The basil plants are thriving again this year in the garden. They don’t need that much care and hold up well even in hot weather and sun as long as they get some water now and then.
I remember when I didn’t care that much for it especially, but my tastes have evolved. Now I’m using it wherever I can while it’s in season. Like last night… Some fresh basil with slices of tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese, a little red onion and garlic, splashed with some extra virgin olive oil. It’s been warm so I’ve been trying to think of things that keeps the heat out of the kitchen inside. And something really heavy doesn’t sound very appealing. So a light, cool summer salad with crispy baguette…it’s a meal.
I smile every time I pass the fresh herb section at the grocery and look at the prices.
Market activity fluctuates here more than some areas of the country because they are not affected by climate and seasonal influences quite as much. If you graphed activity here for a year, the curve normally has a bell-shaped appearance, with the greatest amount of activity in the summer, slower in spring and fall, and the lowest amount in the coldest winter months. To put market activity in a proper perspective, the best way is compare the same month with the corresponding month from another year.
When an agent wants to set an appointment to show my listing, they contact my scheduling service and shortly afterwards I get an email notification from the service with information about the appointment time and the agent who is showing it. The service can tell if the agent has shown this property before, and if so, asks them if it’s a second showing. If it is, the email I receive will say “2nd Showing” someplace on it. That’s semi-interesting to know as it means there might be deeper interest from a prospect that saw it before. A lot of times, buyers come back at least once again before moving forward with a written purchase agreement. But if a property is special and in a highly desirable area then it could be gone if they take their time trying to decide. As a listing agent, it’s good when there’s a second showing, but long ago, when I was just starting in the business, I excitedly told a seasoned agent that there was a showing on my listing and they remarked “showin’ ain’t sellin”… translated, a showing means nothing unless there’s a written offer, and one that is accepted. To prove that point, I’ve had homes listed that received over 50 showings, several of them second showings, without an offer. If so, 99% of the time that means it’s a desirable home but the market feels it’s way overpriced.