the best of times and challenging times, and it will always be wonderful times with the right attitude.

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your Real Estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781-3704. dpwtigers@hotmail.com.