Amid warming weather and climbing interest rates, prospective buyers enter into bidding frenzies for an increasingly shrinking inventory of homes—especially older, charming ones like those in eclectic Beaumont-Wilshire. For any number of reasons, owners of existing homes have been hunkering down in greater numbers, opting to upgrade via remodeling and/or building additions on their property.
Another contributing factor to the relatively short supply of existing and comparatively affordable homes for sale is a state law that went into effect this year prohibiting single-family-home zoning, thus providing incentive for developers to purchase houses for demolition to cash in on construction of density-accommodating (but not necessarily “affordable”) “plexes” such as duplexes and triplexes, or by squeezing in two large, expensive new homes onto one lot. One thing is sure, though: the market for B-W homes—whether existing or new—is red hot, with the scramble on to close deals…and BWNA is scrambling as well to greet the newcomers.
BWNA’s New Neighbor Welcoming Project (NNWP), rooted in the “Welcome Wagon” concept, has as its ultimate goal the in-person delivery of a “welcoming packet” containing discounts from local businesses and greeting letters from BWNA and the Beaumont Business Association to every new B-W homeowner, condo owner, and renter. It’s a tall order, and one yet to be fully realized due to two ongoing impediments: 1) since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, most of our packet deliveries have been via mail, not in person; and 2) limited data—our newcomer information, graciously provided free of charge by First American Title and reviewed by local Windermere/Morgan Homes real estate broker and newsletter advertiser Jamie Van Hoorn, is confined to owners of B-W single-family homes, not condos or rentals.
That said, as COVID numbers have declined, our welcoming project has gradually returned to its original approach of home deliveries. Presenting packets in person makes a big difference, not only by personally welcoming newcomers on behalf of BWNA and the local business community, but also by chatting with them about their impressions.
With move-ins increasing during the spring and summer months, more packet deliverers are needed. If interested, please contact the NNWP Coordinator (me) by email (aje0280@gmail.com) or by phone (503-287-0477). And if you know of someone who’s moved into a B-W house, condo, or rental, please let me know. Either a volunteer will deliver the packet to that residence, or you can request a packet to deliver to your new neighbor yourself!